Year 3, Day 26: Late Nite for Restaurant Z

The Zen of Dieting. I keep thinking about how the Russo's salad bar reminds me of life. If you get there early, you get what you want, but if you show up late, you've got to elbow your way just to STAY IN LINE. People will cut you off for a white, gristle-y piece of chicken. They'll cut the line. You've got to appreciate the good things (delicious, pitted olives of all varieties) when you've got them- you never know when they're going to be replaced by an unappealing alternative (like cheap, sliced black olives). You've got to relish the moment (like broccoli slaw) that comes like an apparition, and then is gone just as quickly. You've got to grit your teeth against the days you make do without chicken because you timed it wrong, and she was just coming by to refill as you sealed your salad with the ill-fitting plastic lid. You have to comfort yourself when their is NO chicken container; and you have to make due with tuna. You have to hide your pity for those people who load up their salads with the three c-s—corn, croutons and carbs (in the form of peas, chick peas or water chestnuts). You have to hide your contempt for those who practice less than chivalrous salad bar behavior, like trying to cut the wrong-way line by faking the 'just needed some dressing' ploy. It's really a microcosm, and endlessly fascinating, just in case you were wondering how I could make a go of it after so long and so many salads.

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

Lunch: Russo's ($4.50)
Romaine, red pepper, red onion, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

Snack
4 Pieces Beef Jerky
1 oz Boston Lite Popcorn

Dinner
Steak, Onions & Asparagus
Salad
a few stray nuts (almonds, pistachios, cashews)

WIth lots of projects to do, I stayed up late to finish a music-project for a friend's fledgling new restaurant. Hope they like it! It was a third night of being up late, and as a result, I had a less that 100% appetite. Yay for sleep depravation!