Mel

{crazy cat lady} OH THE CUTENESS OF THE FURRIES!

Oh, I forgot. Another of my resolutions was “Adopt a new cat.” Here she is: Currently named Zira. Soon-to-be-renamed as Bessie. I think. Because her back spots look like a cow. Get it? Bessie the Cow?! BUT A CAT! And yes, the felines now outnumber the humans in this house. I LOVE...

Mel

{my first year} in Pittsburgh: a delayed post, as much as a recap one — perfect for end-of-the year

My first year anniversary of living in Pittsburgh was Labor Day weekend (and here we are already approaching Christmas… I need to check my drafts for lingering content more often). November also marked the EIGHTH year that I’ve been blogging (which I apparently love missing out on blog anniversaries too). EIGHT. YEARS. I won’t even attempt to talk about the changes in my life since I...

Mel

{pursuit} of a new place to live

Oh, EXCUSE my absence... but, like, I moved... {open to read more}

Mel

{pursuit} of Pittsburgh

Happy Friday, Pursuit-ers! How yinz doin? Getting out much and enjoying this great summer? Will I see any of you at the Toonseum Blogger Blast II tonight? Drink any good beers lately? Ahem… When living in Cleveland, I created a List of 43 Things, and it was a really cool experience to find new, adventurous things in a city that I (thought I) already knew very well. And yes, there are several things...

Mel

Pittsburgh’s “Twitterati”

Oh yeah, that’s me in this list. Love or hate the fact that I’m originally from Cleveland (“Cleveland: YOU GOTTA BE TOUGH!“), it will always be “where I’m from.” But without a doubt, I heart Pittsburgh. And I will continue to share my awesome and hilarious experiences here, as well as share amazing events around town — and complete randomness — on...

Mel

Thoughts at two weeks.

How do normal people move to a new state having regular jobs? I’m exceptionally lucky that I can make my own hours around all the mundane crap I need to do while AB is, well, already living in Pittsburgh because all-holy-hell would break loose worse than it is, as I would have no time to do any of this shit otherwise. Let alone stress out about aforementioned shit. I haven’t had to take any...

Mel

Um. Do you have a bag in your car?

Last Friday, we went down to Akron for a brown bag wine party. I normally stray away from weekend updates these days (because nearly everyone is blogging like this, and who am I to be JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE?), but this was a really fun party idea for, well, someone my age. Even if that “someone my age” pukes in her boyfriend’s car on the ride home. One of those brown bags would have...

Mel

Hook a ‘Burgher up?

It’s no secret that I’m moving to Pittsburgh. I’ve already visited a couple times this past year (dammit, missed out on the suite with the telescope though!) with AB, so I’m not completely ignorant of the area and its attractions. I mean, I already know that you all LOVE some fireworks. But I am a loser in that I want to fit in as much as I can as soon as possible without anyone...

Mel

Grieving Cleveland

My mood swings are out of control. One minute I am on top of the world in happiness, then I snap with any minute form of stress with frustration. The next, I am a weepy mess. I am so freaking sensitive. I’m naggingly asking my boyfriend is he’s “OK,” when in reality, it’s ME that is NOT OK. And this time, I cannot blame it on my birth control. I think I am in the midst of a...

Mel

And don’t let the door hit you.

As some of you have realized over the last couple days, AB & I are moving. Moving away from the annoyances of Cadillac Ranch on college ID night. Moving away from the distraction of the seemingly never-ending, frantic sounds of the Sax Guy. And UGH those damn honking buses on the Healthline. Moving away from our gorgeous, wall-envied many-windowed corner loft on East 4th. And the scary, scar-producing...

Mel

And in this corner, my home office.

Now that I work for myself, I have to lug around my laptop and accessories to meetings and even when I’m on the road… because, well, when you work for yourself, you’re kind of always working. Am I right? And, unfortunately, you can only do so much with a mobile phone. I recently invested in a carryall that has zippered pouches and internal organization of all my business supplies (and...

Mel

Vacation Dreaming Post #4,642

Does anyone sign up for those airline special newsletters each week? I keep finding flights to Montreal on my list. Have I asked already if anyone has been? Man, sometimes I get into these travel posts, and wonder if I’m being wholly redundant. Perhaps I should search myself before blogging. Anyways, we’re attempting to figure our plans for the remainder of this year, then next year’s...

Mel

What time of the year is best for Canada trips?

OK, I’ve asked before I’m sure, but when is the best time to book flights to Toronto? What time of year would you most enjoy the Canadian city and why? I like a combination of activities, based on weather conditions, but also I am not certain how HORRIBLE the Winters are in Toronto, if I go (read: too much snow, I wouldn’t mind, but AB would likely nix it). I think my trip there in...

Mel

Penis and Roller Derby

After hobnobbing Saturday Night post-Cavs festies, it’s been realized that for the last month or so, my blog has circumvented only two topics: penis and roller derby. For the time being, I can’t promise that it won’t stop, so why not supplement the topics at hand: BALLS. They need lovin’ too… Hence, my brazen call for action for the Preterm Access Fund {CLICK THAT FOR MY...

Mel

You’ll Pay For This! No I Won’t, It’s FREE!

Time Wasters. They serve a great purpose. I’ve been so incredibly busy with my work these last couple weeks (and traveling) that I haven’t had even a minute to spare to waste. That last minute, of course, being used for training. I’ve taken the liberty (heh) of a small “vacation” of sorts to celebrate both a large completed project, the soon-to-be-adopted ‘nother one AND...

Mel

Cleveland: How high?

Our apartment is fairly close to street level downtown (that elevator ride enough gives me heart palpitations), and I’ve never worked in a highrise office building.  Last week, I met a friend for lunch at Key Tower, who works on the 46th floor. Seriously, we were higher than Tower City! Through my visits to Chicago and Toronto, I know I have been on higher floor levels, but this is the highest view...

Mel

Moving boxes & taking names

I’ve been spending a couple days packing up my condo: a) because I have the “free time” and b) OMG I haven’t lived there in six months! It makes me feel sad. I do NOT regret leaving the suburbs one bit — especially the insane and worthless condo association. More than anything though, I miss my stuff (especially my couch and my 800 pillows on everything). Our downtown abode...

Mel

Oh, so serious, Mel!

How fucking serious am I when I’m blogging? Or, in the middle of still writing my vacation blogging posts — getting in every minute that I can. What’s that? You’re out of work, Mel & you have all the time in the world to be writing right now. Not quite. BTW, learning Mac shortcuts for use in lame-ass iSight is awesome. Look at me, I can take pictures of video from my web camera!...

Mel

Random things I’ve recently learned.

When big shit happens, I can maintain a fairly level head of the situation at hand and act accordingly. So, why does the “small stuff” still wreck havoc on my insides and provide endless amounts of stress? And why is flying STILL one of the most traumatic experiences for me ever? Never start a conversation with your significant other with the words, “We have a problem.” As I also...

Mel

January does a good job in ending quickly. Pseh!

I cannot believe it’s past the mid-point of January. Week-long vacations have a way of taking a big ass chunk out of the month. Another vacation, another year of not dying from alcohol poisoning. Both our road trip to Indiana for New Year’s Eve and our vacation on The Rock Boat were fantastic. Now, it’s January, and we’re in the throes of house shopping and cat adoption and general...