Happy Housefuls

These four have had a lot of fun over the years. A lot. We're excellent multi-taskers. We can talk, laugh,  eat, cry, validate each other, and make inappropriate jokes all at the same time.

We spent the weekend together at our place with all of our kids (for a grand total of nine) and today the house feels strangely empty without them here. Usually when they come to visit, they accidentally leave an article of clothing. I was really jonesing for Becky to accidentally leave that gorgeous orange coat, but I can't find it anywhere.

We had a great time riding roller coasters, eating deep fried everything, watching movies, roasting marshmallows, and staying up too late. In other words, we had lots of fun. Lots of multi-tasking fun.

When I was young, I thought I'd have a bunch of kids just like my mom. Turns out, I only had two kids but a bunch of visitors, which means that I have a bustling houseful of people...on occasion. It suits me well, I think. It's a nice balance.

My Day in the Pitts

When you think of Pittsburgh, what comes to mind? Industrial town? Steel mills? Cold, gray, desolation? Depressed, forlorn factory workers who dress in ratty black jumpsuits and chain smoke and complain about "the man"?

Um, that is not Pittsburgh. Why were we thinking that was Pittsburgh? Why am I dragging you into this with all this "we" talk? Because this is my blog.

Pittsburgh is beautiful. Like, really beautiful. It's nestled inside some lush mountains. Or, large speed bumps, as we call them in the West.

We ventured to Pittsburgh to cheer on the Utah Utes. Here are my boys representin'. Please notice in this photo that Pittsburgh has three beautiful rivers that join in it and a plethora of lovely bridges throughout. See the one in the distance? See the one we're standing on? See the cheery yellow stadium in the distance? Bee-yoo-tiful.

We were also representing with our intake of local food. I love local food. We did our homework (a.k.a. hours of Man vs. Food watching) and found these Quaker Steak wings at the stadium. (By the way, is it just me, or does Max look exactly the same as he did when he was three? Yes? I know. So weird.)

We cheered on our team. I also cheered on the sun who was battling the clouds that day. Go Sun! You can do it! Show me the sunny!

We got there a little early and were lucky enough to sit in the visiting team family section. Careful what you criticize when you're sitting in the team family section. Somebody's mama might bop you on the head. (By the way, whenever Ryan is dressed in hat and sunglasses, I think he looks majorly CIA. I, on the other hand, look majorly DORK.)

Our cheering paid off. The Utes won! The team came over to sing the fight song after the win. It was really cool. It was also really cool because the clouds beat out the sun for the weather win. Womp, womp.

Pittsburgh also has beautiful architecture and a nice city center. We did not see the Pittsburgh ghetto of my imagination. I don't think it exists. Everybody we met was really friendly and nobody threatened to kill us with steel beams. Several people even called me "hon," which actually threw me a little off guard. I guess I'm getting used to our proximity to Philly because I was about to say, "Yo, knock it off with the 'hons' if you know what's good for yous." However, since I lived most of my life in Utah, I just smiled and said, "I sure do apprecia'cha!"

Speaking of Man vs. Food, we followed Adam Richman's advice and made a bee-line after the game to Primanti Brothers for their famous sandwiches. There were lots of "hons" flying around that place, but it's not what you think....

It was me saying, "Well, helllooooo, hon," to this sandwich. Let's dissect the layers, shall we? Bread, tomatoes, tomatoes, cole slaw, cole slaw, cole slaw, runny egg, french fries, french fries, cheese, pastrami, and bread. Don't make that face. It was bliss, I tell you. Pure bliss. 

Pittsburgh. It's the land of many wonders. Like, I wonder why I had such totally false ideas of what it would be like. Perhaps the word "pitts" is to blame. Maybe subconsciously the ideas of avocado pits and armpits created the negative connotations?

If I were the mayor of Pittsburgh, I'd start a PR campaign to educate dumb, prejudiced people like me. And the first thing I'd do is change the name officially to Brad Pittsburgh. It's much more appropriate and fitting, don't you think? It brings to mind all sorts of wonderful connotations.

Brad Pittsburgh: The Devastatingly Handsome City

Brad Pittsburgh: We'll Adopt You And Love You Like Our Own

Brad Pittsburgh: We Oughta Be In Movies

Brad Pittsburgh: Angelina Jolie Chose Us, Why Don't You?

Those are just a few ideas off the top of my head, but I think I'm on to something. 

Goodbye, Brad Pittsburgh! I hope to see you again soon!

Sometimes I Have to Remind Myself...

• When I don't feel like a writer, I can just pretend to be a writer.
• There's an ebb and flow to everything, especially good times and bad.
• If I want to lose weight, I have to stop eating stuff.
• Taking my contacts out feels monumentally easier at 8:30 than at 10:30.
• Loving people doesn't require solving their problems.
• Making dinner is usually more fulfilling than going out. Except for when I'm really, really tired.
• Being a good person usually requires action.
• Cleaning the kitchen doesn't take nearly as long as I think it does.
• Everything is better with mushrooms.
• I'll thank myself for every time I record my kids on video.
• Trashy TV should only be enjoyed in small, delicious doses.
• Good ideas usually come after about 300 dumb ones.
• Putting myself out there almost always ends up paying off.
• Be thankful, appreciative, and gracious at every opportunity.
• Celebrate anything. Everything.
• I am not my job, my salary, my weight.
• Accept change. Welcome it, if possible.
• Dance in the kitchen.
• Sing in the car.
• Give funny greeting cards.
• Don't judge. Ever. Not even when you really, really want to.
• A root beer float is delicious when you haven't had one in a long time.
• Err on the side of compassion.
• Electricity is amazing. So is pasta. And guacamole.
• Never pass up the opportunity for a ridiculous self-portrait.

Hey Me, Where Are You?

Do you ever feel out of touch with who you used to be? I've been wondering how I became estranged from me, version 2007. I liked her. She had lots of energy and ideas.

5 Unrelated Facts and 5 Haikus

• Max has been referring to his "Netherlands" as his "boing loings."
• My dog is getting fat.
• I love Man vs. Food. It's part of my watch-people-eating-instead-of-eating diet.
• Christian gives shockingly wise love advice to his compadres.
• Ryan likes apps on his Blackberry.

Here are five haikus dedicated to those 5 facts.

Boing Loings

Call them what you want

But make no mistake, my friend

No one wants them kicked.

Fat Doggy

It hurts my feelings

The way you look at my dog

And judge her. Stop that.

Weird Diet

I'll watch you eat that.

I'll imagine how it tastes

While you gain the weight

Dr. Love

He might be a kid

But don't ignore his advice

If you want the girl.

Apps

Fandango, TripIt,

Open Table, Weather Bug,

The man has got apps.

A Worthy Cause

Max just informed me that he needs to wear pink tomorrow and bring at least five pennies to school tomorrow to help fight "breath cancer."

I hate breath cancer. I hope I never get it.

In other cancer-y news, I get to accompany Alyssa to her last chemo treatment tomorrow. (Hooray! Hooray!)  I made cookies to help celebrate with her chemo friends and nurses. I packed them in a Brookstone bag I had from last Christmas. I hope the bag won't cause any confusion for anybody. I don't want them trying to use the cookies for an ergonomic neck pillow or to try plugging their iPods into them.

It's just a bag, people.

Anyway, tomorrow, whatever you're doing, I hope you find time to think about those fighting the good fight against cancer. Breast, breath, and otherwise.