Just an Update with a Side of French Toast

Why hello. 


glad to see that last entry didn't scare any of you away! 


i really hope you all enjoyed that story, Blake was a very important figure in my life, and a huge influence shaping me into the person i am now. i thought that publishing that story for an entry was the least i could do in his breathtaking honor. 




So an update on my first week after New York? Well it has been a bit of an emotional roller coaster to say the least as far as my "love life" goes, but that jazz is slowly getting worked out. It's also a bit personal for here. 


But looking back on the week, i feel good. not because the new classes i am attending are really that riveting, or that i am having a crazy exciting social life, but because i haven't counted calories all week, and i haven't stressed over my rest days.


its a freaking miracle. 


but even though i have had some other health issues this week, right now after my 5mile run yesterday, and my 3.5 mile run today, i am feeling pretty good. I ate 1 1/2 jars of peanut butter this week (you know, the kind from Peanut Butter & Co. i KEEP talking about???), but amazingly i haven't felt sick from eating at all this week. talk about a miracle. but it has made me extremely happy, and been a bit of a weight off my chest that my body has worked okay, and enjoyed those rest days!


i also discovered a girl in my Psych class is vegan! That has been fun because it is someone to talk to about food that agrees with me, and we are going to hit up all the great veg places in the next month!


that's the other thing. it really hit me on Friday that the 1st week has just flown by, only four weeks left in Dublin. 


i guess i should talk about that too.


after countless hours of thought, i have decided that, at this point in my life, school is not where i need to be. that isn't to say i don't still love Psychology (it breaks my heart that i am possibly leaving a career of helping people who have so little hope or compassion towards them), and i am not proclaiming i will never go to school again. what has mainly been swimming through my mind are the following things:


- i have spent the last four years "just getting through it" when it comes to school. everyone always promises you that once you get to college, school gets interesting and you just start to love your life and experiences. 
but that hasn't been the case for me. 
i found that being in college now, i have the same "just get through this, and THEN you will be happy" mindset. 
- i have severely suffered emotionally the last four years, only with the promise of happiness once i got through it. and you know what? that isn't what i got. and guess what? i think especially after the last four years i deserve happiness. i want to be happy for one of the first times in my life. and i don't want happiness in four years, or seven which is more likely, i want to be happy in my life now. 
- i want to go and experience the world. i am sick of wanting to be an adult and getting tricked into being a kid still. i want to work, travel, live.
and i want to now. no more waiting or putting it off. 


so that is what i am doing. next term i will hopefully be working at one of the fine vegan food establishments in Portland, Oregon. i am thrilled to be going home :)


i may also apply to The Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school! how cool would that be to work in New York?!
and i also have a plan about a documentary. i don't want to go into too much detail now, but basically it was inspired by Life In A Day, and a recent realization about love. let's face it, i am a hopeless romantic, and everything about love fascinates and captivates me. but i will give you more details later :)


so. really. quick. 
my plan this week is to run every day. a medium (3.5-4 miles) tomorrow, shorter (3miles) Tuesday and Wednesday, another 5 mile run Thursday, and a 3 mile run Friday. Then on Saturday i will hopefully be at my friend Laura's house just exploring around, and then Sunday the plan is to hike around in Ireland's most remote region! So hopefully all goes as planned and it will be a great week!
running update: due to back pain i am skipping my Wednesday run. i may walk to school, but we will see. And Friday is being shortened to 2.5 - the distance to school




i am also attending this on Thursday night. looks crazy right?!
...
man, Friday will be rough.  


okay, well as a reward for suffering through this far too informing entry, i have pictures of what i got at the Co-op Thursday!

just look at the colors!

and now, even better, i just made french toast. for as easy as it was, it was fantastic. 

awesome seed-y bread i bought and froze to use as needed! not as good as Dave's, but it will suffice for now

soaking liquid was a pretty color in real life...

notice how there is only a slice and a half? i got a little impatient... 

i didn't have maple syrup...maple syrup peanut butter! ;)

Too Easy to Really Be a Recipe, French Toast

serves 2

• 2 1/2 T spelt flour
• 1/2 cup of almond milk, or juice (i used cranberry juice to give it a little holiday zing)
• 2 t sugar
• 2 t cinnamon (or less, if you aren't a big fan)
• 1 t ginger
• 2 large, thick slices of vegan bread (the healthier the better!)
• oil for frying (i used coconut, but i would suggest something else. it didn't brown like i wanted, and the coconut didn't come through strong enough for me)

1. mix all the dry ingredients together, except the bread.
2. add the milk, or juice to the dry mixture and whisk until there are no longer clumps in the batter.
3. dip the bread in the mixture and let soak for about 2 minutes each side, or until most of the liquid is gone. 
4. heat the oil of your choice over medium heat in a skillet until hot.
5. add the bread and cook until golden-brown on each side.

see? not even a recipe it is so easy! i am excited to experiment with this though and bring in some more holiday spice :)

well, i think that's it folks. hope you enjoyed this and if i don't post soon, Happy Tofurky Day!

20.11.11