Warren Zevon used to say that "Life'll Kill Ya". As inevitable as that sounds it's also true that stress will send you there sooner. For the third time in my career I'm burnt out due to stress, but not like you'd think. It's not the crazy hours, the staying up all night to deploy code or do system maintenance, or even the stress of deadline pressure. Sure those things can get to you, but nothing is takes more of a toll than the coffee.

Unlike many tech people I don't have a caffeine addiction. Sure I can't start the day without a shot in the arm, or gullet as it may be, but overall will survive without my morning beverage. That said I drink coffee, I enjoy coffee, I love coffee. While I don't suffer from a debilitating withdrawal when I skip, I still miss it. Sure the caffeine buzz is great but what I really miss is the flavor, the complexity, and the hot steamy sinus clearing goodness that squeezed from only the finest beans.

To put it another way and to illustrate exactly how bad my obsession has become I'll tell you about perfect day. I'd wake up at around 8am but lie around until about 8:30. I'd then rise to the sweet smell of a Sumatra or Dark Colombian blend emanating through the house. I'd spend the next hour and a half answering emails, checking Twitter and facebook and then do a little light HTML coding, enjoying several cups along the way.

Around noon I'd break for lunch and then head out into the backyard for a little sun. I'd be mighty parched and nothing would satisfy better than a little afternoon delight, probably a milder medium roast blend and a pack of Nabs. If I happened to feel a little adventurous I might mix in a little cognac for an extra kick. Evening would follow with a cold beer and an all-you-can-eat seafood extravaganza.

Unfortunately the perfect day would have to be a weekend because the typical workday looks more like this: Wake, clean, drop kids off, make coffee, check servers, drink coffee, write code, eat lunch, zonk out due to food, make more coffee, drink coffee, get really wired and write a bunch more code, have "conversation" with the office equipment about its inability to collate properly, drive home, wrangle kids, eat more food, zonk again, avoid TV, mess around on Internet, not sleep like I should. Rinse, repeat.

You may notice that this isn't the best way to enjoy the coffee, which I practically chug out of habit. So it should come as little surprise that such a self reinforcing cycle has burned a hole in my stomach for the third time in my short career. The good news is I've switched back to green tea and limited the java intake to a single cup. Eventually the revolt in my stomach will subside, but until then I have to stay away from many of my other favorite foods like chili peppers and hot sauce. As I near the ripe old age of 33 I'm thankful that this minor affliction is the only medical issue I have. Besides it's probably my body's way of telling me to stop pushing so hard and to enjoy life.