Oysters should always come with freshly grated horseradish. Despite that oversight, these were excellent.

Having roasted (air fryer) crunch chickpeas was awesome. This process was not.

Friday’s afternoon cocktail (not pictured: lemon)

Pittsburgh throwback

The last six months have been better than the six months before that.

I said this year was going to be about fun. I didn’t really know what that meant. I just knew that 2021, especially from about June on, was a real slog, and a times, quite dark.

If I had to guess what “fun” meant, I don’t think I would have said, “Your once a week volleyball league will turn into a 3-4 time a week thing.” If I’m in Baltimore, just about every Monday through Thursday, I’m playing volleyball. These days it’s mostly indoor pickup, where folks just show up and self-organize. I’ve learned I really don’t like playing in the sand. I get home tired. My body often hurts. But it’s the most fun I’ve had in years.

I’ve even made some friends, which is pretty great, because my best friend moved away this summer.

I’ve been listening a fair amount to three new albums by Cave In, Porcupine Tree, and Dashboard Confessional, which feels would make as much sense in 2002 as 2022.

Somehow, my household has continued to be COVID-free, and with at least seven trips between now and the end of the year, I am anxious for a fresh Omicron-specific booster.

The dogs are great.

I’m thinking about adding an About page of sorts to the blog. Possibly replacing “Uses” or making Uses a section on that page.

Lazy Saturday

I did it.

So happy I stopped puttering around in the kitchen and sat down with them.

Is good

Dumps and noods

I’m staying in a kind of strange spot in Pittsburgh. Driving through, nothing would seem worth stopping and checking out. But there’s some incredible architecture to experience when you walk around. I don’t think I would have ever noticed this church from inside of a car.

On a rooftop in Los Angeles, where it’s easy to love the weather and forget about all the cars.

Baltimore’s taco game just went up a level.

I’m going to miss my buddy Darwin when he goes off on all his adventures. One last goodbye.

When we moved, they had just received approval to expand the church with this side chapel. It’s quite striking.

LA Bahn Mi

Stunning day in Baltimore

Roar!

Because I ate this deliciousness I signed up for more volleyball.