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Oh yeah.
Tuesday. 6:30 a.m. I’m sitting at Bread Co in Eureka, drinking coffee I didn’t make, eating a chocolate pastry (of this variety), checking email, writing… The wi-fi is zipping along and I just got a response from a good blogging job continue reading…
10 February – We Will Overcome
Success with the alarm and with staying awake! I am beginning to really enjoy this monthly challenge. I’ve always liked getting up early, but I’ve never been consistent with it for a long period of time. I haven’t exactly hit “long period of time” – this is only Day 10 – but the actual getting up part is much easier than I anticipated.
This last week of half-success with getting up early while sick has led me to new conclusions in the area of cold and flue treatment: I’m thinking there is a definite medicinal value in coffee. I know I feel better after a warm, smooth cup with Creme Brulee creamer. Nutritionally, perhaps, it doesn’t sound helpful but on a more visceral (and effective) level I know it does me good.
Diet is a tricky thing. I hate weight-loss or special diets of any kind. My experience with them is limited but so terrible that it has kept me from them, probably forever.
First, back in early high school years, my whole family went on a Cabbage Soup Diet, which is as torturous as it sounds. After a week of smelling and eating cabbage soup, I gained two pounds.
Then, in my later high school, we became vegetarian for a while. Vegetarian was tolerable; there were plenty of options and I’ve always enjoyed fresh fruits and vegetables. It was when we decided to go vegan that my food life went downhill. Think The Titanic in culinary terms. Filmy soy butter and plastic, shiny slices of soy cheese appeared in our refrigerator. We ate veggie burger (not bad) and fake “meat” crumbles (horrifying) and seasoned everything with Bragg’s Liquid Aminos (distinct).
I think it was the soy dairy that did me in. Something deep inside me (the part that really likes butter, I guess) rebelled at a diet that replaces good and real, albeit fattening, food with processed, colored, imitation products of soy. The answer is simple: do without dairy, real or otherwise. Simple, but unacceptable for me.
To the successful vegans out there, I say more power to you. You have my respect and admiration. But don’t feel you have to invite me over for dinner.