7.31.2008

Thursday 13: What I'll Miss About Pittsburgh

Of course there's also a list of things I won't miss. Lol. I figured I'd do the positive one first.

1) The view when you're driving out of the Fort Pitt Tunnel into the city. It's amazing and will make you fall in love with the city... but not enough to stay. Lol. Not me anyway. There are youtube videos but none of them can replace the actual feeling. It's awe-inspiring. It's the best thing about the drive from the airport.

2) The south side. This part of town gets a bad rap from the old folks who want it back to the "good old days" when there were fewer bars and it was more residential but this is the area of town where there is a party every night of the week because there are so many bars. I didn't spend that much time over there because of the crazy schedule but it was nice knowing there was something to do over there should I feel the urge.

3) Work perks. Tickets and books were my fave. Of course books. I read a S.isterhood of the T.raveling Pants book before it was released. I also read a book about math in the inner city which gave me an idea for a documentary or at least a PBS special. It was really cool.

4) Shopping alone. Not just by myself though I've come to love that because I can leave when I want to or take as long as I want without having to wait for someone or have them rush me. Most of all I love having all the sales people and stores TO MYSELF because it's 10:30 in the morning!! I'm not good at waiting when I'm spending my money. Having instantaneous service has only made me worse. Lol.

5) My church. I have grown spiritually an incredible amount and that's thanks in large part to my time at Mt. A.rarat. The pastor is phenomenal!!

6) Breaking news. REAL breaking news. Not like I saw on F.ox this morning, "'Princess C.hunk' is actually 'Prince C.hunk.'" I don't care if it was a joke or tongue in cheek, it annoyed me. But real breaking news gets my blood pumping. I told you us news people are junkies. It's like crack. I like knowing things we can't say on air because it's too gruesome for the morning... or for ever... I like knowing every single detail of a criminal case. I like being the first one to get the news on the air. But I'm not gonna hype up a story about a fat cat to do it. And you know I think that cat is disgusting. Over-sized anything creeps me out. That's particularly true with animals, even if that breed is just ginormous. Like m.astiffs? Those things scare me because they're bigger than me. I DON'T WANT A DOG THAT CAN EAT ME!! Oh the digression...

7) Bridges. I LOVE BRIDGES!! And this city has literally hundreds. I love em love em love em!! But please don't ask me to drive over some of them because I like life. Call me crazy.

8) Restaurants: John Harvard's and Square Cafe (went there for breakfast today with my coworker) are two of my old standbys that they don't have in Florida. I know there are more but those are the first ones that come to mind.

9) No traffic EVER during the week!! Oh man was that great. It's one of the best things about going in to work at 1 a.m. and getting off at 10 a.m. You are never in rush hour or any traffic jams. It's fab! Whenever I have to sit in traffic I'm always like, "HOW DO PEOPLE DO THIS EVERY DAY!?!?"

10) Sunrise. Oh sunrise. You're so beautiful and I've seen you at least 5 days a week for the last 3 years. I do not plan on seeing you much in the next 2 unless I'm just getting in for the night. Lol.

11) My first tv job. It will likely be my last traditional tv job, but you never know. Regardless it was an AMAZING experience I wouldn't trade. It helped me learn more about the business and myself-- including this valuable fact: I don't like local news. I understand the need for it. I just don't want to be an active participant. That's part of what propelled me toward what I do love: making documentaries. And I met some great people along the way.

12) Income. Lol. This was the first time in my life I always filled up my gas tank when I went to the gas station without having to think about it because I had the money to spend on other things. I don't know where I'll be working so I have no idea what my income is gonna be like. Maybe I won't miss it!

13) My dad. He's retiring in December and moving south again so he won't be Pittsburgh to Gainesville far, but I will have to readjust to not living with him. I never saw him daily because our schedules were so opposite, but I knew he was there and that was comforting.

13 comments:

Sparkling Red said...

I always wanted to have a mastiff that I could saddle up and ride. You can't have a pony in the city, but a dog as big as a horse is allowable.

*Tanyetta* said...

you're on your way to bigger and better things!!!

you can always go back and visit ;)

Southerner in Suomi said...

I loved my dad's German Shepherd's when they were like the same height as me. I thought it was cool.

Why you no like local news? I think it's cause our news motto is "If it bleeds it leads" so all the locales look jacked up!

Liz Dwyer said...

Dang it, I forgot today was Thursday and so I need to go do a Thursday 13! And aww, I'm getting teary-eyed thinking about the end of the daddy/daughter dates. Hope he gets close enough to make it happen once in awhile. That cat is not in need of the news. Let it be abandoned so it can work off some pounds!

Just think, in two years you'll be writing a similar post about Gainesvile!

La said...

Oh no ma'am to bridges. NO MA'AM. They are SCARY, lol

#14 knowing that you are missing all those things only because you're taking a step towards your dreams.

That's awesome :-)

Anonymous said...

I love the bridges in the 'Burgh. Overall, I like the city of Pittsburgh. It is a great place to hang out. Its too cold to live there but I like it.

Rashan Jamal said...

I'm not really a bridge fan. My mom was deathly afraid of them and used to freak out when she was driving over them, which in turn made me nervous about them. I got over it and then that stupid bridge in MN had to collapse. I think its cool how the tunnel opens up on the bridge though.

You arent good at waiting? I never woulda guessed that. LOL

You have to make sure you and your dad don't do the out of sight out of mind thing.

Can't wait for the list of things you wont miss. LOL

Jazzy said...

awwwwww...you make the Pitts sound like it is actually worth missing.

Jameil said...

red... right?? lol.

days... i'm well aware.

v... yeah not so much for me. maybe b/c i'm small. hahahahaha. i don't like it b/c it's the same thing every single day. shooting, water main break, vacant house fire.

liz... glad you remembered! daddy daughter is fab! that cat needs some serious starvation! lol! you are hilarious!! don't remind me i have to do this again soon! lol.

la... LOVE bridges! thanks for the love, la!

epsi... aren't they gorg!? i will so visit pgh in a few years when the wanderlust has worn off some. or if someone gets married.

rah... the bridge collapse did make me a bit wary b/c of the no. of bridges here. i was fascinated w/that story! that was when i was in VA for wynel's wedding. the tunnel is SO cool! hursh on the waiting. you don't like to wait either. pretty sure me and d won't ignore each other when i leave.

diva... it is. but it's also time for me to go.

Momisodes said...

Oh, the last one got me a little teary eyed. I'm so excited you're moving on with your new life. I'm sure Pittsburgh will leave you with bittersweet memories.

Open Grove Claudia said...

Sorry I missed you on Thursday. I need to pull my head out a bit more! ;)

I bet you'll miss your Dad. You know what? I'll miss your Dad!

I'm very very happy for you - as you know.

dreamyj said...

awww, appreciating what you've had is always a good way to leave a place. it's good you have so many things to think back on as memories. it makes the journey even sweeter

Jameil said...

sandy... aww! i felt a lil tight in the throat myself. lol. bittersweet indeed.

claud... it's alright! i love that you'll miss my dad! lol. thanks!

dreamy... it is! can't wait to be able to look back on these years even more fondly.