I went to the gym tonight, like I try to do at least three or four times a week. Somewhere around the 300 calorie mark, I said, “The hell with this, I’m done.” Usually I read a book while I’m on the elliptical, so I stick around to burn 500, sometimes 600 calories, then wipe the sweat and go for a couple rounds in the circuit room.
Tonight, I just said, screw it. Know what I did? I went home, picked up a book I was reading and ate at least three cups of leftover Organic Barbeque Kettle chips because I was in the mood for something crunchy. Hey, at least they were organic.
The book was called “Metamorphosis,” by Franz Kafka. I’m embarrassed to say, I’ve never read anything by Kafka in my life, but when I saw it on the shelf at my friend, Allegra (the smart librarian’s) house, I asked if I could borrow it. Not so I could be deep, but because I wanted to get the jokes that Woody Allen always makes in his movies. I wanted to understand what made something Kafka-esque.
I loved it. It’s about a young man, named Gregor, who sacrifices everything for his family. He works as a traveling salesman, a job he hates, to pay off a debt his parents owe, which he figures will take another five to six years. He also hopes to send his teenage sister to a conservatory so she can continue to study the violin.
He’s a real giver.
Things don’t work out so great and one morning, he wakes up to find he’s turned into a big, ugly bug with spindly legs. (I have mornings like that.) His family naturally freaks out. Sadly, he’s the same guy inside, but his communication skills are not great, and now that he’s a bug and can’t work to support them anymore, so they don’t have much use for him.
There are all kinds of parallels you can draw and metaphors you can imagine. That’s apparently part of Kafka’s charm, he never lets on what he wants you to think, he wants you to draw your own conclusion.
All I could think of are a couple of poor, self-sacrificing souls I know, who worked hard all their lives, giving to everyone; one of whom is mostly ignored now, and the other one probably will be when he gets older.
Which is maybe why tonight, before I even knew how the book was going to end — and trust me, it isn’t pretty — I decided to just say, screw it.

There are actually a few crumbs left in here.
I’m good 95 percent of the time. I work, I cook, I clean, I bake, I exercise, I eat vegetables and fruit, I’m thoughtful, I give to charities, and dammit, I could wake up a bug tomorrow. So tonight, I’m glad I sat on the couch, read a book and ate too many barbecued potato chips.
I’m sure this probably isn’t the response Kafka was hoping for, but it works for me.
18 Comments
Mary
January 23, 2016 at 5:00 pmNo one says you can’t be bad sometime, as long as the scale doesn’t register it, . . .LOL. Just don’t let it catch up with you. I’m all too familiar with that, then I pay for it & it’s back down the diet trail. 🙁 Fran. Kettle chips ARE yummy though!
Fran Tunno
January 25, 2016 at 9:47 amI know, I think the chips have helped put back on a couple of pounds I thought I lost. C’est la vie. It was worth it though.
btunno@bernietunnoins.com
January 23, 2016 at 5:41 amThat blog bugged me! Nice job!
From: At Frans Table To: btunno@bernietunnoins.com Sent: Friday, January 22, 2016 2:59 AM Subject: [New post] Sometimes I Get Really Tired of Being Good #yiv6228459688 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv6228459688 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv6228459688 a.yiv6228459688primaryactionlink:link, #yiv6228459688 a.yiv6228459688primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv6228459688 a.yiv6228459688primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv6228459688 a.yiv6228459688primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv6228459688 WordPress.com | Fran Tunno posted: “I went to the gym tonight, like I try to do at least three or four times a week. Somewhere around the 300 calorie mark, I decided I was done. Usually I read a book while I’m on the elliptical, so I stick around to burn 500, sometimes 600 calories, then wi” | |
Fran Tunno
January 25, 2016 at 9:46 amThanks Bern! I guess it’s back to our semi annual competition to see who can lose the most weight. I just realized I never paid you the last time you beat me. Damn!
Chuck
January 22, 2016 at 5:42 pmYou’d wake up a butterfly.
Fran Tunno
January 25, 2016 at 9:45 amAwwww, Chuck. You do know how to turn a girls head.
allegraswift
January 22, 2016 at 3:45 pmFrancie, So glad you liked it and that is exactly what Kafka meant, down to the last chip. Now you need to read Kafka’s “The Trial.” You’ll never think of a DMV trip the same after that.
xo,
Smallegra
Fran Tunno
January 25, 2016 at 9:43 amOk, I’ll bring Metamorphosis back and make sure I get “The Trial, next. Woody Allen will be a cinch now! Thank God I have well read friends!
margaz2013
January 22, 2016 at 11:49 amAs always, you bring a smile to my face! I love your humor!!!
Marianne
Fran Tunno
January 25, 2016 at 9:42 amWell Marianne, I’m glad someone out there gets me! Thanks for always reading and forgiving me my chip weakness. xoxo
lafriday
January 22, 2016 at 11:40 amI read Metamorphosis in high school. Perhaps that is why I had to join Weight Watcher’s this week. Food for thought (pun intended). XOX
Fran Tunno
January 25, 2016 at 9:40 amLinda, you went there. I love a good cheap laugh, usually it’s me going for it, so I appreciate you stepping up to the plate (different plate) pun intended. I wish I had gone to your high school. We didn’t get into Kafka back then. Thanks for reading and taking the time to offer a punny comment.
Chas Madonio
January 22, 2016 at 7:42 amThanks for the info on Kafka. You’ve saved me a lot of time since I don’t have to read the book now, but I still don’t get many of Woody Allen’s references. Are you sure his reference to a “roach” isn’t a double entendre? Oh well, as always, I enjoyed your blog.
Fran Tunno
January 25, 2016 at 9:37 amYou know Chas, I’m not sure. He never explains what kind of bug it is, sort of a cross between a beetle, a roach and a spider. At any rate, I do love Woody Allen’s thought process, even if he is light years ahead of me academically. Thanks for always reading — you rock. xoxox
Nicol
January 22, 2016 at 6:17 amFran, you are magnificent! I love all of your discoveries!
Fran Tunno
January 25, 2016 at 9:35 amNo, you’re magnificent! Thanks my little Italian sister. Coffee soon!
Bob Erbeck
January 22, 2016 at 12:50 amThat sounds like a plan! I usually do most of my reading on my iPad when I get to bed. Thank goodness I have a reading stand which holds the iPad, or I’d fall asleep while trying to hold the heavy tablet and wake up with a broken nose.
Have you ever gone to the Brand Library in Glendale? They’ve got some nice, big, comfortable chairs in which to curl up in while reading. I’m not sure they’d allow your potato chips . . . you know how libraries like to keep it quiet. Shhhh!
Okay, off to my iPad stand. Have a good weekend.
Bob
Fran Tunno
January 25, 2016 at 9:33 amGood tip Bob, I should go to the Brand Library. It’s beautiful. Thanks, as always for reading and taking the time to comment. enjoy your books and stay awake!