09.29 to 09.30 - Notes to Self

1. Avoid pizza places that tout their "caramelized cheese crust" (which is, in actuality, just burnt cheese). The pizza may look and smell yummy, but one bite will break your heart.

2. Stay away from the udon from across the street. It's oily and it makes you excessively gassy. I'm serious. Stop thinking it was a one-time thing. It'll happen again, and being gassy at work is not fun.

3. Lastly, stop eating so much and, please, try to go to the gym. Seriously. Even once every two weeks would be an achievement.

09.26 to 09.28 - Wedding Weekend Cuisine

So, I attended the final wedding of the "summer" this past weekend, and considering that it was a beach wedding and that I was standing in it . . . you'd think I would have eaten a bit better. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Upon arriving in Daytona Beach, I had one and a half meat lover's calzone thingeys. That night for the rehearsal dinner, I had a ton of appetizers, bread, prime rib, and several slices of cake. The next day, I indulged in diner breakfast, had an Italian sub for lunch, and then stuffed myself with unlimited buffet (of pastas and other yummy carby things) at the wedding that night. The day after, I had no choice but to have all sorts of fatty airport food. Now, it's the next day and I still feel full and disgusting.

These were two of the appetizers at the rehearsal dinner and also a perfect example of "proper" portion size (for me):


 Instead, I had about six of those jack-cheese stuffed shrimp and three of those prosciutto-wrapped asparagus things. *sigh*

09.24 to 09.25 - Fattie Siblings

I haven't been able to spend a prolonged amount of time with my brother in awhile, so I forgot how similar our taste is in food. But over the last few weeks, I've really liked having him around-- particularly because he's become my indulgent partner in culinary crime. Here are some fond fatty moments:

• Two days in one week, we had the best fried chicken wings for lunch. The only reason we didn't have it the other days of the week is because they ran out before we got there. :\
• One night, we decided to have a hot dog feast, so we bought cheddar and swiss cheeses along with special bread for our kosher beef hotdogs.
• There was that one night that I had the crispy pata craving and I passed it onto him. Mmm.
• We shared a box of Velveeta mac and cheese late last night, and we probably would have had another one if there had been an extra box. :}

Since he'll be around a bit longer, we have plans for other fatty moments:

• sliced brisket
• ribs and au gratin
• three different pizza places
• more fried chicken
• sushi
• whatever else we happen to get cravings for

I'm pretty sure he's going to go back fatter than he was when he first got here. Hee hee . . .*

*No comment about how that will leave me.

09.23 - Necessity

I'm sure I've mentioned before that I'm not a fries person. Generally, if fries come with my meal, I'll pass it off on whoever else is eating with me. I actually prided myself on this because fries are chock-full of fat, but alas . . . times have changed. *sigh* Over the past few months, I have successfully acquired a taste for McDonald's fries, and I am quite annoyed with myself about it. I went to McDonald's for years without ever craving even a single fry. Now, I can't go there at all without getting at least a small fries. It's sad really, and I am no longer special. :(
 

In other news, I was walking briskly away from McDonald's after lunch today in an attempt to work off the chewed-up pile of double cheeseburger and french fries in my belly . . . when I suddenly realized that I was walking behind this couple. Ha. I had to slow down. I was amused. Is that really necessary?
 

09.22 - I'm Not Lying

Looking back on my own "awkward stage" of childhood, I remember two specific physical characteristics of mine very clearly. One, I had huge glasses that covered half of my narrow, small face. And two, my nose was huge in relation to the aforementioned face. :\ Needless to say, I was not particularly attractive and I was always quite self-conscious. It didn't help that I was also somewhat of a chubba bubba.

These days, I'm pleased to say that I am now an avid user of contacts and my face has grown out and become quite accomodating to the nose. So I should finally be at peace, right? Sadly, I realized this weekend that when I gain weight, I gain weight in my face. And when I gain weight in my face . . . I also seem to gain weight in my nose. *exasperated sigh* When I told my brother this revelation, he said, "Stop lying." I insisted I wasn't lying. He looked at me again and said, "Stop lying." It took me awhile to figure that one out. Ugh. I so do not like him.

Anyway, this is now my newest incentive to limit my excessive eating. I refuse to go back to the awkward stage, I tell you! I refuse!

"I know you ate that last piece of fried chicken, you fattie! Stop lying!" Jiminy Cricket says sternly.

09.19 to 09.21 - My Reward

I'm a classic buzzkill. I go out when I'm forced to-- and when I'm forced to, I usually stand there, only moving from side to side if there is music playing and I absolutely must. I am seldom ever excited to go out, and I would choose bumming at home with a book, fatty food, and a movie over getting dolled up and drinking any day.

This weekend consisted of another classic "night out" but . . . surprisingly, it was enjoyable. Enjoyable because the music was good or because there weren't sweaty people bumping into me the whole time or because I was there with a lot of people I actually liked? Partly. But, mainly, it was enjoyable because we went to eat at our favorite Chinatown joint after.

There is nothing like wonton soup, salt and pepper porkchops, and beef chow fun after a long night. Seriously, nothing.
 

09.18 - Lotta Pata

Why the heck is crispy pork skin so addictive? Why has my culture instilled this fattie vice on me?! *sigh* There's this one particular Filipino dish called crispy pata-- and it's essentially one gigantic salty pork rind wrapped around some fat, meat, and bones. It doesn't sound particularly appetizing, but you'd have to taste it to understand. Seriously.

Anyway, it didn't help that I suddenly got this craving for crispy pata earlier tonight right before I would be otherwise engaged for the next three hours. In my attempt to "pass on the craving," I sent a link of a restaurant to my brother with the picture below attached. I wrote, "In case you get a craving, go to this restaurant before 9 and then you can pick me up. Also, here's a visual. I know, it hurts."

Haha. I am pleased to say my plan worked-- and I was not only picked up after a long day, but I also got me some delicious, heart attack inducing crispy pata. My stomach and my brother's stomach are friends, and I am not ashamed for having used it to my advantage. ;)