America the Edible

I realize my past few posts have been strictly Adam Richman related, but ya know what, deal with it. Nobody reads this shit anyway. It's for my own edification.

I devoured Adam's book in a day and a half. I could've finished it entirely in one day, but as is my need with most books, I like to prolong the experience when I'm enjoying it. As a child, I would make multiple trips to the library in a week, but always keep a few. I like to savor a good book. I find myself sad when I reach the end of a book I really enjoy.

Such is the case with this one.

The moment I began the first chapter, I was in it. The first few paragraphs of the very first chapter brought us into the world of Adam's heartbreak. Being a recent resident of Heartbreakville, it spoke to me instantly. Especially the "I don't love you anymore", which only 5 months ago was a phrase that shattered my entire life.

To have a reader in the first few paragraphs is a sign you're about to embark on a great literary journey.

And boy was I!

Food was never really something I considered to be "sexy". America the Edible changed my perspective of this. Watching someone enjoy something you also enjoy, or even have made, is absolutely sexy.

Now, I LOVE food. Trust, there's nothing I'd rather do than eat. All day, all night. Food is fantastic. But I never really realized what a profound effect it has on our lives. I remember hearing Adam talking about how food affects our experiences and stands out in certain circumstances in episodes past.. and until I really read what he has to say, I didn't realize how true that was.

Stories of romance, romance lost and craving romance - all of which feature food really make this book amazing. The food (including its taste, smell, and presentation), the people in Adam's life, the stories told, the cities and their histories, the locals, the tourists, the surroundings in the restaurants -- all feel completely palpable.

America the Edible is hands-down one of the most well-written books I've ever had the great pleasure of reading. (and I read a fucking LOT!) And I'd like to point out that I'm a completely unbiased reader. I'm a biased watcher. I'll watch Adam Richman do anything because he's delicious. I am a 100% unbiased reader, though. I've read books written by authors I admire and love that have absolutely bored me to tears. This was not the case with America the Edible. I was completely engaged and left wanting more.

Hawaii made me crave paradise and I envisioned that chapter easiest. I could feel Hawaii's beauty permeating through the pages.

San Fransisco broke my heart. All I wanted to do after reading that chapter is hug Adam Richman hard.

Brooklyn made me want to go home.
Every city, every chapter, every story; it was all magnificent.

I suggest everyone pick up a copy.... and I dare you to not rave about it! :)

Thank you, Adam Richman.

I don't know if ANYONE reads the garbage I spew upon this blog, and frankly I don't care... cause I don't write this for others, I write it for me.

But there is something I wanted to put out in the universe..

Over the course of the past five months or so, I've been blessed with the presence of Adam Richman, the magnificent host of Man v Food.
Let me go back a little bit...
If you just head back slightly in this blog, on my Twitter or my Facebook, or even -gasp- my real life, you'll know that on July 3rd, I had my heart shattered. Absolutely shattered.
I had spent 3 years with a man who was my entire world. We were engaged. Our wedding was planned. (Thankfully, it wasn't paid for! lol) I'd been in love before, but I'd never loved anyone or anything as much as I loved him. He knew me better than I've ever allowed anyone to know me.

We were the perfect couple. Everyone said so. It was a relationship so kismet, it didn't seem real.
Even our BIRTHDAYS were weird matches (mine is 1/11, his is 11/1). We almost never fought over the course of three years. We had the same sense of humor, the same tastes in almost everything, and we had a blast together no matter what we were or were not doing.
Furthermore, I spoiled him to pieces. I spent hundreds on the most thoughtful gifts and activities for special occasions (and even just when I felt like it!) and I did it because I wanted to. Because I loved him and would do anything for him.

Wednesdays, we'd order or I'd make a big meal and watch Man v. Food. Every Wednesday. We watched it all the time. It was our favorite night of the week. We had a list of locations we wanted to go to and try challenges and whatnot as well.

Until that one July afternoon when the rug was pulled from underneath my entire life and I was left to fall flat on my face...

Along with any past love, I'd also endured past heartbreak. None of which felt as painful as this one. It hurt to breathe, to move. I couldn't do anything but cry and wonder what I did wrong. Why he didn't love me. Why he left. The weekend prior was amazing... not to mention he was complimentary and sweet. I didn't get it. Honestly, I still don't. (Except now I don't care - lol)
Soon Wednesday came around. As sad as it made me, I decided to watch Man v. Food. Because as painful as it was to watch it by myself, I figured Adam Richman could cheer me up.
And he did.
Hugely.

Receiving a message or two (whose contents will remain private -- nothing scandalous, just nobody's business but my own) from Adam himself on Twitter really pulled me from the brink of mental breakdown.
I can't explain it. When I say it out loud, it sound ridiculous.
But his words of encouragement, his show and his wonderful personality brought me through one of the roughest times of my life.
So, I guess the point of this is that I wanted to say thank you. Thank you, Adam Richman. Even though I can't really explain it, you saved my life. You've kept me sane, you've made me smile, and you continue to do so still.
I appreciate you more than I can say.

Alton Brown: Disrespectful Douchebag

I have been stewing over this since the delightful Adam Richman brought this to Twitter's attention the other day. So as per the technological generation, a blog felt necessary.
Personally, I have always found Mr. Brown to be a pretentious sonofabitch. I could never stand him. But to rip on Adam Richman, who doesn't seem to have a bad thing to say about anyone, without merit and with complete ignorance to what Man v. Food is about feels like absolute blasphemy.

Brown says this:

"That show is about gluttony, and gluttony is wrong. It's wasteful. Think about people that are starving to death and think about that show. It's an embarrassment."

I'm sorry, but this is one thing that is ridiculously irritating to me.
I'm sure in the production of a season of MvF, food is not ripped from the hands of the starving.
An outlandish extra amount of food is not prepared for Adam to take and eat in front of starving people.
The places visited make this food anyway. Who's to say if Adam didn't show up that day, someone else wouldn't have ordered twice as much? Would they also receive criticism from Alton Brown about gluttony and how starving people exist?
Next time I see some fatass at McDonald's ordering 3 double cheeseburgers, I'll be sure to alert him or her that there are starving people in the world and that they are disgusting too.
Or, if you knew anything about anything, Mr. Brown, you'd know that Adam Richman contributes to many hunger relief charities.

Also, the show is NOT about gluttony. It's about showcasing hardworking everyday people who make interesting food. Food that is consumed by everyday people. I know many people who've traveled to MvF locations because Adam has brought them to light. It allows the everyman to indulge in an occasional treat while traveling or perhaps even right down the street.

And I'm sorry, but the only "EMBARRASSMENT" here is Alton Brown himself. Is your career not thriving to the point that you need to tear down others? And not to mention others who happened to ADMIRE you?! THAT'S embarrassing..... and fucking childish.

Brown finishes his mindless babble by kissing Andrew Zimmern's ass. (Zimmern, who came to the side of Richman, BY THE WAY). Here's what he said about Bizarre Foods vs. MvF...

"You know why? He can go to strange places and he never disrespects anybody. So there's a show about a guy eating stuff, but it's the other side of the coin of 'Man vs. Food.'"

.......so..... that just flat-out makes no sense.
Who has Adam Richman disrespected?
People at the locations? Nooo..
MvF Crew? Nooo....
Fans? Noooo....
Fellow hosts? Nooo....


All in all, what I'd really like to say to Alton Brown is this:
A- Please hop off your pedestal. You're seriously not better than anyone.
2- MvF has a fucking ARMY. Good Eats has geriatrics.
D- Go fuck yourself.


That is all.

i can't wait to get out of here.

i can't get to new york fast enough. i don't care if i don't have money or a job or a place to live.
i'd rather be living on the streets there than anywhere here.
thirty four days and i will be in new york. i can't wait.
i have a complete mental boner from the idea.

all of my paychecks are going into my savings account from this week forward.
watch out, fuckers. i'm coming to nyc.
i'm coming ready and full of cash.
WATCH. THE. FUCK. OUT.

live free, die hard.

well, things are a little better.
some plans have changed. as per my deep desire, i am moving my happy ass back to new york city come the end of september.
there's nothing for me in illinois anymore. even my mother is trying to get out.
i know, people elsewhere think illinois must be fun because of chicago, but really.. the fun ends there. it's just a lot of field and corn and suburban bullshit.
get me outta here!!

i'm set for a visit to the city sept. 2nd-5th. can't. freakin. wait.

i deleted my facebook yesterday.
i've decided i'm going to try and live as close to a minimalistic lifestyle as possible.
i want less things, less distraction and more life.
the only sites i use now are this blog and twitter.
i'm also trying to keep my phone off for most of the day, everyday.
nine times outta ten, i look at my phone and then forget why i was looking at my phone in the first place.
these are kick-able habits and i'm gonna work on it.
i tell you what, i don't miss facebook one bit.

beyond all that, not much else going on in the world of the single woman.
work and lots of it.
manvfood and lots of it.
beer here and there.
and uh.. that's about it. lol

hope all is well with everyone.

ouch.

today, july 3rd, in the midst of a holiday weekend with oodles of plans, my boyfriend of two and a half years broke my heart. basically telling me that he doesn't love me anymore, he broke off our relationship.

i've been in the broken-hearted position before. it doesn't make it any easier. it hurts. it hurts more than anything in the world. the one person in the world i've ever really loved and cared for tossed me aside like i didn't even matter.

my face is literally sore and pulsating from crying so much.

this hurts. i can't see it getting any better in the near future. everything hurts. every song or cd i own, every movie or tv show i watch. it all reminds me of him. reminds me of the man i love... who doesn't love me.

it took everything in the world for me to trust him enough to love him. it scared me shitless and on a promise he wouldn't hurt me, i let my guard down. i don't regret doing it because it opened me up to a world of love i would have never known.

but here i sit on saturday night. alone. crying. hurt. and missing him. i didn't think anything could ever hurt this much; and again, this isn't the first time i've been heartbroken.

i have nothing.
my heart hurts and nothing makes it better.
nothing.

my plans for a happier, healthier me!

aside from my weird mood, i thought i'd also share the ways in which i am taking steps in the right direction with my life.
when all roads led to my moving back with my mom for the summer, i decided i'd use it to my benefit. there were things and habits in my life i needed to change and/or break.
so here they are..

1. i'm enrolling in school for the fall. i've already applied and i'm filling out forms for student aid, etc. i'm going back to school for journalism and english studies. i'm not sure what i'm going to do with them yet, but just earning a degree of some sort will make me feel like way less of a loser.

2. i'm working on quitting smoking. i've already cut back to half of what i used to smoke daily. i feel i can have this habit kicked by next month.

3. i'm getting healthy. in addition to the long, long walks i take every morning with my dog, i'm eating better and eating less. i've been a fatty for far too long and i am not about to stay this way.

4. i'm going to become financially sound. my money disappears. i don't even know where. so, i'm going to become more financially stable and more responsible with my dollars.


only four steps, you ask? yes. only four steps. but they are four big steps.. and four big steps that will help create a healthier, happier me. :)