Friday, November 28, 2003

Day Fifty-Nine.

Post T-Day Wrap-Up.

Yes, I made it through the day of the year that is especially designated for overeating. I did not overeat. I had small portions of all the food served by the friends with whom I spent Thanksgiving, including a heaping tablespoonful each of mashed potatoes and stuffing. I focused on the turkey and the vegetables – Brussels sprouts and greens. I also had about one cup of homemade eggnog, a killer recipe I got from a former co-worker who hailed from the Dominican Republic. It contains cream of coconut and anise and fresh nutmeg – and, of course, copious amount of rum. It kicks ass. It also contains about 1 million calories and 80,000 grams of fat. Hence, my self-limit to one cup of the heavenly elixir. Finally, I had probably two glasses of Chardonnay total.

I started a practice of not overeating on Thanksgiving years ago, I can’t remember exactly when. It was a revelation at first to enjoy all the foods, but not in an amount which would leave me feeling gorged and uncomfortable. Over the years, though, I have grown very comfortable with eating modest portions on Thanksgiving. I remind myself that there are always leftovers, and in any case, it is not my "last chance" to eat these things. Whenever I want, if I want, I can buy or make some turkey, or pumpkin pie, or stuffing, or whatever I have a hankering for.

Every year on my mother’s birthday and again on the day she died, I light a candle, and drink a toast to her. I brought a bottle of wine and a candle with me yesterday. My friends and I, who have each lost one or more parents, lit the candle and toasted our loved ones, and told favorite stories about them. It was very cool to share my remembrance ritual with them.

I also brought over an "I See Dean People" T-shirt I had bought for one of my friends who was (after a brief interest in Clark) already supporting Howard Dean. At my urging, he has agreed to make a campaign donation next week. His wife is a Republican, and she has heard me talking about Dean multiple times when I’ve been over to see them. Yesterday, she asked me some questions about him, and seems to be leaning toward supporting him. She even said she liked the T-shirt and when I asked her if she wanted one of her own, she said she did. I will therefore be ordering her one. So, the love, and the Dean visibility, continues to spread.

Tuesday, for food, there was: yogurt, two iced soy lattes, cherry/berry trail mix, grilled chicken Lean Cuisine, string cheese (two or three), four popsicles, fake Cheerios with soy milk.

Wednesday, for food there was: yogurt, two iced soy lattes, cherry/berry trail mix, garlic chicken Lean Cuisine, cracked wheat crackers, dried pears, dried nectarines, fake Cheerios with soy milk, string cheese, two popsicles.

Thursday, for food, there was: yogurt, two iced soy lattes, cracked wheat crackers, dried pears, turkey, duck, mashed potatoes, stuffing, Brussels sprouts, greens, homemade cole slaw with green onions and bell peppers, homemade eggnog, Chardonnay, fake Cheerios and soy milk, three popsicles.


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