Day 14: Et cetera ...

I tend to have unique encounters. Then again, does everyone think that? Are we all graced by the same army of eccentrics who bounce in and out of our lives like so many ricocheting bouncy balls? That's what I thought to myself, today. I love humans and I love humanity. The fact that 6.6+ billion lives concurrently exist on this planet fascinates me. 6.6+ billion brains with billions of ideas apiece. And I'd love to know every one of those ideas, because it helps me understand not only the human, but the human condition. We're all weirdos seeking something: acceptance, actualization, God, and so many other things. Purposes. We're driven by purposes. I like to know what people's purposes are and why they pursue them. Maybe that's why I have interesting encounters, because I delve. Or, as I've been told several times, I light up in human exchange. I do. I'm interested. Tell me more.

Today, however, afforded me more exchanges than I'm used to. It starts in the morning when I order a brunch of side dishes to comply with my diet, runs through the afternoon as I sit outside the Flying M to read, and ends at dinner with an inspired encounter at Subway. All funny and all, in some ways, enlightening. I discussed Chaucer and Kafka, Third Eye Blind and bell peppers, Russian imperialism and mojo rising. I didn't really want to talk about veganism today, but it came up. So did theology, comic books, and why (gasp!) I don't really eat much cheese, even during my normal diet. I'm amused when topics like a distaste for cheese confuse people more than Kafka. UNFATHOMABLE!

So, I talked about veganism, to my chagrin. It's honestly getting a bit tiresome. It's a nice lead-in to the whole premise behind the diet, but I don't want to be overbearing. The device is working like it should, but today I wasn't in the mood. I'm finding people want to talk more about the diet than the idea behind it. Keeping on-topic is a struggle, but maybe that's my fault. All I have to say is "I'm going vegan for the month of June." and I've equipped the listener with a can opener for a case of worms. So, I go through the motions and talk about my diet in hopes that I can parlay it into the discourse of a different issue. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it's my fault, sometimes it isn't. Some people are receptive and some people glaze over with a look of "People will always starve to death. I see today as no different." Much like the entry I wrote a couple of days ago, it's the mentality I confront most often. The mentality of complacent resignation.

It's not really discouraging. I expected as much. With the diet/project, I aimed to create a narrative compelling enough to engage others and make them think. I'm about at the halfway point on T30DLV and it's all still taking shape. I've received feedback of all kinds and I appreciate it. I guess if just one person is more aware of his or her place in the global framework, then I can feel good about it. Not satisfied, but good about it. People tell me their stories and I try to communicate mine, which revolves around this at the moment. At the very least, I'm being patronized. So be it.

So, for those of you wondering about the diet, I shall concede.

As I've mentioned before, it's about planning. And, as I mentioned above, eating out is about getting creative with side dishes. Lots of potatoes, lots of salads, and lots of fruit. I haven't lost any weight, because I'm always hungry and carrying snacks aplenty. My skin hasn't turned odd colors from the estrogen in soy yet, so that's a plus. ;-) I'm feeling good, but not great. I don't really feel any healthier, despite what I keep reading about plant-based diets. I haven't felt any drastic biological adjustments, but I'm supplementing quite a bit. And, like I said, eating like a madman.

I have a handful of friends to thank for helping me keep on track. So, thanks a bunch. The support is invaluable. Even the reminders are important. This past week, without thinking, I accidentally purchased some chocolate chip cookies from Subway. Jared, not missing a beat, looked at me and reprimanded me. "Dude, you can't eat those." I ended up giving away the delicious treats, because he couldn't eat them either. That same day, as we sat on the lawn and finished our veggie sandwiches, the aromas from the adjacent burger joint teased us. I'm not going to lie: it smelled absolutely amazing. It wasn't an insane, uncontrollable craving, but damn did it smell good. I'll know it's getting bad when I wake up in a hot sweat after a beefy McDonald's fantasy. Gack.

So, it continues. I have unique encounters and so do those who encounter me. I'm sure they think the same. With rants about pens, toothpastes, Gaiman, and Greek mythology, I'm sure I make for quite the character, too. I just hope that something wise or enlightening incidentally slips through.

BJB

Homework: Food crisis may be a boon for small farmers in Africa.