Not so long ago you may recall that I was trying to decaffeinate myself, per my physician's general directive. Well, needless to say, that didn't pan out as planned, mostly because despite the fact that without coffee or tea I don't suffer from any appreciable difference in my energy levels, it is quite impossible for me to get through my day psychologically without the occasional cup (or two, or three, or four). Caffeine is the glue which binds my day together, not merely a ritual that could be substituted just as easily with chamomile or Red Zinger herbal tea, no offense intended to the good folks at Celestial Seasonings. These days I'm rather fond of iced coffee with cream/milk and sugar, a departure of sorts from my old "black is beautiful" phase. And of course the ne plus ultra of iced coffee is Vietnamese iced coffee, which is made with French roast poured over a glass of ice and sweetened condensed milk. Heaven! A couple of establishments here in the square are able to hook me up with my Vietnamese iced coffee fix - there's the eatery Pho Pasteur, located in The Garage, a collection of restaurants and shops between Mass Ave and Mount Auburn Street, which also serves a mean bowl of pho (beef noodle soup with tripe), the national dish of Vietnam; and then there's Tosci's, purveyors of the finest ice cream on the planet.

Ask me again if I miss working in the Longwood Medical Area (hah!).