I think I overdid the coffee last Friday night. My jaw's been aching since then, and it was getting a bit sore before then (thanks to all the house stress). So I'm cutting back on the coffee. It's a sad, sad situation. Though I am already sleeping better.

Just be glad you weren't around me yesterday. That was bad. I had some headaches and general grumpiness, couldn't get motivated to do much of anything. I'd not gotten any writing work done, and yesterday I just looked at my two stories-in-progress and wanted to throw them in the trash.

I'm much better today. Though I am cheating and nursing a half-liter Diet Coke this morning (in place of my 3-4 cups of coffee).

Inspired by Jay Lake's recent writing marathons, I've vowed to write at least 500 words a day on each of my stories 'til they're both done (hopefully by the end o' the month). Maybe I'll even get up a 4:30 again, and drink some -- GASP -- decaf.

I really want to finish up these stories, because the novel-writing muscles in my brain are aching to get used again.

In other news, as of today's weigh-in, I'm down 31 pounds. Wow. I feel great, and I'll feel even better once I start jogging in the mornings again, and doing some light barbell action again. I've managed to lose most of the weight simply by watching what I eat very, very carefully, and not just eating whenever I'm bored (or stressed, or depressed). And only about 25 more pounds to go!

What's crazy is that even when I reach my goal weight, I still won't be considered "healthy" according to the BMI (body-mass index). I started out at a BMI of 35, now I'm at 31, and when I reach my goal weight of 210, I'll be at 28, 3 points above the "healthy" range of 25. I'd have to get down to my old high school weight of 185 to accomplish that! Yikes. I'd be a freaking scarecrow!

Not sure what new vice I'll pick up next, however, now that I've written off caffeine AND unhealthy food. Perhaps... Scotch? Later!