visiting with our girl…

Here we are – still in Pittsburgh!  The only negative we have had since arriving has been the rain – which will NOT quit – not for more than a day at a time!  We arrived 19 days ago, on June 8, and I am not exaggerating when I tell you it has rained 14 of them!  Some days we’ve had full thunderstorms and winds – thankfully no hail, which has predicted as a possibility more than once.  Twice we’ve had tornado warnings!  The whole area has been under flash flood warnings too!  Since the CG is up on top of a mountain, so we are not worried about it flooding where our rig is, but getting out to get to places has had it’s challenges!  One day we were rerouted, then the road we were rerouted on was closed!  Had to turn around and go ALL the way back!  Crazy weather! We have done our best to not let it get us down or hold us back! Since I wrote last, we have been doing some “household” stuff.  I spent a whole day (ok – maybe not the WHOLE day!) cleaning the rig, top to bottom!  Bill got the shop vac out and I vacuumed with that, not that my Dyson Stick Vac doesn’t do a good job, but with 3 pets, a heavy duty vacuuming is not a bad idea, especially since Bill does have sensitivities (mild allergies) to the dander.  I cleaned all the walls, scrubbed the whole bathroom, all that “fun” stuff. We have also gotten some vehicle stuff taken care of.  My Mom had gotten recall notices for both our vehicles.  The truck needed to a computer update, so it spent a day and a night at a local Ford dealer.  The CR-V needed the an air-bag part replaced, so we spent an hour at a Honda dealer. Bill ordered a light for my closet online and it arrived and got installed right away!  I am using the closet that would have the washer/dryer in it, if we had that option.  For some reason, it did not come with a light like the other 2 areas did.  We had tried on of those stick-on LED lights, but it didn’t light up enough, plus, I guess I left it on my mistake and it killed the battery after only a couple weeks.

before light
before light
tapping into the light in the closet next to it
tapping into the light in the closet next to it
my man - getting it done!
my man – getting it done!
looks all professional!
looks all professional!
and after! I can SEE!
and after! I can SEE!

One evening, we went with Michelle to Carnegie Science Center, they were having an event they called “The Science of Gaming”.  It was open to adults 21 years old and older.  They had bars with drinks for purchase and food from a local restaurant.  A local casino, Rivers, had a room with tables set up and they were teaching all types of games, including Black Jack, Craps, Texas Hold’em, etc.  If you participated, you received a $15 free play coupon, which you could take across the street to the casino and use in the slot machines (more on that later!) image

you could move around the sand to change the landscape, then when you hit a button, it would rain and so you could see where the water would run off and pool.
you could move around the sand to change the landscape, then when you hit a button, it would rain and so you could see where the water would run off and pool.
humanoid robot that spoke with all sorts of accents
humanoid robot that spoke with all sorts of accents
you drew this on a touch screen with your hand...
you drew this on a touch screen with your hand…
and the robot transferred it into a hard copy using little metal
and the robot transferred it into a hard copy using little metal “dots”
Bill, Michelle and I, pictured with thermal imagining
Bill, Michelle and I, pictured with thermal imagining
trains! I love trains!
trains! I love trains!
they had a whole mini Pittsburgh set up!
they had a whole mini Pittsburgh set up!
Bill -
Bill – “using” a space shuttle potty
giant foam tinker toys
giant foam tinker toys

Afterward, we picked up Derek and off to “Plum” for an early Fathers Day dinner.

didn't get a pic of the outside - but inside, they had very cool lighting
didn’t get a pic of the outside – but inside, they had very cool lighting
who will get the last bite of seaweed?
who will get the last bite of seaweed?  No worries – there are plenty of dumplings left!
my yummy duck (yes - DUCK!) dish! There was plenty to bring home for lunch the next day!
my yummy duck (yes – DUCK!) dish! There was plenty to bring home for lunch the next day!

Another day, Bill and I spent some time at the National Aviary.  I felt bad for some of the birds – as the spaces they were in didn’t seem quite big enough, but most of the birds aren’t able to be in the wild, so considering that, I guess it’s better to be in a smaller space vs killed in the wild b/c they have some type of disadvantage, a broken wing that didn’t heal properly, etc.

on our way in
on our way in
interesting lighting in the gift shop
interesting lighting in the gift shop
baby birds in a nest
baby birds in a nest
Gouldian Finch
Gouldian Finch
Brown pelican
Brown pelican
a type of peacock - don't remember exactly what it's name is
a type of peacock – don’t remember exactly what it’s name is
a baby owl that was
a baby owl that was “adjusting to the exhibit” according to the sign
penguins!
penguins!
Lanner Falcon
Lanner Falcon
baby ducks!
baby ducks!
Rhinoceros Hornbill - very strange!
Rhinoceros Hornbill – very strange!
Owl
Owl
you should know what this one is!
you should know what this one is!
condor
condor
stellars sea eagle
stellars sea eagle
one of my fav's - a toucan!
one of my fav’s – a toucan!
the lanner falcon - showing off her skills
the lanner falcon – showing off her skills

On one of the rare days without rain – Bill put the bikes on the back of of the CR-V and off to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail we went!  After some confusion about where exactly the parking area was, we got started – it was one of the few gorgeous sunny days we have had, I am so glad we were out and about seeing the sights!

unloading the bikes
unloading the bikes
pausing to look at the river
pausing to look at the river
great views of the city
great views of the city
it was a beautiful day!
it was a beautiful day!
there was a lot of geese
there was a lot of geese
lots of families playing in the fountain
lots of families playing in the fountain
making a sand-sculpture
making a sand-sculpture
Southwestern Pennsylvania World War II Memorial
Southwestern Pennsylvania World War II Memorial
Vietnam Veterans' Memorial
Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial

My black and white for this post is being used as the featured picture (see it above) and was taken while on this bike ride. The last thing I want to talk about today is the day we spent a few hours at the Rivers Casino.  Earlier, I talked about how we went to the Carnegie Science Center for their event The Science of Gaming.  We spent a little bit of that time in the room Rivers had set up to teach people Black Jack, poker, etc. and we each received $15 in free play.  I had volunteered for the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry again, and when I was done, Bill and I made our way over to Rivers to use those free play tickets.  We had to sign up for their players club, which they make very easy.  Bill chose a machine (the free play was for slots only) and I sat down next to him.  We went back and forth, up some, then down some, and then it happened!  I won!  Ok – I’m not going to exaggerate and say I won BIG, but I was up enough to get us dinner, so I cashed out.

gaming tables
gaming tables
slots
slots
wow $36.75!
wow $36.75!

We decided to eat at their restaurant Wheelhouse, they had a 2 for $25 special!

drinks!
FREE drinks!
we got to split an appetizer - YUMMY nachos!
we got to split an appetizer – YUMMY nachos!
we both got the strip steak
we both got the strip steak
we were so full from dinner, we bought the dessert to share home for later! Chocolate Mouse cake!
we were so full from dinner, we bought the dessert to share home for later! Chocolate Mouse cake!

As you can tell, we have been enjoying our time with our daughter and seeing some of Pittsburgh while we are at it!  I just really wish the rain would STOP! Our son and his fiance are coming here next weekend – we are so excited to see them and have full family time! Catch up next time!

4 thoughts on “visiting with our girl…

  1. That looks so fun. The space potty pic is my new favorite Bill pic!!! Loved the bird aviary and that’s awesome about the casino. Good for you …dinner looked yummy 😄

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