Slowly coming out of hiBURRRnation

My most recent discovery: Snow is more of a hassle than a joy after, oh, I dont know... the FIFTEENTH time! Truth be told, I dont know exactly how many days it has snowed... but it sure feels like it has been every other day -at least - for months! haha. Ok, well, maybe not months... but you get my point! In fact, that is why you havent heard from me since the fall. I have been in hibernation. Like a bear.

Bears are smarter than I ever gave them credit for. I mean... everyone else goes on about there business - cleaning off cars, walking around with salt stains on the bottom of their pants, dry and patchy skin, darting germs and popping vitamins like mad, everyone bundled up like hot dogs at the state fair... its miserable.. so sleeping it away without a care in the world seems delightful. Besides, the cold,dreary days sometimes make you feel like not doing a darn thing.

But, then again, snow sure is pretty when it falls.

The fact that I still love this city helps the fact that I find dealing with the snow somewhat of a burden. I have been noticing things lately that makes me chuckle a bit. Yes, I said chuckle. 

1. Red heads. My entire life I can count the number of red heads I have associated with on one hand. In Florida, its a rare sight... in Pittsburgh? They are everywhere! Ive never seen so many! haha and not that its a bad thing... but when you arent used to seeing red, it stands out! In fact... they have a name. "Gingers." Now, before I get yelled at... I have no idea if this is a derogatory term or where it comes from, but I have heard that its been around for a long while. Im still waiting to meet a ginger named Ginger.

2. Ethnic food is non-existent. Or, at least in my little reality here. I have been searching for indian food (about 40 min away), Roti (about 6hrs away), Cuban food (still undiscovered), and on and on. Instead, its mostly American food. And, every place you go offers soft pretzels as an appetizer. Odd.

3. Movies must be a favorite past-time. The local movie theatre has many screens- large theatres with stadium seating. Up until January of this year I had only had to sit next to a stranger in a movie theatre once. It was in 1995 in a tiny little theatre in Lake Worth, FL and I went to see Mr. Holland's Opus. It was me, the person I went with, and a room full of senior citizens. It was a sold out show. But, now, in Pittsburgh, if I want to see a movie - even one that has been out for weeks - I still have to sit next to someone! I will put my jacket and purse in the seat next to me until I feel completely guilty for seat- hogging and the very moment I lift my stuff out of the seat, it becomes prey to a lonely person who is magnetically drawn to my right side. Go me. I think I am going to stick to rentals. Or really bad movies.

4. Cleaning floors in winter is a waste of time and resources. I was recently complaining to my dad that I couldnt keep our white tile clean for more than an hour. His response? "Well, in Florida you have sand and up there you have mud." Um, I love you, dad... but please know that mud and sand are no comparison. Mud has to be the nastiest, dirtiest, biggest pain in my butt. From this point on... I am going to boycott cleaning from mid-December until mid-March.

Well, thats all I have for now. I promise to not be such a bear and be more active with my posting. But, for now... I am going to leave you with how I feel about winter and go to sleep dreaming of spring flowers. Ahhhhhh.... :-)

"Im one of those regular weird people" ~ Janis Joplin

Fa La La La Fall

Ive been experiencing great things lately.... so much so that I havent had the time to write!! For one, football season has started. I have been swept away by beer, spinach dip, vegan wings and Brady. Football season also means its Fall. And, of course, Fall means all kinds of events... all leading up to the holidays.

 I must, must, must start with my latest -and best- discovery. The best ALL VEGAN wings Ive ever placed my lips on... Thank you, Spak Brothers.

Pumpkin poptarts, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin pies.And, cant forget the best beer of the season! Cheers to all things pumpkin...

Lets see... where to begin. The day after the first season opener game for the Steelers, I was driving to work. It was Monday morning and all I wanted to do was listen to some good music and sing myself into the work week. Pittsburgh, however, had other plans for me. The radio stations turned to talk radio...  they critiqued the Steelers til there was nothing left. There were experts and fans calling in. Crazy. I guess there is nothing wrong with this... just unheard for me. In Florida, I think there is an AM radio station or two that do sports talk or something along those lines... Im sure they mention the Dolphins every now and then.

Now, I work in a building with about 850 employees. On Fridays, its "show your support/spirit" day for the Steelers - and it almost feels mandatory. Im trying to fit in, even though I prefer to be the odd man out. Just not when I am the minority in a pool of 849 black and gold wearing pythons. I will admit, last Friday, I actually broke down and wore my Steelers toe socks. I had to repent a few times to the Pats and the guilt was so heavy and strong I almost couldnt walk...but I survived. And, I guess Fridays will get easier as I practice. :-)

On a different note... I think I am in love! With Fall! How absolutely breathtaking!! I remember as a kid we would pick up green leaves from outside. Then we would bring them inside and place them under a sheet of paper. Using fall colors, we would rub the crayons over the paper to make a "fall-colored" leaf. Seems like a lot of work! I went for a walk the other day and discovered these leaves actually just accumulate all over the ground. ha Who knew? And some are such perfect shades of red, orange, yellow and brown.

This is what I saw on my walk....

The nights have been cooler... the days not so hot.  And here, with the winding roads, mountains or hills (I still dont know what there should be referred to as)... the trees changing colors make the view simply beautiful. I think Fall may just very well be my favorite season thus far.

This has been the perfect time of  year to check out the trails and explore! Some are a bit creepy because of the spiders and snakes and lack of distinct definition of what is trail and what is oh-crap-this-isnt-the-trail. But, all in all, its calming and, again, unlike anything you find in Florida.

Well, thats about all for now... Ive got alot more to write so keep your eye out!

"Im one of those regular weird people" ~ Janis Joplin

Jagoff Does Not Equal Friendly

Friendly: adjective. Like a friend; kind; characteristic of or befitting a friend; showing friendship.

To use in a sentence: I thought I would find friendly in Pittsburgh.

Reality: Friendly in Pittsburgh is... eh...not so much.

Ok, well, its a far cry from South Florida. BUT... they need a lot of work up here. My perfect perception in my little perfect Pittsburgh bubble keeps deflating faster than our gas prices are rising here (over 20 cents in the last week!)

I recently went down to the strip to do a little sightseeing and shopping. Not sure if you remember me telling you or not, but this is another area where you see black and yellow for miles. The most recent thing I have been seeing are shirts with this:

So I decided to start up a convo with one of the guys selling them in bulk (or so it seemed). This is how it went:

Me: "So, just out of curiosity, what does the hand symbol mean?"

The Jagoff: "If you dont know then I aint telling you.."

Me: "How am I supposed to know if you wont tell me?" I think this is a completely legit question.

The Jagoff: as he shakes his head "Go watch the movie 'Dude Wheres My Car."

Me: Really? Dude Wheres My Car? Ashton Kutcher's so-called claim to fame stoner flick that I was humored by at the age of about 21? And this man... who was probably 30 years my senior... is telling me to watch it just to understand their stupid hand signal? My thought? If you have to go all the way back to a crappy movie such as 'Dude Wheres My Car" to find the meaning of what Pittsburghers like to do with their hands at baseball games, it must not be too special. I walk away, calling him a jagoff under my breath.

Then, like a fool, I came home and looked up the video. Quite frankly, I still dont get it. If you do... please fill me in.

Needless to say, this dude on the strip is not the first rude one I have encountered here. I guess we are all human and we all have bad days. And... it is evident that we all like to take it out on other people. Even in Pittsburgh.

Hang on... Im switching subjects...

If I were in South Florida this time of year, it would probably be hot. Super hot. Humid. Super humid. And there would be thunderstorms every single afternoon. Big dark clouds that would roll in from the west just in time to flood the roads for rush hour. My entire life I have hated this time of year.

However, it has been B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. here in my new city. It is in the high 70's/low 80's during the day and in the 50's at night. The trees are beginning to turn...  

though I keep hearing that it is a bit early for that to be happening. Personally, I think we are going to have a rough winter this year. I say this because I think mother nature is going to test me... you know, since everyone says I wont be able to handle winter. No matter what she brings, I am ready for her. Bring it on, ol' lady.  

Because it has been so beautiful out, I have spent alot of time exploring. This past weekend we spent 6.5 hours at Kennywood. For those of you who dont know what that is... its an amusement park that has apparently been around forever. In fact, I believe they have one the oldest wooden rollercoasters in the U.S. that is still functioning. Did I go on it? No way, Jose. You put those 3 words in the same sentence and I am hauling booty the other way... Oldest. Wooden. Rollercoaster. I. think. not... With a H-E-Double hockey sticks NO!

The park itself was neat, though. It was small and homey. Lots to see.... a parade full of marching bands, shows of kids singing (Steelers & Pirates songs, of course), a strange creepy girl (I think) dressed in leopard and acting like one who scared me out of the bathroom (thats a story for another day...), cheap eats (I devoured a bunch of cotton candy and Im not ashamed to say so), laser shows, rides, fair games (where you can win stuffed prizes that come in... you guessed it... black and yellow). It was just a good night out with good memories. Apparently it is something that all Pittsburghers have grown up doing. I felt like I was one of them that night... only friendlier.

And last but not least.... I must share the new song that I learned. Enjoy! (And laugh)... CLICK HERE!!

"Im one of those regular weird people" ~ Janis Joplin

It's Dark in Here...

Let's see.. Since the last post, I have encountered more of Pittsburgh and have transitioned into calling this my home. Which, by the way, is a very, very good feeling.

First off, my latest discovery: Schenley Park. This park is HUGE. It has rolling hills and hiking trails. It is home next to the Botanical Gardens and Consevatory, the University of Pittsburgh, the Natural History Museum... and on and on and on... In fact, I think it is safe to say that this is my favorite area of Pittsburgh.

What I think is the neatest thing is that, on Sundays and Wednesdays, Schenley Park has "Cinema in the Park." They put up a huge screen and everyone can bring their own blankets, food, drink, etc and sit back and watch a movie. I have gone on each of these nights. What amazes me is how it is so incredibly hot, but as you watch the sun set over the buildings of the University of Pitt, it begins to cool... far cry from Florida. Its beautiful, fun and calming.

There is always a downfall, right? Yes. The downfall of Schenley Park? Its lack of built-in bathrooms...

The downfall of this beautiful night outside at the movies? My bladder is the size of a pea. Look, Im a girl. And, quite honestly, I dont do well with squatting. In dark bathrooms like above. Especially if they are leaning. Do you see where I am heading? I spent my Wednesday night at the movies relaxing on my blanket while layin on my stomach... this is because while attempting to hover my 5'2 body over a toilet in the dark while the entire thing was planted on the ground at an angle that caused my pee to go where? You guessed it... straight  down, but angled forward... right onto my shorts. Not to mention, I did all of this while not breathing. I know, I know, gross and a bit too much information. I know that I didnt need to share this story, but, it just wouldnt be right if I didnt. Its the downfall of Schenley Park and it sat on my tush all night.

Next experience I have had? I drove downtown alone... This goes back to the blog that said there would be six signs wanting to lead me in six different directions... I knew where I was going, but I was still nervous. Its confusing. The roads here are so odd. Most have street lights on the sides at the corners. Last I knew, street lights were supposed to be up where everyone could see them... not in Pittsburgh. I spent most of my time trying to find where the light was to see if it was green or not... and realized afterwards that I didnt even pay attention to pedestrians! It could have been a disastrous trip, I suppose. All in all... I did it, only got lost once... and didnt kill anybody. Thankfully. The scariest part? The Fort Pitt tunnel.

I dont do well in tunnels. And, in this one, you cannot see the other side so it is extra scary to me. To top it off... there are lights that, as you are driving through, could be enough to send an epileptic into a seizure!! I dont know what they were thinking... I even had to close my eyes a few times!!

Just watch this video... (warning, if you are prone to seizures, please close your eyes if you are watching this in a dark room. haha)

At any rate, it was a fear of mine that has now been conquered. The big bad tunnel and the big bad city were ok to me. They didnt swallow me up and spit me out. They simply twisted me in circles, got me lost, then found... I'll get it next time.

Last but not least, another thing I have learned about my new city is that there are many, many storms... but their bark is MUCH louder than their bite. They roll on in to Pittsburgh, thundering and lightening, and then a little bit of rain and its gone. Now, I am sure they have some bad storms from time to time. But, after living in Florida all my life and experiencing a Florida afternoon thunderstorm on a daily basis throughout the summer, it makes Pittsburgh storms look like little red riding hood to the big bad wolf.

What I find so comical is that they interrupt programming, place a beeping warning along the bottom of the tv screen, radio DJ's warn the audience, everyone rushes to take cover...pulling out the lanterns and candles... because a storm is coming in....then...drip, drop.... its done. Mother nature is probably going to scorn me for making fun... but, frankly, I just cant help it. It has rained more days than it has been sunny since Ive been here... and each day was treated the same. Live through a hurricane, Pittsburghers... then we can talk.

Thats about it, for now...'til next time...  

"Im one of those regular weird people" ~ Janis Joplin

And The Bubble Goes Pop

I have been busy trying to re-employ myself, visiting the wave pool (which mocks my beach but is better than the lake), and learning about my new city. I am so glad that I made my move and each and every day I learn something new. Some things surprise me, others dont. But what I have discovered is this: my new reality is that my old reality of Pittsburgh was not a reality at all. Got it? It was a perfect bubble of what I thought Pittsburgh really was. Now, I am learning what it is like to actually live here and my perfect little Pittsburgh bubble had to pop faster than I could scream "JAGOFF!" Am I ready to leave? Not for a million bucks. What I am ready for, however, is to fill you in on what my new life is encountering.

Previous bubble buddy; new reality:


1. Wasps and/or Hornets and/or anything else that flies, buzzes and stings. They are everywhere!! And in mass quantities. Pools, doors, cars, porches, water fountains. You name it, they will be there. Crazy. I think I may introduce some wasp and/or Hornet and/or anthing else that flies, buzzes and stings spray to these folks. It really does work if  you use it.


2. Speaking of wasps and/or Hornets and/or anything else that flies, buzzes and stings, there are the oddest bugs up here. They have tons of spiders, flys, beetles and lightening bugs (not sure of their "proper" name) as well as these horribly ugly creatures:

The house centipede. I about flipped my lid when I first encountered one of these coming out of the drain in the bathtub. Thankfully I was still dressed and could scream for backup. After looking them up, I now see that they can sting similar to bees and wasps. Go figure.


3. Heat. Folks were lying when they named Florida the 'Sunshine State.' It is sunnier and hotter here than in Florida. I cant count the amount of times I have heard "Oh you are from Florida so you must be used to this heat, right?" Um, heck no. It is a different kind of heat. One that sizzles your skin like its frying up bacon... and, with no ocean breeze, you can even smell it frying! Horrible. But I am fond of the lovely shade of tan I am turning. Thank you, sun of Pittsburgh. By the way, I cannot wait until fall. Ahh...

4. People. They are nice. I was correct when I said that. They are alot more friendly than those in south Florida. Strangers will have conversations with you, people actually may wave when you drive by, etc. But, I have encountered my fair share of rudeness. Dang it, Pittsburgh, I liked my prior perception. Now I know that rude people have infested all parts of the country. Hip Hip Hooray.


One thing I have noticed is that I find myself being friendlier at times. I contribute this to the fact that I have about a 90% chance of getting a kind, friendly response here vs. a 10% chance in my prior city.


5. When I said you can purchase Steelers stuff everywhere, I wasnt joking. Even in July. I was at the grocery store... Giant Eagle... and after I paid for my groceries and was leaving, look at what I saw:

Their own little store inside the grocery store. Unbelievable.


Need a new purse? How about one of these 'new-for-summer styles':

Raining? Dont forget to pick up an umbrella or poncho:

I cant wait until I go back and read this blog 3 years from now as I finish washing my black car with yellow pinstripe and black and yellow spinners. Oh, and, of course, my "Go Steelers!" bumper sticker. This will have all been done while wearing my Rothlesberger jersey and black and yellow flip flops.


Then again, I shall not be a traitor. I will keep reminding myself of this so that I do not fall under the spell of Pittsburghers' black and yellow brainwashing!


6. Learning my way around has not been as difficult as I thought it would be. Thus far, I have not gotten lost. I can say, though, that having a car with a large hood makes it difficult to see as you are going around curves that are going uphill. It makes it feel like my car and I shall be dropping off into the unknown on the other side. Scary, but fun.


Thats about it for now... more to come as my new reality forms itself...


Sees ya!

"Im one of those regular weird people" ~ Janis Joplin

1,118 Miles of a Truck's Butt

1,118 miles. That is how far the trip was. Let's see... once I  left Florida, we went through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and finally Pennsylvania. It was one heck of a long drive.

Most of the trip was rather boring... trees and road. In fact, my view was this:

Yes, I followed this yellow Penske truck for 1,118 miles. At first it was kinda hard following something for so long that I couldnt see beyond... but by mile 542 I found comfort in the little truck. My eyes stared into the yellow sea of nothingness and daydreamed about the adventure I was embarking on. I was told over and over by the person behind me that my car was swaying all over the road. Perhaps that is why!

The Carolinas were beautiful. This warmed me, in more ways than one:

I LOVE cajun boiled peanuts. And, since I could never get them in south Florida and I surely wont be able to find them in Pittsburgh... picking them up when we stopped for gas was a MUST. And, to top it off, while I was chowing down on the boiled peanuts, I was staring out at all of the wildflowers that were found in the Carolinas. Beautiful! If my hands werent sticky from the nuts, I wouldve taken a picture!

Next up? Virginia... which had a very welcoming sign in their "Welcome Station" Rest Area:

When you walk into the bathroom, this sign was on every single mirror. It made me want to run to my car, put on my seatbelt and speed through their state to get to the other side. Um, Im not going to be the next fatality. How dare you even think like that! It had somewhat of a Final Destination-type effect on me. "Welcome to Virginia... its time to play... you are the next contestant on 'Are You Virginia's Next Traffic Fatality'!?!" I guess that is how they keep outsiders away.

Oh, West Virginia... how you are not much better, maybe even worse than regular ol' Virginia. Mountains, mountains, and more mountains. Did I mention there are mountains in West Virginia? Speaking of such.... Never Again!!! I felt like I was on a roller coaster for hours! My stomach spent most of the afternoon in my throat and in my hand I held a plastic bag so I could vomit as I drove. Awful, eh? We had to stop just to let my stomach settle. And... dont forget my ears were clogged and popping and my face felt swollen from my sinuses. Lovely. I dont think I will be re-visiting anytime soon. If ever.

All in all... It took us 3 cars, 2 days, 1 overnight hotel stay, and 6 people.... but we made it to Pittsburgh, unloaded the truck, unpacked, and got settled... in less than a week.

So far I havent had time to confront those worries... but I will keep yinz posted as I knock them down, one by one, with my mad ninja skills.
  

"Im one of those regular weird people" ~ Janis Joplin

Jittery Jit.. Jit..Jitters...

This is it. By the time this posts, I will have just about 4 more days as a Florida resident. Then, I will be on the long 18-hour trekk to Pittsburgh in a mini caravan of cars and a moving truck that contains every material possession I have accumulated. Scary? A bit.


I had no idea I would react the way that I am. All of the worries that I previously blogged about... I am about ready to face them head-on. It was not as big of a deal just writing about them as it is knowing that I am going to have to reach my hand out and greet them. And, of course, battle with them, fight them, throw them down and stomp on them. Im going to need alot of energy for that! Good thing I have kept my ninja skills out of the moving truck and in my back pocket.


I feel sad leaving friends and family.... I dont want to cry, but I know that I will. Im a barrel of emotions when it comes to things like that. A farewell party? I will have to warm up my vocals singing... "Its my party and I'll cry if I want to... " Maybe I can stick some tissue under my eyes and hold it on with a rubber band around my head.


The sad thing is I dont really know why I would be crying. Yes, I am leaving. Yes, I am going to miss people. But, it is not like I am not going to see them ever again. Heck, its not even like I see them all the time now! So what is the big deal?! Here is what I discovered....


My crying is a response of energy and emotions that have been built up over the last few months. I think my body doesnt know a better way to get it out. So, why not cry? Why, thank you... I think I will.


My competition... here. :-)


On the flip side, every daydream I have had for the last several months is becoming a reality. I am extremely excited. When I was younger, I feared change. But, as I have grown, I embrace it; welcome it. With that said... I look forward to:


1. Fighting with the Steelers.
2. Sliding down a hill on ice while driving someone else's car.
3. Carrying, but never having to use, my blow up raft to exit the city.
4. Learning a new language.
5. Making new friends.
6. Getting lost.
7. Getting lost.
8. Getting lost.
9. Learning how the use the GPS on my phone so I dont get lost.
10. Not having to fear lizards.
11. Seeing the change of seasons and raking leaves in the fall. (Then jumping in them as I have seen in movies. haha. Though, I am sure, as an adult, it wont feel as nice)
12. Making snow angels.
13. Discovering new places.
14. Learning to love the LAKE.
15. Hiking trails... that dont go on a flat sidewalk next to a stinky canal or swamp.


Well, that is about it. Im a ball of emotions - anxious, scared, excited, sad, dreamy - but I guess that is what new adventures are all about. It took forever for this day to arrive... next post? From my home in Pittsburgh, PA. Sees ya (Pittsburghese)

"Im one of those regular weird people" ~ Janis Joplin