Been a while since I was back in the Burgh. NZ had closed borders making international travel an uncertain endeavour as far as being able to return.
I think I really failed in my plan to meet up with some Pantherlair posters. It was good to meet @Ray-Ray and to tailgate with the @RoguePanther again. Being able to hang out with my old tailgate group was very special to me. I underestimated how much I miss that. The atmosphere around the lots and the stadium for those first two home games was very good. There is nothing like that atmosphere in NZ. All Blacks Rugby World Cup? Nah. Backyard Brawl way more intense. I sent some video clips back to some of the ice hockey boys back here and they were blown away at that crowd and noise.
Pitt is back playing big time CFB. We lament and fret over attendance and recruiting and coaching and well everything. Look, we're good. Enjoy it! We're not Penn State, and I am very thankful for that.
My sincerest apologies if any of you encountered me driving in the South Hills. I was the one turning on the wipers when I meant to use the turn signal. And probably in the wrong lane. And those intersections at the parallel streets at the "T" tracks. I had no idea what to do there, and literally screamed when those red lights started flashing and I was on the tracks trying to figure out WTF to do. Likewise, apologies to all shoppers at Giant Eagle when I kept coming down the aisle on the left.
Grocery stores. Holy shite. The variety, size and quality of the produce is far superior in the US. And the choices in brands. Wow. My wife and I spent hours in Giant Eagle just marveling at this. And yes, food prices have escalated in the US, but food is cheap compared to NZ. Brands we can't get here that were requests from our kids (and me): Nutter Butters, Jolly Ranchers, Nilla Wafers, Reeses Puffs cereal, Heinz 57, A1 sauce. We noticed how sweet everything is in the US. Really in your face level of sweetness. That took us by surprise.
Eggs. Our AirBNB hosts had a dozen eggs for us in the fridge. They were in the fridge. We don't refrigerate eggs here. It is damn cold all the time so maybe that is why. But also, the eggs were white. I opened these up with my wife, and we both literally jumped back. They were soooo white! Eggs are brown!
Coffee. American coffee is awful. The AirNZ airplane coffee is better than what we found in the US. Sorry, This is true.
Plastic bags and styrofoam. These do not exist here. My wife saw these things and let out little terrified shrieks.
PureHockey stores. My hockey playing son stayed in our house and watched our dog during our trip. He took advantage of the situation knowing we were vulnerable. He found his absolute dream ice hockey stick online searching at PureHockey in Cranberry. The selection is unheard of here in NZ. My son would probably have had an orgasm looking at the selection in the store. He broke three sticks in four games while we were on our trip, and he has IIHF U20s coming up. So I dealt with oversized baggage for our marathon trip back and made him very happy.
Whanau (family). My family is messed up, but not as messed up as my wife's. But what can you do. You have to love them. On further reflection that may actually be why we live in New Zealand. I do have one brother-in-law who is an absolute angel who just always steps up and helps. He's a freaking legend.
Has America been more divided since 1863? This did bother me. In 1990 I signed a document saying I would give my life for America. I meant it. Where are the actual leaders? We need someone who can put this all back together.
It was good to get back home. Have worked my arse off since returning. Looking forward to a weekend off to watch Pitt roll at 4 AM on Sunday.
Freaking good trip. Hoping to do it again next year.
HTP.
USN_Panther
I think I really failed in my plan to meet up with some Pantherlair posters. It was good to meet @Ray-Ray and to tailgate with the @RoguePanther again. Being able to hang out with my old tailgate group was very special to me. I underestimated how much I miss that. The atmosphere around the lots and the stadium for those first two home games was very good. There is nothing like that atmosphere in NZ. All Blacks Rugby World Cup? Nah. Backyard Brawl way more intense. I sent some video clips back to some of the ice hockey boys back here and they were blown away at that crowd and noise.
Pitt is back playing big time CFB. We lament and fret over attendance and recruiting and coaching and well everything. Look, we're good. Enjoy it! We're not Penn State, and I am very thankful for that.
My sincerest apologies if any of you encountered me driving in the South Hills. I was the one turning on the wipers when I meant to use the turn signal. And probably in the wrong lane. And those intersections at the parallel streets at the "T" tracks. I had no idea what to do there, and literally screamed when those red lights started flashing and I was on the tracks trying to figure out WTF to do. Likewise, apologies to all shoppers at Giant Eagle when I kept coming down the aisle on the left.
Grocery stores. Holy shite. The variety, size and quality of the produce is far superior in the US. And the choices in brands. Wow. My wife and I spent hours in Giant Eagle just marveling at this. And yes, food prices have escalated in the US, but food is cheap compared to NZ. Brands we can't get here that were requests from our kids (and me): Nutter Butters, Jolly Ranchers, Nilla Wafers, Reeses Puffs cereal, Heinz 57, A1 sauce. We noticed how sweet everything is in the US. Really in your face level of sweetness. That took us by surprise.
Eggs. Our AirBNB hosts had a dozen eggs for us in the fridge. They were in the fridge. We don't refrigerate eggs here. It is damn cold all the time so maybe that is why. But also, the eggs were white. I opened these up with my wife, and we both literally jumped back. They were soooo white! Eggs are brown!
Coffee. American coffee is awful. The AirNZ airplane coffee is better than what we found in the US. Sorry, This is true.
Plastic bags and styrofoam. These do not exist here. My wife saw these things and let out little terrified shrieks.
PureHockey stores. My hockey playing son stayed in our house and watched our dog during our trip. He took advantage of the situation knowing we were vulnerable. He found his absolute dream ice hockey stick online searching at PureHockey in Cranberry. The selection is unheard of here in NZ. My son would probably have had an orgasm looking at the selection in the store. He broke three sticks in four games while we were on our trip, and he has IIHF U20s coming up. So I dealt with oversized baggage for our marathon trip back and made him very happy.
Whanau (family). My family is messed up, but not as messed up as my wife's. But what can you do. You have to love them. On further reflection that may actually be why we live in New Zealand. I do have one brother-in-law who is an absolute angel who just always steps up and helps. He's a freaking legend.
Has America been more divided since 1863? This did bother me. In 1990 I signed a document saying I would give my life for America. I meant it. Where are the actual leaders? We need someone who can put this all back together.
It was good to get back home. Have worked my arse off since returning. Looking forward to a weekend off to watch Pitt roll at 4 AM on Sunday.
Freaking good trip. Hoping to do it again next year.
HTP.
USN_Panther
