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Pittsburgh was lovely. There were blessings: I'd almost put my money in a stolen bag, but I didn't. I'd almost brought my love, my computer, and I'd almost travelled with toys. There is that. I saw some beautiful and some disturbing examples of taxidermy. It is a thing I would very much like to learn to do. I learned that there are Inuits who believe that Raven is responsible for giving them fish, and for the order in which the fish run. The whole thing is based on the order in which he let them out of boxes or opened gates. I approve. I saw many friends, if I failed to see others. Drama was reenacted, although the stories have changed little. I read all of Sin City in one day, save the first graphic novel, which I'd read before, and the last graphic novel, which I saved for the next day. I had not read any comic books at all in such a long time; it was a nice return, and Pittsburgh was the right place for it. I watched some films, and I walked nearly everywhere, and didn't spend much money. I attended Meredith's bachelorette party, where I helped to decorate my first ever breast-shaped cake (my contributions included drawing the aureola, selecting grapes as the appropriate substance for representing nipples, and adding a labrys tattoo. However, Rebbecca, the creator of the cake, won by piercing one of the grapes. She has many talents. We ate fantastic food and watched horrific seventies porn (softer yet wackier than the variety to which I've been subjecting my friends in Philadelphia) and we all got quite drunk. Everyone kissed everyone else, even, at times, when fate did not deem it necessary. (Perhaps that was only me?) It was quite a bit more debauched than the parties to which I am accustomed, or mayhaps I was only more successfully seduced by this party than I usually manage to be. I returned to Philadelphia quite bruised and happy, even though I learned that Amtrak will not be refunding my ticket, and I cried at the woman who told me this and took my second ticket, and I meant it. Upon my return to the house, however, I found that Parker had taken up a collection among friends to replace some of the things that had been stolen. My friends are too good. I do not begin to deserve them. They thought I'd be stolen away by Pittsburgh, that I wouldn't want to return, but I am glad to be home. I love the people I have here, and, although I dearly miss the people I have left behind, they are scattering, and Pittsburgh is no longer really where I belong. I hadn't quite known that until this week. (If Meredith and Alex were to move to Philadelphia for a while, of course, my joy would be complete.) And today was full of surprises, good food and an accusation or two. I did not mind at all.