Hearts and Daggers

Valentine's Day is a peculiar holiday: if you're in *luv* it's more wonderful than your birthday and New Years and the 4th of July combined; if you're single, it's like being Jewish at Christmas: excluded through no choice of your own and pounded by ads, events and celebrations that have nothing to do with you.

It's easy to be bitter when you're single this time of the year: the media and advertising blitz all seem to be pointing their collective fingers at you and saying (in a perfect Nelson voice), "Haaaa-haaaa!" Still, I'm a hopeless romantic and know that at -some- point I'll be hooked up again and be able to release all that pent-up mushiness. As fine a companion a dog can be, they have no appreciation for mushy cards, jewelry and romantic getaways: Rondo would be just as happy with a long walk by a city dump and a new cow-hoof (plus he's a boy!). Granted, he's a lot cheaper (so was Frieda), but that's not the point...

Until that time comes again (gu-ril-furend-o!), I console myself by avoiding restaurants (like Clam Humper's 4-hour wait tonight) and remembering the "Oh, yeah." part of having an S.O. (accountability, teh-krazy, etc. of not-so-good relationships). And getting Rondo a new cow-hoof.

Hearts and Daggers

Valentine's Day is a peculiar holiday: if you're in *luv* it's more wonderful than your birthday and New Years and the 4th of July combined; if you're single, it's like being Jewish at Christmas: excluded through no choice of your own and pounded by ads, events and celebrations that have nothing to do with you.

It's easy to be bitter when you're single this time of the year: the media and advertising blitz all seem to be pointing their collective fingers at you and saying (in a perfect Nelson voice), "Haaaa-haaaa!" Still, I'm a hopeless romantic and know that at -some- point I'll be hooked up again and be able to release all that pent-up mushiness. As fine a companion a dog can be, they have no appreciation for mushy cards, jewelry and romantic getaways: Rondo would be just as happy with a long walk by a city dump and a new cow-hoof (plus he's a boy!). Granted, he's a lot cheaper (so was Frieda), but that's not the point...

Until that time comes again (gu-ril-furend-o!), I console myself by avoiding restaurants (like Clam Humper's 4-hour wait tonight) and remembering the "Oh, yeah." part of having an S.O. (accountability, teh-krazy, etc. of not-so-good relationships). And getting Rondo a new cow-hoof.

Hearts and Daggers

Valentine's Day is a peculiar holiday: if you're in *luv* it's more wonderful than your birthday and New Years and the 4th of July combined; if you're single, it's like being Jewish at Christmas: excluded through no choice of your own and pounded by ads, events and celebrations that have nothing to do with you.

It's easy to be bitter when you're single this time of the year: the media and advertising blitz all seem to be pointing their collective fingers at you and saying (in a perfect Nelson voice), "Haaaa-haaaa!" Still, I'm a hopeless romantic and know that at -some- point I'll be hooked up again and be able to release all that pent-up mushiness. As fine a companion a dog can be, they have no appreciation for mushy cards, jewelry and romantic getaways: Rondo would be just as happy with a long walk by a city dump and a new cow-hoof (plus he's a boy!). Granted, he's a lot cheaper (so was Frieda), but that's not the point...

Until that time comes again (gu-ril-furend-o!), I console myself by avoiding restaurants (like Clam Humper's 4-hour wait tonight) and remembering the "Oh, yeah." part of having an S.O. (accountability, teh-krazy, etc. of not-so-good relationships). And getting Rondo a new cow-hoof.

Bwa-ha-ha!

Since Roz was going to couch-sculpt all evening, I went over to see John and his dog, Kacey. In the mood for dinner, I suggested Gunga Din: a great Indian restaurant near his house. Now, going out to eat anywhere on Valentine's day is impossible: HUGE waits for a table, if they'll take your name at all. My theory was that--on a day created for romance-- no one would consider going to an Indian restaurant and spend the rest of the evening trying to be romantic with nasty curry burps.

I was right! No wait at all, though the place was pretty crowded. Then I noticed that EVERYONE else in the restaurant was a boy-girl couple! About a dozen couples sitting around John and myself. Some of them may have actually planned on coming here (it's *really* good Indian), but the body language of several of the couples was pretty easy to read. I joked that I could guess how some of the pre-dinner conversations went:

"No, really-- we're eating here because the food is so good not because I forgot to make a reservation!"

"This place is a LOT better than Mon Greniere! We're so smart for choosing this over a romantic French restaurant!"

"How was I to know there'd be a *four* hour wait?!? Don't start with me!"

"I decided that this place would be better and more quiet. No, I did not forget to make a reservation at our favorite restaurant!"

"You forgot to make a reservation when I told you, didn't you..."

etc.

FWIW, I had their mixed-grill, which consisted of a piece of chicken tikka, couple of lamb shishkabobs and a bit of tandoori chicken. The meat was amazing: both the tandoori chicken and the chicken tikka were perfectly spiced and extremely moist-- every other place I've had these dishes the chicken was d*r*y!!! The lamb kabobs were moist and deeply (though not overpoweringly) seasoned. In my opinion, Gunga Din is the best Indian restaurant I've ever been to (and I've been to a lot of them). I'm not sure what the staff (who know us) thought of the two of us eating there on Valentine's day, but at least they didn't try to give either of us a rose...

Must remember to get chalky-heart candies on sale tomorrow...

Bwa-ha-ha!

Since Roz was going to couch-sculpt all evening, I went over to see John and his dog, Kacey. In the mood for dinner, I suggested Gunga Din: a great Indian restaurant near his house. Now, going out to eat anywhere on Valentine's day is impossible: HUGE waits for a table, if they'll take your name at all. My theory was that--on a day created for romance-- no one would consider going to an Indian restaurant and spend the rest of the evening trying to be romantic with nasty curry burps.

I was right! No wait at all, though the place was pretty crowded. Then I noticed that EVERYONE else in the restaurant was a boy-girl couple! About a dozen couples sitting around John and myself. Some of them may have actually planned on coming here (it's *really* good Indian), but the body language of several of the couples was pretty easy to read. I joked that I could guess how some of the pre-dinner conversations went:

"No, really-- we're eating here because the food is so good not because I forgot to make a reservation!"

"This place is a LOT better than Mon Greniere! We're so smart for choosing this over a romantic French restaurant!"

"How was I to know there'd be a *four* hour wait?!? Don't start with me!"

"I decided that this place would be better and more quiet. No, I did not forget to make a reservation at our favorite restaurant!"

"You forgot to make a reservation when I told you, didn't you..."

etc.

FWIW, I had their mixed-grill, which consisted of a piece of chicken tikka, couple of lamb shishkabobs and a bit of tandoori chicken. The meat was amazing: both the tandoori chicken and the chicken tikka were perfectly spiced and extremely moist-- every other place I've had these dishes the chicken was d*r*y!!! The lamb kabobs were moist and deeply (though not overpoweringly) seasoned. In my opinion, Gunga Din is the best Indian restaurant I've ever been to (and I've been to a lot of them). I'm not sure what the staff (who know us) thought of the two of us eating there on Valentine's day, but at least they didn't try to give either of us a rose...

Must remember to get chalky-heart candies on sale tomorrow...

Bwa-ha-ha!

Since Roz was going to couch-sculpt all evening, I went over to see John and his dog, Kacey. In the mood for dinner, I suggested Gunga Din: a great Indian restaurant near his house. Now, going out to eat anywhere on Valentine's day is impossible: HUGE waits for a table, if they'll take your name at all. My theory was that--on a day created for romance-- no one would consider going to an Indian restaurant and spend the rest of the evening trying to be romantic with nasty curry burps.

I was right! No wait at all, though the place was pretty crowded. Then I noticed that EVERYONE else in the restaurant was a boy-girl couple! About a dozen couples sitting around John and myself. Some of them may have actually planned on coming here (it's *really* good Indian), but the body language of several of the couples was pretty easy to read. I joked that I could guess how some of the pre-dinner conversations went:

"No, really-- we're eating here because the food is so good not because I forgot to make a reservation!"

"This place is a LOT better than Mon Greniere! We're so smart for choosing this over a romantic French restaurant!"

"How was I to know there'd be a *four* hour wait?!? Don't start with me!"

"I decided that this place would be better and more quiet. No, I did not forget to make a reservation at our favorite restaurant!"

"You forgot to make a reservation when I told you, didn't you..."

etc.

FWIW, I had their mixed-grill, which consisted of a piece of chicken tikka, couple of lamb shishkabobs and a bit of tandoori chicken. The meat was amazing: both the tandoori chicken and the chicken tikka were perfectly spiced and extremely moist-- every other place I've had these dishes the chicken was d*r*y!!! The lamb kabobs were moist and deeply (though not overpoweringly) seasoned. In my opinion, Gunga Din is the best Indian restaurant I've ever been to (and I've been to a lot of them). I'm not sure what the staff (who know us) thought of the two of us eating there on Valentine's day, but at least they didn't try to give either of us a rose...

Must remember to get chalky-heart candies on sale tomorrow...