Monday Minute: Free Adventures in Pittsburgh

Many of you already know that I am a cheapskate. It drives Dennis insane. Spending no money is my goal but of course that doesn't happen. Today's Monday Minute focuses on free adventures in Pittsburgh. These are just a few recommendations since this after all supposed to be a quick post and now I will need to start looking for more family-friendly adventures. Here are my top five and don't forget RADical Days are coming up and provides LOTS of free opportunities to explore museums, zoos and other Pittsburgh organizations.

1. Walk the riverfront trail or explore any of the parks for that matter.

2. Play disc golf at Schenley Park.

3. Spend a Saturday morning in the Strip District.

4. Attend a movie in the park during the summer or a concert at county parks.

5. Attend the free symphony concert during the arts festival.

And that's my Monday minute!

Tuesday Link Love Randomness

Well, I'm back with some more link love. Two weeks in a row! That's a new record! I am trying though to maintain the blog and the daily post ideas. Doesn't always work though!

 

It's been a crazy week in my life if you haven't seen my posts on Facebook or the blog. Interviewed for a job, offered a job, accepted a job. Then throw in planning a wedding and today is D's birthday and the wildcard game for the Pirates. Sigh... I need a break.

 

 

Life Lately

 

The giant rubber duck arrived in Pittsburgh on Friday. I saw it from a far on my way to pick D up and then on my commutes. It's pretty cool. Definitely not as big as I thought it would be but I read that the Pittsburgh duck is smaller, so that it fits under the bridges. I'm hoping to go take pictures tomorrow afternoon after we get our marriage license.

 

The Pirates are playing the wild card game tonight. Pretty awesome! I'll admit. I had my doubts about them for awhile. I like baseball because I can actually afford to go the games and then I can feel a part of it more. I got to go to some awesome games this year. It's amazing that have gotten this far and I hope they win tonight, so D can maybe go to the playoffs! It's great publicity for the city too!

 

Marathon

 

Well, its been almost six months since the last half-marathon. Registration opened today and I'm in...hopefully...had a few gliches there. This year, I decided I wanted to run for a charity. I miss doing the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and I really wanted to run for a reason since I already proved to myself that I could do it. I'm running for North Hills Community Outreach. I've done some volunteer work through them in the past for church and thought it was a good fit.

 

I'd say that's an awful lot of Pittsburgh love coming from an unlikely cheerleader. I do love the marathon and I think its great that the duck is here and the Pirates are doing so well. That's all the Pittsburgh love I can muster for now.

 



RADical Days in Pittsburgh

So, today I'm going to give a little shout-out to the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD).  Not many people know who they are or what they do but they are a fabulous organization that supports and finances regional assets, including libraries.  The organization also sponsors RADical Days, which many Pittsburgh residents probably have never heard of but should definitely take advantage of. 

 

 

Basically, RADical Days are approximately a month's worth of free admission to local Pittsburgh attractions, including the zoo, museums, stadiums, aviary,etc.  This year's schedule looks pretty awesome or for once I think I'm actually going to get to go to some of the events.  So, if you are like me and are too cheap to pay the admission to some of these places, get out and go for free in the next few weeks.  Trust me.  It will be worth it.

 

Here is this year's schedule of events: http://radworkshere.org/interior.php?pageID=61.

Kennywood Don'ts (or anytime for that matter)

Yesterday, Dennis and I went to Kennywood.  Perfect people watching!  It ranks up there with the mall, the swimming pool and of course the library.  Here are a few of my observations from my day at the amusement park.  I'm sorry I don't have pictures to illustrate my points.

Sorry if I offend anyone. 

Don't practice business in the front and party in the back.

Mullets are not cool.  Decide whether you want to do business or party but not both.

Don't keep all of your belongings in that lovely leather fanny pack that makes your kids cringe.

Fanny packs are not in style.  What do you really have in there that won't work in a backpack, purse or other bag?  Why is in that fanny pack so jammed full?

Don't treat your child like an animal.

Decide whether you are going to raise your child like a the human being they are or a dog.  Release the lease children!

Don't let your butt show.

They aren't shorts if they don't cover your butt.  Those, my friend, are underwear, if they can even be considered that.

Don't unbutton your shirt too far.

Maybe in the eighties when you were thinner (I don't know since I was only a little kid) it was hot to wear your sports bra with jeans and your denim shirt buttoned down to your belly button.  It's really not that attractive though.

Again, don't let your butt show.

Decide if you are wearing a dress or a shirt.  Last time I checked, its a shirt if it doesn't cover your butt.

 

I could probably write a book.  Believe me, I'm no fashion expert.  I'm an observer.  Meg told me when I left the house in my tennis shoes, athletic shorts, tie-dye DIY halter (thanks Pinterest) and pony tail that she could not believe that's how I was dressing for Kennywood.  I think I can honestly say though that I don't break these don'ts and I was comfortable all day.  That's all that mattered to me.  Unlike her, I don't need to look like the latest American Eagle ad while I'm hot and sweaty in the amusement park.

 

That's just my two cents...

Baby, We Were Born to Run!!!

Run a half marathon. - Check.

Well, I did it!  Last week at this time I was a bit apprehensive about the whole event.  Now, I'm so excited and proud of myself for finishing that I've been researching other half marathons.

It was such a great run!  A little warmer this expected but I made it through...  Each Pittsburgh neighborhood was so welcoming with throngs of spectators, cheer teams and bands.  It helped take my mind off the heat, pain and realization that I still had six, eight or 10 miles left.

Thanks to Amy for encouraging me to run and participating with me. Thanks to my fabulous boyfriend for taking Amy and I downtown at the crack of dawn, cheering me through the finish line and treating me to lunch.  Thanks to Amanda, Barb and Meg who also came to cheer me on. 

Three days later I'm still running on adrenaline and waiting till I'm able to run again.  The blisters, sore muscles and exhaustion are slowly dissipating.  It was so worth it!

Congratulations to all the other runner!  It was an amazing race!

1 Day. 10 Hours. 36 Minutes. 31 Seconds.

As the Pittsburgh Marathon weekend commences I am overcome with a range of emotions...

...fear, worry, excitement, hope.

I've trained since January.  I've bored all of you with my posts about training.  I survived my long run and all of my short runs leading up to that and this weekend.  There is really nothing else I can do now except rest and hydrate.

This race is one of the goals I would like to check off my five year plan.  A marathon is also on my five year plan but the ending of that five years is fast approaching, so that may need to be added to my bucket list.  I CAN DO THIS! I am ready for 13.1!

So...

...for the next 32 hours, I am determined to prepare myself physically and mentally for this challenge.  I know I'm not fast.  My goal is not to win.  My goal is to finish.  With future races, I will have room for improvement in the time category.  Here's to 13.1 miles of Pittsburgh!

Good luck to all my fellow runners!