~ Wednesday, April 11, 2001 ~

 

10:27 p.m. There's a story being promoted tonight on the local news about weight gain and the brain and the natural high that some people find themselves almost always enjoying and I'd like to give you more particulars and perhaps even a link, but so far I can't find the reference.

I can tell you, from personal experience, that it's possible to recreate an entirely euphoric mindset, if you know how to go about it.

11:43 p.m. Ok, I'm back. I've just devoted several semi-productive moments flashing between the three major networks, waiting for the tease for that particular story to float by again. Watched ads for burgers, tacos, pizza with cheese in the crust, sodie pop, sizzling steaks, and breakfast cereal.

Meanwhile, I'm happy that the hostage folks have been set free by the Chinese. By the way, while they were being detained, they were also "raving" about the food, according to the New York Times.

I'm trying not to make it all about the food, but this is spring, and it is. All. about. the. food. And my lack of it. I've not been totally pleased with my overall health these past few days and since my first line of defense has always been to cut back on the food, I'm sitting out this round of that all-involving food dance, as much as I can.

And so that's what I've done today. I've succeeded for one whole day. Already I feel blissful and healthier and yes, even happier. I also practiced yoga breathing and I did one entire yoga exercise. I don't mean one session -- I mean one movement. Side-tilts. I'm starting out slowly. Don't want to burn out too quickly.

The news bit flew by in a few sentences and as is usual with the truncated happy-talk news here in the land of LA, it really wasn't worth the wait. Seems that scientists have been studying the effects of marijuana on the brain so that they can locate the munchie array and then figure out how to turn it off. Seems that happy people tend to nosh a lot.

I'm sure that eventually the drug companies will come up with a no-fail, prescription-only, sure-there-are-side-effects, but you-know-you'll risk-it weight-loss pill. They have to. They've already convinced us to stimulate our menfolk and sedate our wee ones; it's only a matter of time before that magic pill that lets us eat all we want and still look fetching will be here.

I hope, when it comes, that I'm still not under a doctor's care or enrolled in a health plan or in any way, shape, or form ... eligible. I hope, when it comes, that I'm too poor to afford it, because if I'm not, I know I will be sorely tempted to swallow a pill and hope for the best, even if I fear the worst.

I wonder if plump and overripe people will suddenly become fashionable once everyone can be as thin as they want to be. One day it might actually be difficult to put on the extra soft fluffy plumage that we currently loathe, and that's the day that curves will come back in style. Maybe.

Meanwhile, I'm going to bed hungry ... and I'm really, really happy about it.