And coffee is the answer.
I joke, but only half a joke. The First Reader this morning walked over to the coffee maker and made an interrogative noise. Too early for full wit, brevity would have to do. I looked over from my armchair, where I was waiting for him to join me in our morning ritual before I left for work, and understood his confusion.
“I already have my coffee.” I gestured at the travel mug by my elbow.
“Oh, good. I was worried there wasn’t enough left.” He poured his second cup. “I can always make more…”
I could, as a matter of fact, make coffee at this job. Unlike the last job, where my desk was in the lab and there were no beverages during the workday (a little tedious with a 10 hour shift), and the job before that where coffee at work came with a stiff charge (I mean, come on, $0.79 a cup of black death from the sachets was ridiculous), at this job I have a coffeepot, coffee, and creamers. My boss even appreciates when I make it, now that I can calibrate for her need for weak coffee. My Cambodian coworker deigned to drink a cup of the first pot I made at work…
I have a pair (technically one belongs to the First Reader, but I glommed onto it) of 32 oz travel mugs. One of those was what I carried to work this morning. It’s about a half a pot of coffee in there. While I can make coffee, I only bother if I am packing a smaller cup. That’s enough for me.
I had a lot of fun in the lab today, and made a Sweet Coffee Lip Balm from my own formula, which came out very nicely. Coffee oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, brown sugar flavor, vanillin, and stevia extract (and other ingredients) – smells great, tastes good, and leaves the lips soft for a good amount of time. I nailed it. Perfect swan song for my research and development if I never make up another formulation. It is a little painful knowing that none of my creations are likely to see commercial production. Client work, sure. My development never had the time to gear all the way up. C’est la vie. 
Life is preparing to make another transition. I have a week off, and half of that is going to be spent at FantaSci, which is going to be a whole lot of fun and possibly not enough coffee. What with hotels eliminating the free breakfasts, and me flying so I can’t pack a coffeepot, I don’t know how I’ll manage! A little break from my addiction won’t hurt me. And then, on Monday the 28th at 7:30 my time, I start the new job. With the new commute, from my bedroom to my desk. Woo! Coffeepot at home, here I come! I have no idea what my long-term schedule after training is going to look like. I do know that I’ve been used to leaving the house at 6:40 to journey to work and start at 7 so this is already going to feel decadently late.
The morning ritual will look the same, though. Waking up to coffee, and a chat with my beloved. Walking the dog, reading my daily webcomics and blogs. It will be interesting to see how working as a technical writer affects my creative writing. Let alone this blog! Time will tell.
Speaking of time, my son is about to serve up dinner (Argentinian chorizo on bolillos with sautéed peppers and onions). I’m being called to eat… and tomorrow is my last full-time day in the lab and with my previous employer. I have to wash my hair and test product so I can write up a report on it tomorrow. Always something.
Comments
7 responses to “Life is the Question”
Vacation should include coffee. Most hotels do still have coffee. The one I occupied had good coffee in the lobby 24/7 and Keurig coffee in the room. I hope you find something on your trip.
I hope so, too! I discovered yesterday while checking my reservation that I had booked a room in the wrong hotel (there are more than one of that name in the city I’m traveling to) so I had to cancel the reservation and get a room as close as I could to the event. It’s definitely not as nice a hotel, so I am not getting my hopes up. I can be pleasantly surprised if there is coffee, but resigned if not.
Motel 6 in Ogden, UT had coffee. Sure, it was in the lobby, not the room, but for Utah hotel coffee it was fine. I’ve had much worse at more expensive Utah hotels.
Coffee lip balm? That is awesome. What idiot would argue against commercial production?
Well, the company is likely closing up shop. That’s why I have new job. Best I can hope for is my formulas get sold to clients (I don’t own the IP).
IMO, if you create a new formula/product for a company, you should get royalties for its sale (even after you leave). That would also encourage companies to try and retain quality employees that actually produce instead of treating people like cogs. And people are more likely to stick with such a company that rewards them in that manner. But what do I know? I don’t like people…
But how will that benefit this quarter’s report?