Having been advised that there would be little in the way for SoBe dieters, I once again got up at the crack of dawn and moseyed down to the "Courtyard" for some breakfast. Of course, all the usual Southern choices were there, like grits, biscuits, biscuit gravy, curdled eggs, waffles, bacon, sausage in two ways (links and disks) and naturally, steaming hot, but very weak coffee. I loaded up on eggs, bacon, cantaloupe (one of only two non-canned fruits on display) and gasp—a few strawberries—and sat down to tank up for a day of meetings. I had about three cups of coffee, and normally that would turn me into a raving Daffy Duck—but I think I realized what the secret to the slow gait of the Southerner is—there isn't any caffeine in his coffee. It could also be the fact that most of their breakfasts are laden with fat, sugar and carbohydrates, which are sure to slow anyone down. The waitress asked for my card so she could send me a Christmas card. I think she was touched by the fact that I remembered she had a daughter in Maryland.
Breakfast
Scrambled Eggs
Bacon
Strawberries
Cantaloupe
Snack
Banana
Almonds & Cashews
1 Fruit & Nut Delight Bar
Lunch
Nearly Inedible Chicken on a Salad
Dinner: Carolina BBQ
"Low-Carb-Platter"
Brisket, Ribs, Pulled Pork
Cole Slaw
Collard Greens
2 Fried Pickles
Arrive at Home Snack
1 UFO Beer
Almonds/Cashews
A lot of people on the retreat ordered salad for lunch (as I did) and even told me they were planning to eat something plain for dinner, because they kept saying "they couldn't eat meat one more time." I found this a strange thing to say, and something that since I started South Beach I don't really understand. I eat meat (and I guess this means pork or cow) at least five times a week, and I am just accustomed to eating it. I am careful not to overdo it. Maybe that's the difference. On my way out of North Carolina, I knew exactly what I was going to eat—there is a totally acceptable BBQ place in the airport called Carolina's, which maybe to those who know better is slumming it, but for me was the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. As if they knew I was coming, they had the "Low Carb Platter" which I ordered, and I stole the hot-vinegar sauce for the table. I also tasted, and fell in love with, fried pickles. Of course since I never eat anything fried, anything fried tastes great but these were special. I was told my one of my cohorts that if I tasted a REAL fried pickle I would die happy.
In what for me was the highpoint of the team-building experience, the gang at Domania and a few others helped me get to the airport, and even allowed me to take the one last seat on an earlier plane so I could get home in time to celebrate Emily's birthday (or what was left of it). With pre-holiday weekend delays, I only got home about a half hour before they all did, but it really meant a lot to me. I celebrated my homecoming with another beer and a few nuts, gave Emily her presents, and then I thought, as I always do, "I must get to the gym!"
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