Truth.

The other day, my roommate Juliana and I were in our kitchen. I was telling her about my morning, which I'd spent outside in the rain/snow mix taking pictures for work (we had volunteers to helps us with rain garden installations--such great people!). I had connected with one of the volunteers before, and he's my friend Whitney's supervisor. We started talking, and I was really energized by our interaction. I was relaying our conversation back to Juliana (I promise, it was relevant) and her response was great:


"Wow. The city's so small for you, isn't it?"

Yes. It totally is. Reason #28,734 why I love Pittsburgh. What are some of your reasons for loving our fair city?

City Envy

Well, looks like I'm on a one-post-per-month streak. I'm going to change all of that by signing up for National Blog Posting Month (affectionately known as NaBloPoMo) in November...think of today as a warm-up. And what better warmup than to talk about my favorite subject: the City of Pittsburgh?

Last year, I had the incredible opportunity to become a participant/fellow in the Pittsburgh urban Leadership Service Experience (PULSE). My fellow PULSErs were all pretty new to the city. They'd been here once or twice, but they didn't grow up an hour away like I did. It was during the first few week sof PULSE in the Fall of 2010 that I realized: the longest I've been away from Western Pennsylvania is six weeks.

Just six weeks! That's not even two months. And while coming to PULSE last August was my first time actually living in Pittsburgh, I had an idea of what I was getting into. I didn't have to learn a whole new culture or wrap my head around this whole neighborhood idea. It just it what it is: a city.

But the more I spoke to the other PULSErs I thought that maybe I was missing out. Because I've only left the area once (the same time I left the country), I really have no idea what it's like to try to experience a new city. To learn about the culture, or the history, or to just feel that nervous excitement you get from being in a new place (believe me, I was still plenty nervous--moving into a house with 7 other women I didn't know? You bet I was nervy. It was just different).

To be honest (and that's what I'm shooting for here lately), I was a little envious. To be completely honest, I always feel a twinge of jealousy when I hear about classmates or friends who move to new cities. New York, San Fran, Philly, Boston...etc. Even new small towns. It's a whole new adventure! I just moved to Pittsburgh.

But then, I think about it and realize that this IS a whole new adventure. Sure, it's only 60 minutes from my parents house. An hour from where I went to undergrad. But still, it's new! I'm still learning new things every day. So maybe I know the yinzer culture, but I don't know everything about this city.

Plus, if I didn't live here, I'd be jealous of everyone that did:

Sometimes, I get bitter.

Dear readers,

For those of you keeping score (and I know you at home are), I've been to 7 weddings this year. SEVEN. I have one more coming up in October. And I was invited to one that I couldn't attend, bringing this year's grand total to nine invites and eight actual weddings

That, my friends, is a lot of weddings.

(Here's where I become a bit vulnerable and bitter so if you don't want to read about that, feel free to continue to the bottom of this post. I'll leave something warm and fuzzy for you down there.)

It's ROUGH going to that many weddings. Let me rephrase. It's ROUGH going to that many weddings when you're single. Let me rephrase one more time. It's ROUGH going to that many weddings when you're single and it feels like everyone else is not. It's like at weddings, all the married people come out of the woodwork or something. Married people have this sensor where they know someone else is joining their elite, special group and so they show up. To make it very obvious that they are married. And you are not.

(See? Bitter and vulnerable. Two things I don't like being. Whatever. This blog is for growth and stuff.)

But then I have to remember that these two people I love are taking the biggest step of their lives thus far. And they wanted to include me in their day. Whether the guest list had 150 or 450, I made the cut! What an honor to witness two people who love each other very much, making a public declaration of that love in front of others.

I got to see that this weekend with my dear friends Aaron and Andrea. I'm obviously somewhat of a wedding connoisseur and I have to say, this was one of my favorites. The dress, the boutonnieres, the flowers, the location--I could gush on and on. It was absolutely beautiful, outdoors next to a stream just outside of Harrisonburg, Virginia. A-squared (cute name, yes?) made their family an integral part of the service, and that just reflected them so much. And they had a barn dance reception! Not that I'm a well-known barn dancer (in fact, I never got up on the dance floor), but it was quite entertaining.

If you have invited me to your wedding, please know that I loved being there! Sometimes, I get bitter. But most (95%) times, I'm thankful, honored, blessed and a million other positive adjectives to be a part of your wedding day. They've each been beautiful, and I'ved boogie-ing the night away with each of you to celebrate your marriage. I've REALLY loved that part. The Cha Cha slide is my specialty.

That being said, I can't wait until November. Six months wedding free! Of course, I'll be ordering a bridesmaid dress and planning a bridal shower and all of those fun things. What good is wedding season if you can't be in a least one bridal party?

Oh--as promised, your warm and fuzzy:

Eleven months later.

At my office, I have a plant on my windowsill.

This plant is unnamed. We jokingly refer to it around the office (okay, three of us do) as "Collaboration", because I got it at collaboration-themed luncheon for a different agency.

This plant and I have been through a lot together. I got it at the beginning of the year, maybe 2 months in to my time with PULSE/ELDI. It has been on my windowsill ever since. 

Today at work I was gchatting with Anna (shh...don't tell anyone) and I looked to my left to the plant. She grew! Over the past 9 months, she grew. That ivy is way bigger than it was at the beginning of my journey at ELDI.

Of course, Anna and I were at that exact moment discussing how we can't believe that PULSE is "over". We have lived in our big old home and worked at our placements for 11 months. We were also talking about how much we've grown over the past year.

Way to go, Plant, for being an incredibly tangible metaphor and example of what has happened to me over the past year.

I am really in disbelief that the year is already over. This is such a cliche, but really, it feels like I blinked and the year is gone. Looking back, I can tell that a lot has happened. But in the day to day, the time just goes quicker than I ever imagined.

I'm so thankful for this year. Just the other day, I tweeted that I can't believe that I'm trusted to do my job sometimes. Just because it feels like I'm way unqualified and too young to be doing this for real. If anything, this year has taught me that I am definitely qualified. I can do this whole "I am a grownup and have a real job thing." And it happened while I wasn't even looking.

But instead of having a "real job", I'm going to continue in PULSE. I don't think I've really talked about this here yet, so here it goes: I'm going to keep my position at ELDI and continue to be a part of the PULSE program. In my second year (blazing new trails), I'll be doing lots of informational interviews and I'll lead a couple of seminars. I also get to help with PULSE's social media efforts. 

I truly believe this is what I have been called to do with the next year of my life. Living, working and growing in the East End of Gotham City...I mean, Pittsburgh.

(Because the Bat Signal on Fifth Avenue Place is too cool not to mention in this post. Obviously.)

Humble.

Growing up is hard, man.

I know practically every 20-something says this, but why don't they give you a manual when you graduate from college? Really, a small guide (20 pages or so, with pictures) with tips and instructions on important grown-up knowledge would be awesome. Because I don't know how to do this.

I'm expected to be responsible for my own well-being. To go to the doctor and the dentist and the optometrist on a (semi-, insurance-dictated) regular basis. How much should I pay for health insurance? Do I need renters' insurance?

I'm expected to know things like, how much am I "worth" to an organization? And what's an appropriate amount to pay for rent in my neck of the woods?

Being grown up and living on your own (because let's face it, PULSE isn't really living on your own at all) means that you have a lot to do. How do you put in a security deposit? How do you set up your utilities? Budget, or pay by the month? Where do you get all the furniture to sit on and sleep on?

Recently, a lot of these questions have come up. And I realized that I have absolutely no idea about how to answer any of them on my own. I've had to learn a little lesson in humility.

I'm usually the type who likes to have all the answers. I don't think I'm necessarily arrogant about my knowledge, but I don't like to admit when I don't know something. But this grown-up stuff is serious. I can't just fudge my way through getting utilities, because then I'll end up stealing electric from the neighbors with an extension card, and fry myself a la Clark Griswold in Christmas Vacation. Then, since I made up the insurance process as I went along, I wouldn't even have medical coverage to nurse me back to health.

So you see my predicament. Either make a go of it on my own and probably screw up royally, or ask for help. So, I've asked for help. A lot more often than not, lately. It's kind of hard to do sometimes, but it's also an immense relief and blessing to have someone else tell me the answers to all of life's big questions (like, how much water will we use in one month?).

I'm going to get started on that life guide for college graduates. Any tips to include? ;)