My stomach shrank

[ForrestGump]

I haven't been eating as much as usual these past five months,and sometimes barely eating at all. Lately, being sick and even more disinclined than usual to go get food and stock up, I've been eating whatever I find in my natural habitat: phone bills, DVDs that didn't burn properly, scraps of cloth, etc. My diet's been a tad on the less-than-balanced side, and I've been feeling it. I was craving protein and then, a couple of Costco rotisserie chickens later, switched my lust to vegetables.

So today, really hungry and not having eaten anything since the five cashews I had for dinner last night (don't despair, as I had a big lunch: the other half of the Vons turkey sandwich that I started the day before, a big sandwich I used to be able to finish in one meal), I decided to go to my favorite Chinese buffet. My favorite in Vegas, anyway. Mmmmmm...

Much to my chagrin -- here I remind those who know and inform those who don't that I am a large-framed individual who rises six feet and five inches above the savanna -- I was not even in the same universe as with my food consumption records of yore, when I would hit a buffet and that sumbitch would know it was hit. I managed one plate of food, not even piled one bit (and I am a master engineer of several decades' glorious experience when it comes to piling plates with food), a bowl of their excellent seafood soup, a smaller bowl of dumplings with dipping sauce, and a few pieces of fruit. And a soft-serve ice-cream cone. That was it. A child could have kept up with me. I couldn't help but think of my glory days, and with regret, too, for their remained on the buffet a considrable number of highly bodacious menu choices that I just could not even sample.

The King is dead. :-(

One plate and a few side extras. One plate. It's almost heartbreaking.

But all was not lost. A little girl flirted with me throughout the entire meal, short by my standards though it may have been. She was fascinated with me, for some reason, and wouldn't leave me alone even when her parents called her back. It was funny -- and, of course, I wondered where these coquettish five-year-old girls were when I was five -- but it made me feel the pangs of...uh..paternity, I guess. Times like that, I wish I already had a child, whether son, daughter, or both. I think I'd be a good father. Maybe really good. So the little girl chattering on and giggling away beside me made up for my inability to eat everything I wanted to at least try a bite of...I want one of those! I mean, I usually don't think too much about children, but sometimes it hits home a bit. And, yes, I do realize that there are a plethora of parenting realities that have little to do with how cute or heartwarming the little brats might be.

Her parents were pretty cool, too. Maybe they wouldn't have been worried, anyway, in such a setting, or maybe I gave off safe vibes, but I do know for sure that the whole Elvis look somehow tends to create an assumed atmosphere of familiarity (sometimes embarrassingly so, to say the least) and it's probably helped me out a few times in this city already. But I remember when I was about 20, dressed in jeans and leather jacket (today I was all in leather, having ridden my motorcycle to the restaurant), walking down a street when a little girl (probably four or five, I guess) stopped me and asked me to take her to her home...she'd somehow become lost. She put that little hand in mine and of we went, me delivering her safely to her concerned parents. I later had a similar occurrrence elsewhere, with a lost little boy in an English shopping mall. Now, maybe the little girl was just naive, but I was very touched by the trust that she displayed toward me -- unequivocal trust -- when, at that time and in that place, it seemed like just about every adult I passed regarded me with extreme suspicion because of my size, my leather, and my longish hair. It was refreshing to be trusted unconditionally. I like to think that little kids like that sometimes, at least, know how it really is -- maybe they know more than the adults do.

Yep, I wouldn't mind one or two of those things one of these days...and it's not just my 'selfish genes' talking, or a need to fulfill my potential inclusive fitness.

After the little girl and her parents left, another family came in and their little son seemed totally fascinated by me...but, really, he was entranced by my ice-cream (I heard his father talking to him about it). A kid after my own heart, that little dude.

[supernova]

1. You softie, you

:hug: :hug: Dude, the kids have it right. :D

Nobody's gonna mess with some over sized biker studmuffin with kid in tow. :D :rofl: That's an adorable pic in my mind's eye.

I know what you mean about not being able to pack it away anymore. I eat like a bird. Today I stopped at a little italian bistro and had a great lunch: portobello mushroom w/ feta cheese and a chicken breast sandwich with smoked mozzarella, washed down with a great glass of red table wine. (Real indulgence because I rarely drink before official happy hour). Anyway, I barely ate half of it. :shrug:

[ForrestGump]

3. You eat like a bird 'cos you're a hot chick

:D

On the bright side, with American portion control you're getting a two-for-one deal on each meal, as long as you store and eat the leftovers safely. Not bad! I have to say, that sandwich sounds excellent -- rich, too. Phew.

Yeah, even I was keenly aware of the look of it with that little girl in her little dress and me, over double her size, in leather and all scruffy...even now it brings to mind the movie scene wherein the innocent little girl is talking to Frankenstein's monster. :-)

:hug:

[RevCheesehead]

2. I hate you.

For the first part of your post, that is. Shrinking?? Life is so unfair, dammit!

But then you redeemed yourself with the rest of your post, and all I can say is::loveya::loveya::loveya:

[ForrestGump]

5. Hey, I'm happy I'm getting more full on less, but, oh, the

heartbreak of being in the Disneyland of Chinese food -- Chinese cuisine possibly being my favorite, if I had to pick one, but certainly in the top two or three -- and not being able to do enough about it. :-(

:P

:hug:

[Shine]

4. Sweet story.

From what I've gathered, despite your shrinking stomach, you still have a huge appetite for Life and the Abundance it can offer..and most certainly through the path of Parenthood. Hey, it's not for the faint-hearted, but being a parent has personally been one of my greatest blessings and joys.

How wonderful that you were so touched by the trust of a child. :hug:

Shine

[ForrestGump]

6. Thank you.

:hug:

Making me all misty-eyed, you know?

:hug:

[SOteric]

7. We've got to get you a

kitty.

Don't let your declining appetite surprise you. The older we get, the less fuel we need to do the same chores. I like to think of it as a kind of acquired fuel efficiency.

(I mean, not that you aren't still an SYT)

And the nice thing about dining is that regardless of how much or how little you've had, 999 out of 1,000 times, it's not going to be your last chance to eat...ever.

[ForrestGump]

9. SYT = Sweet Young Thang?

:loveya:

Or SYT = Silly Yobbo Tosser? :P

:hug:

I would love a kittycat...can't do it right now, though... :-(

I sure hope that wasn't my last meal though, now that you've accused me of being older, who knows? :D

Thanks, Ms teric... :hug:

[SOteric]

13. I've actually never seen

anyone toss a yobbo. *shudder*

Yes, yes, 'young thang.'

[ForrestGump]

14. No yob-tossing here...just

a hug, you sweet young thaing.... :hug:

[GOPisEvil]

8. Maybe it's a good thing I wasn't able to make it to Vegas.

I'd have hated to witness the fall of the King. ;)

Mmmmm...ice cream in December...that little dude has his priorities right.

[ForrestGump]

10. Indeed

:D

"No, really, Mr Evil, usually I can do way better than this"

You know, the same thing I tell all the girls. :P

Yep...cold outside, but ice-cream still warms the cockles and that little kid was just itching to get his few teeth into a cone of it...

[Dangerously Amused]

11. Awww...

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya:


You want a baby, honey? I just happen to have a vacant uterus....


Well, except for that part where you wrote:

"Times like that, I wish I already had a child, whether son, daughter, or both."

I'm not so sure I want to have a child that's both.

[ForrestGump]

12. Um...good point. Let's stick with old-fashioned sexual dimorphism

:loveya:

Somewhere here... *rutlerustleclang* ...I've got a "No Vacancy" sign.


Ah...there it is.



Lights out, honey... :D

Or on. :loveya:

[Dangerously Amused]

15. No one else in this whole joint can make me blush the way you do.

:blush:

Shame on you!



=tee hee hee=

I mean, naughty Forrest! Naughty!











Yes, naughty.....

[ForrestGump]

16. Definitely naughty

Definitely.

But...you know what they say: where something shrinks, another expands.

:blush:

[Arugula Latte]

17. I hope you do have kids some day.

You'd be a great dad, I'm sure.

Parenthood is amazing. Those little humans are two tons of fun and they something delightful every day.

I've spent much of the last 24 hours dealing with two sick vomiting kids (boy/girl) and even under those circumstances I love being a parent. Especially when my daughter (who is five, BTW) told me she was still "throw upping." Too cute.

:hi:

[ForrestGump]

18. I love throw-upping!

Not the process, but the term.

Thank you, and thank you for reporting from the trenches that the hard work, at times, and the worry, at times, are but a small price to pay. :hug:

I hope they stop throw-upping and get better, soon!!

[Heidi]

19. For the record,

I think you'd be an excellent father; your child would no doubt be a big winner in the genetics lottery for kindness, humor, intelligence and good looks. :thumbsup:

[ForrestGump]

21. Thank you

:loveya:

Of course, his or her mommy is going to be well blessed in all those respects, I'm sure. :D

[lildreamer316]

20. Sigh.

People like you warm my heart...hope to meet you if/when we move to Vegas. You can meet our little guy...


we are always looking for true people to interact with....

[ForrestGump]

22. Hi, little guy!

:hi:

You might be coming to Las Vegas? Cool! It's got some pretty good qualities, away from all the glitz of the Strip et al. It's a real town, these days -- slightly surreal, of course (slot machines in the markets and convenience stores), but not a lot different from suburban SoCal except for the fact that you can actually afford to live here.

Is that bisketti in the tray? Starting to make me hungry -- and I look pretty much like that, too, when I really appreciate the vittles. Not that cute, of course, but nicely messy.

Yes, I want a munchkin before too long. :-)

Thanks...and good luck! I look forward to catching up with you if you move to this crazy corner of the desert. :D

[lildreamer316]

23. Actually

Hubby used to work there for 6 years at the Deja Vu as a DJ (suprise suprise). He loves it there; but I am tied to a revocable trust will so we can't sell the house yet...we'll see. Hope to at least make a visit in the next year to feel out the territory (he is also a techno dj; so maybe several opportunities if we play our cards right).Not too sure what I'm going to do (used to dance; not sure I'm up to Vegas standards).Maybe just raise little man...look foreward to meeting you!We'll give you a heads-up when we head that way.

[ForrestGump]

24. Cool! Yes, sounds like Vegas might be a good place to consider

I'm sure you could dance if you found the right match...lots of turnover in many entertainment jobs, with so many transient people here, though the whole entertainment aspect of even the major casinos is a very closed subculture of its own. Once you work your way into the network, though, you never know! And, of course, any little boy that handsome's got to have a stunning couple of parents, as well.

I wish you the best of everything, whether you end up moving here or not, and -- yes -- I'd love to hear from you if you are heading Vegasward. Good luck!