Saturday, August 18, 2012

Gluten Free?

For just under two weeks I've been trying to follow a gluten free diet.

After the August long weekend full of giant pains in my intestines, doing a small amount of research, I thought it added up that I might have a gluten intolerance. And I am not a big "go to the doctor for every small mishap" person, plus, going gluten free isn't really going to harm my  health-oh less carbs and more veg? Yeah terrible for my health.

Anyway, the first week was not as planned. I was dreadfully tired and could not figure out why. Again a small amount of research and a few discussions with more researched friends I discovered that I was in the withdrawal stage. I believe I'm passed that stage now. Except in a moment of weakness (and a bit of emotional eating) last night I ate bruschetta at work and today am paying for it. The good news is that the food that hurts me is starting to just look unappealing now. Whoohoo!


I should note that I'm not following a "strict" diet-I'm reading labels and avoiding gluten whenever possible but I had cake last weekend and ate around the cake for the icing...and did that again with an ice cream cake-ate the ice cream but left the best part(the fudge and cookie crumbs SIGH), I've also eaten things that have the warning "made in a factory that processes, nuts, wheat, etc" but like I said, I think it's an intolerance not anything super severe.

OH and I am in love with rice crackers-the 98 cent variety from No Frills is super fantastic!!! It's been a slow process but overall I'm excited for this. It's not as hard as I thought-my favourite coffee shop near my work makes gluten free waffles and treats that are tasty. Pinterest has been a huge help finding recipes. Overall, slow and steady will make my tummy happy! (and maybe help in those unnecessary pounds I've previously talked about!)

After I was diagnosed with celiac disease, I said yes to food, with great enthusiasm. . . . I vowed to taste everything I could eat, rather than focusing on what I could not.”
                                                                                                    ― Shauna James Ahern

Friday, August 17, 2012

Maf the Dog

I'm blog-failing. And going to do something that is so incorrect, but hey that's me!

I'm currently reading Andrew O'Hagan's novel The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog and of His Friend Marilyn Monroe that my bookish friend MoMo gave me because it reminded her of me and I am loving it. I've been reading it for longer than I'd care to admit due to life but whenever I can I'm reading a page or two and working my way through.

It's not secret that I'm a lover of Marilyn and intrigued by her life, her real life, and not that glamorized Hollywood version of biographies, articles, and the like. I wish I was able to have a conversation with her because she is fascinating.

It's also no secret that the love of my life is my darling Shrimpy, who-no isn't a dog, but who-yes has ventured through my muddled life with me for the last 4 years in quiet (and sometimes not so quiet) attention. He's known when I'm sick before I do and takes care of me the same way I take care of him.

So O'Hagan combining Marilyn, her "unreported" life and writing it from the view of her dog Maf is an automatic love! However, that's not to undermine the exquisite writing style, the use of gorgeous imagery and word play, and the insight not into Marilyn but into humanity. The book is a work of fiction so how much of it is true, anyone can guess, but suspending reality and indulging in creation the novel is a work of art that reaches into the human psyche and motivation.

Maf is a wonderful narrator and learning about his "culture" is fantastic. The novel has made me smile and cry on the same page. It's a magical read and I cannot wait to get to the end...well, in some ways.

"When it comes to the story of people's lives, isn't it strange that we seldom know them in their quiet, reading moments?"
           -Maf the Dog, The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog, and of His Friend Marilyn Monroe