Top 10 Tuesday

1. The Pittsburgh Date--I finally took Brian on a legit date in Pittsburgh. The last time I attempted this, I broke my ankles, so the extent of his Pittsburgh experience was the hospital and follow-up appointments downtown. So, we finally got around to our second attempt. We started off with lunch at Pho Van in the Strip District. We then proceeded to Point State Park where we walked across the bridge and grabbed a quick beer at Jerome Bettis Grill 36 (FYI, the men's bathroom has a one-way mirror that looks out into the dining area. So, ladies, when you walk past the hostess, be sure to wink and blow kisses at the mirror behind them). We then went up the incline up Mt Washington. We then went to the South Side where I had to have a farewell beverage from The Beehive cafe because it will be closing. We walked to REI where Brian got himself an awesomely cheap shirt and I got myself a strap to keep my glasses from falling off my face while mountain biking. REI clothing is typically stupid expensive and usually made of the same materials as cheaper clothes you can find elsewhere. There are no REI's near where I live and I actually live in the mountains.

2. October--It's my favorite month. Time for horror movies, more mountain biking, chai lattes, Poe, Lovecraft, Halloween, and fall's gorgeous golden hour before the sun sets. You know, typical "basic white bitch" stuff.

3. Homemade Pho--Visiting Pho Van in The Strip inspired me to make my own and it turned out great. It had noodles, chicken/ginger broth, bok choy, cilantro, scallions, jalapeños, and chicken. I forgot to put sprouts in it, but it turned out delicious regardless.

4. This picture of my mom and dad--They have been through a lot this year. They're finally settled down in their new home and enjoying their retirement. This past weekend, they enjoyed a nice night out with some other couples and someone captured this moment. I love this moment. I love them.

5. Matilda--Road Dahl's Matilda recently had its 30th anniversary. And to celebrate, Missenden (the town in England where the late author once lived) erected these statues.

6. Tinderbox Poetry Journal--I've been enjoying reading this journal. I believe they're currently taking submissions.

7. Face Transplant--I enjoyed reading this article about the Cleveland Clinic's most recent (I believe third?) face transplant. The patient is a very young woman who (to be blunt) shot herself in the face over a boy. How do you feel about that?

8. Eagleton Trail Challenge--Months ago, my friend Maddie talked me into participating in the 10k. I was a bit apprehensive because by no means was I a trail runner and I didn't have the most faith in my abilities considering last year's injuries. But I'm a goal-oriented person when those goals are actually important and intriguing challenges. So, I started trail running and training. Long story short, I ran a 10k trail race this past weekend and I'm looking forward to training for more, even longer, races.

9. A quote--Last week, a man to whom I have grown very close passed away suddenly. I considered him my dad-away-from-home. I was shooting the breeze with him just hours before he passed from a blood clot while soaking in the tub. He was a husband, father, grandfather, and poet. I went to his viewing where I was provided a pamphlet of his poetry. He had his own office in his home, the walls of his office lined with books. He loved William Carlos Williams and William Stafford. He had piles of yellow legal pads of his chicken-scratch poems. I was one of the last people he spoke with that night. In the pamphlet of his poetry that I was provided was this poem:

A Dream of a Funeral

I propped myself up on my elbows to show them I wasn't dead

but they kept arguing.

Some are angry that they hadn't been told.

Others said they didn't know it was that serious.

The young funeral director was out of sorts.

People wouldn't form a decent viewing line.

In my pre-funeral directive I had requested that people bring wine,

and toys for their children to play with,

trucks and blocks.

But nobody did.

-David Patt

10. Kavanaugh Hearing--I was probably the only person in my immediate surroundings who paid attention to the Kavanaugh hearing. I like to think of myself as a fair-minded person. Although I take sexual assault--and every form of mistreatment toward anyone--seriously, it doesn't mean that I truly believe either person. Just because I'm a woman doesn't mean that I'll side with every woman. Just because I'm liberal doesn't mean I'll side with every liberal. Just because a woman says something happened doesn't mean I won't believe when a man says something didn't happen. There are liars and putrid people everywhere, regardless of race, religion, nationality, creed, gender, and political affiliation. And yes, Dr. Ford is an educated and possibly traumatized woman. She has a PhD in educational psychology and can throw out all the scientific jargon to explain why she did and didn't remember certain details. Kavanaugh--he could have been a typical idiot during his school age. And there really isn't any denying that he grew up in a dynamic that could have possibly led to him being protected from consequences. His retaliations were infantile and had nothing to do with the very simple questions being asked. He tried--and failed--at using camaraderie to make his situation seem normal. "Don't you like beer?!" "Do you drink beer?!" But liking and drinking beer has nothing to do with choosing to perform vile actions. Over and over again he was told that his hearing was not a job interview, but he continuously avoided questions by listing his college extracurriculars as if last night's homework was to rehearse. How is this the behavior of someone who needs to be straightforward and objective not only for their career's sake, but in order to have a justifiable hearing with a justifiable outcome? To me, this isn't about gender. It's about right and wrong. Truth and lies. All the other fodder--gender inequality, being a member of the "boys-will-be-boys" club, waiting too long to seek justice, liberals vs. conservatives....there is selfishness, there are agendas, there is fear, on all sides.

I watched what I could of the hearing when I wasn't at work. One thing I do want to express is my condolences to all the people who were triggered by the hearing and its details--especially Ford's testimony. Only a select few animals on this planet can recognize themselves in a mirror. But humans are the only animals who can see beyond just the reflection--the character.