This morning’s coffee reading material…..Zombie Ant Fungus.
There is a type of ant (Camponotini tribe) that can get infected with this fungus.
Once the ant is infected, it leaves the tribe, family and friends goes down to the floor of the rain forest where it is ideal for fungus to grow. It bites the underside of a leaf and then dies from the fungal infection. It can take 4-10 days for death to occur. What? Their brains are hijacked!
The fungus then starts growing out of the ants HEAD and releases spores to infect more ants. The cool thing is that it can hijack other fungus’s so that these ant tribes aren’t wiped out completely. That’s wild!
Science is cool!
The funniest part is that Monday night I had a dream that I attended a live demonstration of how ants help the eco system. I was so enthralled with how strong they are and how they eliminate dead things from the environment. Now this pops up. I think I am being hijacked by ants. Time to get a tin foil hat. I am sure that will ward off anything terrible. Ha!
I am getting excited to host Thanksgiving. I am thinking about the dishes I would like to prepare. I am excited to prepare the bird.
We used to do a fried turkey but it is not cost effective with the cost of the oil for the deep fryer. The last couple of years I have done the turkey in the oven. I like to brine it, stuff it, inject it with seasoning and eat it…usually eating it a few days in a row. I am looking forward to turkey soup!
It’s supposed to be nice this weekend so I may make a few extra stops on my way to grab groceries. To make sure I have the appropriate amount of beverages.
Tonight Sarah came for a visit/sleep over so she can be close to work in the morning. We caught up on life over the past few weeks. I am looking forward to seeing her daughter in a play this weekend. I hear about how hard she has worked for these plays.
I invited myself to spend the night at her house. She has a Christmas tree she puts up every year where she put my face over the angels face on the top of the tree. Hilarious! I will get to see it for the first time.
We got into a morbid conversation about how generation C is never going to be able to retire with the given state of social security, rising costs and more. Totally an old person conversation. It was complete with throwing hands up to the sky dramatically!
Ethan asked me to call the state office to see if he signs up for a 401k if that will affect his eligibility. The fact he is thinking about “retirement” with his given past it amazing.
The co workers were lazy today! It must be exhausting for them to sleep all day AND all night.
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