cww.blog!

I'm back in Pittsburgh, and I still think it's a really cool city.

My flights yesterday were almost awful. They weren't delayed or anything, but there were definitely certain elements to them that were particularly undesirable. Mini-rant turn on. I flew coach, so I didn't get free alcoholic beverages (or *any* alcoholic beverages, since my first flight took off at freakin' 6:45 AM, and all I *really* wanted was either sleep or ten shots of espresso), I didn't get any leg room, I didn't get anything near decent service, and I was uncomfortably near the person next to me (who may have been flying for his first time and who had a really stupid haircut). I flew Delta, which severely compounds these issues. I flew through Cincinnati, which must have the most boring airport in the civilized (whereas airports in Irkutsk are managed by Russian prize-fighters, er, I mean military, and thus are not civilized) world. And, I had only slept three hours in as many days, so that again compounded the issues. Mini-rant turn off.

Once I got to Pittsburgh, everything was all good. I rented my car, which for an American car (Chevy Malibu) is pretty decent, but woe be to the person who eventually purchases it. I drove to the Omni downtown, which turned out to be a much nicer hotel than I had expected. The accomodations are nearly like those of the Warwick in New York City, but the elevators actually work! And, there are 12 of them! In fact, I think this hotel in general outdoes the Warwick, but then again, I'm not in New York City, am I?

I ate, I called tons of people about apartments and townhouses, I had a beer, I ate again, I had another beer, I took a long shower, and I crashed. I passed out for something like 14 hours. I woke up sore and ecstatic. I haven't slept that long in at least one age (as in: your dragon is one age old).

I woke up almost late, and I rushed to get ready, get dressed, get coffee at the Starbucks in the lobby (!), and get over to Shadyside to look at an apartment. This is the apartment I want, and from what I can tell, it's a steal for its price (to give you an idea, it's well over $1000/month), but I'm going to try to talk the landlady down from that, given that We (the concerned parties, naturally) are willing to pay six months in advance.

The two-bedroom apartment is on the top floor (plus loft!) of a completely renovated (like, it was stripped down to its frame and then rebuilt) house. It has a private staircase, a landing at the top that serves as a balcony, a sweet view of the surrounding area, soundproofing material between all the units (landlady == architect), hardwood floors, central air and heat, washer and dryer in the unit, etc., etc., and a Whole Foods Market just down the road! Hoooooooray! Plus, the landlady lives in Baltimore, which is far enough away for comfort but not too far away for her to get things done when things need to be done. Oh yeah, and she hires someone to shovel the snow from my staircase and from my parking spot during the winter.

I also saw another apartment today, which was $1200/month and had a landlady who barged right in without prior notice, a stupid coin-op washer and dryer in the basement, and window A/C units that barely worked. No way.

I called the lady in Baltimore and told her I'd like to rent her apartment.

Then, I stopped being productive.

I got a haircut at Salon Nuvo downtown, bought some clothing at Jos. A. Bank across Mellon Park from my hotel, and went to the south side for the evening. There, I visited the Z Lounge, which has tight grooves (DJ something-or-other started spinning around 10:30), a relaxed atmosphere, and, as I hear, the best drinks in Pittsburgh. I had a number of drinks there, and they're certainly excellent, so maybe the reviews are correct. You can't beat $28 for a night of awesome drinks at a trendy martini bar, either.

Hey, Mom, I made it back to the hotel without dying. There was, of course, that unfortunate casualty on the 10th Street Bridge, though...

Or maybe it was a causality. Heh.

That's very roughly how the past two days of my life have gone. So, how are you?