Taking a Break

...from what, I don't know.  Winter?  It's no surprise that winter doesn't really show up here in San Diego*, but there is a definite period of less-than-summer.  The weather is cool, the days are a little more grey and rainy than normal, and people seem to be glum.  I enjoy it, as it's a nice break from the constant sunshine.  Plus I can wear my scarf!  And comfy clothes!

I'm also taking a break from a three-day break, most of which has been spent leveling my BE 'lock and feeling weak.  The two are not related, despite what some stupid articles might give the impression of.  Whatever bug has gone around seems to be tougher this year than last, although I hear the same thing every year about how someone got hit harder than ever before. 

My goal lately, both aiding in a speedy recovery as well as my general health, is to fix my diet.  Things like trying vegetarianism for a couple weeks and adding a multivitamin to my daily diet probably can't hurt me. Daisy took me to Jyoti-Bihanga last week and I had the most awesome stir-fry of all time.  It was one of those meals you want to just keep eating until you can't move.  In fact, it was so incredible that it prompted me to almost go completely vegetarian and buy tofu.

Did you hear me?

There is tofu in my refrigerator.  On purpose. 

I have plans for it that don't involve throwing the brick at someone's head. 

This must be a sign of that whole 'responsible adult' phase that's been cropping up lately.  Oh, before I launch into that (and speaking of veggies), I'd also like to say that a trip to 99 Ranch almost made me go completely vegan.  Not the whole store (or the stench of fish), just the meat/deli section.  You know what?  Just do a Google image search for "chicken paw".  There was also a large array of "pig's feet" and "shoulder of lamb".  I was alright until I - for some unknown reason - decided that all this meat needed a closer inspection.  There it was... tendon, bone and all.  Chicken Paw of Doom.

Something horrible happened in my stomach, and I almost made the solid decision to never bring an animal product into my life again. 

I love a good steak, juicy piece of chicken, or even a nice tuna sandwich.  Scrambled eggs?  Milk and cookies?  Bring it on!  But man oh man, something about that chicken paw made me recoil in horror.  I've never even been able to use that phrase properly and know what it felt like. 

Anyway, I'm going to make my diet predominately vegetarian until I start feeling less of these flu/cold symptoms.  It usually helps. 

Today's goal was just to buy some cat litter.  Really.  I cannot, however, be trusted to grocery shop alone, especially half-dazed and wanting to detox.  So a full cart of groceries later, I came home and started cleaning.  Oh, before the store there was a stop to the library, which ended in a three-foot high stack of books, mostly about home decor, decorating small spaces, and keeping yo' sh/t organized.

It all started with the cat litter... then I found some weird mold on the windows (oh the joys of waterfront living)... then of course there was a need to vacuum.  This then led to needing to air the place out, which led to cleaning up and attempting to cat-proof the patio.

I think for now I'll just finish clearing the giant mess that came out of 2 plastic bins, and get the laundry started.  The actual throwing out/sorting of the items in the bin is something that can wait for another day, when I'm not exhausted.  Then I need to start on a purse for my friend as well as this deck idea that's been nagging at me for about a year. 

The drunkbunny stuff, since you all care, has been blossoming nicely.  I finished up a tattoo sketch for someone that actually looks like a tattoo sketch, and less like a chunk of random art.  Also, cleaning the apartment makes me feel A) like the mold/dander isn't making me as sick, and B) productive, since things are easier to get to and put away.

I have a lot to blog about, but there are other things that need to be taken care of.  So instead of an epic entry trying to play catch-up, I'm going to leave you with this list that got sent to me. Some of which I added to and edited.

Ways To Tell You're Growing Up

1. Your houseplants are alive, and you can't smoke any of them.

2. Having sex in a twin bed is out of the question.

3. You actually keep healthy food in the fridge - and the beer takes up less space.

4. 6:00AM is when you get up, not when you go to bed.

5. You hear your favorite song in an elevator.

6. You watch the weather channel.

7. Your friends marry and divorce instead of 'hook up' and 'break up'.

8. You go from 130 days of vacation time to 14.

9. Jeans and a sweater no longer qualify as 'dressed up'.

10. You're the one calling the police because those f&*#ing kids next door won't turn down the stereo.

11. Older relatives feel comfortable telling sex jokes around you.

12. You don't know what time Taco Bell closes anymore.

13. Your car insurance goes down and your car payments go up.

14. You feed your dog Science Diet instead of McDonald's leftovers.

15. Sleeping on the couch makes your back hurt.

16. You take naps.

17. Dinner and a movie is the whole date instead of the beginning of one.

18. Eating a basket of chicken wings at 3am would severely upset, rather than settle, your stomach.

19. You go to the drugstor for Ibuprofen and antacids, not for condoms and pregnancy tests.

20. A $4.00 bottle of wine is no longer 'pretty good shit'.

21. You actually eat breakfast food at breakfast time.

22. 'I just can't drink the way I used to' replaces 'I'm never going to drink that much again'.

23. 90% of the time you spend in front of a computer is for real work.

24. You drink at home to save money before going to a bar.

25. When you find out your friend is pregnant, you congratulate them instead of asking 'Oh shit, what the hell happened?'

26. Taping up a poster of a 90's boy band or a Bud Light girl no longer seems like quality interior design. Besides, the tape will pull the paint off the wall.

27. Paying bills is no longer something that just happens to other people.

28. A dishwasher is a luxury, not just another name for your mother.

Bonus - You read this entire list looking desperately for a sign that doesn't apply to you and can't find one to save your sorry old ass.

*The history of Saint San Diego, also known as Saint Didacus of Alcalá, may be of some interest to you.  There's grave-robbin' involved!