Day Four: Two Little Trash Bags

The forecast called for rain on Sunday aka game day all week, it was just a matter of how much and when it would arrive. We bought Steelers ponchos the day we arrived so we were prepared. Dustin bought parking prior to the game so it was super easy to just park and walk around the stadium until the doors opened. Then once we got in we walked around some more because we were there SUPER early. 

Once I peed and we got some drinks we went ahead and just sat down in the very empty stadium and watched it start to fill up. It was kind of misty out so we helped one another put on our little trash bags. We watched both teams  practice  warm-up and before we knew it the game started.

It was a rough time between the constant rain (the mist turned into a drizzle), the batshit ref calls, and the players just not playing great. On top of all of that the dude a few rows in front of us would not sit down so eventually Dustin yelled "Hey man, can you sit down?" and he did! Another fan even thanked Dustin for saying something. I'm just glad a fight didn't break out. Then there was the woman behind us who kept screaming, and I mean belting her very loudest "KIIIIILLLLLL THEEEEEEM!" every other minute. No matter what was happening she wanted them dead. She got so out of hand that even a security guard went over to talk to her. 

As terrible as so many things were during this game, maybe even the worst Steelers game we've ever been to together, Dustin and I still had a really good time. We were both of course disappointed but we didn't let it sour our mood especially toward one another. We left a little early and the Steelers ended up losing to the Jaguars 20 - 10. Womp womp. But I was pumped I got to finally wear my vintage sweatshirt (that I found in Orlando) and my Steel City beanie. It's the small things!

We went for round 2 at Burgatory because we needed something we knew would be great after that mess. 

 

When we got back to the hotel I made sure to take some more foliage selfies while it was still light out. We had a chill night in because we were getting up at 4 AM again the following morning to head home. I truly don't understand people who go on week-long or even longer trips because by day 4 or 5 I am itching to be back in my own bed and more importantly see my damn cats!

Day Three: Steep Streets, Lorraine, and Fires in Canada

First stop of the day was Steel City at their downtown location. But of course the time the internet told us it opened and the actual time it opened was off. We walked to Rite-Aid for some necessities and around the block before heading back. I was a bit underwhelmed. Dustin and I  buy so much from them online and we've even been to their store during our last visit, so I had great expectations. I'm not sure what it was but just seemed like they didn't have as much in-store as they do online. I did get the cutest and coziest new shirt from there so I'll stop complaining. 

We decided to go up to the Duquesne Incline since we hadn't been since 2012. You can't ever beat that view at the top. We didn't ride the cable car down the mountain this time around but it's a lot of fun and I highly recommend it if you ever find yourself in the Burgh. 

Same spot 11 years apart. Clearly the iPhone cameras have improved since then. 

  

 

 

      

We weren't full-on-lunch-hungry but wanted a snack before we met up with the Fids later on. We walked across the street to Steel Mill Saloon and had fried deviled eggs (good but not great) and the biggest damn pretzel (absolutely delicious!).

 

 

 

Did you know the steepest street in the Continental United States is in Pittsburgh? Neither did we until I came across it on some Pittsburgh website. Then I made Dustin drive over to it so I could confirm with my eyeballs. Yep, pretty fucking steep. So steep I would not let Dustin drive up it because I'm a scaredy cat through and through. So he decided to go on some of the other surrounding steep streets to drive down it. Just getting there was like being on a rollercoaster - the road was bumpy as hell and it felt like we were laying down driving upward instead of forward. We got to the steepest street, Canton Avenue, when we saw a sign that you aren't allowed to drive down. What the hell! So back down the long way we went. 

   

We went back to the hotel and just took it easy until our Fuber came and got us again. We went to the mall together like one big happy family in 1987. The minute we walked in Brady knew a group of kids in the food court. Then we went into American Eagle and a bunch of girls screamed "Brady!". It truly felt like the mall of yesteryear. Remember when you'd go walk around with your friends for hours and see all the people from school? The malls down in Florida are dwindling one by one but I'm so glad the Robinson Mall is still kicking.

Brady wanted to play in the arcade but no one had change. Dustin being the arcade lover himself put a $10 bill in the machine and the quarters just started pouring out. Again, what a quintessential mall moment. Dustin just started putting quarters in all the machines and Brady was ready to go. Nicole beat him at the car race fair and square. They played every game in the place and we still had a bunch of quarters leftover. They are currently in my wallet weighing my purse down. 

      

We ate dinner at The Yard. The 90s kid/overall pun lover in me was deeply amused by the names of their food items. 

Smash Club Burger? Ok Full House. 

I Dip, You Dip, We Dip? Um yes to a bop from '97 played at every middle school dance I went to.

Patty Mayonnaise? Love a Doug reference. 

Dustin and I shared the fried pierogis and although good, not my favorite version of them. 

 

On the car ride to PPG Paints Arena, Brady mentioned Lorraine Johnson, and we were all like huh? Who? THE ROCK. Ohh he meant Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and we all about lost our minds laughing. He will forever be Lorraine to us now. 

I'm not sure how we got so lucky to attend not only another Pens game but one on Grocery Bag Night! We walked in and each got our own bag. Score! And then Dustin and Fiddy told Nicole and I to hold their bags because they were going to walk through again to get more.  And there they are going up the escalator extra bags in hand thinking they are just so slick. If anyone in Central Florida comes across a Penguins grocery tote in Goodwill, you're welcome. 

We went and just sat in some empty seats (two of which are Fiddy's usual seats) to surprise his dad, Big Al and his step-mom Donna. We watched them practicing their warm-ups or is it warming up their practice? It's all the same, right Fiddy? (HA - 😉) And then moments later the legend himself arrived, Big Al! We said our hellos, took a group photo, and hung out with them for a bit until it was time to go find our own seats. 

And that was when it all went to shit - in every single way. The Senators scored twice in the first and then kept gaining momentum whereas the Pens didn't score their first goal until the second and only one other goal in the 3rd. The entire game Pens fans were chanting what I thought was "Fires in Canada" (you know because of the air quality?) but turns out they were actually saying "Fire Canada", which I learned was referencing a coach on the Steelers named Matt Canada. Dustin and Fiddy had a good laugh over that one.  

The game ended 5 - 2 Senators. The game also ended with Dustin also almost shitting his pants. He only told us all after the fact that his stomach was tore up the entire game. It was a shitty night but at least we went home with all those damn grocery bags! So really we did end up winning...in a way. 

Day Two: Foliage and Funky Art

Friday, October 27, 2023 also referred to as 1989 (Taylor's Version) Day aka the lord's day. Taylor release days are legendary and the fact that we get so many more of them because of her re-records is everything. A Swiftie does not take these days for granted. Most of us have our own little traditions, like going to Target to buy the special edition CD and take a photo with her merch stand, or listen front to back IN ORDER alone. There is no wrong way to celebrate; just listen to Taylor's new music and boom you're in on the fun.

Originally Dustin and I were going to meet up with my friend Maggie, who lives a drivable distance from Pittsburgh and whom is also a certified gold Swiftie. We had planned to wait and listen to the vault tracks together for the first time because the ultimate way to celebrate the lord's day is obviously with a fellow Swiftie. Unfortunately, she had an emergency and had to cancel. It was a total bummer for both of us but life happens and we just have to roll with the bumps in the road. Next time for sure!

Of course this meant Dustin and I had a completely free day. I let him sleep in a bit but as per usual I was up at the crack of dawn. I put my headphones in, laid in the dark, on the couch, in our hotel room, and started to listen to the vault tracks first. That's the way I do the re-records; all the new shit is first. I don't know how anyone does it any other way. From my first listen I liked all of them which is saying something because that has not been the case with the other re-records. If I had to order albums by vault songs alone I'd go with Red, 1989, Speak Now, Fearless. 

As it got a little later, and I mean after 7 a.m., I moved my listening party to the hotel gym. This was the first time ever I went to a hotel gym on a vacation. It's not even that I'm some gym rat now, it's more the fact I really like this routine I've created and it makes me feel good both physically and mentally. I went back to 1989 while also getting an hour in on the treadmill before I went back up to our room and took a shower. Dustin was still sleeping. This is typical in our household - I have lived a half a day and Dustin hasn't opened his eyes yet. But he also stays up much later than I do or even can. It all balances out. 

Once he finally got going we stopped at Eat-N-Park for breakfast. I was annoyed they didn't have any individual smiley face cookies like they used to. They seemed to only offer a full pack. Lame.  

From the minute we drove out of the Pittsburgh Airport parking garage I couldn't shut up about the foliage. It was poppin' off so much. So when Dustin asked what I wanted to do I told him I wanted to see some more goddamn colorful trees. I researched which parks would be best and since Riverview Park was on the list, and on the way to some other activities; that's where we went. Dustin was so accommodating in letting me just scream "Stop here!" whenever I felt the urge to jump out and take photos. Are the photos beautiful? Yes. Did it look even better in person? Also yes. 

 

Every time Dustin and I plan a trip to Pittsburgh, I add Randyland to our list of activities - and every time we end up running out of time or just wanting to do something else more. But today was our day to finally see what this crazy looking place was all about. 

This is the best description I could find:

"An outdoor museum, a yard filled with LOTS of recycled, repurposed, found, dumpster TREASURES, PAINTED in hundreds of HAPPY BRIGHT COLORS. Kinda like a misfit puzzle, resembles the owner."

We arrived around 10:30 AM and the street was quiet. I asked Dustin to just park across the street so I could hop out and look at the outside because it appeared to be closed. As you can see in the photos below, there is so much to look at. I immediately noticed the rainbow bricks which I thought were so fun! The vibrant colors were just so cheerful. As I walked around the side I noticed the gate was open and since the internet told me it opened at 10 AM I just went ahead and walked in. Only a few minutes later Dustin joined me and told me Randy fist-bumped him as he walked inside the courtyard. We had the place to ourselves and took in all the "junk" and art and messages of love. I started to have Dustin take a photo of me holding the telephone and then he immediately said "The sign says no touching anything." and so that is why my face looks like that while sitting down at the table. Ha! My inner rule-follower was like put down that phone right now. 

Randyland is free but accepts donations. There was the tiniest little gift shop, the size of a closet. The prices were listed next to Randy's Venmo account. So I grabbed a sticker and a postcard and sent Randy the money to pay for them both - and a little more.

   

 

 

Just blocks away from Randyland is another art museum. I had purchased our                                                               Mattress Factory  tickets for 11:30 but in true me fashion we were very early. Thankfully they let us right in. When we checked in it was recommended we start on the 4th floor and work our way back down. So that's what we did.

We got in the elevator and there was an employee that welcomed us when the doors open. They told us that the first exhibit required safety glasses and a hardhat to view. Uh, ok. We put them on and climbed through the art piece. The next room didn't require us to wear any protective gear. The exhibit was right out of a horror movie - at least that's the way I saw it. 

We kept making our way down floor by floor. I am decent with words but I can't really think of how to describe some of these exhibits. They were just so different from anything I've ever seen. My favorite was the two mirrored rooms where we had to wear little booties over our shoes, like doctors do. Another floor had these light exhibits where the whole floor was almost completely pitch black except for the light on the wall in different areas. Like I said, it's all very hard to describe so I'll just say if you're ever in Pittsburgh it is worth a visit. 

 

 

We spent the rest of the afternoon in the Strip District where there are a bunch of outdoor vendors and indoor shops. We perused the streets for a while and then it was time to get some food. Dustin wanted to try Iron Born Pizza which is known for their Detroit-style pizza. Yes, Detroit-style in Pittsburgh. It was really fucking good though. And their chips and dip! 

While walking back to the car we stopped at Peace, Love & Little Donuts and got a dozen to take back to our hotel. Yinz know, when in Pittsburgh... We spent the remainder of the trip snacking on these little pieces of heaven. The pumpkin spice latte was my absolute fave. 

   

 

 I had the gnarliest stomach ache just as we walked back into our hotel. AND THEN OUR KEY WOULDN'T WORK to our 4th floor room. It was annoying on a good day but when you're about to break into a sweat and shit your pants it's infuriating. So we went back down to the lobby so Dustin could get the key fixed and I could find another restroom. I stayed in there for an hour. I'm not exaggerating. The only saving grace was that the hotel played good music in their restrooms so at least there was that to distract from dying on the toilet.

I finally made it back to our room and collapsed in the bed. What a truly shitty way to end an overall great day. I felt ok enough to venture out to Target because that is one of my lord's day traditions. I have got to take a photo with the little merch display. I'm not the only one because there was also a girl just feet away directing her boyfriend on her merch display photoshoot. This Target was under construction and the whole experience (minus seeing Taylor's Version) was a nightmare - between the amount of people, the construction, & the idiot drivers in the parking lot. Dustin and I couldn't get out of there fast enough.