Mood:  smelly

Well...I've made it halfway! Only 7 more days left of detox, the only downfall of that is, another weekend to make it through. However, I'm happy knowing that once I make it through the weekend, I only have Monday and Tuesday to get through. 

And Wednesday? Well, there's a bottle of imported Merlot on the top shelf of my pantry waiting to get screwed. For realz.

Wine and coffee are really my only cravings so far. Of course, cooking and packing every little thing I eat has become a pain, but cheap, if that does anything for you.

Today, I was looking forward to my afternoon snack: a Larabar Jocalat (Pure Organic Chocolate Food Bar) in the German Chocolate Cake variety.

Boy do I love German chocolate cake. That moist chocolate cake, layered with sweet coconut (where is Dane Cook when I need him) icing, almonds and pecans. Oh. My. God.

Well, as I had mentioned, I spent way too much time in Whole Foods Saturday, reading every single label in the store. I was able to find two protein bars that were detox-compatible, so I grabbed them and left.

So all day I was waiting for that 2 o'clock hour, when I could rip open my sweet German chocolate cake. When 1:50 rolled around, it was game time.

And game time tasted like shit. To be more accurate, it looked like shit, but tasted like a big rotten date. I have no problem with dates. They are a fine fruit. But when you are expecting chocolate, a date does not make for a Jolly Holly.

Now, I'm not a complete tard, I knew it wasn't going to be a Hershey bar. But I will say the Endangered Animals chocolate that I bought is detox friendly, and tastes BETTER than milk chocolate. So it is possible.  

Why in the heck did it taste like a date? Naturally, I referred to the list of ingredients:

DATES, pecans, almonds, unsweetened chocolate, unsweetened coconut, extra virgin coconut oil, cocoa powder.

I mean really? The very first thing listed, of course it's going to be a giant freaking date. I know I read this label because everything is okay for me to eat, so why did I think I'd be cool with a bar of dates and nuts, packaged to look like chocolate. Yet another case of me letting my imagination get the best of me—it screws me over in dating, and now it's screwing me over in dates. How good did I honestly think a protein bar that was organic, gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher, soy-free, non-GMO, and vegan was really going to be?

Sigh. I'm really trying here.

When I did a little searching about the Larabar, it seems the "mint chocolate" is the popular choice. Maybe I will give the Larabar a second chance. See? See what is happening to me?

Word is getting around at work about my crazy detox plan, which I appreciate the curiosity. It helps that people around me know what I'm doing, because it eliminates temptation. No one is inviting me out for lunch, because they know I can't have it. It would be super nice if my TV knew I was doing it because I can't tell you how many commercials for Sonic I've drooled over, scenes of Red Lobster crab legs swimming in garlic butter I've dreamt of, or that DQ 25th Anniversary Blizzard where I wish to be the red plastic spoon.

But no.  

Instead, I've parked myself on the couch, snacking on unroasted and sea-salted almonds. Delish. I fell asleep before I could finish Lipstick Jungle last night, and I'm on a mission to finish it tonight. So, who's up for a caffeine-free rose tea?

Weight: 123.6 pounds

Posted by wittywriter7 at 10:46 PM CDT

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Mood:  incredulous

I got up 20 minutes earlier than I usually do—meaning 6:10 am. If that's not an indication of how my detox is treating me, then I don't know what is. 

Usually, er should I say pre-detox, my alarm goes off at 6:01, allowing myself time to hit the snooze button three times (yep, that's how big of a loser I am). But not this morning, I was roaring to start my day.

My to-do list was packed, and as I mentioned before, not being drunk or hung over all the time allows me all the time in the world to be productive! Aside from working my usual day, I needed to ship off a few things to my Ebay buyers, along with setting aside some serious time to work on my memoir. I did both of those AND cooked dinner AND got a spray tan—amazing!

Now I'm ready to dive into the last 100 pages of Lipstick Jungle, which should be good. Candace Bushnell, we may have been separated at birth.

Anyway, my food plan today wasn't too different from the stuff I've been reporting. I did, however, have a low-sodium V8 as a snack this afternoon. Talk about GROSS. I choked it down (I would rather do another worm shot than drink a V8 again). Yuck.

But, in tomorrow's bag of food, I packed one of my protein bars from Whole Foods that I've pretty pumped about. And yeah, that's what my life has dwindled to, being excited over a protein bar.

I did come clean with the guys that texted me this weekend and told them I was participating in a "cleanse." They were both pretty cool about it and relieved that I wasn't blowing them off. Hehe, oh the power I hold in my tiny spray-tanned hand. However, I sort of wish I told them it was a year-long cleanse, because in 9 days, I will probably be thinking of a new excuse to blow them off.

Weight: 122.8 

Posted by wittywriter7 at 10:17 PM CDT

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Mood:  cool

At five days into my detoxification plan, I'm starting to get back to a somewhat normal life (minus the drinking) and realizing that when I'm not hung over 24/7, there's really a lot that can be accomplished in this world. 

Imagine that!

Although I still awoke at 3 am today, I happily was able to roll over a fall back asleep for a solid six more hours. I honestly can't blame my horrible sleeping habits on the detox, and now I know I can't blame it on caffeine, it's strictly stress. Which means I will probably never be able to get a good night's sleep unless someone does me a huge favor and just punches me in the face.

This morning, I treated myself to the soy yogurt I purchased yesterday, pitted some fresh cherries, and even added a few sea salted almonds. It was quite a delicious way to start the day.

Until I found three wasps' nests on my back porch, destroyed them, and then ran around my apartment for an hour being chased by the pissed off inhabitants. Eh, story of my life. I eventually killed the bastards and got on with my day.

My day, included reading hundreds of pages from Candace Bushnell's Lipstick Jungle (can't wait to get back to it after I post this) and taking one of the hardest naps of my life. During it, I had a dream that I was wearing ice skating uniforms while roller skating in a park while my ex watched. Then I hopped into a car with a guy I went on a few dates with, asked him to join me at the pool, but he rejected me because he had to work. Since this seems like a typical day in my life, when I awoke, I didn't even realize I had been asleep, until I noticed I was covered in sweat. GREAT.

I didn't meet my water goal yesterday, so I spent the remainder of my day chugging water, trying to catch up...I'm currently paying for that decision.

Weight: 122.2  

Posted by wittywriter7 at 9:51 PM CDT

Updated: Sunday, July 25, 2010 9:52 PM CDT

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Mood:  bright

Participating in a detoxification program over the weekend has its ups and downs. For starters, I didn't have to pack a day's worth of food to carry with me, and I can make my trips to the bathroom as often as I like without feeling like a complete retard (drinking 3 quarts of water each day really tests the bladder). 

However, the strict limits of this diet result in very few social activities. Sure, I could go see a movie, partake in a round of mini golf, swing by the coffee shop for some herbal tea, or invite my friends over for some soy yogurt and fresh fruit. But in reality, do people really want to do those things? No.

Between last night and tonight, I've had more random guys call and text me to go out than any other night. And you know...of course I would. Because that is just the kind of luck I have. Last night, I tried to avoid any questions about going out...but when the same people asked me to go out tonight, I spilled the beans (boiled and sea salted) about my strict detox program. That, of course, was taken as a lame excuse not to hang out. 

Well whatever.

If I didn't want to hang out with someone, I would say it, or I would make up a better excuse than that, like "I already have plans" or "I have a boyfriend" or "I'm vacationing in the Virgin Islands."

But none of those are the case, which means it's time for me to get a life.

In other news, today I figured out that Whole Foods is a complete crock of shit. I ventured out to find some unique snack items that were detox-friendly and figured Whole Foods would be the answer to my prayers. Um, not.

I spent an hour inside that crazy busy place reading label after label after label. Nearly all of the Whole Foods-made products I can't eat. The fresh salsa and pico de gallo? It has salt. The sesame sticks? Salted. How about whole wheat raspberry bars? Nope, fruit concentrate.  

I don't, and I never have, bought the organic craze. I see people in Whole Foods all the time buying organic potato chips or ice cream, and muffins. Hey tards! It's still going to make you huge. Pesticides aren't the reason we are all obese, it's the sugar, the salt, the dairy. And guess what? Whole Foods makes their foods with it and then they sell it to you for three times the amount of money. 

By the grace of God, I found one brand of chocolate that was detox-friendly (the Endangered Animals brand), along with some soy yogurt. I also found a few protein bars that will be good, and picked some fresh olives from the olive bar. But other than the bottled caffeine free tea and the salad bar, Whole Foods has nothing to offer my food plan.

After waking up at 3 am this morning because I couldn't sleep, I stayed up to watch TV and eat fruit, naturally. I slept for a few hours, but have been awake since. I am desperately hoping tonight brings a better night's sleep. And my attempts begin now...

Weight at 10:05—124.0 pounds. 

Posted by wittywriter7 at 10:08 PM CDT

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Mood:  chillin'

Today was worlds better than yesterday—maybe it was because I guzzled way more water than yesterday, maybe it was because it's Friday, or maybe my organs are starting to appreciate the change.

While I stick to my meal/snack schedule to the minute, I noticed I wasn't quite as hungry(read: starving) as I've been the last two days. If that's not a sign of progress, then I don't know what is.

After work, I was scheduled to do an interview along with a photo shoot at the LSU Equestrian stables for an upcoming story. My photographer and I stopped off for a drink before we made the trek—it was my first time inside a coffee shop since the day before my detox began. The smell was nearly intoxicating. However, I was surprised to find that I had a few options in iced herbal teas to enjoy. I had an iced passion fruit tea and we were on our way.

As much as my taste buds want me to cheat, I can't do it. I even turned down a date tonight for fear of looking like a freak—uhh if you want to sit around and lick a block of sea salt or snack on a bowl of steamed veggies, then let me know.

I didn't even mention the word 'detox' in my rejection, because generally, people around me think I am detoxing from a cocaine addiction, which is severely not the case. However, considering how horrible I felt yesterday, I cannot even imagine entering drug rehab. Not that I do drugs, so for me it would be a breeze, but you know what I mean...

After a long afternoon at the stables, I came home and needed to cook a feast. I decided to put together a detox-friendly version of PF Chang's lettuce wrap appetizer, one of my favorite dishes. I cooked down ground turkey, added chopped garlic and green onion, along with ginger, sesame seeds and oil, and soy sauce. I stuffed the mixture in fresh lettuce leaves and ate until I was happy.

As of 9:05, I weigh 123.4 pounds.

The first Friday of detox was a success. But I can't express how happy I am to sleep in tomorrow.  

Posted by wittywriter7 at 9:19 PM CDT

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Mood:  irritated

After I fell asleep early last night, I woke up feeling great. I was well-rested and ready to face the day. 

Until I got to work.

The coffee smell didn't bother me, but around 10, I started to drag ass. I had basically the same thing today, snacking on fruits and veggies, and brown rice and beans. I could hear the soda cans cracking open that sweet sound (oh that beautiful sound of clinking nickels) to reveal a bubbly cola awaiting me...not. Damn!

Sitting at my desk was no big deal, but a trip up and down the stairs made my head throb. After lunch, I felt like I had a fever—body aches and cold sweats.

I totally wanted to answer the phone a la Ferris Bueller...."mmhhhheelloooo." All I needed was that barf keyboard of his and I'd be set.

Everyone around me was giving me a hard time—it's only day 2, they said, it's going to be  LONG two weeks. Yeah, you're right asshole, but while you're sitting at your desk chowing down on milk duds and cream puffs, I'm recharging my organs—who is jealous now, fatty?

Detox will not cleanse my attitude problem, don't worry.

I stopped by the spa and told them my problem; they said it was probably the caffeine and I should feel better in a few days when my body adjusts better.

"You can have a small cup of coffee in the morning if you want, it's not going to kill you."

Uh no, the ladies at the spa also told me I could use artificial sugar if I wanted...are you kidding me? I didn't buy all this detox crap just for funsies. I have a feeling the spa employees think detoxing is ordering a salad instead of a burger. It is, like, soooo much more than that.

But anyway, yeah, I'm still feeling like shit. I had a yummy dinner of whole grain bow-tie pasta with olive oil, garlic, sesame seeds, and some steamed snap peas. It was tasty, but my head is throbbing.

So I'm off to bed. As of 8:46, I weigh 124.2

Day 2-kiss my ass! 

Posted by wittywriter7 at 8:59 PM CDT

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Mood:  lazy

Today is the day I've been anticipating and dreading all at the same time. Today is the kickoff of a 14-day detoxification plan I'm doing. Since the summer began, I've realized that I've taken on a few pretty unhealthy habits, such as eating disgusting food and drinking...a ton. 

Since I'm a member of a spa, I noticed their nutrition line included a detox program. So I told myself that as soon as my wine class wrapped up, I would detox my body. Luckily, several of my friends jumped on board, so at least I'm not in this alone.

For starters, let me share a little information on the detox program. It is a 14-day program that includes herbal supplements along with a strict diet in order to rid my body of the daily poisons I face (sounds scary, huh?). According to the spa's website:

"Detoxification is not a fad diet designed to temporarily shave off a few pounds. It is the amazing natural ability of the body to renew and recharge itself. Just as you would spring clean and maintain your home, detoxing cleans and maintains your body."

Signs you may need to detoxify—allergies, bad skin, body odor or sweating, dependency on sugar, caffeine, alcohol (check, check, check), headaches (check), lack of energy (CHECK), absent-mindedness and confusion (check and check!). 

Benefits of detoxification—increased energy, improved mental clarity, reduced dependencies and cravings, restored digestion and elimination.

Umm...amazing! Now, it's the nitty gritty—the diet plan. The goal is to eat 4-6 small meals each day, which are made up of healthy foods. What this really means:

No processed foods, canned goods, artificial sweetener, soda, white sugar, white flour, alcohol, caffeine, red meat, salt, or dairy.

Welcome to reality.

What will I eat? I've been pondering this question for months, and I've found that, the more I look, the more I find healthy items that are detox-compatible. According to my YES/NO list, I can eat white meats (turkey, chicken, and seafood), rice, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts (unsalted and unroasted), seeds, whole grains, olive oil, sea salt, and soy sauce. 

The soy sauce thing throws everyone for a loop—even me. But I'm taking it—I love salt, and I LOVE soy sauce. I was amazed when I realized I can eat sushi, provided there are no fried parts or condiments. I can also have turkey burgers and turkey tacos, with whole grains. I hope you readers will join me on yet another personal journey, this one a completely different kind, and see how well it turns out.

I don't talk much about my eating habits on here, but I guess now is the time. I rely heavily on caffeine, something I've done since my freshman year in college. I have an insanely high tolerance for it—how my heart hasn't jumped out of my chest is beyond me. It takes at least 2 RedBulls before I even notice a difference. Each morning, I drink a solid six cups of black coffee before lunch. At lunch, I drink a diet coke. When I get home from work, I usually drink wine or beer. And I wonder why I can't sleep. 

As for food, I don't feel like I eat incredibly unhealthy things. If I do crave fast food or sweets, I eat in moderation and be done with it. I do not, however, workout. Frankly, I refuse to. I don't like doing it and I don't feel guilty about my laziness. It's my life and I do what a want, cuz I'm a gangsta like Lil Wayne.  

Everything I just listed is on the NO list for detox.

Over the weekend, I went shopping for all of my detox-friendly foods. I didn't buy everything, since most things need to be fresh, but I found a variety of foods I enjoy. I bought a protein shake that was approved by my spa, unroasted nuts with sea salt, raw fruits and veggies, unsalted and unraosted seeds, hummace, brown rice, red kidney beans, corn on the cob, lean chicken, whole grain pasta, and low-sodium V8. I also purchased a large water jug and lots of lemons, because I have to drink at least 3 quarts (100 ounces) of water every single day.

Now that the basics are out of the way, onto the business of Detox Day 1:

I woke up at 4 am, with two problems—1, I was incredibly congested with a sore throat (awesome, because I can't have orange juice or chicken noodle soup) and 2, I was hungry. I did the only thing I knew to do—took a tablet of Vitamin C, drank a glass of water, and watched QVC for an hour.

Needless to say, when I actually had to get up at 6:30, I was tired as hell. I had already packed my food for the day, so I made my protein shake and drank it in the car on the way to work. Upon arrival of the office, the smell of coffee plagued me. Oh, how I miss the sweet nectar already. 

By 9:30 I was starving, so I reached for my first snack of the day—a handful of fresh berries. This held me over for a bit, but around 10:30, I felt horrible. I was dragging ass, so tired with no pick-me-up in sight, and I was hungry. Not to mentioned I'd already made five trips to the bathroom because of all the water I chugged.

For lunch, I had 3/4 cup of brown rice, and a 1/2 cup of red beans, with sea salt. In the afternoon, I had a few raw veggies with hummus. I was ready to go home and cook myself some meat, so for dinner, I had a small baked chicken breast, with 1/2 cup of brown rice, and 1 kabob (pineapple, squash, mushroom, onion, bell pepper). It was the first filling and pleasant meal I had all day.

However, after dinner, I suffered from what my spa calls a "healing crisis," which basically means you feel like shit during this process. It could come in the form of flu-like symptoms, body aches, etc. I had an amazing headache, but hey, it's not like I have any bars to go visit, restaurants to go eat at, or dairy farms to raid for the next 14 days, so I didn't feel guilty about being lazy (I actually used this time to finish reading Bill Clegg's Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man).

Even though it's Day 1, it was rough. My body has some adjusting to do with this diet; I feel like I ate all day, but I'm still hungry. I can't lie, I have already been dreaming of a steak, or a big leg of king crab with butter sauce...sigh.

Although the detox program is not supposed to be a method of losing weight, I figure, how else am I going to see if this healthy eating thing really works? So, as of 8:45 this evening, I weigh 124.6 pounds, which is what I expected.

I have yet to finish my third quart of water. However, I am boiling water for some caffeine-free rose and lavender tea, alongside more fresh berries and my herbal supplements.  

Day 1—done!

Posted by wittywriter7 at 9:10 AM CDT

Updated: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 8:59 PM CDT

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Mood:  accident prone

I had the pleasure of adding another male to my hate list yesterday. 

Lucky me!

Since my breakup, I wouldn't necessarily say I jumped into the dating pool head first (I understand I've got a bout of crazy to clear up) but I haven't been sitting at home either. After previous breakups, I often wait awhile before meeting new people and going on dates. There have even been times when I've met someone I really liked, but worried if it was too soon, because I never want to find myself in a rebound situation. 

I figured my most recent ex probably moved on to someone new before we even broke up, so why should I hold back? A little over a month ago, I started going on dates with a guy I met out at a bar. Things were clicking and he was working the magic—taking me to dinners, buying me flowers, bringing me bottles of merlot...

Then he delivered the blow via text-message: "Honestly, I feel like a barely have enough time for myself, let alone a girlfriend. I like you, but I feel like I've been spread really thin lately."

Remember last week's final episode of The Hills, when the background behind Brody rolled away? Umm yeah, that's what happened to me. Instead of standing in my kitchen reading that text message, I was standing in my ex's dining room as he poured me a glass of wine and said, "I'm too busy for a girlfriend, y'all are so needy."

Obviously what happened after that was three years down the drain paired with months of emotional repair.

Not again.

My solution to relationship drama is simply to eliminate it. I understand there is a give and take with dating, but I know enough to understand that Mr. Right isn't going to tell me he's too "busy."

I've given you my rant on the busy excuse before—it's just a nicer way of saying "I'm just not that into you." Everyone is busy. We all have work or play or television or volunteering or drinking to do, it's just a matter of how we manage our time. Some people spend all their time reading, while others may work 60 hours a week, and some people, believe it or not, spend time with their significant others. Imagine that!

I prefer a balance of all—I need time to myself, some time with my girlfriends, and time with my boyfriend. But I haven't found the right guy who is interested in that just yet. And that's okay. 

In the meantime, I'm cutting my losses, and reclaiming myself. I haven't slowed down since my breakup, and I think I need a little relaxation.

Months out from my breakup, I am doing well, despite a few setbacks. When people go through a breakup, often the solution seems to be to run out and find someone new. However, going on a bad date freaking blows worse than sitting at home with Ben and Jerry.

Last week, I had a jarring reality check when my route to work forced me into a detour, passing my ex's house. How fabulous!

But hey, such is life. When it rains, it pours; I don't have an umbrella, but I'm patiently waiting for the sun to shine.  

Posted by wittywriter7 at 10:08 AM CDT

Updated: Friday, August 6, 2010 6:48 AM CDT

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Mood:  blue

"Setting aside alone time can be a challenge, even in the privacy of our own homes. Whether big or small, these bathrooms provide a quiet getaway for their homeowners and guests . From the modern Mediterranean escape with an aromatherapy steam shower, and the feminine shimmer in the pretty powder room all the way to the natural spa setup with river stone flooring, the dark tea-stained half-bathroom, and the spacious slate shower, these spaces provide a private oasis."

Aah, thus is the first paragraph of my story, Soaking Up The Surroundings, in the July 2010 issue of House & Home Magazine. Once again, I got to write about bathrooms. I think I say this every time, but really, this group of bathrooms was really amazing—roll a mattress in there and plug in a fridge and I would never leave.

Seriously.

LIMITLESS LUXURY—the first bathroom featured in the story is owned by a gentleman who's home has been featured two other times before: once for his insanely beautiful pool and again for his breathtaking kitchen. This bathroom is nothing short of amazing. Literally, when I saw the first glimpse of it, I said ddddaaaamn!

Designed and decorated in a Mediterranean flair, this is a stunning room. The focal point is a large square tub in clean, white porcelain, surrounded by two columns of yellow travertine (imported from Turkey), weighing 1500 pounds each. The ceiling above the tub was hand painted, raised, and completed with a octogonal chandelier.

Behind the bathtub is a shower/steam room, complete with aromatherapy and teak seats for relaxing. The shower floor is a tiled mosaic of yellow travertine, while the walls are all honey onyx.

HINTS OF GLIMMER—While this bathroom isn't as large as the first, I love the feminine qualities it features. The walls are painted in a faux finish, using a light color palette. My favorite parts about this bathroom are the crystal chandelier hanging in the center of the room, along with the glass bowl sink with textured swirls.

GRANDEUR APLENTY—The third home features a powder room, along with a bathroom. The powder room is simply a small room under a staircase that has an antique chest with a sink. Above it is an immaculate mirror, flanked by candlesticks. The best part about the powder room is the wallpaper—a shimmery olive background with a damask silvery turquoise print. The baseboards are taller than usual, which looks very chic.

The highlight of the master bathroom in this home is definitely the shower, which has a commercial grade steamer along with three body sprays. My favorite part of the shower is the entry: a double set of frameless glass doors.

NATURAL ELEMENTS—Although this bathroom is only 45-square feet, it looks much larger because the space was used so efficiently. The shower wall is a frameless piece of glass, which opens the room up, instead of sectioning it off with a tub or a shower curtain. The counter with the sink was custom built, made from stained concrete in a curved shape to provide more room to move. The bowl sink sits atop the counter, in colored glass. The coolest part about this bathroom is the flooring, which is made up of pebbled-tile.

DAY & NIGHT—This home had two bathrooms, one decorated in white marble and the other with dark, tea-stained elements. The white bathroom featured a large jacuzzi tub, surrounded in white marble tile with black granite inlays. The walls are a faux-finished cream, matching the marble.

The half-bathroom had tea and tobacco-stained walls, that appear endless as their seaming is curved into the ceiling—no sharp edges. The chandelier, mirror, and chest are all finished in dark stains.

For the upcoming August issue of House & Home Magazine, I completed a feature on children's rooms, which includes a bathroom, a study nook, a playroom, and a bedroom. Completing this assignment made me wish I was a kid again (as if I didn't already).  

Posted by wittywriter7 at 12:38 PM CDT

Updated: Monday, July 19, 2010 12:39 PM CDT

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Mood:  cheeky

Last night, I did something I haven't done in a long time—I read. In complete silence. For hours. 

I was on pins and needles trying to finish Audrey Niffenegger's first book, The Time Traveler's Wife. So far, I haven't read much this summer, and frankly I blame that on drinking too much, and not having my usual amount of alone time. So, I was happy to come home to a quiet apartment, leave the television off, and curl up with about 300 pages of good writing.

I did finish it, and I really, really liked it. However, I have no clue how to explain this book. In a nutshell, it's about a girl, Clare, who is in love with a man who travels through time. They try to have a friendship, then later a relationship and a marriage, all while he travels back and forth through different periods of his life.

At the end of the book, there is a reading group guide that might help me explain myself a little further. Here is the last question of the guide, question 16:

How does the author use time travel as a metaphor: for love, for loss and absence, for fate, for aging, for death? To what extent are Clare and Henry a "normal" couple?

Technically, we are all "time traveler's," it's just that we are traveling forward through time, living our lives in the order of the sun, seconds, minutes and hours, as they fall. Henry, on the other hand, has lived his entire life once, and moves back and forth through it again, jumping back through time or into the future with no warning or notice.

Time travel as a metaphor for love is an interesting concept. It's like when people say, "maybe it was just bad timing." There is something to be said about timing and the effect it has on love. In order for things to work, both people in the relationship have to be at the right moment in their life. So as each person is traveling through time, they must cross each other's paths at exactly the right moment, or the relationship may fail.

This idea goes hand in hand with using time as a metaphor for fate. To blame a relationship's failures on bad timing is to ignore fate. If we rely on fate to get us to our match ultimately, then it wasn't bad timing, it was fate leading us to The One.  

Henry and Clare's relationship didn't work until they officially met in the present, in 1990. Before that, Clare was too young, or Henry was too old. Once Henry reaches the present, their relationship seems to grow, they fall in love and time seems to stop.

Now, as for time travel as a metaphor for loss, absence, death, and aging? This is a little less clear to me, but it comes in the form of Henry and Clare and their attempts at starting a family. While they argue about their miscarriages and how there is a chance Clare could die—Henry has seen her give birth, live, and seen his daughter as a young lady. So he knew somewhere that Clare wouldn't die. Same as the scene when Clare is 16, driving down the road with her eyes closed, she says she knows she doesn't die, so why not? Both of them, mess with fate and often don't seem to trust it. 

BLAM! Look who's the English major...I can still analyze text. Go me.

Seriously, I enjoyed this book. It made me think. I love the characters and their struggles—it wasn't so polished and clean like most fiction novels are. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I will—even if I already know it won't be as good as the book.  

Posted by wittywriter7 at 12:44 PM CDT

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