Safe to say I've disembarked the boat~

Six years ago we "set sail" from the Pacific Northwest and headed for the Point, where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet to form the Ohio.

I was blogging steadily through my experinces of letting go of everything I'd known and established for myself, my family.  It was challenging and at times painful... some months were one small incident after another; where as other times it would seem as if we were climbing the Mt. Everest of insurmountable obstacles. Writing was cathartic and enabled me to keep a larger swath of far away loved ones, family and friends in the know of what was going on. I'll admit I knew it had been spotty, but I was genuinely surprised to see how very little I have actually blogged in the last few years. While there are various reasons, I'd say the most likely culprit is that it's no longer an experience living here, but simply life....

LIVING here in the moment, LIVING here in our beloved East End neighborhood, working here, living HERE = HOME.

~ home is where the heart is ~

LHG has, of course, embarked on her own adventures, moving in to her first real house with someone other than her parents. College, career, travel, whatever her heart desires and we will be here in Pittsburgh supporting her as best we can. 

While we won't be moving any time soon (or EVAH), together M and I will be charting new territories as a couple. For the first time in our 19+ year history it will just be the two of us. Of course we still have the dog, jobs, bills, etcetera; but in the last year we've definitly had more time for each other and our individual hobbies, M has even taken up golf!!! I completed another Rachel Carson Challenge, albeit only 1/2 the distance as last years. We are moving in September, and revisiting where our love story begin in October. We are both working on our 6th year at our respective employers and while we aren't always madly in love with what we do, I think we would agree that we have it better than most in the professional department.





Today is so much more than I imagined for myself, for us, for our lives when I looked out a hotel room windown in Spokane, WA lo those six years ago and took this picture of all our belongings packed into a moving van towing our beloved Subaru (also packed with more belongings).



All the suffering and frustration was a means to an end... so much growth has come from the last six years. So much insight, and knowledge gained. SO MUCH LOVE experienced. SO MUCH LOVE. 

who knew...

airport love, a photo by foto fledgling on Flickr.

... six yrs. ago (nearly to the day) when this photo was taken on our way home from a wedding here in Western PA that we would be living in the hub of Western PA three years on.

I certainly didn't; but I wouldn't change it for all the world.

joy #btwdpgh @bikepgh

The first year we lived in Pittsburgh it was all still too new for me to brave riding my bike; besides the commute was easily over 20 miles round trip (not my cup of tea EVER). I'm not sure what kept me from doing it the second year... but regardless I didn't participate. So I gotta admit I feel pretty pleased with myself for riding in to work on Bike to Work Day this year.

I LOVE riding my bicycle, when I was a kid growing up in the hills of Manitou I rode everywhere with this old 10-speed (what I wouldn't give to have that bike again). I commuted with some inconsistent consistency in Seattle over the last 12 years of my life there. Rode on the weekends along the popular Burke-Gilman trail. I even managed to participate in the STP (Seattle to Portland) Ride one year (THE HARDEST PHYSICAL activity I have ever undertaken. I would rather be pregnant before I would do that again, TRUTH). 

Anyhooo... point being I am fond of cycling, and the cycling community has oft provided new friends, and connections. I almost didn't ride this morning, I've had a nagging cough for weeks now and this week had run me a bit ragged... but I decided if not today then when. So I put on my attire, packed my pack, had my honey install a recently purchased iPhone mounting contraption on my handlebars (he even carried the bike up and out when he was done), and headed out. Even though I had trouble finding the advocacy/ swag tent, and I realized about a block from work that I fergot my bike lock... it was the best thing that happened all week. 

I must remember to do that more often. 

from A to B and back again

swag.... SOCKS! AWESOME SOCKS!

beginning & end

like a flash in the pan

Summertime is nearing it's end. All in all I would have to say the Summer of 2011 was purdy durn fantastic.

• Hung out with friends I made last summer
• Made new friends and hung out with them
• Discovered the Highland Park Pool

• Ate grilled peaches, & some other fancy things my bro-in-law whipped up

• Went to a movie in the park

• Enjoyed Porch Time (a lovely reminder of my youthful summers in the south)
• Hosted family friends, and robins

five of 'em squished in there

last baby out, mom & pop were keeping an eye on him

• Went to a baseball game

• volunteered here, and there,
  
• and of course enjoyed an occasional Pittsburgh classic - Rita's Ice

But now... now I think that I am mostly ready for fall and all the fun that comes with that.

Rust Belt Brothers

what I saw of Cleveland, a photo by foto fledgling on Flickr.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rust_Belt

It's been a long time since I've been to Detroit, as in over 25 years, so I am sure my memories are skewed. and I think at the time is was thriving, not dying. Although I am hoping to make it up there in the next year or so to visit with an Uncle I haven't seen in far too long.

Recently I visited Cleveland and I must say it didn't do a whole lot for me. I was there very briefly though, so maybe that doesn't count.

I am surprised that Chicago is clustered in with these other cities, as it doesn't seem very rusty or depressed to me after my last visit.

I am glad we ended up in Pittsburgh. There is still decay... but there is also so much progress in it's efforts to renew, rejuvenate, and rejoice in what it does have to offer.

pure goodness

Recently I received an email from a gal, who works at a local independent radio station, she was letting me know she used a photograph I posted of a local yoga studio for their rotation (#4).

I first met the owner of said yoga studio at a volunteer event for said radio station about three months into living here in Pittsburgh.

I know this for sure: the choice to volunteer at the radio station absolutely contributed to the success of me living in Pittsburgh; because the owner of the yoga studio has absolutely contributed to my ability to have a supportive, loving, magical community here in Pittsburgh.


I'm excited to discover what other amazing connections are waiting to be made in 2011~

maybe more people will come visit me now!

Nine Underrated US Cities, and Why you should visit them....

check it out, half way down the page.

more validation, justification, whatever you want to call it...

"People know that Pittsburgh is a really great place for families because of safety, schools and the arts." says Wendy Hermann, director of student services for master's programs at Carnegie Mellon University. "I see students wanting that whether they're married or not. They see staying in Pittsburgh as way to say that's the kind of lifestyle they're looking forward to."

America's Best Places to Raise a Family

Seattle Love for Pittsburgh...

I was doing my usual clicking around on the interwebulars this morning and came across a blog from one of the Seattle weeklies and came across a bit about a Pittsburgh food place. I am super excited now, because my dear friend Monica, who is a foodie, will be visiting me at the end of July. I think we should check this out:

Seattle Weekly Voracious

"But really, it's the small, strange details that really give a place (and a scene) character. And now, Pittsburgh has this: Conflict Kitchen, a restaurant (well, a hole-in-the-wall, really--a literal hole in a wall) that serves, on a rotating basis, only foods from places where the U.S. is currently having a war. Or maybe threatening to have a war, considering that it opened and is going through its first iteration as an Iranian restaurant and, unless I missed something on CNN this morning, I don't believe we are currently in a shooting war with Iran.

Kubideh Kitchen

got puck?

I don't recall when I fell in love with the greatest game on ice; sports were not exactly big in my house growing up, and Colorado didn't have a pro team at the time, but some where along the line I became CRAZY for Gretzky, that little black puck, and the sound of two grown men bashing each other into the boards.

Due to limited hockey viewing access, I boxed up my little winter sport passion and tucked it away. Until... May 13, 2009; I was in DC for my work conference. While out and about one evening I walked past the Verizon Center, where a critical hockey game was going on between the Penguins and the Capitals (it in fact was the deciding game in the Penguins moving on to the final series and winning the Stanley Cup). I came back to my hotel room and called Michael.

me: "Um... Pittsburgh has a professional hockey team..."
him: "Yeah? [sarcastically] the Penguins, they're owned by Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby is their cap't... blah, blah, blah"me: "I guess I wasn't really aware of that. "him: "Are you really into hockey?"
me: "YES, pretty much the best spectator sport ever"
anyways, you get the idea. I think that had one of us not loved hockey, this past 7 months would have been even more challenging. There are a lot of games, and we are both dedicated watchers. I would even go so far as to call it date night for us. We take our place on the couch, the surround sound is turned up, the reminder is set to FSN Pittsburgh for Hockey Night. To be honest, I would go so far as to say that hockey is probably, if not the #1, at least the top three, common interests we have with the same intensity [maybe because he is a guy, and has just that much more testosterone, he likes it a little more].

So we love hockey, and in Pittsburgh the only kinda hockey there is = Penguins' hockey & and Penguins hockey is some seriously AWESOME hockey. The history of hockey in this town goes back to the late 19th century; that vein runs deep. It is a story rich with rewards and wrought with regrets, ups and downs, fall behinds and come backs... a story I can certainly relate to. A story that is now interwoven with my story.Though one thing that might not be in Pittsburgh much longer is the Igloo, the home of the Penguins for the last 40 some odd years. (Once upon a time it opened up, I can only imagine how heavenly that would have been... I digress). I didn't really imagine that we might get to see a game in the Igloo, since this was the last season the Penguins would be playing there... but after some serious persistence and sacrifice, I convinced a coworker to sell me two tickets for one of the last home games.... needless to say, that was at the top of the best moments we've had since moving to Pittsburgh, hands down. I actually giggled for the first 1/2 hour we were there. I will even go so far as to say it was up there with seeing Madonna at the Pepsi Center in Denver (and those of you who know me, know how big a deal that is). Some of the reasons for the amazing-ness of it all:

• We had fantastic seats (despite the height we were at) right behind the visiting team's goal.
• The game ended in a shoot out, more bang for your buck.
• Michael and I experienced a timeless Pittsburgh "thing" together.
• The team we were watching are at the top of their game and just might pull off the ultimate and keep the cup one more year.

I will be sad to see the season end, but the timing couldn't be more perfect... summer has arrived: there are lots of parks to walk, trails to explore, camping spots to find, BBQs to attend and have, and outside fun... and when it's raining outside, I will always have the photos:

UPDATE: April 2014, it appears embedded slideshow is broken, 

here is a link to the photo set: http://bit.ly/1jdNnLV

of all the places in all the world....

After weeks of government preparation, various causes organizing, general populous anticipation, and a lot of local media build-up the G20 made its Pittsburgh debut. Approximately two months shy of the 10 yr. anniversary of the WTO Riots in Seattle, WA (NOV1999); where I was residing at the time. My experience with both events being somewhat removed (not actively participating), although I was reminded I do know someone who participated in a peaceful protest during the WTO extravaganza and someone who wore a suit to work and was accosted (despite his having nothing to do with the World Trade Organization, just wearing similar attire)…

In Seattle my commute involved passing by the general vicinity of the marches and riots in the downtown area, but it was easily avoidable, and avoid I did. Here in pBurgh I didn’t even have to try and avoid the action, it seemed to be avoiding me despite my best attempts at getting out to photograph it. I did see some smoke bombs and police activity from the bus on Thursday, but I was on the wrong side of a crowded bus. On Friday the People’s March which started in Oakland (the neighborhood where I spend my work hours) was blocks away from where I was and by the time I was able to leave for lunch it was long gone. All I got were some pictures of sidewalk missives left the night before and a band of ragamuffins who must have eaten a pan of special brownies prior to heading out to join the march… they didn’t really know where they were going, they became distracted by the same sidewalk missives which had caught my eye… and half of their group wandered off ahead while the others stayed behind to photograph this and that.

Most of the staff in my area took vacation days, worked from home, or worked a compressed week; which meant it was uber quiet around the office. The handful of us here went out to lunch; although I am trying not to become too personally involved with anyone in the work place it was nice to be invited along and feel like part of the gang (I am pretty sure they are all mostly trying to avoid being personally involved with coworkers as well). We were let out of work early both days… which was great, except that the first day my bus didn’t come for 40 minutes… which meant I could have stayed at work and caught the same bus I normally do, and continued to dick around on-line. Ah well… luckily that was not the case on Friday and I did arrive home before anyone else and took the opportunity to crack open a beer, a bag of peanuts and listen contentedly to the local NPR coverage of Obama’s G20 Closing Remarks.

Rand on "Why Pittsburgh?"

Rand on "Why Pittsburgh?"

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I got asked that question a LOT before we left and I still get asked that question from people I talk to... I thought this piece had some good answers to the question, "Why Pittsburgh"

eating my way through Pittsburgh

My friend Monica is very particular about the food people choose to eat; for the most part she herself eats healthy, fresh food; and she was asking me about the delicacies or specialties that one might find in Pittsburgh... I explained that restaurants usually serve salads topped with fries, and sometimes even sandwiches come with fries on top. About an hour after this conversation I received the following link from her. I am pretty sure she will be expecting reports back about each of these establishments.

here, there, and everywhere

I awoke to a cup of coffee and oatmeal with my Uncle Bernhard (no one around here pronounces his name correctly either), at the butt crack of dawn. After some lovely morning chatter I headed off to spend a moment with Jeremy and start a new tradition for Mother's Day (breakfast at Ruthie's in Ligonier). After some tasty bacon, and perfect over hard eggs (yolks not broken, way to go Ruthie's), I headed into Braddock to meet Jenny and her peeps. It was a lovely day with the sun in and out behind the clouds, and I found the three gals making the most of the day: digging up the vacant lot next door. Diligently preparing the ground for a garden to grow all the makings of salsa and pasta sauce (a gal after my own heart). It was nice chatting, and having the chance to make two more friends. I am looking forward to having them over for enchiladas (they are all craving decent Mexican, and Michael makes a mean pan of chicken enchiladas) when we have completed the move and start to settle in.

After feeling like a lunp of uselessness (I wasn't exactly dressed for hard labor), I headed into the city to meet my other new friend, Michael (cause just what I need is one more of those in my life) who promptly showed my that P*brgh has decent local coffee (they even had coconut syrup!). After briefly sitting, sipping, and giving cliff notes on our lives, he, ever so graciously, offered to give me the delux private tour of where to and where not: beginning in Shady Side, a quick jaunt along Liberty Ave then back south through Squirrel Hill, a jump on the East Parkway to Mt. Washington over to the North Shore and back again to Shady Side; a true gentleman.



It was a lovely day exploring, and I am can't wait to get here permanently and do some more of the same. It was a lot, but so worth the plethora of information intake.

not a girl scout thing

I am headed , solo style, to the 'Burgh on Saturday for a lil' look see and what have you, before I continue on to a work conference in DC.

Initially the huz was going with me so we could check it out together, but plans change, life happens.... now I am headed east on my own. I admit to being a little happy about the chance to see my new home through my own eyes; the guy has a tattoo of the area code on his leg for cryin' out lawd. What little I've seen is from the point of a passenger driving along I-376 on our way to Ligonier, PA; and the one night at Station Square with a trip up the Monongahela Incline.



The idea of driving 'round random neighborhoods with no paticular destination, no choice but to take a route I know nothing about is enchanting. There are "paths" we travel in Seattle so often that when Michael is in the driver's seat I can close my eyes and envision exactly where we are along the way.

to be able to go here, there, everywhere, anywhere, nowhere