Around the Bye Week

We experienced a bit of an Indian Summer for about a two day stint last Tuesday and Wednesday, with temperatures reaching the 60's. Of course we took advantage of the weather with a little golf. Tuff's swing looks great.



One of the courses we played was getting ready for their annual scary hay ride. In the back of the tee box is one of several ghouls spread throughout the course.


This one happens to be a Steelers fan.


Steelers versus the Vikings: Steelers 27, Vikings 17.

What a game. A great defensive battle. I would normally cheer for the Vikings but with a Steelers win Tuff was given more days off for bye week, Wednesday through Sunday. We planned a mini visit to Fort Lauderdale, FL to visit precious friends for the bye week. However, on Tuesday morning Tuff and others were informed that the rookies and practice squaders would not get the days off like the rest of the team! Very unprofessional to tell them all they had the week off and then limit it to only some of the team the day before their vacations supposedly started. Several people already purchased airfare. Luckily we did not, but it still sucked. It is just another sting of the NFL but, at the same time, we are very fortunate to have a job with them.

This was as close as we got from our seats to Farve.



Below is a video of the last play of the game...a sack on Farve.



Tuff still wanted to go to Fort Lauderdale even with only three days off and in the end, we made it happen. It was a short trip but well worth it. We stayed with my friend Melissa, who was an excellent host. She picked us up from the airport in style. We enjoyed a little golf, sun, church and friends.

In order to fit us all in Melissa's Mini Coop with our luggage, we had to drive with the top down. This was no problem at all, as it was record highs that weekend.


We ate good the whole trip, including a litte Sushi and Thai on Hollywood Beach.


In the picture below we just finished eating on the beach and posed for a beach shot, even though its too dark to see.


Melissa and I on Hollywood Beach, just a mile from Melissa's home.


Tuff kissed the ghoul at Mamacita's Mexican Restaurant on Hollywood Beach, where we dined on the biggest burrito I have ever seen.


Tuff gave a good football pose at the beach.


Tuff enjoyed snorkling.


He found a bunch of jelly fish and if you look really close in the photo below you can see one. It is clear with red circles in the middle.


We were the first to tee off and enjoyed an empty Coral Ridge Country Club in Fort Lauderdale.


Tuff looking for a few golf balls. Watch out for gators!


Tuff and I ususally video a few shots each round of golf and I have been waiting to get my first hole-in-one. We videod a par three in hopes that my hole-in-one would be recorded. Well, no hole-in-one yet.



In the picture below, believe it or not, there are seven lizards resting on top of the bush. Do you see them all?


The Iguanas in Florida get as big as dogs. This one is is pretty big.



In the video below is a very odd looking turtle.



The morning before we left I took a walk around Melissa's place. The sunrises here are beautiful.


I forgot to take a picture, but Friday night we enjoyed a Cuban meal at a restaurant in Westin with The Anthony family. Corwin and Kim Anthony led us in our premarriage counceling. While there we saw Jason Taylor and his family.

Back in Pittsburgh before our little impromptu trip.

My friend Maggie Grisham and I get a chance to walk together every once in a while. This day we walked in Schenley Park. The purpose of the picture was to get the great view of downtown Pittsburgh in the background but it did not quite work out that way.


In the picture below I'm standing on the Homestead bridge. The left side of the river is Pittsburgh and the right is Homestead and Munhall. The shot is also looking towards our apartments in the far distance.



Below is a picture of the walking trail outside our apartment. Its 1.5 miles long.


A few evening shots outside our apartment. It has been a wonderful fall in Pittsburgh.

Fashion Show

Thursday, October 8th Tuff and I participated in Steelers Style 09, a fashion show to benefit the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Cancer Caring Center. Tuff and Steeler teammates walked out individually in their jerseys to music of their choice. Tuff chose Staying Alive, by the Bee Gees. I wish you all could have seen him dance up a storm, without missing a beat. He danced all the way down the long runway. The crowd loved it.

I walked out with Tuff wearing Reebok gear and also later in the show wearing formal wear. I would have been terrified if I had to walk the runway alone.

There are some pictures from the fashion show on the Steelers website.

http://news.steelers.com/multimedia/photocenter/

Select the photo box named 2009 Steelers Fashion Show, located at the bottom of the page and search through the photos.

On Tuesday Tuff, his teammate Daniel and I golfed at Diamond Run Golf Club, a Gary Player design. The temperature was chilly, the wind was blustering, but the fall colors were beautiful. Great times!






The Steelers are at home this Sunday for a rivalry game versus the Browns. Pittsburgh may have their first snow in tomorrows forecast. For all the Montanans and Minnesotans, I know you already experienced snow, but give us a break. We have lived in the South for the last two years. We need time to remember what the white stuff is and the cold temperatures required to make it.

Getting Settled

We are trying to get as settled as possible. The first few weeks after moving are always the hardest for me because I feel like we could have to move again anytime (which is true). Its hard for me to unpack everything thinking of the chances of packing it all back up.

On that note, last week we thought we could possibly be moving back to Nashville. The Titans have visibly been struggling with special teams, especially returning and they have a few injuries in the defensive backs. On Tuesday they made space for two roster changes, bringing in punt returner Mark Jones (who they cut after training camp) and safety Kevin Kaesviharn. Tuff was not contacted for either position although he does both. So we remain in Pittsburgh. Tuff and I got a chance to golf with Mark Jones this summer and he is a great guy and will definitely help their return game. Tuff worked with Kevin Kaesviharn while at New Orleans and said he is a great guy as well and a smart, hard-working veteran. Maybe there will be a better opportunity for Tuff to come and the Titans was not it for now!

At our apartment we have a great walking trail that goes along the river right outside our front door. Tuff likes to take me on walks because he knows I just love them. Pictured below, Tuff is standing outside our front door.


This picture is from inside our apartment looking out at the Monongahela River, a Native American word which means "falling banks." The day I took this picture the weather was really dull so the picture is dark.


There is a lot of boat traffic on the Monongahela, from tour boats to huge barges. This picture was taken right outside our front door.


Inside our apartment. I think an appropriate description for it would be "cute." The apartment is a one bedroom with an attached garage; total square footage is 610.



The bedroom and bathroom are not picture but are the doors to the right of the photo below. The door straight ahead is the door to our garage!


At the end of our apartment complex there is a labyrinth right along the river. An artist conceived the labyrinth partly as a memorial to lives lost in the 1892 labor battle on the same grounds. The Battle of Homestead was sparked when Henry Clay Frick called in Pinkerton agents to suppress picketing steel workers. There is so much history just in our little waterfront area. You can also see in the picture below that train tracks are nearby.



Last night we attended the Steelers vs Chargers game at Heinz Field. If you watched any football Sunday, you noticed that this week, the NFL was honoring Breast Cancer awareness. Each fan entering the stadium last night was handed a pink towel to wave, rather than the familiar yellow terrible towel. I snapped a picture of two pink towels tucked into these men's back pockets. The game was crazy entertaining and a great win for the Steelers.