Unifying Contradiction

When we first got the Espresso machine lo those many years ago (it was a wedding present), I taught myself how to use it and got familiar with the controls. I even got to the point where I could half-decently froth milk for a cappuccino (which is a lot harder than it looks).

However, somewhere along the way I stopped making myself coffe with the machine. Partly because its a lot of fuss and partly because taxlady is usually only too happy to make me one since she uses the machine a dozen times a day.

Then, when she went away to Denmark, I ended up at home for a few weeks alone, no longer knowing how to make Espresso. Not really a problem, except when I get a migraine. It seems that one of the few things that can kill an incipient migraine is AC&C and a double espresso or two. Naturally I got a migraine while at home.

Luckily I a) caught it early; and b) had lots of AC&C handy. I did try to make myself an Espresso, and I guess it helped, but it tasted awful.

Anyway, about a week ago I decided to reknew my knowledge of this machine, and its strange quirks. After making myself something like a dozen Allonge's (aka Cafe Americano), I can now make ones that actually taste right.

So, just now I woke up with a migraine and ... pleaded for taxlady to make me a double espresso. Since, when suffering from a migraine, something as complex as pulling myself a double shot is a trial, its just easier to have her do it for me. OTOH, had she been out visiting a client (which is quite common this time of year), I would have managed on my own -- which was the point of the excercise.

That said, this double shot is finished, and the throbbing behind my eyes is returning, so I'll stop typing now and go in search of a refill.

So, it turns out that I was sufficiently brain-dead after my last post that I forgot the sleeping pills. I just brushed my teeth and went to bed, but it worked and I fell asleep.

The only problem is that this morning I woke up with a massive migraine. They are often triggered in me by sleeping when I'm very tired. Such a migraine used to make me useless for the entire day, but I've learned some coping strategies since then. Massive caffine infusions help greatly so, 2 AC&C, 2 bowls of Cafe au Lait and a large bowl of regular coffee later I'm starting to feel human again. I still feel somewhat fragile (and will for hours) but at least I can use my eyes and ears without whimpering.

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Aww. I just finished posting the above when I found a 'get well' card in my inbox from my sweetie. She's the bestestest.