Philosophical Question

Today I sit here and think that I am not giving back to others as much as I should be. When I think about the ways that my talents can be used to help others, there are many possibilities.

I could volunteer more to be more involved with the community and charities.

I could go back to school and learn a skill that will help to service the public.

I was considering that option and was looking at potential patient care jobs in a hospital when I came across a position that immediately made me shudder. It was a position as a tech on the Hospice floor of a hospital. My initial gut reaction was that I could never do that job.

But then I started to think. The reason my mind immediately went to "I can't" is because I am heartbroken whenever I think about older people or sick people who have no one to care for them or comfort them when they are at their worst.

And that is when I asked myself a puzzling question. Because of my empathy for people in those situations, is a job within hospice care the worst position I could have or the best position I could have? Would that situation break me down as a person or show my strength in helping those types of patients in their time of greatest need?

Is something you fear sometimes the best thing for you?

FGM, I need an opinion.

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Here I Am! Surprise!!

Through a list of bad decisions that I made, I have been away a while. Sorry!

Now that I am back, I have three goals that I need to accomplish because I owe it to the woman who inspired me. There are two books that I am interested in writing and the third idea is a new trend. My plan is that the combination of these three things will...

1. Initially take my mind of negative things in life.
2. Provide myself with self-esteem for being able to accomplish said goals.
3. Show my loved ones what I am capable of accomplishing in life.
4. And of course, get me on Oprah.....

OK OK OK.....I really want the first three, that last one would be a bonus.

Stay tuned for updates!

I Forgot, I Know

Ok I'm a slacker. We've established this already.

1. I get along with many types of people without any difficulty.
2. I am flexible and willing to adapt to situations.
3. I am caring and truly want those around me to be happy at all times.
4. Many people in my life have taken time to teach me things that improve my overall life skills.
5. I am learning to do the same for others.

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Day 3

1. My family is protective and won't let me get hurt.
2. If someone hurts me, they better watch out.
3. I have the opportunity to start a new career and make the best of my opportunities in a new environment.
4. I also have the freedom to go back to school and learn something new because I have nothing to hold me back.
5. I have great personal strength and I can count on myself to get through the toughest things life can present to me in the future.

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Day Two

1. My friends trust me to give them advice.
2. I do not have the financial troubles that many people right now have.
3. I am relatively healthy.
4. I have traveled to many places outside my home state and seen many things that other people have never seen.
5. My parents were able to provide me with many things that have allowed me to live a comfortable life.

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Football Sunday

Its Sunday. I got my Roethelisberger jersey on. I'm gonna order a hoagie and act like a man today. Its only right to enjoy the season and absolutely relax.

Perhaps that will help my mood and prepare me for my first day of work tomorrow. Think good thoughts. Be positive. Go Steelers!
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Day One

To combat my bad bad attitude lately I'm starting a list of things in my life that are great... Everyday I'll add to it.

1. I have a big loving family that is there to help me if ever I should actually ask them to.
2. My close friends really are an extention to my family and I love them dearly.
3. I have known what it feels like to be in love. The times when I wasn't in love have taught me the difference.
4. I am well educated and I have the ability to do anything that I choose to do.
5. I have overcome events that changed my life. Though tragic at the time, they show my strength.

Five more tomorrow......
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Happily Never After

I've realized once again that nobody gets the happily ever after that they dream of. I guess that's because we all just don't know what is best for us.



But the more I think about it I don't even know what my dreams are. I had a bunch of dreams but they all got shot to hell a few years ago. Since then I have my own dreams but none of the things I want to do involve men. Still the thing I want most in the world is to be with the man of my dreams with a house and pets and kids.



I want vacations at the beach and perfect family photos. I want to wake up next to him every morning and cuddle on the couch while we watch the kids play on the floor.



How the hell do I get there? Do I have to accomplish all the things that I want first to deserve my happy ending?



I'm trying to follow the rules that I've heard from friends and they just aren't working. And if there is no guarantee that I'm going to get what I want in the future then why shouldn't I have fun now?



Last night I could see my future, still just out of reach, and I did what I thought was right. Now it seems like what I did just pushed my dreams farther away. Maybe its the pain now to enjoy the pleasure later. Whatever it is just doesn't seem worth it.

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Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving one and all! With that said I now want to say that if I get one more generic message that says Happy Thanksgiving I'm gonna lose my mind.

So, for everyone out there, enjoy the food, family and football. If you make tit through the night, I'll see you at the bar... Late night.
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Meeting Minutes

Dear PittGirl,

I have meetings at my new job every other Wednesday. And my supervisor has taken to using the phrase "moving forward" at least four times each meeting.

Last week it took every ounce of my energy not to yell "Drink!!!" each time he repeated that phrase. Just thought that would make you smile.

Steel City Sparkles
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Bill and the Pigeons

In the Post Gazette today Tony Norman wrote a column about former President Bill Clinton's role as a speaker at a luncheon for Mayor Raventstahl.



First off, the article repeatedly mentioned pigeons which probably sent shudders down PittGirl's spine, all the way down to her do-me boots. And the article mentioned PittGirl's departure from the burgh-blog-o-sphere.



Secondly, I am happy to see that Luke is making an effort to secure his spot in the burgh-political-sphere. (I've discovered the - and I love it.). The column mentions Luke making Pittsburgh his life long home and I hope he does.



However I can also imagine this turning into a quality resume builder for Luke's road to Pennsylvania avenue. He has the opportunity to help our city regain prominence as a city outsiders long to come to. A city to be mentioned. Along with NYC and Chicago and Washington DC. I see it happening. And what could be better than a President from the burgh?





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Computer Friday

Christmas shopping makes me homicidal. That is why I will not be caught dead in a shopping center this Friday. I don't care about the great deals and the general public might be in danger if I attempted to drive my SUV through the parking lots full of people who apparently cannot see a white SUV coming towards them.



This is why I am considering trying Black Friday shopping via the internet. I'm not sure if the same deals apply but there are a few things I wouldn't mind picking up. The thing I want most of all is a Wii and the Wii fit package, once again following in PittGirl's footsteps.



Also I think my family would have a blast playing with the Wii when we all get together. Also my mother wants to buy my Dad a new flat screen TV. So wish us luck at online Black Friday shopping and thank your lucky stars that I won't be in any shopping centers this Friday!!



But for the sake of others, please use your head because I can't guarantee that all of my fellow road rage shoppers will stay home and try to shop the new fangled computer way.

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First Time

For the first time in my life, I had to do something that I knew was going to hurt another person. I was seeing a guy and at first things were going really well. Then for one reason or another I realized that it just wasn't going to work.

So I had to break up with him which was very hard for me because I never want to make people or do anything to upset them. However, his actions after the break-up prove, to me at least, that he is not the man I need to be with.

Now I know that just being with someone is not the same as being in love with someone. In the past I've been trying to find another person to make me happy.

Instead I see now that the connection has to be there on both ends and I see that the men I've been with in the past were not right for me. So once again, I am treating this as a learning experience and I will take my time in letting the right man find me.

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CNN

No matter what your political affiliation, please, please go to CNN.com and look at the story titled "Palin talks as turkey dies behind her"

That story made me laugh for a solid three minutes!!!

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Quote of the Game

Hines Ward drops a pass and the announcer's response is:

"Maybe a snowflake hit him in the eye."

Classic commentary.
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Light Up Night!

Tomorrow is my favorite day of the year in Pittsburgh!

Honestly, Pittsburgh is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen. (Yes I know I'm biased.). And the best view of the city is coming through the Fort Pitt Tunnels.

Once again I'll be at work but the festivities run from 5:30 to 9:30 and as soon as 9:30 strikes I'll be leaving work and driving the half mile to the FP Tunnels to see Pittsburgh glowing in all its glory!!!

Can't wait! What a way to start the weekend!

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Thursday Night Football

Well tonight is the Bengals/Steelers Thursday night game and where will I be for the first half? At work blogging to pass the time.

I do know that Ocho Cinco will not be playing tonight due to not following "team rules." Who wants to take bets on what that rule was? Did he wear the wrong colors to practice? Or were him and Santonio out too late last night?

Either way, I can't wait to see how many penalties are called tonight and how many players are gonna get helped off the field.

Also, I've informed my co-workers who are going to be watching the game both at Heinz Field and on warm comfy couches that there will be 3 seconds of hatred from me as I sit here toiling away.
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First Order of Business

The first thing I would like to propose is to offer my Fairy God Mother a sporadic spot in my blog. This will be a surprise because I have just sent her the link to this blog and she'll see it when she gets to work tonight.

So whenever there is a magical thought that she cannot contain, I beg of you FGM send it down and let the world into your twisted way of thinking!!!
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Just Trying This....

While updating the settings of my blog I found a way to try and do it right from my phone. If it works that spells bad news for my boss!!

I like it!!!
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A Day Late But Not a Dollar Short

Today has marked the end of an era. Hopefully that is the last typical writer cliché of this blog.

I am speaking of the loss of PittGirl. I proudly wore her shirt to work today to remember her fondly as I contemplated starting this blog myself. I was alerted by my Fairy God Mother of this blog removal when I checked my Blackberry for messages after getting out of the shower.

The subject line of the email read: “AUGGH! A CRY OF ANGUISH!” Moments later I was sitting in front of the computer (a momentous event like this cannot be observed on a 3 x 2 inch screen) with a Pepsi and a bowl of BBQ potato chips reading that the days of PittGirl were over.

Immediately I knew that this was not right. It could not be and as the emails between my FGM and I continued I (only half jokingly) told her I should create a blog to become the second coming of the wonderful PittGirl, but with a twist.

PittGirl had her sights set on the actual city that we live in. While I live within close proximity of the city limits, I am a girl of the suburbs and with the mere thought of me attempting a blog similar to PittGirl, the FGM developed one of her infamous streams of ideas. She is a tiny little person but she has more ideas in her head than 20 UPMC CEO’s.

Immediately she was filled with possible names but we both agreed on exactly what the blog would be about. This blog is going to be about the amazing city of Pittsburgh as well as the surrounding area. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the revitalization of Pittsburgh and the areas just outside.

For so many generations Pittsburgh was known for the Steel Industry and we first had a reputation of being dirty due to the industry. Then people left the area as the jobs decreased. Now however we have been blessed with a new generation of people who are dedicating themselves to rebuilding this city and helping Pittsburgh reestablish itself as a city people are drawn to.

Some of the most notable young professionals in Pittsburgh range from Mayor Ravenstahl being under 30 years old and Coach Tomlin being about the same age as his players. Also there are the students at the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne and, CMU who are right here developing new and exciting technologies as well as getting the even younger youth excited about the city and its future.

However, the most impressive thing I have noticed is the small towns rebuilding themselves thanks to young policitical actives and the youth of their communities. Old industrial towns are teaching kids what is it like to have responsibilities and be involved in their community instead of just living in it.

When these situations combine, Pittsburgh and the surrounding area lean even closer to the verge of being a new frontier for eco-friendly living. That can be the mark that I leave my children and something we and they can be proud of.

(Yeah, I know that was full of cliches but trust me, I will do my best to make PittGirl proud! Stay tuned!!)