Day 3 - Getting Easier

Given the frustration I was experiencing yesterday, I was having serious doubts that I could complete this experiment all the way to April 30. Today was a lot easier. While I was super busy, both with clients (two different clients) and with ordinary life chores (getting Emma's wings clipped, picking up a prescription, dropping off some dry cleaning, paying rent, etc.) I made peace with the idea of eating at home.

Dad is still in the hospital for in-patient rehab and I didn't make it up to see him today; but I will go early tomorrow and take my breakfast to eat with him while he's eating his. I took flowers to his nurses in telemetry and the 5th Floor ortho wing tonight (different hospital); they really appreciated having a patient's family recognize the high level of care they give each patient.

If I hadn't gone home for lunch (since as you know I don't eat lunch out unless I pack it this month), I would have missed a call from Kaplan University to go over my program outline. I'm very honored and excited to be among their list of speakers for their online executive series in May. If you're a Kaplan University student, I'd love to have you join my sessions from 1:00-2:00 p.m. or 9:00-10:00 p.m. Eastern time on May 4. Going home for lunch was a good thing.

I have found that if I either am relaxed enough to plan my meals and snacks -- or I am so crazy busy I don't have time to even think about food -- that's when I do the best with this whole "no food shopping" experiment. This "no food shopping" experiment has enabled me to save a lot of money! I realized that when I do run into the store for one or two items, I always seem to walk out with a small bag full of other items I didn't know I needed. Since I no longer run in for a single food item, I don't run in for anything else either. Having said that -- I need to go to Macy's tomorrow to pay my bill. My hunch is that I will find a must-have item while there.

Last night, I went to the Taste of Home Cooking School at the Yakima Convention Center with my mom and sister. Fiesta Foods served samples of the most delicious fajita chicken, a local grocery store bakery served cake, and two wineries held wine tasting as part of the ticket price. (I bought the tickets back in March.)

Even though the food was included as part of the event, and hence not something I knowingly paid for, I am wondering if just the small joy of having someone cook and serve me samples sort of tempered my desire to eat out. The only way to find out is to go to Costco tomorrow and test all their free samples. If that holds me over for a week I'll know that I must have a gene that feels loved whenever anyone else serves me food, even if that food is a single bite served on a napkin or pressed down into a white paper cup the size of a pill cup in the hospital.

Better run. It's early and I'll need to get up early to make coffee, and breakfast, and make it across town to eat breakfast with Dad at 8:00. Sleep tight. And thank you for following my blog. Has it inspired you to donate money or food to a local charity? If so, please tell me about it and about the charity you enjoy supporting.