Extremely tired. I need a double espresso injected directly into my heart right about now. Once upon a time, when I worked at a coffeehouse in Central Square, I had unfettered access to the espresso machine, which came in extremely handy as a full-time college student who was pulling forty-hour workweeks as well. I was up to four shots of espresso in my iced mocha lattes before sanity prevailed and I ratcheted myself back down to a cup or two of French roast.

I miss that espresso machine. As no one had ever given it a decent cleaning before I was assigned to the task, I ended up forming an unhealthy bond with my charge, and took it personally when coworkers failed to treat it with the same dignity and respect that I did. Of course my fellow coffeehouse employees probably weren't as dependent upon the machine as I was... to me, the bitter yellowish-brown brew was the stuff of life itself, shakes or no shakes, and never mind the fact that I didn't get a decent night's sleep for good a year and a half as a result!

Speaking of that coffeehouse, I recently met a student over at The Greek Institute (the place where I teach) who knew a bunch of the crew I used to work with, way back when. It was strange to reminisce about shared acquaintances with a perfect stranger, but fun to catch up on people who have been long since gone from my life. The best part is that this student happens to have to same Greek name as my daughter: Andriana. How's that for coincidence on top of coincidence?