I am literally turning on my laptop for the first time since I was uprooted.. 

I will be e-mailing you all over the next few days to catch-up.  Thanks again for the support.  For the first time, in a long time, I have been reminded how many people truly care.

Lots of love,

Whitney

Just a piece moving forward: I will be moving into an apartment in Mt. Washington mid-August and my blogging will be on hold until I get settled. Lots has occurred over the past few weeks, and I will reserve comment only stating that my once-perceived rock(s) Ambrose and Jared, are no longer in my life.

I’m not talking about it much with anyone, yet the picture of Ambrose remains at my desk.

I am happy, despite the aforementioned. I am solid. But Ambrose saw me through where I am now, but I have re-discovered I am what I need most. I am also happy to say I am thankful for this transition period. I cannot type this entry without tears in my eyes and hope in my heart. I will miss what I thought I had, but Ambrose reminded me I can get through it on my own… He just made it easier with his head on my lap (or chewing the couch to center me)

Mary training has stopped. The blog will probably go in a different direction when I start back over.

I can’t wait to show you all, if you are still here.

I look forward to coming back, full steam, in the near future!

Someday, I will own this house.  In fact, this picture (courtesy of Google Maps) doesn’t do this home justice.  It has been completely restored and is probably worth its weight in gold.  Add the amazing view, and you have my dream home.  A fully rehabilitated Victorian home atop Mount Washington.  I would run everyday at the dawn of the morning and in the summers, I would sit on my second-floor deck drinking coffee everyday.  Yes.  That will be my life after I go back to school to become a doctor and practice some obscure type of medicine that I get paid $5,000/hour for after I win the lottery.

Mt. Washington is hilly along Grandview, but I tackled it and even ran down and up PJ McArdle Roadway.  Of course, running down PJ McArdle is pretty easy (7:00/mi) but you turn around and realize you have a nice steep slope to ascend.  I ran up it at a 10:00/mile pace stopping for a few seconds here and there because, well, it’s tough.  I was done with 4.5 miles by 7:00 AM and was not happier.

Running Mt. Washington.  My new favorite running spot.  (shhh!)  In fact, I passed no other runners (bizzare) but a few early morning tourists snapping pictures. 

Probably not the healthiest confession for a blog, huh?

I know when I get really stressed out because I sleep horribly and I don’t spring out of bed when the alarm goes off.  That happened last night.  I decided to call it a day and take Friday off.  I do have to work Saturday so why not?  Apparently I was also screaming about that in my sleep too.  I ended up doing a lot of work via phone, so I guess I wasn’t really off.  In fact, I was talking to one of my bosses who said Whitney, this is your well deserved mental health day.  Stop talking about work, stop working, the town will be there Monday.  I guess that’s true. 

It’s tough for me, especially right now, because I care so much about the work I do (though when you are technically a trained social worker—more on that another time), I care because my name is on the work, that it’s difficult to stop working.  Also, this really is a full-life job.  This job doesn’t end when the business day ends. 

Total hours worked this week: 60.  That’s not really tough but it is thankless considering what I have gone though. 

Jared said I should ask Council that, if I work a week like this, I am granted the opportunity to work from home one of those days.  I like the idea, but I know them well enough that it will get knocked down.  Their whole reservation is we do it* too, so we have no sympathy for you.  It being the long hours.  I don’t mind putting in the long hours, but, come Friday, my brain is fried. 

Good news (?):  I got called back for Round Two of the job interview outside Philly.  Funny this should come up the day these terrors occur.  The week I was berated publically.  Sounds too good to be true.  Seriously.  Ship me away 600 miles.  Please & Thank you.

Other News:  I am in the process of renewing my contract with the Borough.  I am an at will employee which makes contract negotiations that much more important.  The only enforceable provision is severance.  Due to the tumultuous nature of past managers in my municipality, I have pretty much asked for severance for every termination scenario (aside from my gross negligence).  I didn’t ask for a “strong majority” vote for termination 6 months after an election (when new members try to vote-out management).  I’ve weathered that political storm these past few months.  If they terminate me, by law, I am allowed one (1) name-clearing hearing (yes, such a thing exists) and will move-on.  I don’t think it will get to that, but I do think I need to protect myself. 

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Last weekend, I did get some good runs in.  I always enjoy the summertime outside runs.  They are peaceful.  I also, singlehandedly, managed to get a CVS deal “done” and we can look forward to some new construction in the Borough.  Hustling ain’t easy.    Actually, the idea came from a broader elected official, and I made it happen that day.  I told the broker I charge commission. 

Happy Saturday?

Residents wanted answers to a long-term solution.  We don’t have those answers yet.

Residents also heard lots of rumors, many of which aren’t substantiated.

Residents wanted to put the blame on someone.  It quickly became evident that person was me.  Three women got up and publicly berated me.  I’ve gone through that process before with the delinquent sewage, but it was “easier” because, well, let’s face it, it was an unpaid bill.

This felt a little different.  This felt worse because I know I have been working hard to try to help these residents. 

Council, thankfully, realized what was going on.  I didn’t attempt to correct their lies, I just sat there and took it. 

It’s a tough balance for me, really, because this is one of those times that I really feel that all of the hard work I do for the Borough will never be good enough.

I can’t imagine their pain.  Nor have I experienced flooding myself—my dad always said to live on the high side.  I also can’t imagine what would have driven them to pit the blame on me like this.  I’m becoming increasingly resilient, though.  That is for sure.

It should also be noted that the three residents that seemed to “rally” the crowed in their accusations against me were women.  I’ve had dealings with two of these women in the past.  I don’t know if there is any correlation or comment to be made regarding women’s treatment of women, but I could gather that.

It’s not the hours that make this a tough position (though, I didn’t get home last night until well after 10:00 PM).  It’s not the limited budget.  It’s times like these, where historical problems cannot be solved over night.  It’s times like these where I realize how hard my position is.  And how the residents look to me to truly solve all of the problems. 

Work this week is going to be hectic, speaking of hours:

Monday: 7A-10:30 PM (public meeting)

Tuesday: 7A-8:00 PM (planning commission)

Wednesday: 7A-8:00 PM (interviews)

Thursday: 7A-6:00 PM (misc. catch-up)

Friday: Normal hours (hopefully)

Saturday: 8A-?? (LERTA meeting)

Our night started out by attempting to make reservations at Nine on Nine but quickly found out that waiting until 5:00 the night of a show was not a good idea.  I did not have any time at work that day to stop for a reservation (trust me!) until I had picked Jared up from work and we were heading home to change.

Our next option, then was Six Penn Kitchen which is apparently owned by the Eat N Park Hospitality Group.  Yes, we went to an upscale EnP.  That was the only other place I could think of quickly so I decided to just go with it.

We enjoyed the “Mussels of the day” as an appetizer.  They were alright.  They put chicken in with the mussels which felt a little strange.  They also had peaches in as well.  If you ate a mussel, peach, and bite of chicken together, it was an interesting combo.  The peaches alone were good.  The mussels were as fresh as frozen.  The bread, which came late, was terrible.  Frozen.  We didn’t bother soaking up the sauce with the bread. 

Jared ordered the beef short rib and enjoyed it.  I tasted some of his spicy rice and it was excellent. 

I ordered the lobster mac and cheese.  I was really teetering between that (which is supposed to be a special) and the fafalel.  The lobster was good.  It was two whole lobster claws atop a very rich macaroni and cheese.  The macaroni was not very good if overcooked and mushy.  The cheese blend was good, but due to how heavy the sauce was, it continued dominate the over-cooked pasta.  I would have liked a good al-dente pasta to stand up to the sauce. 

I was unable to take more than five bites of the mac & cheese before giving up.  It was too heavy as a full meal. Combine with how it was cooked.   I finished one part of the lobster and gave the rest to Jared. 

I enjoyed two glasses of wine though!  Jared also had two beers.  When it came time for dessert, Jared and I were discussing what we wanted.  Having had two glasses of wine in me I was telling him how I wanted a “fruit tart”.  We were pressed on time but when our waiter returned, and described the first desert as a fruit tart, Jared belted out “I’ll take it!” without consulting me.  First rule of women is that even if they describe wanting something, that doesn’t mean they actually want it.  We attempted to cancel the dessert but it showed up anyway.  Good thing, because the tart was really a puff pastry tower and now what I had in my mind.  Jared ate some of it anyways and we didn’t get charged for it.

The bill ended up being about $100 which makes sense.  $12/round of drinks (two rounds), $15 for the appetizer, $25 for our meals (each) which makes some sense.  I actually think Jared’s rib was more like $30. 

The waiter was good, except they did get pretty busy and he’d left us for some time which made Jared anxious for the show…

We got to the show right in time.  I was amazed at how close the seats were.  We were in row AA seats 108 & 109.  It was amazing!  Yes, we could look over and see the orchestra. Amazing.  The actors chests were puffing in and out for air and we could see it all.  The play itself was great.  Jared was eating Starbursts during it which was funny.  The seats were comfy and the music was amazing.  Our high school band did a song from Miss Saigon and let me just say, it was no where near what this Orchestra sounded like . 

I could not stop staring the whole time.  We saw nothing in front of us with the exception of the conductors wand from time to time. 

We got home around 11:40 after a walk to the car.  Jared kept talking to me in musical voice the rest of the night…  “We are walking to the caaaaaaaaar noooow” and of course I said “Oh but where is the caaaaar paaaaarked?”

I’m not certain other Pittsburghers outside of the South Pittsburgh area will be familiar with Page Dairy Mart.  I don’t know if it holds that “regional” name outside of South Pittsburgh.  It is South Pittsburgh’s historical ice cream place.  Long lines in the summer that span along Carson Street.  In fact, it is so removed from Carson Street that I think it’s almost a hidden gem.

I like Page’s.  I think it’s okay.  I don’t love Page’s or think to myself “Hmm, ice cream is in order, let’s go to Page’s.”  I think it is what it is.  Jared and I stopped last night on our way home from the Waterfront.  I was just going to get an Italian ice when I saw that they now offer yogurt!  Uh-oh.  I am jumping on the Fro-Yo bandwagon…

Which brings me to the point of this post…

Pittsburgh now has frozen yogurt boutiques.  As if the cupcake boutique craze weren’t enough, you can now pay $5 for yogurt and fruit toppings.  As if $5 for a cupcake weren’t bad enough, you can go to a yogurt place and load up what should be a healthy treat into a sugar coma.

I did have the froyo last night at Page’s.  It was not tart plain yogurt, it was vanilla yogurt.  It was good at Page’s, but I am afraid if I move into the  good karma world I may not be able to go back.  Then I will have to drive all the way out to Oakland, Shadyside, or Squirrel Hill when I want yogurt because my good old hometown creamery will become subpar in my newly found yogurt-elitist mind.  I should also note that I love Costco’s frozen yogurt.  Seriously, so good.  And $1.  I mean, really.

What do you think about this Yogurt Craze?  Are they going to be forced out of business or into another “specialty” once the trend is gone?

Jared and I got free tickets to Miss Saigon.  I am thrilled to be able to take advantage of this generous offer and I will just say the seats will be amazing.  I am really excited about all of it.  Dressing up (fancy!),  dinna (Six Penn Kitchen or Nine on Nine?), a wonderful show.  I may even say let’s live on the edge and take the T into town! 

Ahh… It’s times like these, that I think everything will be okay…*

I look forward to blogging about it all =)

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*Flood update:  I know this post is very “blasé a blasé”, however, I also was called every profanity in the book today by two residents as a result of the flood that occurred.  As if, I single handedly caused their problems.  That is the double edged sword with being a public official, I guess.  You try to focus on the big picture but sometimes that isn’t enough. 

For any ‘Burghers that might be interested:  we will not be fixing the walls of the residents whose may have collapsed into the stream-bed.  In fact, let me just say that we have one heck of a mess on our hands.  It is being addressed, though!

It flooded in a part of my community on Saturday and there is not much I can do.  Why?  Because it flooded on private property.  I feel a tremendous amount of remorse for these property owners and some amount of obligation.  I have to help them.  Here is a small glimpse into what happened.  Jared and I headed out on Saturday when the water was gushing.  I feel so badly for the residents, I do, but at the same time, the municipality cannot afford to “step in” on private property.  This is a true feeling of being torn.