But seriously, I did something super insane this week and didn't even fully realize what I was getting myself into.
You see, while hanging out with my friend this week, his older brothers were over and had bought some wings and some hot sauces to go with them. Being no stranger to having tried hot things like ghost pepper wings (and even straight ghost pepper sauce- but that's a story for another time), I decided to go for it. I started with the mild sauce, which was good and tasty. I then tried the medium, which I found had a little good kick, but nice flavor. And then I went for the big one. I knew I was in for a time when both of my friend's brothers eyes went super wide and they warned me I didn't have to do it, and that they hadn't even tried it, yet. But I went for it, all the same. Now, for some context.
Everyone knows Jalapenos- they have a scoville rating between 2500-8000 SHU (scoville heat units). Habaneros tend to fall between 100,000 to 350,000 SHU. Ghost Peppers (yes, the crazy insanely hot ones) fall around 800,000 to 1,041,427 SHU. Then you get to the Carolina Reaper and Pepper X. The Carolina reaches around 1.4 million to 2.2 million. And Pepper X? 3.18 SHU. Yes, Pepper X is literally ten times as hot as a Habanero. Now that you have that in mind, understand that the sauce I dipped this into was based on the Apollo pepper. What is the Apollo Pepper? Oh, just a combination of the Carolina Reaper and Pepper X. I may as well have been a naive boy, ready to jump into an ice-cold lake of misery.
Now, to be frankly fair, it started out relatively fine, and even tasted pretty good. Then I swallowed. THEN came the heat wave. I can truly say I stood around for 10 or more minutes, feeling the spice radiate and emanate throughout my mouth. I would chase it away with a little pineapple soda, but it would only delay it, and it would return in full swing. MAN, was that baby HOT! When I was told this before going for it, I hadn't anticipated it being literally a combination of two of the world's hottest peppers invented. But you know, it was pretty fun. Would I do it again? Um..... give me like 6 months to forget about how insane that sensation was, and maybe.
But it's been another nice week in paradise. And yet, here we all stand, as the world starts to rumble with new rumors of war and devastation. I, for one, pray the quests for power and violence will end. But I have a feeling such things may only be the beginning. But, no matter what, I stand firm with a knowledge of good things. I hope each of you can feel that same light- not one that shines brightly and fills a room, nor perhaps even a glimmer through a crack, but rather a kind of light not perceivable by human eyes- yet, it is ever present in the darkness- as though at any moment, it would just break through and banish it away. That's the light I feel.
But enough of my ramblings, for now. Have a fine week, and welcome into March!