An Awakening...

It's kind of strange where one has epiphanies.  Rachael and I were out the other day at one of our favorite stores (REI), and stumbled across a t-shirt.  I have always been one of those suckers for a good bumper sticker, so why not put it on a t-shirt?  Well this shirt in particular had something rather profound written on it.

In the late 1800's, early 1900's there was a Cree Indian Prophetess by the name of Eyes of Fire that had made a prophesy a company by the name of Green Label saw fit to put on a t-shirt.  I would like you to really think about what you read as you take this in.  While ingesting these words please think about what you can do to change your ways.

The Cree Indian Prophesy says: "Only after the last tree has been cut down;
                                                     Only after the last fish has been caught;
                                                     Only after the last river has been poisoned;
                                                     Only then will you realize
                                                     that money cannot be eaten."

After reading this profound statement I came to realize that I am not doing enough to be kind to Mother Earth.  We recycle, limit the amount of trash we put in the landfill, almost never use plastic bags from the store, composting, raising some of our own food, and just overall trying to be more "green".  Some would say we are doing more than enough.  I don't think we are.

When will we as a people stand up to big industry and big brother and say NO!?  They need to stop destroying the world.  I suppose I need to say this now, as it may have come across your mind.  I do not believe in global warming for a whole host of reasons.  But that is for another rant at another time.  I do however, believe in green living and reducing our footprint.  Our world is changing rapidly every day.  Most may not notice as the change is gradual.   Our highly consumeristic society is tragically running this world right into oblivion.  I would be willing to bet that most children think that food comes from the store, where in reality food comes from the ground, through farmers hands.

I say buy local.  I say buy fresh from farmers markets.  Support your local farmers who are struggling to survive.  Buy in season, which means only buy food that will naturally grow in the US for that time of year.  Produce from other countries is not treated to the same standards as ours is.  It may have chemicals on it that are far beyond toxic to your family.

I recommend that you unplug the the electronics in your house that you are not using.  You would be surprised at your next electric bill if you do.  Electric rates are about to go through the roof as the caps come off just in time for winter.  So the time to change is now.  Go gradual.  You can't do it all over night.  But try to make some changes in your life that will help sustain you for the future.  Here is a great idea - get outside and grow a small garden with you children.  Teach them about the land and let them play in the dirt and have fun in the earth.

There are many websites out there that would be good resources for safe gardening.  Don't use chemicals on the food you grow.  Use manure for fertilizer, and food grade diatomaceous earth to kill the bugs on the plants.  We would be defeating our purposes if we planted and ate chemically ridden vegetables.  A good magazine to read is called Mother Earth News.  It can be found at your local book seller, or you can subscribe to them online.  Rachael has been reading it for a few years now and we have gotten many great ideas from them.

Please, I beg you, do you, your family and the world a favor and do something, one thing toward being kinder to the planet today.  Try to change one thing at a time.  Pace yourself to a new way of living.  Thats just the way I see it...

Wah I find most jaggin and laughable abaht picksburg...

I have lived in Pittsburgh on and off for over 10 years.  I have taken the time to learn the loved dialect known as Pittsburghese.  Mind you I do not speak it as is done here, I just have a learned understanding of the language.  With so many people who speak it, it would behoove one to learn it to prevent yourself from feeling like a stranger in a strange place.  I have also found if you say "Huh?" all the time you will be the one who sounds like the goof.

I go into supermarkets and here the announcements over the intercom done in this thick accent.  I have to ask myself, "Did they always sound like this, or are they trying to sound like a dummy?".  I'm sure this post will ruffle some feathers, but quite frankly, I don't care.  I feel it needs to be pointed out that one can embrace the culture here and not have to sound or talk like one of the dialectically challenged.  I mean, you guys sound ridiculous.


The Brooklyn accent is almost as bad, but at least the people are understandable.  Pittsburghers have created their own language.  While some may say that it's just the creative nature of the place.  Well I say, it makes you all sound like a bunch of dopes!  There I said it.

I will have to admit that it does make me laugh, how you have to raise your tone several decibels just to sound like a "true" Pittsburgher.  I certainly do get a kick out of this city and it's wild and wonderful people.

I realize that their language is very embraced here, and I am not saying the language should die, just evolve a little so the place doesn't feel so uneducated.  Sure, use the terms you grew up with, embrace the language that you love, just try for a moment to speak with some accentuation and without all the slurring of words.  I was listening to the radio the other day, and a fellow from Pittsburgh called in, his accent was so strong I could hardly understand him.  He was definitely a "South Side Johnny".  That is my term for people who speak with a thick Pittsburghese accent.

For those of you who want a taste of Pittsburgh, the website  www.pittsburghese.com has some very interesting features.  They have a translator that I used for the title of this post. They also have an extensive listing of the words used here, split up into nouns, verbs, adjectives, phrases, people, places, sports, and then some.  Feel free to humor yourself.

In closing I feel it should be said that I do really like this town.  I love its rich culture and diversity.  I even love its goofy language.  I may be contradicting myself a little in saying that, but you guys can really have an effect on people.  Today was just one of those day where I had to spout it off the way I see it...

Also, for those of you looking for a translation of the Title, it is: "What I find most annoying and laughable about Pittsburgh...

After yinz read this and in yinzes spare time hauscome don't yinz alls go on over and check aht da website and see wah being a picksburger is all abaht.