Thursday, November 24th

Ramped up slowly today, starting with a Banana and PB for breakfast...

We arrived at noon for the Life Affirming Thanksgiving Celebration put on by the Vegetarian Society of D.C.. Below is one of the appetizer stations where there was Cudites, Crackers, Olive Tapenade, Artichoke Hummus & Muhummara.

I liked the Artichoke Hummus the best, Mr. SV preferred the Muhumarra. Seconds were had of both.We snagged two of the three open seats at Karen Davis' table. Terry Cummings, cofounder of Poplar Springs Animal Sanctuary was at the table as well so there was lots of interesting conversation. The five other people at the table were super nice, I just don't know if they have their own websites.

The entire menu was vegan. Everyone was served Butternut Squash Soup (I didn't like this and only had a couple spoonfuls)....

...and a basket of Warm Fresh Baked Rolls was placed on all tables...

When the buffet opened, I loaded up on Wild Striped Mushroom Ravioli with Tomato & Fennel Broth, Vegan Stuffing and Gravy, Savory Tofu Tempeh Patties, Spicy Collard Greens with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Green Bean Casserole. The Ravioli and Stuffing were the two best items, IMO.

Pumpkin Pie for dessert. I prefer WF's brand. So all this was $58/pp (no alcohol, although some tables appeared to have pre-arranged to have bottles of wine). All attendees received a little box of Chocolates and there were door prizes where the best prizes were a Vitamix and an overnight at the Hyatt.

At the end of Will Tuttle's speech, a black man stood up and loudly demanded that Tuttle apologize for making a racist statement. Tuttle had earlier related an amusing story that when he was a young boy his mother told him that the the only vegetarians were in India. Everyone was distressed and upset after that outburst, even though Tuttle expertly shrugged the guy off. We left soon afterward and I forgot some of the pamphlets I'd picked up which was a bummer. It was all very draining, in a different way than a family Thanksgiving is draining. The best part was meeting Karen Davis & Terry Cummings (two women I admire greatly). Can't wait to check out Poplar Springs Sanctuary and am inspired to start my own sanctuary.

Tostadas when we got home. Gonna take a long time to unwind.

Wednesday, November 23rd

Oatmeal at Mom's for breakfast. $1.95. They gave me some Raisins this time.

Tostadas for lunch.

Field Roast Hazelnut Cranberry Roast En Croute and Zucchini Pancakes for dinner.

I've begun entering my daily meals in the 'Lose It' App on my Droid, so no dessert tonight.

WTF Tuesday

Made a big breakfast this morning: Tofu Scramble with Hash Brown and Yves Breakfast Patties.

Mr. SV brought in late lunch/early dinner from Loving Hut. This is the first half of my Club Sandwich $9.50:

Sjaak's PB Cups for dessert.

My Life-Affirming Thanksgiving Plans Revealed: Vegetarian Buffet!

Monday, November 21st

Lunch was carryout from Granada Cafe. Starting with a super delicious Lentil Soup and a perfectly puffy ball of fresh baked Pita Bread (drink was from the organic market next door)...

The other stuff -- Rice & Peas, Steamed Veggies and an Iceberg Lettuce Side Salad was just so-so. $8.95. Worth it for the Soup & Bread alone. Pretty cool how I now have my desk at work set up so my lunch pics look like interrogation photos.

Field Roast Classic Meatloaf, Stuffing and Steamed Broccoli for dinner. Next in my rotation: Pastry Wrapped Celebration Roast, aka, 'The Good Stuff'.

Soy Delicious Mint Marble Fudge with an Uncle Eddie's PB Chocolate Chip Cookie for dessert. Minty foods have been overwhelmingly minty lately. Not sure what that's about. Perhaps my palate has become too refined.

Coming up: For the first time in my entire life (not exaggerating), I get to do what I want on Thanksgiving. What will it be????

Sunday, November 20th

Still on the Daiya/Tostada kick and loving every minute. Store bought Corn Tortillas are the bomb, BTW. As is bagged Shredded Lettuce.

Field Roast Classic Meatloaf, Roasted Brussel Sprouts and a Baked Sweet Potato for dinner.

Blueberry Cheesecake from Vegan Treats via Loving Hut for dessert.

Bathroom Cats Update: Gorgeous and thriving. Shy One let me stroke her/him for a good long time today. Got some purrrring going.

The Imp has been rubbing up against me and biting my feet! Never thought that would happen.

The Ethereal One is loosening up as well. Always extremely dainty. I've turned them each over this way and that and they all still look like girls to me.
Their Mother, Marmalade Umlaut, is recuperating from her spaying earlier in the week. They must have doped her up real good as she has decided to just stay hunkered down in her litter box and not move. Pics taken earlier today did not turn out well. I'll keep trying. What a stressful few months she has had: Homelessness, Childbirth, Kidnapping, Forced Hysterectomy, More Confinement (in a very weird place). Gotta cut her some slack if she's not feeling up to snuff these days.

Saturday, November 19th

Oatmeal at Mom's for breakfast. $1.95. I asked if they had any Almond Butter or Pomegranate Arils to spice up the Oatmeal, but they said it wasn't happening.

Hard Times Chili (made from their mix) on Spaghetti at home for lunch.

Field Roast Classic Meatloaf, Stuffing and Roasted Cauliflower for dinner.

26 Carob Covered Raisins rolling around on a plate for dessert.

I'll try to shoot more for the rainbow eats tomorrow.

Friday, November 18th

Korean for lunch: carryout Soft Tofu Soup from Lighthouse Tofu.

Mexican for dinner: Tostadas with Refried Beans and Daiya Pepperjack.

Half a piece of Pumpkin Cake from Vegan Treats via Loving Hut for dessert.

Cute Chow Thanksgiving Chart from last week.

Thursday, November 17th

WF's had some Veggie Burgers cooked in Gravy on the hot bar today, so I got a huge helping with good old Potatoes O'Brien....

Boca Chickn Patties topped w/WF's Sauce & Cheddar Daiya. Steamed Chard on the side for dinner. I'm rebuilding my relationship with Daiya cheese. Not sure what the renewed interest is all about, but no one can complain that my grub ain't got 'color' -- just that it's not a color normally found in nature.

WF's Pumpkin Pie for dessert.

Most worthwhile thing I did all day: Signing this petition.

WTF Wednesday

Kashi Island Vanilla for breakfast...

Four Stuffed Grape Leaves for lunch...

as well as two Tostadas. I'd given up on vegan cheese, but the Pepperjack Daiya boasted big promises. These were muy delicioso!

Chickn Scallopini, Roasted Cauliflower and a Baked Potato for dinner.

Sunspire Coconut Bar for dessert.

Yeah, I ate a lot today. Just felt like over-indulging.

WTF Tuesday

Pepperjack Daiya Cheese Pizzas (on Ezekiel English Muffins) for lunch. Yes, I burnt the roof of my mouth after over baking them. It's de rigueur after forcing vegan cheese to melt.

Field Roast Classic Meatloaf and Roasted Cauliflower for dinner.

I've seriously been straying from this being a 'food only' blog as was my mission statement. Working towards returning to that format. On the too many words front:

Work Stress update: The missed deadline was because I was waiting on legitimate test data. Yesterday afternoon, I realized I didn't need to wait on legitimate data for this particular project. Illegitimate data would have been okay to work with for the past few weeks. Cue unpleasant physical reaction/vomiting personal details to internet. Last night, while I slept, the legitimate test data showed up. This morning, I hastily pushed the project to where it should be and no one was the wiser that it could have gone weeks ago. Phew! WTF Tuesday is safe.

Dessert was Double Chocolate Fudge Cake and Rice Dream Butter Pecan.

Bathroom Cats update: I had signed up MaMa Cat for the Spay Today deal ($64 for Spay & Rabies, plus $20 for Leuk/FIV/Heartworm Test). This morning I dropped her off at Brigg's Animal Adoption Center at 7am . Every other Tuesday, the Center trucks the Dogs & Cats down to Harrisonburg, Virginia for their surgeries. So many people doing the right thing before sunrise. Who knew?

I'll pick her up at Brigg's tomorrow morning and move her into the barn for good. MaMa Cat's legal name: "Marmalade Umlaut". The three kittens have to get a little bit bigger before they can be fixed. The most majorly shy Little Thing:

2nd Most Shy Thing (already seemingly resigned to the demands of being a long-haired white feline):

Bold and brave in the face of litter box cleanings, food & water refreshments and bright flashes. Can't wait to find out if this is a boy or a girl:

Coming up tomorrow: Food and nothing but the food. I'll leave the dramz to the professionals.

Monday, November 14th

Lunch was a 'Burrito Bowl' from Moe's Southwest Grill. On Mondays, for $5, you get the Bowl and a Beverage. Pretty good deal, but the quality is so far beneath Chipotle, IMHO, I'd rather just pay the extra $1.50 and go to Chipotle.

Gardein Crispy Tenders w/Heinz-57 and Acorn Squash for dinner.

Dessert was a very stale Mystery Truffle.

Anyhoo, remember how last week I was b*tchin' about the threats to take away the extra WFH day if we don't meet our deadlines? Well, funny thing...heh...I think I might have accidentally missed a deadline. Since the realization, at about 3:30pm, 'fight or flight' toxins have been coursing through my veins. Losing the 2nd WFH day would be extra special humiliation I don't need right now and/or the impetus to finally do something with my life. Will keep you informed, Fair Readers.

Sunday, November 13th

Golden Vermicelli with Lemongrass Protein $7.50 Vermicelli, Golden Roll, Soy Protein, marinated in Lemongrass, Lettuce, Cucumber, Pickle, Roasted Peanuts and Homemade Sauce at Loving Hut for lunch.

Since lunch was so filling, (although I didn't notice any Pickle or Roasted Peanuts) I combined dinner & dessert into one: PB & Banana Sandwich.

The lunch picture was too dark and the dinner picture was too light. Tomorrows pictures will be juuuuust right.