Where the heck is Monessen?

It’s Monday, and no (younger) kids, but still plenty to do.   Day 2 of the younger boys away at camp.  It is finally starting to settle in…  Our house is not the same.  I miss those little guys.

Great idea…landscaping.  Looks beautiful, but it is me that has to water each morning.  This is a real moment that I wish for rain, lots of rain.  But of course, a city that sees only 3 days of sunlight (OK, maybe 60) days a year, decides to be dry, hot and humid.  Jeez, one would think this is normal ‘Burgh weather.  Did I happen to mention that I hate working outside in 85 degree weather?

All the plans are underway for Chris’ party this weekend.  The food has been ordered, I mean… I have been busy baking away in the kitchen, supplies have been purchased and all that is left is putting up tents, and some last minute stuff.  Don’t get me wrong, I love a good party…yeah, like the ones that are thrown for me.   Really, all this work is worth it and it is not like I don’t have help. 

A birthday party for a 21 year old kind of scares me.  There will kids 20+ years old at the party.  Alcohol + kids…you get the picture.  LOL.  Not that kind of picture, Mr. Gutter Man.  Memories…my 21st birthday was a day I will never forget.  It was the first time that I met Ed…well, kinda of.  He was there, I was there, but we never really met and chatted.  He was there with someone else, and I was there… kinda too, but not really there if you know what I mean.  I guess Ed and I were not meant to be that night.  Instead, the magic happened a month and half later at Pegasus. 

Ok, back to my day…I had an appointment in Monessen, PA at 2pm.  This was the first time I have ever been to that part of the Mon Valley.  Just my luck, no one in my office had any idea where Monessen was located.  Mapquest was my only answer.  Go to 51 South, stay on 51 South and drive.  It felt like 51 South forever!   Traffic everywhere, terrible roads and then nothing.  Not a business or even a house.  It was confusing to me when I saw the welcome to Westmoreland County sign.  I thought to myself…Westmoreland County.  I must be close to home?  Yeah, like 100 miles away from home, at least that is how it felt.    I have a navigation system in my SUV, but opted for the car…  can you say $4 a gallon of gas. 

When you are use to be being told where to go… by the car, silly it is difficult to go back to the old fashion way…Mapquest.  As the dust settled, my final destination was in site.  And, so was a nice looking police officer that was nice enough not to ticket me for going the wrong way on a one-way street.   The meeting went well and I headed back to the big city.  Several hours later, I arrived back on the South Side.    To be fair, Monessen seems like a nice place…to visit and I am sure to live.  <<  Just in case any of my readers are from there.  Now, Clairton and Elizabeth, that’s another story and not a pretty one. 

Today, I am a little smarter and a little more well traveled…  Mon Valley style.

This entry was posted on 28. July 2008 at 00:49 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.