Apropo of Nothing

This summer Solo and I took a Film Stars class where he practiced looking handsome......

And posing for product endoresements.

He really lapped up the attention-and the powerade.

Looks can Deceive

These little guys are cunning-and there are three of them on the shelf.  The tail to the right does not belong to the head to the left.

I spent several days chasing them and putting them back in their cage only to rinse and repeat.  I finally gave up and put them n a different cage until they get a little bigger.

The culprits are baby peach faced love birds.  Their peach will become more vibrant and the black on their beaks will fade-earlier in the week the beaks were completely black.

I know this in part because I spend a lot of time looking at them after I catch them.

My aunt gave me two adult females and these three babies-the hope is one is a male.  I don't know how to tell-but the birds do so that is all that really matters.

I'm all righ

Little ground hog dancing scene from Caddy Shack.  Storms to the north of me-storms to the south-nothing in the middle with me.  Whoops-didn't get me did you Mother Nature?  Not this kitty.

It is considered poor form to gloat if your house didn't get blown away because someone else's did-but oh yeah-safe again.  Really does celebrating MY good fortune have to mean I'm happy about your misfortune?   Those storms were a nasty business but not only am I extremely GRATEFUL that I didn't get hit-I'm pretty stinking happy about it too.

I think sometimes we get bogged down in the frightful spectacle of what could have happened, and what did happen to other people-and forget to do the happy dance for the fact it didn't happen to us.  Not me-I'm happy.  I bet there would be less PSTD in the world if people would focus not on the what almost happened but on the DIDN'T part.

I also think people who are suffering from "survivor's guilt" are looking for control they don't have and will never have.  You don't get to choose which house the twister drops on-so if you are feeling guilty I think you need to get over yourself and go out and help someone who did get hit.

The Non-Native Okies are particularly shook up.  My advice is if you are going to live here the sooner you learn to cope with it the better.  The weather is not going to change.  Well, that isn't true-in Oklahoma it changes every few minutes.

I'm not mocking Mother Nature either-Death always wins in the end-I'm just celebrating my temporary victory....wooo hooooo hoooo!












 

A Day Off

I've been going balls to the wall since before I left for Missouri and my body just aches all over.  It's all been fun-well most of it, but I am sitting today out-at least trying to stay on the computer and avoid heavy lifting, running, etc.  We'll see how that goes.

I think that's part of life-learning to balance between working hard AND resting...both are valid activities-but no one slaps you on the back for resting.  Maybe they SHOULD.  We should all approve when someone says "I'm resting today".

I bought myself a python for mother's day.  He's currently in the "ignore him and let him get used to new surroundings" phase of things.  It's hard to do, and boring-but it means he'll eat well and set up for a good life (barring virus's, power outages etc).  I said never again after the last virus outbreak-but life is just like that.  Things don't always work out.

Life with animals is really like that.  I'm never going to get happy with the death of an animal but I think I've reached the point where it doesn't cripple me like it used to.  I grieve freely and move on-no sense in letting grief get in the way of an otherwise good day.

I know part of my activity  burst is my way of dealing with the daughter/granddaughter thing (no news, I've been duped again, oh well).  I'm ok with that as long as it doesn't get over the top and is basically good productive activity.  I think the difference between manic behavior and good old fashioned avoidance is a matter of degree. 

I'll be the first to admit I've used upset in the past as an oh what the hell excuse to do something hair brained I've actually been contemplating for a long time.   I'm still up for hair brained occasionally-I think we all need to scratch that wild hair sometimes.  But not today.  Today I just want to put my feet up and sip coffee.

I really want to journey to P-town again.  I missed going to Sedona for two weeks because my father was ill-but for some reason I have no desire to try to do that again right now.  The moment has passed and I need ocean not cactus.  It's not likely to happen this year though-I want summer ocean and I'm not able to journey much more than I've already planned.

Mom and Dad went to California alone and it was good for us both.  They are in the awkward stage of really needing someone around, but not all the time.  As the "someone" it's kind of a thankless task-since no one even acknowledges it. 

For awhile I let that be my role in life-perpetual helper-and I will always be that for my parents.  I have decided everyone else needs to at least acknowledge my efforts or I will quietly go find someone who will.  For my part, I always say thank you, and usually more than once when someone helps me out.

This is a pretty low energy post-remember-I'm resting today.  

Missouri and weird weather

Solo and I went to Missouri for four days with a friend and her border collie for a border collie seminar.  We had great fun and learned a lot-first vacation type thing I have had in over a year.  I savored every moment.

Yesterday, home again, I worked at an agility trial for the Irish Setter National Specialty.   I started out freezing cold, shivering and miserable and ended the day with fewer clothes and uncomfortably hot.  That's Oklahoma weather for you.  I still haven't planted the garden because we shoot up to the nineties and then down to near freezing again.  My garden will be late but I'd rather plant it just one time-and really-there is NO deadline.

I missed my moleskinne art project deadline-oh well.  The things I did instead of doing that were at the time more important and mostly related to helping other people out.  I am learning to realize sometimes missed deadlines ARE a choice, but if I am ok with the choice I need not beat myself up about it.

I am much better about saying "no" in general-but I am not going to not help someone who is injured or ill because I need to write in my moleskinne for an art project.  I vaguely believe that good deeds come back to you in a good way-so maybe my next project will be really awesome or something.

My body is pretty tired though-I was tired when I left for Missouri, tired when I came home and I'm tired today.  BUT I'm meeting someone to work with their border collie puppy so I guess I will rest tomorrow.  At least I'm sleeping well and the weather has been so bizarre I've skipped my usual spring insomnia.

I always find a silver lining-and I'm ok with that.

Nothing New

CPS has been notified and of course can tell me nothing.  My daughter checked in every few days for awhile but that has fallen off too.  In the meantime I'm staying busy. 

I have an office sharing thing going on at a local dog training facility.  I watch the place so that the owner can have some free time in return for a place where I can work on writing and work my dog.  It's been nice.

She had a nasty break-literally.  She broke her wrist so I've been there quite a lot lately and it's probably been the best thing for me.  Having to be somewhere and be somewhat together has kept me from brooding.  Ok, it hasn't stopped me from brooding entirely, but it has helped.

I've got other stuff going on as well, though nothing as dramatic.  After our December scare-both parents have stayed fairly healthy.  I was worn out from that (Daddy almost died) until my daughter pops in with her daughter....oi.

When you give a horse medicine, you sometimes pinch their lips so they don't notice the shot or the nasty tasting stuff you are feeding them.  Trouble is a bit like that as well-new trouble at least distracts you from the old trouble.

 I was cleaning out the garage today and out of no where fell a package of photos from 1988 that belonged to Uncle John.  I had a long cry over them.  It was shots of where he hung out with his work buddies, his work place (they were on a project that was developing a wheel chair that could climb stairs) and his new at that time condo.

The condo was clean and sparkling and he even had a window pot of flowers on his patio.  The beautiful trees I sat under when I was there taking care of things were little twigs in those photographs.  He had an old Black and White TV set between his two prized antique radios-ones I gave away when we moved him to Texas.

I sat in my garage with the garage door opened and looked at picture after picture and cried and cried.  First I cried because I was sad and miss John, followed by the usual bawl fest because his life ended so badly.  Then I cried for awhile because I was happy to see that the last few years were not his entire life-there were good parts that I didn't really know about.  The development lab that he loved, his work he was so proud of, his friends, his new condo.

Because I've been dealing with so much human carnage lately, it's easy to forget there is also some good stuff in life.  Those pictures reminded me of that.  Birth is probably traumatic (I don't remember) and death can be icky too.  The part in between-that's life baby-and it's worth having.

Thanks for reminding me Uncle John.

I took some neat pictures today but they are still in the camera.  Here's a funny one I took a week or so ago.

This is a collage I made from shots of Solo and the love of his life-the tennis ball.

Ok here it is

I really don't like posting cryptic stuff and no one but friends read this any way....so here goes.

I may have my grandchild (who I have never met) as a resident for a time.  Child protective services is involved and I am not sure if it will happen, if so when, or for how long.  I know she is 5 years old and her name is Zoey.

In a nut shell, my daughter asked and I said yes.  I even thought about it before saying yes, but it all became overwhelming to think about so I just said yes.  I know I think too much sometimes, and sometimes I don't think enough.  But this was a pretty clear YES situation.


So, while working through my fledgling business, what I want to be when I grow up, failing finances.....I am trying to figure out to incorporate a 5 year old into the mix.  Daddy almost died last December-but he's still here and so is Mom.  Clearly the universe is telling me it's not time to head out on the rowdy road or go on Safari.


I bounce between being excited, scared, angry and combos of all the above.  That said I do enjoy situations where action is clearly needed and I am the one who must act.  I spend so much time in life's little grey areas, that a nice shot of clarity is refreshing.

I also gave up cussing and video games for lent and with this new development my head may explode-but I've not played a video game and I only owe 12.00 to the cuss jar.

I'm still here

In a  bit of transition of a transition-and can't speak much of it now.  It's big and earth shattering (for me) and I really despise people who do what I am doing now but know I'm still around and will share when I can.

This may be the most frightening, daring, heartbreaking thing yet....like in all my life EVER.  If it comes to pass it will be because it is suppose to be-and I have no regrets about sticking my neck on the line because it was clearly the right choice.  Notice I didn't say "I had no choice"....I'm owning the choice right up front too.  Yay me.

Now excuse please while I go back into the fetal position for awhile longer.

Days 8-9-10 and 11

I fell prey to the snow and sore muscles-haven't done a full 15 minutes in days-but do stretch each night.  Maybe THAT will become my routine-since it really does appear to make for a less stiff morning wake up.

I'm really working on finding what works for me rather than follow a formula.  I DO look at formulas though-to see if anything in them might work for me.

People are really food crabby this time of year.  The holidays are over, the weight gain is real, and they are looking for the next magic bullet.  I'm avoiding most food discussions right now because people get evangelical about whatever they've chosen.  They WANT to believe.  I am beginning to suspect the thing you need to believe in is yourself-but if that is the case it is something a person has to come to realize on their own.

Day 6 and 7 of 21 Feb

I had a weird victory.  I did not do yoga last night-because I had a 5 hour flyball practice and helped push a car out of the snow.  I was tired.  For ME-realizing that the needs of the body outweigh the needs of a "perfect" 21 days is huge-and  I was rewarded by being able to walk again today.

Sometimes I get so task oriented I forget to see the bigger picture-the goal is not 21 perfect days-it's flexible joints.  Popped out tendons aren't very flexible.  Wow-in 7 million years I might even evolve a brain.

Cutting back on dairy means I have to be more careful with acidy stuff like tomatoes.  That is a pretty boring thing to note-but it does make me realize how much everything is really connected.  One change here-makes another one over there.  The up side is-I taste certain flavors more intensely now.  Cilantro-always nice-is now heavenly.  For some odd reason-I like lemon a LOT.

The Yoga helped with last week's snow bound experience-with more snow on the way.  Yippee skippy-but I can walk and my toilet works and life is good!

Day 4 and 5 of 21 Feb

It's a lucky thing I selected something that could be worked on easily at home-we've been snowed in all week.  I'm focusing on making my positions smooth and holding them properly and I'm really getting in some good stretches.

Today we have sun and are supposed to be over 32 degrees-so maybe a little snow will melt.  We have more snow due for tomorrow.  I'm just taking one minute at a time and trying not to give in to the cranky mindset.

I would make a good hermit-I enjoy hanging out with Oliver the Parrot and the dogs and the kitties.  I'm not sure I'm "wintering on Cape Cod" material yet.  A week is not the same as several months.  I love the idea of holing up writing and hanging out with my furry and feathered friends-but I'm also afraid I'd feel really claustrophobic. My reality is that I need to be able to be near my parents if they need me-so it's fun to think about but not practical to actually do.

What I COULD do is some kind of summer or spring isolation thing-where I could get home if they needed me.  I'll have to give that some thought.  The first thing that comes to mind is that there cannot be bears-so where would one go to be isolated and bear free?

I also need a toilet and a shower.  I'm high maintenance. Electricity and internet.  I'm hopeless.

Day 2 and 3 of 21/February

This yoga thing has proved to be a good choice.  15 minutes a day can be tucked in right before bed and it seems to be a good habit to develop.  I burned a yoga mix in Itunes and I just put it on and do my few poses.  You can't do a lot in 15 minutes-and I'm concentrating on quality of pose, not quantity.

Right now I can only focus on what I'm doing, my balance and not busting my ass-so I don't think I'll get a burst of insight from the practice-but I am already feeling a little more limber.

I added a little cheese and some egg into my diet-just not interested in meat right now.  Oh, I have had fish a couple of times.

Ironically, I am drying meat for training treats for the dogs.  It keeps me occupied during this snow storm and keeps the house a little warmer as well.  Once I started it I realized drying and freezing (that don't get THAT dry) might be better tackled now rather than in July when it's 103 degrees outside.

OTP was feeling left out so I cooked him an egg this morning and gave him a cube of cheese.  It's never a good idea to let the parrot feel left out and I wouldn't want to   make him feel bad anyway.  He listens to the music and watches me do the yoga each night-and I don't think he's quite figured it all out yet-but I'm dying to hear what he comes up with-because you know he will eventually have something to say about it.

Day 1 of 21/Feb

I am going to do 21 days of daily yoga practice for February-just 15 minutes a day.  I've incorporated a lot of what I discovered in my vegan experience into daily living and shopping habits.  I want to continue to explore new ways of being each month.

Actually, I've tried vegan before-and I've done yoga.  I guess the new part is a 21 day trial....or something-I don't know.

We are ass deep in snow and some of the critters love it-some don't.  This time last year I was laid up unable to walk, snowed in with no working toilet-so this year it is pretty  much smooth sailing.  You spend a week with no working toilet and a leg injury that does allow you to walk or bend over-THEN you come griping to me about a little snow.  I grin from ear to ear each time I sit on the toilet with no pain and feel like shouting woo hoo when I get a good flush-yeah-it's the little things.

Day 20, 21 and beyond

Vegan is tough-I suppose being hard core rigid ANYTHING is tough.  It wasn't tough from the standpoint of not having things to eat-it was tough having the appropriate stuff available.

I really do see a difference in aches and pains from less dairy and NO Splenda.  I will be taking artifical sweeteners off the menu permanently.

I watched Food Inc. and have downloaded Earthlings.  Control of our food supplies is scary, and something we'd all be better off thinking about.  The solution is simple-vote with your dollars.  I will pay more attention to my own garden this year-try to produce more things I will eat vs. things I just like to watch grow (aka-SAGE).

I will purchase more vegan product and rely less on dairy.  I joined a food coop and will be eating free range eggs and focus on locally grown produce.  I think that will make me a healthier person and make the economy healthier as well-again-voting with dollars for the kind of world I would like to have.

Day 16, 17, 18 and 19 of 21

I've made some tasty stuff this week.  Caramelized cabbage and soy crumble tacos, a butternut squash soup.

Vegan is easy at home and harder than hell at a sit down restaurant.  I'm trying to decide what I want to incorporate on an ongoing basis.  I have no interest in always being the deciding vote about where we go eat.  I read an article that said vegans and vegetarians often influence the choices for groups.  Pfffft.  I don't want to be the pain in the ass EVERY TIME.

I am sure I will rely less on dairy and more on soy cheese, almond cheese etc.  I'm going to give up my butter habit-that was freaking TOUGH but I see benefit from doing so.

Someone asked me what the point was if I was going to do 21 days and not make LASTING change.  I think people are far too rigid-which is why they never ever try anything new.  They walk out and declare "I AM A VEGAN" or "I AM A  whatever" and then don't talk about it if they change their mind.

I've been cautioned against being thought of as a person who tries too many things-I find that laughable.  The key word here is TRY.  I hate labels.  LOATHE them. I am not any of the things I do.  I am not any of the things I try.  I continue to do what I enjoy-until I don't enjoy it any  longer.

There was once upon a time when I actually loved accounting.  Then I loved compliance work-yes it fascinated me.  Now I pretty much love hanging out with my dogs and OTP and the cats.  It doesn't pay as well, and that is somewhat of a problem but there are trade offs in most things.

Someone this week told me they were "afraid" to try a food.  Really=afraid?  Cause if you are truly fearful of having a taste you don't like in your mouth for a few seconds then I think you might have bigger problems.  It just goes to show how emotional we all are about food.  Because honestly-why should I care if so and so is afraid to try a food-yet I did care.  See-I can turn those laser eyes on myself too.

I guess the over riding answer for all of this is I don't know any answers-I'm just trying things to see what works and keeping what does and tossing away the rest.  If I were planning to have a tombstone-it wouldn't read "She ate meat" or "She ate no living thing".

I won't have a tomb stone-so I took a great deal of thought in preparing Uncle John's.  His reads "I Y'am what I Y'am".  I don't think he'd mind sharing it with me since I won't have one of my own.

However, after day 21 I might put a little cheese or butter (just a drop)on my yams.

Day11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of 21

Day 14 was vegetarian not vegan-I had some cheese.  There might have been something vegan on the menu, but it was late, I was tired, cold and hungry-so damn me, I ate cheese......and I LIKED IT.

But then I just went mad and had a frapucino with whipped cream-and I loved it.....dear cows forgive me-I loved the whipped cream.

Today I just went back to vegan I am going to finish this out, probably eat less dairy because I do feel better and then just take the rest of it as it comes.  I don't like labels of any sort and I really find the different types of vegetarians (oh I'm ovo-lacto, I am a ovo-pescetairain-no dairy for me) a little off putting.  I honestly don't give a shit what anyone else eats, unless I am preparing a menu-then I care for one meal-that meal.

That probably makes me the cranky gluten free vegetarian type if you want to put a label on it.

One thing I have to think about some more is my Splenda habit.  I ditched splenda and went to plain old sugar during this time-and well, I don't eat through a quarter cup of Sugar a day-I easly went through that much Splenda just in my coffee.  And, I drink less coffee too.

My thought is that the energy provided by the sugar some how satiates me-so I get by on less coffee.  Less coffee means less soy creamer-so the calories might just even out. Or not.  I don't know and I'm too lazy to think about it further right now.

Day 9 and 10 of 21

I don't feel right about complaining about the weather when we are just cold and I know people buried in snow-but DANG-it's cold.

I brought home 3 project dogs-2 young male pups and an older female-chihuahuas-and potty training in 14 degrees is not fun.  Pancho, Lefty and Dixie are handling it better than I think.  It does make them appreciate a cuddle when I go to bring them in-bonding assistance.  Silver lining I suppose.

Marilu Henner called and left a recorded message for me as part of the vegan kickstart.  Yeah, I know it was a recordng and I know it was more to plug her book-but you know what-I LIKED it.  I was at staples and I got to turn to a stranger and say "Wow, Marilu Henner just called."

I know some pretty accomplished peopled-but they are usually people known within a small circle of people-not folks that the lady in the Staples aisle would know.  So, I was chuffed.  I even remembered to post it on Facebook.

Today I am making fuzzy melon soup and will contemplate cooking next week as opposed to my current strategy of buying healthy vegan fast food.  It's still cheaper than a trip through the drive through, and much healthier-but how hard can it be to cook a pot of rice?  EGADS-does this mean I am contemplating giving up my precooked rice too?

Yeah-I know I'm lazy in the kitchen-the best strategy for me has been to make easy to heat healthy food available-and that's been a good start.  But I think I could do better.

Day 7 and 8 of 21

Day 7 involved the flu that came on the latter part of day 6.  I first thought it was the cold front making me achy-but then the sore throat started and even my eyes began to hurt.  Oh yeah houston, we have a flu.

I took the shots but something always slips by them it seems. In spite of all my caterwalling it was most likely Flu Light-I was really achy and cranky and then I slept for most of Sunday.  Today I feel like I have HAD the flu vs I HAVE the flu-so that's a good sign too.

The Tofu/Eggplant I got from Dot Wo's was my snack project for the weekend-that stuff is better cold than it is hot-and it gets better each day that passes.

My stomach still feels "odd" which I think is from the lack of dairy.  I really do eat more dairy than a person ought to-and I will try to be more mindful of using substitutes.  Tofu cream cheese really is just as tasty as cream cheese.

I wonder if some of my vitamin absorption problems don't stem from having a colon covered with -OH_KJ_STOP RIGHT NOW PLEASE.........Never mind.  I am not going to finish that thought-just restate that I eat too much dairy and need to work on that.

Oliver the parrot does NOT like tofu-it looks like cheese cheese cheese but is not-and he isn't fooled and he has spoken.  NO tofu for OTP.  He does like hummus chips and pappadums (lentil chips)-but does not like soy chips-he's just not a soy fan I guess.

He's started his January molt so I'm giving him more nuts and of course his favorite remains CASHEWS...you wanna CASHEW?  HUH?  YES?  CASHEW CASHEW CASHEW.  He pretty much approves of the 7 day vegan thing-except, of course, for the soy.

Day 5 and 6 of 21

Not sure where yesterday went-I was busy and meant to post and never did.  Ah well.  My favorite Chinese place, Dot Wo, worked up a tofu dish for me that was awesome and I've been eating on it for two days now.

I seem to be a little more acid sensitive since I am not pounding down the dairy.  I can't say that I am cranky because I haven't cut out sugar or carbs (that always makes me really cranky) but I do not feel like accepting a bunch of foolishness either.

It's a bizarre feeling-I can't say that I get mad easily-but I do speak up more easily about things.  I have no idea what, if anything that has to do with meat or animal products.  Maybe it has more to do with turning 50.

I also seem less likely to try to explain my point of view.  If I need to, I can and well, but if it's something that ultimately I have to decide I'm ok with just deciding  and saying "ok I hear you" if someone disagrees. People seem to spend an awful lot of time espousing their points of view and very little time acting on them.

I'm trying to talk less/do more which is great because it turn that gives me something to write about.  I write better about what I just DID than what I'd like to do.

Today I went with Bandit (a chihuahua pup) to pick up our raw meat order.  At the meat truck I bartered some chicken hearts for some ground chicken (a lady needed the hearts and I had the only bag, which I did not need).  I felt like a modern day cave woman-and it was a weird thing to do during my 21 vegan days.

I don't mind being a little odd.  My dots will connect eventually.

Day 4 of 21

I ate a banana today.  I stood at the market and looked at fruit and decided it was a texture issue with me.  Blech.  Don't like it.

Tonight I heard from my daughter on Facebook-I haven't seen her in over 5 years-since before HER daughter was born.  Estranged family is odd.  I AM glad to hear from her and trying just to take it one step at a time and see what we have in common.  I don't do the movie reunion crap well-neither dramatic or falsely coy.  There is no time for coyness, and I don't need the drama and neither does she.  We'll just see.

Oddly enough, I'm planning on being in her town (she's in Texas) in a couple of weeks-and I hope she wants to meet.  I mean, I really do.  I'd like to see her, especially if she's doing ok.

I will be sad if she's NOT doing ok-because I do care about her, but I'm not going to let potential sadness get in the way of maybe potential happiness.  I'm so damn pragmatic I annoy even myself.

Day 3 of 21

Today has not started well-my prozac got stuck.  I don't know what is in that formulation-but it is the nastiest taste on the planet and when it sticks and comes open I foam and puke and wretch loudly for about an hour.  If anyone has ever seen a dog or a cat bite into a droncit tablet (Lolo) it's the same concept.

Yesterday I bought some interesting vegan food to help keep my interest up.  The health food store has some prepackaged, microwavable indian dishes which I enjoy.  They are a little pricey-but cheaper than a restaurant and if I like them I might make bigger batches.  I hate making big batches of things that I don't care for-I then feel obligated to eat it.    I readily admit I treat myself like dirt sometimes-often without even thinking.  I would never ask anyone else to eat several meals of something they didn't care for.

I also got some gluten free stuff-I'm sure my aches are in part due to slipping up a bit on that.  I'm not terribly allergic-just sensitive-but I need to watch it anyway.

We are down to one rescued parakeet now-the second to the last passed a day or so ago.  Parakeets are odd-they look fine and then are just dead-no real warning.  Mice are the same way.  I decided to leave this guy in his flight cage even though he's alone-it's the safest place he's known.  He calls a little to Oliver the parrot now-who still hates him but will call to him just to be nice.  Oliver never liked the parakeets-he only likes other African Greys, dogs and cats.  You'd have to ask him why that is-I have no idea.

Day 2 of 21

I really suck at topical stuff-I'm going to post 21 days but I can't think of 21 minutes of things to say about vegan kickstarts, let alone 21 days.

I feel better today because I didn't gorge on high fat salty food.  Well, DUH.  Not much to talk about there.  Oliver the Parrot likes brown rice which is odd because he will not touch white rice.  Ok...done talking about that.

Some people got upset when I mentioned the vegan thing-not my folks who would not be surprised if I said I had taken up eating road kill for environmental reasons-I'm a food freak and always have been.  It just amazes me that anyone cares one way or the other what I eat or don't eat.

 In Texas I had a guy get really rude because I asked if there was meat in a certain burrito at Taco bell.  He was in line behind me and he made some kind of snarky comment to me.  I turned around and said "HOW RUDE" because that's really all I could think of to say and he's wife yelled at him and I laughed and said it was OK.

I suppose it really wasn't OK-but I really didn't care what he thought I was going to eat my burrito the way I wanted it-and people tend to talk to me in lines.  Some day I am going to make a list of embarrassing and TMI shit people have revealed to me in lines.  I have one of those plain faces that people just want to talk to and tell things to.  Lucky me.

Day 1 of 21

I am doing the 21 day vegan kickstart.  I thought I'd write about it here.  There is no real political social drive to doing this-I just became aware of it, thought it sounded reasonable (21 days is not forever) and I've been looking for something to spark some interest in health.  Ok, I was looking for a catalyst-I'm interested in being healthy-just not interested enough to do much about it lately.

In preparation for health I gorged for the past week or so on any high fat, high cholestral meat based food that crossed my path, with additional points of sodium content.  So, today I woke up feeling pretty fat and bloated and ready for a change.

I already had things like beans, peanut butter and boca burgers-but I did buy some soy milk for my coffee and soy cheese for my beans-so I'm all set.  I read some recipes, but didn't go all out and prepare menu plans for the week because I don't roll that way.  I made a nice blackeyed pea/corn salad for lunch with enough leftover for one other meal-that's how I prefer to plan ahead.  An 8 serving something just depresses the hell out of me unless it's chili or cole slaw-which I can pretty much just eat on till they are gone.  I didn't make either of those on purpose because I felt like it would almost be cheating-I'll do that next week when I don't want to think so hard about things.

I did get the fixings for some baba ganoush-but I'll make it tomorrow.  I love that stuff, but they would kick me out of dog class tonight-so it's best eaten in solitude...I'm thoughtful that way.