Back Again

It's been a long six months, but I am back. Made it through winter and am now dealing with summer. From one season to another.
Our annual trip to New York City was spectacular. We took the Megabus from Pittsburgh to NYC. We left here at 7:00 AM and we were checking into the hotel at 3:00 PM. It was on a newer bus, double decker. We got in line early so the four of us could sit together. We watched people line up, and thought that they were cutting. So we got out of line and got behind them. Turns out they line up backwards and we would have been first, but alas, we were about 20th. Monkeyboy wanted to be first so he could sit on the top front of the double decker bus, but we couldn't make it. Megabus is wonderful. They are clean, and on time. The four of us traveled for a total of $84 round trip. Well, there was that slight problem on the way home. As we were coming up Summit hill we pulled over to the side of the road. The driver got out, looked at the back of the bus, got back on and we lumbered up the mountain. A few miles later he pulled over again, and this time he came into the bus and said that the coolant line had broken or something. So we spent two hours at the Get Go. The weather was perfect and we all had books to read, so it was fine. Really it was.
There were a few college students on the bus. The one sitting next to Monkeyboy and Mippy talked on his phone for almost 4 hours non-stop. I never knew a man to do that. It was amazing. His battery would have died, but they have outlets on Megabus as well as internet. Internet would probably have been quieter. His battery did die at the rest stop, but he charged it again immediately upon boarding the new bus. The new bus had the air conditioning on. It really wasn't warm enough for air, so Mippy asked him to turn it off. He misunderstood and turned it up. When we realized that it was getting even colder, she asked him again. Apparently, he was new and couldn't figure out how to shut it off, so it was a cold ride back to Pittsburgh, but other than that, the trip on the Megabus was fine. Much better than being stuck in an airport for 20 hours.
Swimming is always a big part of our trip and Monkeyboy has come so far this year. Diving for money at the bottom of the pool, swimming the width of the pool. Bean and I also having fun in the pool.
We saw "The Adams Family" and Bean and I went to see the NYC Ballet. Monkeyboy and Mippy went to see The Harry Potter Exhibit.
We ate a couple of good restaurants and saw the Burton Morris Exhibit at POP.
Monkeyboy told a joke in the restaurant that sent us all into gales of laughter...well, not Mippy, but Bean and I about choked as we laughed so hard.
Bean had the starring role of Belle in "Beauty and the Beast". She was excellent and of course, we gave her a standing ovation.
And of course, it is baseball time. I believe Monkeyboy is one of the best pitchers on the team. Their team has had a winning season so far, and tournament ball is about to start.
I finally did the bathroom after many months of procrastination. Pulled my back out reaching that one corner, not totally unexpected.
I am doing volunteer work at Animal Friends here in Pittsburgh. I love walking the dogs, and they each have their own personalities. Belle is a mixed breed, very gentle, who loves to lie next to me and be scratched on her head and back. Most of the dogs are mixed breed, but some are not. Ripley is a basset hound, who walks slowly to examine each blade of grass, but whose short legs race across the parking lot to get to the grass. Miss Tiny is a beagle who is being pursued by Prudence. Both are female, although Prudence does have a beard. She is a bit....well, maybe more than a bit....overweight. She is a delight, but has to rest as she is being walked due to her weight. Here is a link to their website if you would like to see them.
www.thinkingoutsidethecage.org
The butterflies are flying at Phipps. And our summer show is pretty spectacular. We are getting all kinds of international visitors and it's fun to listen to them talk about how much they like our city.
Pirates are playing pretty good baseball, so we are following the team a little more now. Had a couple of sell out games with Philly...go figure. And we won 2/3 games! We truly are a sports town!
Well, I hope I haven't lost too many viewers. How was your winter/summer? We seem to have missed spring. Hope you are all well!

January in the 'burgh

Sunny and 45 degrees. Snowy and 8 degrees. 28 and icy. Welcome to Pittsburgh!
The Steelers did it and what a game against the Ravens. It was a quiet week here before the game. I think the team set the tone. Focus. No smack talk from us. A pep rally on Friday was the biggest news. The game looked awful the first half, but out team came back and defeated the Ravens. It's on to the Jets on Sunday. Get ready, Tim!
As you can see, the picture is hung. Few things that I want to do yet, but for now it is hanging and looking pretty good!
This would be a good time to do things in my house that I never want to do in the warmer weather. Problem is, I don't want to do them now. The freezer in the basement...well, let's just say that it should not even be there. I don't know why it is. It needs defrosting. Yes, that's right, I said defrosting. It has had much of the same food there for several years. Probably, the food isn't any good, but it seems wasteful to throw it out. The same problem exists in the freezer in the kitchen. But at least that one doesn't need defrosting.
Then there is the bathroom. For years, I have been saying it needs something. I keep thinking that it would be a wonderful winter project. Maybe if I take a nap those horrible thoughts will escape.
Why is there always something to be done in my house? No matter how much I do? Does someone or something sneak in at night and mess up the attic or the basement?
I have this problem. I know that this is the time of the year to tackle these things, but when it is dreary and snowy I just want to get OUT of the house. Cabin Fever, I believe, is the malady that strikes. For instance, today it is dreary. Yesterday it was sunny. So yesterday, I thought I should get errands done since it might snow. And today it looks like snow, so I am going to lunch with my friend and to the mall for a haircut. BECAUSE...it might snow tomorrow.
I know, it makes no sense. But my hair will look better. Which means I have to get a shower and wash my hair so Donald doesn't think I never take care of my hair. And it will be clean and shiny when he washes it and cuts it.
Some days I just go out of the house looking like.....well, you know. No shower, hair a mess, old sweats on that are stretched and torn. And I swear, I am just going to get some gas for the car and maybe stop for some wine. And that is the day that I see everyone. I try to ignore, but noooo, the yell my name and wave madly across the gas pumps. And I'm pretty sure the man who takes care of me at the wine store is the husband of the woman with whom I work. I look like a street person craving for my next drink. So within the space of one mile, I have seen four people that I know or are acquainted with and now they think that I am the eternal slob.
Next week CATS is coming to Pittsburgh. Our gang is going, and I am excited. I love CATS and all the music and dancing. Guess that means a shower and shampoo.
Stay warm.

And So We Begin a New Year

Happy New Year. I hope this new year finds you in wonderful spirits and in good health.


And I hope your Christmas was wonderful. Mine was probably the best in a few years. Family and friends...work and play. Much work since Phipps was open in the evening, but I like the people with whom I work and we make it fun. Mippy and Bean came in to see the exhibit, as did Sprout. Mippy embarrassed Bean by shoving aside small children so she (Mippy) could plant her basil or whatever.


At this time of the year I think of indoor projects that need completed. I don't know why, I guess to keep me somewhat sane. The first project was enlarging and framing a print that I had from our annual trip to New York. I went to the local shop that I use to enlarge photos. We discussed size and I thought 11x14 framed would be large enough. NOT. So, today I went back and got it enlarged to 18x22 for a frame of 22x26. A wonderful, helpful man helped me choose the color of the mats and I am now waiting for the mat board to come in so I can cut it. The picture on this blog is of the smaller one, but just wait till you see the finished product on the wall. It should be perfect. I have a number of my photographs hanging in my home and each one seems better than the last. Photography gives me a great deal of pleasure. And playing with the prints is part of that pleasure.


The other picture that I posted is one that Bean made for me. I love it. I don't know how she did it and if she reads this, perhaps she can explain it. She has made seveal pictures for me over the years, and I treasure each of them and have them displayed.

Monkeyboy got a cell phone for Christmas. He has learned the art of texting. Oh, my. Gadgets. How kids love them. I guess we all do.

Speaking of ballet (well, I was when I was talking about Bean's picture), I went to see The Black Swan over the holidays. It was very intense and others have described it as "dark". Darren Aronofsky is the director who also directed The Wrestler. Natalie Portman, the Swan, began training for the production about a year prior to the movie. I am not a ballet dancer, but I think she did an excellent job for one who was not a professional dancer. It is about a dancer who becomes obsessed with being perfect, not only as the white swan, but as the black swan. She has a mother who was a typical stage mother, pushing her to the limits, which literally drove Portman crazy. Barbara Hershey played the mother and it was a perfect role for her.



Do you make New Year's resolutions? I think about changes I would like to make, but I try not to make "resolutions" since, in the past, I have made them and they have fallen by the wayside by January 2. The one that I did keep was to stop smoking, which I was finally able to accomplish. Took many tries, but it has been many years since I have had a cigarette. Sometimes, though, the desire still hits.

It's Beginning.....

I won't even say it...I will just say that winter has arrived with a vengeance. Bitter cold...not really, but it feels like it. Snow.

I came home from Phipps on Monday night (we are open now until 10:00 PM) and it was blizzardy. Snow covered roads, cold, blowing snow. Of course, no salt thrown in the city until morning. Thank goodness for the new tires.

My brother will be happy to hear...no music. He doesn't much like the music I put on this site. So to you...Merry Christmas, I won't put any music on here for you to have to listen to and about which to complain. It's OK, he's my brother, he can complain.

Alas, another friend has been diagnosed with cancer. It makes me incredibly sad, but can I just say this...I got an email from her. She was diagnosed a week ago, and her outlook is incredible. Positive. Upbeat. Hopeful. Accepting. Here's to you J, you are my inspiration.

OK, I am sick of winter. Sweeping/shoveling snow. And it is December. And I ask...when will this end? I know, it is only beginning. And white Christmas....forget it. Give me a warm, sunny day.

I'll stop whining.

Positive stuff only....

I figured out my grab bag gift and, as usual, it is wonderful. As you may remember, and if you don't...I'll remind you. First year was a framed, autographed picture of myself. Wonderful, if I may say so. Next was the postage stamps with my picture on them. A tremendous hit, it I may say so. Next....M&M's with my picture on them. EVERYONE wanted them. This year tops it all. Wait till they see this one! Aren't you all curious? Mippy asked "what will your face be on this year". She just wants the gift. And when Monkeyboy chooses it, when it is her turn, she will grab it. I'm pretty sure there will be a humongous fight over this one. And don't let Bird fool you, he wants my gifts, even though he says he takes them out of pity.

I have found some wonderful gifts and have done most of my ordering on line. Most of it is here, although I am worried about one. I got an email that told me to quit going to the mailbox. They were only going to ship beginning this week, so stop looking. They would email me when I should start looking. Only one gift was wrong, and there is time to fix that one.

Ava is doing well, running and jumping about. Curling up with me to sleep. I so would love to have a dog, pets are such a wonderful thing.

OK, time for bed for me...actually, well past bedtime for me. Have a great week!

Feeling That Thanksgiving Dinner

It was a wonderful dinner, and I hope yours was as well. I say it took us thirty minutes to eat...Mippy said it took us thirty minutes to fill our plates, sit down and then eat. It amazes me the work that goes into the dinner and how quickly it is devoured. But it was oh, so good. And such a relaxing day. And the turkey was done to perfection this year, thank goodness.
Bean is looking great on her pointe shoes, and after such a short time.
And Monkeyboy is racing about on his blades, playing hockey and loving it.
The tradition here is to have everyone decorate my tree after Thanksgiving dinner. It was amazing to see over the years how the kids decorate. Initially it was seeing who could unpack and put more decorations on the tree. Now the kids actually try to do it so there aren't too many of the same color in the same place. It is smoother and more fun this way. I believe a good time was had by all.
Phipps is very busy this weekend. It is the opening of their winter show. So many people coming in with their children dressed up in their holiday finest to have their picture taken. I was in the Palm Court today, selling memberships. It is interesting to see families and how they get their children to sit still, to pose, to smile. Parents making faces, jumping up and down, and yes, cajoling children to smile with bribes of food to come. And then I become the photographer that takes the family picture. Always someone with closed eyes, fussing with their hair, poking a sibling. One family had triplets and two other children. That was a bit humorous, with one of the triplets crying, the other hitting and the third laughing at the first.
I already ordered on line and should be getting many of the things in the mail this week. It's more fun for me to get them in the mail than to go to the mall. I try my best to stay away from the mall at all costs.
The Steelers barely won today. Had me on the edge of my seat. The new kicker did an excellent job of winning the game for us.
Have a great week, and see you soon!