Loose Ends

Last week, my parents, brother and sister-in-law came into town for the San Gennaro festival. If you want to drive a vegan crazy, take her to Little Italy, on the last day of the festival, where she will be surrounded by shanks of lamb, raw kebabs of chicken and coils of sausage broiling in the open air. Put thousands of people around her, all pushing and shoving, licking cannolis and gelato and chocolate covered marshmallows on sticks. It is awesome. Um.

Actually, it kind of is awesome when you attempt such a venture with your family. Well, if your family is MY family. There is nothing quite so amusing as wandering up and down Mulberry Street with your 6'2 Polack father who can't quite keep his astonishment to himself. "THE FOOD LAWRA! IT GOES ON AND ON AND ON! ALL THAT FOOD!" Quite right, dad! All that food!

After indulging in angel hair pasta and vegetables for lunch, I bought a deep-fried oreo from a street vendor.

Dad (staring quizzically at me as I chew): How...is it?

Me (mouth full of transfatty goodness): Delicious except...

Dad: Except?

Me: I think I just got diabetes.

Worth it? I think so. Later on, dad and I split some dairy-free raspberry sorbet which brings me to something that I find fascinating. Guess what? My dad's a vegan! Well. Mostly. Thanks to his prostate cancer, my dad has revamped his dietary habits. Due to scientific studies that prove that animal protein, specifically red meat and dairy, may not only cause but may accelerate the growth of cancer cells, dad has nixed milk and milk products and most meats.

I just finished reading "The China Study" myself, after buying him a copy and I am so dumbstruck at the findings that it makes me want to rant and rant and rant. But I promised myself I would not. Because it's all fun and games until the Crazy Vegan Rants begin.

What else...what else...you guys! I have no theme! I sit down to tell you a story and the story goes NOWHERE and then I stare at my computer screen and debate whether to type "I need to shower soon" and then I blink a few times and erase it and type it again and erase and YES, RUN ON SENTENCES ABOUNDING! This blog just rambles on and on about nothing in particular. It's like Seinfeld. Except you know, on a blog.

My brothers and I spent the day yesterday at IKEA, Holy Grail Of Cheap Swedish Furniture. We bought a ton of stuff for Redo Laura's Room Extravaganza Bonanza '07. (Did you not get an invitation? It was awesome! We ate Thai Food and used screwdrivers!) I do okay in IKEA until you get down to the Self-Serve Floor and then oh my sweet Jesus I suddenly want to buy vases full of marbles and wine glasses and glass jars and plants and picture frames for $2.99! Luckily, Jem kept me focused and Paul reminded me that I really didn't need a pre-decorated Christmas tree so early in the season.

I wish I had taken BEFORE pictures of my room and then AFTER pictures but why? What do I think this is? Some Extreme Home Makeover Blog Edition? Suffice it to say, my brothers rule and installed LIGHTING FIXTURES and SHELVING UNITS while I sat around and watched Grey's Anatomy. I am such a big help!

Aside from that, all is well over here as I anticipate the cooling of the weather and the beginning of Philosophy again. I have cleaned out my closet, filed away receipts and paperwork, picked up new headshots, dropped off clothes at the tailor and revamped my entire bedroom. I have changed the picture on the mainpage of this site and transferred my Culture page over to blogger so I can update it a little easier. It's an attempt to rid my life of clutter I guess. Organization to me, is peaceful. And I can use a lot of peace, especially with cancer running amok around this place.

And now, I am going to shower. And steam some kale. And get on with this lovely Friday. Cheers.