Recently, a new Dunkin Donuts opened one mile from my house, directly on my route to work. Happily, and unfortunately, I can now stop every morning and enjoy a breakfast sandwich and hot coffee or stop on the way home for a coffee pick-me-up.

Hello, my name is Bill, and I'm a "caff-aholic"

Yes, I admit it – like many Americans and most designers, I'm a caffeine addict. I believe that's supposed to be my first step to recovery... you know, admitting it. But I'd rather simply live with my addiction. In fact, I think I have to. Graphic design and marketing is a crazy business with long hours or off-hours being the norm. So some type of stimulant is almost required. Some smoke, but fortunately my vice is coffee... well, more accurately, caffeine. Perhaps that's why my office has always been located conveniently close to a Dunkin' Donuts. My addiction certainly explains my environmentally unfriendly collection of DD travel mugs - last I counted, it was approaching a hundred. I guess it's about time I remember to bring one with me instead of buying a new one each time.

I knew my addiction was increasing, but was powerless to stop....

Since my early days in the business my caffeine intake has steadily increased. One or two cups of joe would give me a jolt in the early days. But now it's more like one or two pots of coffee before I really get moving. And on the weekends, when I don't get my first jumbo mugs of coffee - I'm sluggish and sleepy until I cave and drag my butt to the kitchen and brew some coffee - unless I can hold out to give myself some detox time - but at the price of being non-productive. And now I find myself seeking out new and more potent caffeine fixes....such as Red Bull or 5-Hour Energy (which is quite good and doesn't make you crash, but that's another post). I suppose this is the slippery slope...more and more copious amounts of caffeine are required to keep me going.

My downfall: July 6, 2009, a Dunkin' Donuts opens on Chews Landing Rd, Laurel Springs - a mere mile from my house.

This will certainly lead to my ruination. I've already accepted I'll stop every morning (and probably each night). But now on the weekends, there's no chance of a respite. With it so close, I'm sure I'll succumb to the siren's call. Sure I'll delude myself at first..."if I walk to the Dunkin' Donuts, it makes it healthy, right?" But eventually I'll just start driving....once, twice, three times per day? Then I'll probably escalate to buying a Box-o-Joe (10+ cups of coffee) instead of my usual extra large. I can see my jittery future now. Strung out, styrofoam cups strewn about, a jelly donut by my side.

 

At least I should be über productive - jacked up on caffeine and sugar. My tweaker designs, fueled by humongous amounts of Dunkin' Donuts coffee will be unmatched, I'm sure. The real dilemma... the cost. At $5 per day, that adds up quickly. Perhaps I should chuck it all and buy a Dunkin' Donuts franchise. Hmmm....I wonder if Maui has been introduced to Dunkin Donuts?

 

Well I'm getting sleepy....so I guess it's time to "caff'-up" again...