Pittsburgh...ugh

Work conferences aren't exactly always what they're cracked up to be. Granted traveling to a new city (albeit Pittsburgh) can be a fun adventure especailly when you get lost while running downtown, the content learned usually doesn't live up to the desired expectations. I've been living in a dorm room with a fellow teacher for 4 days now, on a bed that leaves me more tired in the morning than what I was when I fell asleep, eating dorm food that makes you a biological methane producer, and sitting in a classroom for 9 hours learning material that you already knew since you are exceptionally brillant as is. However on a positive note, we had the opportunity to experience Duquesne Univiersity and the Southside in which we ate good but over priced sushi as well as the entertaining Jack's Biker Bar. With a half day left, I'm obviously excited to be returning home to Cincinnati tomorrow afternoon to spend some quality time with my adorable husband.

--Andrea

Music and Movies

A quick update on what we're listening to and watching. I just picked up the new Weezer album today and have already listened to it 3 three times. Its a must-have for fans of the geek rockers (or fans of good music in general). I'm still trying to figure out how it ranks with their other albums, but it is definitely their most artistic achievement since Pinkerton, which was probably the most influential rock/emo album of the 1990s. Other discs we've been spinning lately have been Tom Petty's Highway Companion, which is just a timeless rock record that can be listened to ad infinitum, and the soundtrack to Across the Universe.

That's a good segue into movies that we recommend, among which is the aforementioned Across the Universe. This film is essentially a musical in which all of the songs are Beatles tunes. Quite good. We also just watched Iron Man (we were probably the last people in America to do so) and it was fantastic. Funny, intelligent, good looking (oops, got sidetracked there for a second) and good enough to warrant a sequel. Next on our list is WALL-E and The Dark Knight, both of which look promising.

-Mike