What's for dinner?

Work has been nuts lately. It’s nearing 4pm and I just finished my lunch not too long ago. At least I got everything ready for the 3pm FedEx pick-up and I don’t think I royally screwed anything up (accounts receivable kids, kind of scary). For those of you who asked, King Tut was great and a big hit with most of the donors that came. The exhibit was very interesting, I only wish I’d had more time to peruse and take it all in. I saw a sarcophagus that used to hold good ol’ King Tut’s dried liver y’all. Awesome! What I found most interesting was the focus and attention on preserving and careful storage of internal organs with the mummy in the burial tomb, supposedly because they would be needed in the next life, with the exception of the brain. They just chucked it out after they pulled it out through the nose (hope you aren’t eating as you’re reading this). I guess no one uses their head in the world beyond? Sounds like a scary place to me, or maybe we’re there now. Maybe we are all reincarnated ancient Egyptians and the "ruling elite" who would have been important enough to mummify are all walking around with no brains in their heads. Hmmmm, I think I need more sleep.

Anyway, on that note, this post is really about food. Thanks for the inspiration Crazy Aunt Purl. Because when the notorious C.A.P. has long busy days at work she continues to blog witty and entertaining posts, where as I will ignore my blog for long periods of time and then poach other’s ideas when I finally post again.

It has always amazed me that most all humans are basically equipped with the same tasting/smelling/eating apparatus, yet what one person considers food another will hurl at just the mention of. For example, I HATE and cannot tolerate in any way pickles of all kinds. Even when I pick them off a sandwich I hate that I can taste pickle juice on my food. I don’t much care for anything pickled or briny for that matter (sauerkraut? ewwww!). Don’t like radishes, beets, or green olives, but I love the black ripe ones. Jason hates all olives, and doesn’t like raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, raisins, dates or pineapple (I know, what’s not to like?)

I also don’t eat meat, as I’ve been a vegetarian for 11 years and counting. Meat is just weird to me. A lot of people are like, “Oh you don’t eat meat? That must be really hard. Poor you, what is there for you to eat?” I can’t decide if these people are condescending jerks or just really ignorant, or maybe a little from column A and a little from column B. But in all honesty, it doesn’t even really occur to me that meat is food. I mean, I know it kind of is and people eat it all the time, but that’s muscle tissue dude. Muscle tissue from an animal that was once walking around mooing/clucking/gobbling and what have you. What really grosses me out is meat on bone. Mmmm, think I’ll rip me a big piece of muscle tissue off that femur, chew it and swallow it. I’m really not trying to make the meat eaters feel bad or anything, but that is just how I see meat, which would explain why putting it in my mouth is about one of the most unappetizing things I can think of. If I can start doing comparative anatomy between myself and what’s on the plate you can bet I’m not going to eat it.

Shellfish and lobster and shrimp I also do not eat, but for different reasons. I do not much identify with any of these animals personally, so that’s not it. And the commercial fishing industry is none too pretty either from an ecological perspective, but even besides that, shellfish are just gross. The lobster and it’s kin are a Darwin’s baby step away from their cousin the cockroach. And clams, scallops, mussels and the like, not too far from the common sidewalk slug, but I understand the French smother these in garlic sauce and call this food too. Come on now, that’s disgusting.

Also, there’s a huge difference between your palate as a child and when you’re all grown up. I used to shun most vegetables as a child and now I can’t get enough of them. I also used to love Roman Meal bread and ketchup sandwiches.

So, what can’t you stand to eat, and what do you love to eat that no one else can stand?