Pittsburgh Thankful Vol. 4: Friends and Family

Those close to me know that 2011 wasn't the best year. In fact, as far as years go, it was probably the worst. It started off on a positive note, when I was determined to make it 20a11ison (aka, my year). But then a string of unfortunate events occurred, and there wasn't anything I could do to change things. Losing a parent this young is one of the weirdest things that has ever happened to me. I have to believe though, that when I made that very sudden decision in March or April 2010 to move back to Pittsburgh, that something was pulling me toward home. I'm so thankful that I was in close proximity to my mom during the last year of her life.

And I'm thankful for the people in my life who were by my side through the bad and the good. They picked me up on my worst days. They made me laugh, and they helped me get away when I needed. They were my saving graces through one of the hardest periods of my life.

Carrie, who was with me the moment I found out my mom passed away. She has been by my side just about every day since. Thank you, Carrie!

Corey, who is always there to listen. And who is probably my favorite Book Review partner-in-crime. Thank you, Corey!

Mike, who is my cousin and DJ partner. He is always up for crazy shenanigans, no matter how silly they may seem. Thank you, Mike!

Eric, who has been my fellow adventurer and Pittsburgh-devotee since my return. He inspires me to discover something every day. Thank you, Eric!

Rob, who is my voice of reason and travel buddy. The number of times I've wished we could go on Giant Eagle runs over the past year is many, many, many. Thank you, Rob!

Mullen, who was my first visitor when I moved back and pretty much my first real friend in Boston. I miss her every day, and will never stop trying to convince her to move to PGH. Banananana, Mullen!

Lindsay, who showed up at my door with her arms full of all the best groceries when comfort food was exactly what I needed. She made me laugh when all I wanted to do was cry. Thank you, Lindsay!

Marlana, who basically been my therapist and sounding board for longer than I can remember. She has never turned me away when I've needed someone to lean on - even when she was busy with packing and the logistics of a move from Boston to Australia. THANK YOU, MARLANA.

And the biggest thanks of all goes to my dad, who has been unbelievably strong in the face of tragedy. I feel closer to him now, and I look forward to doing more things together now that I am here.

I am home. And for that, I am thankful.

Pittsburgh Thankful Vol. 3: Comfort in Community

(For the month of November, I'll be thankful for a Pittsburgh thing every Thursday, leading up to the day when I eat my weight in mashed potatoes. Today is installment #2. Last week I was thankful for the most colorful city.)

I'm thankful for living comfortably in a place with a sense of community.


In a recent interview with Doug Kochmanski on the blog Yinzpiration, he took the words right out of my brain after being asked: Why do you choose Pittsburgh as your home?

Really, though, I just love the ease and affordability of this place. You know, you can actually DO THINGS here. Go to shows, go out to eat, shop, buy good beer. And STILL have some money left over at the end of the month—as opposed to all the people I know who have tried to live that New York dream and usually end up with with too much month left over at the end of their money. You don't have to struggle just to survive in Pittsburgh. If you have your act together, you can really LIVE here.

Since returning to Pittsburgh, the ability to live comfortably has been and will continue to be a cherished thing. In Boston, I always had to have a roommate, and I was still paying way too much money for the size and quality and location. And going out in Boston costs an arm and leg. It's not a very fun financial position to be in. Now, in Pittsburgh, I managed to find myself an awesome and affordable apartment - that I live in by myself. I found an interesting job that is nearly 90% writing, and it actually pays me pretty well. I consider myself "Pittsburgh rich." I have plenty of money to pay rent and my bills. And I can go out and do the things I want without having to worry about being completely broke by the middle of the month. Friends, for my money, there is no better city than Pittsburgh.

Another thing I'm thankful for this year that is the feeling of community that has been more prevalent in my life than ever before. This takes many forms, one being my ride to work every morning. As I go the length of Penn into the city, I see the same people almost every day. I judge my lateness by whether or not my friend Pete is waiting at his bus stop. I see a man with an orange backpack running/walking down Penn, in what I believe is an attempt to lose weight. I park my bike in the same garage every day, and one of the attendants always says "good morning." I've found myself becoming a regular at places in my neighborhood and downtown. The best example of this being Wingharts, which feels like the closest to Cheers I'll ever get.

One night at Wingharts, I finished the Terrapin keg. Chris/Fallout made me this certificate. (My brother did the drawing at the bottom.)

Pittsburgh Thankful Vol. 2: The Most Colorful City

(For the month of November, I'll be thankful for a Pittsburgh thing every Thursday, leading up to the day when I eat my weight in mashed potatoes. Today is installment #2. Last week I was thankful for biking up and down Penn Ave every day.)

I'm thankful for the murals, street art, and graffiti that make Pittsburgh the most colorful city.

There is nothing that pleases me more in the world than color. During the five years I lived in Boston, I forgot how colorful of a place Pittsburgh is. When I came back, it was the first thing I noticed. Murals made me stop and wonder. Grafitti and street art made me look at my surroundings a little closer. I feel completely wrapped up in the color throughout the city and its neighborhoods. It's made me smile and picked me up on the days when I've needed a little cheer. It's always evolving and new murals and bits of color are always coming to the forefront. I feel like I could live in Pittsburgh for the rest of my life (and hope that I can) and never be able to take take a picture of every mural or colorful sight. And for that, I am thankful.

(And now, some examples. A mere sampling of the bursts of color throughout Pittsburgh.)

COLORIZE PITTSBURGH

Pittsburgh Thankful Vol. 1: Biking Down and Up Penn Ave

(For the month of November, I'll be thankful for a Pittsburgh thing every Thursday, leading up to the day when I eat my weight in mashed potatoes. Today is installment #1.)

I'm thankful for having to (deciding to) bike down and up Penn Ave every weekday.

In May of this year I decided I was going to attempt to ride my bike 300 miles. Maybe this isn't an impressive thing. Maybe it is. Either way, I decided to make a commitment to riding my bike throughout the month, which meant I was going to ride my bike to and from work every weekday, regardless of weather. Before this I would play a game of bike roulette. If the weather said it was going to rain later, I probably wouldn't ride in. If it said it wouldn't rain until like 7 or 8 p.m., I would ride, but sometimes the rain happened sooner and I would get stuck in it. But, starting in May, I started riding my bike to work every weekday, regardless of the weather.

My daily route to work.

My weekday mornings since then have been a straight shot down Penn Ave into the city. It's a great way to wake up: speeding down Penn Ave on my bike, hoping the 88 bus doesn't run me off the road, or - worse - over. There have been mornings when the city is covered in a fog. Yesterday morning I rode in and couldn't even see the city until I was in it. If I leave my apartment by 8:10, I'm at work by 8:30. (Most mornings, when I waited for the bus at Friendship & Gross, I'd wait at least that long for a bus to come by.)

Now, biking into the city for work means that at the end of the day I have to bike home. Biking in is all downhill, which means that biking home - well... it's an uphill battle. The first part of the ride is fine through the Strip down Smallman. Once I get past the 31st Street Bridge, it's a climb back into Bloomfield up Penn. When I started biking to and from work (back in November 2010) I really struggled getting up Penn Ave. I had to stop every now and then and catch my breath. I was in an insanely low gear all the way up. But, as time went by I felt myself getting stronger and the ride getting easier. Now I get up Penn Ave in no time at all.

In the past year I've gotten in the best shape of my life. I haven't stepped foot into a Pittsburgh gym. I attribute my physical wellness completely to transitioning to using my bike as my main mode of transportation. It's fun and freeing, and it's made me a lot braver and confident. And for that, I am thankful.