/me dances the dance of the paper deadline that's been extended by a week!

We were already in good shape to have it submitted on time anyway, but I am so not going to complain about the extra time to polish it up.

So, let me start by pointing out that I have complete respect for people who decide to adopt a vegetarian or vegan diet. Whether you prefer the taste, have moral issues with eating meat or other animal products, or are looking for a healthier lifestyle, it's up to you what you eat and I hope it works well for you.

That said, the next time someone tries to get self-righteous on me about my consumption of meat, I am going to smack a bitch.

Thirty years of ad-hoc experimentation with a wide variety of foods has led me to the following conclusion: my body needs a ridiculous amount of fat and protein, and most of that needs to come from meat. Without regular consumption of meat, I get lethargic and stupid. Dairy doesn't help (and besides, I'm lactose intolerant). I can't eat eggs. Soy doesn't help. Neither does gluten. Nuts and legumes, particularly cashews and pinto beans, can stave off the OMGt3hstoop1d for a little while, but if you want me to be a functioning member of society, shut the fuck up and pass me the goddamn meat already.

Unfortunately, since I live in the Bay Area most of the time, I often find myself in social situations where no meat is available, since the hosts are either themselves vegetarian/vegan or are acting in deference to their guests' preferences by providing mostly meat-free comestibles. I suspect the most sensible thing to do will just be to take it upon myself to bring my own meat with me, the way vegetarians sometimes bring their own veggie snacks for situations where they expect not to find any.

I guess it's a good thing I like beef jerky.