closing the Face Book Chapter

Lots of friends I met at work

I initially joined because after a few months of people asking and past the point of us notifying people we were moving away from Seattle I concurred it seemed like an easy enough way to stay in touch with our people; the community I built up over the 16 years we had lived in Seattle. Folks I'd met through work (mostly), through kid activities, random events, or mutual friends;  Other Coloradans who had migrated to the NW.  Friendships that carried us along through some challenging times and celebrated with us when the occasion arose; essentially the village that helped raise my daughter for 14 years... 

Life Long "Villagers"

I hadn't expected it but of course, as happens, I did end up connecting with people I had gone to elementary - high school with...

EVEN friended a few folks I met during my 7th grade yr. (living with my grandparents in the South)...

many many moons ago.... 

and it made sense that with my little one turning the corner into teendom, I figured I should have an account so that I could keep an eye on hers (although she has since even grown out of FB and moved onto Tumblr (which I don't have and don't care too)...

it goes by so so fast. 

Then... FB became a tool for connecting with people, and places here in Pittsburgh and wow did I ever connect. The thing that has made all the difference, for me here in terms of assimilatin' n'at, are the people who have brought me into their own communities. The folks who have literally opened their hearts and homes to my entire family - because of that our story in PGH is easily a successful mid-life-quit-our-jobs-move-cross-country experiment.

Pittsburgh Ladies KNOW how to inspire! 

Families, Fun, Friends

I was thinking about the weekend I "swung by da'Burgh" for a weekend two months before we  moved here, and realized all these amazing, talented, loving people were here going on about their lives, and even if inadvertently, making space for us in them. I could not be more grateful.  

You can take the girl out of the Burgh... 

For all this and more yes I have indeed took advantage of Facebook; but I think its usefulness isn't what it used to be. I've used both Flickr and Twitter to assure future interactions with new people who came into my life and for the ones who are already in it, I've decided there are other better methods of keeping those synapses active. One of those being the US Postal System. I LOVE MAIL, real touchable tangible mail. I love receiving and sending it and I feel that given the state of the system I better get my use out of it now, before the whole thing goes kaput.

But you can't take the Burgh out of the Girl!!!! 

There is also email, text, telephone, facetime and or skype, and for some there is even LinkedIn. The kid is nearly off to start her own young adult life, and for those connections I have made which are unable to survive my departure from facebook I can only offer up my appreciation for sharing this strange social network experience with me and wish you all the best.

I'm looking forward, actually, to spending more energy on my hobbies, my mid-life, my honey, LIFE in general. 

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

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~