Year 2, Day 307: Nuts to the Crown Cafe

I was doing well until a thing blew up around 4:30pm today at work. Then, I hit the 50 almond mark. That really isn't good news. There isn't anything else to write. I really can't and shouldn't keep nuts in my office, or anywhere on the premises. I just can't be around them. I have given up a lot of things on my diet (sugar, milk, bread, pasta, potatoes, subs, pizza) but nuts are like the last hoorah. In the words of Brokeback Mountain "I just can't quit you" (said to any pile of nuts, even bad, sort of greasy planters peanuts in an airport cafe somewhere). I noted that about a year ago (March 8, 2006's post, to be exact, I was having the same nut-problem).

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Ikea Muesli
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Snack
4 Beef Jerky Sticks
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
1.5 oz Boston Lite Popcorn
53 Almonds

Lunch: Crown's Cafe
Chicken Kebab Salad with Feta

Dinner
Tilapia Emily
Cauliflower

Dessert
7 Squares of Green & Black Espresso Chocolate

Another word about Crown's Cafe. We went for a very fast walk today (there were five of us) and the general consensus was that even though we all had bad individual experiences, we would all give Crown's Cafe one more try. Just to, you know, rule it out completely or realize that they had a few bumps in the road to greatness. Sadly, my report is not a happy one. The service was awful. I know there are bigger words to describe rotten service, but I have eschewed them because Crown's doesn't even deserve that. The food was not bad, per se. But their inability to properly wait on us at the counter, to get a simple salad order right, or to beat the very modest example of the predecessors have left me with no choice but to cross them off my list and return to Christos Seven-Star, which I have avoided for nearly a year (last post with Christos in it was February 2006). While their salad is overwhelmingly large, made with iceberg, and probably ill-washed, I do not feel I can support someone who thinks changing their restaurant from "Peter's" to "Crowns" is a good marketing decision. It just feels too wrong.

Don't even ask about the chocolate.

Year 2, Day 301: Things Are Tough All Over

A tough day—I had to go into the office and have a confrontation. If you know me you know that's not my favorite thing to do. I was kind of dreading it for the few days off prior including Christmas. But now it's behind me and I can focus on the future. They say that everything that's hard for you to do is a growing experience. But as someone who grew to 226 lbs, I can tell you some of that growing is for the birds.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Ikea Muesli
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch
Ham & Jalapeno Cheddar Omelet

Snack
2 Clementines
A few slices of salami

Dinner/Poker
Almonds & Cashews
Boston Lite Popcorn
Pistachios
Rollmops of Roast Beef, Turkey and Corned Beef and Swiss Cheese
Salami & Muenster
Pickles
Cole Slaw
Salad

For the third poker game in a row, I have amazingly lost money. Now for about 17 years I won more than I lost but now I seem to be in a bit of a poker rut. Could be the food; could be the demon nuts, who knows? There is no doubt, as all of you already know, that I eat an irresponsible number of pistachios. They might, in fact be getting in the way of my cards, because they are so distracting. You don't believe me? I will challenge anyone who's reading this. Go somewhere and get GOOD pistachios, or almonds or cashews (don't get walnuts or pecans because they aren't eating nuts as far as I'm concerned and don't count.). Get a pound. Sit them on your desk or near your work or in your lap watching TV or whatever. Open the bag. Take one handful (about a half cup if you have regular-size hands) and eat them. Then see how long you can go without eating ANY MORE NUTS. You'll see why I call them Satan's Candy. If you can go more than 10 minutes then you're a better person than I am. Or at least you're more nut-resistant.