Lately I’ve been eating tomatoes like they are potato chips. I’m finishing off my fifth tomato for the day. Huge red succulant juicy tomatoes, fresh from the Farmer’s Market. We grilled about twenty of the tiny grape tomatoes for dinner; two kabobs with rows of red globes back to back. I’m still a beginning griller, so they were charred and I left part of them on the grill—a few escaped onto the coals below. The rest I speared onto my fork with partially charred onions and balsamic marinated chicken. Did I mention we had an appetizer of large tomato slices with basil and mozzerella? Ripe vibrant rouge tomatoes for each course… So delicious for heart, soul and tastebuds I’m about ready to have them for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Before I know it, my typical evening cravings are mostly satisfied. Tomatoes are the solution. This is the life I am creating for myself here at home. At first thought, moving home was the worst possible last resort option to ending the summer without a job or career. But after returning from my final summer fiesta triumphant, finally filled with both sisterly and brotherly love, driving away from the airport my heart led me home. (That and helpful directions from a sister I’d just left behind in Cali). Everyone I met out there spoke with nostalia for good ole Michigan. Even my brother expressed, god forbid, jealousy for returning home rent-free with the parents.
I have a unique opportunity to position myself well for my future. This fall is for me. I am focusing on myself.
For my health: a balanced diet, a nearby hospital to hold me accountable with free nutrition classes. Exercising with Dad in the mornings and Mom in the evenings, planning on classes at a local gym and maybe a local soccer team? It’s time to get my ass in gear. Self-esteem wise I want to have a banging-hot body. I’m not taking no for an answer. For my health, with so much alcoholism, heart attacks and breast cancer on both sides of my family I am setting myself up for whatever health problems later in life.
For my career: studying for the GMAT several hours each day. After I take it, looking into business programs to apply to next fall, and then jobs which will diversify and strengthen my resume until I go.
Lets not forget finances; hopefully working part-time at DSW, and saving whatever I would have spent on rent and other luxeries in Ann Arbor. And finally organizing my overflow of useless leftovers from each temporary move which have started taking over every empty room on all three floors in my parents house. Structure, focus and determination. Following these things through to the end. Being a good housemate—-I both helped cook dinner tonight, then sat my parents down for a show and cleaned up for them.
We’ll see how long these ambitious goals last. I’m sharing them tonight to let you hold me accountable. The biggest hurdle I fight as ever is my inertia. Every night fighting the urge to sit where I am right now, watching tv online on this moniter, snacking on whatever seduces me from the kitchen which lures me directly to my right. Tonight I’ve been pretty fabulous. Before I know it, my typical evening cravings are mostly satisfied by munching my way through two enormous, you guessed it, tomatoes. Blogging and Beatles instead of escaping with yet more television and snacks. This is the life I am creating for myself here at home. After I finish this post I’m going out for my first fifteen minute exercise block that will continue every day! Regardless, I’m feeling especially virtuous today because of my tomato intake. It might not last, but its a good start.
“Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life.” -Golda Meir
