Leaving Today

I leave for Knoxville, TN in about 3 hours. I saw the Agent off to work this morning and we had breakfast. You know where we had breakfast? [Norma's](http://www.parkermeridien.com/normas.htm) in the Parker Meridien? No. [Balthazar](http://www.balthazarny.com/splash.html) for a bowl of Latté? Come on. [Murray's](http://www.murraysbagels.com/) for bagels, maybe? Forget it. We went to the diner. We went to a mediocre diner, at that. The *closest* diner to our apartment, even. Why, you might ask. Why, when the Agent doesn’t go to the office until ten and money is more less no object for our last meal together for two months? Why?

In a word: speed. The Agent got bacon, egg and cheddar on a roll, and I got two scrambled with bacon and rye toast. It took about 3 minutes to come out. I got my free thimble of terrible (navel) orange juice and before I got my second cup of coffee, the check was on the table, with a gravelly “thanks, hon” and a crooked expression of the mouth that might have been a smile. It was $10. This is the last meal I will have like this until I am back north of the [Mason-Dixon](http://geography.about.com/od/politicalgeography/a/masondixon.htm). Alas. There is no iced tea like there is in the south, and the quick breads they make there are what make quick breads worthwhile, but for Christ’s sake, it takes them eight minutes to make a three-minute egg.

Such is life. I’ll probably come back with colon cancer, but I’ll try to make the best of it.

On the Road Again

The Omnivorous Fish is going back on the [road](http://www.mamma-mia.com/ustour/ustour.asp) for a while. After working on the worst show of my career (not exaggerating), I am going to head back out on the road for a brief stint to make some cash and, more importantly, keep up my benefits. (In my particular world, I need to work so many days in so many months to stay in the black for insurance.) The Agent is not thrilled, but we maintain *constant*, open communication, so I think we’ll be aok.

The state of flux I mentioned in the earlier [post](http://omnivorousfish.com/node/4) is still underway, but when I return from eight weeks of travel, that situation will magically be mostly resolved. Seeing as how I can’t set foot in the kitchen due to unbearable filth and the overwhelming smell of garbage, it’s just as well from a cooking and blogging standpoint. Especially so, seeing as how I started this blog partially as a way to archive recipes (note how many recipes to date: zero).

So, until October Omnivorous Fish will delve into the indigenous cuisines of the southeast, plus stops in Toledo (chili?), Baltimore (crabs), Hartford (???), and Providence (oysters?). Anyone with restaurant recommendations for the following cities, please bring them on, especially if they’re open late.

Knoxville, Greenville, Toledo, Huntsville, Baltimore, Providence.

Thanks in advance!!

Also, I am going to add a feature to Omnivorous Fish, starting now (and continuing when I remember to). I’m going to mention what I’m listening to. I often listen to music when I’m online, and my taste is pretty diverse, so we’ll see what you think. I love suggestions, too, bring them on.

Song of the moment: *Karen By Night* by Jill Sobule. If you like humor in your music, it’s worth ninety-nine cents.