Necessary Mutilation

Weight: 217.9 lbs.

I have been seriously hungry lately. Yesterday, after getting a lot done in the house, Tom and I did decide to head off to the benefit for the Red Cross. Tom was actually thrilled to go by then, as I had plunked him down to begin the onerous process of writing out Christmas cards, and after just two, he could take no more and starting complaining about everything from back pain to exhaustion to get out of it. We always start early in December because between us we seem to have so many to do and it takes such a long time to pick, write out, address and send them out. Due to my late start in marrying, I have a large group of friends that I consider mine alone, and therefore I have Tom do half the list that usually represents his family, priest, old friends and boss etc. This way the list is broken up relatively evenly, and theoretically, neither of us is overwhelmed with the task. Except that every year, Tom is before he even starts, and ends up needing every minute of December to gather the chutzpah and energy to do what he must…and with a significant amount of moral support and coaching from me, I might add.

So, this is a long winded way of saying that Tom would have driven to hell with me if it would have gotten him out of this yesterday, and it was apparent to both of us that we’d better have a change of scenery. (Note: If you are friends or family of Tom’s and get a card late this year, I just want you to know that I had nothing to do with it!)

So, despite my initial hopes to stay in and avoid temptations of every kind, off we went, big appetite and all. I had already eaten a relatively substantial breakfast of cheese on whole wheat (1/2 a sandwich) and half a banana, and then the other halves for lunch. But, faced with endless munchies at the auction, I do admit nibbling some on pretzels and a few chips. And then we left it for an hour or two since the calling wasn’t scheduled until 6 pm, and ended up eating at Mighty Taco (with the free gift certificates that I had won at another auction!) We almost never go there so I was confused about what might be an acceptable menu item, and ended up ordering the worst of all things according to the calorie/fat guide I later asked for. It was a honkin’ burrito made of taco meat etc. The good news is that it had nearly enough protein for an entire day…but once I read how high in everything else it was too, I did stop eating it and packed the rest up for another meal. Following suit, Tom did the same with his, although he had already eaten a full bowl of chili with his and should have been full anyway. I probably could have actually stomached the full burrito despite the fact that it is probably bigger than my whole pouch - but am glad to have used restraint. The listing said that it had nearly 800 calories and I forget, but a humungo amount of fat and carbs. Unfortunately, this shows how bad I am at guessing about reasonable portions and types of foods, and although I am glad that Mighty Taco provides a sheet with nutritional info. for the asking, most places probably don’t, including my own kitchen! I do have some guide books that have similar information in them, and I suppose reading them or using them when I am uncertain, would be a good start!

After eating and a little shopping, we returned to the benefit, and I was pleased to win several times, including two free souvlaki dinners at one of our favorite restaurants, and one of the grand prizes, which is a spa basket with a million spa items and certificates in it. Then we went shopping for printer ink and other office supplies, and returned home and stayed up late decorating some more, for Christmas. Today, I am continuing this process, as apparently we own about every Xmas item known to man, and after bringing all the boxes up from the basement, I have discovered that they are filled with a bottomless amount of things to hang or place or deck the halls with.

This of course, whipped me into another munchie frenzy, and last night Tom popped popcorn and I felt compelled to enjoy it while continuing the task at hand. I found that if you sprinkle it liberally with Frank’s hot sauce, you might not miss butter or salt at all, and it adds an incredible zing. MMmmmm, it hit the spot! But, my mouth was on fire afterwards, and I found myself hungry for something sweet to counteract it. So, I then ate some spoonfuls of peanut butter out of the jar - you know, for protein and all too. Ack…! I’m not sure why I feel so restless and hungry lately, and seem to want to graze and nibble all the time. Fortunately, I haven’t really gained from this, although I’m not really losing either. On a more positive note, I am still being pretty diligent about working out, though.

Today Debbie is due over for what was going to be a Christmas concert and then dinner. But, between us we have decided that we’d all like to get a later start and just are not in to the church concert - so it looks as if we will just hang out here instead. Which I am pleased about. I can even turn on our newly strung lights and other items of cheer, and we can sip wine or coffee, perhaps eat pizza, and watch something I’ve taped together. And eat pizza. PIZZA. Yes, pizza. She said it, and I’m up for it. It suits my munchable mood and isn’t quite one of the ten deadly sins…although I guess that it could be if I eat too much. My strategy is to drink a lot earlier, eat better and higher protein things for lunch, and go easy, yet still enjoy, when the pizza comes.

Tis the season, I guess…. (Excuses, excuses!)