lessons learned in philadelphia

lesson number 1... The competition between Pat's Cheesesteaks and Geno's Cheesesteaks is an entrenched and likely bloody, competition. These neon-covered take-out stands face cattycorner from each other, and when we visited, both had lines wrapping around the block. But these people don't take well to tourists who want to try a bite of both sandwiches. One of my friends squirted a little Geno's hot sauce onto her Pat's cheesesteak, and the guy behind the counter damn near gave himself a heart attack yelling at her in his best Sylvester Stallone angry-voice. Something about us bringing "that inferior sandwich" into his majestic, but greasy presence upset him. My friend offered to pay, but nothing much would get him to stop waving his spatula at her and screaming. So we ran away with our steaks and agreed that Pat's was definitely the better sandwich.

and lesson number 2... Lesbians make great wingmen. The girls who took me on this trip pushed me to the front of the crowd every time a straight boy appeared, and I had a great time flirting. It was like having my own cheering section at the Regional Coy Smile Championships. Woo-hoo!