Vegetarian?! Take a minute right now and tell me, what type of person comes to mind when you hear the word, “vegetarian?” Know what image came to my mind when I heard the term? A granola chomping, butter churning, dread lock wearing, nature loving, log cabin building, yoga going, freak of nature. I know, I know, it’s a little harsh, right? I can only explain this by saying that I’ve been stuck in a bubble for most of my life and well, times they are a changing for this red wine drinking, snobby, yet fun loving, thirty something girl.I never really thought of myself as a meat-a-saurus. I never could muster the taste for red meat – whether it was rare steak or rare roast beef, I just couldn’t do it. Perhaps it was the image of my mom in the kitchen eating raw hamburger with a little salt or the way that large, old men seemed to salivate while they were eating a steak…it just wasn’t my thing. Over the years, I have learned to love steak and it is a bit decadent, to say the least. An indulgence and it has always bothered me…never wanted to introduce myself to my meal and as such, it got me thinking that perhaps there is another way.Who decides to be a vegetarian and why?! The answers are endless and I’ve found as I am making the transition, very personal. Still, people want to know why and my answers have been varied and truthfully, the answer has many layers. For me, it comes down to health reasons and the obvious, animal welfare. It all started with Cosmo’s boyfriend, Bud. He’s a vegetarian and in having my friends over for a debate party, at the last minute, it struck me, WHAT DO I FEED BUD?! Panic set in and I bought everything I could find that had NO meat. If you know what to look for there’s a lot of choices out there and wow, they are quite tasty!The idea became solidified after attending VegFest at Loch Haven Park this past weekend with Cosmo, Bud and Chartreuse. Yep, there were lots of granola chomping, dread lock wearing folks in attendance but you know what, there were people just like us that were looking for a better way to live. We wandered around - pondered at the henna booth, listened to a lecture of the dangers of being a meat-a-saurus, ate some yummy Indian food and chatted with a true juice man (that was an experience). Of course, there were animal rights groups and animal rescue groups that tugged at my heart. Thank goodness that I didn’t come home with yet another cat or that precious greyhound that I fell in love with. Little did I know that the wheels of motion had already begun, my decision had been made but didn’t know it until…my talk with Cosmo the next day. That was it, Sunday at 1:00 PM, October 26, 2008, we made a pact – we were going to be veggie-saurus’ for two weeks. It can’t hurt us, right?It’ll be entertaining for those on the side lines as I attempt to eat meat-free for two weeks. What will I eat…where will it come from and what sort of trouble will I find myself in…stay tuned as I make way into the unknown world of the elusive Veggiesaurus’!

Cab