People have begun to notice my lifestyle and I’ve been fielding a lot of flack. I’ve been called a “bum” and a “freeloader” multiple times. I am convinced that these otherwise kind people are simply suffering from slight envy of my situation. I was also told that I should pick a real cause. I will address that now. Freeganism is not my cause. My cause is consumerism and freedom. I like to remember that I don’t need a big fat cushy marketing job to live comfortably. I’m not saying my job is cushy, but it has definitely lead to a complacency that I do not enjoy. If I can cut my living expenses way down, I won’t need to make a lot of money to collect material possessions that will doubtless lead to my happiness¹.

Besides, if I’m not paying for my food, I have more money to give that animal Sallie Mae.

I think I’m buying a MacBook Pro² this week.

Day 15

Today I had an apple for breakfast

and an egg roll from the accounting stash for lunch.

Cake³. My roommate gave me a potato and I made fries for dinner. I also incorporated the enriched rolls from week1. Good thing they’re enriched⁴, I guess. Anything normal or healthy would definitely be spoiled by now.

Day 16

This morning my coworker Andy saw me in the break room and told me he had an extra baked good if I was interested. He read last week’s post. I, of course, was interested and enjoyed a ridiculously good scone for breakfast. It was from this bakery in east Nashville, Sweet 16th.

I’m planning on eating some of the chinese food from accounting for lunch. It’s only a couple days old. Don’t be grossed out.

Day 17

Today I had a number of free items. This “Lasagna” was by far the most interesting. Note the cheese whiz.

So much for my attempted health kick, I guess.

Day 18

Jesse Wayne bought me an ice cream cone from McDonald’s. I have a feeling it wasn’t really ice cream. I realize more every day that I am anti fast food.

Tonight was a delight. I stumbled upon a treasure trove of meats at a cook out. I sort of ignored the whole “bring your own” thing. No one said anything to me though, so I guess it was okay. I ate way too much, but I wasn’t sure when I’d see another opportunity for such serious protein.

The cook out really paid off socially. I met two girls who are interested in starting a dinner group with me called “Dumpster Diving for Dinner.” I need to spend next week checking out the dumpster scenes. I am seriously considering making this a real deal. Though I’ve suffered a bit over the last three weeks, I’ve had a pretty good experience. I wonder if I can find a way to sustain myself outside of the generosity of others.

Day 19

Sunday=Slowday
I really didn’t get to eat. I went and did some background vocals for some artist from Austria, Son of the Velvet Rat. I was sort of hoping to snag some more free food, but they wrote me a sweet check instead. Of course, I can’t buy any food with that sweet check, but I’m one step closer to my material desires.

This is my last apple.

Day 20

Today seriously worked out. Holly from accounting baked cookies and practically force fed me. I must have had 40.

I hung out with Jesse and he brought me his leftovers.

I was the subject of a photo shoot and got paid in leftover groceries! This is completely righteous.

To top the whole mess off, this kid I never talk to asked me if I would eat dinner with him. I am not normally so rough, but straightaway I asked, “Are you paying?” He said yes and I said I was down. I met him at Panera and ordered as much food as I possibly could get away with. I will have leftovers.

Note the delicious salad. I wasn’t able to get a picture of everything I had. I just quickly snapped a shot when he got up for a minute. I figured it wouldn’t go over too well…

Day 21

Last night’s Panera provided lunch.

I also enjoyed some sweet pizza. I was so hungry I didn’t let it cook all the way. I still have quite a few big doughy pieces in the fridge. I am feeling pretty good. I think I’m adapting pretty well. I’ve still been working out and haven’t been overly tired or anything.

Now if I can just get these obnoxious hipsters⁵ off my back. If one more little dweeb in skin tight pants tells me I’m not really a ‘true freegan,’ something real bad is going to happen. If you’re worried about my lack of dedication, perhaps you should return to my first post, in which I made the statement,

I’ve recently been fascinated by the concept of “freeganism.” Since I have essentially no gripes with capitalism, I’ve decided to adapt this concept to my own personal selfish lifestyle. In other words, I choose to conserve resources I typically use on food in order to waste additional resources on material possessions. I have a long list of expensive things I would like to own in the near future1. Some of them are accidentally eco-friendly, so maybe the spirit of freeganism will still live on through my manipulation of its precepts.

1. Facetious-not meant to be taken seriously or literally: a facetious remark.
2. MacBook Pro is one of the items on the original list of desired material possessions.
3. Not actual cake, term used to describe something as being easy: piece of cake.
4. Enriched- another word for “unhealthy”
5. Hipster- A noisy person of no real worth or consequence who tends to engage in combat over ridiculous things real people find unimportant. Let it be known that I have been called “tragically hip” on a number of occasions. This is a misnomer.

I’ve recently been fascinated by the concept of “freeganism.” Since I have essentially no gripes with capitalism, I’ve decided to adapt this concept to my own personal selfish lifestyle. In other words, I choose to conserve resources I typically use on food in order to waste additional resources on material possessions. I have a long list of expensive things I would like to own in the near future¹. Some of them are accidentally eco-friendly, so maybe the spirit of freeganism will still live on through my manipulation of its precepts.

Let’s embark on this journey together…

Day 1
Today I discovered that working in an office building is incredibly conducive to freeganism. There’s always a ton of food in the break room. Here’s what I found today.

Someone sent out an email about leftovers. I barely made it in time. The only trouble I’ve encountered thus far is the whole “survival of the fittest” thing. Some people in my office were apparently born vultures.

Day 2
For some reason my bank account is almost entirely empty. This has added a whole new depth to my new lifestyle. No longer is my concern solely based in a taste for luxury. I am now genuinely in need, at least until next Friday. I walked into the accounting office complaining of my hunger and one of the clerks offered me her 6 inch sub.

This was not as delicious as my previous work meal. Her tastes differ greatly from mine and I had to remove a bunch of stuff I hate (pictured above left). I couldn’t completely get rid of the black olive/pickle taste. This actually proved to be beneficial; I don’t feel like I want to eat again for a really long time. Hopefully that will help hold me over during the impending doom of the weekend. Without the office, foraging will doubtless increase in difficulty.

Day 3
I found these rolls in the break room today . I’m not real interested in the whole “enriched” scene, but I figured I could use them as a last resort this weekend.

Day 4

Last night proved to be very advantageous. I sang on a friend’s record and the engineer bought me a sweet dinner from Mojo’s. It was delicious and free. I really wanted to take a picture, but I felt too embarrassed. Just imagine a big plate of rice and chicken and queso.

Today also consisted of victory. My roommate made pancakes.

My boyfriend’s mom came in town and bought me a major Mexi lunch. Again, I felt it was inappropriate to take a picture. Then this evening I went to this birthday party and enjoyed this

This was a little harder to stomach than you might think. Maybe it was the Manwich.

I finally topped it all off at a friend’s house.

Day 5

Sunday. Successful overall. I really only got to eat one meal. Jesse Wayne came through for me and made a pizza (not pictured because I forgot). Hopefully I’ll strike gold tomorrow at the office.

Day 6

Ask and ye shall receive.
The first rule of freeganism is to tell everyone. I was over on the other side of the office today talking about my escapades and someone gave me these.

Right when I thought I was going to die of hunger too. This is the life.

Okay, so I just encountered my first real snag. I want a cookie. I suddenly realize that with freeganism, there is no room for cravings. You take what you can get. I’m pretty sure I have some left over candy from Christmas though.

Day 7
Last night before the book club I host, Jesse Wayne brought me some Waldorf Astoria Stew. It was great. I saved half of it for lunch today.

It’s real hearty, I think it should last me for the rest of the night. A coworker stopped by my desk and left me this…

Icing on the incredibly free and encouraging cake.

So far the worst part of freeganism is trying to explain that I’m not actually eco friendly, but actually interested in furthering my plummet into consumerism. That and everyone asking me if I’m freegan because of Oprah. As if.

Stay tuned. I’ll post an update next Wednesday…
1. Vespa, Macbook Pro, Roadbike, Widescreen plasma HDTV, etc.