Xmas in Pittsburgh

<TITLE> Xmas in Pittsburgh </TITLE>
<THEME> HolidayXmas
<THEME> TravelPittsburgh
<p>
On Christmas eve day, we awoke and had a long meeting with Fern Schwartz as I began my diet of just fluids by day.
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and then got prepared to go out in the cold
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walking past the Cathedral of Learning
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and Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall
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before passing William Pitt Hall which was once known as the Schenley Hotel
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and made our way to the Oakland Original (aka the O)
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</PHOTO>
where the signage was remarkable offering rules on ketchups per fry
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many specials involving hot dogs
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and the famous 8 toppings
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not to mention a large list of beers
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and rules about student discounts
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and signs to dispel rumors.  I neglected to take a picture of the sign that said they were the one true original (after 48 years) because the real one true original was elsewhere.
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We next made our way to the hoagies, burgers and fries window where things were less organized though more so than at the pizza window
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and recorded the menu
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while the hot dogs were being delivered
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and next noted that there were a lot of fries
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and cheese in our order
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as the milk shakes suffered from a lack of milk in the store
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but this group photo
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set our mood for the pizza that came partly burnt (and so was replaced by another half pizza, more than humans could eat)
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and we admired the additional seating sign
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as Suzanne spoke with Andy to make further arrangements
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and we recorded the remains of our meal
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as Ben posed in one of our ``is his hair too long'' shots.
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and after recording the beer varieties
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we made our way back to the street where we recorded Joe Mama's in the distance
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before taking group pictures
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</PHOTO>
and then approaching Joe Mama's (and wondering if we should have eaten there which yielded a split decision)
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and recording Gus Miller's a memory from my youth
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as we passed the Original again
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en route through the University of Pittsburgh
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to the Barney Dreyfuss monument
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and followed the wall of Forbes Field
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</PHOTO>
seeing the 436 ft. mark in the distance
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before recording this sign that gave the history of the field and the significant home runs hit here
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and then saw the 457 foot mark (as long as it gets)
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and the plaques about the outfield wall
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<p>
After a dark moment back at the hotel (it was becoming everyone's nap time),
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experimental photography began with pictures of the television
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of crossed legs
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of views in the mirror
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a short sequence of Ben
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followed by a longer sequence of Suzanne
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with feet
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and Jane
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and the rest of the room
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leading to this sequence of Jane
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followed by a sequence of the 3 of us -- me, Sarah, Jane
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and some more images from the television screen
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before we decided to go visit the Gespass family of Forest Glen Road where we met Sophie the dog
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and then headed off to play touch football with a team huddle
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and some images of Sarah
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before the opponent's team was joined by Robert
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and huddled
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away from the ball
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as Andy
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and Ben got ready to play defense
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and these team photos (of varying darkness)
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were taken by this jogger who happened by.
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After the game, I recorded Jane's injury
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and then we headed back
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to see the deer
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and the fire
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and have a rousing game of Texas Hold'em
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before the kids posed on the couch
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Jane took a nap on Ben's lap
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and Suzanne and Sarah engaged in conversation
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with Dolly and Danny
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until Sam returned
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and dinner was served so that this was my plate
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as Danny and Andy
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Sarah and Ben
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Jane, Debbie and Sam
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and me and Suzanne had a real Xmas eve feast
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while still recording Danny and Andy
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Jane
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Ben
<PHOTO>
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Katie
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Katie and Sam
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Sam
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</PHOTO>
Jane
<PHOTO>
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</PHOTO>
Sarah
<PHOTO>
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Andy
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and Danny
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and then imbibing in the dessert that was served
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and that which was on the table.
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