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Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Day 4 of the Hirsute Hairshirt


Well, here's the thing: after a few days, the shirt feels less itchy! In fact, you stop feeling the pain (does this mean I have to upgrade to a coarser vestment? Start sleeping on a bed of nails?). I'm actually looking forward to eating homemade pizza tonight with a glass of non-alcoholic Cabernet (have I gone completely batty?). Seriously, here are the two sides of me talking:

Side 1:
This suuuuuuucks! I have no time for unsalted pistachio nuts and cut up fruit. I am craving sushi like nobody's business. Is sushi okay on the austerity plan? Okay, how about if it's brown rice? And no mayo? Can I please have the Trader Joe's brown rice California roll, or does it have to be the 100% veggie roll?

Side 2:
I am loving this clear-headedness. Who needs wine? I like my sober evenings and popping out of bed refreshed and ready to greet the day. I am way more productive when I do not overindulge. Much more efficient with my time. I really have my mojo working today.

And while we're sharing, unbelievably, miraculously, on my first day wearing the mohair suit I came across this poem called "Book of Hours" by Kevin Young in a recent issue of Poetry, from which I quote (I kid you not):

Let us go
each, to the valley--

turn ourselves
& our hairshirts

inside out, let the world
itch--for once--

3 comments:

Maureen said...

Made me laugh.

seana graham said...

Isn't that finding great?

Keep going. It will be interesting to read your observations.

Martha Silano said...

Hi Seana,

Thanks for your support and encouragement. The near-wine left much to be desired, but at least it didn't give me a headache. And heck, I was just as incoherent and bubbly at our little pizza party as I am when I've had a couple of glasses of wine. :-)