Experimonth: a summary of the food February 8, 2010

So, I’ve knocked out the first meatless week of my life and as I’ve mentioned before: it’s been a lot less challenging than I expected. In the past seven days I haven’t been THAT experimental… but I have tried a few things that were very tasty and I believe deserve mention. Mostly though I’ve eaten a lot of cheese and crackers, a few peanut butter & Nutella sandwiches, and a WHOLE LOTTA Tex-Mex. Basically I would categorize myself more as a dairy-tarian…

Anyway, the two things that have been the most surprisingly tasty were 1)the Bean Patty at Chili’s (that you can substitute for any burger). From a girl who has never really liked beans AT ALL unless there were in green bean casserole, that’s a pretty big admission. Not only was it tasty, but I felt like I was eating a burger. It felt right, filled me up, and was delicious with my toppings of choice. And 2) The Grilled Veggie Burrito from Qdoba. Now, I am a Chipotle girl through and through. But I decided to give her counterparts a chance this past week. Moe’s failed to impress in their veggie friendly quesadilla (I think it’s just too greasy for me). But Qdoba, she came through. I’ve gotten two of the burritos so far because the sauteed veggies were just so… I’m looking for another word besides the already over-used tasty and delicious… my computer offered these options: delicious, palatable, luscious, mouthwatering, delectable, ambrosial, toothsome, dainty, flavorful; appetizing, tempting; informal yummy, scrumptious, finger-licking, lip-smacking, melt-in-your/the-mouth; pick any of them.

I also picked up a Vegan Minestrone soup February 1st that was pretty good. It was perfect for the weather at work and the lentils and red beans weren’t that hard for me to stomach.

The moral of the story is: if I wasn’t allowed to have cheese I would starve, also, I really need to go grocery shopping. I want to make something involving eggplant and I’m trying to work up the nerve to make a quiche with tofu.

Originally, I was going to allow myself eggs, fish, and cheese the first week and drop the eggs and fish for the second week. I am not sure how I feel about this decision now. I didn’t eat a lot of egg at all the first week and I didn’t touch any fish. I may go get some sushi or hummus today for lunch.

So, that is what I have been eating and what I plan to eat. From here on out, whether my posts have anything to do with Experimonth or not I will try to add a summary of daily foods to the end of the post (for those of you who are curious). If you have any good recipes or ideas, send em my way.

Peace

a break February 4, 2010

I’m used to telling stories in this forum. Or telling you about stories I’ve read, or things I’ve found inspiring. So, discovering that being a vegetarian is not that difficult has made the desire to blog about experimonth dwindle. I still plan on trying out a few specifically vegetarian places so I can tell you about that.

But right now I have something cooler to tell you about. I got two tattoos today. That’s right, two. And my amazing tattoo artist Angelo Nales from Redletter1 was so nice and helpful and quick that the whole experience was pretty awesome. I fully encourage that if you live in Tampa you check out Redletter1. It’s an art studio, too, so a pretty cool place all around.

I’m sure I’ll tell you more about the actual tattoos and how it all went down tomorrow when I’m not as tired. And I’ll get some pictures when they’re presentable. But all in all I’d really just like to tell you that I really like my life right now. It’s trucking forward in so many positive ways. If everything keeps happening the way it looks, I will have some very good stories to tell.

Experimonth: Day 2 February 2, 2010

So, it’s day two. Today I was a bit more creative with my food. I ate a peanut butter and nutella sandwich for breakfast, had some coffee, at a mozzarella and tomato sandwich for lunch, and then got an “instant friend” from the Moe’s menu for dinner. (I know, Moe’s… I never eat there… but laziness won tonight.) I’m not finding this as challenging as I expected. And now I feel a bit like a cop-out in the Experimonth challenge.

The coolest thing I’ve figured out about this whole project so far stems from a conversation I had with a friend last night who reminded me about the whole eating for your blood type idea. He mentioned that people with type A blood are suggested to have a vegetarian diet. I decided to see if I could find any information about it today. And when I find the website above it blew my mind. Some of the information was eerily correct. I shared this information with Pam and told I her I feel as though I have a whole new lease on life. A new permission to eat differently than my parents. I’ve been fascinated with being vegetarian for awhile and I’ve never really liked eating meat. Now, with this information about how my blood type interacts with the food I eat and the activities I’m involved in (even down to how prone to stress I am and what stresses me out) I feel as though I can start making better choices about what I do, what I eat, and how I go about my day. I’m excited to see how this plays out. I feel really good. It’s been two days without meat and I don’t miss it at all.

I say check out that website. See what it says about your blood type. And if you don’t know your blood type, a good way to find out is by donating blood. Which I think everyone should do at least once in your life, if you can.

Also, I promise that I will stop writing these posts near midnight so that they are more interesting. I doubt many of you made it through all that drivel. My sincerest apologies and consider this my promise to do better.

n.

Experimonth: Day 1 February 2, 2010

I was going to write daily about my experiment, but I was just typing boring drivel that no one would want to read. Suffice it to say, my first day of being a vegetarian was not that difficult, nor very exciting. Not nearly as challenging as some friends of mine who are doing a fruit cleanse. Or involved as Pam who is Uni-Tasking, or self-denying as Tim eating on a dollar a day, or as creative as Michael’s (who is praying according to a Muslim schedule for the month, which means he will be waking up at 5:55 am every day.) Or even as involved as Maddy’s (who is doing something pretty cool, but hard to describe) But I plan to get more creative. To actually go grocery shopping for food and not fall back on french fries and cheese sticks.

In the next 27 days if you happen to get some Chick-Fil-A think of me. And keep checking here for, hopefully, some exciting stories and shenanigans.

Until then, goodnight.

Summary:

Cheese and crackers for breakfast

Back to Nature: Pacific Heights Blend Almond Snack

A Vegan Minestrone soup I picked up on the way to work

Cheese Sticks and Shock Top at Applebee’s

I drank mostly water the rest of the day (I believe two Nalgene’s worth)

Experimonth January 27, 2010

So, January is coming to a close and we’ll be finished with the first month of the new decade. By now most people’s New Year’s Resolutions are starting to wane and they’re wondering why they decided working out every day for an hour and 45 minutes was a good idea. At least that’s what I think they people that visit where I work are starting to think.
In my personal life, most of my friends (as well as myself) didn’t make a New Year’s Resolution. We’re jaded. Or at least pretending to be. But we also like to read a lot of books and get involved in social causes. So, maybe we’re not. I dunno, you’re supposed to be weird in your 20s, right?
The long and the short of this is that my friend Pam has decided to try an experiment with the month of February. You can check out her blog for the details and the inspiration. I’ll just say that she is probably the biggest fan of A.J. Jacobs that I know. So, she, for the month of February, in hopes to develop better habits, will become a Uni-Tasker. Pretty much she’s a salmon fighting her way upstream. I applaud the effort. Her friend Tim is going to try something called the One Dollar Diet Project which will force him to eat on what equals spending a dollar a day. Can you imagine eating for an entire month on only $28?

I decided I didn’t want to be left out of the month of experiments. So, I picked something that has intrigued me for awhile that I felt would be a big challenge. I am going to try to be a vegetarian for the month of February. I’m saying this very naively, since I know next to nothing about it. But I have a few friends that are vegetarians, so I’ll be looking to them for some wisdom. And I picked up this book from the Library:

I’m equal parts excited, nervous, and hopeful that this experiment will work out. And happy that I’ll have at least two other people trying challenging things for this month. Don’t worry, we’re all aware that February is the shortest month and we’re cheating a little bit, but hey, what’re you doing that month?

If I may make a few suggestions? Find a way to reduce how much gas you use for the month. Volunteer with a local charity or service project every weekend of the month. If you haven’t read a book in awhile, try to read one a week for the month of February. Or maybe just start chatting with some of your friends and find something that you’re interested in and do it together.  And know I’ll be cheering you on and would appreciate you cheering me on, too.

Making people cry… January 20, 2010

There have been a few times in my life that I have made another person cry. I’m not really a bully, but these few times… well, they make me feel guilty.

Both of these stories take place in kindergarten. One centers around the fact that my mom, though very encouraging in the growth of my imagination, taught me about St. Nicholas as a child and how that spurred the myth of Santa Clause. So, I was never believed my Christmas presents were delivered by a jolly old elf (also none of my presents were ever signed by him), but I appreciated what he represented at Christmas and we still have the obligatory yearly pictures for most of my childhood.

Unfortunately, my mom may have neglected to mention that not every kid knew about St. Nicholas and the fact that Santa wasn’t a real person.  First time I remember making someone cry was a little girl I knew who believed in Santa. I believe she started talking about him and I told her he wasn’t a real person. She burst into tears and ran to tell her mom… At that point I think I got rather upset because I didn’t understand why my friend was so distraught. My mom rather diplomatically told me that while she appreciated that I did not want to lie to my friend some parents taught their children different stories about Santa Clause. She told me it was alright if I knew that Santa was based on another person, but I should probably let other kids’ parents tell them about it themselves.

Yeah, I was the kid that crushed other kids’ dreams about Santa. Oh well.

The second time I remember making someone cry was during one of my ridiculous t-ball matches. We had hideous bright orange shirts and white shorts and were the co-ed EastBay little league t-ball team. I was on the team with several kids from my church and super excited to play baseball just like my daddy. Usually they stuck me in the left outfield because I was more interested in the flowers that grew out there than the actual game going on. I think I even remember wishing I had a book with me when I was stuck out there…. I was 5.

Anyway, this one particular game I was playing the position of shortstop I think. Bear in mind that there were adults all over the field with us to help us play the game. At some point the ball ended up in my possession and I needed to throw it to second base so a kid from the other team could be tagged out. So, I did. I executed one of the best aimed throws of my short, rather uneventful career. Unfortunately, the kid I threw the ball to decided to catch the ball with his face.

The funny thing about this story is that I actually cried before and longer than he did. So much pressure. Needless to say I did not spend much more time on any baseball team ever.

These days when I make people cry it’s usually because they’re hormonal. I say this in love… and with much understanding. I’ve reached the stage in my life where because I’m a girl I can pretty much cry at anything. Particularly Allstate commercials and Publix holiday commercials, they get me every time. My friend Pam thinks she cries too much. I think it shows how tender her heart is and that to me is a good thing. The other night I made her cry (just a few tears) because I wanted to tell her how special I think she is. I don’t feel as bad about making people cry these days. Especially when I’m telling them about love, or reminding them of important parts of who they are that they may have forgotten. Sometimes, when I’m on stage with my mom on Sunday mornings and she asks me to share something to set up a song I get choked up myself, thinking about the power of truth and how people need to be reminded of things.

I want to be known for speaking truth into people’s lives. Even if it makes them cry. Because usually, it ends with laughter bubbling through the tears.

classic Disney January 19, 2010

There’s a line in Toy Story after Buzz Lightyear shows the collection of toys the fancy things he can do, culminating in an aerial acrobatic show, in which Woody, sounding a little piqued says, “That wasn’t flying! That was… falling with style!” Now, typically I root for Woody, but this time, I feel like he’s being a bit of a naysayer…

This is connected in my head to the Switchfoot song “Burn Out Bright” in the chorus Jon Foreman laments that “time was never on our side” so “before I die, I want to burn out bright.” He talks about young ambition and efforts misspent. I think somehow I connected the ideas that falling with style and burning out bright are sort of the same thing.

It’s a show for other people. One that accomplishes something, sure, and may have hard to determine motives from a surface perusal. But a noble idea nonetheless. The content of the story for “Burn Out Bright” is that we mess things up… head in the wrong direction, but still can try to refocus our lives for maximum impact. Falling with style implies forward movement and even though you may have fallen you did it in the right direction. Sort of like that cheesy inspirational quote, “Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you’ll land among the stars.” That’s what I want to say without the cheeze. (The z was intentional). I agree with Jon Foreman, I want to burn out bright, and I know I won’t always actually live a life worth noticing. I intend to not necessarily fall, but sometimes, if i fail, fail with style. Ever hoping, looking toward a goal. I have blessings I can share with other people, and I want to, so I will.

i should write… January 8, 2010

i should write. i have ideas, stories, things to say, etc. but i can’t find motivation. i tell myself that i need to stockpile the stories so that when i hit a slump of not feeling inspired i can publish from a back-log of sorts. but i’ve never really made one. so, i’m stuck and you’re stuck with two weeks of silence because i can’t find anything worth saying at the right time.

i could tell you i’ve been reading a lot in these two weeks or so off. i’ve read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and given up on it because it was just too sad. but i did like the part in his interview for MTV’s The Real World where he talks about a snake shedding his skin. i feel like that’s what this blog is for me. shed skin. stories i’m giving you because they don’t really belong to me anymore. the person i am writing the stories is different than the person who experienced them.

i could tell you that i’m a week in to a new year, new decade, new age of my life and i’m still not who i want to be. i go to bed each night thinking about the girl who’ll wake up in my spot, hoping she’ll be different…. but she isn’t. and this morning it’s almost too cold to get out of bed.

there are happy things, too. my big sister is getting married tomorrow. i found a dress to wear to the wedding for $30, which is a steal by most accounts. i’m going to wear fancy high heels and look smashing. and when the day is over i’ll have a novel to keep me company.

there are things i want to tell you. things i want to get off my chest. but it’s hard to be honest about them.

i feel stupid, and contagious, here we are now, entertain us.

Why Bookstores Frustrate Me December 30, 2009

I’ve always been in awe of book stores. My mom used to take me to a smallish bookstore in town and I would seat myself on the floor between rows of books and read the spines and backs of hundreds of books until she told me it was time to leave. When we visited Barnes and Noble I would find several books and one of the large leather chairs and hide myself there for hours. I usually finished a book or two in the cozy confines of this book sanctuary.

Today I went to Borders with my friend Pam for the specific purpose of buying a Paperchase journal. I started getting these journals 4 or 5 years ago and absolutely love them. We ended up meandering around the store for a couple hours. I was making a shallow attempt to find novelty books and whatnot knick-knacks because I am currently very broke, thus unable to afford anything in Borders.

I walked around bouncing a pink India rubber High Bounce ball, occasionally picking up a book to peruse it’s “about me” section. I finally landed in the Literature section. And I felt this sense of frustration rising. I found around 5 or 6 books based as spin-offs of classic Jane Austen literature. I know that this has recently hit big with Pride & Prejudice & Zombies and the like, but c’mon people… get your own freakin’ story! Don’t “borrow” her characters and attempt to re-write, continue, and re-cast them. They are not your characters.

There’s writing an homage to great story lines and genius characters… and then there is riding the coattails of someone else’s fame. Attaching yourself to Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett just seems cheap and lazy. This frustrates me.

In a forward to one of his books Ray Bradbury describes the feeling he had when walking into a library when he started his writing career. He would see the names of famous authors on the shelves and hope not to become like them, titans of literature that they were, he hoped to be a lapdog, nipping at the their heels, effectively chasing genius to create his own fame. Now, you may not think he’s on par in a literature sense with Miss Austen, but I feel the magic in his words, he moves me and inspires me to read and write. And here’s the clincher: find my own voice and shout into the megaphone of print.      There are hundreds of thousands of books unloaded in bookstores large and small all over the world everyday and a million more words added to blogs everyday. So many words written it’s probably hardly quantifiable in a way that would make sense to the average human mind, so I don’t think notoriety is the goal. Topping the New York Times’ Best-Seller list hardly seems noteworthy anymore… I’d rather spark someone’s soul. I’d love to be the gateway drug to the world of literature for some lost soul forced to read something for a school project rather than the newest show dog for a chain bookstore.

I can (and will) write a lot of small things. Mostly anecdotes of my life and experiences. And hopefully one great work (maybe not heartbreaking) but hopefully of staggering genius that will rock someone’s world, challenge them, and inspire them. I think I may be coming across as righteous, opinionated, maybe even cocky, generally I’m not, but today, when getting published seems easily possible I hate to see so much space taken up with work that is less than worthy. And that there’s such a large market for it. <end rant>

The Writer, writeth December 24, 2009

“Oh, daughter that art the writer-eth,” yes my mom really talks like this, “I need you to ‘Noel’ these narrations for me.” So, Christmas Eve is here, and we’re blasting Christmas music through the house and making goodies and tons of food for the myriad of people that will be coming in and out of the house over the next two days.
Since I was little Christmas Eve has been a blustery, flustered, busy day. A few years ago my mom and I were both on staff of different churches and had to attend certain services every year. Which meant I went to one Christmas Eve service by myself usually after the one my parents put together at their church. This year I’m attending two of my own volition.

And Christmas is finally here. I’m excited about this. Even though money has been tight for me I managed to make/give some pretty rock-awesome Christmas gifts. And we’re back to my favorite part for this season.

I think Eugene Peterson says it best:
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish.

You know I’m obsessed with words, the life they bring, the inspiration they create, the worlds made possible by stringing a few together. But this Word, this Story of redeeming love, glory come to earth, salvation, hope… NOTHING trumps this. He was born to die, so that I might truly live, see the world for the beauty it was created to be, and people as whole.
I’m grateful that in all the ways I was created in Your image that you gave me a gift for words. And an outlet for them. Let Your words be my words, and my words be Your words, and let us remember that You are the Real Author.