Vegan Sm-eegan!

Taking me away from my meat, is like trying to put a tutu on a fully grown Bengal tiger: highly dangerous and senseless. Taking me away from a steaming bowl of pasta drowning in thick cream sauce with cheese, is like trying to squeeze yourself through a paper shredder: you wouldn't even go there. And telling me that I can't eat chocolate would be like having a wailing, snotty-nosed toddler on your lap in the midst of a temper tantrum: you can't imagine.

So when I found myself seriously contemplating becoming a vegan I was taken aback by my own resolve. Talk about self-inflicted pain!

It was rather chance that I happened to take out a certain book from the library which got me started.

Like a true geek, I had been dying to get my full library card for the library in town and when the time came I was able to increase my loans from 2 books to 30 at a time! So, naturally,I went on a rampage pulling out everything from 1000s of things to do with eggs to Harry Potter to essays by C.S.Lewis. I looked round every section as though I had all the time in the world to read. I thought of everything I needed, everything I had been meaning to read up on and as I browsed the 'health' section I stumbled on a book of particular interest.

I knew I wasn't an unhealthy eater but I knew how much I ate. I pulled out a book: "Eating Less: Say Goodbye to Overeating". I glanced at it. It made sense. I wasn't about to start a diet but I did need to know when enough food was enough. I had previously looked for solutions online. The only one I remember is one that I constantly use when I get a little craving. Apparently, if you switch your cravings from food to something else, you'll no longer feel the urge to eat but to do whatever you thought about. The example they gave was craving going to the cinema. I use it all the time, but the last time I saw anything at the cinema was in November and I don't even remember the time before that.

I thought this book was a blessing. Whatever knowledgeable doctor had written it had just the right idea for me and I wasn't about to let the opportunity slip through my fingers. I added it to the stack of books I was resting on my hip. Then next to it I saw another: "The 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart Diet".

To be honest, I have no idea why I picked it up. I can only think that it was for the rainbow coloured font down the spine. Anything with the word 'diet' in I tend to steer clear of. The word, for me, shouts TEMPORARY WEIGHT LOSS ON A DIET OF RICE CAKES AND CELERY STICKS. Alright if you like that sort of thing, apart from the fact that you're more than likely to bounce back to your starting weight when you give up or turn back to your old guilty pleasures. Diets aren't for me.

Nevertheless, I was aware that I was still suffering the adverse effect of too many student nights out.

I began reading and soon found how, according to these studies, potentially dangerous too much meat, fish, eggs, cheese and dairy was for you. The statistics made me look at meat differently. I suddenly wasn't so keen.

I also was reminded of the fact that vegetarianism and veganism could put an end to world hunger.

So after much more reading and meal planning, I decided I should try it.  

Today is the 28th of April. The 28th of May celebrates world hunger day. So, to me, it seems right that between now and then I should attempt to go vegan as a personal challenge. I have a feeling that it'll be a struggle but, without a doubt, I'm going to try my hardest. (I've got it sorted. Quorn and tofu at the ready!)

Friends on Pages

Opinion; such a crucial word at uni. You can't get by if you don't have a view, haven't read opinions or debated alternating arguments. And so, for this reason, I'm absolutely loving uni!!!

I finished my first essay today (one of my finer moments). One of my guilty pleasures is analyzing - I absolutely LOVE it and so writing a critical analysis of a short text was most definitely a task I was willing to complete. Not even food could disturb me when I immersed myself. My stomach - for once - was challenged by my brain's over-riding desire to write and write well all of the perspectives I had on the book; the monosyllabic sound of the words counting down like seconds, the entrapment, the historical context. Every weird thought my mind conjured could contribute to something.

Another guilty pleasure, which has revealed itself at uni, is reading essays. Having studied To the Lighthouse  by Virginia Woolf this week, I went into the library - head held high - and browsed the shelves. The first time I entered the uni library, I wanted to come out and cry. I had been equipped, reference call code in hand and the optimism of setting myself between hundred and hundreds of shelves of books spread between five floors.

P...P...ah, here we go. Now, I'm looking for PN...PN...

If you've ever entered the library alone, you'll know finding a book is hard. But, what's even harder, is when you walk in with the arrogance that I did and the derogatory glare of students - who already know they're way around the library and are well aware that you don't - following your trail. They all said that you get lost in the library, but I wasn't about to take their word for it.

Come on! I thought. I've been in hundreds of libraries. Of, course I'll be able to find the book. 

Needless to say that when I didn't, I was on the border of tears. Betrayal kept streaming through my head. I had devouted so much time to books and now, a member of the same sub-group, couldn't reveal itself and let me read it. I felt dejected.

The next two weeks I distanced myself from the library. I glowered at it as I passed and went on a slight strike until I gathered the courage to go in and actually ask the librarian for directions.

I've now, touch wood, cracked the code and can find almost any novel that I've needed so far, including the current title I'm reading; Virginia Woolf; A room of one's own & Three guineas. I've got a fetish for essays now because I guess they're just like this blog; they mainly consist of ramblings and subjects as obscure as how to answer an essay question titled; women and fiction.

These enthused passions, I find, rather unique. How someone can write one hundred plus pages on answering a question is something I simply aspire to. I can't help the over-whelming desire I feel to write and then read what other people have written about writing. That's just so me!

So I can tell so far that I'm enjoying myself and so long as the library is good to me, then all will be well!!!