Cardio

I just got my a** handed to me at the Y's turbo kick class. I joined the Y this week, which I've been meaning to do since we moved here. They are having a promotion for the holidays where you get two months for $62 and they waive the registration fee - so I'm gonna see if I can stick with it for the two months and if I do I'll sign up for a whole year. So I've mostly been sticking with the cardio machines - stationary bike and elliptical - but tonight I thought I'd try out one of their classes. I haven't done an aerobics class since I was in college (in fact I had a very short-lived career as an aerobic instructor at Duquesne) and oh my goodness am I sore.

In other news - Hoi Polloi was voted best vegetarian in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's restaurant poll. Thank you to everyone who voted for us!

Union Sq.

I'm in SF for our board meeting. The prop 8 protests were happening around the country today and it was torturous to be able to hear the protests outside the hotel window while we were reviewing the convention budget. Luckily, we were on a brief break when the protest marched past the hotel. The room we were in had chest-height windows that opened onto the roof of the lobby which looked over Union Sq. So, as the protest went by, we put chairs in front of the windows and climbed out onto the roof and cheered the protesters. I'm so glad we were able to participate, even if it was just for a few minutes.


Once the meeting was over I joined some co-workers for dinner in the Castro, which turned into drinks, which turned into 3 am. I'm much too lame to be out that late. Now I'm going to bed and trying to hydrate. It makes me a little wistful to be in SF without jb. We were here earlier this year for EOC's wedding and I keep thinking about when we went to that little cafe on that cobblestone alley for lunch and didn't realize they only take cash so we had to amend our order at the register and ended up having to share a sandwich, but it was the best roast beef sandwich EVER.

Autumn

Today was a beautiful fall day. I took Talula for a walk around West Park and it was perfectly brisk and the leaves coated the ground. I really hate that the days are getting colder and darker, but today really was lovely. I love our park - it's such a great mix of nature and city. The skyline peaks up over the trees and the train tracks run behind the pond. jb and I went to see two movies this weekend (The Secret Life of Bees and Rachel Getting Married) which was such a treat since our time together has been limited lately. Tonight we had dinner at Rik's and got to see her (gorgeous!) new apartment. I'm 95% happy for her and 5% green with jealousy. I know our apartment has the potential to be that nice - but it just seems so far away. This weekend I'll be in San Francisco for our board meeting at work. Hopefully it will be a painless trip - but board meetings tend to be unpredictable. Wish me luck.

Resurfacing

The Good:

• Obama - how about that? So incredible.
• jb looks dapper in her new glasses.
• jb is an official tree tender.
  

The Bad:

• Proposition 8 passed in CA. I was in CA for the last two weeks of October working to defeat Prop 8 and I was so sure it was going to fail. I can't believe it passed. Not to mention FL and AR. It's hurtful. Especially in such an incredible year with progressive voters turning out in droves.
• Grandma died. Expected, but sad.
  
• That which shall not be discussed.

I'm having some buyer's remorse about moving to Pittsburgh - the main reason we moved (to be near family) is obsolete and especially now, at such an exciting time politically, I'm wishing I was in DC. Of course I tend to wax nostalgic about our time in DC, especially when I return for a work trip and it's all Dupont Circle apartments, squeezing in meetings all day, and having dinner with friends every night. Someone should remind me that I lived in NE, hardly ever went out, and spent my days tucked away in an office in the far corner of the building. Still, I miss it.

Dia de Los Muertos

October sucked a big one. I'm glad it's over.