Day 34: Depending on the kindness of strangers

So, here I am in Seattle, depending on the kindness of strangers...conference organizers, event caterers, chain restaurants. But it's working out just fine, thank goodness.

After an uneventful flight to Seattle, I trundled me and my crap over to the conference center because the hotel didn't have a room for me yet. Just in time for lunch, woo hoo! A lunch where there were actually 2 vegan side dishes available, according to the wait staff anyway. Now, I have to confess that I believe I had a non-vegan moment at lunch. I took a big heaping helping of the salad, poured some vinaigrette on it and skipped the bowl of shredded parmesan. But I do believe there was parmesan pre-mixed into the salad. (Pretty meager amount, but still.)

Next hurdle was the Speaker's Dinner. At Maggiano's. A moderate chain Italian restaurant. A place where vegetarian would be no problem, but vegan? I wasn't sure.

Luckily the conference staff and dinner sponsor took my and my troublesome veganism under their wing without the least bit of exasperation. And the restaurant manager got into the act too.

None of this helped me with the other major activity of this dinner...wine and gin tasting (yes, gin tasting.) My alcohol allergy kept me from participating in that...and I was feeling a little left out and woebegone. Until they brought me my own special food...the sun came out and shined on me...so thanks to Teresa from the BlogBusiness Summit, the evening's sponsor, Lori Randall from Randall PR and the Maggiano's kitchen and management.

Breakfast:
Black Coffee
Orange Juice
A little bag of airplane Pretzels

Lunch:
Salad (with Vinaigrette and a tiny bit of Parmesan to my chagrin)
Asian Noodles and Cabbage
Chick Peas with Onions and Tomatoes
Fresh Fruit
Sourdough Roll
Lemonade
Black Coffee

Dinner:
Sourdough Roll
Salad with Chickpeas, Olives,  and Vinaigrette
Penne with Oilve Oil, Garlic and Mushrooms

Seriously, how can I NOT be losing more weight eating like this? I've lost a little, but not a ton. I don't drink; I don't eat dessert; I don't eat cheese. Compared to how I'm sure I would have eaten before, it seems like I'm eating so much less. Or at least so much less fattening and unhealthy.

Which, I guess, is its own reward.

That, and experiencing the kindness of strangers.