Thought these two photos of Anna at the Dive Meet Monday afternoon, illustrate the concept of freezing a moment in time.
I shoot singly, not in a burst, try to anticipate the moment to click the shutter. Shot these with my 70-200 Canon lens. It was a hot day.
Drove back from Columbus to Pittsburgh with the youngest three grandchildren for a vacation at Grandma’s House.
We went downtown toPNC Park to see the Pirates game. It was Pittsburgh Public Schools Night.
Wasn’t sure how I’d manage with all three ( 5, 7 and almost 9) but it was fine. There was a mixture of fun and boredom for them.
A hot summer night. No rain. Saw a lot of students from school and the grandchildren seemed fascinated as the kids called my name.
Our seats had a great vantage point for the activity on the Allegheny River, too.
Gateway Clipper Ships Pass Under Roberto Clemente Bridge on the Allegheny River
Anticipating the release of the pitch Pirates lost to Cincinnati Reds 6-5
Entertaining the crowd
Always like to get a shot of the Cotton Candy Man
A lot of energy left at 10 PM. Home to Grandma’s House.
It was a busy and happy weekend with the grandsons staying over two nights, the family wedding on Saturday and some generous neighbors/friends inviting Steve and me to accompany them to a Pirates Game at PNC Park.
It was good to have an activity and a place to go after the kids left, so I didn’t have time to be in a quiet, empty house on a Sunday afternoon or think about going to school tomorrow to finish the grades and end out the school year this week.
We had the luxury of excellent seats (thanks, Rich) and as the game progressed (Pirates lost to Brewers 1-zip which was unfortunate) we were asked if we would enjoy something from the dessert cart. Who knew there was a dessert cart in the suites section of the private boxes? Certainly not us. Steve and I are usually getting those fifteen dollar last minute, last row seats as high as you can go.
Our host treated us to lemon cake (although there was quite a variety to choose from. Tim (in the black shirt and gold tie) described each of the desserts with great flourish and he created sundaes for the kids and added a dollop of ice cream to a slice of cake.
I asked him if I could photograph him and at first there is a bit of awkwardness for about two seconds and then he relaxed and we worked together to get his result.
Thanks Tim. ( and Matt is writing up the check which our host graciously picked up) The desserts are baked on the premises. By Levy Restaurants. I asked!
Tim and our host Rich. You might remember Rich as the local man who discovered a new use for the newspaper sleeve on my 777th post
I tasted the root beer cake. It tasted like root beer.
and a couple of photos from the excellent seats
the rain held off although we got drenched from a cloud burst as we walked to the T (subway)
I like to practice my timing and I was able to capture McCutcheon hitting the ball.
A fun hat in the next box
Great seats today, thanks Rich.
This boy caught a foul boy. He was so excited.
Can you spot the two birds on a wire, watching the game!
As we were leaving with some fellow baseball fans
I almost forgot One of my favorites to watch- the groundskeepers team.
Getting on the T I don’t think I have ever ridden it before but am trying to remember.
Pittsburgh Milliones, University Prep School– 12th grade Group Project,
Mr. Kyle Kline Art Teacher.
They were in a hallway so it was difficult to get a good angle to show them at their best.
What a cool project, Mr. Kline!
At the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild on the North Side/
When I looked into the courtyard I saw this scene
At the high school baseball game after school Monday afternoon.
A gallery of abandoned baseballs in the brush-
Cleat marks in the dirt and discarded sunflower seed hulls
It was like an Easter Egg Hunt, all of the lost baseballs in the underbrush. The afternoon light hitting them sideways.
Leather baseball glove or is it a mitt, lying on the wooden bench.
The weather felt like a football game but the fans huddled together, wrapped in a blanket.
I see a bit of new green in the baseball photos amongst the dead leaves.
And Monday March 31st will be Opening Day for the Pittsburgh Pirates with the Chicago Cubs coming to PNC Park
I won the tickets. We parked on the North Side for free and walked to Heinz Field. We didn’t buy anything at the game. Not a hotdog or a foam finger or even a plastic tray of nachos. Nada! A frugal effort to say the least. We slipped and slid to the field on the untreated walks. We got to the game and I had a purse with my camera. NOPE, even if it were empty, it could not enter the stadium.
Had to be see through plastic or a 4.5 x 6″ clutch. YIKES. We walked half way back to the car and Steve put in in the V of a tree in the park. It was to far to walk all the way back. It was leather and I carry my camera in it and couldn’t just pitch it in the giant dumpster provided for such bags. I don’t go to football games and didn’t realize the restrictions on bags. PNC Park never banned my camera/purse.
On to the snow (the very wet snow) and the cold and the damp and the loss. Yep. The loss.
A high scoring, exciting game, though. And disappointing.
We left before we could see the dismal end, the “almost greatest play ever” they said on the radio as we scraped the windshield and warmed up the car. Came home for soup and tea and a hot shower and I was STILL cold! But we had fun as best we could given the circumstances ie. weather.
Here we are in front of Heinz Field. Don’t ask why we are not wearing our gloves. I have no idea!
Thanks random Steelers fan for photographing us! Nice.
Can you see Fort Pitt Bridge arch on the right? The city skyline was totally obliterated by fog and snow when we first arrived. If you stare you can see ghosts of the buildings.
Some fans stayed home. Watched it on television in a warm living room by the fire.
Ladling Hot Chocolate
Blowing the snow off the lines at Half-time
Snow on the drums
Snow on Condiments
Crazy Hat
TV camera crew in the snow (taken with the iPhone)
Santa on his cell phone.
Discarded Terrible Towel. Sacrilege! (Sorry to post this photo, Myron- RIP)
What the city looked like later
Mr. Art Rooney Statue in the Snow
Immaculate Reception- Marlene and Donald, (Erika’s Parents) were there to see it!
Serious Tailgaters Equipment
More serious tailgaters personal equipment in a pick-up
Tailgater equipment
Tailgater Aftermath- You know I am always fascinated by the garbage.
The tree holding my purse until after the game when we retrieved it.
Pittsburgh Steel Man , Yoda and Bandito let me take their picture
Bought two raffle tickets LAST JANUARY to support one of my student’s effort to fund her People to People Ambassador trip to Australia. They’ve been on my fridge, held by a magnet, for MONTHS!
Thanksgiving night an unknown number appeared on my cell phone. Was everything all right?
Yes, won two tickets to Sunday’s home Steelers Game. It was unexpected and fun to get the phone call, saying, ” You won!”
(Now if I’m going to win the Mega Millions Lottery around here, I’ll have to actually purchase a lottery ticket one of these days)
Castle Shannon ,PA.
Castle Shannon Boulevard.
Ice Castle Arena. I’d driven around in the dark in unfamiliar territory, spending a few minutes on Castle Road, a reidential neighborhood NOT the right castle.
Here is Zamboni on Ice after the second period.
One of my students plays on the Carrick team and invited me to come and watch and bring my camera. I sent his mom the photos I took of him but am posting this one of the Zamboni driver, grooming the ice for the third period.
Or resurfacing as they say in the biz.
Zamboni biz. Kudos to Frank Zamboni (1901-1988) who invented this mighty machine.
Click here for his photo and the Zamboni story.
One for my People at Work Series
Saw this sign on the back wall behind the Cobra Kings band at Excuses on the South Side Friday night. The kitchen door is on the right, the spice rack a blur.
Some of you may know how Baseball in October is a big thrill in the city of Pittsburgh right now, after twenty one years without a winning season we have one now…. and then some!
Another game against the St. Louis Cardinals tomorrow afternoon. On our home field of PNC Park. Everyone is hoisting the Jolly Roger flags and cheering them on.
Forbes Field Forever is a website which maintains the memories although the actual field is no longer there, but the brick wall with the painted distance numerals is still in Oakland, covered with some ivy. Home plate in a U of Pitt building floor, covered with plexiglass for all to see. GO BUCS!
