Weekend
It's been a busy weekend and a fun one. It is very strange to spend a weekend with B. when neither of us has any schoolwork to do. Holla!
Last night, we went to a happy hour with some of my school friends, and then visited for a while with some of his. We've been watching lots and lots of Mad Men and somehow it is never enough. This morning, I went on a two-mile run and to have iced coffee with my brother's ex-girlfriend, whom I love and adore. We visited on the patio with her dog, whom I also love and adore. It was very nice. B. and I went to lunch where I had a veggie sandwich, inspired by my coffee date who told me she's gone vegan, and then we went to Target, where I forgot about my new vegan plan and bought a half-pound of honey roasted turkey from the deli. Whoops! We ended up helping a stranger jump her dead battery because that is just what you do to help your fellow human beings even when you are all melting into the asphalt of the Target parking lot.
Tonight I went to the home of my old friend who is moving away to go to grad school for writing. Does anyone want to buy a REALLY CUTE house? If so, let me know and I can hook you up! She made amazing Indian food ... naan and spinach/potatoes and eggplant and chicken curry and there was also chicken mole and it was all so delicious that I started sweating. I will miss my friend but know we will keep in touch. I know she is destined for great things. She is one of the few people I know who is actually taking the chance to do what she knows she was born to do. Who does that? Nobody, it seems. It is a beautiful thing.
Anyway, veganism. My very healthy and fit friend / semi-sister-in-law insists that she gets lots of protein from protein-rich bread and pasta and beans and things of that nature but I'm not sure I could pull it off. But Lord knows I don't really get excited about meat and could do without it. I'm just not sure about the cheese part. And I'm trying really hard not to eat food that is not really food, and it seems like vegans rely a lot on frozen organic vegan burritos and Morningstar and Boca and I'm just not sure how I feel about those foods anymore. Conflicted!
I don't know what else to say. I'm so burned out from my 60-book summer that I can't bring myself to read anything. I started Black Swan Green but can't get into it despite the fact that B. tells me he knows I'd love it. Funny story (at least to me): At my friend's house tonight, a couple of people were talking about a horrible book that one of their book club members insisted they read and how everyone in the group hated it so much that they demanded that the group leader veto the book before they had to finish it and discuss it. I asked what the book was and it was The Brothers K! As in my beloved book. I said, "I give that book as a gift!" Then I thought for a second and said to my friend who was hosting the party and is moving away, "Wait, I think I gave that book to YOU!" And she laughed and said that I did. I understand that it's a tough start and takes a while to get into, and I tried to tell them that, but I didn't go into my usual hard-sell freak mode ... I told them I understand why some people wouldn't like it and that I respect their opinion because I really do. I didn't tell them that their lives will be better and their souls richer for reading it, even though I believe that. I am trying to tone down my maniacal evangelism when it comes to things, especially when it's something that someone has already read 80 pages of and loathes with his entire being.
More tomorrow.
Last night, we went to a happy hour with some of my school friends, and then visited for a while with some of his. We've been watching lots and lots of Mad Men and somehow it is never enough. This morning, I went on a two-mile run and to have iced coffee with my brother's ex-girlfriend, whom I love and adore. We visited on the patio with her dog, whom I also love and adore. It was very nice. B. and I went to lunch where I had a veggie sandwich, inspired by my coffee date who told me she's gone vegan, and then we went to Target, where I forgot about my new vegan plan and bought a half-pound of honey roasted turkey from the deli. Whoops! We ended up helping a stranger jump her dead battery because that is just what you do to help your fellow human beings even when you are all melting into the asphalt of the Target parking lot.
Tonight I went to the home of my old friend who is moving away to go to grad school for writing. Does anyone want to buy a REALLY CUTE house? If so, let me know and I can hook you up! She made amazing Indian food ... naan and spinach/potatoes and eggplant and chicken curry and there was also chicken mole and it was all so delicious that I started sweating. I will miss my friend but know we will keep in touch. I know she is destined for great things. She is one of the few people I know who is actually taking the chance to do what she knows she was born to do. Who does that? Nobody, it seems. It is a beautiful thing.
Anyway, veganism. My very healthy and fit friend / semi-sister-in-law insists that she gets lots of protein from protein-rich bread and pasta and beans and things of that nature but I'm not sure I could pull it off. But Lord knows I don't really get excited about meat and could do without it. I'm just not sure about the cheese part. And I'm trying really hard not to eat food that is not really food, and it seems like vegans rely a lot on frozen organic vegan burritos and Morningstar and Boca and I'm just not sure how I feel about those foods anymore. Conflicted!
I don't know what else to say. I'm so burned out from my 60-book summer that I can't bring myself to read anything. I started Black Swan Green but can't get into it despite the fact that B. tells me he knows I'd love it. Funny story (at least to me): At my friend's house tonight, a couple of people were talking about a horrible book that one of their book club members insisted they read and how everyone in the group hated it so much that they demanded that the group leader veto the book before they had to finish it and discuss it. I asked what the book was and it was The Brothers K! As in my beloved book. I said, "I give that book as a gift!" Then I thought for a second and said to my friend who was hosting the party and is moving away, "Wait, I think I gave that book to YOU!" And she laughed and said that I did. I understand that it's a tough start and takes a while to get into, and I tried to tell them that, but I didn't go into my usual hard-sell freak mode ... I told them I understand why some people wouldn't like it and that I respect their opinion because I really do. I didn't tell them that their lives will be better and their souls richer for reading it, even though I believe that. I am trying to tone down my maniacal evangelism when it comes to things, especially when it's something that someone has already read 80 pages of and loathes with his entire being.
More tomorrow.
posted by eliza @ 9:25 PM
7 Comments:
Dear L--please don't tone down your evangelical hard-sell on things you are passionate about--it's one of the parts of your writing that I really love----you give me lots to think about especially when I'm ambivalent about your subject. You help me redefine what I'm thinking or even change my thinking. Except in the case of outright rudeness, I really never want people to tone themselves down. I want it, warts and all. Karen
Have you read "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver? It's a great book that offers interesting food for thought -- sheesh, forgive that pun -- on eating meat. Basically, she and her family decided that they'd rather eat meat from which they knew the source than mystery food of any sort.
I think vegetarianism is a noble way to eat and live. But I crave meat intensely at times, and my husband and son love it passionately. It doesn't work for me right now. But I've done it before and certainly try to work vegetarian meals into our lives as often as possible.
Karen -- thanks for saying that! It makes me feel good to know that my over-selling of certain things I love is not totally annoying! :-)
Eileen -- I haven't read it yet but really want to. I love Barbara Kingsolver. And I'm really truly conflicted on what to eat these days -- what is right for me personally and what is right for the world? I have no idea. Thanks for the book suggestion -- maybe it will help me!
Thanks about the food.
I was actually hoping you'd get evangelical about the book. I haven't begun it yet, but I remembered you'd given it to me and was excited when it was the book club pick. I thought it was kind of unfair how it got "vetoed" after it had been chosen. And I knew that the person who didn't like it could handle the evangelicalism...anyway....
During the few weeks that I tried to be vegan the worst part was that there is no actual edible vegan cheese, it's revolting.
And it's not as though I try to eat completely naturally or anything, but that butter, which is much better for you than margarine, is out, and if you want butter on your toast, nasty old oily margarine is the only way to go. And don't talk to me about soy spread, it's foul.
The best part was learning to read labels and finding out how many products contain dairy and wheat and all kinds of other things and just being more aware of what I'm eating.
Um, I totally can't understand how anyone doesn't love The Brothers K! I've never met a person who can't get into it. What's wrong with your friends?!?
H: I just didn't want to go all nuts on your friend when he felt so strongly that it sucked! My love for it remains true but if he hated it enough to veto it I didn't think it was a battle I should try to wage, y'know?
K: I hope this means your computer is fixed and you are going to start posting again, ma'am! Yeah, vegan cheese scares me a little. It seems so fake that I'd almost rather just eat real cheese from real milk. I don't think I can be a vegan.
J: I do think it's a slow start, but once you start rolling, it becomes awesome as you know. I remember the first time I read it, I didn't get really invested the scene with Irwin and the dog. Looking back and reading it multiple times, I love the whole thing, but I can't fault someone for not getting into it from the get-go. And I think I can get the crazy eyes when talking about this book and was trying to rein that in! :-)
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