Hi,
Tomorrow’s birth anniversaries include one of the three founders of the NY MOMA (1929), first black woman to graduate from Yale law school Jane Matilda Bolin (1908), Brenda Starr creator Dale Messick (1906) and pharmaceutical pioneer Percy Julian (1899). Other anniversaries include the Ugandan’s Independence Day (1979), Spellman College was founded (1881), Liberation of Buchenwald Concentration Camp (1945) and the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, exactly one week after the assassination of Rev Martin Luther King.
If you come to visit me, it should not be a surprise that I will answer the door when you arrive, please hang up the phone. I am giving you my undivided attention for more time than any hotel and most Inns. If you don’t want the tour or directions/recommendations, I’m fine with that. Just tell me you would rather be on the phone. It saves at least twenty minutes in my life. Obviously, I had a recent arrival and the gentleman was on the phone the entire time I gave his wife the tour and check-in. At least this guest acknowledged his rudeness and apologized. I admit, I am on the phone at times when I should be devoting all my attention to my guests at check-in. When the phone rings, I always look at my caller ID and if I am anticipating another check-in that may be lost or experiencing other problems, I will excuse myself, accept the call. Most times it’s not an anticipated check-in and I inform the caller that I am with a guest will will return their call as soon as I can. And I am guilty of sometimes answering my phone in a check-out line. I try and minimize this and cut it as short as I can without being rude to the caller (unless it’s a telemarketer). 🙂 I truly hate telemarketers.
Two local artists are teaming up for a show at Christine Frechard Gallery at 5871 Forbes Avenue, Squirrel Hill. Laura Jean McLaughlin, has her own gallery in Garfield. She works in ceramics and creates lighthearted whimsical figures. While Jane Ogren, of Pleasant Hills is known for masks and figures that seem to have a tribal influence and maybe somewhat of a spooky in appearance. The show runs through May 2 and admission is free. More info at their websites or by calling 412-421-8888.
What began as a Tongue in Check campaign has become a major component of the CDC’s outreach for disaster preparedness.The Zombie Apocalypse Campaign has been quite the hit and according to CDC director Dr. Ali Khan said “If you are generally well equipped to deal with a zombie apocalypse, you will be prepared for a hurricane, pandemic, earthquake or terrorist attack.” Pretty much makes sense. 🙂
There’s a couple of spring home and garden shows coming up just outside Pittsburgh. The 18th Annual Westmoreland County Home Show will be held this coming weekend (April 13 & 14) at the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds in Mt Pleasant Township. they anticipate around 150 vendors spread over the six buildings. In addition to the expected home and garden vendors, they will have an antiques appraiser, a Pennsylvania wine pavilion that will have 75 PA wines to sample. Admission is just $5, but bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the food bank and they will give you a BOGOF admission. The show is from 10 am until 5 pm and more information is at their website. The other is at the Butler County Home Show also this coming weekend. It’s being held at the Family Sports Center from 4 pm until 9 pm Friday, 10 am until 9 pm Saturday and 10 am until 5 pm Sunday. Admission is free on Friday and $5 on Saturday and Sunday. They will be featuring hands on demonstrations, organic gardening, and remodeling advice with more than 100 vendors. More info by calling 724-482-2199 or by visiting their web site.
Clive Cussler’s latest collaboration with Justin Scott is the book Striker. It is set in Pittsburgh during the turn of the century and is pretty accurate as he talks about landmarks. The story is based on the coal miners effort to unionize and the owners attempts to curtail it. Pittsburgh’s singing sweet heart Jackie Evancho turned 13 on April 9 and is in a new movie as Robert Redford’s daughter in the move The Company You Keep due out April 26. Finally, in my little Pittsburgh blurb (or is it burg here?), there’s a video game that uses Pittsburgh as a back drop as Joel & Elle make their way across the country battling zombie like creatures. Rated M for Mature, the Naughty Dog game The Last of Us is due out on June 14.
Great American Country Network (GAC) has Butler County King Family featured as season 2 kicks off Thursday at 9 pm of Farm Kings. It is, hands down, the biggest hit on this country music station of non music entertainment. GAC signed them up for 13 episodes featuring the nine twenty something brothers and one sister. It is supposedly a non-scripted reality show and it showcases the challenges of farming and the bro’s are pretty naturally hams, so they have fun doing it.
I attended the Western Pennsylvania Bed and Breakfast Association meeting yesterday at Wester Farm Bed and Breakfast Cottages up in Mercer. I was using my Garvin going down a basically dirt road when Garvin said “In .4 miles turn left to destination.” I was literally passing the sign for Al and Betty’s Inn at the same time. I jammed on the breaks and as I start backing up, the Prius ends up in a very deep drainage ditch. Al does his bed and breakfast concierge thing and gets me a tow truck that promptly saved the day. A very nice farm stay up there and not far from Volant, such a cute little town. It’s just past the Grove City Outlet Mall (which I hate) and just an hour north of Pittsburgh, well worth the trip. Make it an overnight adventure and stay at Al & Betty’s which is about twenty minutes away. Ryan and Molly’s Terra Nova House and Howard and Carolyn’s Candleford Inn Bed and Breakfast are both just minutes away. As always, talk to the Innkeeper for suggestions. There’s a lot of small shops and interesting things up there.
I really hate someone shoving something down my throat and the well greased, well funded and well organized NRA is really upsetting me. They are the prime example of a vocal minority that knows how to get a grassroots minority out to make the most noise. As I’ve said in the past, I very much support and demand out 2nd Amendment Rights. This attitude of absolutely no compromise is for the birds. I think the majority of Americans also think mentally dangerous persons shouldn’t be able to purchase arms. Persons buying arms for a criminal should he held accountable. Assault weapons and extended clips are not needed to go sport hunting. I can see where some may want them “to be able to defend themselves from an overbearing government.”, but if we could have saved on of those kids in Sandy Hook, it would have been worth it. I can’t make this any easier, here is the link to your senators, just scroll down even if you don’t know who represents you, there’s only two per state (in case you have totally forgot your high school civic’s class). Tell him/her your feelings. I don’t really care if you are for or against gun control/gun regulation/whatever you want to call it. And this is actually easier, to find out who represents you in the House of Representatives, just follow this link and put your zip code in. It can’t be any easier. Seriously guys, you don’t have to write a lot, you don’t have to be eloquent, I don’t care what side you are on. I just don’t want the NRA to keep thinking they are speaking for us. I have.
Sorry for the rant, but they really drive me nuts. I’ll stop now. Isn’t it great winter is over?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 It was winter this past weekend and now it’s spring. The yard’s cleaned up, the water feature’s working, I’m in short sleeves and sandals, I’m lovin it. 🙂 I hope you are as well.
ed
