Franktuary

My new job is going very well, Thank you for asking!

Seriously though. I started a new position in January, and it is turning into one of the best decisions that I have ever made ever in my entire life ever ever. A very truncated list of reasons why I love my job:
1. I'm good at my job.
2. I'm actually developing extra stomach muscles from laughing so much with the people I work with.
3. I don't have to talk to customers.
4. FRANKTUARY

Pittsburgh Locavore

It is safe for you to assume that my self issued vegetarian challenge has failed by now.

It's worth noting that I don't generally like hot dogs. And I can't even really tell you what drew me to this place initially, most likely the clever word play in the name. But I make a point to go there at least once a week, to the point where the cashier probably thinks I'm 1) a stalker or 2) have food issues.

My standard is a locally farmed hot dog topped with cole slaw and smooshed pierogies. The textures are really complimentary, the cole slaw creamy and crunchy, the pierogies starchy and moist. It's a really great combination and does not fail to make me happy. If you find yourself downtown at lunch time, please check this place out. They have other things besides hot dogs, but I don't really care. 

There's also this delightful little detail in the window

Which reminds me of the line in this silly little number:

I kinda like the way you're making me tingle.

Empori-yum

Oh Hi.

Have I told you how I love my apartment? Because I do.

Yeah, my bathroom ceiling caved in three times in one week, and yeah I live in a basement, and yeah there's a crazy cracked out girl who lives above us who literally seems to scream every single day from 8 am to 5 pm. But I live two blocks from the Sharp Edge Beer Emporium, a fact which covers a multitude of sins. So, all in all, I love living in Friendship. 

I finally got a chance to catch up with my friend Bryan. I very rarely get to see Bryan despite the fact that we live in the same mystifyingly small city. So to Sharp edge we go. At the time, I had decided to challenge myself to vegetarianism, which is a challenge I issue to myself about once a month. It usually lasts about two weeks. I am an equal opportunity eater, and I love vegetables, so it isn't necessarily a problem of finding things that I do like to eat, it's finding ways to make myself feel like I don't need to eat meat. Which is difficult because I think meat is delicious. 

Anyway, This happened:

Portobello "pizzas" with roasted red peppers and whole roasted garlic cloves

There was some sort of garlic celebration, hence the whole cloves of roasted garlic. Also, I'm a sucker for anything with roasted red peppers on it.  The portobellos were moist and tasty but still substantial, a good substitute for bread. I washed this deliciousness down with more than one pint of Atwater Vanilla Java Porter, which is my current jam beer-wise.

After several beers and delicious food, Bryan and I expounded on love and life and music, how complex heartache can be, how people and symphonies can resemble each other. One thing I really appreciate about Bryan is that he can have a meaningful conversation without overweighting it. He is funny and smart and delightful, and I really enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with him.