I want to bake so badly right now.
My lovely hostess gave me the run of the house (and kitchen, and larder) and for the past half hour I've been wandering over to the cabinets, opening them, and fingering boxes of cake mix longingly. I dare not touch the cans of frosting. I might tear one open and eat it with a spoon.
Cake mixes are not usually something I'd usually even consider. I've mostly given up baking for the very reason that it is just too tempting, but a couple of days ago some of the cast was coming over for movie night and among other things, I made a batch of Trader Joe's Truffle Brownies and they were AMAZING. I took the leftovers to rehearsal the next night but the damage was done. Ever since then I have possessed by The God of Cake. (Note: if you're going to click on the link, and you should, then you should also click on this one because it is equally brilliant, and also deals with baked goods).
Anyway, I made the brownies, I ate a few, and now I find myself lurking around the pantry like a drunk outside a liquor store, petting boxes of cake mix. I have resisted baking so far, just as I resisted buying ice cream or a pastry, but in the interests of full disclosure, I did consume almost an entire bag of Trader Joe's popcorn that somebody left over here. Another reason to be grateful there is no Trader Joe's in Austin.
The problem is boredom and loneliness --- those unglamourous bonuses of my career which people rarely talk about. I miss my husband a lot. All my colleagues are in homestays and few have cars, so we are very isolated from one another and it is very difficult to spend time together outside of rehearsal. It's not like there isn't plenty of work to do, outside of rehearsal --- new roles to learn, articles to write, endless piles of tasks for Spotlight on Opera which is coming up right after this gig --- but you can only do so much of that, and of working out.
I am still fighting my way through Week 9 of P90X -- this is about my third attempt to get through it, since schedule keeps interfering --- and I still haven't gotten back to running yet. Today was gorgeous but otherwise it's just been too hot and muggy to even think of it. I need to stop whining to myself about it and make a PLAN. I need to stand firm in my resolve not to bring sweets into the house.
And I need to get out of the house, and away from the siren call of inferior baked goods.
ACK! You're right, FMFP. I gave in and made a cake the other day, just so I could eat some of the batter, but I took it to rehearsal and fed it to my castmates! But I have to be very careful about that. It's just too big of a temptation. I try to generally save baking for the holidays when there are lots of other people around to eat it. Every time I get to thinking I can bake "healthy" and get away with it, I regret it. Better just to keep it for special occasions.
Posted by: Cindy | June 06, 2011 at 08:03 AM
It's even harder when the baked goods AREN'T inferior. I'm struggling with that daily as I make things to practice my decorating and perfect recipes so I can eventually open a business. Sometimes I manage not to eat half a cake by myself, other times I don't. But I love baking too much to stop!
Posted by: FattyMcFatPants | June 06, 2011 at 04:01 AM
The it's too hot and muggy to run thing is just an excuse. Have you ever noticed how early most marathons start - not all, but most - the NYC one has logistical issues? An early start time means it's not so hot yet. Get up at 6:00 am or dare I say even 5:00? I've done it. If you really want to run, you can. The choice is yours.
Posted by: runner2012 | June 04, 2011 at 08:35 AM