Tuesday, January 18, 2005

I'm so proud of Gavi...

I just have to share!

From Gavi's school newsletter:

Writing About the Red Sox
Last fall, when the Red Sox won the ALCS after losing the first three games, fourth grade teacher Katrina Fujita encouraged her students to reflect on what they had learned from the Red Sox comeback. She sent the responses to the Red Sox, and they are now included in a new book about the Red Sox Why Not Us written by former Boston Globe sportswriter Leigh Montville. In the book he mentions our students and their teacher and includes such quotes as “Never Give Up. Try Your Hardest. Keep the Faith” by Gavi K------.

Update:
We bought the book! He appears on page 152.

Saturday, January 15, 2005

I'm going to let you in on a secret...

Jane and I have started the South Beach Diet.

Since Monday, we've been pouring over menus and diligently preparing our low-carb meals. This represents a huge change in our lives, because as many of you know, Jane and I love food. We are embarking on a very strange journey which will completely change the role of food in our lives.

So what does a geek like me do when faced with such a change? Start a new blog.

But before you click over, a few things:

This is the first diet I've ever been on and -- hopefully -- it will be the last.

Also, I originally intended to keep this to ourselves. Why? Vanity mostly. Because it feels good when someone out of the blue just says, "Wow! You look great! Have you lost weight?" To which I would feign nonchalance and reply, "Oh, really? Thanks, but I don't think I have..." All the while knowing that yes, I have in fact lost weight and I've worked pretty darn hard to do so.

While this works in theory, it falls apart in practice. I was found out at work immediately when a co-worker recognized my Monday morning breakfast as a signature recipe from the book. Turns out she's on the diet, too, as are others in the office, including the Medical Executive Director. But it worked out for the best because they've given me some very helpful pointers (Day 3 is the worst, and sugar-free fudgesicles are my friend).

So if I couldn't get it past my co-workers, who've known me for a month, what makes me think I could sneak this by my friends and family? These people will definitely notice if I pass up a beer or piece of cake, for instance. The notable lack of baked goods produced from our kitchen alone will surely arouse the gaybor's suspicions...hence I've made the decision to come out of the diet closet.

Rest assured, Jane and I haven't gone completely overboard. We have modified several points of the diet to align with our foodie (read: snob) principles, the most important one being NO FAKE FOOD. As in, no Eggbeaters, no non-dairy creamers, no "heart-healthy" margerine spreads, no artificial sweeteners, etc (though I maintain that Splenda, if used in small quantities, is OK -- Jane regards this point as something akin to culinary heresy).

Finally, The most important reason why I didn't want to tell anyone is that I just didn't want to put up with additional scrutiny when the potential for success or failure is so huge. So don't ask me how the diet is going. Just read the blog.

Also, we've agreed that whomever cheats first owes the other party ten bucks.

Without further ado, I give you South Beach Blues (this link will direct you to the Day 1 entry. Click on "Home" at the bottom of that page to read the rest).

Wednesday, January 05, 2005

Stress

Stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress.

Stress stress stress stress stress...stress. Stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress. Stress stress. Stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress. Stress stress stress stress stress stress.

Stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress.

Stress stress stress stress stress stress stress. Stress stress (stress stress stress stress -- stress stress stress stress stress) stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress! Stress stress! Stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress. Stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress. Stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress? Stress stress stress stress. Stress stress stress stress stress stress stress. Stress stress stress stress stress -- stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress.

Stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress; stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress!

Stress stress stress stress, stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress. Stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress -- stress stress stress stress stress stress.

Stress... stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress (stress stress stress stress stress stress stress). Stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress.

Stress stress stress stress. Stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress! stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress stress...