A Few Days in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is a special place, I've said it before. Kyle and I have a history here, and gosh if my close friends here don't steal my heart every time I see them. We first visited Kyle's grandma and great-grandma, going out to the Silk Road for Chinese New Year and helping navigate some new technology. The next day we headed in to Oakland in the afternoon, wandered around campus, met up with friends, and went to Hofbrauhaus for dinner and drinking fun. It happened to be contest night, and four of our group participated in the strudel eating contest (hands behind your back, first to finish wins), which Tracy won, beating all the boys. The weather was nice and grey and rainy, classic Pittsburgh. We went to Pamela's for breakfast before heading back to State College. Yum!

 the strudel eating contestants-  Toby, Kyle, Jake, Tracy

 Cathy in the distance.

 Pam-Pam's. French toast.

 gifties from my friends. I love them.

We are heading out early tomorrow morning to drive back to Texas. It's been a nice trip back up to where there are mountains and snow, but I am definitely ready to be back home in our little house, go back to wearing flats and flip flops, finish up my last grad school application, resume wedding planning, and really get into figuring out life in Texas. 

- Mrs. M

Off to Pittsburgh

Kyle and I are headed to Pittsburgh for a few days! Hooray!

via

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Game Day Beer Cheese Dip

Pitt is playing in the BBVA Compass Bowl, as I type. They are also not doing very well at all so far, but there's still plenty of time. maybe...I hope... Even though it is just the two of us here, I though I'd try making this beer cheese dip. Kyle loves beer and he loves cheese, so it was a no-brainer repin when I came upon it on Pinterest. The recipe I found is from Tidy Mom. However, upon getting back from a grocery trip this morning I realized I forgot to get the ranch dressing packet. I was not too pleased with myself and moped a bit. But husband said we could use a packet of taco seasoning instead, for kind of a different flavor. I pouted and didn't want to, but he assured me it would still taste good. It does.

Alternative Beer Cheese Dip:

16 oz cream cheese

1/3 cup beer

2/3 packet taco seasoning (substituted for a packet of ranch mix)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Mix the first three well and then add the cheese! Munch away and store leftovers. 

 

holiday pretzels on sale, a win

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Skeletons

I really like skeletons...
I studied many many human bones and teeth at school, and did a little anatomy studying on a real cadaver at Pitt's anatomy lab (the coolest and also smelliest place on campus in my opinion). I am maybe that dork that kept her books and study materials, and still reads about such things after she's graduated. Even though I have accepted that I am not going to be the next Bones. I have forgotten more about bones than anything else I've ever learned. I learned what syphilis looks like, how to side the patella (the easiest thing when it comes to bones, I do believe), how to tell approximately how old a someone is, where all our nerves weave in and out of our skull and what they do, what muscles attach where, sexing, and how to correctly identify and side a single canine tooth (maybe the hardest thing).

I even got this cool guy; he lost a leg. 

My fascination might be a little odd, but it all stems from a desire to understand more about us. Our skeletons give us our shape. It's what makes and protects all of us. It identifies us and tells our life story. It grows and heals. It has evolved to suit us specially. It will last when we are long gone (given the right conditions of course). In conclusion, skeletons are super cool. And maybe I miss school a little bit.

PS- My professor was on the Daily Show once, being made fun of for thinking we are more closely related to orangutans than the chimpanzee. 

- From the desk of Mrs. M

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GRE-Free

The GRE is done! My attitude about standardized tests is that they are for the most part stupid and not a testament to what you know and can do. I feel like I studied enough for the GRE though I didn't study excessively. I don't get stressed or anxious about tests, so it was all very ho-hum leading up to it. My main concern was not understanding why everybody seems to think that the GRE is quite actually the most sinister and evil creation on earth and it would most definitely ruin my life and spirit, because I never got that sense while studying and preparing.
But I am glad it is over! And it was nice to hang out with friends a little bit back at Pitt. We had breakfast at Pamela's, home of Michelle Obama's most favorite pancakes (they are very good).

 Pam-Pam's menu and The Pitt News

 colorful floors

 food! 

I got to start the test over an hour early, so I was able to get done and out of Pittsburgh earlier than expected! Time to relax, have a glass of the wine that I got in Annapolis, make some dinner, and hang out with the kittens. :)

- Mrs M

PS- Husband, I really miss you. I wish you could have a glass with me. 

The Time We Went to El Paso

In December 2009, Kyle, three of his friends/roommates from Pitt, and I went on a road trip to El Paso, to see Pitt play in the Meineke bowl game. The game was not a success (at all!), but the trip was! We left from Pittsburgh and stayed the night at a friends house in Ohio. We left early the next morning and drove drove drove until we got to our camp ground in El Paso around 10 am the next day. And then we decided to go on a little hike, because even though we were exhausted, it was just so pretty there and we were happy to stretch our legs. Luckily we were able to shower afterwards at the hotel the Pitt marching band was staying at (they knew a guy), then we set up our tent, cooked up some food, had some whiskey, left some ham out to attract armadillos, and went to bed. It was quite pleasantly warm during the day, and cold at night. Our tent partially collapsed in at night, oh well. The game was the next afternoon: we tailgated, the boys wrote PITT on their chests with sharpee (drunk), made friends with some odd locals, we participated in making a world record for most people doing the YMCA as The Village People performed at half time, Pitt lost, Toby got lost (drunk), and overall it was fun and only mildly disastrous.

We headed out after the game and finding Toby, and we did not want to stay in El Paso any longer, so we headed out. We made it to Cloudcroft, New Mexico, a tiny little town up in the mountains a bit where there was snow. We figured camping in the snow with a broken tent on New Years eve was not the way to go. Everyone in the tiny town was in one bar, so we found the owner of a hotel across the street and rented a suite. We watched some of the festivities on TV, but were too tired to really celebrate, so we went to bed. The next day we continued our drive, stopping in Roswell, New Mexico of course. We camped outside without the tent that night, listening to coyotes howling close by. The next morning we were up and pushed through to Pittsburgh (with a quick loop around the arch in St. Louis around sunset); we arrived very early in the morning/very late at night. Little did I know this wouldn't be my last road trip to/from Texas...

We had lunch on Jim Beam's porch in Kentucky. Kentucky was really lovely. 

Toby, Paul, Nick, Kyle

Stopped to get some fireworks, obviously. 

Dinner I think in Arkansas? We all hate Arkansas.

 Made it to El Paso!

Pondering the campsite. 

 Up up up we climbed.

 At some point in our hike up the mountains, Kyle said to me something like "we need to make sure we remember this." That's the only time he's said anything like that to me, so I remember both him saying it, and the adventure of course.

Showered, tent set up, dinner. 

 And we're at the game.

 The Village People

 Cloudcroft, New Mexico. Just look at this place.

 After a day in the sun.

Packing up to head out. 

 Roswell!

 Cooking and camping another night. It is completely dark; my flash lit up the night.

 Leaving early to head back to Pittsburgh.

 They wanted to get some super hot sauce...

 Husband wears hats.

I was driving in Missouri and this happened; the van went all wonky but kept driving fine. 

 Brief detour onto Route 66 to go see this big guy.

And get another picture of Kyle and I together, making that a total of two I think for the whole trip!

The End

- From the desk of Mrs. M