Same Job, New Number

Thanksgiving was simply lovely in West Virginia. We celebrated with our friends from Nashville, Mike and Leslie Voorheis, who were visiting Mike's dad and extended family.

Here is the feast spread out on the table.


Below is the Thanksgiving crew. Me, Tuff, Leslie, Mike, Mike's dad Gary, Gary's wife Sony, and Bob and Barbara.



Tuff loves Mike and Leslie's dog Sasha.


The day after Thanksgiving, Mike and Leslie drove into the big city of Pittsburgh to spend the afternoon and evening with us. We ate at a Mexican restaurant and Mike and Tuff arm wrestled for the bill. Then the waiter wanted in on the action and challenged Tuff that he couldn't pin him in ten seconds. Tuff did but the waiter contested that his wrist was off the table.



Some news I missed on the last blog update was that Tuff's older sister Jeri Lyn had a baby Sunday, November 22nd. It's a girl, Kaydee Maliah Harris.

Friday we attended a fundraiser event for the Chaplain of the Steelers and his wife, Kevin and Jenny Jordan. It was held in a huge home north of Pittsburgh. I think the event was successful. We really appreciate their ministry because they help us feel at home in a new place by feeding us spiritually. Kevin travels with the Steelers to give a church service for the team before games. Monday nights we attend couples bible study hosted by Kevin and Jenny, another area of their minitry. Kevin also facilitates a bible study for the Steelers players and coaches during the week. Jenny facilitates a study for the wives. Below Tuff is smiling for a picture with Kevin Jordan and Steelers head coach Mike Tomin, who was also at the event supporting the Jordan's.


Tuff bought his first full suit last week. He looks like a million bucks in it. He purchased it from Express. Turns out this brand fits him very well.


While shopping for Tuff's suit we just about rolled over laughing when Tuff tried on a series of hats at a department store. The last one was the best. I feel that the pictures do not do justice to the hilariousness of the situation. His hair is getting a little crazy and that is why we were laughing so hard.




Earlier this month we drove through Allegheny Cemetery. It's number eight on about.com's Top 10 Things to do in Pittsburgh. "One of the most picturesque places in Pittsburgh, Allegheny Cemetery is also unexpectedly romantic with 300 acres of rolling hills and monuments encompassing a wide variety of architectural styles. The cemetery houses generations of Pittsburghers back to the French & Indian war. " At first I laughed that visiting a graveyard was one of the top ten things to do but it was actually pretty cool.

The picture below is of a gravestone shaped like a tree trunk.



Many of the gravestones were big temples, housing the entire family.




Last Saturday I attended a church event with my friend Maggie. We made advent wreaths. I don't have a spot to lay the wreath anywhere so I hung it on our door instead.


Finally, the Steelers signed cornerback Anthony Madison to the roster this week. He played for the Steelers before and was number 37, Tuff's number. They told Tuff to give up his number. So now Tuff is number 31. Lots of numbers to remember and if you collect Tuff Harris jerseys, your collection is getting pretty big!

November is Going By Fast

It has been a mild November in Pittsburgh according to the locals and the weather averages. We experienced several days around 60 degrees and no snow yet. However, most all the trees are bare of leaves.

I got to take a week long trip back home to Minnesota. The main focus of the trip was to visit Rachel Grove and her new little boy Eli Kevin Grove. He was born on November 11th and was 9 pounds 3 ounces and 21 inches long. What a delight he is! Rachel and Jeremy are already wonderful parents.

Below is Rachel's college friend Kayla holding Eli, myself and Rachel.


Baby Eli looking so precious.


While in MN I found out that Derek and Mari (my brother and sister-in-law) are having twins. They are due in May. Congratulations you two.

They have a one year old Soren. He is smiling so cutely in the photo below and wearing his first camo in the second photo.


I spent a few days of my Minnesota trip visiting my Uncle Joe (Dad's brother). He experienced some trauma starting November 5th. He came down with a fever and cramping and took himself to the emergency room. After they ran tests, they found out he has Lymphoma and an infection. The infection was Fournier's Gangrene and it nearly took Joe's life. One week later, after a whirlwind of medical complications from the infection, Joe was slowly taken off the sedation drugs and recovering. He truly experienced a miracle and we are so grateful to have him here with us still. In doing further testing they found Joe to have stage 4 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Just Monday Joe got to return home. He is lucky to have a wonderful wife (Barb) to take care of him and love him.

I almost forgot to mention that I did spend some quality time with the rest of my family while home.

Before my Minnesota trip our friend Jeff Higgason, Tuff's college freshman year roommate, visited us here in Pittsburgh. We enjoyed seeing the Pittsburgh sights, including the incline to Mt. Washington and the Pittsburgh Zoo.

Pictured below is Jeff riding the incline to Mt. Washington with downtown Pittsburgh in the background.

Picture of the football stadium from the top of Mt. Washington.


In the bottom corner of the picture is the car we rode up the incline. The incline has been providing public transportation since 1877 for the residents and businesses of Mt. Washington. It uses two original 1877 cable cars.


Jeff posing with George Washington and Native American Chief statue.


Tuff's favorite at the zoo was the gorillas.




Jeff and Tuff stopped for a picture with the lions in the background.

Tuff and Jeff attended a Steelers fundraiser function, where they got to mingle with the public and play billiards and ping pong. Jeff was pumped about meeting several of Tuff's teammates, including Troy Polamalu. Tuff and Jeff also attended the Steelers vs. Bengals game. Too bad the Steelers lost.

Next on the agenda is Thanksgiving in Wheeling, West Virginia with our dear friends from Nashville, Mike and Leslie Voorheis.

In the pictures below Tuff is holding his divots, which are usually that big. We are thinking about starting a divot photo collection.



As always, I will update you all if there are any changes in Tuff's career. For now he is still working hard on the Steeler's practice squad.

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.