Vanity?
 

My brother in law switched from beer to rum on doctor's orders because the beer was causing ulcers or something like that. Damn, can that guy drink though. His son knows not to touch the "Daddy Coke."

Vanity?
 

Given your predeliction for burritos, this is probably more entertaining for you than most.

A metaphor for reality television?
 

Somehow I missed it, but doesn't it just go in circles? There'll be a new person next week to replace the cast-away, right?

Anyway, it can't be worse that this reality show (spree: cruise ship on which reality show was being filmed sinks). What's next Temptation Island: Hurricane Season. Four couples test the bounds of their love, while knowing that a killer storm is bearing down on their island.

Vanity?
 

You make a lot of sense Burger. (unlike your avatar, who eats 64 slices of American cheese without giving a thought to the calorie content).

I would just like to point out that I live to eat - I absolutely love fine food. It is a pity that I can't eat meat anymore, but I still love other kinds of yummy food. I don't view food as necessary fuel or any of that crap - I think good food is one of life's pleasures and should be enjoyed to the fullest. And I am not overweight by any stretch - in fact, those BMI tables always tell me I am underweight. So phooey to those who say we should not enjoy our food.

Vanity?
 

I never said not to enjoy food. I said that people should enjoy food but that the pleasure should not be the sole or primary motivator. I think what gets us in trouble with most things, food included, is that we lose touch with our roots, our animal instincts, whatever you call what I cannot quite put my finger on right now, you know, the base reason we do things (eat for fuel, run from danger, etc). I wouldn't rob anyone of enjoyment (from food or anything else).

Books and bars
 

It's the one right next to Chances, right? I've only been there during Pride parades for a luge shot.

Funny story about that place. When my brother first came out, my parents were all gung ho about showing their support and they'd go to Pride events, Rich's, etc. During one of those parades, my dad wandered into Chances to find a restroom, and he said later that he shocked the hell out of six or seven of his colleagues, who were dancing, making out, and generally feeling the Pride spirit. He had no idea that these colleagues were lesbian, and I think that they're still trying to figure out why he was in a lesbian bar during Pride weekend. He says that the working relationship has only improved since that incident.

Vanity?
 

Maybe this is just a rephrase of what you are saying, but - people SHOULD eat for satisfaction and pleasure, but need to re-train themselves so that they derive that pleasure from healthy foods instead of from empty foods. Deciding that you are going to "suffer" in order to lose weight is a sure way to lose the battle - but deciding that you can actually enjoy a smaller, more natural diet makes it possible to truly change your life. No one can sustain a "this sucks, but it's worth it" existence long-term.

Vanity? A Stroke?
 

Genes and assorted other reasons that they haven't figured out yet.

A friend of mine, who is probably more underweight than overweight, had his first stroke when he was 25. He was in a hotel bathroom, stroked out, and he wasn't found for probably eight or so hours. He was in a coma for six weeks.

He had his second stroke about a year and a half ago at the age of 34, and he's still in rehab / recovering from it. His wife has to help him with a lot of his daily activities, and she's in constant fear that he'll have another one soon and not recover.

They're still trying to figure out why he's so susceptible.

Books and bars
 

My God. I cannot begin to imagine my parents going to a pride event or any gay event, never mind walking into a gay bar. Your parents are so cool.

Vanity?
 

I guess that is kinda what I said. I like the foods that I eat but the main reason I eat is to survive. I don't ever feel like I am suffering with regard to eating. My paralegal who is, um, not skinny, always talks about food like it is the most important thing in her life and not from a survival standpoint. She is confused by the concept of eating for any reason other than the pleasure she gets from sitting down and eating a cake or similar food. SHe argues that there is no way that I can possibly enjoy eating salads so much and insists that I suffer and must be unhappy because I won't go out and gorge myself on ice cream. Did you ever notice how some fat people are so militant about it that even if they were offered the chance to be thin with no effort at all they would probably turn it down because it would be admitting that they were unhealthy or unhappy when overweight?

gay bars - Dallas
 

I recommend Million Dollar Saloon in Dallas and Treasures in Houston. I have started recommending these establishments to out-of-town colleagues as a matter of course to avoid those sheepish looks they got when they had to ask.

Vanity?
 

Are you talking about dieting, or being a lawyer? Because in my previous life, I never thought about what I was going to eat until I was hungry -- and sometimes, not until long past the point where hunger had set in. As for dining out, I used to look forward to the experience without necessarily anticipating what I was going to eat.

Since becoming a lawyer, I start thinking about what I am going to have for dinner at about 10:00 am. (Edited to add: on work days. On weekends I don't think much about food.) And I've actually decided that I should drink more. I wonder why that is? (Edited to add: rhetorical q.)

I think I'll hit the gym now that the lunchtime crowd has dissipated.

Vanity?
 

The ice cream (real ice cream w/milk) is probably better for you than the yogurt. I've noticed that people shy away from dairy products in this country just based on their fat content. From what I've read and witnessed, dairy products (not the skim stuff and of course in moderation) keep you lean and toned, strengthen bones and muscles, and it seems to make the skin look more sleek. The benefits far outweigh any costs. There is a HUGE misconception in this country regarding fat. We NEED fat. It's not the devil. I've seen plenty of women who have gotten off their (virtually) no fat diets and proceeded to lose weight. Once your body learns that it's not getting enough fat, it will start to hoard it b/c it doesn't think it will get any more. Of course, Burger is exactly right about caloric intake. If you eat more calories than you burn, you will gain weight. It's a very easy equation.

When they tell you not to allow people to see the Potter book before the 21st
 

THEY DAMN WELL MEAN IT

http://www.msnbc.com/news/927941.asp (just an article)

Vanity?
 

Yes, yes, yes -- that is what I was trying to describe when I apparently came across as saying that people should not eat for pleasure. Eat when and because you have to and then select something pleasurable at that time. Eating solely for pleasure -- eating when you aren't really hungry -- is the problem as I see it.