After working all day Saturday and for about five hours on Sunday, I finally took a break to go get my nails done and do some shopping, so I'd finally have something new to wear at a little conference BlogHer is throwing this week in NYC.
I decided it would be really pathetic if the pictures from this year showed me wearing the exact same outfits as last year.
I picked up a little dinner on my way out, and then I finally watched this past week's American Idol. (For the record: No, Chikizie shouldn't have been sent home, Ramiele or Kristy Lee should have, but it's not like he was going to make it more than another 2-3 weeks.)
So the weekend ended with some relaxatoin, even if most of it was marked by work.
Breakfast:
2 Trader Joe's everything-free Waffles
One with Soy Margarine and Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
One with Organic Peanut Butter and Organic Jam
Lunch:
Leftover Pad Thai
Dinner (picked up from CPK):
Miso Salad (no meat)
Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps (yes, they can make these beg, not sure it's worth it though.)
Thai Linguini (no meat)
Kung Pao Spaghetti (no meat)
Soy Cherry Chocolate Chip Cream
So, yes, it was Saturday, and I worked from 7AM to 5PM, but at least I ate some real and yummy food. Which was nice. Continue to appreciate the service at E&O Trading Company, both in general, and specifically to me, as a vegan. It's the kind of restaurant where when you mention you didn't like something, and it sits mostly untouched, they take it off the bill. It's the kind of restaurant that lets you use what is supposed to be a one-time coupon, but doesn't mark it as used, so you can use it again. it's the kind of restaurant where the waiter comes back and apologizes for asking if I wanted cream with my coffee.
On another that's-great-service note, after dinner the S.O. and I went to the San Jose rep to see a show. The usher noticed by doggie bag, and offered me the following service. They take your bags, put them in a fridge during the show, and then leave them for pick-up when you exit. I know they're actually probably doing it to save the rest of their patrons from the smells of leftover food, but I really appreciated it.
Breakfast:
2 Trader Joe's everything-free Waffles
One with Soy Margarine and Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
One with Organic Peanut Butter and Organic Jam
Lunch:
Organic Golden Potatoes with Soy Margarine, Organic avocado and Nutritional Yeast
Scallion Pancake
Tofutti Cuties
Dinner (E&O Trading Company):
Edamame
Butter Lettuce Salad with miso and Pumpkin Seeds
Portabella Satay
Vegan Pad Thai
Being home and all, in control of my own environment.
But it didn't.
Let's just start off my telling you that I got in my car (while talking on the phone) and drove the 40 minutes or so to work, parked in the parking lot and then realized I had left my laptop at home.
That was an awesome discovery.
So I drove all the way back (and stayed there, frankly.)
I then proceeded to eat Garden Fresh leftovers (yes, from the previous Monday, 4 days earlier) all day until at 10:30PM I realized I was starving. Luckily the S.O. was just leaving work, so I had him pick up a little food.
Breakfast:
Garden Fresh
Lunch:
Garden Fresh
Dinner:
2 Rice and Bean Bowls from Taco Bell
Like I said: You'd think after 3 days of meager offerings in DC, you'd think I'd revel in being in my own home with my own fridge and pantry. But I was so busy, I did not :(
Tuesday thru Thursday I was off to DC to speak at a conference. 3 days of plane rides and catered functions pretty much guarantees a sparse menu. On my flight home late Thursday night my stomach was totally protesting. I'm not sure what was in my stomach to be making it cramp and complain, but it was, for three hours, while I was literally stuck in the back row, window seat, for a six hour flight. Travel is sooo glamorous.
Check out my unintended diet plan:
Tuesday/Day 551
Breakfast:
OJ and a biscuit on the plane
Lunch (Actually it was 5PM, but I didn't expect to have much to eat at the catered dinner I was attending, so I ordered room service):
Veggie Burger w/French Fries
Dinner:
Asparagus Salad
Roll
Green Beans and a Tapenade of some sort (the vegan "entree" they came up with.)
Wednesday/D552
Breakfast:
Pineapple and Watermelon slices
Soy Latte
Lunch:
Spinach Side Salad
Roll
Dinner (Open City Diner):
Greens with Dried Cranberries
Veggie Burger and Fries
Diet Coke
Thursday/D553
Breakfast:
1/2 Bagel with Jam
Orange Juice
Coffee
Lunch (Lebanese Taverna in Silver Spring):
Falafel with Fries
Greens
Diet Coke
Dinner:
Pretzels
Diet Coke
Each day I did manage to eat one meal that could be considered substantial, but couldn't really be considered wholesome and healthy. No wonder my stomach rebelled.
Sometimes I just throw caution to the wind and pick up a little vegan food to go for dinner. Monday night was one of those nights. I was leaving the next morning for a business trip, had a ton of work left to do, and had a pretty scary-looking day of eating up until that point. It was time for a square meal.
Who ya gonna call? Garden Fresh. Even though they're a good 20 minutes from home, I figured I could do a little re-heat if I had to. It was a most satisfying decision.
Breakfast:
Vegan Cherry Pie (see what I mean about scary eating all day)
Organic Oatmeal
Cashews
Lunch:
Cashews
Apricot-Applesauce
Cashews
Vegan Cookie (More well-rounded culinary delights)
Dinner (Graden Fresh):
Drumsticks
Sweet and Sour Pork
Orange Vegetarian Beef
Pepper Chicken (A new one I tried...probably wouldn't order again. Too peppery, imagine that!)
If you're interested in what level man's inhumanity to animal can rise to...and how they can even justify it as art, read this. I hate to point you to something so appalling, but it's happening in my home Bay Area, so I feel like I need to raise my voice and protest.
Just wanted to let you know that your current "art" exhibit, which is actually a snuff film, has guaranteed I will NEVER set foot in your facility. I'm a member of the San Jose Museum and frequent other museums regularly, but this lack of judgement...or probably this desire to stir up enough controversy to get attention...is truly beyond my comprehension.
I will defend the Mapplethorpes and the Serranos and the human body exhibits consisting of volunteers...but this is deplorable.
And it is not, no matter the museum's pretentious explanations, ART.
Yes my mom hosted Easter dinner for me, the S.O. my sister and her family. Mostly because we take any excuse to get together and have our lives ruled by the grandchildren.
I've long ago disconnected the occurrence of certain traditional meals from a need to replicate the associated traditional foods veg*n style, so what you'll see in my dinner will have little resemblance to any Easter meal you're familiar with. It's really just an opportunity to get together with family...why should food be what makes it tick?
Breakfast:
2 everything-free Trader Joe's forzen Waffles
One with Organic Peanut Butter and Organic Strawberry Jam
One with Soy margarine and some Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (Ghirardelli's are surprisingly vegan)
Odwalla Grapefruit Juice
Lunch:
Leftover Greens and Meatball Sauce
Dinner:
Carrots and Tortilla Chips with Spicy Hummus
Roasted Potatoes with Olive Oil
Basked Asparagus with Garlic
Vegan Cherry pie with Soy Whip
Is it silly that I continue to count the days on this vegan thing?
It does feel a little silly, but counting is what allows me to know that today marks the year and a half mark since I went vegan. What that's good for? Um, not sure, but there it is.
I am kinda anal about numbers, so it sort of fits my personality to keep counting. I sometimes count steps when I'm climbing them, for example. In my head. Is that a symptom of OCD?
I worked most of yesterday and will part of today until I have to go shopping to bring something vegan over to my mom's for Easter dinner. But I did take a break to throw together a hearty meal, this time even with greens. (Which, I'll be honest, mostly happened because I realized we were out of both rice and pasta, so I needed something to throw my hearty sauce over.) Wouldn't greens be a healthier option every time, not just when I run out of a nice starch? Why yes, it probably would. What's your point?
Breakfast:
2 slices of Sourdough Bread with Soy margarine and SmartDogs
Lunch:
Blue Potato Chips
Root Beer
Vegan Donut Holes (Do you think this spectacularly junky lunch inspired me to cook for dinner? Good guess.)
Dinner:
Trader Joe's Organic Greens With Envy, served with:
A hearty sauce made with: Olive Oil, Garlic, Basil, Organic Leeks, Organic Roma Tomatoes, Organic Cannellini Beans, Organic Petite Peas, Organic Muir Glen Portabella Spaghetti Sauce, a scoop of Tofutti Cream Cheese and Trader Joe's Meatless Meat Balls
Yesterday my eyes felt red, irritated, puffy and watery all day. I couldn't figure out if it was a reaction the alcohol I had imbibed the night before, or the make-up I wore (and thought I properly removed) or if I just was over enthusiastic with the moisturizer or sunblock too close to my eyes. Or maybe it was the lack of sleep.
Whatever it was, I felt out of sorts and couldn't wait to get home in the evening. so, I even turned down another invite to meet my S.O. at his work and go grab a quick dinner. Luckily for me he picked me up a little someth'n someth'n, or I probably would have eaten toast for dinner.
Breakfast:
Organic Banana
Cashews
Lunch:
Chips
Black Bean, Rice, Salsa and Guacamole Burrito
Dinner (Taco Bell):
2 Rice Bowls with Beans, Rice, Lettuce and Salsa
Cherry Chocolate Chip Soy Ice Cream
About 5 or 6 years ago now I developed, out of nowhere, an allergy to alcohol. All alcohol. I tried wine, beer, vodka, tequila, even midori, but any drink with alcohol delivered an increasingly severe reaction. I then went through a period of several years where I just foreswore drinking of any kind at all. When I went to an allergist he seemed to find it unlikely that I could really be allergic to alcohol, but instead thought that all of my other allergies were sort of out of control, and alcohol was acting as a trigger. Whatever. He put me on Claritin and thought that would help.
Finally, after several years of teetotalling, I tried a bit of a nip again and found that I could have half a beer, perhaps half a glass of wine, without much of a reaction. So, that's nice, but the truth is that "not much of a reaction" is still there, so I still avoid alcohol90% of the time.
Thursday night I went to a function and had a glass of pinot. I even drunk most of the glass. Not the best idea, particularly on an empty stomach. And given this was a catered event, you can bet my stomach was going to stay mostly empty. So despite being a little tired, and feeling a little post-wine funky, I did stop by the S.O.'s work, so we could grab dinner together. We really need to find a new place. BJ's Brewery is very conveniently located near where he works, but it really is kind of a menu wasteland for me. What else is around there? Um, Armadillo Willy's and Chilis. Not much better. I should do a little research and find some other suggestions to counter the "Let's go to BJ's" suggestion. I'm sure I'd stop by on my way home to grab dinner with him more often if I had better ideas about where to go.
Breakfast:
Puffins Cereal
Rice Milk
Organic Banana
Cashews
Lunch:
Trader Joe's Black Bean & Corn Enchiladas
Organic Orange
Diet Coke
Snack:
Pinot
Veggies
Dinner (BJ's):
Veggie Burger
Fries with Ketchup
Hot Tea (We sat outside, yikes!)
