Week 4: TONS OF SNOW

Pictures to follow... Basically I was supposed to be in Ohio this week but my trip got canceled because the hospital exploded or ran out of money or fired everyone or something.  So I've been home... buried in mounds of snow taller than me. Stacked on top of myself. 3 times.

Roadtrip with 24 hours notice

I hardly imagined that by mentioning my interest in not being able to visit a friend due to finances that the conversation would end with me actually going. But isn't that just the way of life?
There I was sitting around a friend's kitchen table lamenting my free time but inability to trust my car to drive ten hours to Pittsburgh. No sooner to the words leave my lips than she twirls around, looks me straight in the eye and proclaims, "Let's Do it!"
"okay" is my answer, but I mean 'yea right'.
"Really, we can stay over night near Harrisburg where my uncle lives... break up the trip. It will be great!"
I pack my things in her suitcase as I have not traveled enough to warrant owning my own luggage set and took off Thursday afternoon Pittsburgh bound.

The trip turned out to be exactly what I needed. Quality time with a close friend talking about life, singing Mumford and Sons at the top of our lungs and sitting in silence enjoying the freakishly repetitive landscape of PA.

When we finally made it into the industrial city I met up with friends who had recently moved in. We went to the Cultural District for dinner, the Strip for some great specialty shops, fresh individually brewed coffee, contemporary art and the Museum of Pittsburghs History. Overall I was rather impressed with the place and the positive steps to reclaim both the heritage and cleanliness of the mining city.

This is a photo in front of the Brewery Church. Great beer :)
At the end of Saturday my friends and I drove up Mount Washington and saw the city from atop. There was a small trolley that went up and down the side of the mountain, it reminded a lot of Orvieto's funicular. The Steelers were playing that night and we could hear the roar of the crowd even from our great distance. That was certainly an experience seeing so much black and yellow. Even at church the next morning everyone was proudly sporting their jerseys, yes even the worship team!

I'd say it was a great way to break up the monotony of winter time. Easier to handle than the window city at any rate :)

Week 3: North Carolina

Went to North Carolina last week.  I tried really hard but there was nothing interesting to take pictures of.  It looked a lot like what I imagine western MA looks like - a whole lot of nothing plus some trees.  It's land that is part of state that is right on the water, but this part is unfortunate enough to be nowhere near the water so no one really lives there and it pretty much just sucks.  Here's proof:

Also I took a picture out the airplane window.  Best part of the trip :)

Week 2: Kansas

 This photo is of a feed yard, it's hard to tell, but there are about a million cows in this picture.  I believe it is because of the cows that all of Kansas smells overwhelming of manure.  They say it smells like money.  I strongly disagree.

I've never seen a pig car before...

Week 1: Indianapolis

 

 These city photos were taken back in October when I was in Indy.  But I went back last week (1st week in January) and visited the Speedway Racecar Museum so the photos below are from that visit.

 The pic on the left is a bottle of milk that says "Winners drink milk" and was taken for my brother who drinks a gallon of milk every 2 days.