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Morning everybody! Stephanie here, bringing you those eagerly anticipated updates on my personal coffee drinking habits!

Here we have the classic class cup. Its the, "I dont even care that this crappy cup of coffee has nasty grinds and sweet-n-low floating around in it-- something needs to keep my mind focused enough to read, write, and in my case, paint."

My good friend Don, who also happens to be our security gaurd, is well aware of my addiction, and when he saw me coffee-less, he bought me this. Isn't that sweet? I'm so loved. I thanked him by allowing him to smell it.

Last night my buddies Chloe and Eric hit up Java Cabana. We listened to some girls' acoustic band and wrote postcards to our familes and I read from my book, Her Fearful Symmetry (which is really good so far by the way. Audrey Niffenegger also wrote The Time Travelers Wife and The Night Bookmobile, which are such treats to read.)

This is Java Cabana. So fantastic!  If you're a Memphian, swing by around March, and check out Chloe York's solo show. It'll be a blast.

On the right is my Java Cabana Mocha, to the right is my homemade delight. It's in a German cup from a set that my mom has had since she was my age, I think. I think of her whenever I drink out of it.

We can all learn something from the Goth Kids on Southpark.

"You can't be a non-conformist if you don't drink Coffee."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krRrFRXxSpE&feature=related

http://www.yidio.com/too-young-to-drink-caffeine/id/4119090658

Silly Starbucks.... 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.

Steph here. I have the silliest conversations at Starbucks. Especially when I order through the drivethrough. The great thing about Starbuckers is that they are acutely aware of how hip and trendy they are, as if drinking coffee were somehow counter cultural. They've got their beards and peicings and little green aprons and probably a mac notebook theyre using to write a screenplay. I love them.

 I still hadn't memorized the sizes of Starbucks drinks until this week. I'm here now to help all of you who might still be intimidated. Here's how to order at Starbucks:

Small is actually tall. Deceptive, indeed.

If you want a medium, ask for a Grande. Large is Venti. Theres no reason to ever get a Venti. You'll break the bank in a week and your heart will explode.

<Starbucks lingo 101

So here's my conversation with the guy through the drivethrough:

Me: I'd like an um... what do you call a medium?

Guy: Grande.

Me: You guys are aware that they names are pretentious and inconvient, right?

Guy: Yeah, we're aware.

Me: Okay cool. So a Grande. Wait doesn't Grande mean 'large' in Spanish?

Guy: Um...I think so. Maybe.

Me: So shouldn't that be the large?

Guy: Large is a Venti. Which is Italian for twenty. I don't know.

Me: So, is Starbucks Spanish or Italian?

Guy: I think its from Seattle or somtething.

The things you learn. There was a much cheerier order the next day. The guy asked me what I would like in song form, and I sang my order right back. It was delightful, and made me feel a tiny bit like my life was a musical, which would rule. Jake said the Coffee Man was flirting with me, and I told him I didnt think so, but he did look a tad bummed to be handing the drink to a bearded dude instead of a chick when we got to the window.

Last but not least, I came in and sat down at a Starbucks 2 days ago. I was trying to read "Paradise Lost," but ended up talking to some very colorful Memphis charachters sitting beside me instead. The ones I spent most time socializing with may or may not have been homeless. Life is great.

Then there have been the last two sculpture classes.... I left my cups in the room. I have been reminded of this by almost everyone I see. I gotta go get those cups.

Till next time, happy drinking!

15

Katelyn here-- Mark Driscoll came to UF the other week, and I got to go to his mini-conference. Nbd. If you don't know who that is, don't feel bad. He's an author/pastor guy, I guess kind of a big deal in many Christian circles. Anyway, he had a lot of cool things to say (he spoke about love, sex, and relationships) and I figured, those things are fun to learn about! I enjoy how you know EXACTLY who is speaking because his face is really really really big on the booklet. That is my lovely thermos next to his shiny visage.

I made coffee because I love coffee! And because I wanted to be ATTENTIVE. 9 am on a Saturday is how I normally jive anyway, but the weather was kinda dreary and rainy and tired-y.

Cup 14 and a hot tub

Recently, I got to spend a Friday evening with the lovely Caroline Pilgrim. Coffee is one of the binding forces in our friendship, so she made a pot. Added creamer, perhaps some pumpkin pie spice. We were invited to join in a skype-prayer (Have you ever prayed over skype?? It's worth it.), so we joined some folks in Atlanta and Tampa and sang and talked to Jesus.

So we made drank our coffee and watched Groundhog Day. Caroline thought this a necessary addition to add to the endless repertoire of movies I've seen(among most other movies). I was skeptical, but ended up really enjoying it!

However, the night was young!! We sneaked into a local hotel's jacuzzi and prayed more! Then we climbed on some of the patio furniture. Caroline may or may not have broken part of the arbor. Whoa- I just realized post-posting that it looks like I'm not wearing pants in this picture! I promise I'm totally wearing pants. They're just beige...

Cups 12&13

I am here to announce that Miss Stephanie Kern had a wonderful day out with Miss Kelsey Shearron. We walked around the mall and talked about girl things and love things, tried on dresses, bought a funny hat, and of course, drank some coffee.

Caramel Macchiato for her and White Chocolate Mocha for me.

 They even wrote our names on the cup. Isn't that special?

After workin till ten, I had a latte. I needed it bad. Did I mention coffee cures aches and pains?

Coffee is so amazing, its both beneficial and detrimental to your health.

It both gives you cancer: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article788739.ece
And reduces the risk of cancer: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2010/05/26/coffee-just-plain-good/ http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/2009/05/Hidden-Health-Secrets-of-Coffee.aspx?p=3

It gives you diabetes: http://health.msn.com/health-topics/diabetes/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100240998
and saves you from diabetes: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110113102200.htm

It makes you depressed: http://www.thedailymind.com/health-at-work/foods-that-make-you-stressed-anxious-and-depressed/
And increases happiness: http://www.philstar.com/article.aspx?articleid=521848

It saves you from Alzheimers: http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/2009/05/Hidden-Health-Secrets-of-Coffee.aspx?p=2

But you will be angry: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080816141324AA3zgOl

And its good for your heart: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7837800/Tea-and-coffee-reduce-heart-disease-risk-study-suggests.html

So there you have it. The worst and the best thing you can do, according to loads of valid medical research, is go down a cup of Joe. Get to it.

But its also bad for your heart: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20020801/is-caffeine-bad-for-your-heart