Vegan Pizza at Papa John's costs $20....for a medium

I've been away for quite some time.  I did not get off the grid and live on a commune.  I've been relaxing and studying - I got an 88% on my second test and my grade in the class is now an 83%. 
I bet everyone is dying to know - How am I doing now that I'm nearing the end of the challege.  Well I'm still alive obviously.  I've lost a few points (not enough to know that count, definitely under 10).  I've been drinking a lot of soda this past week.  I've had class at a different building at work and I've had to get up and out earlier.  Also, with the being vegan I have to pack like I'm going to the opposite end of the civilization, perhaps where the wild things go.  Generally this isn't all that tough.  When I'm in my office at  my desk, it is easy to bring a ton of food to enjoy throughout the day.  In the class setting it is pretty tough. 

I would say the biggest challenge with THE challenge is the lack of convenience.  As noted in the title of this post, a vegan (assuming that the pizza dough is vegan) papa john's (which is chain at least on the east coast of the U.S.) pizza is priced to be inconvenient.  Today there were only two options for dinner tonight at the house - spaghetti (which I had for lunch earlier and dinner yesterday) and a jerk tempeh recipe (which I will have to have for lunch tomorrow and I had for lunch yesterday).  My complaints and comment that I could easily get a vegetarian option at a number of take out places prompted an interesting conversation between me and VB. 

I think I assumed she would just let my comment go by or say that in a few days the challenge would be over and maybe I'd feel differently.  VB sort of seemed shocked that I would even mention eating vegetarian after taking part in the challenge and being vegan for the past 17 days.  This was upsetting and frustrating to me.  It made me worry that I would/will disappoint her by not continuing to be vegan.  As VB mentioned to me, she does not see food as a source of pleasure.  If you know me, then you'll know that food was my only pleasure for nearly my entire life.  Aside from the social aspect of food and eating, food has been my source of comfort for my entire life.  I am an only child and did not live near my friends growing up so food was the thing I relied on to make me feel good.  I lived off of the chemicals.  While I am no longer a teenager dealing with teenage life and running to hostess cupcakes when I feel self-conscious, I still probably rely on food.  VB's comment was also really frustrating because all the vegans I know went from being vegetarian to be vegan.  I went from eating anything, any time, anywhere to eating only plants that I generally have to bring with me from home. 

I don't doubt VB's support for me or that she is proud of me, but it seemed contradictory that she wouldn't automatically be excited that I would even consider being vegetarian.  I didn't do the vegan kickstart to change my lifestyle or eating habits forever.  I basically started it because I was dared to be able to do it and I knew that VB would be plussed that I tried it.  I also felt I should give it a real try, which I believe I posted earlier on the blog. 

Day 17 was tougher than the previous 10 or so.