Demolition

PITTSBURGH -- Day 1 of orientation week got off to a destructive start. I was part of a large demolition crew that ripped out the guts of 4 large Victorian homes. It's part of a larger project to restore a once prominent Pittsburgh community. A brief article is posted here. My role was to chisel out the tiled ceramic floor. It was not easy. I ended up with a laceration on my forehead from the flying debris which was later covered up by my awesome Spider-Man Band-Aid.

My days here are getting exhausting. I have this feeling that I’ve already used up all my free time. I got sick this weekend and I’m still trying to recover. Starting next week, there are going to be corporate presentations on campus, and I have to get started…

Hot and Humid

PITTSBURGH -- My biggest complaint about Pittsburgh is the weather. It’s been severely hot and humid over the past 2 weeks. It doesn’t compare to the breezy California weather that I’ve been accustomed too. I think that anyone who complains about California weather lives in a giant bubble.

I’ve spent a lot of money furnishing my apartment this week. It is now livable with internet and cable television hooked up. I’ve also been going out a couple times each week. It’s exhausting, but at least there is always something to do and people to go do it with. This Friday, I went out to a bar with a good chunk of my class. The numerous international students and other non-Caucasians, such as myself, diversified the otherwise white bar population. It was a lot of fun, and some of the international folks are hysterical. Apparently, some of my classmates got kicked out of the bar shortly after I left. What a class.

Also, I regret to inform some of you that I’ve strayed another two times from my abstinence of soda. Both times occurred during a luncheon that featured free pizza and free soda. I had no other drink alternative, and it just seemed wrong to turn down any free drink.

Orientation starts this Saturday and official class will start a week after that. I will be in CA this Labor Day Weekend for volleyball, and also to see some of my favorite Californians, of course.

My New Home

I also bought a new car! A black 2007 Mazda 6. It took some jumping through legal hoops to get this car. Buyers need a PA ID or a PA driver’s license to purchase cars. Since I couldn’t get any of those (insufficient proof of residency), I had to say I was taking it back to California. However, now I have 30 days to get my PA ID and register this vehicle in this state.

My most significant accomplishment is that I’ve made 2 friends this week. I met them both randomly while I was apartment hunting a few days ago. We’ve been hanging out every day.

Life in Pittsburgh is going pretty well. It’s different, but it has its charms. It feels so good to be out here as a graduate student. My review class begins tomorrow and I am so excited. I can’t wait to meet the rest of my class! All is well.

Week of Dave

Saturday – A missed flight?!? Lost luggage?!? How could things get much worse? But we did manage to make it over to Maui with incredible luck. The greatest success stories start with a bit of adversity.

Sunday – Oh heavenly Hana, how I do miss you. It was relaxation at its finest. We hiked across several pools and a bamboo forest to reach a 400 foot waterfall. What a great place Hana is to fall asleep to just the sounds of the ocean. Also that night, the beginning of Kings.

Monday – Some brief snorkeling and checked ourselves into the one and only Grand Wailea Resort, for free I might add.

Tuesday – Ah, the Day of Dave. The group went scuba diving at a local beach seeing turtles, eels, and other fish. Nancy is quite the trooper underwater, though sometimes looking like a dead sea mammal. And apparently Mina has razor-like jaws, sharp enough to chew through her regulator. Later, I had my birthday massage and contemplated the rigors of turning 25.

Wednesday – The best diving experience I’ve ever had by far! Mike and I woke up at 430am and went diving in Molokini crater and also at a shipwreck. This is why you get certified. Spent the rest of the day in Lahaina surfing and watching fireworks from the shore.

Thursday – The 8 of us went on a snorkeling cruise to Coral Gardens. Met the just married Jim McCain that night. "Highway to hell! One way!"

Friday – Hiked in the Iao Valley. Bobby, tour guide extraordinaire, taught us some phony Hawaiian culture as well as the history of the Limeball tree. We then drove around the north side of West Maui and stopped at a beach to catch the sun setting over Molokai. Stayed up all night playing kings and truth or dare. I believe I got to know all of you A LOT better. =D

Saturday – This day I do not remember so much, I believe we went to the beach. Another night of kings and truth or dare. Nicknames given (my favorites were <insert name here>’s lover and Chunky) and more secrets revealed. Planning qualities?!?!?! Ok, I’ve said enough. With great gossip comes great responsibility.

Sunday – A small scramble to the airport, but we all made it back.

Thanks to the WoD ohana that made the experience unforgettable. This is probably the best trip I’ve ever been on. Also, mahalo to all of you that wished me a great birthday. Sorry that I wasn’t able to answer the phone much on that day. =D

TV

Man vs. Wild – Fri 9:00 pm, Discovery

Adventurer Bear Grylls shows us how to survive if you ever get lost in the craziest places (Everglades, Iceland, Alaska, etc…) with pretty much just a knife. He’s eaten turtles, hunted rabbits, and has done pretty disgusting things just to survive. I am truly addicted to this show, this guy is incredible.

Entourage – Sun 10:00 pm, HBO

Four friends that live every guy’s fantasy, can’t really go wrong with that. This show has come down to earth a little bit, but it’s definitely still going strong. You won’t find a better character in television than Johnny Drama.

Flight of the Conchords – Sun 10:30 pm, HBO

Absolutely ridiculous. After watching a few episodes, I still don’t really know what this show is about. Two musicians from New Zealand are trying to make it in New York (I think?). You see these two guys living an unintelligent life, and then suddenly it’s as if you’re watching a low budget music video. It’s unusually entertaining. Even though you think you’re killing numerous brain cells by watching, you can’t really get yourself to change the channel.