A couple good days

My "weekend in review" posts tend to be eye-numbing long, so how 'bout just the highlights? (Yeah, right.)

First of all, cars. Not a good topic right now. If anyone remembers my post from last year where I said that our cars always break down at the same time, but you doubted my statement, here's more proof.

• Ell's Jetta won't start after she gets gas at the gas station. Once jumped it runs fine, but then won't start.
• The GTI suddenly started running rough; wouldn't go more than 30 mph.
• The truck blows a tire and I'm stranded in the middle of no-cell-service-where and with no tire iron.
• I'm informed the GTI has no taillights rendering it useless after dark.

This all happened within seven days. Anyone still doubting?

One good note in that mess, I got to meet a nice old lady named Mildred who ignored social suggestions and answered the door when the big hairy stranger knocked on it. I know old people just need someone to talk to and that AAA takes forever, so we sat and chatted on her porch for twenty minutes. The coolest part was that she told me she answered the door because I looked like a, "Happy guy." Considering the frustration I was feeling at my present situation I took that as a great compliment.

After the tow truck showed up and changed my tire (talk about demasculanization) I made it home 2 1/2 hours after getting off work. Then we headed into clumsybanana to her brother's 30th birthday party. Someone had actually brought some good beer, so I just relaxed. That is until I was informed of the taillight thing. That was a fun drive home; especially with a cop following us.

Saturday, I met up with Jerry at the site where Dam 1 should have been on the canal. He had never seen the timbers, and only knew a few people who had. So we hiked down and located them. As he set up his camera, I hiked a little upstream and discovered more timbers. Then I found the opposite shore dam abutment. This had been thought to have been lost or dismantled and sold. I asked Jerry if he'd ever seen it or heard of it before, and he said no. So I had just found something that hadn't been seen or documented for over a hundred years. For a history buff, that's like finding buried treasure. Literally. It was a good day.

That afternoon we headed to Pittsburgh. We ate at The Church Brew Works we'd heard so much about. It's what it sounds like... an old church which has been converted into a brewery and restaurant. We sat up by the alter and I started off my meal with a six beer sampler. I could have drank my dinner, because their brews are sooooooo good. After that we walked Carson St.; the hip place to enjoy night life in the 'Burgh. The coolest thing I saw or we did was go to a coffee shop called, The Bee Hive. (I just talked to Dave about this on Tuesday...) When I was in my early twenties I drew up a business proposal to start a coffee shop. When I walked into The Bee Hive, I was blown away. It was as if someone had stolen my yellow legal pad and opened my shop. I loved it and wish I could visit there everyday.

Sunday we went to the Pirates game. While my Pirates lost, I got to watch the best pitcher in the major leagues, CC Sabathia, pitch a complete game. That was cool to see.

Today is a holiday, so I'm sitting at the Encore. Heading home soon to do some dishes and laundry, end enjoy my day off. It's been a good weekend.