I am going to a very small convention this spring of women who have the same disease as I do, that will also include 4 days at Disneyland, which I think I have mentioned in here a bit ago.

I just spent a couple of hours going through all of the menu options at all of the restaurants in the park. I have to be very careful what I eat to keep my condition under control, maintaining a strict balance between low glycemic vegetables, carbohydrates, and protein. The ratio is about 50% low glycemic vegetables, 40% healthy proteins, and 10 percent carbohydrates (preferrably complex ones). This is not the same as a low-carb diet, it is what is known as a controlled carb diet, which is far away from the high protein/low carb thing.

Well, the menu changes over the last two years have really made an enormous change at Disneyland and this is actually going to be easy. Plus, going there with other women with the same condition who all have to eat the same way as I do, makes yielding to temptation a huge peer pressure no-no.

On top of that, I will be avoiding everything with white sugar and white flour in it. I don't think I can avoid the chemicals and food additives, I'm hoping I can avoid trans fats, but I can do the best I can with what I got. And what I got is going to be way easier now.

I am going to make up a list of my preferred eating places with the choices I want, and all of their prices, so I can make up an appropriate budget for food expenses. I already know how much the hotel fee is going to be with tax, and because I will have a roommate both at the convention and the hotel by Disney, that will be cut in half.

It's going to be weird going there without my husband, but I'll still have a blast, with just a teensy twinge of guilt that I will squash down like a bug. Some of these women are like sisters to me, the good kind of sister, not the evil one. LOL They supported me through all of the surgeries and all of the trials I have had and just being with them is one of the most nurturing things I can do for myself. And the fact that half the time will be spent at Disneyland is just extra cheese on the skinny crust pizza. What? You were thinking icing on the cake? LOL I can't do that too often anymore.

I tried to lobby for us all just going to Disney for a whole week, but sigh, they want to have the learning stuff, too. And I do, too, but...its Disneyland! I'm just a big kid when it comes to that place.

At least the entire trip is being paid for in cash. I haven't gone the last two years so I don't feel guilty about going this year, especially since its in California. I know I should probably spend the money on debt, but like we were talking about in another blog, sometimes Mom has to do something for Mom. DH gets correspondence school, something he wants, and I get this. And $2000 still goes to debt.

And airfare is free with DH's miles. First Class even. As long as we don't have to pay for it, I am too spoiled to fly coach. But I am too frugal to actually buy a First Class ticket.