Run Roachie....Run!

I don’t know if many of you have ever experienced a broken AC in the midst of a Georgia heat wave but I hope that you never do. It does something to your sleep and to your overall psyche.

But this morning, I am not going to rant about the heat and things that keep me up in the night but more about another summer treat...bugs.

Like every American, I am not a fan of bugs. I don’t even like butterflies or lady bugs. Dragonflies totally freak me out (just a bit too Jurassic for me) and living in an older house (note broken AC unit) in lush, woods in the South there is diverse and large population of insects. However though, despite my general distaste for these creepy, crawly, spindly creatures...I find it difficult to kill them.

For example, if I find a roach in kitchen, I’ll open the side door and give him the opportunity to run for it. Generally, if the spider is up the wall high enough, I’ll just try to ignore his presence. I feel remorse when ruining their webs because I know how much time and effort it must have spent making it. The thought of that beetle not returning home to his beetle wife and beetle babies with food makes me sad. Here is a kicker...if I find a roach belly up, taking his last few breaths (because you know it takes forever for them to finally go into the light), I’ll do him a solid and transport him outside where he probably feels more at home passing or even into the trash can which I imagine is as close as it gets to heaven on earth for a roach.

To be honest, I really can’t blame them for wanting to be inside. There is much more plentiful and delicious food in here. It is never going to rain inside and the temperature is (normally) pleasant and cool. Additionally, they face less predators. I mean it's literally roach vs. Caroline instead of roach vs. world. Sounds much better to me.

Furthermore, I feel bad killing something for the simple purpose of I don’t like where it is located. Don’t misunderstand, our house is not some bug infested, ramshackle health hazard. I had it exterminated (and that holocaust is on him not me) and I have my various spray cans to...ahem, take care of things (and contribute to global warming). I just wish that we could co-exist on this planet...them on the outside of my house and me on the inside.

Perhaps this gives a bit more insight to my never ending...should I eat meat debate.

Flavor Tripping and Fate

Do you believe in fate? I am not sure if I do. Sometimes, I feel that it is hard to deny…or perhaps if you listen hard enough, the universe answers your internal questions. Like when the sermon in church is exactly what you need to hear or the first time you heard the Fray's "Over My Head," because seriously, haven't we all been there…perhaps you are just more in tune to your surroundings. Hmm…

I digress.

What I want to talk about is “flavor tripping” and the series of events that surround it and me. Late night last week, Adam and I are channel surfing and happen upon this show on the Planet Green. It’s some [kinda out there] chef explaining this berry powder product he is calling “Miracle Fruit.” From his description, he says that this berry temporarily rewires the brain to taste sour as sweet. Huh…fast forward to a montage of kitchen staff gorging themselves on lemons, goat cheese, hot sauce, guiness…and to the untrained eye they were arguably acting pretty crazy. Then, they plan this whole gourmet menu of mums, aloe vera, cactus and grass for their restaurant, Moto…chef goes on to talk about ending hunger with this miracle fruit by making seemingly inedible plants edible with the help of “miracle fruit”…and it is with all of that mumbo jumbo, that I’m done.

I’m a total ”miracle fruit” skeptic and Adam and I turn that garbage off. The real "miracle" is that this nut job got on TV. Next day, I’m still intrigued, so I do a quick little Google search that surprisingly leads me to some credible articles about “miracle fruit”…and not just ones on Wikipedia, y’all…we are talking the NY Times and CNN. It’s true! There is a teeny tiny berry, Synsepalum dulcificum, from West Africa that does do what crazy chef says! In fact, in NYC and L.A. there are parties where this berry is the guest of honor and people pay to ‘flavor trip’ and go wild with their taste buds. Additionally, the berry was presented as a sweetener to the FDA in the 70’s and is popular in Japan with the diabetics! Whodathunkit?

The very next morning, in my inbox, Scoutmob has invited me to ‘flavor trip’ and meet my miracle berry at Three Sheets ATL, where coincidentally I have been jonesin’ to try. What are the odds of this bizarre series of events?Miracle berry why do you taunt me?

Fate? Probably not. I think that fate is probably reserved for meeting the love of your life, or finding that dream job or last pair of shoes in your size…

I’ll let you know how it goes.