I want to thank the man who made it all possible for this little correspondent to hit the big time .... soon to be former US Senator Rick Santorum!  

Yes, folks, I am doing a one month guest stint as a lesbian correspondent for a NATIONAL blog (ooohhhhhhh!).  :-)

It is called Big Gay Picture and we've linked to it from almost Day One.   Founding lesbian editor Sarah has to attend to other priorities, so the dynamic duo of Brent and Michael sought out some new lesbian blood (oh, those gay boys and their lesbian blood fetishes!).  Voila!  I'm joining Christie Keith (fellow dog lover) in a one month guest stint. 

Don't worry Pittsburgh!  I'll still be taking care of my correspondent duties both here and on KDKA's The Flip Side with John McIntire.  Big Gay Picture is all about the national issues like Rene Portland's lesbian baiting, Rick Santorum's reelection campaign and attempts to pass marriage protection amendments ... its like the Big Pennsylvania Gay Picture. 

Obviously, I'm just the woman for the job!   Read often and make lots of comments. 

My mother would be so proud if I could get her to understand what a blog is ...

Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents is pleased to welcome our newest
correspondent Shelly. We've known Shelly for several years -- she is very
active in the local LGBT community. Her writing, you will find, is
articulate, insightful and from a slightly different perspective than Ledcat
and me.

Three's Company, too!

Welcome aboard Shelly!

Sue

Aren't they cute? 

These are two of our canine crew members, Alexander and Amadeus.  We've been working on a 7 month quest to help them come to terms with their apparent fear of men.  Hence ...

MANXPOSURE 2006

Essentially, we ferret out our male friends who aren't afraid of big dogs and invite them over to toss bacon bits and other meaty tidbits to two large barking dogs while trying not to flinch. We reward the men with chocolate chip cookies.

It has been working very well.  After about 10 minutes of fear barking, they both end up on the floor begging for belly rubs and petting. Now, we are gearing up for a summer Man Party.  Two dogs, two lesbians, our straight female dog trainer and a room full of gay men ... now that's a party! 

Miss Mona and her feline companions are not thrilled with all the ruckus, but certainly enjoy the company.  They only fear children with sticky fingers. 

For the past two weeks, I haven't found anything worth commenting about in the Post-Gazette's "Just Ask Cat" column, a quasi-advice section penned by Catherine Specter.  Specter is the genetic mutation of Harriet Nelson and Carrie Bradshaw, minus the cool hair. 

Why does it bother me so?  One need only turn to the back of the Employment Section for the incredibly good column "Help Me Harlan."  Harlan offers compassionate, thoughtful and gentle insight into the angst of modern life, with an especially graceful connection with adolescents.  Cat Specter offers her belief that "You are so hot" is a useful relationship building comment. 

Harlan's column calls to mind the grand dames of advice, Dear Abby and Ann Landers.    I read both religiously throughout my childhood and teen years.  They gave me an anchor in the face of seven zillion difficulties, both large and small.  I felt validated and affirmed as a person -- I felt like there was an adult out there that valued me for who I was on the inside versus trying to change who I was on the outside.

For the most part, Specter's damage is benign.  I'm sure there are women in Pittsburgh who are seeking validation in their fashion choices and their belief that the right lipstick is crucial to snaring a good man.   To everyone's disadvantage, Specter occasionally ventures in serious advice territory  - such as encouraging a reader to tacitly condone racism.  

She's like the oblivious sorority sister who fails to comprehend that your impact on the world should not be limited to fashion advice and an occasional charity event.  Sort of the pre-Harvard Elle in Legally Blond. 

Minus the cool hair.

Thursday evening it was my turn to cook and I was feeling uninspired by the dismal pantry contents.  Well, actually I was at work and not remotely interested in preparing a meal.  So I proposed we dine out.  Luckily for us, the Post-Gazette's Munch had reviewed a great little South Side joint ... Cambod-ican Kitchen. 

Not being bar crawlers, we had never experienced the 'burgh famous Chicken on a Stick.  But as part of our sacred pact to avoid Olive Garden, Red Lobster and any other restaurant found on both McKnight Road and Route 22 in Monroeville, we headed for the South Side. 

I had the best meal of 2006 yet.  No contest. 

The place is super-cute, the owners are incredibly nice and even the semi-drunken college kids were bearable.  and the food ...ah, the food! 

I am not an "on the stick" kind of girl.  Splinters in my food has never been appealing and I hate getting my fingers greasy. <Yes, no wonder I'm a lesbian.>  But chicken in pita?  That's my kind of appetizer.  Except it was incredibly huge and we had also ordered special rolls in rice paper with the most wonderful vinegar dipping sauce ... plus the entrees. 

Enough ranting.  It is a dee-lishous restaurant and you should get in your car right now and drive there.  Go often and spend lots of money so they will stay in business.   I am not kidding.  Go.  Now.