Lasagna Eating Rematch

Since I was disqualified during the last Lasagna Eating Contest, I challenged Ben to a rematch tonight.

Plate One

Plate One consisted of a regulation-sized slice of lasagna, a piece of garlic bread, and a healthy portion of salad.





Plate Two

We both easily ate another delicious slice of lasagna.






Slice for slice, bite for bite!






I thought that was the end. I thought it was going to be a tie. But then Ben went back for THIRDS.

Plate Three



This man is serious.



Look at the size of that bite! I could not compete. I had no third helping. I had to forfeit!



The winner:



I have reached a whole new level of respect for this man.






He may have beat me in this contest, and I might currently be experiencing a deep and sobering feeling of shame, but we are still and always will be great friends.

Holidays

Now that I've updated you all on the details of my operation, now I can start to get back to reality. I was able to enjoy myself over the holidays! On Christmas Eve, Ben challenged me to a lasagna eating contest.

Plate One





We both conquered the first plate easily, and went back for seconds.

Plate Two





Unfortunately, the judges called a foul on my part, stating that the size of my second helping was not up to regulation standards, therefore disqualifying me! WTF? All I know is, there will be a rematch in the near future, and I and I am going to OWN him!

I spent Christmas morning with the Erlewine family, since my family lives so far away.



After we were done unwrapping gifts, I helped Dan cook up some bacon.



God, do I love bacon.



We had eggs, pancakes, waffles, toast, the WORKS!



Mer made some killer orange juice drinks.



Mmm, pancake.



After breakfast, I was so full that I had to take a nap!



Mer cooked Christmas dinner that night. She made some pork that was out of this world!





I had two helpings of pork, and then sampled BOTH desserts.



What a great and delicious holiday season! Hopefully I didn't gain more than a pound this year. I'll be doing some extra situps this January to work off all that pie!

The Operation

Hey there, friends. As many of you know, I've been in the hospital for a few months now, undergoing several various operations. I had a relatively minor shoulder injury that developed complications and eventually became life-threatening. Under the thorough and loving care of Dr. Dan Erlewine, my injury was fixed and I eventually healed. Since this was a major traumatic experience for me, I am going to detail the specifics of my hospital stay for you.Please be warned, the photos are extremely graphic.

I would like to finish up by saying how grateful I am for my friends, and for my life. I came closer to death this year than I ever expected to this early in my life, and I feel truly blessed to be given a second chance. I vow never to take my life for granted, and to live every day to the fullest from here on out. I hope you all will do the same!

My injury before entering the hospital. It looks like an average shoulder injury, but there were several rare complications that made it a severe, life-threatening injury.



At the hospital, scared out of my mind. The doctors didn't know if I was going to make it out alive.



Dr. Dan Erlewine, one of the best specialists in the world, administers some Everclear Grain Alcohol so that I will lose consciousness for the duration of the surgery.



They had me count down backwards from 10, but I was out before I even got to 8!



My loyal friends Kate, Carl and Brad wait nervously in the waiting room.



Surgery begins. Under the expert care of Dr. Dan, I felt confident and hopeful that I was getting the best help available to me.





They had to drill a hole in my back in order to gain access to my insides.







The hole was uneven...



...so Dr. Dan used his precision instruments to create the perfect hole.





The next step was to fill my body with epoxy. This will make my entire body stronger.



Dr. Dan works on the epoxy mixture as I wait on the operating table.



Preparing for epoxy insertion.



Pouring the epoxy.



Epoxy got all over my skin and it was very uncomfortable.



Finally, the neck brace was removed.



I had to lie very still, waiting for the epoxy to dry.





First step on the road to recovery, Dr. Dan had to mix up a batch of flesh-colored superglue to heal my wounds.







Applying the superglue to my back.



Filing down the extra bits of glue.



Finally, I was starting to feel like myself again. I got to take a little rest before moving on with more procedures.



Once I was released from the intensive care unit, word hit the streets and the phone started ringing off the HOOK! All my friends wanted to know how I was doing. I couldn't talk for long, though. There were lots more procedures to endure.



First I had to give them a urine sample.



Next, I was adminstered vitamins and fluids intravenously.



Then I got shot after shot after shot.



Um, I don't want to talk about this one.



My scars were pretty horrendous, so I went to the scar treament center.



I underwent several rounds of laser surgery to reduce the appearance of my scars.




Finally I was done with all the required procedures! They bandaged me up and let me make one more round of phone calls.



And then I was free! They wheeled me out of the hospital in a wheelchair, and I was free to go!