The Wonders of Pittsburgh Boys

so, it's officially official. i'm going to Pittsburgh, Steel Town, USA. i'm very excited. i got my plane tickets yesterday, and reserved a room at The Priory this morning. i got a very good rate on a tiny old monk cell with a twin bed. i haven't slept on a twin bed in years, but to stay in this place for $79 a night, right downtown, is a steal, for sure. and i actually really like the idea of it being very small and compact. it makes me feel weirdly safer. especially in a big, strange city.

so, i have plans for things i'd like to do. mostly i plan to just walk around and explore, but i have to go to The Mattress Factory of course, and perhaps the The Andy Warhol Museum, even though i'm not particularly a warhol fan. i just think i should see it. and of course do the Duquesne Incline.

but mostly i want to just walk around, get a feel for the place, experience a real autumn, which i haven't in a while. that will be really nice. i believe in mid-september the weather there is typically in the low 70's during the day. which is profoundly perfect.

i also found this guy on Friendster who has agreed to meet up with me, show me around a bit. he seems pretty cool, like some kind of communal hippy of some sort, but i figure someone like that would probably know the most interesting places to go, or things to do. and he looks kinda hot. :)

i know the main intention of this trip was to be alone, and i plan to. i want to spend the majority of my days alone, with no one else's itinerary, or agenda, or pressure. i want to be able to take as long as i want sitting at an outdoor cafe, drinking coffee and having a cigarette. or if i just want to sit in a park and people-watch, or write, or whatever, for 3 hours straight, i'll do it. this trip is all about me. but having said that, it would be nice to have dinner with someone, or maybe go out to a bar one night with someone, experience some night life. i don't know. i'm trying to go there with no agenda myself, either, and just see where each day leads me. it's exciting. i got a really strong rush of both adrenaline and anxiety yesterday when i actually purchased my plane tickets. it was really real, and i was doing it. go me. some people might be wondering why it's such a big deal to me, and i can't even explain it exactly, except to say that i have a really really hard time being alone. period. ever. it's something i'm addressing in therapy; what makes me so uncomfortable just being in my own skin. and i have no idea. but i think doing this, and facing one of my biggest fears (traveling and being a big city alone) is a really big step and it makes me feel really good to be doing it. plus it's something very exciting to look forward to. which i need.