Since I started back to school I’ve been exposed to a whole new side of Pittsburgh that I was oblivious too. I’ve been talking/hanging out with friends that frequent the Creative Treehouse and I’m completely amazed with the amount of art in this city that they’ve shared. Right now I’m in a color theory course and my friends have been great with telling me about the best places to go for hard to find supplies.
Prism was my “go to” store but it closed down this last year so honestly besides Michaels I’m not too familiar on art resources. Griff gave me a heads up on Utrecht down on the South Side and what a great store this is. The staff was more than accommodating on giving me help to understand what all I needed in this course and to explain what all of the different styles of paints were.
Honestly if it wasn’t for the great experience here I may have just given up. This is one case of where great customer service can go a long way. While I’m finishing my coursework I’ll be doing my shopping there.
Now, off to paint a freaking color wheel.
This is my first attempt at chili in awhile. Figured since the cold air is coming in I should get ready for for the winter season.
Spent the day doing homework, making chili, shopping for art supplies on the South Side and now doing more reading for class. I was able to sleep in until 9am for the first time in weeks so I did cherish that knowing the craziness that will be the upcoming holidays with family.
Just got back from a quick 24 hour trip to Erie for the Great International Beer Festival so I have just enough time to keep the consecutive day posting alive 
We rolled into town with just enough time to drop our things off at my mom’s house before we were on the road to the brewery. Now I would love to give you all of the details of this weekend but we had the recorder with us and I don’t want to ruin the upcoming show. I will say that Chris and Gary were wonderful guys to spend time talking to and sharing pints. We met up with fans Dom and Jim plus we feasted on delicious beverage. My only wish was that we could have stayed longer.
cheers!
Last night we revived a long tradition to help the Pens snap their losing streak. Yeah I know we didn’t actually have a hand in the win but it’s a reason to get together and have some beverages. I met up with Mike and Melissa whom I haven’t seen in a very long time at the Souper Bowl. If you want cheap beer, inexpensive and yet good food you need to check this place out. It is the place to go for an old school pre-game gathering and I forgot how much fun it is. Plus I miss hangin out with these two. Melissa usually gets me into trouble because she’s cool like that
Afterwards we hiked it up the hill to the arena for the Pens and Islanders game (Pens won 3-2 so see, it did work!) and the induction of Paul Coffey into the Pens HoF. Highlights of the game: Geroges Laraque finally scored his first goal as a Penguin. Crosby and Malkin extended their consecutive game point streak. Gonchar scored. Seriously, I’m not kidding. The burrito stand that’s by A12 (used to sell souvenirs) and is the only one in the arena. By far the best food in the arena and a huge portion for the $7.50 price.
Things that chapped my arse: Tyler Kennedy didn’t shoot the puck on an open net with 1 minute that would have sealed the game. Bullshit hooking calls because the Islanders couldn’t stay on their skates. The guy in the row in front of me who always yells “DO SOMETHING!” and then leans forward enough that everyone gets a shot of his pencil holder. People in the parking lots who can’t stay in a straight line thus screwing up traffic trying to exit.
We’re (SIDT) driving up to Erie Friday night for the Great International Beer Fest on Saturday afternoon (1p-4p session) and then heading back. Up until oh NOW the forecast looked promising for the trip but now I’m going to have my first taste of the white stuff. For those of you unfamiliar with Erie it doesn’t just snow, the whole friggin North Pole lands on the area for 4 months. It’s not uncommon for a “dusting” to be 6-12 inches in a few hours. Down here we’re not expected to get more than 32 inches ALL WINTER. See why I moved? Thankfully most people up there know how to drive but the problem will lie in that we’re leaving a beer fest where there will be drinking… and snow. Not a good mix.
We’ll be fine, it’s the other idiots sliding around I have to watch out for. We will have our recording gear with us if anyone reading this wants to be on the show. Friday we’re getting an exclusive tour of the BrewErie and will be recording then as well. Stop out and have a pint!
cheers and turn the heat up!
Today is Mailroom Mav’s 40th birthday. Now enshrined in internet history. Many of you know him from Pirate games as the short guy with a headset who will kill you in one strike. Complaints at Guest Relations are at an all-time low. I, the company and The Pittsburgh Pirates salute you.
Here are a couple more I did which were also posted around campus
This is one of those new self service machines on the right. To the left is where the former stamp machine used to reside. If you show up while the lobby isn’t open and have cash you’re S.O.L. This was the case for me today. I only needed one stamp. One $.41 stamp and I was unable to purchase it. I didn’t need a book of stamps and according to self service my only other option was to buy a $1 stamp. I had a buck so that was no biggie but guess what, it only takes credit cards. So not only could I not buy 1 fargin stamp but I also couldn’t do it with cash.
Why on earth would you remove a stamp machine? You’re not using the space and you’re forcing the public to buy up. It’s not me being cheap, it’s the principle that someone somewhere in management thought this was a great idea. I go back to the office after I get out of work and wait in line for 15 minutes while the slowest possible employee explains the benefits of insurance on a letter and then confirmation. My turn finally arrives and the lady at the counter tells me that they have been fielding complains all day. According to her they never informed the employees either and agreed that it was a stupid decision.
Thank you Cranberry for being what could be my first ‘WTF were you thinking?” award.
My numbers in the office blocks this past weekend were 9 and 1 and wouldn’t you know it, at the half my numbers his so I won $50. Don’t ask me for a couple of bucks though because we lived it up at dinner tonight after Lushie had a bad day.
Fantasy league update: won in 2 of the 3 leagues this week. Waiting for tonight’s game to finish so I can go 3-0 for the weekend.
That would be sickpuppy with Charlie “Chunky Love” Godart from TV fame, soon to be movie fame and also the head of the Pittsburgh Black & Gold Cheerleaders. Today we were “honorary cheerleaders” so we could promote our radio show and mingle with Yinzer Nation. Anyone else hear us on WDVE and stop on over to the KISS FM tent? Once we get the pictures/videos off the camera I ‘ll post a recap of the day.
The database for my blog was screwed this weekend. Yesterday’s post that I uploaded before I left for bowling (went 113-141-148 last night) just now posted but since I had it uploaded the time stamp was there so I’m still going strong.
I love Sunday nights because it gives me time to read the paper, get caught up on emails and tonight watch every episode of Next Iron Chef. We’re usually addicted to any cooking show no matter how bad it is. The highlight thus far was watching these chefs not only freak out about having to cook on a grill but also fail to manage the fire. I look like a rockstar up against this episode. Now in a kitchen I’m sure they’d kick my ass but on a grill I’d spank them. That reminds me, Lushie has found the missing ingredient for one of her Build a Better Burger burger and a way to make it insanely healthier.
Wednesday I finished my final for one class, have one more class (which started thursday) left for this year and I started thinking about how things have turned out since I first started college in 1994. Wait, no I haven’t been in college since 1994, that’s just when I first enrolled.
When I started college I went basically because that’s what you did after graduation. I had no idea what career I wanted but I knew that I loved radio and TV production. My family threw a wrench into that idea when I was berated about how I could never make money in that field, would rush me past any college radio station and said I should go to school for anything BUT communications. I ended up with general studies.
My 2 years at Pitt/Titusville were interesting. I didn’t realize how sheltered I was in Erie until I was living with people from Pittsburgh and Philly. I was there to have a good time and if I received an education that was fine. Though 18 years of hearing what your brother did and how you should do the same tends to wear thin so I took the opposite direction. I signed up for theater and got involved in a few other clubs but I still had no idea as to what I was going to do. Good lord I did love to entertain for people though. My adviser, Mr. Henderson, was pretty much useless for career advise unless it was math related. Plus I swear the guy was way too happy all of the time.
My grades at UPT were decent. I knew I was smart but I just didn’t care by the time I left. It’s like Peter from Office Space. I didn’t have the motivation. If I screwed up I’d have 8 people yelling at me about it.
I am thankful though for the people I met there and things I learned outside of the classroom. My old RA Greg introduced me computers ( look how that panned out ), I met my wife there and I made great friends which I still have today. In May of 96 I moved back to Erie to find a job because the money well for tuition had run dry and I needed to pay the bills.
I moved to Pittsburgh in 1998 and in 1999 gave community college a shot but CCAC was a joke. My first 4 classes I could have taught myself and in some cases corrected the teacher frequently. Why waste the money? I read books and self taught myself everything I know for the next 7 years. In the fall of 2006 I decided that I would give it one more shot and enrolled at a local school. What a godsend this place was. Financial Aid department was excellent in getting my tuition setup. My advisers have always been a phone call or email away and get back to me within 24 hours.
Over the past year I’ve carried an “A” average which I take with great pride and it’s not due to the classes being simple but now I actually give a shit. I know what I want to do and I’m in a degree program for media design. I pay for school out of my pocket, I study because I want to and I push myself because this is for me and not what someone else wants. So here we are, almost 14 years after I first started college and guess what, I’m studying media and have my own online radio show. Ironic isnt it
I swear that last night my wife was trying to poison me with this. We’re eating healthier these days so she’s trying to slide in a healthier menu for dinner. This one failed miserably from the first taste. Sausage is meant to have meat. To remove the meat is a crime against humanity.
I cant get the taste out of my mouth a day later. Ladies, if you buy this for your husband he will leave you. You have been warned. Guys, if you do, call me and I’ll fire up the grill.
That is all I have to say…
