I've been a bad blogger.

This, I know. And it makes me have the sad. But I have been thinking about you all, so that's something, right?

Here's the thing: I've been SO BUSY having fun doing fun things and also having fun writing more fun books for you that I left you high-and-dry.Some fun things I did:

• Not make any resolutions (except to be a better blogger, which I am doing right now!!).
• Hung out with my son who visited from a far-away land (Missouri).
• Crocheted a massive blanket that was almost too heavy to lift and a bunch of scarves. (If you didn't get one yet, that doesn't mean you're not going to, although it may be too warm for scarves at that point. Hmmm.)
• Aaaand...The Chef and I had super fun when we saw these guys on New Year's Eve at a fancy-pants (not really) event. I may have danced a little bit, but not on the dance floor because that would be NUTS!!

This is Brass Attack. I knew all the songs!!! Shocking! Loved them!!

Happy New Year!

The Secret

I was debating whether or not to tell you this, but since we're such good friends, I figure I probably should.  You may have noticed the difference and I don't want you to think I've been captured by mild-mannered aliens or anything. Ready? Here goes.  ::deep breath::

I am uncaffeinated.

No, not in the "Holy crap, I forgot to go to the store and I may die" way.

The "I'm going to cut down on DC/soda/caffeine/Nutrasweet" way.

See? It still loves me, no matter what.

One Thursday a couple of months ago, I called The Chef and said, "I'm not going to have Diet Coke any more." Kind of like when a toddler spits out the binky and never wants it again.

Except not like that at all, because I still want it.  And I want it bad, man, real bad.  I still have half a can in the morning with breakfast, but I have gone days without that too.

I think in the beginning, The Chef was very very afraid for his life. He's okay now, though. I think.

I miss the taste and the bubbles and the awesome feeling of actually being alive and alert.  I don't miss the needing a fix and doing whatever needs to be done in order to get it.  I don't walk around whining "I miss soda" anymore. Aloud.  Much. I did have some with dinner last night and was awake until 2 a.m., but that may have been because The Chef was away and no one told me to go to bed. (Oh, look, and it's 12:21 am already! Whoops!)

And for you holier-than-thou-ers out there, I didn't do it because you obsessively sent me stupid undocumented "sciency" research about the dangers of soda/artificial sweeteners/things in cans/anything that tastes good/caffeine/anything that makes you happy/all words with the letter C. I made the decision because I was tired of the constant chase for more. Not only did I want the DC all the time, I wanted it exactly the way I wanted it. And it was starting to cost a fortune. A Large Diet Coke with extra ice (LDCEI) doesn't come cheap.* And it made me hungry all the time, which meant more eating and more soda and more eating and more...you get the picture.

Do I still have it when we go out? Yes, sometimes. Sometimes not. And not usually 47 refills in one meal. And not close to a two-liter bottle (in varying forms) throughout the day. Every day.

My only worry? Not getting a birthday card from The Coca-Cola Company, like I usually do. By the way, six months and ten days until my birthday.  Shop early; shop often!

I would do this. In a heartbeat. No joke.

Sad that the Diet Coke post is over? Go read about A Social History of Diet Coke!!



*Except now it does, because McDonald's is running their any soda/any size $1 special again this summer.  ::shakes fist at the golden arches::

Words to live by.

Again from One Twenty Five

Happy New Year!

I've missed you. I've missed blogging. But I felt like A Diet Coke-Fueled Life* had run its course, so I abandoned ship, much to the chagrin of my mom, who couldn't keep track of me nearly as easily without daily updates via The Mighty Internets.

Yes, I am still doing a kabillion things all at once, but I no longer feel frantic. Or at least I still have a kabillion things on my mind. Something like that. Things. Lots of 'em, like writing, friends, family, adventures with The Chef, and other things Diet Coke allows me to do, despite my love of sleeping.

My goal here is to focus on the positive and to remind us that we need to be kind to ourselves, two ideas that have shaped my life and made it so much better over the past year.

Okay, I've used all of today's allotted brain cells, the number diminished due to last night's New Year's Eve celebration at Smoke Lounge in Providence, RI, one of my new favorite places. I'll share a pic and highlights when I get to a real computer; the iPad won't let me finagle photos (but I still love it so very very much).

XOXO
P.




*It has gone into hiding, so don't bother looking for it. It has requested we respect its privacy.