Twelve

I feel lonely today. There are no lights on in my apartment. My cousin/best friend, Micah is working in the studio. And I'm alone. I had errands to run today...... They've all been run. All the phone calls have been made, and now it's getting dark outside. I want my phone to ring. But it's silent, and silence is not what I want right now. I want chatter and chaos.... or at least one other body within 5 feet of me. 

Days like this make me want a creamy bowl of soup, a gigantic scarf and an arm around my shoulders. I wonder.... Do married people feel this way in Winter as well?

(FINALLY!!!)Eleven

Because I have been to Cafe Intermezzo 7+ times in between October and November, AND because I have been accompanied every time, AND because Intermezzo is .... let's face it.... over-priced, I'm forced to venture out and try some new spots...... alone. After all, if The Girl Who Eats Alone has a date, is she still The Girl Who Eats Alone? anyway.

The requirements for the new spots?? Twilight hours, coffees, teas, and desserts. Where did I end up on my first attempt to replace Intermezzo? Octane Coffee Bar on Marietta Street. Literally 5 minutes from my home, Octane is teeming with Georgia Techies, their laptops, 

and of course coffee. While the menu is nowhere near as extensive as Intermezzo (not by a long shot), they do offer the classics of the coffee variety: A coffee of the day, Cafe au lait, Espresso, Iced Coffee, etc. They also offer a host of teas ranging from Earl Grey to Organic Jasmine green tea. And if coffee and tea aren't really your.... well... cup of tea, Octane offers Arden's Garden fruit juices, sodas, and hot chocolate.

Food wise.... Octane isn't the place for a rib-sticking meal, rather, they present us with sandwiches and salads from 11 am to 5 pm and a small collection of food they offer all day which includes the soup of the day, a hummus platter, and homemade granola and yogurt among others. 

On this particular visit, I enjoyed the Potato Chowder and a Cafe au Lait.  I sat outside, and watched the cars pass by in the dark. It was freezing, and I kind of regretted my de

cision, but my pride kept me from going back in to sit with all the college students with their Dell laptops, Calculus chatter, and Georgia Tech hoodies. So i warmed myself with my paper cup of coffee and milk, and I watched my breath as I exhaled in silence, which is what I was searching for..... coffee and silence.

Ten (cont'd)

So about my $10 dollar challenge........ it didn't quite happen because I never deposited my check. lol and so I really had no money..... but mysteriously enough, I was taken care of this weekend. So I'll have to try it another time when the people in my life aren't so generous =)

Ten(dollars)

So today I had a massage session with my only client, whom I see every two weeks. I thank God for her every time I go see her because she's been with me for 5 months, and has stayed consistent through economic "down time". She's an angel. She's kept a lot of food on this table for one. And I know we'll be working together for a good while. 

So ...... from the money I earned today, I will allot myself ....... $10 to spend on food for the next couple of days =/ .... I'm not sure this can be done, but it's a good challenge for me. I may be fine if I avoid Starbucks at all costs..... or if I haggle strangers for spare change..... or if I catch a date...... not Dutch

Hmmmmm, or all three! 

I'll let you know how it goes.....

Nine

I just wanted to let you all know that I accomplished something that will rocket me into the next part of my life. I passed my National Certification Exam for Massage Therapy!!! Which means, I can get my license! Which means I can get a job, and make some money!!!! And when I have money I can eat!! And when I can eat, I can write. And I do want to keep writing.

The best part about working, though, is being independent from my parents,who've been supporting me since birth. They pay for the condo in Atlanta, my gas, and groceries. I'm only 19 so I don't feel bad about still needing them, but we're going through tough times in our personal finances and with our family business. So I really feel compelled to help wherever I can. My cousin and I help out at the restaurant -Ponko Chicken- four days a week, for less than minimum wage. This was my first job; I've been working since 1999, and although I think my wages were higher when I was ten, I am more than happy to help my family because they are my world.

But I am super excited about finally stepping into one of my callings and being paid for soemthing I love to do, and I'm even more excited to be able to support myself and maybe even help the parents with some bills. What could be better?

So I'll be looking for a job at a spa in Atlanta. Any suggestions, you massage junkies? Let me know!!!

Eight

I hereby renounce my affiliation with South Beach Diet. 

Onto the next frontier.... I'll let you know how it goes.

Now if you'll excuse me I have a 1:30 a.m. appointment with a Ghirardelli Fudge Brownie.....

Seven

Lately, all I've been wanting to do is sleep. I have no energy because I'm on the South Beach Diet, which eliminates carbs that I'm acclimated to.  Phase one eliminates all carbohydrates from your diet..... no flour, sugar, grains, fruits, and some veggies. You can imagine how this has affected my foodie lifestyle!! Phase 2 allows you to add some fruits and whole grains back into the diet (apples and oatmeal thank God!) And phase 3 is a maintenance program. So for the past two weeks I've consumed 0 carbs, and if you didn't learn this equation in Algebra II.......

 0 Carbs=0 Energy.....0 Energy=Frequent napping.....Frequent napping=No Life

For a girl raised on pasta, bread, grits, potatoes, and Fuji apples, I am quite proud to have abstained this long. You may ask, "Why, O' Perfect One, do you feel you need to torture yourself on this diet?" And I may reply, "Well, reader, my cousin and I plan to go to South Beach, Miami with our dear friend Ashton. And we all decided to jump on the South Beach bandwagon so that we can be sexy in Miami...... in December no less! 

(Also, I have some extra lovin' that I don't think looks so lovely)" 

And although I'm sure only 1/3 of the group actually stuck to the plan (isn't it obvious?), here I am at Week 3 enjoying low glycemic index (GI) carbs like sweet potatoes and grapefruits.

The program promises substantial weight loss (8-13 lbs. in the first two weeks and 2 lbs per week after that) and I've seen it work for my uncle Abe and my cousin Noah. They dropped weight like a hot potato! 

Me? 

Ummmmmm..... 

I haven't noticed ANY changes, and I don't think anyone else has. You may say.... "Hey Arin, why don't you weigh yourself and track your progress?" And I say, "Good question, reader. I have a scale, but it tells everyone that they're 180 lbs." You can imagine my discouragement when my brother, Zack (2 years older and 8'' taller than I), told me that we weigh the same. 

Great =/

I don't have another scale, and I don't have access to one. So if I have lost weight, I don't know about it, which I think should be a crime. BUT like most people, I try not to go by the numbers on the scale; real results show in how your clothes fit. Right? There have been no changes.

I feel like all this discipline is in vain, and although I see mood changes (random fits of rage followed by depression followed by extreme cravings for beef), I don't see physical changes. For a minute, I felt like quitting and celebrating my failure with twin pumpkin doughnuts from my friendly, neighborhood Dunkin' Donuts, and maybe a bowl of cheese grits as a chaser!

But I decided against quitting, and faithfully, I moved into phase 2. I'm happier now that I can eat fruit and some carbs, and I have a lot more energy. Hopefully, I will lose some weight because I have a goal to meet...... I need to look like Jessica Biel before December 17 2008.

Do not question my motives, reader! Because I've learned a lot during these painful two weeks. I learned that I do have will power. I now know that I need a new scale. I learned that it's almost impossible for me not to think about bread, and that ice cream made with Splenda IS real! and it's darn delicious, especially right from the carton. 

I'll be sure to post my progress (or lack thereof) while on phase 2. Hopefully, soon I'll get to say that I weigh less than my big brother!!! 

Hooray.

 *I have not asked my father for permission to vacation in Miami with Micah and Ashton. I'm sorry this is the way I'm asking you Dad. But can I please go to Miami with Micah and Ashton????