Monday, May 24, 2010

Pretty in Pittsburgh

I'm writing this blog from Pittsburgh, where I am teaching two one-week classes...I came one day early to adjust to the 3 hour time difference, and ended up walking most of that day, looking at houses, and trying not to get run over. I was THAT close about three times, before it dawned on me: people here don't stop for pedestrians!

Look at this picture:



The traffic light is obviously meant for cars only, and you would assume that if it's green for the cars going straight, it's green for you you too. Well, in theory, but that doesn't mean anything for the cars turning right, and they don't stop for anything. In Washington State, even if you jaywalk, cars stop for you. So, if you don't hear from me anymore, I might be part of the Pittsburgh Pavement....

Especially since I didn't pay all that much attention to the streets, because my eyes were glued on the houses. In the Northwest, most houses are modern, or, if they are old, they are close to falling down (okay, well, it's not THAT bad, but in my everyday life, there aren't that many buildings worth oogling over.). The houses here all look ancient ("historic"), haunted, and a bitch to move into. Take a look with me:

















What I found remarkable about this (rather modest) apartment building was the BIG name (Thames Manor) - and the fact that you can clearly see that powerlines going across (there is barely a picture here WITHOUT powerlines) - I counted them, and the average number of lines was TEN.....I don't know why that is so remarkable to me, I guess I'm just imagining the mess this could make during one of our famous Northwest Storms....

Toward the end of my many mile (seeming) walk I came across an Art Fare...with many strange animals around every corner:



Those that don't move, and those that can't reach high enough:



I hope that my beadmaking students will reach a little higher - we will see.

A little while ago someone asked me why I hardly ever show pictures of classes or students. The simple answer is: when I teach, I don't think about much else, and taking pictures is usually not high on my agenda. Also, I never think it's all that interested for the people who are not in the class to see pictures of people they don't know.... So, that's why I don't show pictures, the only one I have for now is the outside of the Pittsburgh Glass Center:



Not a hugely attractive building, but great atmosphere. I will show pictures from the inside later this week: in case you ever consider coming here and take one of there very reasonable priced week-long classes, you can get an idea what it looks like.....

see you soon!






















Friday, May 21, 2010

Another one of those tests

Just checking whether I can post from my iPad