Observations of a Random Nature

- Don't bother staying up really late working on a project when there are only a few workdays left before Christmas.  Even if they tell you that you have a deadline, nobody will actually be working at work.

- Cats with night crazies are entertaining as hell, especially when they try to act all dignified afterward.

- Scraping your leg on your pedal hurts a lot worse when your pant leg has been rolled up and your skin is frozen from the cold air.

- Someone who is nice to you but is mean to the waiter is probably not a nice person.

- There are far too many people in the world who don't know what a pakora is!

- Coffee rocks.

- The bag on your back that has, among other things, a computer (and accessories), two changes of clothes, paperwork, and gym shoes, is not particularly comfortable and does not make it easier to bike up the hill.

- Everyone cancels everything around the holidays, claiming that there is no time.  This is everything from meetings at work to organized recreational activities to pretty much anything else.  This pretty much leaves a lot of people with about two weeks of next to nothing to do.  Who are these people that really have parties to go to every night?

- I love winter, but winter = decreased daylight = almost never getting out to Frick = BOO.  I disapprove!!

Bacon Infatuation

Better news that the owners of the Harris Grill do intend to rebuild. Of course, anyone who actually cares probably already knows, but I mention it in relation to a funny tidbit. A friend of mine is infatuated with the idea of Bacon Night, which they had every Tuesday. Neither of us actually went to Bacon Night, but she is very determined to experience one if they resume the tradition.

The funny thing is, she's a veggie. But she's determined that we must go, and claims she's willing to make an exception for me and Harris' Bacon Night. Which leads to the other thing that makes the situation slightly funny, which is that the only time in my life that I've ever actively craved bacon is when I worked at Pamela's. I think at that point it was a saturation effect. You know how you can hear a song on the radio and not like it, but if they pound it into your skull enough first you get it stuck in your head, and eventually realize to your horror that you crave it? Thus I believe it was with me and bacon.

Of course, it's not that I hate bacon, like one hates the aforementioned song. It's just...oops, I have to go. Whiskey has decided to try and dig the leftover food out of the garbage that he's already dug out twice now and left on the floor. Because it might be different this time or something.

Why the Harris and Not a Stupid McDonalds?

Downright shitty news that the Harris Grill in Shadyside burned down this weekend. I was only just introduced to it in its current incarnation a few months ago, but it was a fantastic place. Well, full disclosure: it turned out I'd been there once years before when I first came to Pittsburgh but I don't really count that because it was the previous ownership and I was so new in town I had no idea where the people I'd gone with led me...case in point I got properly and thoroughly lost when I tried to leave. I didn't even remember that I'd been there--I didn't realize it when the plans were made, but as soon as I saw that porch I remembered it instantly.

Mmm--that porch. I don't think I ever actually went inside, because the porch was (is) so great I never got past it to the door. Maybe when I was first there (again) and wasn't sure whether you had to check inside for porch seating.

Anyhow, their food was (is) awesome and the atmosphere was (is) fantastic.

And in case you can't tell, I have stubbornly decided to believe that they will rebuild and be back. I think one article said a co-owner has already vowed to rebuild. I just hope they remember to bring the calamari appetizer back with them. And the Garden Weasel. And the Henny Penny. And the Polish Church Basement Pierogies. And the Salmon Rushdie's Return. And the spanikopita. And the...OK, I have to stop now.