How a Chicken Salad sandwich changed my world

It really did too.

It's actually quite funny how Chicken Salad tends to factor into my life. I love it. more than tuna and almost as much as egg.

I had awoken this morning uneasy. Unsure as to why, but knowing that dreams of Myspace factored into it ( though what specifically remains unclear), I got to the point during the day that I was experiencing major anxiety and panic.

Not being one to be anxious without cause and I can't say I have ever experienced actual panic before, this was a bizarre feeling today.

I woke up, normal time, had my breakfast and coffee, got on mty conf call.... all the while a l ow level hum of uneasiness starting to crescendo.

By the time it got to a full blown panic - I was already figuring out things that I needed to do to combat it.

I started by checking my blood pressure. I needed to verify this wasn't an actual physical issue, though there was slight tightness in my chest. B/P was checked first thing in the AM, before lunch and again arouond 3. Each time it was sitting roughly 117/75 with heart rate of 60's.

OK that rules that part out for now.

So I decided that Working was not happening. After a couple of hours, it occured to me that I was not motivated to lift a finger. I persevered though - I ran several reports to determine if our numbers were right for the end of the month - I still can't tell so I am moving ahead as if they are not.

I was ready to start that part of the project when it occurred to me that I hadn't worked out today.

"Perfect - that might help ease off the panic attack. I can't breathe well now, so let's add physical activity that might Shorten it more! "

But I do it anyway. I notice immediately how tired I am. Since I got a full nights sleep with uneasy dreams - I am confused how I should be THIS tired.... I got through 25 minutes of the 30 I needed to do and omitted the upper body and abs portion altogether for that day.

I am now at the part of my day when I am not happy. I now have back to back lessons starting at 4PM and lasting until 6:45 when I have to pick up Voice twin for a rehearsal.

I got to the first kid, we review her competition scores and comments. She got a perfect score, and the only criticism was her projection. That kind of annoyed me. No one is so perfect that they can't improve.

I leave that kid and head for kid #2. Who didn't practice. For 3 weeks. Not happy, and not normal for this kid but she wanted to play outside instead of practicing. I can't blame her. The conversation went like this:

Kid # 2: I DID practice
Me: really??? How often in the last 3 weeks?
Kid #2: Well.... a few times
Me: A few usually means around 3 - is that accurate?
Kid #2: I had a lot of homework.
Me: that's not an answer that's an excuse
Kid #2: OK, more like 5
Me: 5 times in 1 week? Or 5 times in total.
Kid # 2: in total
Me: Why?
Kid #2: I had a lot of fhomework and a lot of end of the year stuff.
Me: more than the rest of the year?
Kid #2: No.....
Me: Why don't you just tell me that you wanted to play outside because it's nice and it stays late longer....
Kid #2: Welll - that's true....
Me: Good news is - you are perfectly normal. THe bad news is - I am not happy. <>

So we continue with the lesson that she actually attempted to mail in.

I leave her and move on to my Fire baby. I am actually playing the piano for her in tomorrow nights recital. Which I am hosting. 38 kids performing. I can't imagine how I am going to get them in and out.

She has a the best lesson of all of them. Some scooping and a couple of neat American Idol twists to the Fiddler on the Roof tune she is singing - but we'll just chalk that up to "artistry" and pray she remembers tomorrow that I will KILL her if I hear it again.

So it's 6:30.

I'm already exhausted and I have to eat, gas up the car, pick up voice twin and head out east to a rehearsal.

You know what's coming right?

The chicken salad.

I walk into 7-11 and look at the pathetic selection they have. I look and find a lone, FRESH, chicken salad sandwich on a Kaiser roll.

Oh my God. Nirvana.

I haven't had a Kaiser roll in I can't even tell you how long. And we have already covered the fact that I worship chicken salad.

A match made in heaven. Headed for my tummy.

I ate my sandwich while driving, not my favorite method of eating, but I was running out of time.

I gas up the car ( HOpy shit batman 35 dollars!!!! and this is NOT an SUV ).

I pick up Voice twin and head to rehearsal. We sing, we listen, we Talk, we head home.

As I am getting out of the car, I realize my ipod headphone is broken - one side only. I am now aggravated.

I get in the house, I change out of my clothes and step on the scale.

I broke my plateau.

and - the panic attack - gone.

Long live the Chicken Salad Sandwich!