Pittsburgh Girlie

Back to School (aka my countdown)

Photo Credit: Leo Reynolds

This is my last fall semester. Last for a while at least. I will eventually (or perhaps not so eventually) go back and get my masters, or something. Maybe I’ll just be so bored with all my free time that I’ll start taking classes again. Who knows.

With my current job, at a university, I have the luxury of just taking classes or auditing. I don’t have to worry about tuition or fees. Just an overly obnoxious form that I have to hunt down my boss and have a “chat” with him about my classes before he’ll sign. Actually that makes it sound like it’s awful. It’s really not. My boss, he’s pretty cool with all this.

My current countdown stands at 3*. There’s an asterisk because the actual count is 6. I requested incompletes in my 2 classes last spring. One of those classes has one project left. It would be done if said university had not deleted the software I needed. *sigh* So that is on hold and thankfully my instructors are super understanding. The other class? Um, yeah I was supposed to work on completing over the summer, but that didn’t happen. I have until the end of this semester to do that. *gulp*

My plan for the summer had been to not take classes. Until I found out that I could graduate in MAY 2011. GRADUATE! Like BE DONE! I’ve been taking classes since… (runs off to check unofficial transcripts…) Summer 2003. I’m vaguely burned out and I think I’m allowed to be. I dare you to tell me I’m not. I won’t listen anyway.

I don’t know how I’ve been working full-time, taking classes part-time, buying and handling a house, among the other things that get thrown at me. Please don’t ask me. If I think about it, it just falls apart. I just do it. I don’t have a choice. Well, I do. I always have a choice, but the other options were very much less desirable.

Summer, right…distracted much… I ended up taking 2 classes in summer mini 1. Somehow I ended up already having done much of the work for these classes. That was super easy. Then I was talked into taking a summer mini 2 class. Silly Beth. Again I requested an incomplete and I have until the end of this fall term to finish.

For those of you playing along at home, that’s 2 active classes and 3 incompletes that I’m finishing up on my own time. It’s going to be December before I know it.

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Easter Egg Hunt

I posted a question on Twitter this morning and got a slew of answers. It seemed like it could be ripe for further discussion not limited to 140 characters.

How old is too old for an Easter Egg hunt?

Context for your answer would be appreciated, such as; “15yr olds might gripe about it, but secretly they love helping the little kids out.” Or; “20yr olds should just go buy their own candy, I mean really.”

So, what do we think?

UPDATE 4/8: No egg hunt, never really came up. *shrug* Beth 1 – Easter 0

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Running

When I say running I feel like I’m lying to you a little. What I’m really doing are intervals. Seems silly to say that I’m intervaling though. Is that even a word!? I’m listening to mixes from Podrunner and they are fantastic. I’ve been using these for a while and just discovered the Podrunner Intervals and I love them. I love that they are free; and I really should buy a shirt from them.

I know there are iPhone apps, like Couch to 5K etc, but I wanted to use my Nike+ to track progress and goals. (I have an older Nike+ that only works with my Nano.) The Nike website is a bit bulky and obviously really heavy on the advertising. But, it integrates nicely to twitter and Facebook. I normally don’t like a lot of things between these accounts, however with this the tracking and mini-kudos I get are great.

My brother and sister got me the Nike+ a couple years ago for Christmas. They kept asking what they could get me and I’m loathe to tell people to spend monies on me, especially when I know they don’t really have it. The unit was just under $30 and I still felt terrible asking for it. But I absolutely love it! I spent something like $3 on a pouch for the Nike+ fob that attaches to my shoe laces.

I run in the mornings before work and it really has made me feel better during the day, even if I’m starving. The downside is that I don’t get to brag about it until the evening. When I sync’d Monday evening I got a super cute and lovely “*cheers*” from@aPSUmama. I know she runs and I’m a little jealous that she ran in high school and can run faster/farther/better than I can. But that little congratulatory nudge made getting up on Wednesday morning just a little bit easier.

So, almost one week down. Something like 12 weeks until The Skirt Chaser 5K

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One Day at a Time…

I ran Monday morning. It was super hard to get out of bed, but I knew that I’d be very disappointed if I didn’t get up and just do it. In fact one of the best pieces of advice I got was from @BurghPotPie, “Put on shoes. Propel yourself forward.” I also got loads of advice and encouragement from all over, some unexpected places.

I ran Wednesday. I had to cut it short though and I’m really bummed about that. My ankle hurt. A lot. I had noticed it after I ran on Monday, but I couldn’t pinpoint any reliable movement that would make it twinge. I assumed it was from using muscles I don’t usually use and slapped a brace on it for the evening. But when my whole right foot was in pain and I kept dragging the toe of my shoe up the treadmill I knew it was time to stop. I slowed to a really slow walk to cool down, stretched, and grumbled at myself a lot. Not too interested in really messing up a limb that I kind of like and use quite often.

I will run Friday morning. Even though it means my Friday is going to be reallllly long. I will. I will.

Things I’ve noticed this week:

1. I don’t mind mornings so much, at least not now that the birds are up and chirping away.
2. I need to go to bed waaaaay earlier than I have been if I’m going to continue getting up so early.
3. I’m going to have to figure out better food and a better schedule of eating said better food.

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He said…

“I love you dad. And you Beth. Know why? Cause you teach me math. And who doesn’t love math, am I right?”

It completely breaks my heart that I can’t give the world to this kid, cause I totally would. But it’s very much not my place and I’ve already stepped on toes inadvertently.

I just hope he knows that his dad and I would move the earth for him.

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Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Last night I went to a concert. I bought tickets on a lark. I knew I had heard and liked this group. What I didn’t realize was how much I had actually already heard from the group. I was surprised how many people recognized their name, simply because I had just discovered them. I bet you’ve heard them too.

Here is a Lifesaver’s commercial that I know you have seen if you lived in the US in the 90’s.

Their biography is really long, so I pulled some of it over here for you.

The group has recorded with numerous artists from around the world besides Paul Simon. Some of these include Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Dolly Parton, Ben Harper, Mavis Staples, Andreas Vollenweider, The Wynans, The Coors and George Clinton. Their film work includes a featured
appearance in Michael Jackson’s video “Moonwalker” and Spike Lee’s “Do It A Cappella”. Black Mambazo has provided soundtrack material for Disney’s “The Lion King Part II”,  Eddie Murphy’s “Coming To America”, Marlon Brando’s “A Dry White Season”, James Earl Jones’ “Cry The Beloved Country” and Sean Connery’s “League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen”.  They also can be heard singing the theme song to a children’s tv show, in the USA, called “Land Before Time.”

You can watch/listen to the video for Land Before Time. (Really, I know you want to click. I know you watched and own all the movies too…wait, that’s just me? Crap.)

Anyway, the concert.

I was at first disappointed that there were no images or videos of birds or something to do with the songs being projected. After the first song I really appreciated it being just them on the stage. I could really feel the music. And it was obvious that they were having a great time. I remembered my mom telling me that her favorite concert was just the artist and his piano on the stage. That was Elton John and I bet it was like magic.

A few months ago I saw a concert that was similar. I saw Keller Williams. It was one man and lots of instruments. The concert last night with Ladysmith Black Mambazo was many men and one instrument. And it was simply beautiful.

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Bus Driver Win

I was over in the South Side the other day and saw a really impatient car behind a 54C that had stopped, people were coming off/getting on. The car behind just leaned on the horn. I definitely got a chuckle out of the impatience. Other people on the sidewalks were given it funny looks too.

Here’s how it unfolded:

1. Bus stops at green light to exchange passengers.
2. Car impatiently leans on horn.
3. Bus is done with passengers, light is still green.
4. Car, still impatient, leans on horn again.
5. Bus closes doors.
6. Bus sits there.
7. Car horn.
8. Bus sits.
9. Light turns yellow.
10. Bus pulls through.
11. Car stuck at red light.
12. And there was much rejoicing!

That was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. (That last sentence was probably an exaggeration.) But, I mean it’s really up there with the time I was helping my mom move, driving a huge-ass truck for her, and I pulled into the center of two lanes that were merging because some jerkheads kept sneaking up along the sides. My brother high-fived me for that one.

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Cell Phone Etiquette

This is definitely going to be a ranty-style post. I will start by saying that I keep my cell phone on silent/vibrate. This is the best option for me and I realize it won’t be the best option for everyone. That said, there are circumstances where it really is the best option.

Like during lectures.

I really do not understand why students keep their cell phones not on vibrate. You are in and out of classes and other meetings all day. I’d be an advocate of just turning them off/down while in class; but, I get it, it’s hard to remember to do that. Off… On… Off… On… I get it and this is why I just leave mine off.

Some people won’t hear or feel it vibrating. Missing a call while you’re IN CLASS AND CAN’T ANSWER ANYWAY (or really shouldn’t answer – though I’ve seen it happen) WILL.NOT.THE.WORLD.END! I was in a class, the lecture was just getting started and I shit you not, the kid in front of me answer his phone, “I can’t talk right now, I’m in class.” Thankfully he was in front of me and I couldn’t not turn to him and say something that I would definitely regret. I sated myself by trying to bore holes into the back of his head with my laser vision. (This same kid seriously bitched about getting slapped with a DUI ticket. His defense? “I didn’t have that much to drink. I felt fine to drive.” Sorry, buddy, but that’s not how that law works.)

Cell phones ring in class fairly regularly and most professors are champs at ignoring them. But this is not just disrespectful of the professor/lecturer/whomever, it’s incredibly disrespectful of your classmates. I know most of the kids I am in classes with don’t remember a time before computers, email, instant communication. This new fangled shit is great, but the world will continue to go ’round without you taking a call in class.

On to my actual rant.

I have a 9 am class. I am almost always the last person to arrive, just as the lecture is starting. I know this is disruptive and I try to be as ninja-like as possible; taking my jacket off in the hallway, opening my velcro bag before coming in, etc. I come in, sit down, and don’t say anything about it.

Today someone came in after I did. She was, in fact, 10-15 minutes late. Fine, whatever. She came in and got situated quietly. No one paid her any mind. Ten minutes later her cell phone rang. Loudly. With a personalized (and obnoxious) ringtone. She caught it early though, I mean she was digging for her phone before I noticed it was going off. But, then she tapped away at it. Apparently, not answering isn’t enough to let the caller know you are busy, now you must also send a text message with the reason why you cannot answer the phone. Really!?

Silly me, I assumed she silenced her phone at that point. Seems to be the smart route to me at least. Cut to 20 minutes later. Her phone starts ringing, loudly, again! WTH! Only this time, it’s out, on the desk next to her, so instead of only the people around her hearing it, everyone does.

I would say that I am at a loss for words, but obviously this is not the case.

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Source of Insomnia

Yesterday I woke up around 10. This is a reasonable time for me considering my sleep schedule has been borked since Saturday when we lost power. I woke up and The Boy says, “I wasn’t going to cook anything for a while.” Whatever. I’m starving and I tell him that I’m making something. “What I really want is, um, pancakes and for some reason I really want chips and dip.”

What the hell kind of combination is that anyway! It’s probably mostly to do with the fact I’ve been eating nothing but junk since we’ve been stuck at home. Okay, I take that back. Not all junk. Our  neighbor made a good old English breakfast for us Saturday morning and on Mon-ues-dnesday (tell me you kept track of the days, imeanreally) gave me a quarter pound of shrimp they couldn’t eat.

Skip to last night. I kept smelling stale cigarette smoke. Like a garment had been exposed, forgotten, and not washed. I couldn’t figure out where this was coming from. I sniffed *everything*, yes even the cat. And though she does stink, she is not the culprit.

Before bed I had a snack of a row of brownie (yeah, go me, with the junk food again) and milk. As in cow’s milk. I generally don’t drink cow’s milk ’cause I’m lactose intolerant. I promise not to get into that here. I lurve me some vanilla soy, but soy kind of weirds me out as a milk substitute, so it’s not like I put it on cereal.

So there I am, with a row of ooey gooey(TM) brownie cut off and as I go into the fridge to retrieve that milk I see a bag of shredded cheddar cheese and think (thankfully to myself, ’cause The Boy would probably flip out), “Wow, I sure would love me a handful of that cheese to go with my brownie!” WTH

I’m sure there is some part of my brain trying to figure out the salty/sweet snacking thing. But, pancakes with chips and dip and then brownies topped with cheddar cheese? Add in the stale smoke I still smell and can’t find plus the nausea smoke gives me. Yeah I peed on a stick this morning.

Part of me is relieved; I want kids, but now is not great timing. But now I’m left with where these weird cravings could be coming from and where the hell the smoke smell is coming from!

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Snowmageddon

We severely underestimated how much snow was coming. Neither of us watches tv or news. I’m pretty sure my source for all things news is twitter. It really felt like it was all being blown way out of proportion. I’m sure that if I had turned on the tv and actually watched the news, we might have had a better clue of what the storm was shaping up to be. NOT US! Nope, we were going to be just fine, thankyouverymuch.

It snowed Friday night and most of Saturday. We ended up with something like 18″ – 20″ of wet, heavy snow. Saturday morning our power cut out. I tweeted it at 8:25 am. We both expected it to come right back. We actually both laid in bed, as still as we could, not breathing, waiting for it to return. The sound of the VCR whirring back to life did not great our still and quiet world. Yeah, we still have a VCR. What?

He bundled up to shovel. I bundled up to take pictures. We fought about the camera’s lens freezing. Typical stuff really. I won and took pics until my battery died. But I’m still to lazy to pull the pics off the camera. He shoveled our sidewalk, both neighbors’, and up to their doors. Really it’s the least we can do since Bill is always mowing our lawn and trimming our hedges. Sue is always feeding me or looking after the house. We have such lovely neighbors. As a thank you, Sue made us breakfast on her trusty old gas stove. Yay for hot meals.

After all that fun we did the only thing we really could. We went back to bed. I am a champion sleeper. Champion! But by 4 pm even I was not tired and also bored out of my skull. We heard a truck drive by making some kind of mumbled announcement about being without electricity and heat, should go to the municipal building, something a phone number. I couldn’t hear it all because the cat was purring loudly in my ear. Stupid cat. She just wanted us to stay and freeze probably.

Oh this is when something in the basement started beeping. Talk about fun. We both thought it was a carbon monoxide detector. Scary! Until I remembered that we don’t have one. It was the Fios battery finally dying. We decided to pack some stuff while it was still light. (Some stuff is; 3 days worth of clothes, pillows, blankets, soda, board games, and you get the point.) We’re a block from the municipal building, so if it was a wash we could walk back. It turned out to be fun. So we hung out and played games.

Around 8pm they moved us to Word of God Church, again right around the corner from us. The Red Cross brought cots and pillows/blankets. There were a lot of nice and helpful volunteers. Plus we all chipped in carrying cots down and setting things up. We were warm, fed, safe, and entertained. It was a pretty fun time actually. More people showed up and we all made sure they had what they needed. It was oddly comforting to be community oriented in that moment.

We heard that that power was back around 1am Sunday. I wasn’t able to sleep so I was reading when the volunteer fire fighters came in to tell the Red Cross people. Some people wanted to go home. We wanted to make sure that our power was back. They drove some people home, past our house, so they could check for us. How awesome is that!

We ended up getting back home at 2. A block from our house the power went back out. So.Not.Funny. Because we were in a volunteer fire fighter’s truck we got the inside scoop. Duquesne Light had cut power again because so many transformers had been blowing. It was back on by 3 am.

I must say that I am incredibly grateful for all the emergency workers, fire fighters (especially the volunteers and the people that stayed beyond their shifts), police, road crews, dispatchers, and anyone one else that coordinated efforts to help out. I’m grateful for the Red Cross for organizing a place to put us all and providing whatever comforts they could. I have never been on this end of community help and I have a brand new respect for everyone involved.

I should also thank my twitter peeps for checking in on me and offering places to stay.

Thank you.

Now to go about digging out our driveway and alley…

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