Scott Desgrosseilliers

Early Rising and Quitting Caffeine - Day 11

This day just flew by. I was an obsessed worker, frantically churning out software documentation to keep my team busy for the week. I finally avoided gorging myself at a buffet for lunch. That surely contributed to my high energy level all day. I didn't get the urge to curl up in the fetal position as usual, so that must be a sign of progress. Perhaps I've rounded the bend?

As the owner of a meditation site, I am selling a meditation-fueled CD that heightens concentration and focus abilities. It is not just sales hype, I used the CD heavily today. A mountain of mind-numbing software documentation evaporated in a hail of flying fingers on the keyboard. The stuff really works!

It's now 1122pm and I am getting ready to pack for Labor Day. I like to pack last minute but I'm making an exception since its wedding crunch week. Kaiya (our weimreiner) gets severe anxiety when the suitcase comes out. She doesn't realize she is coming on this trip to the lake house. No amount of comfort can convince her the suitcase is a good thing. She has been burned by suitcase-fueled attention before and then dropped off at the kennel.

Early Rising and Quitting Caffeine - Day 10

My 30-day trial on waking up early and not drinking caffeine has had its ups and downs. If day 9 was the abyss, day 10 was the bonanza. It was the single most productive day I can remember having in a long time. In addition to the productivity, I was able to stay focused and energized throughout the day.

Early Rising and Quitting Caffeine - Day 9

Day 9 proved to be the most difficult day on the trial so far. The alarm felt like a sledgehammer to the temple. I did my best zombie impression around the apartment. I prayed to no avail that my boss had cancelled the staff meeting. At Starbucks I inhaled the caffeinated aroma like a junkie but diligently ordered my smoothie to go. And then I did the unthinkably stupid.

Cubs Game in the Bartman Seat

TheFiance’s company took us out to Cubs box seats on Saturday. My eyes lit up when I saw my seat was on the railing overlooking left field. Sweet seats! “Congratulations you’ve got the Bartman seat,” the usher smiled. I noticed the section was not filled so I slid one seat over. TheFiance asked if I was in the right seat and I just told her to sit down and I’d explain later. I didn’t want to inherit any bad mojo!

The Bartman seat is where Steve Bartman, a long-time Cubs season ticket holder, leaned over the field and caught a ball that potentially would’ve put the Cubs only a few outs from going to the World Series back in 2003. He took so much harassment he eventually had to move from Chicago. People even gave him death threats over this! So much for Midwestern hospitality.

I did spend a couple innings in the seat once our section got crowded. Great seats because you have a great angle on the game, you have a good shot at foul (and fair) balls, and you can always watch the bullpen action if the game is stale. The sweltering heat forced fans including myself to keep a nonstop flow of Old Style brews to prevent over-heating.

I was wearing my CubanAndTheCubs.com t-shirt. If this shirt can break the Bartman seat hex, it will undoubtedly prove that Mark Cuban is destined to become the owner.

Early Rising and Quitting Caffeine - Day 8

I pushed the envelope with a 545 am wakeup. This wasn’t due to cockiness but rather a mandatory training class for Motorola out in the burbs. Waking up extra early to travel to a guaranteed painfully boring day is a true test of my 30 day trial.

Early Rising and Quitting Caffeine - Day 7

I was concerned on how day 7's early rising would turn out. I went to bed sick as a dog, and I had woke up at 830 am the previous day. How would that affect my morning?

Early Rising and Quitting Caffeine - Day 6

Yesterday was another significant challenge in the early rising and quitting caffeine 30 day trial. I was up until 245am, which was 21 hours. Normally when I'm up until 245 am on the weekends it is fueled by Red Bull, and the next day has a big fat starbucks greeting the start of my day at noon. I went to bed grimacing as I set the alarm clock for 630am.

SuperCrew Wins America's Best Dance Crew

I have weaned myself off tv to the point where I only follow a couple of shows: The Shield, Entourage, and Brothers and Sisters (yes, my man card takes a serious dent for that last one). Additionally, I allow myself to get sucked into 1-3 reality shows each season. This year I am riveted by From G's to Gents. However, the one that got me most excited, and caused me to shout out at the screen this year, was America's Best Dance Crew.

Watch this video - You cannot tell me this show is whack! (whack=not good. One of the things I learned on this show. TheFiancee thought whack=cool. She is obviously whack if she thinks whack=cool)

Watching and rooting for SuperCrew on America's Best Dance Crew turned me into a mindless robotic prototypical reality tv show watcher. I got thrilled at the great performances. I felt angst when my favorite crew was on the chopping block. And I got a lump in my throat when DoKnock Cruz said "No one has ever believe in me, but I believe in my crew" or something like that. I am seriously considering attending the Dance Crew tour this fall. Perhaps it can be an extension of our honeymoon?

My dance skills are limited to the worm (deadly), the moonwalk (kinda weak), and the wave (awful). But I still became a huge fan of the SuperCrew. Congrats boys. I believed all season long.

Early Rising and Quitting Caffeine - Day 5

It's 905am I have already ran 3.5 miles, dealt with an internet server issue, browsed all my favorite websites, meditatated, and visualized. Pre-trial I would've just started considering the possibility of waking up. I am loving the extra hours of the day. But yesterday had a bump in the road.

Early Rising and Quitting Caffeine - Day 4

Day 4 started as I had expected this trial to go. Painfully. For the first time this week I awoke from pleasant slumber to my alarm clock. I hit it off and realized I had to open my eyes or I was in trouble. I laid there and rubbed my eyes over and over. I was extremely tired. Uh-oh. I thought about re-closing my eyes for a minute and knew that would be a death knell for the morning.