Keep Me In The Dark And Feed Me Shit

That’s a bastardization of the punch line to the old joke

“How are employees like mushrooms?”
“In order to have them grow the company must keep them in the dark and feed them shit.”

In The Dark I’m Quite The Stud
After eating a lunch of Nick’s Greek Food in Grant Park with a couple of other EAV Buzzers I drove, yes drove, to Atlantic Station to experience Dialog In The Dark.

At first I was really nervous because I saw a man walking around Atlantic Station with a cane and thought “Holy shit, they’re going to turn us loose in the street?” However, my fears were allayed when I found out that the entire exhibition is held in doors in a completely safe environment.

The next thing thing that happened was surreal. While waiting for my group’s start time I saw someone who looked very familiar. The guy, who was with a rather striking young lady, looked a lot like one of the guys in the play that I saw last night. This is the same play through which I found out about Dialog In The Dark via the playbill. As he sat down I asked “May I ask you a strange question? Are you an improv comic?” To which he answered “Yes, why?” At that point I told him that I had seen the show Thursday and that it was their shows responsibility for my attendance yesterday. He was really nice and held out his hand and told me his name was Tim. As we shook hands I told him my name. Yes, I shook his hand — it’s not like he’s one of those frail musician-types, or vegetarian…

The exhibition was cool, but imho could be cooler. You are given a cane and led into a room in which the lights are completely turned off. At that time you are introduced to your group guide, who in our case was very nice woman named Gloria. For about an hour Gloria led us through obstacles faced by blind people on a daily basis. The rooms are completely black and constructed in such a way that one’s eyes never get the ability to adjust and see anything for the entire time. At the end of the tour you are seated in another dark room and chat with your guide, asking questions and whatnot. In the end the guide leads you back into the light, at which time you can see your guide for the first time. I chose not to look however, as I didn’t want to alter the image of Gloria that I had already conjured.

The Return Of The Five-Sevenths Vegetarian
There are four people in this world who remember Fat Paulie of Huntsville, Alabama who in order to drop weight started exercising and eating a diet of vegetarian food five days out of the week, allowing himself meat on the two remaining days if he desired. I’d post a photo of this gentleman, but thankfully no pictures of him exist on the internets. And, none of the four previously mentioned people read this blog — at least to my knowledge.

As of today in an effort to lose ten pounds before Cheddarhead (that’s January 1st to you non-hashing types) I am returning to 5/7 vegetarianism for the foreseeable future. I thought about starting yesterday, but had plans to go and eat a pita for lunch. I thought about starting tomorrow on October 1st, but figured why wait? (Besides, I have something else up my sleeve for tomorrow and needed blogging material for today).

Wish me luck, I’m going to need it. Better yet, wish me good health as that is the real goal. With better health and shape I’ll get lucky — if you know what I’m sayin’…

And do me one favor… when you shake my hand, please be gentile.

ITP Flickr Pic
I do not know if Warren possess “The Gay” or not, but apparently Naomi believes so.
At Least That's What Naomi Thinks
Actually, I’ve met Naomi before and I believe she is being somewhat facetious. (OMG! I just spelled “facetious” correctly on the first shot for the first time in my life!)

Hey, I Forgot To Talk About The Amazing Race
On Sunday night The Amazing Race started again! Woo Hoo!!!! With the exception of that season they did families I’ve loved every season of The Amazing Race that I’ve watched. Who’s with me on this? Who was only mildly surprised to see the aging hippies be the first team eliminated? Which team do you think you’ll like? Which team do you think you’ll hate? Which team do you think you’ll hate, but in the end will like?

Who Knows, I Just Might Go See A Show Tonight
Tonight Jenny Lewis is playing at Variety Playhouse. I’ve held off buying a ticket because I’ve not been sure about my work schedule recently (see also the Okkervil River ticket for Thursday night that I’ve had to give away) and I’m not the biggest Jenny Lewis supporter. However, I’ve not been to a show in weeks, and there are a lot worse acts to shoot with a camera — if you know what I’s sayin’…

Digital Download Of The Week
Two words for you:
1) Ben
2) Folds

Go buy Ben Folds’ “Way To Normal” today. I won’t guarantee that you’ll like it. You pays your money you takes your chances.

And now for some ideas stolen from LiveJournal…
Current Mood – miffed, but I’ll get over it
Current Music – Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 26 playing The Hold Steady — “Stay Positive” (believe me, I’m trying but it’s tough)
Website Of The Day – I’ve been a fan of Camp Eureka for some time. Camp Eureka is summer camp for blind childred.
Exercise (b)Log – running, 4 miles
Monthly Foot Mileage – 19.5 miles
Monthly Wheel Mileage – 136 miles
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Monthly Marta Rides – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 19 (110)
Books To Read To Earn Kindle – 4

September Goals
No idea

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

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15 Responses to Keep Me In The Dark And Feed Me Shit

  1. Barb says:

    Amazing Race- I’m not sure why yet, but I think Terrence & Sarah will do well. Nick & Starr has some potential as well. (and I did have to go to the website to remember their names, I’m not that good). I like the divorced chicks too, but not the southern belles.

    the darkness thing does sound kind of cool. Was Gloria blind?

  2. Stacy says:

    I haven’t seen Amazing Race yet but I’m looking forward to it. I’ve always loved that show (with the exception of the family season with little kids; still have issues there).

    The Dialog in the Dark show sounds fascinating! I’d love that but at the same time don’t think I could handle it. Between my fear of eventually going blind (I have such bad eyesight) and my mild case of claustrophobia, I’d probably have a panic attack. So I hope you got some good pictures to share?

    (heehee. serious about not handling it; obviously joking about the photos)

    Good luck with the dietary change! 10lbs by Jan 1st is definitely an achievable goal! 🙂

  3. @Stacy: Dammit! I was going to post a completely black photo and say that I took it in the exhibition, but I forgot! Dammit!

    You do feel slightly claustrophobic, but oddly since you see nothing so you have absolutely no idea how big or small the rooms are. The guide does a great job getting you through the exhibit.

    @Barb: I don’t like the divorced chicks nor the southern belles. For that matter I don’t like the NYC couple (marathon man / uptight girl) either. And, I’m not sold on the cheating former-football player and his wife.

    Gloria was completely blind (I asked her). She said that she sees nothing but gray (I asked her). She was sighted until her teenage years and slowly lost her vision to disease (I asked her). She has two sons (she volunteered this) ages 29 & 26 (I asked her).

  4. Barb says:

    Oh, i didn’t say I liked Terrence & Sarah, (I think they are the marathon man/ uptight chick team), I just have a feeling they will do well. I think I like the geeks the most after just 1 episode, but doubt they will get real far.

  5. The comic book geeks are pretty funny. If they stay in Brazil then Terrence / Sarah should do well since she seems to know Portuguese.

  6. Gentri says:

    The closest I’ve gotten to experiencing “blindness” was when I went spelunking and stayed over night in the cave… amazing how your other senses step in and help out… the show sounds kinda neat. What were the negatives?”

    So do you have a whole stash of delicious veggie recipes from the last time you dieted like this I hope? Veggie chili is on my list of favs that my father makes!

    Didn’t see amazing race, but watched Survivor and the one team sucked so bad I was like “jeez, have these people NEVER seen the show before they came on it?” My old 27″ CRT is getting on my nerves… you may find a 42″ Samsung on my wall soon……… I’ve been good long enough!

  7. Barb says:

    Gentri – I agree with you on Survivor, the one team was really acting like they had no idea what was going on or anythign about the show. And, do the producers trick them into wearing clothes that are just not acceptable for living outdoors for 39 days? I mean, I would not be wearing a dress to anything leading up to the date they think they are leaving for the show just in case.

  8. Survivor has started already too? Damn, I’m out of the loop!

    I’m sure that I have recipes from my past, but I can’t recall exactly where they are. I have a ton of cookbooks, so I should problem keeping me going.

    The “negatives” were that they made it a little too child-like. I would have liked to experience a normal house setup and experienced the challenges blind people face daily.

  9. Martha says:

    Let me know if you find some good veggie dishes. Even better if you ever want to share let me know. I’ve been eating a lot of veggie stuff the last couple of months…but when I make something I’m usually stuck eating it for days longer than I would like. I have a great veggie tortilla soup and I want to try a gratin of polenta with greens.

    I know I won’t lose as much weight as I did after my last break-up but hopefully I can use this opprotunity to get rid of a few extra pounds 😉

  10. @Martha: The only problem is that when you and I hang out we tend to drink much alcohol. In fact it was odd *not* drinking a beer yesterday as the four of us ate lunch. I’ll keep you in mind, and will also let you know if I come across a good recipe to share.

    Oh, and Sunday is a MEAT day. Don’t think for one second that I am going to do a Sunday run and pass on the bacon. Not. Going. To. Happen!

  11. Martha says:

    No worries about Sunday, there will be plenty of pork for all!!!

    What was really weird yesterday was I HAD beer and didn’t want to drink it…I’m thinking it is going to be at least this weekend before I’m ready to take to the bottle again.

  12. Stacy says:

    Woah! Martha, did I read that right? Did you break up? 🙁

  13. Martha says:

    Yes, we split ways last week. No big drama, I think we realized we are two very different people and the relationship had run its course.

    Its all good!

  14. Stacy says:

    Well, good for you Martha! I hear you perfectly on that — two people can be very very good but it just doesn’t work together. I’m actually at the very same place with my guy, too. It’s bittersweet; but at least we’re at an age in our lives where we can be mature about these things. Good for you! May your heart be light.

  15. You two made Facebook a sad place to be with the relationship changing “news” and all.

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