My blog n'at

I had this ungodly long post recapping my last 10 years here but though you’d be sleeping by the second paragraph. Maybe I’ll post various stories throughout the year. Onward with the brevity version!

10 years ago today I packed up the U-haul and left Erie for the last time and made my way down I-79 in my beat up 84 Cavalier with studded snow tires to a new city and new job. Ironically both of which I’m still at… well for a few more months at least (*HA*). I was 22, making stupid choices and living carefree while drinking Franzia with Griff. Yeah, life was good. Now I’m 32, married, my first child on the way and a responsible adult. OK, I try on that last one at least.

Last weekend my mom asked me, as I was driving her home, if I would ever move back to Erie. There have been times I’ve thought about it but the job scene is non existent for my field of work. The cost of living is hella cheaper than Pittsburgh but what is there for me to do? Work retail again? Yeah idontfreakingthinksobob. I’ve had business ideas for Erie but honestly with the little guy coming in a few months entertaining such an idea is crazy insane. Looking back, moving was the best thing I could have done at that time. Sometimes you need to take time away to see how things really are.

I like the city. No, I LOVE this city. When I was moving in at 22 I was all about living in Oakland, going to the bars and house parties with my girlfriend and playing Frisbee. Now my interests are learning the history of the region, tasting the local cuisine, feeding my addiction to the hockey and involvement in the local craft beer and new/social media scene. Pittsburgh has made me who I am today and for that I’m thankful.

Here are random things I’ve learned over the last 10 years:

• How to speak Pittsburghese and what a “gumband” is.
• Fries and slaw are essential for a sandwich
• Pittsburghers may be blue collar and tough people but once there is moisture in the air they freak the hell out.
• People are terrified of driving over bridges or through tunnels unless it’s for work.
• There are still more mullets per square foot here than anywhere below the Mason Dixon line.
• The whole belt system is to screw with the newbies in the area. If you get lost look for the Cathedral of Learning.
• I think most people cheated on their driver’s exam. See this video for proof
• I can now pronounce and spell Monongahela
• WDVE = WRKT. No wonder Randy made an easy transition.
• Plenty of Erie transplants to joke around with about the snow and yinzer inability to drive in it.
• There is no East Side/West Side rivalry. Instead everyone gets along unless they have to drive on your parkway.
• Fireworks will occur on a random Tuesday because someone has a hinkerin for some BOOM BOOM… in the middle of the day.
• Yinzers tailgate EVERYTHING. No kidding, check out this lady at the hospital!
• Gas is always a couple cents more per gallon down here so please quit asking what the price is.  It’s also warmer. We have an invisible wall at I-80
• The reason why we pay $5 Miller Lite whereas Erie pays $1.50 at the bar is due to the fact… people are fools. Seriously, $5 for a Miller Lite? Both of you still drink Corona with a lime so we’ll call it a draw. That’s lame, not fashionable and is worthy of a bitchslap. *sigh* tragic
• Cars randomly catch on fire every morning on any parkway.
• Pittsburgh has traffic reporters with 3D maps. Erie has “Peach street is jammed for a 10 minute wait… back to you.”
• Pittsburgh has more hi-tech weather equipment and reporters to tell you there is a quarter of a half of an eighth of rain on the ground. In Erie all we needed to do was look out the window and see if we need to shovel or get the blower. You got in your car and drove.
• Loyalty. No matter where you go, if you say you’re from Pittsburgh you will always find a friend.

Could I give all of this up? Would I?

I dont think so.

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