Uphill idealist

My family is from the "Burgh. Even though my parents moved from the area before I was born, some Pittsburgh-isms moved with us. When we'd go home to visit - the accent, speed and intensity of talking would amp up. I would come home from visits with a sprinkle of "Yins" and "Warsh" peppering my vocabulary - as well as increasing my talk speed by a 25% minimum! Earlier today I came across a Youtube page called "Pittsburgh Dad" - if you are from the "Burgh" - I'm sure you'll appreciate this series. For all my Aunts and Uncles these clips remind me of - thanks for the memories and don't forget to red up the room before your have company over! Yins best check it out - it's a keeper if you as me!

The first few days of school are rolling along and teacher's supply lists came home the other day that required a shopping trip for pencils, pens, gym combination locks, loose leaf college ruled paper, binders and more. In addition to my kids a youth member and volunteer (off camera) came to join in the fun. Just about the time I thought we all had been overcome by the office supply department, my crew took it upon themselves to lighten the mood and help the entire store full of shoppers know that school shopping can be fun. Here's to teenagers, dance breaks and spending time together!What back-to-school traditions do you have each year? Please feel free to tell me about them in the comments section. Happy back to school everyone!

I was just introduced to this song that I thought was only sung by Jason Mraz - in looking up the lyrics I found that Bob Dylan performed it as well...as well as many others! It's a fun little song that I think I'll teach to my Sunday school kids soon. Man Gave Names to All the Animals in the beginning in the beginning Man Gave Names to All the Animals in the beginning long time ago. He saw an Animal that liked to growl, big furry paws and he liked to howl, great big furry back and furry hair, i think I'll call it a Bear. Man Gave Names to All the Animals in the beginning, in the beginning Man Gave Names to All the Animals in the beginning long time ago. He saw an Animal up on the hill, chewing up so much grass until she was filled, he saw milk coming out but he didn't know how, He said I think I'll call it a cow. Man Gave Names to All the Animals in the beginning, in the beginning Man Gave Names to All the Animals in the beginning long time ago. he saw an Animal ...

Image from the blog Shoppe Talk . I had an idea. I think it was a good one. There was a beginning, a middle and almost an end...and I got distracted. Distracted by a cup of coffee, catching up in the office, some phone calls, and poof it was gone! The idea seems to have left the gray matter. Drat. Any suggestions on tracking down an idea that disappeared? Maybe that is where all the missing socks are as well?

Airbrushed Mural image by Pamela Shanteau Several years ago, I took a group of students to Ohio for a weekend retreat event. It was a large event in a stadium-like atmosphere with lots of bands, speakers, students and very little sleep. If you've ever been on a weekend trip with a bunch of teens, these conditions are par for the course in youth work. On trips like this, you drive a maxi van for what seems to be the entire distance of the US and back and your diet intake is in the categories of candy, pizza and caffeine. The one thing that is always unpredictable, besides the students, is the weather. By the late afternoon on Saturday, the upcoming weather reports were calling for a storm advisory of rain to sleet and eventually to snow. On this particular trip, we'd have to drive back through areas that are infamous in snow belt country. We needed to think of a plan B. Our group held a quick meeting and I let them know the concerns I had about the weather and was surprised to h...