Lessons Learned

Remember how I was juicing a lot last week? Well, that worked out just fine on Wednesday and Thursday because I had juice like three times a day in addition to a nice healthy dinner. On Friday however, I got a little busy. I had a glass of juice in the morning, rushed into a convenience store and grabbed a pack of almonds about five hours later, swallowed a handful of them on my way to the next meeting, and suddenly it was time to go home. My head hurt, my stomach had begun to eat its way out of my body, and I was ready to punch someone in the throat. I got a text from a friend on the way out the door that said "I need a huge favor." That's normally not a problem, but seeing as my brain was not quite functioning...it was a really big deal. Maybe she was hungry too because neither of us could reason and the small issue suddenly became large and in charge.

When I arrived home all I could think was "FOOD, I NEED FOOD". So what did I do? Walked in the door, bit Jody's head clean off his shoulders, yelled about how stressed I was, ate a cracker, ate some sugar snap peas, then debated over whether or not I wanted to take time to cook or just lie in a heap in the kitchen floor and cry like a baby.

By this time, Jody was huddled in the corner just waiting for it all to end.

Jody We I (who really knows I have no memory of those moments), decided to head down to the local restaurant about five minutes away. Ok, when you live in a small town like we do, normally everyone knows everyone. Since we actually live in the county, aren't really from these parts, and rarely conduct any business there...we are "outsiders."

Once we cleaned out their kitchen I was back to my normal self.

The waitress brought the check, and we realized that in my frenzied state (and Jody just trying to survive the downpour) we had managed to leave all cash, check and credit cards at home.

Oops.

Luckily, in said small town the restaurant staff is very nice...or just scared of the lady who came in looking like a rabid beast and is now offering her husband as a dishwasher in lieu of payment.

Fast forward to Saturday.

 After spending every single night since New Years on the couch, we decided to get productive which included installing a new shelf in the laundry room. Off to the hardware store we went to find a nice scratch and moisture resistant, pre-painted, pre-cut shelf with mountings. Jody tossed it in the back of the truck, and we headed to the next hardware store to find some additional items.

Waiting to turn, each car was spaced just far enough apart that it did not appear we would make it through the light.

Ladies and gentlemen, having to wait through another light was just not acceptable. With seconds to spare, Jody gunned it, and I hung on for dear life as the truck tilted up on its two right tires. Dust was flying - tires squealing - we looked at one another in horror.

"THE SHELF!!!"

Yes, my friends, the shelf had flown out the back of the truck, was now lying in the middle of the road, and people were driving right over it.

By that time, Jody had turned into me when I'm hungry. Not good folks, not good.

In a flash, he pulled his best Nicholas Cage 180, slammed the truck in park (waited as yet another vehicle ran over the shelving), jumped out and threw it in the back. And all I could think was "good thing it's scratch resistant.".

The infamous shelf finally installed

So what is the lesson here? 

I think it can be summed up quite easily:

 Be Prepared

I get a lot of questions about clean eating - what do you eat, don't you get bored, can you ever eat out? And one of my pat answers is always: be prepared.
 In order to do so however, one needs TIME! I don't always have time, so I tell myself "those Triscuits in the drawer at work will suffice". No, they won't. That is a lie from the devil.
I need protein, and fruits and veggies. I need them more than just in juice form once a day.
 Sometimes I need them like yesterday! 

That's why Saturday (after realizing I had been a total crazy person when I let myself go too long without eating on Friday) I got up and spent a few hours in the kitchen prepping for the week. My fridge is now stocked with pre-cooked quinoa, baked apples and bean dips. The shelves are full of nuts and dried fruits. And I haven't reached for one processed thing since.

As for Saturday night...well, you should also be prepared by STRAPPING YOUR LUMBER DOWN (and maybe being a little more patient at the turning light)!!