A 20-ounce chill pill

Long Thanksgiving weekends are awesome. Until the bell tolls and it’s time to get back into the swing of things. Then there’s the holiday hangover to contend with … a condition that is less about how-many-saki-bombs-did-I-consume-in-three-hours? and more about I-can’t-believe-I-ate-three-slices-of-pie-and- started-shopping-at-midnight-and-celebrated-the-bargains-with-so-many-trips-to-the-eggnog-punchbowl.

There’s the sugar-low to contend with. The snug waistbands. The lack-of-sleep rumminess. And don’t even get me started on the panic that bubbles to the surface when you realize you have to go back to work and hopefully pull some overtime to pay for all your must-have Black Friday purchases, which will inevitably leave even less time to get the Christmas cards sent, the holiday tree decorated, the cookies baked and the handmade gifts completed before December 24 (or, for those deadline dodgers like myself … the morning of December 25).

Relax! The holidays are supposed to be about sharing time with loved ones. Reconnecting with old friends. Treasuring special moments and creating peaceful memories that will last a lifetime. I’m not so naïve as to believe that this is what actually happens during this festive winter time, but it sure is nice to squeeze a little of the good stuff in between the bedlam, don’t you think?

Seriously, it’s as easy as sneaking into a coffee shop with an equally frazzled friend for a few minutes of down time. The caffeine boost will get you back on track, and, if you’re lucky, you’ll find a sugary pastry to elevate that depleted blood sugar. Easy as that, you’re good as new and ready to take another stab at controlling the chaos.

We ducked into the Starbuck’s on Grand (after the Turkey Trot, before the traditional Turkey Day melee) for a sanity check. A piece of Holiday Gingerbread (love the candied orange pieces nestled in the thick cream cheese frosting), washed down with a ridiculously large Caramel Brulee Lattee made everything right in the world – until I got curious and checked the nutritional facts. Oy! Anyway, it was awesome … and at this time of year, what difference can a few hundred extra calories possibly make? Right? Right?