I was feeling a little homesick this weekend and I thought I’d share as part of my Saturday Musings. My favorite time of year in Pittsburgh has always been early June, but my appreciation has only grown deeper since I relocated south for a bit (Charlotte, NC).
In Pittsburgh right now, the arts festival is going on. There are beautiful views of our city displayed by the creative people capable of such things. There are talented musicians playing free concerts. There are surprising new twists, like the Andrew Carnegie snorkeling sculpture the Post-Gazette is running this morning (see above). I literally almost bought a plane ticket when I saw that thing, it’s hilarious. Let’s be honest though, the artsy fartsy stuff is great, but Arts Fest is about the food. Right now, there is some kid eating a greasy gyro, a scary lobster burger, an overpriced lemonade and a delicious kabob of chocolate covered strawberries that should have been mine. Think the quantity of food sounds a little ridiculous? You’re absolutely right, it’s not nearly enough food for an Arts Fest Meal, that’s my mid-afternoon snack (it’s 4:00 as I write this).
In Pittsburgh right now, the Pirates are in the middle of a homestand. This post isn’t about whether we’re good, bad, awful, atrocious, terrible, repugnant or disgraceful. This post is about two evenings and two afternoons (thank you make-up game against Chicago) of sitting in the most beautiful ballpark in all of baseball, watching America’s past-time. It’s about sitting with Pittsburghers as we take in one of our favorite past-times, fireworks. I don’t mean the little shows that other teams call fireworks; I mean a live band (Collective Soul), a barge full of fireworks, a set of fireworks for the Clemente bridge and fireworks off the frickin’ skyscrapers. It’s baseball in June in a city that does baseball in June in it’s own way. A quick sidenote, could Carnegie conceivably be hit by a homerun? Judging by that picture, I think we need to give Garret Jones a little extra batting practice, and maybe a metal bat.
In Pittsburgh right now, you can walk outside without dying. I know one of Pittsburgh’s past times is whining about the heat and humidity, but starting the day I get back, I will never whine again. I ran a half marathon this morning in North Carolina and they had to start it at 6am, because by the time we finished it was over 80. I’m slow, but I’m not slow enough for it to already be 80 when the race started at 6am. What’s the temperature right now in charlotte? 90 with humidity that makes it feel like 95. On June 5th. 76 in Pittsburgh with humidity that makes it feel like 76. At 95, Charlotte could put on an arts fest with free gyros and an Andrew Carnegie hologram that sings and dances and I still wouldn’t leave my air conditioned house.
I don’t want to sound too bitter, there are some great things about Charlotte. I live on a golf course that has snow on it maybe twice a year. I love my job down here and no one was giving me opportunities to do anything like this in Pittsburgh. I’ve also met some great people down here whom I’ll miss when the time comes to head back up to the Burgh. All I’m saying is, it’s the best week in Pittsburgh. So stop reading this post, get off your ass and go enjoy it. While you’re at it, have a Gyro, a PNC park beer and an overpriced lemonade for me.
