Bloggin' Umholtz

"Off to the Nunnery, with you!"

Wow, has it really been four days since I’ve been here? In case anyone was wondering where I’d gone, I was out of town on business. Have to do that once in a while to help pay the bills around here.

I was in the wonderful town of Pittsburgh, PA. I noticed a couple of things while I was there.

One, the population appears to have dramatically shrunk since last I was there. Apparently, there has been a mass migration of Pittsburgers to someplace called Detroit. For what apparent reason, I have no idea.

Second, of the remaining population, there appears to have been some sort of dress code adopted which requires the wearing of black and gold garments. Again, the reason for this escapes me.

Third, they appear to have adopted a new greeting custom. A large number of people walk about with a gold towel hanging from their pockets. When two similarly attired people approach each other they take their towels from their pockets and wave them above their heads. This usually results in smiles and cheers and in several instances I noted that it attracts other people who also have these towels. Before long, on several street corners, one could observe whole herds of these people waving their towels with one hand and holding up their thumbs with the other. It is most peculiar and quite unnerving.

I was assured by one local that it was episodic in nature and would soon pass, unless of course, they win something called the “Super Bowl”, in which case the episode might last 30 years or more. (I had no idea bowling was so popular in Pittsburgh)

It was with great relief that I checked into my hotel. A place called “The Priory”, which it turns out was indeed at one point a home for nuns. In this protected enclave I was able to retreat from the onslaught of the clothing challenged individuals walking the streets.

The Priory is quite a lovely place and I highly recommend it if you ever have a need to stay in Pittsburgh. It has kept much of its nunnery charm (Wasn’t it Monty Python that had the line, “Take thee to the Nunnery.”?) and added to that free wine, pretzels and nuts (the edible variety), a definite plus. And nowhere, except on the desk clerk, did I see a sign of the black and gold. Protected behind these walls, nestled up against a chapel converted to a banquet hall, I felt relaxed and secure. Such was not to be the case when we went out for dinner.