The other day, I was in Safeway—buying Diet Dr Pepper, naturally—when I heard the guy up ahead of me say something to his friends that I was positive I must have misheard. Specifically, what I heard him say was "and there's this really awesome parasitic wasp that drives its victims like cars." Now, I like parasitic wasps. I am, one might say, unduly fascinated by parasitic wasps. So I tend to assume that when I hear other people bring them up in conversation, I'm hearing them wrong.
I began shamelessly eavesdropping...and wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles, he was talking about insect parasitism! Yay! As the conversation swung toward blood flukes, I interjected to note that blood flukes were probably largely responsible for the evolution of gendered reproduction. He looked, in a word, delighted.
What followed was the largest, rowdiest, happiest discussion of parasite behavior I have ever been involved with outside of a group of my friends. All five of the people involved had read Parasite Rex, and parthenogentic reproduction came up, gleefully.
I think I may have met my male equivalent from a nearby parallel dimension.
What followed was the largest, rowdiest, happiest discussion of parasite behavior I have ever been involved with outside of a group of my friends. All five of the people involved had read Parasite Rex, and parthenogentic reproduction came up, gleefully.
Obviously you were destined to be in the store to take part in this conversation.
If you really like parasites then the next chance you get you should visit the parasitology lab of a veterinary school. Wow. More than you ever wanted to see or know...
If you run into him again, you should exchange numbers/screennames, because DUDE.
I have met some of my closest friends through unusual circumstances. My BFF Adina is the best example of this; I met her because I borrowed her mothers lotion at a bus-stop. We had a pleasant conversation on our ride, and right before I got off at my stop she said "My daughter is goth, too, and she has agoraphobia that's prevented her from making many friends in the area. Could I get your number?" What followed was one awkward phone call and the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
geeky
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June 30 2010, 21:09:18 UTC 7 years ago
Obviously you were destined to be in the store to take part in this conversation.
July 1 2010, 05:28:45 UTC 7 years ago
July 1 2010, 03:07:12 UTC 7 years ago
July 1 2010, 05:28:55 UTC 7 years ago
July 1 2010, 05:28:03 UTC 7 years ago
Terrifying video! Dogfish flops around after being skinned and gutted! :-O http://is.gd/daRFp
July 1 2010, 05:29:05 UTC 7 years ago
July 1 2010, 06:24:25 UTC 7 years ago
July 1 2010, 16:32:43 UTC 7 years ago
July 1 2010, 14:16:45 UTC 7 years ago
I have met some of my closest friends through unusual circumstances. My BFF Adina is the best example of this; I met her because I borrowed her mothers lotion at a bus-stop. We had a pleasant conversation on our ride, and right before I got off at my stop she said "My daughter is goth, too, and she has agoraphobia that's prevented her from making many friends in the area. Could I get your number?" What followed was one awkward phone call and the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Being weird rocks.
July 1 2010, 16:33:01 UTC 7 years ago
Agreed.
July 1 2010, 15:54:08 UTC 7 years ago
July 1 2010, 16:33:18 UTC 7 years ago
July 1 2010, 15:59:42 UTC 7 years ago
Oh Gawd! There's another one!
July 1 2010, 16:33:34 UTC 7 years ago
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