Monday, April 30, 2012

Meatless May...a vegetarian adventure

I've decided to try out being a vegetarian for the month of May.  It's no animal rights thing, I'm a firm believer in the food chain...the circle of life.
So now I'm playing the part of the antelope--I just pray the lion in my life, Skittles (my cousin's cat that I've temporarily adopted), won't pounce and eat me.  ps...I am aware antelope is misspelled in the picture.

I'm mainly doing this because I want to see if I can do it without breaking down at 2 in the morning and driving to Cook Out to order a BBQ sandwich and a corn dog...and I'm trying to maintain a healthier lifestyle.  

There are several challenges with this commitment.  I don't want to do this and end up eating pasta every night.  I need to push myself to really explore all the vegetarian options out there.  Which I can see becoming pretty costly.  Sadly, eating healthy is not cheap.  Veggies and fruit can rack up the grocery bill if you aren't careful...pasta and sauce is way cheaper.  So I intend to find a way to do this on my normal grocery budget without eating bowls and bowls of pasta. 

So there you have it.  My Meatless May--stay tuned for recipes, pictures, and comments!

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Trapped

It's that itchy, claustrophobic feeling.  The one when you've realize that you are trying desperately to claw yourself out of the room but aren't getting anywhere.

The room is dark, damp, and smells like decay.  When you rub your hands along the walls the splinters stab your fingertips.  Eventually you don't even notice the roaches that run across your feet or the spiders that fall in your hair.  There are no windows, the only light comes from the door.

The door stands there tall and looming.  A glass door.  It's smooth to the touch and feels cool on the tip of your nose when you lean into it.  I can see my life on the other side--I see myself smiling, laughing, and truly happy.  I can see goals, aspirations, friends, and family.  The other side of the door is bright and colorful--my knuckles are stained red from knocking.  I need the key and I know that it has to be somewhere in this room hidden away.

I may spend hours searching each day but in the end I end up staring through the door--watching and dreaming--until I've exhausted myself and I collapse on the floor.  And just lay there and wait, possibly for something that will never come.

Absentmindedly flicking the spider off my forehead I shut my eyes with the thought that tomorrow I'll finally pull up the plank that my key is hiding under.