No More Cookies and Milk for You, Mister

[mrdreamjeans]

It's unusual for me to go more than three days without writing a post, but I didn't have much inspiration to write this week. It's never happened in the four years I've been on Live Journal. My work week consumed me. Seven meetings, 13 sales calls, 6 conference calls, a handful of reports, driving 800 miles in support of the calls and dealing with some pretty intense concerns at the nursing home. I got accolades from my regional manager of sales who accompanied me on my calls yesterday and then did a written critique, (which was nice) but I had little time this week for anything but work. Thanks goodness for calls from Casey and Tim, because my evenings usually were filled with my sister calling (she's very ill) and wanting to rehash the last 8 months of her divorce negotiations (it's still not a done deal).

It's been a week since I got over the stomach bug and my appetite returned. But, it's returned with a twist. Some of my favorite food items are making me nauseous; in particular, cookies and milk. I've always been a guy who likes his chocolate chip cookies. It's my major "source-of-comfort" food. Of course, I like a big glass of ice cold milk with them. Ever since I was a little boy, if I was feeling "puny", cookies and milk would make me feel better. Not lately ... I'm trying to separate if it's the gluten in the cookies .. or if it's milk (and other dairy), that is making my stomach sour.

There aren't a lot of resources nearby that allow me to follow a gluten-free diet. I'm making in-roads, but not to the degree I should. Milk would be tough to eliminate from my diet. I'm not a fan of soy or rice milk and fat-free milk is my primary beverage. As I've said often, I don't drink alcohol of any kind or coffee. I've tried to cut way back on soft drinks, so I'm drinking several teas, power drinks and cranberry juice, trying to balance weight-loss goals with what is the healthiest mix. And yes .. I'm drinking lots of water. But, I want my milk!

Is this what's it come to? Being forced to shed the tattered vestiges of a sunny childhood by a stomach that's saying, No more cookies and milk for you, mister?! I think I'm going to stomp my feet and throw a tantrum! :) Anyone have dietary suggestions?

Just because I feel like it .... Here's one of my favorite photos ... I just discovered it anew. It was taken by redbearmark in June 2005 in Virginia Beach. VA. Though the run of "Evita" in Norfolk was a tough time for me, I remember being completely happy on that day ... I had made a new friend!