America is under the control of a huge empathetic cabal of coffee addicts. And we’re loving it.

America is under the control of a huge empathetic cabal of coffee addicts.
And we’re loving it.

_________________________
Friday, February 15, 2019
My coffee understands me.

Accepting that I only seek it out when I need a lift.
A float into a high.
Accepting that after it delivers, it will be set aside.
Until I need another high.

And prepares itself.
Gets strong.
Gets hot.
Gets dark brown.
Gets smelling good, promising to taste like it smells.

Take it as it comes.
Or get it hotter. (I do.)
Or pour some sugar on it.
Or cream.
Or even whiskey.

And when that too brief moment is spent,
When I pause for one last inactive moment
To appreciate the surge,
To ponder the day,
To briefly replay Gordon Hayward’s all-star performance,
I set the still-warm cup on the coffee table,
Grip the rocker’s arms
And push myself to my feet.
And smile.

It’s good to be understood.

New York Strip Sirloin on sales. Translates to Roast Sirloin for dinner.  Slow roasting produces color-evenness and juicy interior while a last-minute blast tight to the broiler produces the caramelizing-char that we so admire.

New York Strip Sirloin on sales.
Translates to Roast Sirloin for dinner.

Slow roasting produces color-evenness and juicy interior while a last-minute blast tight to the broiler produces the caramelizing-char that we so admire.

_________________________
Tagging Today
Friday, February 15, 2019

My 309th consecutive posting, committed to 5,000.
Time is 12.01am.
On Friday, Boston’s temperature will reach a high of 50* with a feels-like temperature of 33* with a brief afternoon shower.

Today is our second day of our “Winter-Spring Shoulder Season Calendar, Feb 14 to April 7.”
Our next measurement of time as we march the thirteen plus years to the 5,000th and final posting.

One of the great things about switching to the “Winter Spring Shoulder Calendar Feb 14 to April 7” is that, historically, the second two weeks of February are five degrees warmer than the first two, and March is eight degrees warmer than February. April is twelve degrees warmer than March.
_______________________________________

309 posts to date. Today we’re at the 6.18% mark of my commitment, the commitment a different way of marking the passage of time.  5,000 posts will take 13.69 years, taking me to a new phase of my life. Will see twelve more  But thirteen “Winter-Spr…

309 posts to date.
Today we’re at the 6.18% mark of my commitment,
the commitment a different way of marking the passage of time.

5,000 posts will take 13.69 years, taking me to a new phase of my life.
Will see twelve more
But thirteen “Winter-Spring Shoulder Season Calendar, Feb 14 to April 7.”
Starting yesterday.

This calendar features a panoply of weather conditions, from stormy winter to lovely spring, the latter somewhat rare.

The most important takeaway this calendar is to avoid delusional expectations.
Accept that we will not see a mild day.
If we get one, hoorah!
But, basically, accept that we will not see a mild day.

Tick Tock.
In clock language: Enjoy today.

___________________________________
Question of the Day
Can you supply more information on melatonin?

___________________________________
Elephant Jokes to tell at a bar:
What did the elephant says when the alligator bit off his trunk?

Very funny. Very funny.

Very funny. Very funny.

_______________________________
Love your notes.
Contact me at existentialautotrip@hotmail.com

Victor sends this on a matter of mutual interest:

Melatonin Supplements: Effects, Usage, Safety

Dom,

I thought you would be interested in taking this quiz and reading the answers. I have been enlightened and plan to have a discussion with my doctor because of what I discovered in the answers.

Sta bene,

Victor 
https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/rm-quiz-melatonin

Warm a parent’s heart

Warm a parent’s heart

Web Meister Responds: Liked it so much it’s the Question and Answer today.

Hot orange and flushed cheeks tell us she’s deeply asleep. Some can.

Hot orange and flushed cheeks tell us she’s deeply asleep.
Some can.

Nobody sleeps like an infant.

Nobody sleeps like an infant.

_________________________
Answer to Question
Can you supply more information on melatonin?

I can’t, personally.
But friend Victor Passacantilli sent the note published today in this posting, the email containing the link to the website webmd.com.
The site asked questions and then provided the correct answers.
I copied and pasted the provided answers.
Here they are:

Made by the pineal gland in your brain, melatonin plays a key role in keeping your internal body clock running smoothly.
As levels of it rise in the evening, you start to feel sleepy. In the morning, as the sun comes up, your melatonin levels get lower and you become more alert.
Most people make enough naturally at the right time of day that they don't need a supplement.

Victory of Faith by George Hare, 1889

Victory of Faith by George Hare, 1889

Bronze Eros from 3rd century BC

Bronze Eros from 3rd century BC

Besides walnuts, other foods that have melatonin include tomatoes, olives, rice, barley, strawberries, cherries, and cow's milk.
That might explain why a warm glass of milk before bed is a common home remedy for insomnia.

And while a bright light at the flick of a switch is convenient, it may keep your body from knowing when it's time to make more melatonin.

While it may help with run-of-the-mill insomnia, the research there is pretty mixed. There's more solid evidence that melatonin works well for people who need to sleep during the daylight hours, (eg night shift) have jet lag, or have delayed sleep phase disorders (when your sleep-wake timing cycle is off by several hours).

Innocence

Innocence

Most supplements on the market have melatonin that’s made in a lab.
That’s because natural melatonin, made from the pineal gland of animals, can be contaminated with a virus.
Be sure to check the label to know what you're buying.
Something else to think about:
Over two-thirds of melatonin supplements have more or less of the hormone than the amount listed. Ask your doctor or pharmacist which brand they recommend.

Think I’d rather wake a sleeping dog.

Think I’d rather wake a sleeping dog.

Some studies suggest it's most likely OK to use in children, especially in the short term, but there’s not enough research to know for sure.

And doctors don’t know much about the long-term use of melatonin in adults, either. If you choose to use it, think of it as a temporary fix and not a permanent solution.

Sleep is hard work for some.

Sleep is hard work for some.

Some people who take melatonin might feel nauseated or drowsy during the day, or they might get a headache. Others have said they feel depressed or like they have a hangover. You might not have any of these problems, but it's wise to be on the lookout.
Remember not to drive or operate machinery if you don’t know how melatonin will affect you or if you feel drowsy, no matter the time of day.

Don’t take melatonin if you have an autoimmune disease.
You should also be extra careful if you take blood thinners, anti-seizure medication, diabetes medication, birth control pills, blood pressure drugs, or immune-suppressing drugs.
Melatonin may affect these as well as some other medications and supplements. That's why you should check with your doctor first.

1 to 2 hours before bed
Melatonin won't knock you out instantly, so it pays to plan ahead. If you're using it to ease jet lag -- one of the best uses for it -- take it 2 hours before your bedtime in the new time zone starting a few days before your trip.
Most adults should start with .2 milligrams; if that isn't enough, you can raise your dose slowly (up to 5 milligrams, if necessary).

Wake me when it’s over.

Wake me when it’s over.

Many people who use other sleep aids start to depend on them after a while, but that doesn't seem to be the case with melatonin.
Still, you shouldn't plan on using it indefinitely.
If you continue to have trouble falling asleep, make an appointment with a sleep specialist to see what’s going on.

A single 3mg tablet that I take from the bottle I keep in my bag.

A single 3mg tablet that I take from the bottle I keep in my bag.

_________________________
Good Morning on this Friday, the 15th day of February.

We talked about coffee being an understanding part of our lives.
About changing calendars and cumulating postings.
And Roast Sirloin dinner. Yum.
About elephant jokes that get better with continued drinking.

And we got a serious note from friend Victor which we passed along and then expounded upon using the website link Victor thoughtfully included.
We took the opportunity to reproduce a panoply of photos of sleep we have on file.

And now? Now gotta go.

Che vuoi? Le pocketbook?

See you soon.

Love

Dom