asthma, food books, and...that's about it
- By Robyn Lee
- Jul 11, 2006
- Comments
Update (7/12): Just a preface to anyone who hasn't read this yet; I'm not dying! I was just pissed when I wrote the entry, so perhaps I sound like I'm dying even though I'm not. My asthma isn't any worse than it was two weeks ago. If I'm near death, it's because I got run over by a car or attacked by a psycho in the subway. You can think about that instead! :D Thanks for expressing your concern.
asthma: a chronic lung disorder that is marked by recurring episodes of airway obstruction (as from bronchospasm) manifested by labored breathing accompanied especially by wheezing and coughing and by a sense of constriction in the chest, and that is triggered by hyperreactivity to various stimuli (as allergens or rapid change in air temperature)
I guess it's Webster's job to be wordy, considering that it's a...dictionary. However, I'm not a dictionary, last time I checked. Simple carbon-based life forms such as myself don't have to come up with lengthy descriptions with complicated words like "bronchospasm" (although admittedly, I kinda like that word) and "lung". Here's my definition:
asthma: a disorder where the lungs, losing all will to live, constantly try to kill their host through mild boughts of oxygen deprivation (or suffocation). The host tries to combat the lungs' wishes by using medication that relaxes the brochial tubes, but the lungs fight back in their suicidal streak. At some point the host will hopefully realize what the lungs have been trying to say (as straightforward as it could without the use of vocal chords) all along—that the host doesn't deserve to live.And then they lived happily every after!
Actually, that was kind of wordy. Please accept my apologies.
I'm glad I'm not religious or else I'd be pretty mad at whoever "created" me right now. No one created me; I'm just a mix of defective genes! Sure, it could be worse—all my apprendages are in the right place and of the correct quantity (is it funny to think that if you have two arms then you have an above average numbe rof arms?)—but...my lungs! They're constantly trying to unintentionally drive me closer to suicide. One day, it won't be so unintentional. Hahaha!
...Okay, I don't mean to offend, as suicide isn't funny. I suppose life is just prolonged decay; everyone's body is killing itself. Slowly. It just feels much more rapid with asthma. Like..."Heeey, what's going on in there? Stop constricting. Dumbass." And then sometimes the initial reaction is to hyperventilate, which only makes it worse. The body is such a complex marriage of a bagillion organs, nerves, bones, veins, and...ye know, other gooey, mushy things (thankfully the medical field is not in my future), but then it goes into stupid wheezy mode, which makes absolutely no sense to me. I suppose if I had a worse affliction, attention would be diverted away from my lungs to something else. "Ahh, leave the lungs alone. Let's fuck up the kidneys!"
So! My weekend was peachy. No, not that kind of peachy. My definition of peachy in this context is "food-mitigated misery." I'm not Webster; I can say whateverrrr I want. Just don't quote me in a paper.
Actually, it wasn't that bad. It's all in my head. Of course. What's all in my head? All food. Bad. Off limits. Can't eat. Can't go out. That? [points to theoretical potato] Tuber of death. And that? [points to theoretical bowl of rice] Grains of death. And that? [points to theoretical house cat] Cat.
I love my mum, but I have a tendency to blow up around her when food stress reaches its boiling point in my brain. She doesn't understand my problem and I don't understand hers. Actually, that's not true; my problem is that she seems to think that my 20 year old self can handle the same insanity inducing diets as her 52 year old self. Whenever I complain about fasting, she'll remind me that she did a one-week juice fast while working full time and taking care of my brother and me when we were little. OKAY, I AM NOT SUPERMOM. We did both do the raw food diet at around the same time (I was really into it; can you imagine me doing that now?!), but I don't think she understands how important food has become to me as a social aspect. (She'd probably feel more at ease if I ditched this blog.) I don't even socialize that much! When the opportunity arises, I kind of need to take it.
While it's not necessary to combined food and meeting people, that's usually what I do. I guess it was easy for me to just eat raw food senior year of high school and freshman year of college because it was unlikely I'd participate in much socialization even if I did eat cooked food (high school was craptastic), but...who knows. Maybe I would've made more than five friends at Vassar if I had joined them in the dining hall and indulged in the Aramark-owned food instead of scarfing down bananas and oranges by myself in my dorm room.
Anyhoo. Since I didn't have fooding to take up my time over the weekend, I naturally tortured myself by reading detailed descriptions of food.
- Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl
After at least five people told me to read this over the past year, I finally hobbled over to amazon.com (because ye know, it takes a lot of effort to buy things on the Internet these days—it's a good thing I did all those finger exercises) and secured myself a copy of Ruth Reichl's memoir outlining the ridiculous disguises and personas she took on in order to get the most genuine experience from a restaurant. Or at least not the one given to a New York Times restaurant critic. As much fun as it sounds to eat out nearly all the freakin' time, I can't say I'd want to be a restaurant critic after reading this book. I do want to eat at some of the places she's mentioned though. When I finished the book, I felt sad that there wasn't any more. That's when you know it's good. If you're anything like me, you should enjoy her book.
- Heat by Bill Buford
After finishing G&S, I went right into Heat, Bill Buford's recollection of working in Babbo and learning how to prepare Italian food (butchering, making pasta, polenta, other stuff) by ...going to Italy. A lot. It's crazy. All the while he outlines Mario Batali's rise to fame and describes Marco Pierre White in such a way that makes me deathly afraid of him. Buford describes the wide range of food minded people he works with and learns from, the common thread being (to me) that they all sound kind of insane. But due to that burning foodie passion they manage to keep it together and make awesome food. Damn.
So you should read it. No, scratch that; you will read it, especially if you're Morten. It's interesting to read after G&S since the end of Heat refers to Reichl's review of Babbo, which she dedicates a chapter to in G&S. IT ALL COMES TOGEEEETHER.
It almost feels incestuous.
I've never eaten at Babbo and I'm not sure the book has increased my interest. At some points it heightened it (such as...that the food is really tasty), while other points it lowered it (the kitchen sounds like an alternate dimension of hell). The outcome of the positive and negative is...back to neutral (Babbo is of course on my "eat there someday" list). Hm. Well. If anyone make sa reservation and needs an extra person to fill a seat, just let me know and I'll hop right in.
I ate too much fruit today. Hopefully I'll have something more interesting to talk about later this week.
Comments
Hi Roboppy, I know you don't like unsolicited opinions but...I am sad hear that your asthma is giving you trouble. Since asthma can be triggered by many allergens, is it possible that perhaps they might not be food related? I feel that maybe car pollution/house dander/cat fart/ect may be the culprit (rather than wheat/cooked foods.)I noticed that you had less problems while hiking in the fresh airs of Norweegy. These juice/ all fruit diets are beneficial for a short period, but asthma is something you will have to deal with for life. If you believe you can control of your asthma by your fruit/vege diet, it wouldn't make sense to stop once it is alleviated. Perhaps if you slightly modified your eating style, you wouldn't feel that you needed to go on these punishing diets. Feeling food deprived = constant depression and frustration everyday. it's like you can't think of anything else but knowing that you can't can't eat --- eventually leading into a vicious cycle of these diets/binges. it's a eating lifestyle that only works if it makes the person happy living that way. If you're trying to lose weight, low calorie diets like these are going to plummet your metabolism as your body adjusts. Once you start eating normally again it'll usually rebound. I'm sure it'll work for a while... but if it is so extreme it makes you sad and antisocial, it isn't worth it. You should enjoy your life and friends. If you only cut some desserts/sugar from your diet without changing anything else, it's likely you'd see improvement without too much effort. This all or nothing diet mentality is difficult to do successfully. Compromise with your food instead of deeming everything as evil. Dieting to lose weight shouldn't be drastic or consume your life. I know you said you hate exercise but it can do wonders if you keep it up. you're not different from any other average person - people underestimate themselves when they say inherited bad genes. I hope you accomplish what you're trying to achieve and reach your goals. i hope i haven't offended you too greatly. But i'm sure i have so, i am sorry.
Ruth Reichl's book is phenomenal! (As if I had to impress that upon you more....lol) Anyway, I finished reading it a month ago while I was doing the whole public transportation thing in London. It's a good way to keep yourself distracted from the fact that you're trapped in a tube with a dozen or more sweaty Brits with bad body odor. So, to make a long story short, it's a great book that makes you want to eat and write about it.
In any case, I understand your feelings about food. When I was in 8th grade, I had oral surgery that left me basically incapcitated for about a month and a half. And, trust me, as fun as it might seem to go on a liquid diet for that long....it's not! Jamba juice, milkshakes, protein shakes.....it gets sooo old. Makes you understand why God created the capacity for digestion and omnivore-dom -- to spice up life a bit! :) Without all those flavors and textures, how is one to live? Honestly.....
On a more serious note, I hope you feel better. Asthma sucks. Well, I personally wouldn't know but I can imagine. I was misdiagnosed with asthma last year when it actually turned out I had pneumonia.....so I got to deal with the whole inhaler thing and it wasn't very pleasant.
Best regards,
Justin
ipoop: Unsolicited advice is alright, the problem being that sometimes I've already given much thought (or excessive thought) to what the advice is. And...I've thought about everything you've said before. Your concern is still appreciated though; it's not offensive! I guess I could feel offended that many people assume that I haven't thought about certain things before, but if I don't talk about them all the time I guess you wouldn't know whether or not I think about them.
I thought about replying to everything you mentioned (had a lot of time to think about it while riding the train to work), but that would fill an entire entry. :P I went through the "all food is evil" phase last year too; it's not quite as bad now since I know there's an end to it. And I gotta admit, even without food related problems, I'd be depressed about something else. (I'm so positive, yes!) I probably didn't give much thought to how the raw food diet negatively affected my social tendencies in high school because I had already been through a phase of depression that had nothing to do with food, besides that I only had a handful of friends.
I don't think asthma is directly related to food (or specific ones) but is related to my overall health, which is somewhat controllable through my diet (less so through pollution, crap in my house, stress, blech). I didn't have as many problems in Norway before I came back, but I wasn't asthmatic for about 6 months living in NYC either. Not that living in NYC helps asthma...but I did grow up in NJ, so I wouldn't say the city contributed to the development of my asthma since I was little.
I think I need to be around other people more often. Being at home with just my family can drive me crazy (crazy with nothing to do)!
Justin: Ahh the tube...is small. :O I remember at first thinking it was cute (compared to NYC subways at least), but I wouldn't wanna be smushed in there at rush hour.
Eek, shakes for a month and a half sounds like crap. I'm not a big fan of liquids by themselves. I have teeth! Yeeah. Let's use em.
You were misdiagnosed? Good god. This kid was too. I guess things aren't usually misdiagnosed...maybe.
I LOVE MY INHALER, WEEE.
Hey Robin - I hope you feel better soon. And when you do, I highly recommend going to dinner at Babbo to celebrate you feeling better. I have only been to NYC once, and had one of the best dinners in my life at Babbo. But even better was their dessert, and we all know how much you love sweeeeeeeeeets! This may not sound good to everyone, but I had a pine nut tart with buttermilk ice cream that was absolutely divine. I would have never thought of making something like that, but once I put it in my mouth, it all made perfect sense. They switch up their dessert menu all the time, so it's probably not there anymore, but I'm sure they have a ton of other fabulous treats. Feel better!
You sound pretty down :(
Can you imagine if this were a telegram? Or better yet, a singing telegram, and the guy would have to say "sad face" or make one i guess.
Do you want to go healthy-food fooding? (is that even possible?) or maybe this? http://www.92y.org/shop/event_detail.asp?productid=T-LC5CB01&source=071006s_reichl&xAd=s_reichl
sometimes it does help to just get out of the house. but then sometimes it is good to just mope around. i hope you start feeling better. i'm sure the thick summer air is really not helping at all.
Hey Robyn,
I struggle with asthma too and the only thing that helped me was switching to as much natural food as I could (no premade stuff anymore...all from scratch. Learned to make some yummy food...and I do luvs my food) and walking every day. I get all squeaky when I exercise, but when I do it every day (I walk for about 30 minutes) I feel better, I squeak less and I sleep better. Now, after about 6 months of it, I rarely have any asthma attacks anymore. I can do more and be kinda normal. IT took a long time but it was the exercise that pushed things back over the edge into goodness again for me.
I just wanted to say hey, try no to go crazy - it can get better. Really.
Yo Robyn:
Sorry to hear about the asthma attacks. I commend your dedication to change the factors you can control (such as food) to make yourself feel better! Jia you (encouragement in Chinese language)!
Y'know, I've also read Ruth Reichl's "Garlic and Sapphires" and I really enjoyed it. Being a foodie, I thought that being a restaurant critic is THE ultimate dream job. I mean, seriously, you get paid to eat and then write about the experience? I never thought there's anything better than that. After reading this book, I still wouldn't mind being paid to eat and write but I understand now that it's far from perfect (being away from family at dinner time, etc).
Anyhoo, please feel better and have a great week ahead!
Robyn, I must say I'm saddened by your new diet. I know, I know, you've heard and weighed all the issues, and you don't want advice or butting-ins, but I must get it off my chest, and since I can't afford nor wish to spend money on a shrink, I'll post here.
As a child I suffered from asthma and allergies, so I understand where you're coming from. I was put on a restrictive diet in order to narrow down which foods caused my reactions. Then, later in life, around junior-high, it ended up being exercise induced (maybe your hikes in Norway? LOL). Anyway, though now an adult (on the outside) I only have allergies and if I don't take care of them, I can get sick to the point I get asthmatic reactions.
I said all of that to say this: your body needs nutrients from all sources, and I'm concerned about what your body is doing in order to get the protein, fats, vitamins and minerals that aren't provided by the fruits you're eating. After a while, your body will start to break down your muscles in order to get what its lacking in your diet and your health will suffer. Your lungs and other organs won't be able to rebuild and will suffer as well.
I don't want you to be unhappy and unhealthy.
Ok, my chest is clear. Now I can fit my shirts again. Whew!
Clare: AHH I want dessert! I didn't think Babbo was known much for desserts (Otto seems more well known for that), but I'd love to try em. And..even the non dessert food!
Janet: Ahh, I'm okay. I've been worse, hehe. Healthy-food fooding sounds good, although I can't find many choices. And it's not like I can't eat meat, I just haven't been since it's easier to just eat fruit, veggies, and nuts at home. My mum said I could eat rice when I go out, but I should avoid it...so I figure...oookay, I may a well stay home.
ARRGH I'd love to go to that event! But Yo La Tengo is playing a free show tomorrow, and I guess I'm going to that. UGGGH, I'd rather go to the food talk, even though that costs moolah. How is it that there's so little that I even want to do and then two things fall on the same day?
So...uh, I guess you're going? Tell me how it is!
Heather: I wonder if all the walking I do in polluted NYC is better for me than doing nothing in less polluted suburbia? ;) I could easily walk 30 minutes just to get to a market. Raawr. No one really has to walk in NJ; I can't inmagine living there as an adult. Sometimes I'd walk around my own street and then get bored out of my mind (I'd last like 15 minutes). It's sad!
Maria: Restaurant critic would be the ultimate dream job...until I gain 50 pounds, haha! And then it'd be hell. Not that all restaurant critics eat a lot, but it'd be hard for me not to. It's an awesome job if you have good metabolism, perhaps? ;)
Mochene: Commenting = much better than going to a shrink! I hope.
I wasn't put on a restrictive diet until high school (when it was as much my decision as my mum's). I can't imagine doing it earlier...unless my asthma were REALLY bad, which I guess it wasn't. Just bad enough to use an inhaler every now and then. :\
Some exercise makes my asthma worse, but overall I don't think that's the culprit. I do remember swimming lessons in 6th or 7th grade and feeling like I was going to drown (despite that swimming is supposed to be good for astmatics..oops!). I used to like running...short distances. I guess the long ones would huuurt.
Walking up stairs for a few flights is more likely to make me asthmatic than walking briskly for a mile or two. Weird? :P Different muscles?..hm..
Thanks for your concern about my happiness/health. I'm afraid not much can be done about my happiess, but as for health..ah, that changes all the time. Grrr. People had the same concerns for me when I ate raw food, so I guess I should be used to this by now. If I felt physically malnourished I'd change something, but right now I don't. Just sad that I can't eat stuff that other people are eating. :\ I'd think a lot of people have problems with not getting enough nutrients, although they're probably eating completely different diets from mine.
On that note, it's lunch time! Hehe. Gonna get me some...veggies.
well for you its asthma for me its eczema which i define as skin on my hands getting all itchy cause of temperature changes, stress, allergens, or all of the above. and it gets really nasty if i scratch too much as in bumps/hives(?). well anyway sorry to gross you out. I will continue to pray for you that you'll get better and be able to eat lots of good food again!
Oh, Robyn, I'm sorry you're having such a rough go of it. If it makes you feel any better at all, I had mild asthma as a child that got much worse in college, when I was also at my healthiest (I was a serious competitive small boat sailor). Then, when I moved to Europe and then New York, it magically...went away. I am still prone to upper respiratory infections, but haven't had an attack in 5 years. So there could be a positive outcome for you eventually.
As one person who suffers from Asthma to another I am really concerned that you are still wheezing. And it obviously goes without saying that you and people around you are as well. I don't understand why the stupid doctors can't help you. Find one that can. Don't go on suffering.
Hey there..
I was exicted dto see a new post (yaaayy!) but sad to hear that you're not feeling better in terms of your asthma, but also because sad, frustrated, and cranky (yes, family has that effect, doesn't it?). I hope you find a way to eat the foods you love, be with your friends AND feel better in terms of your breathing. :(
I guess this is a bad time to say I miss your photography, huh? ;P
When I worked in a restaurant a couple of years ago, these two women came in and spent about two hours talking and recording the whole conversation they were having while eating. It was a busy restaurant, and tables turn pretty fast, so a two hour dinner with only two people was pretty rare. Anyway, they ordered quite a lot of food and used up another table to place their appetizers. The whole time they were there all the waiters just looked at her like she was crazy because she was recording a dinner conversation. Two months later, we saw an article about it in our local paper - turned out she was a restaurant critic interviewing a chef from some restaurant. In hindsight the whole recording thing was not too subtle, but we just didn't think a critic would come into our restaurant.
PS Can't really remember what she said about our food, but she did mention something about her server(not me).
Gordon: I have a friend with asthma and eczema! And probably something else. :O That's gotta huurt. Scratching feels so nice...except when it results in bumps and hives and other flesh wounds. :(
Marianne: Your asthma got worse? Oh noo. I think my asthma was worse when I was little. I vaguely recall being hooked up to a machine ...once. Hm. Maybe I'll be fine in France? :)
Ani: Ah, you too! I guess if I could find a pulmonologist that I felt was awesome, I'd go to them. Or maybe a nutritionist. I don't like conventional medicine for long term health though (I do like my rescue inhaler). At my last checkup my doctor told me I was healthy. It only cost me a few hundred dollars to come to that conclusion. OKAY, THANKS...I already knew that. Besides the wheezing.
Sera: Rawr sad frustration poop cranky rawr! Yeah. :| It's not just food, but that's a big source of stress in my life. I tend to not post anything when I feel food-stressed, hehe.
I miss my photography too! My website is just a jumble of words...need to throw in some color and things that induce salivation.
jo: Haha, wow that must've been awkward at the time. I would've felt like telling someone what I was doing instead of just being looked at funnily. Or maybe they didn't notice? Too busy eating and talking? :) (Sometimes people ask me if I get funny looks from people when I take photos and I don't really know since I don't pay attention. Ooops.)
Robyn,
I really hope your asthma gets better and you can start living again. I have been going to your site and following your food activities in part because it has been helpful and inspiring to me as i am recovering from anorexia, but since your new diet , i find it unintentionally triggering, so i hope you can return to your old ways soon for both our enjoyment! I think you are so adorable and a great gal.....I will check back occasionally to see if things have gotten better for you.
I for one _know_ roboppy ain't dead yet! Cause if she were... muffins (and other things with tasty innards) would start crying the world over for their truest love and lover. People would notice for sure.
Robyn, I say this as a fellow asthma sufferer--if you're using your rescue inhaler regularly, then your asthma is not under control and you could be in danger. I know, I know, you know all this. But I had to say something. When i was pregnant with my second baby, I got a lung infection which triggered my asthma, which usually lies dormant for the most part. I was using albuterol every four hours. The obstetrician freaked when I told him this, and so did the pulmonologist he sent me to. Asthma is a chronic condition, and while diet can help a lot--i am better off when I avoid dairy--it is something that most people are going to have for life and does need medication.
I just had to say it, because I felt like if i didn't I would be contributing to further wheezing. Your body isn't getting the oxygen it needs, and poor health can contribute to depression as well. So....i guess I'm saying, if you can't get better with diet soon, please, please, ask your doctor, if you like him or her, to refer you to a pulmonologist.
Katilin: Oh noo...I CAN'T TRIGGER ANOREXIA! I eat too much, for one thing. I mean, quantity, not variety. .__. If I took a photo of last night's dinner, I'd scare myself (a few bananas, bucket of cherries, something else).
I'll get back to my old ways at some point. Can't predict when though. :O
Rich: MUFFINS! I FORGOT HOW MUCH I LOVED THOSE!
(sniffle)
The idea of millions of muffins crying kinda freaks me out. Or maybe it could be a Japanese commercial.
Karen: Thanks for your input! I would be totally freaked out if I had to use my inhaler every four hours. :O My inhaler says to take two puffs twice a day, but that seems excessive...I mean, I guess that's the maximum dosage they'd want you to take? Lately I've been using it once at night for the sake of falling asleep. You're right about the oxygen thing. :( My mum has some kind of oxygen reader (I have no idea how it works) and my reading is lower than her's. (I suppose my carbon dioxide levels are off too.) My asthma tends to get worse in the summer, but if it doesn't let up in the fall then I'd probably do something about it.
Kitchens ARE an alternate hell. Cooking on the line is harder than running a marathon.
This must be tough for you, what with Paris on the horizon and all. Keep with it!
I've met some very happy and healthy vegans, so I know such a thing is possible, but somehow that doesn't seem to fit you. Get "well"-er soon, eh?
Thanks for the book reviews! I have been trying to find something foodie to read lately- darn Jeffrey Steingarten hasn't written a book in awhile and Sarah Vowell's one food-related essay was about The Godfather (Take the Cannolli). Way to branch out and 'splore the food world fully.
Ditto Sera- I miss your photos too. :(
OMG, I just reviewed Garlic and Sapphires myself. Small world. Heat is next on my list too for read and review.
LOL.
Well read Salt, or Vanilla if you get the chance!
He had no reason for the wheezing though? You're body is telling you something...damn insurance companies!
Ted: Cooking on the line and running a marathon = two things I will never do. Not well, at least.
I just have one burn scar from my cooking class, but I'd rather not have splotches of em all over my arm. :O
Liz: I need to prepare for Paris and the bakery sensation overload I will ultimately experience! AHHH!
I don't think the vegan thing fits me either. I think almost any diet is healthy...for a while. Think of all the people who "live" on fast food. Until they get heart disease or something. If I were vegan, I'd want loads of bread and rice. :|
I impulsively bought...[thinks]...four more food-related books on amazon. If they're good, I'll write about em!
Garrett: I'm glad you also liked the book and were compelled to finish it in a weekend like me. :) Ooh, I have Salt!...or did I lend that to someone? Crap, now I don't remember. I'll check out Vanilla.
Ani: I wasn't very asthmatic when I went for the check-up, so I didn't think to bring it up. And I guess he didn't either. :P (The first time I had to use my inhaler this year was in Norway...doh.) It's not like he'd know the reason for my asthma any more than I would since there are so many factors. At least my insurance gave me a discount on my inhaler? :\
I just reread, and you said that your parents have a cat? If you didn't have cats around you in NYC, then it's most likely the cat that is triggering your asthma. Maybe go get tested for allergies? You do not want an anaphylactic shock reaction, which is what happened to me when I didn't go get checked for my symptoms and then (after a trip to the ER) found out I was very, very allergic to cats.
I think what you're doing for your health right now is cool--you have to try, right? I have terrible rashes that I can only control with my diet, so I like to think I might know how you feel. I would love to see photos of the fruit feasts you're eating these days. It's not the same as eating a meal out of the house with your friends but it still might be nice to share it in another way?
Well, thats the thing Robyn, its commonly misunderstood that anorexia is about eating not much at all , which is true at some level but also restricting to CERTAIN foods is also a problem.....which i am currently practicing. Like i am ALLOWED to eat 2 lbs of grapes for dinner but not a cup of yogurt. I have ONLY been allowing myself fruits and veggies and soymilk.....however much i wanted but not even a piece of chicken . Its the restrcition factor that makes me still anorexic even though i bet you i would beat you in fruit eating! Your portions wouldnt phase me at all....trust me.....as you know, fruit for some reason leaves you VERY unsatisfied no matter how much you pack in there.
Hugs and Kisses!
I love how even when you feel like you're dying, your sense of self-deprecating humour is sharper and funnier than ever. I feel for you and your rasping uncooperative lungs. I also think you should pen a new Medical Dictionary. It would be a bestseller!
Karen: Ohhh no no no, no pets! :D Not that I wouldn't mind having a bunny or something. I've never felt allergic around animals, and we don't have any so that's not a factor. I'VE NEVER HAD A PET. (sniffle) The only thing that I've been found to be dangerously allergic to is a certain drug...whose name I don't recall, but I guess it's not that common.
Vanessa: Yup, I gotta try. And hopefully not feel too crappy in the process. I never get rashes, but I have another friend who gets em sometimes...and I think my mum gets em sometimes too. I HAVE NO RASHES, HOLY CRAP, one point for me. I dunno why I've never taken a photo of the craploads of fruit I eat...maybe because it would scare me, hehe.
Kaitlin: Ohh...your anorexia sounds like my raw food diet. :O But it didn't seem like restriction at the time, just a way of life. Like "LADEEDA, 5 peaches for me, and some nuts, but not too many nuts or else I'll feel like dying." Maybe I was in a funky state of mind. From the sound of it, I definitely don't want to challenge you to a fruit eating contest. ;D
Helen: Ah yes, that was the point! Thanks for noticing. :) When I suffer, I may as well try to be funny!
Hey Robyn! I wish I was in NY so we could hang! B & H was so awesome!!! I got an 18-50mm lens made by Sigma. It's comperable to the lens that comes on the camera but I just bought the body and used a lens I previously had. This one has a wider angle and its better for everyday use. How is your rebel? Sorry about your asthma and dieting frustrations. You feel the same way about your lungs that I feel about my legs. All my friends were amazing athletes in high school and whenever I would start to improve I would get hurt. I hated my hips and my knees for holding me back, and I got mad at everyone for not appreciating what they have. I imagine in some ways lungs are similar. I hope your lungs get better. When did all your asthma problems start?
You cant be the girl who eats every thing. You sem to be having the best on your plate. Nice.
Sarah: My rebel is doing surprisingly well...as in not breaking down despite the way I handle it (I tend to break things). I LOVE IT, YAA!
My friends were mostly not amazing athletes, hehe. Or else maybe they would've influenced me to like, do something athletic. Achey legs and hips are definitely ungood. :( If I went to HS with you, we could hung out together...me wheezing, you aching! HAHAAA! And then we'd eat cake.
My asthma problems started when I came back to NJ, but it didnt get really bad until I came back from Norway. :O It was starting to get problematic during my vacation, doh.
shirazi: Haha, I'm afraid I don't really eat everything. :( Even if I were in better health! Doh.
Bourdain's new book "The Nasty Bits" is quite good, as is Gael Greene's memoir and anything by Michael Ruhlman.
Of course, like I said before, I'm a Bourdain groupie, so I guess that particular suggestion should be taken with a grain of salt.
- S
If you get the chance check out my review of Heat here: blackeyedpig.blogspot.com/2006/07/book-review-heat-by-bill-buford.html
Thanks. BTW, really enjoy reading your blog.