Vegetating

Its been a while. A very interesting while for that matter. I looked back on a year that just like 2012 was full of health challenges.

I am happy to say though that the attempt to switch to vegetarianism has been successful.. I will soon celebrate a year of being a vegetarian and I have no regrets apart from the fact that becoming vegan is more difficult than I thought. I generally avoid dairy but still consume some cheese and milk but I absolutely do not want to eat meat, I don't miss it and in fact have become quite militant in my attitude to meat consumption.  It disgusts me.

I am a contented hypocrite I suppose.

Health.   At some point in every one's life there are triggers or events that make us think about our health. 

And our mortality.

A Distal Bicep Tendon Repair

This image is very close to the operation that I was recovering from in January 2012. There's video of me cheerfully supporting Gideon's Sean Williams on NY1 promoting the BFG series of plays wearing a huge sling. I look ok, I suppose. But I had no idea how debilitating and life changing this injury and the subsequent operation would be. I am now disabled - it would be an easy thing for me to walk into my doctors office and get myself categorized as having a disability. Certainly the nerve damage and lack of strengh in my right arm probably means that the option of doing manual labor to pay my way is not on the table.

A Tiny Piece of Extreme Pain

Following the operation I experienced a series of Lemony Snicket type of unfortunate events:  I had internal bleeding from drug complications, then I cracked two ribs being unable to steady myself on some ice thanks to my splint and sling this was followed by the extremely painful and unpleasant kidney stone that nearly made me blackout with pain and sent me to the hospital in the middle of the night.  

2012 - It was not one of my best years.

I will not use the word veggies. I am not 4. I will not use the word veggies. I am not 4.I will not use the word veggies. I am not 4.I will not use the word veggies. I am not 4

So today.... nothing to do with New Years or that malarkey... I am starting my transition to eating a plant based diet... I hesitate to say Vegan because it just seems to produce vitriol from ignorant meat eaters... I mean do I own leather shoes... currently yeah..will I phase em out... probably.

So I want to move away from eating meat and animal products. My love of my two dogs, Muppet and Daisy, and many thoughtful and occasionally shocking articles about animals has led me along with my own experiences to believe that animals do indeed possess emotions and feelings. 

I don't think I could stomach eating cow, pig, duck, lamb etc and I'm super close to feeling that about poultry and fish.  Last night as a kinda almost final hurrah I went out to celebrate New Years Eve with my wife. On the menu was filet mignon, lamb something or other, pork loins etc etc... I was drawn at first to the lamb dish since I only really eat lamb at restaurants never at home. Then without really forcing the issue I realized that I couldn't order it or eat it.