I bowled with my brother today. Without the influence of alcohol, I averaged in the 150s. I’m on to something here.
Avoiding the cleansing “crisis”
Day one of the cleanse brings back some of the memories of the last time I tried this, June of 2002. I was drinking alcohol in moderately high volumes and two shots of espresso a day. And then I went directly to the restrictions of the cleanse. Bad idea. Day four of that cleanse brought severe caffeine withdrawal headaches, and on day five, I spent the evening at Indian Oven eating a most delicious curry. There’s a schedule involved with vitamins, shakes and two meals in 1 1/2 hour intervals, and to work properly, it needs to be adhered to. I’m not used to this kind of structure, but I figure I can handle it for a couple of weeks.
Pre-Cleanse
Nicole is my cleansing companion. We have decided to cleanse for 14 days concurrently beginning tomorrow, and talk about how we’ll do it and make it easy on ourselves. Really, the cleanse starts tonight with a dinner of a piece of fruit early in the evening to give the digestive system a slight preparation of what’s to come. Over the next 14 days, Nicole and I will eat nothing but raw organic fruits and vegetables, with added supplements and bentonite clay shakes that are part of a cleansing kit. There’s only one place in Seattle we’ll be able to eat out: the Gravity Bar, a vegetarian restaurant that actually has a menu that fits the restrictions of the next couple of weeks. I’ve prepared for this two weeks in a big way: no coffee since December 31st, and limiting my alcohol intake to 2 drinks when I go out (usually, 3 nights a week).
I have to do this. After food poisoning and a sluggish body and mind, it’s time to wake up.
Zed and cabaret
I’ve discovered my new favorite show. It’s on CBC, and it’s called ‘Zed’. It showcases short independent films, and musicians, from mostly Canada, but including the US, UK and Australia. My Tivo taped it while I was gone, and I’m hooked. It’s on five nights a week, and positively the best television I’ve seen in awhile. I don’t know if PBS has an equivalent – I doubt it.
Tonight I had my last real dinner, and alcohol, for awhile, as I begin my cleanse tomorrow night. Thankfully, my Italian cabaret-chantreuse friend Julie is cooking at her place. She’s a true artist, and really believes in what she does – the pursuit of her craft is at the forefront of her existence. I’m fortunate to know her.
Alternatives to Social Discomfort
I’m never staying in a hotel again. Why should I, when a beautiful bed and breakfast near Alamo Square is slightly cheaper. There’s barely anyone there, so I get the tudor part of the mansion to myself. There’s a fireplace and clawfoot tub. Yes!
Tonight my friend Leda and I went to the ‘Alternatives to Economic Globalization’ conference at the Palace of Fine Arts. I recognize a couple of people from New College, lending further evidence to my theory that communities in SF are formed through groups of interest moreso than knowing your neighbor. What made this conference so inspiring was that it wasn’t a bitch-and-moan session, it was a report on alternatives on the way the world can do business, and tread lightly on the environment while embracing human rights. We went to the Orbit Room afterwards and talked over a mojito. Leda just had an article about time management published in the latest Utne magazine. She informed me that United for Peace is adding ‘and Justice’ to their title to be more representative of the social justice mission of the organization.
I chat it up with a few people at the bar – maybe I’m more comfortable here than I realize.
Kahlo Me Impressed
I’ve registered at New College for my final baccalaureate semester – and it took only 13 years to accomplish. I can’t wait.I’m staying tonight and tomorrow night at the Villa Florence downtown. After checking in, I pass out on the bed, asleep. They’ve given me a tiny room next to the heating unit, which makes a loud humming noise. I need a break from this – I call my friend Trina, and we meet at Uncle Vito’s for pizza, and then go catch a late show of ‘Frida’. Frida – an amazing story, and relevant since I had just seen her and Diego Rivera’s artwork a week earlier. I was inspired by their passion for their work, and it reminds me why I shouldn’t attempt things in half-assed matter. Genuinely pouring yourself into something can be painful and/or satisfying, but it’s a real experience.
The Angry Republican
Kimmay and I went with Jeannette to the Café Venus and Mars Bar, to celebrate one of Jeannette’s friend’s birthday. One of the people in the group was an angry Republican (self-professed). I’ve never met anyone so visibly angry with the world – I wonder if he had experienced a breakup a while ago, and became embittered and joined the Republican party. I attempted to diffuse him with non-partisan conversation, and that seemed to bring him down a bit. It’s been awhile since I’ve met someone that tightly wound.