Fast Food

Brayden and I swore off fast food this summer. We're trying to start off our new life together on the right foot. No fast food, no excessive spending, whole wheat bread, that sort of thing.

I cheated. I was on my way home from taking my bridals the other day and I was starving, so I swung by the good ol' fallback, McDonalds. I had half of a cheeseburger and about twelve fries. Not twelve orders of fries, twelve fries.

((We interrupt your current program to bring you this important background infor

mation -- my typical McDonalds meal is as follows:

• one double cheeseburger
• one large order of fries
• a cinnamon melt
• an m&m mcflurry
• a chicken sandwich

And now, we will return you to your regularly scheduled blog.))

It made me sick. Really really sick. My body has gotten so completely out of the habit of eating anything fast food that I could hardly touch it. And now, we get to the heart of the matter.

I'd only gone about a month without fast food, and my body was already completely over it. I never would have thought that I couldn't go that long without fast food. I was sure that at some point in the last few years I'd gone without for a month.

I hadn't. I have been assured that it was an almost weekly thing. I never thought anything of it, because I shopped on the dollar menu. I grabbed a bite on the way to or from work, or rehearsal. Or when I needed a break from studying.

It's amazing how much a body can change just by getting rid of one thing. I imagine that principle goes for just about anything in life. Physical, spiritual, emotional. You can change one thing, and your whole lifestyle can alter for the better. As for me, not only am I significantly healthier, but I am saving so much money. (Yeah. I went back to my bank statements to figure out just how much fast food was costing me. I could have bought a new car by now.)

So that's my semi-profound thought of the day. Do with it as you will.

~Katydid

"Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V."

The Lost Days

I know I've been sort of MIA the past few weeks. Therefore, I present you with an account of my summer so far.

MY SUMMER SO FAR:

Looked for a job. Didn't find one. Spent two weeks filling out applications and making follow-up calls. Nada. Walked around three shopping centers dressed in heels and a pantsuit and looking all professional. Found out exactly how long it takes to train in retail. Got turned away. Got laughed at for asking for a job. Was promised a call. Nothing.

Stressed about finances. Argued about finances.

Got a job. A wonderful woman in my ward hired me on as summer help. Includes babysitting, helping them move, yardwork, housework, and other miscellaneous assignments. Saved my life this summer. (Will be petitioning for her sainthood next week.)

Had long involved talk with my parents about finances. Argued with Brayden about finances.

Surprised Brayden up in Virginia. Spent a practically perfect week doing absolutely nothing productive. Revelled in the relaxation. Jumped off the rock at Panther Falls for the first time. Twice. Repeated experience fully clothed two days later, and on camera. Broke cell phone beyond repair. Got apartment. Mentally started decorating apartment. Saw Seussical the Musical twice (insert round of applause for cast here) and went home with a horrible allergy-induced cough. (The two are unrelated.)

Called Brayden. He was budgeting.

Called Brayden. He was budgeting.

Called Brayden. Got into an argument about the constant budgeting. Told him to relax. Realized that in many ways he was right. Became unable to relax myself.

Worked. Stayed up late. Got up early. Worked. Looked for a second job. Worked.

Got new cell phone. Took bridal portraits. Was told I am a beautiful bride. Looked for a couch. Looked for a desk. Looked for anything cheaper than $200 that might look good in a 12 x 12 space. Worked.

Planned reception. Stressed about decorations vs dance floor. Stressed about making the reception hall look like anything but a reception hall. Thought about eloping.

Got a perfect silk flower bouquet that made every worry in the whole world vanish.

Fixed a few major financial concerns.

Called Brayden. He wasn't budgeting. Started crying out of complete and utter relief.

Add a couple of sleepless nights and a new exercise routine and this is basically my summer. But two months from today, I get married to the most wonderful man on the planet. All the stress just goes away when you measure it in the grand scheme of things. This summer will be hard. It's been hard. But now, everything is falling into place.

"Everything will be alright in the end. If it's not alright, then it's not the end." ~Unknown