Posted October 24, 2011 by Megan Rondeau
For anyone who might have missed last week’s introduction, our friend Mark in The Victory Lap has decided to go vegetarian! We’ll be documenting his journey here with weekly updates and videos from the road as the band prepares to release their upcoming album. This week, we’ve got a journal entry from Mark, describing his newfound love for veggie subs and his triumph over the BBQ blues. Apparently he hasn’t yet discovered the joys of vegan BBQ and Buffalo wings. We’ll have to send some recipes his way. 
What the heck is this???
Hey guys,
This first week of my flesh-free life has been a whirlwind of long drives, late hotel nights, and survival via Red Bull and coffee. Because of this we weren’t able to get the cameras out with us the whole time, therefore limiting the amount of footage. But nonetheless I still had so much to talk about and had a little bit of time tonight as we are finally getting back towards home as the car clock’s distant green glow reads 4am.
The first day after you saw me in the last update taught me one big lesson—”If you’re going to stop eating meat, go grocery shopping BEFORE breakfast of day one.” This rookie mistake left me enjoying a not so pleasant or filling platter of toasted bread lightly topped with butter (I was hoping drawing out the food’s description would make it sound better than it really was).
With this catastrophe aside, the rest of the week seemed to go by without so much as a spark of thought about this difference in diet being a challenge. Being on the go for 15hrs a day made gas station fuel ups on trail mix and Clif bars my daily meals. Aside from this the only true meat substitution I had to make was for a veggie sub at Columbia, Missouri’s premier sub shop, Pickleman’s. This decision was the best I ever made; I do believe this is the world’s greatest veggie sub.
Just as I thought that this was the easiest lifestyle change I had ever made and questioned how pathetic it was I hadn’t done it sooner, my first true temptation from the beef gods came. This stomach wrenching tale sparked from a meeting over our new record’s release, a meeting which was scheduled to occur at Bandana’s BBQ. Now if you don’t know me, let me catch you up to date. San Antonio, Texas, being my native home, I am ALL ABOUT BBQ. With this dilemma of my new approach to diet and my BBQ history colliding, I honestly found an easy escape. For as much as I love BBQ I equally love French fries. And French fries with 5 different kinds of BBQ sauce to dip them in? Say hello to my Thursday night dinner. Delicious and absolutely not nutritious.
Well that’s really all the time I have left because we are home! Thank God that I can sleep in a bed! So at that I will leave you all with a request. One of which the response is crucial for my ability to continue on with life. Earlier this week at a hotel complimentary breakfast I discovered this vegetarian-friendly contraption believed to hold healing powers by its taste alone, OK maybe not that last part. But anyways I have no clue what it is and I must know. So if any of you recognize the picture attached please tell me what it is and/or how to make it.
See you next week,
Mark Anderson
Sounds like a successful second week to me! Good to hear Mark is still going strong, but we can’t let him live on French fries and toast, guys. What are some of your favorite breakfast foods that he should try out? Personally, I’m a fan of these yummy pumpkin muffins at the moment. Leave comments below or hit up Mark on Twitter (@TVLMark) with your faves!
peta2 Street Team Coordinator + lover of vegan food, cats, animal rights, Dawson's Creek, and Harry Potter.
Too long to explain here, it's long enough for a novel.
Father loves to farm, be self sustainable, loves to read, he's a antiques/vintage auctioneer, art student, and looks like mr. Rogers. My mother is a Montessori teacher and is amazing with children, all about local organic foods, loves gardening, cooking etc. my sister who is nine years older than me was into indie music and introduced me to all sorts of things at a young age. This all rubbed of on me and from that base I grew into similar things. I'm an INFJ
I'm tall, a geek, nacho - obsessed, I love sewing and Cath Kidston, also I'm vegetarian (wannabe vegan.)
Well let's just say life ain't always beautiful but it's a beautiful ride. I love all my pets and would do anything for them. I have one dog, two cats, a ferret and my babygirl shaymin,(the cutest hedgehog alive) I'm into all different kinds of music. I'm a singer myself and love art.
I love animals about as much as rock, heavy metal, tea, and coffee. Hoping to make a difference and help animals through PETA!!!
I want to get into marketing but not have to rely on people which have different morals and worldviews than I do to hire me. While I'm figuring this out, I want to show everyone what I believe in and spur them into action against injustices.
Life On A Tour Bus
I am Angela. When I am not helping animals I am listening to music, reading, or playing video games. My spirit animal is a fox and I love nature. What else is there to know? Want to know anything about me, need advice or anything message me :)
568 days ago
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yuuuummmmmmmmmm
569 days ago
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That thing in the picture looks like a vegetable quiche
572 days ago
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great job! keep going! can’t wait for another video!
572 days ago
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Looks like it’s going well!