Life in the Pitts

Hey Everyone!

I guess the time has come for a little update on life in the Pitts. We could not be happier here! Well, I guess Danny would be a little happier if the sun would come out once in awhile, but other than that, things are great!

I spent a couple weeks at the beginning of the school year going back and forth everyday subbing in five different districts. Then the first school I had subbed at, Moore Elementary, started calling me in for whole weeks at a time. The principal would walk into the class I was teaching periodically and just sit there for about 10 minutes and then walk out again without saying a word. I just figured he did that for all the teachers. Soon after though, they asked me to be a building sub and come in everyday until Christmas break. I wasn’t in a certain grade; I just floated around the building to wherever they needed me that day or that period. As the Christmas break started approaching I started feeling really sad that I would have to leave Moore Elementary and go back to subbing at a different school every day. It’s hard emotionally to never feel like you belong and to be among strangers every day. At Moore I really liked by all the teachers and feel like I’m at work with friends. A couple days before the break I went to ask the secretary if I should plan on coming back in January, and she said yes and asked me to stay through the rest of the school year!!! I was SO happy! I love my job more and more everyday. The last day of school before Christmas Danny told me, “Just think, you don’t have to go to work tomorrow.” And I said, “But I like going to work!” I don’t think I’ve ever said that before. I feel like a celebrity at my school because I get to go around and help the teachers with whatever they need and I get to do fun activities with the kids. They are such sweet kids and all come from really great families too. It is a BIG difference from teaching in Philly!

I am also enjoying falling in love with photography all over again. I’ve done a couple photo shoots already of kids and families, and a couple weeks ago I got to do a newborn shoot. It was so fun! Hopefully come summer I’ll be getting a lot more jobs. One of the teachers at my school has already told me she wants me to do pictures of all of her kids this summer, and her family this fall, so maybe that will spur into even more business from my school.

I’ve been going to some estate sales in the neighborhood every Saturday looking for unique props for my shoots, and I’ve been finding some great stuff. At one estate sale though I found an entire dark room set. All the equipment, lights, trays, etc! They had everything individually priced and it probably would have come out to a couple thousand dollars, but it was late in the day and I talked them down to $175. It has always been my dream to have a dark room just because it’s so relaxing. I love feeling secluded as I watch my pictures develop. I’ve always told Danny I would want to have one some day in the very distant future, but this opportunity was too good to pass up. The problem is, it takes up to much room, and I would never be able to use it until we’re in a bigger house and have the money for the film and chemicals. I took pictures of each item individually and posted it on craigslist. Maybe I can make some money off this buy, but if not I’ll have all the equipment I need for my future darkroom.

Danny loves the rotation he is in right now. He is doing family practice in a city about 45 minutes south of us called Washington. He loves it because it is so laid back and the hours are good, but I don’t think he would want to specialize in family practice. He enjoys being out of the classroom and getting hands on experience. He’s assisted in a vasectomy, suturing, removed skin tags, and informing 17 yr old girls who thought they were impervious to pregnancy that they are indeed pregnant. He doesn’t have call this rotation which means he is home every night with me instead of having to sleep at the hospital 1-2 nights a week. He doesn’t have to go in early and he’s usually home by 5:30 for dinner. I love it! He takes the family practice shelf exam this Friday, so hopefully he’ll do well.

Danny is also falling in love with basketball. A lot of the students from all over the stake get together every Thursday night to play. Basketball is what gets him through his week. It’s gotten to the point now where 2-3 times per day he’ll ask me if it’s Thursday yet because all he wants to do is play. Also, this Saturday they are starting the stake men’s basketball league, so he’s really looking forward to that. That is another reason why we love Pittsburgh so much more than Philadelphia. I would have the occasional girls’ night in Philly, but Danny never got to hang out with a group of guys. He loves it. I’m also loving making so many great friends here. Last night I went with a group of girls downtown to see the musical, In the Heights. I also go to a book club, sewing group, and girls night as often as we can fit them in. It is such a vast difference from Philadelphia where we didn’t feel like we had any close friends. We’re getting very sad that some of our best friends are 4^th year dental students and will be leaving us in May. L

I got a new calling at the beginning of the year. I was teaching Gospel Principles and Danny was teaching the 9 yr old class in Primary. Right before we left for Christmas they called me into Primary as Danny’s teaching partner teaching the 10-11 yr old class. Which means, Danny moved up with his class this year and we got the older class tacked on as well. He was looking forward to a new class because this one can be a little wild, but we’re working together trying to make it run smoothly, and it’s been fun. I was really sad to lose my Gospel Principles class but after a couple weeks I think I love Primary even more! In both classes I was teaching basic gospel principles and both classes are excited to learn about the Gospel, but in primary you get to play silly games.

In summary, we love each other, we love our jobs/school, we love our hobbies, we love church, we love our friends, and we love Pittsburgh! I’m trying to take my own advice and enjoy life as it happens. Not everything is perfect, but I know that we’re going to miss this.

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods,

Maretta