After writing yesterday about cravings and appetite, I took a minute to ask myself what I’d been craving. The answer: relaxation, socialization, and libation! I BBMd Jacki that I had made an executive decision. Our tentative local sushi plans were being upgraded. We were going out out to Tom’s Oyster Bar in Royal Oak.
First, though, came the relaxation! I have been working on weekends for the past month, and, while productive, it’s making me crazy. So I forced myself to take yesterday off. I G-chatted with my friends. I watched “Giada at Home.” (Her comfort food recipes looked TO DIE FOR!) I did my nails. I started re-reading Eat, Pray, Love. I lay in bed napping/listening to music for an hour and a half. And it felt amazing! I like working on Sundays, but this is going to be my Saturday MO going forward.
After a lovely day, the hair got did, the eye make-up and four-inch heels went on, and off we went. It was seriously a perfect friend date. The whole time I was thinking, “OK, what am I craving?”
Answer: merlot….
…and Tom’s crab cake salad.
I’ve recently become hooked on crab cakes — this is new for me, as I generally don’t like crab (or crabs) — and Tom’s salad, with greens, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, and blue cheese, does not disappoint.
We were also craving bread, so we asked our waitress to bring us some, which we devoured…and we were definitely craving dessert, so we split an ice cream sundae!
During dinner, there were a couple times when Jacki started to justify the food with talk of going to the gym or what else she’d eaten that day. And for the first time, I just cut it off. I told her I didn’t need an explanation. The explanation was simply food is delicious and we want to eat!
Dinner was fabulous. We had such good chats and then hung out at Tom’s for a little while after dinner. I thought I’d be craving some extra bar time, but actually I wasn’t at all. We were both so seriously satisfied from dinner that we didn’t end up seeking out any new friends at any other bars.
When I got home, I was craving Honey Nut Cheerios, so I ate some in bed. More than a serving. I’m sorry I’m not sorry!!!
The little trip (Royal Oak is about an hour drive from us) was exactly what I needed in my life. We both felt so good and swore on our red wine that we’d plan an outing every other week at least. I felt totally recharged and great about working today. Lately I’ve only been feeding my appetite for career and success — but I’m realizing that’s like thinking you can subsist on bread alone. (OK, I’d love to subsist on bread alone, but you get my point.) You have to take time to meet all your needs or, honestly, you’ll just resent the things you’ve worked toward. Who cares if you lost 10 pounds if you no longer go out with your friends? Or if you get a promotion but don’t recognize your tired, sad face in the mirror?
This week, I felt myself getting dangerously close to saying, “I wrote a book all about sexing and drinking in college…which I no longer do because I was working so hard to sell my book about sexing and drinking.”
I realized I hadn’t been out out in six weeks. Six weeks?! That, my friends, is the point at which I start to lose the very essence of my being. It’s not like I think up topics for Shed Theater sitting in front of my Mac…I come up with them sitting in beds that are not my own! The time has to rediscover drinking, eating, flirting, and over-the-top hair and eye make-up…or, as I like to call it…inspiration.
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