Iowa

Iowa

Sunday, October 4, 2009

I'mmmmm Back

Thanks to all who have inquired and nagged. I am back.
Autumn has arrived in Pittsburgh. Rain, cool weather, little sun. More like November weather. I admit, the furnace has come on. Shame on me.
Lots of happenings in the 'burgh. G 20 Summit with lots of changes in traffic, daily routines and in news coverage. Phipps hosted the G 20 dinner on Thursday night. HP, one of the administrators in my direct line of supervision, stood with President and Mrs. Obama in the Welcome Center, along with LM, the woman instrumental in my being hired at Phipps. HP said it was pretty neat. Phipps was very busy preparing for the international guests, and the Conservatory looked lovely.
I have taken a number of pictures at the Conservatory and have some of them shown here. Hans Frabel is the glass artist that created the clowns, jokers and flowers here. Chihuly still has pieces at Phipps, but I like the Frabel pieces better. They are whimsical and fun. I watched a video of how he creates them, and they are hand created, not from a mold. The detail on them is astounding. Such a talent.
Monkeyboy has been playing fall ball and I love it, of course. They are beginning to pitch the ball. He is a great pitcher, strong arm and very accurate. He has been hit by a pitched ball several times, but "carries on for the team".
Bean's guitar lessons are amazing. Both kids have an ear for music and it amazes me how well they play. Both of their instructors have commented that they are their best students.
Rainy day for homecoming here last week. Rainy and cold. We splashed our way to the parade route with umbrellas up banging them into one another. Mr. G joined us. Quite a crowd. Ty's mom, Ginger and Skipper, Mr. G., Mary Rose G, Monkeyboy, Mippy, Bean and Bird as well as myself. Umbrellas are a pain, in addition to being dangerous! One can get poked in the eye by people turning to call your attention to the idiots riding in a convertible in the pouring rain. Who would have a brand new Corvette with the Queen of the Hockey Team in her strapless gown, shivering with hair dripping wet...waving and smiling, teeth chattering? Oh, did I mention the top was down? It was.
Parade was quite a bit shorter this year, I suppose because of the rain. People in cars and floats throw candy to the crowd...or should I say AT the crowd. It landed on wet streets, in puddles and in the grass. The kids raced to pick it up and plop it in bags, parents saving it for halloween to give away. Times are tight, you know. So, watch for those penny (quarter) candy that no one likes to eat and end up giving away. Never the good stuff, of course. By halloween, it should have dried out somewhat. Bean was dancing up the street with her umbrella. I tried to put it on the blog, but it doesn't seem to work.
I am getting to know the people at Phipps. Kay has a delightful sense of humor, teases Alex all the time about his wild weekends. Alex is one of our supervisors. Kerry is patient and teaches me things on the computer and gives me hints about the job. HT is our manager and is great fun as well as being very organized and knowledgable. She is especially fun to tease with and together we all make the day go quickly. I cannot stress how wonderful it is to work in an environment that has people happy and wanting to be there. The public comes through and comments on "peaceful, beautiful, one of the best Conservatories they have seen". HT remarked that she is going through some of life's greatest stressors and all at once...living with friends, buying a house, switching jobs and moving to a different city. And she maintains a sense of humor...probably helping her to stay sane. Truly a bundle of energy who is always looking a problems and asking for input into solutions.
My brother and sister-in-law are heading for the 'burgh at the end of the week. Means I have to clean. Not that I don't clean, but when you have overnight guests (is family guests?) I feel a need to clean a little more thoroughly. I don't know why, they know what a slob I am.
Much of the garden is dying for the winter. Although I will miss sitting and reading, I love the autumn with the changing of the leaves. And winter to me is a time to hibernate and store energy for spring and summer.
New fall shows have started. They took The Unit off, much to my chagrin. But NCIS is on, and I like the new show, The Good Wife. And of course, Criminal Minds. I watched the movie, The Wrestler, with Mickey Rourke. Excellent, but sad.
Steelers are on tonight. They have lost their last two games. Here is hoping they will pick up the pace tonight. I don't know if Troy will be playing tonight, but the Steelers need him.
That's it for now. Enjoy your Sunday!

18 comments:

Bill said...

Mia, it's so good to see you back! I checked in after both Steeler games and thought that you were probably in a great depression! Great story about the homecoming parade. You didn't mention the homecoming game though. It has been cold and rainy here, a hint of things to come, I fear.

SassySam said...

How sad for the OUEEN OF HOCKEY???? Is there really such a thing? It would require shopping for a new dress for the Homecoming Dance, which, as we all remember, is the highlight o the fall social season in high school. Mine was a pale yellow...short for homecoming, long for prom. Come to think of it, had it been long for homecoming, I could have cut it off for prom. No, it is more fun to shop for a new one. So glad you are back Mia.

Cathy said...

*dancing, dancing, dancing* Mia's back! So glad! Your job sounds delightful. It is so nice to actually do something that brings you joy and to get paid for it. And the glass is really pretty and fun. I went to Frabel's website, and his work is amazing. At first I thought it had to be done in a mold, but looking him up, he does it all by hand. Maybe the Steelers are going to win this week. I'll keep my finger crossed for Troy. (I don't know who he is) My husband cried when The Unit went off. We didn't even know it until we went to their website.

SocialWorker2 said...

Poor HT, that sounds awful! Glad she is holding up. Think of how calm things will be in six months. That glass looks wonderful! And I like the picture of Monkeyboy. It must be such fun to watch that. I'm glad to see you are blogging again, Mia. It's fun to see your post and the comments. Seems like everyone missed you. I check four or five blogs daily, and I almost skipped yours today! Glad I didn't. Welcome back.

Tigger said...

Oh, my, Mia. Had I known your email address, I would have inundated you with reminders that we all missed your posts and were worried about you. So very glad you are back. I knew you would enjoy the conservatory. It's where I go in the winter when I need to be with plants here. It has been rainy and cold here also. The poor queen that got soaked. Why would they put the top down anyway? That's hysterical about the candy. I always buy stuff that I like so that if I have it left over, I can eat it. Works for me. Soooo glad you are back.

Lori said...

Our homecoming dance was in the gym and I wore a dress that I thought was very daring. By today's standards, it was nothing. But I had a hard time convincing my father it was okay to wear. Didn't go to prom, broke up with the guy (really? He dumped me two weeks before prom). Funny how those things seem so important at 17 and so trivial now. I also am glad to see you back Mia. Kept checking to no avail. It's been gloomy here also.

Ben said...

Finally you are back Mia...I thought I would have to come to Phipps just to find out what was new! Just getting ready to watch the Steeler game and thought I would check, and lo and behold, here's Mia, with her usual laughter producing post. Homecoming and Prom bring back lots of memories, most of which are good. I don't think Troy is back yet. Glad to see you, Mia!

Kevin said...

The word has spread throughout the world, Mia is back. I was thinking she got back on the plane and was stuck on the tarmac. I didn't even know that The Unit was on the line to be cut. Very disappointing. Was there an announcement? We are at the mercy of the TV stations. Maybe cable will pick it up.

Another Original by Tamara said...

Yay!!!Mia's back. Yes, I felt like a granny, worrying and worrying even though I knew all was well. You made up for the lapse Mia, with all the fun topics. I remember the crazy and chilly h.s. nites decorating the homecoming floats. Never made it into the Court but remember cheering around the bonfires. Prom for me was a disaster. Mom kept saying, you have to go....

I love Troy's hair, his smile and his wonderful aura. He will make a delightful father. What sport was it that he is to play? Will make it to Phipps hopefully soon to see the Rain Forest Theme. And lastly, really nice to hear from all the fellow bloggers too. How funny is that? I hope everyone will come back.

Angela said...

My husband is watching the game and yelling. I'm not sure why, I just know that he woke me up. Mia, we are all so glad you are back. I am going to look up the glass on the internet, they look wonderful. My mom forced me into the prom, too, Tamara. It was a disaster. Wish I had stayed at home! I will never do that to my kids. But then, it was a different time. It is good to see everyone back!

Tim said...

I really had to cheer hard for that win. My legs are tired.

Jen said...

Oh my gosh, mia is back. I had about given up on her and I am so glad to see our old gang here. I saw the movie also, mia and it was excellent. I think he should have won the academy award for it. I don't like Criminal Minds, but I do like NCIS. I like NCIS LA too. Homecoming sounds like a disaster in the rain. Mine was a disaster also. I went with a guy from another school that I had invited and it turns out he had been "involved" with the homecoming queen from my school and he just kept hitting on her all night.

Jessica said...

You did a good job cheering, Tim. I think I saw you on the sidelines beside Rush Limbaugh. How frightening is that???? Rush, not you Tim. I can't remember my prom much, but I do remember the dress. I have it saved in case one of my daughters want it, yeah, that's going to happen! So glad to see you back with us, Mia, and most of the gang seems to be winding their way back. Nice to see everyone!

Elizabeth said...

I think Mia generally posts on Thursdays or Sunday's. This was the first Sunday I didn't check in a month, and she posts! Glad to see everyone and glad Mia posted. Did anyone have a good time at Prom?? I didn't go, so I can't comment on that. We who were left out had a sleepover and watched movies, had popcorn and giggled the night away.

Nate said...

I had to ask my cousin to go to prom and swear her to secrecy. I was (still am) very shy and couldn't stand the thoughts of rejection. She still tells me I owe her.

Alllie (Cat) said...

How fun to be checking blogs and see Mia's. I did miss see her blog and everyone's comments. Those pictures are great, I love the glass, it looks like such fun. And it's nice that you work in such a pleasant environment.

Nate said...

Your story about the candy and Halloween was funny, Mia. We could never keep candy in the house for a whole month. I agree with Tigger, get the stuff you love so you can enjoy also. The glass is interesting. I live the ones of the clowns on the balls.

ginger said...

Well, better late than never. I kept checking in for the new blog and then I missed it by a week. Glad your'e back, Mia. Love the new pictures.

I went to an all girls school and we didn't have a homecoming parade.
We did have a senior prom and guess what? Old Ginger was prom Queen. You got elected by your peers, so I guess the other girls liked me. I never got my senior high class book so never got to see my picture in it. Oh well, the memories are still there.

Yes, the Steelers won but they gave us another nail biter so they have got to stop that second half nonsense and get it done right.