Are You Ready for Some Football?

It has been the most beautiful week in the history of Western Pennsylvania. The days are sunny and in the high 70s, and the nights are chilly, in the high 40s or low 50s. I don't know what we did to deserve this, and I'm certain it won't last, but I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. Especially since I've spent some good time out in it. Like last Saturday, when P and I went to a Steelers game.

Yes! P and I (two bookish, librarian, Monk-type women with panic and anxiety issues galore) dressed up in black and gold (I had to give her a shirt, because even though she's lived here for like five years now, she didn't have one) and made our way to Hienz Field to partake in that most religious of all Pittsburgh experiences: Steelers Football.

It was so much fun! We parked Downtown in the Cultural District (for only $5!) and walked across the Allegheny River on the Clemente Bridge. Once across, we were able to walk to the stadium along the river, feeling like poor white trash relatives gaping at all the fancy boats parked (moored? docked?) in neat lines. The boat owners were picnicking and posing and playing, all decked out in Steelers regalia, all waiting to wander over to their most excellent seats in the stadium. P and I weren't invited to join any of the richies, so we headed into the stadium an hour before we were allowed up to our seats.

We found a place in the shade to hang out with our soft pretzels and enormous Cokes, and we watched the fans mill around. There were kids and families everywhere, which was kind of nice to see despite the fact that there was no way you could have paid me to bring a kid in diapers to a football game. I shopped a little, and found a non-scary garden gnome, Steeler-fied in black and gold and holding a little thing showing all six Super Bowl titles. You may not want it. I do not want it. She, however, will LOVE IT.


There wasn't just shopping and eating and watching rich people, oh no. There was, um, stretching!
(This is in no way homoerotic, is it?)

There were large rich men milling about.


There were beautiful views of my pretty little city.


There was the ceremonial pouring of electronic ketchup whenever our offense entered the Heinz Ketchup Red Zone (I know this is a bad photo, but you get the idea).


And, oh . . . there was football!



Of course, P and I being who we are, there were books (we were afraid we wouldn't be allowed in the stadium with needles, so there was no knitting).


We ended up not having much time to read, but it's better to always be prepared. I got in a little reading at half-time, as I had no interest in watching the people from United Way "kick-off" their fund-raising season. P headed for the restrooms, but I stayed put with Lily Bard.


The Steelers won, but it would have been a fabulous outing even if they hadn't. I'm not crazy about crowds, but this was a great one. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun!

And in other news having nothing to do with football, I gave my sister her hot water bottle cover. She knew what it was immediately, even though I'd wrapped it in a tiny shirt box and made every effort to confuse her with what should have appeared to be a sweater for a tiny dog. She's already used it, and reported that it's comfy, cozy, and most excellent. Yay!


I still have to finish The Boy's Hogwarts scarf (I had to buy two more skeins of both of the colors, because the original two weren't enough to make it as long as it should be), and I'm nearly half-way through a scarf for C, The Boy's dad. This one is knitted long-ways--I used a crochet cast-on onto a 40" circular needle--so the stripes run lengthwise. I can't wait to see the final product--I think it's going to be really nice.

And . . . that's it. I should get back to work.