Living In Captivity

Invoking the Brunch Rule

2009-07-25T23:00:00.000-07:00

So finally today, I used the brunch rule, and boy was it worth it. Had brunch in Soho with the boys at around 2pm. Had a great Margarita while sitting outside on a Soho sidewalk on a hot day. Tas-teee. Then over 4 hours later, I had a drink at home. Well within the rules. So far, so good.

Almost Blew the 30 Day Challenge!

2009-07-24T13:05:00.000-07:00

When making up the rules for the 30 Day, 1 drink maximum, Challenge, there were some scenarios I did not anticipate. For instance - free drinks. i have never been one to turn down a DOH, otherwise known as a Drink On the House. How could I turn that down? G and I had a sangria at our new fav outdoor sidewalk cafe, and, as a gesture of our continued patronage, our waiter offered us each another one "On the House". What to do, what to do. Came close to blowing it, but instead we just asked for one more to split. And by splitting, I mean, I had 2 sips! Unbelievable control. So the challenge is still on.

Out-of-Life Experience

2009-07-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

Ever have an out-of-body experience? Well today I had something similar. I would call it an Out-of-Life Experience. It was like I was plopped down in a life that was vaguely familiar, but belonging to someone else. I went through the day completing tasks that I seemed very removed from, as if checking off a todo list for someone I did not know. I felt unconnected to everything around me.

? If you are waiting for an epiphany here, there is none. Just taking note of Surreality.

Run, Run Away

2009-07-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

5th run today since starting up again after the MCL tear. Ran 5 miles, and it is getting much easier! I no longer feel like my leg is going to cramp and/or collapse under me when I finish. This is good.

My Vastus Medialis muscle in still vastly atrophied though. And this even though I was weight bearing pretty much from the onset of the injury, and have been doing leg extensions since week 3. Maybe it is due to relying on the knee brace for support?

Does this count as one drink?

2009-07-19T14:08:00.000-07:00

Jumbo Pomegranate Margarita as seen next to a regular size. I am counting this as one drink because, hey, I could have gone with the Mega size . . .

Drinking Accessories: Straws

2009-07-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

Click picture to order on Amazon

Optimizing the one drink challenge with cool straws. These are stainless steel, and mimic the flexible neck of a plastic straw.

Steel Straw action shot.

Attenton-Seeking Sandals

2009-07-16T15:45:00.000-07:00

My Farylrobin Wakiko sandals are constantly trying to
get in the photo. Here, unbeknownst to me, they suceeded.

They are my favorites this summer.
They also come in tan and an awesome bronze, which you may be able to find on sale online by now.

Imagine my surprise when I returned home from a run to find a small group doing a photo shoot for them at my building entrance in DUMBO.

At Taxi Beach - South Street Seaport

2009-07-15T16:07:00.001-07:00

Checking out this new sandy Brooklyn Bridge viewing spot, I had to choose between what looked liked a really refreshing sangria and a margarita for my one drink of the evening. The Margarita won.

My first and second drink.

Coming to an outdoor beach bar and having only one drink is like surfing on your knees. Its a handicap, and not quite the thrill that it could be. On the plus side, having only one drink probably kept me from eating a lot of fried food. Instead I stuck to the Baja Fish Taco, which was probably the best fuel for the calories from the snack shack.

Seahorse Cowgirl

2009-07-15T06:35:00.000-07:00

Just opened - the Seahorse Cowgirl, on Peck Slip in the South Street Seaport area, from the people who brought you Cowgirl (Hall of Fame), in the West Village. Finally, what seems like a suitable replacement for my now defunct, sorely-missed Radio Mexico (ooohhhh those fresh chips and awesome margaritas . . .). It will be hard for any restaurant to live up to my passion for that place, but this is a joint that seems to have the right idea. Looking forward to trying out

No outdoor seating . . . yet.

soon.

Sub-lime Lifesaver

2009-07-13T10:51:00.000-07:00

My name for my new signature non-alcoholic drink.

Sub - comes from substitute for alcohol
Lime comes from the Roses Lime juice
Lifesaver comes from the triple anti-oxidants, acai, bluberry, pomegranate, in the Vitamin Water 10 XXX flavor.

Cheers!

30 Day Challenge Rules

2009-07-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, to oblige "the exception to every rule" rule, here is the exception to the 1 drink per day rule. I decided in favor of the 4 hour between drinks rule for weekends to accommodate brunch/lunch. That gave me a fighting chance to make the 30 days. That said, I did not invoke the exception this weekend. I am off to a flying start, and even had NO drinks on Day 1.

New Drink Tale

2009-07-11T14:22:00.000-07:00

In order to survive 30 days with only 1 drink per day, I had to invent a new non-alcoholic drink to use as a cocktail substitute when I get a craving for an early drink or second drink.

I've yet to name it, but it consists of the 3 ingredients you see in the photo, in these proportions:

10 calories XXX Acai Blueberry Pomegranate Vitamin Water - 12oz

Roses Lime Juice - 1 shot (1.5 oz)

Stevia (liquid) 5 drops

Shake with plenty of ice, do not strain.

Need to think of a name for this new drink . . .

My Hangover Has Hung On

2009-07-10T18:02:00.000-07:00

So, remember those Dreaming of Key West Margaritas I went for last night? I sure do. At only $5, I had to have more than one. And somehow a shot slipped in there too. Woke up this morning still processing alcohol. Now it is early evening, and my hangover has hung on (now there is a country song in the making, or probably already made). I have been thinking all day about becoming virtuous so as not to suffer this scenario again. I am , of course, not talkng about giving up drinking.

I think a 30 Day Challenge is in order. It is said that if you can do anything for thirty days straight, it will have become a habit. I have tried this before with exercise habits and it works well . . . if you make it the thirty days. My 30 Day Challenge will be to to have only 1 drink per day. Wait, let's see, do the next thirty days include any vacation time . . . no it does not, whew.

On the positive side, I will probably lose a little fat also if I do this. Such a big commitment though. What if I am some place that makes absolutely great Pisco Sours, or caipirinhas, drinks that are not good (or available) just anywhere.

Hmmm, I am wondering, if I skip a day, would I be able to bank that for another day . . . and should I have a rule such that if I wait, say 4 hours between drinks, the second drink would not count? . . . What if I go out for brunch? And then dinner? One drink with each meal seems reasonable., right?

Maybe I am being a bt hasty with the blackandwhiteness of this challenge. I'm gonna have to sleep on it. But I am starting today, if I follow through with it.

Craving Key West

2009-07-09T23:17:00.000-07:00

Discovered in the AM that I will have a chance to add a trip to Key West on to trip to Hollywood Florida the first part of November. Bad timing on this good news, as it was a little cloudy out today, and not nearly warm enough here in NYC to keep me happy. This cold summer has taken its toll, and I suddenly became obsessed with wanting to be in Key West - not in October or December, but NOW. I literally could not focus on anything else. Looking for a hotel room to book for our trip was a productive way to funnel this focus, floating in our big tub, eyes closed, pretending to be in the gulf waters, for an HOUR, was not.

Other things I did:
Texted a friend from Key West, just to say "hi", out of the blue.
Searched for Key West news sites, and blogs, two of which I signed up to follow.
Bought an old '70's movie "The Key West Picture Show" on Amazon.com
Looked up airfare and various routes, plane/car combination for the two destinations.
Thought about what I could do for a job if I moved to Key West
Bought two new Jimmy Buffett songs on iTunes and listed to Jimmy Buffett music nonstop.
Oh, also watched a video of Jimmy Buffet perform live in the Key West (original) Margaritaville. Ended the day with a couple margaritas at an outdoor cafe, thinking about how much fun I had had in Key West last December, and how much fun I will have there again:)

The Two Blogs I signed up to follow are:
www.TheRealKeyWest.blogspot.com
www.KeyWestChronicle.blogspot.com

The Key West Picture Show available at Amazon.com

The new Jimmy Buffett songs are Summerzcool, and I Got a Lot To Drink about. (I guess it was this last song that propelled me toward the outdoor cafe and Margaritas.)

Today's Word Is: Perspective

2009-07-07T11:30:00.000-07:00

Second run today following my Medial Collateral Ligament tear. The first one was three days ago, on the 4th of July. I called it my Freedom Run, because for me, a return to running is sort of getting my freedom back. That first run was across the Manhattan Bridge, about 2.5 miles in total, and when I finished I thought my quads were just going to collapse under me.

Today, I tried the waterfront parks along the East River, and then the Brooklyn Bridge and back. 3.5 miles. As I ran up the slight incline that now seems like a hill, dragging my heavy braced leg and thinking how hard this was, I met another runner coming toward me, going faster, one leg regular, one made out of metal spring and joint. This did not make my brace feel lighter, but I knew how lucky I was because I knew in time I would heal, and he would not. Then the thought came to me that, maybe he already has.