Busy, Rain Filled Saturday...

Of course the weather did not cooperate with my plans for yesterday... as it was a chilly and rainy Saturday. My sister and I were going to go on Ducky_Tours as her belated birthday gift. She wanted to do this... and since Ducky doesn't open until April 10th... We went yesterday. The picture to your left would be us sitting on the Ducky transportation unit...







Of course we would not only be cursed by the chilly temps and rain... but the transportation unit was filled with 3rd grade girl scouts, with duck bill whistles. But not to fear, the scout leaders were not down for non-stop quacking, and played they "who can be quiet the longest" game... which kind of made Nat and me laugh.





As we passed pedestrians, we would have to all let out a "Quack, Quack, Quack!!!" and the vehicle actually goes into the water... as this was actually a vessel that was originally created for WWII...

Even though we have both lived in Pittsburgh all of our lives, we have never partook in this tour. And we learned a lot, well kind of. Pittsburgh actually at one time had a China Town and the FIRST hotel to have running toilets - Was the Omni William Penn.

About 9 years ago, I worked in the North Side of Pittsburgh. When I worked there they were just starting construction of several war memorials along the area where the stadiums now are. Now, please forgive any poor quality of these pictures as they were taking at the very fast speed of 4MPH on the Duck...






















In case you cannot read the pictures, the one on the left is the Korean War Veteran's Memorial and the one on the right is the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial (that is actually a lotus flower - the big surrounding fixture, not a pineapple).


After the tour, which took about an hour, we went to the Hard Rock for lunch. We sat in front of a GIANT Mick Jagger painting - by who else - Andy Warhol. Kind of neat since on the Ducky Tour we passed the Warhol Museum. And you know that we had to take some goofy pictures while passing some time...


















Later yesterday evening, we met up with some family to watch The_Blue (you know the band my step-dad (Steve) is in). The evening was interesting to say the least... Apparently, Nat ordered a drink and there was a huge receipt in the glass and the bartender didn't see it - and made the drink with the receipt in it -- gross... and we did Jell-O shots, eww they were so nasty...

cleaning up...

With all the talk about global warming, preserving our planet, driving hybrids and all that, I have been thinking lately... mostly on my way to work, as I notice all of the trash and graffiti in the city.

I want to do something - something to clean up the city I live in - something to make a difference... I want to somehow get a group of people together, get sponsors to pay for paint, garbage bags, gloves, and the rest of the essentials - and go out there and pick up the trash and paint over the graffiti (but not just leave gross blocks of paint - i want to find someone who would paint pretty murals in place of the tags)...

If anyone has any ideas for how I could get this to become a reality - let me know --

thanks

Admin Professional Day

Happy Administrative Professionals Day to all those administrative professionals out there...

Monday Margaritas...

Yesterday after work I was going to meet a friend and go get Margaritas at Mad_Mex. I had to wait for her to finish work, so I walked down to a little coffee joint to sit and wait. I was minding my own business, just people watching really, when I noticed some sort of disturbance across the street... The disturbance... an all out brawl. The police came instantaneously... I was amazed really -- I haven't seen that kind of ass kicking since I was in high school -- As I am watching the events unwind, police cars with flashing lights, bicycle cops, etc. circling the block, I was interrupted. The guy came up to me - he looked like he was in his mid-teenage years - attempting small talk... saying something about who I was waiting for... blah blah blah... KID I AM WATCHING THE ASS BEATING/POLICE OVER THERE -- LEAVE ME ALONE! He disappeared shortly after I didn't respond to some kind of question...

Shortly after, my friend arrived and we were off to get those margaritas...

I guess it was a pretty eventful night --

Sunny Days...

What a beautiful day outside, sun is shining and the temps are going to reach somewhere in the 70's... All I can say is it is about time - ha ha!

I think the weather might even be getting some people in the Earth Day (4/22) spirit. This morning I saw a ton of people wearing very stylish orange reflection vests, cleaning up trash and painting... Err wait, I think they were volunteers... they very well could have been convicts on some work release program...

Speaking of convicts, I have noticed that the past few days there have been an exorbitant amount of police driving the streets... and hiding in very unusual spots. I am gad to see that there are more cops out patrolling, especially with all the bomb threats that have been happening in the city as of late (oh and shootings), but what gets me... they don't follow the rules of the road.

They of all people should be setting an example (I am talking about non-emergency driving - you know when their flashing lights are not on). One cop cut me off the other day -- which kind of irritated me - because I know if I did such a thing - I would have gotten pulled over and ticketed. And another thing, why do they put their lights on to run red lights... and then turn them off as soon as they get through the intersection - again not fair!

SIGH!!

Well I am off to enjoy this beautiful sunny day :)

Thoughts...

For the past few days I have been trying to put my thoughts together about the tragedy at VT. I cannot believe that no one picked up on any of the warning signs. That his family didn't get him more than out-patient help, that gun laws are so, I don't know, easy to get a gun even if you have had any sort of out-patient mental care. (if your an o.p. then it doesn't go on your record... hum perhaps it needs to go on records regardless)

I am also a little disgusted by the media's reaction to all of this... every time I open CNN or turn on the television, the coverage is about the massacre. Which don't get me wrong, is a tragedy, but showing that horrible video Cho made and sent to a news station... in my opinion was not a good thing. The students of VT, the parents of those who were killed, and those who survived, don't need to see all that - over and over again. How can the healing process begin for them if this is what they constantly see? Seeing the man that disrupted their lives over and over again... bringing up the heart ache... its not right... I think we should be honoring the victims instead of publicizing the murderer.

And that is about all I have to say about that...

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I am also not sure what is going on in my town, there have been several bomb threats as of late. Many high schools and even an university were affected by the threats... What is this world coming to? Sigh...

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Perhaps I will talk of something a little more cheery, not to take away anything from the previous things I have talked about... but it is the start of the weekend, and it should begin on a good note... right?!

So I won't mention the Pens game at all...

Maybe I will just post this link and be done with it... I am sure some of you have seen it before... It has been on TV the past couple of days - the site has gotten over 5 million hits because of this short video...

Tragedy

The shooting in Virgina this afternoon leaves me speachless... It makes me afraid of working on a campus... and sometimes the lack of security that goes with that...

Tiny Bubbles... A picture story...

This morning while watching the news, the reporter said that don ho had died. I actually got to meet Don Ho when I was a lot younger (we are talking 7 years old and younger here). I was lucky enough to go to Hawaii three times in my childhood. So I thought I would share some of those pictures with you, in honor of his death...


I am not exactly sure what year this was... but I would have to say it was probably between '79 and '82... This was me way back then... shy little thing... scared to death for what was about to happen...

and then they took one of my mom and me together...

Ok finally I will get to the pictures with Don Ho... This one they got me up on stage, and I was nervous.

and this one was taken when we went to get the pictures autographed... He snuck a kiss off of my mom... he turned his head...

We also went in '83 but the only picture I can find from that trip was this one of my mom and me...

My life flashed before my eyes...

As I had mentioned previously, I had to get brakes for my car, so yesterday I had to pick up my car with the new brakes (and head light). My sister decided that she would pick me up after work and take me to get my car -- ok I bribed her with a free meal... ha!

Little did I realize that I might not make it to the mechanics alive... My sister gives road rage a whole new meaning.... traffic was bad, partly due to the construction on every (well almost every) freaking bridge in the city of Pittsburgh. And to get to the location where she had to pick me up was particularly congested.

Impatient - she didn't want to wait - and when the light went green she floored it and I about pissed myself... It was insane.... She asked if I were OK.... I said I think so and trying to calm her down a little and get her to laugh -- I said the seat will dry.

That worked... she calmed down a little -- but traffic was definitely not helping things -- it took us an hour to get to my car (it is about 10 minutes normally)...

Then She followed me home -- what's scarier than being a passenger in my sisters car? Having her follow you... ha ha!

We get home and she gets the days baked goods washed off of her and we head to the Olive Garden... it was a smooth commute -- I DROVE :) ha ha

I got her an alc beverage and all was right with the world again...

My sister and I have some of our best conversations over these dinners... last night was no exception --

Now if she could just get this driving thing under control - it would be great -- I would by her drivers ed lessons but damned if she didn't already do that when she was learning to drive....

Oh well... At least I survived

Huh?!

The other day I got an email that had the day's health headlines on it... usually I just delete the emails, but I thought I would look through this one... something had caught my eye...

It seems that its in my genes... The reason that I never smoked. I just thought it was because when I was in health class and the teacher showed us what smokers lungs looked like I was disgusted. The fact that my grandmother smoked made me, well lets just say, and unhappy child.

But I just thought it was because I hate the way it smells, and how that smell gets in your hair and your clothes not that there was scientific reasoning behind it...

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Speaking of scientific mumbo jumbo, I would love to know why the lotion for sensitive skin makes my hands break out in an allergic reaction that I can only say comes in second to the poison oak from last summer. If it is for sensitive skin shouldn't it be safe to use regardless. Apparently not.

Maybe it is my nonsmoking genes that are causing the reaction - ha ha

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The Steelers have posted their line-up for the upcoming season... I know its April and Pittsburgh is in the beginnings of Hockey Playoffs and the Pirates have just started their season... but it kind of feels like football weather out there - so what the hell...

And in case anyone is interested... here it is. I have high expectations for the Steelers this season... I don't know about this schedule... there are too many late night games, I have issues trying to stay up past half-time... The schedule makers really need to take into consideration my sleep time - ha ha...

BTW, the Pens Lost last night :(

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I have to drop my car off tonight to get new brakes, which is actually good timing since one of my headlights burnt out too... I LOVE my little car, it is really good on things, has pretty decent gas mileage, the original brakes lasted me over 30K miles and oil changes every 5K.... I think VW's are pretty great actually.... I wish, though, that they would put their all-wheel drive stuff (I forget what they actually call it) in the Jetta...

Oh well... it's tea time I think...

What were they thinking?!

Many years ago I subscribed to Harper's Magazines - Harper's Weekly (subscribe). And every week I get current event recaps - things that not only happen in the US but across the globe. Some of the events are more interesting than others -- but this one I found to be well here....


Polish burglars knocked over a sex shop in Austria, then used vibrators, prophylactics, and a vacuum cleaner to elude the police in a high-speed car chase.

I think it is the mention of the vacuum cleaner that makes me laugh the most...

This one I find more disturbing than anything... sick really...


an elementary school principal in Toronto admitted to pelting an unruly student with feces.

Ok, first that is pretty much the most disgusting thing that I have heard... Ok well maybe not the most disgusting but it is pretty damn close... second, is this teacher just carrying a bag of feces around with him just in case of unruly students? And third if that is the case, that means the teacher would have had to have premeditative thought on this one - and that's pretty sick.

Oh well, enjoy your Wednesday!

Something Good...

As I am surfing the web and my myspace page during lunch, I came across something interesting... Displace Me. A movement that is going to help displaced people in Uganda. On April 28th a handful of cities around the US are going to gather together in an effort to support these displaced people. I am surprised, yet excited that Pittsburgh is one of the cities that is doing this.

I love my city, I do... but usually it is passed over and it (Pittsburgh), has such potential for doing things, not only for the city itself - but for other things as well... such as this Displace Me thing.

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Today's_The_Day.... to find out who the baby-daddy is. Hopefully it will be one of these two that participated in the DNA tests or I think it will get even uglier than it is now. And it will take over television broadcasting worse than it is now. Sigh!

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Just two more days until lolla announces its 2007 lineup. I cannot wait...

Other than that -- not too much going on - it's cold in Pittsburgh this week - although it should be warming up by the end of the week. I guess we got spoiled over the winter (pretty mild really) and now we are paying for it :( IT SUCKS!

Easter...

Yesterday morning as I was eating breakfast I was watching Good Morning America's weekend edition. They were talking about a Rhode Island public school that wants to not call the Easter Bunny the Easter Bunny anymore. It's too religious. Now, I don't know about you, but I have to throw my 2 cents in on this one.

When I was in grade school, I went to a catholic school and when I transferred to public school I went to Sunday school until I made my confirmation. With all of that Religious teaching under my belt, so to speak, not once was it mentioned that the Easter Bunny is a religious Icon. The Easter Bunny has only been around for 70-some years I think, hardly entwined in the death and rising of Jesus.

The only thing similar about the two events is that they occur on the same day. What if it were the Passover Bunny? would that make a difference, although I think this is more the people that are all together anti-religion. And that is something I guess I don't know and will never really understand. I know I am not a hard-core religious nut, but there are things that I still do, like not eating meat during lent, and giving something up during this time. I don't go to church anymore...

I suppose these people will not be happy - but don't mess with the holiday's and the things that are supposed to bring children some happiness...

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Enough ranting, I got Easter things to do... (things for dinner). But to all of you that do celebrate Easter, have a happy one...

my office...

This is my office space -- I like it - I made it my own

Listen Up Pittsburgh....

Last night I had a Yinzer meeting. As I was sitting in the Kiva Han with another Yinzer (sipping on my hot tea because it is freezing outside - and waiting for the rest of the gang to arrive), this girl followed two guys into the coffee shop. From what I gathered, she thought the one guy looked like a guy she knew from home, and this guy also looks like some guy from a band...

This girl stated to the guys that she was in high school, 18 and from Greensburg. She came to Pittsburgh to get her nose pierced, eat some pizza, and go into the American Apparel store. (Yes, I got all this information from just sitting there listening to her conversation).

Ok so here is my idea, since Pittsburgh keeps_losing its residents, here is a way to get people into the city... Body Piercings, Pizza and get some discount cards for American_Apparel. Because if it is one thing that Pittsburgh has, it is tattoo and body piercing shops, pizza places, and that store. Hey, if people are going to come here, why not market what we have and what they want... I would have no problems at all with people coming to this fine city to get pierced - Although I don't think the place where I got my navel pierced is still open - which sucks because the lady was a nurse and that just made me feel even safer about the entire process... but that was 7 years ago - so...


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This was what I thought was going to happen... (mom I know you did too) - But I mean it makes sense, the girl had a PFA out on him and what he just happens to be at the same place she is when she gets shot. HUM --

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Easter is on Sunday, I cannot believe how early it seems to be... although I do realize it has come earlier before... It fell on Nat's birthday some years ago. But the woman I share an office with gave me a little chicken candy dispenser for Easter. It poops out the candy when you press on its head... HA HA -- it's too funny!

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I have a problem with this. Keeping students, kindergartners, quiet by using clothespins. What the hell was this teacher thinking. If you can't stand chatty kids then perhaps your in the wrong profession. And that teacher is probably glad I was not in the class (you know at that kindergarten age, not my current age). I was a feisty kid, and I would have probably told the teacher where to stick those clothes pins. HA HA! When I was younger, much younger, I took swimming lessons. While taking this lessons, the teacher was trying to get me to learn the skill of underwater swimming. So she dropped a bunch of pennies on the bottom of the pool and told me to go get them... I said something like "I don't dive for pennies, you get them." Needless to say that was the end of my swimming lessons - HA!

I need some tea and to warm up! Have a good Easter (if you celebrate it - if not then just have a good weekend!)