Days 6 & 7: The McDonald's Virgin

I'm just gonna come out and say it: I ate an M&M McFlurry from McDonald's last night.

I'm not proud of it, but I kind of am at the same time, because that was my FIRST TIME EATING AT MCDONALD'S. What kind of American am I? (I actually have an answer to that question, but I don't want to insult any of the self-proclaimed "typical Amurrcans" out there.) In any case, my first time at McDonald's was just the way it should be: in the passenger seat of a car with 90's music blasting and someone with a camera in the back seat documenting everything. I have no regrets (except, of course, for cheating on you, my beloved vegan diet).

On a related note: chocolate chip cookies aren't suddenly turned vegan if you dunk them in soy milk, right? (Don't answer this.)

I had a blast though; it was so great to finally reconnect with my two best friends from SPES.
Highlight of the night: we got picked up at a gas station (thanks for always keepin' it classy, SP). Though the invitation to get "fuckin' smashed" with some "21" year olds (who looked suspiciously like confused preteens) was very tempting, we declined. For me, the option to go home and bore myself to sleep was just too exciting to pass up. I hope they survived their (Thursday) evening without us there to chaperon. Oh Thirsty Thursdays. Makes me nostalgic for St. Lawrence University (NOT).

In other news: L. has left the building, and I am sad because I think he and O. should get married and have yoga prodigy offspring ASAP.

In other (other) news: I hope no one actually reads this blog. (But not really.)

<3

Day 5: Bikram Doubles with My Happy, Smiling Face

I did my very first Bikram Yoga double last night at the SP studio!! I did the 4:30 with Julie and then the 6:30 with Ocean. Lee took the second class with me and everyone was so encouraging. I have the best yoga studio and instructors EVER. Sad news though: today is Lee's last day teaching in Maryland :( Alec and I are going to his class in Annapolis today (hopefully).

Other than that, there's not a lot to report. Getting out of bed today was painful, and I'm still trying to hydrate after last night's classes, but I couldn't be happier or more proud of myself for doing it.

La vie est belle :)

Day 4: Peek-A-Boo, Bitch.

Nostalgic for Day of Silence '09. And love is always important :)

Breakfast: Kashi cereal w/ almond milk, strawberries, and a peach
Lunch: Kashi Blackbean Mango Masala (delish.)
Dinner: Stuffed peppers (merci Papa!)
Dessert: Chocolate sorbet & ginger snaps
Yoga: 4:30pm w/ Kaitlyn

I felt awesome all day until OD-ing on chocolate sorbet and ginger snaps. Yummy.

Also, lost 5 lbs in 4 days. Whether this is healthy or not is still up for debate. I feel great though: I have more energy, I love what I'm eating, and I'm overall happier. A lot of that joy definitely comes from the yoga. Did I mention that I love Bikram? I'm starting doubles today or tomorrow. Probably tomorrow. It's been difficult with work and grandmama in the hospital, but I really want to do it!

Erica, Kayla, and Andy came over last night because Kayla needed help with a final project for her Women's Studies class (though I like to think it's just because they love me and wanted to see me. I'll go with "all the above"). Her project is very interesting, and asks people to write down on a piece of paper how they would describe their gender and/or sexual orientation. Here are few from last night:

- A word-search-esque design with the word "transcend" circled amongst others that offered ideas on gender, love, life, and sexual orientation.

- "I am a person who loves other people."

- "I love women. And sandwiches. I have a penis."

So, overall, veganism is going well, though I'm already getting tired of searching food labels for animal products in the ingredients. That should make the next 26 days a party.

In other news, I love Rachu lots!

La fin.

Days 2 & 3: Corn Roast, Whole Foods, and Mormon Missionaries

** WARNING: If you wrote "Jesus is my homeboy" for your religion on Facebook, this post is probably not for you.**

Saturday was my first official day of veganism. I went to Bikram SP for the 10am class, and came home and ate Kashi GoLean Crunch with strawberries, blueberries, and almond milk. Actually delicious. Grandmama was in the hospital, so I brought my mama a veggie sandwich from ABC (and got myself some vegan veggie soup and a fruit salad). Naturally, I was still starving after that, but we had to go to the Corn Roast in Sherwood. Fun as it was to stand in the blistering heat while smelling hamburgers cooking and trying to avoid talking to everyone there, I left early. For dinner, Alec and I went to Chipotle (the realization that Chipotle is vegan was the best part of my day) and it was delicious.

Sunday was a little more exciting. Highlights include . . .
- falling asleep during 10am yoga
- buying (and then consuming, almost simultaneously) vegan ice cream
- adventuring in Whole Foods
- having a 10 minute conversation with a Mormon missionary on my cell phone. Really.

As we all know, Sunday is the Lord's day. For this reason, I had decided on Saturday night I would not be going to yoga on Sunday (lie. I was too lazy to get out of bed. Was it Lil Wayne's b-day? No. Ergo, not the Lord's day). Anyway, I went to yoga because that's what I do - I can't stay away - and naturally fell asleep during the first savasana. Waking up to spine strengthening series = not fun.
I then stumbled home in a blissful exhaustion. I heart Bikram. Almost at the exact moment as I got out of my shower back at home, my phone rang. It was an "801" number that I didn't recognize. A Mormon missionary was on the other end. I now know that "801" is the area code for Utah. And begin . . .

The missionary began by telling me that one of my dearest friends had recently visited the temple, and left them my name. Okay, that sounded legit. I love said friend, so decided to give this woman a chance. But then they were spoken: the dreaded words . . .

"Do you know how much God and our Savior Jesus love us?"
Um . . . no. I bet you're one of those people who capitalizes pronouns, aren't you? Jesus was a man. It's "he," not "He." Oh this is gonna be fun.
I don't actually say this because I am very zen and loving after suffering through 90 minutes of hot yoga, and instead I tell her that I've heard about her religion and I love certain aspects of it (actually a true fact). I say I like studying all religions and their texts just like I like a good novel. I don't think she got the hint. So she continued.
"Well that's great. Jesus loves you very much and will always be there for you."
Weird. I don't recall him saying anything about that when I met him. Oh wait . . .
"And we have lots of missionaries in your area . . ."
Ohhhh shit.
"So if you give me your home address, they can come over and talk to you some more about the LDS church."
Silence as I contemplate my next move. But before I can say anything . . .
"Do you already have a Book of Mormon?"
I have an action figure Jesus. Except I actually say this one out loud. I don't think she appreciates my family's Jesus action figure as much as we do.
"Okay . . . [tentative pause] So if you give me your home address, I will make sure that our missionaries come over and talk to you some more about this and about God's love for all of us."
Woah, bold statement. I think you meant almost all people. I recall LGBT people being on the shit list.
You know what? I'm actually going to be abroad next semester so I won't even be around. I wouldn't bother if I were you.
"Oh really? Where will you be?"
They don't have Mormons in France, do they? Um . . . France? I say.
"Great! Do you know you address there?"
Oh dear atheist-equivalent-of-Christ, is she serious?!?!
So I thanked her for the call, wished her a beautiful day, but stated that I was happy, fulfilled, and comfortable in my life of sin.

IMPORTANT: I meant it when I said that I find aspects of Mormonism beautiful. I feel this way about all religions. I don't mean to put anyone down, discredit anyone's beliefs, or group all people of one religion together. I don't mean that all Mormons hate LGBT people; I mean that the official stance of the Church is that gay is unnatural. And, well, that's just false. Not giving all people the equal opportunity to love is what is unnatural.

In conclusion, Whole Foods is better than sex, and my house doesn't have electricity.

The End.

Day 1: Had eggs for breakfast.

That is not what vegans are supposed to eat for breakfast.

Because of my little early morning slip-up, I've decided to declare today a "prep day:" a day for me to go shopping for vegan foods, search for vegan recipes, get rid of my many leather and fur outfits, etc. Also a day for me to eat eggs for breakfast, pasta for lunch, and ice cream for dinner-- I mean dessert. Tomorrow, the fun begins.