DAY 9 THROUGH 13 - Labor Day Weekend and Bama Football

Since the Holiday Weekend flew past me much too quickly, I will combine Day 9 through 13 to make things easier on myself, since I am very likely the only person who reads this blog...

Friday (or Day 9), proved to be a bit easier than the previous few days - I think my stomach has shrunk - although my body is still having itself for daily meals. I ate oatmeal, beans and "fried rice" covered in barbecue sauce and a bag of trusty ol' ramen noodles. Otherwise, I drank water, water and more water making my visits to the porcelain god more frequent than usual. The excitement of a three day weekend made Friday a breeze - plus the Benster had his first soccer practice of the season...Oh yes, 3 and 4 year old soccer is sports action at it's best, "Kick the ball...come on, kick the ball...no, there's the goal....don't kick it out...the goal is over there...stop kicking your team mates...pay attention..." Honestly, it's pretty entertaining to watch for those of you who do not have children.

The true test of my manly prowess would come on Saturday, or Day 10, which was the day we were having a party with food, beverages galore and college football! My wonderful wife cooked up a very appetizing menu of Mexican delights, beer, wine and soft drinks. In order to be prepared, I wolfed down a bag of ramen noodles and several cups of water. I also stayed the hell out of the kitchen and spent most of the evening on our screened-in porch, where I had set up a second football viewing spectacular. Obviously, that made me a sorry host - which apparently meant that this 30 Day thing is more important to me than a party (in other words, I'm absolutely no fun). I managed to stay away from the food the entire night, but did partake in a coke Zero which was 'donated' to my cause. My sister-in-law adamantly suggested that I mention my weakness in this blog - so, Julia, here ya go - I DRANK A FRICKIN' COKE! Is that good enough for ya? Regardless, the evening was still a success as far as I am concerned especially since Bama beat Virginia Tech in their very first game of the season. Other games that were viewed - Auburn (I'm trying not to choke) vs. Louisiana Tech - Auburn being my wife's university and La Tech being my mother-in-law's...and LSU vs. ??? (I forgot) which was viewed by my father-in-law.

(I like the old Bama Logo better, BTW, regardless - probably the greatest team in history)

Regardless, I still viewed Saturday as a personal victory...

Day 11 came and went like a fighter jet in flight- leaving only traces of the day - I still wonder if I was somehow robbed of a day by some unseen force (I've seen too many movies.) Anyway, I spent the day with my son, his cousin Sam and my brother-in-law Drew, while my wife, her sister, niece Abbey and a friend went to see 'The Sound of Music' at some local play house. Although, the day is a bit of a blur, I know I had eggs and a tortilla for breakfast, a bag of Ramen noodles for lunch and a potato with margarine drippings - 'mmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm', as the little overweight Campbell Soup kids used to say.

Day 12 was Labor Day Monday! Oh yeah - a day off! I ate basically the same crap I ate the day before (yippee.) I still like potatoes, but still have trouble smelling my fragrant rice. I think the rice thing will pass though, since I've been avoiding it for the past few days. And Day 13, I had oatmeal, raw cabbage, 1/2 a cucumber and eggs with (2) tortillas for dinner. Man, how everyone must envy me...

What have I learned so far? Well, I've learned that this diet affects my family - my wife cooks less (she loves to cook, BTW) - going out to dinner has become a thing of the past for now anyway. I've also learned that this is a very tough diet to stick to especially with all the temptations everywhere. A diet that everyone around me has said they will absolutely never partake in. I'm also learning how incredibly fortunate I am in every sense of the word - We have plenty of food to eat, a very comfortable roof over our heads, extra money for extra curricular activities...etc., etc... I feel terribly for those people who have to live with the $30.00 for 30 days out of necessity and for survivals sake. I am only a 'tourist' in their world at this point and am able to live with the comfort of knowing this will end for me after 30 days...Will this be a life-changing event for me? I would be lying if I said 'yes'... it will be so easy to fall back into the same old pattern of excess and self-indulgence, just like everyone around me...in my community. A place where it is so easy to forget how the rest of the world lives...

NEXT TIME - Day 14 - contemplating on adding exercise...