Hey all you holiday cheerers, it’s Professor Scrooge here to show you what happened in Pittsburgh Friday night.
I got stuck in traffic, that’s what, because apparently we’re celebrating Christmas. Whaaaaat?! Trees were lit, Santa showed (I hear), and cheer was consumed. Personally, I think people just like to make excuses to a) spend money and b) drink.
It’s not even Thanksgiving yet people.
Here's the going into work part.
But I’m a man of the people. Or at least for the people. Either way, I took exclusive footage for you, yes you, that’s right you, dear reader/viewer.
Traffic came to a stop to watch what you’re about to see, so I snagged some quick video. Near the end you can see them* lighting off fireworks from the barge on one of our three rivers. I’m sure it was either the Allegheny or Monongahela or the Ohio, but for the life of me I’ve still never learned the difference.
All I know is that they come together at the confluence or, as we like to call it, The Point. Then they light a big Christmas tree while I work and everyone has the hap-hap-happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap danced with… But I digress.
*Christmas Wookies.
Do you think it’s too early to start the winter holiday machine or are you ready to go?
I usually don’t get into the Christmas spirit until a week or so beforehand, but this year I seem to be getting into the mood early. I’m not sure why, but I’m going to roll with it. Have a good Sunday, Clay.
You know Kerry, I’m okay with you arriving at my site to announce that you’re in the mood. It’s like the tree of trust up in here.
This will sound a bit Scrooge-like, but when I worked at Rockefeller Center there were two days of the year all of us dreaded: the lighting of the big tree and…St. Patrick’s Day (lots of hours listening to bagpipes for the parade).
Interesting you point out St. Patty’s as well. That’s the other big holiday I traditionally find myself working in the downtown location you see in the video. That’s always fun. Thousands of drunks everywhere while I’m lecturing for 6 hours.
I get seriously bummed when I see holiday decorations, Christmas commercials and seasonal run-on the day after Halloween and before Thanksgiving! Breathe and take time to enjoy each holiday people!!
Here, here.
I have always thought the Christmas festivities start ridiculously early. But that’s just me. I know people who literally can’t wait for the season’s festivities to kick off. I think I might like it more if I lived in Hawaii. Starting earlier just makes me think: I need new gloves and a new snow brush. Probably could use a box of handwarmers…
Just by the by, we’re you driving when you took that footage? How did you do that? Be careful. You might think its too early for Christmas, but let’s make sure you get there. K?
Love,
Officer Safety
Another wrist slapper! And I even edited out the footage where I was actually moving
I’m a one holiday at a time purist. I’m also occasionally a procrastinator so it’s possible that has something to do with it.
Yes! Let’s celebrate Thanksgiving first right?
Oh Clay! At least you got a blog post out of it- BONUS!
Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and… hey look it’s Santa! It’s Santa!!
Exactly Susie. That’s what I said.
I adore everything Christmas. But Walmart had a tree up before Halloween this year. That’s just wrong.
I know. I saw the Christmas setup at Home Depot weeks ago. I should unleash some squirrels on those trees.
I prefer to save Christmas for after Thanksgiving. Seems like a day devoted to gratitude should stand unsullied before the day of giving/getting. But there are so few public Christmas or holiday celebrations any more compared to when I was a kid that I’ll take them when I can get them. I think it’s great that Pittsburgh does this, and I loved the video. Thanks for sharing. Hope you got where you were going without too many problems.
Happy Thanksgiving, Clay! And in case I don’t talk to you before Friday, Merry Christmas!
Pittsburgh loves blowing stuff up. We have fireworks for absolutely everything. I’m surprised they don’t have them at the DMV for every time someone passes a driver’s license exam.
Fireworks and Christmas? That seems like madness to me. I have listened to a little bit of Christmas music already but decorations and celebrations absolutely positively must wait until after Thanksgiving.
Not the music!! But yeah, we light it up a lot around here.
I was going to start an Occupy Starbucks movement the other day because they were playing saccharine Christmas music while I waited for my chai.
Actually, the topic of “Christmas Creep” was what I spoke of on the Unconventional Panel Wednesday on CBC radio. I’d link to it but I kind of flat-lined and coughed up a lung on live radio.
I say December 1 is a fine time to start Christmas lights and (goodish) music. I can’t keep my holidays sorted when they run together.
I’m with you on the Occupy Starbucks movement, Leanne. Not only were they playing Christmas music a week before Thanksgiving, they were also playing it at inhumane decibels. It was almost like they had to shout it from the rooftops that Frosty and Rudolph were back. Funny thing, too, is that the harvest light-up display sat outside in the cold, while the Christmas galore took up residence inside.
Ha, I was just thinking of you when I read Leanne’s comment. That music is punishing.
Yeah, that music can be terrible too. I can work w/ DEC 1. See? Even the Canadians get it and you don’t even know when you’re supposed to celebrate Thanksgiving.
The only reason that start Christmas decorating early is so that we’ll start spending early. Ridiculous!! About ready to boycott spending this year, but that Kindle Fire looks way too tempting and Black Friday is approaching!
You can justify that purchase by virtue of being a writer right? I want stuff for Black Friday but will probably hide out in my writing cave.
Christmas Wookies, now that would be funny to see.
Way too early for the Christmas hubbub. End of story.
Beware the Christmas Wookies.
Okay, that’s just ridiculous. It should at least be December before people start getting all Christmas-happy. I mean, it’s been anywhere between 60-65 degrees for the past couple of weeks around here…I don’t feel much like celebrating Christmas when I’m wearing shorts and feeding the ducks in the pond by my house (<— I don't actually do that, but it seems like something summer-y to do…).
Bah Humbug! Bah Humbug, indeed!
P.S. All of that being said, I LOVE Christmas…but only in small doses. As in, only in December.
See? That’s not Scroogey. You get me. I will not recognize the big day until December.
Christmas stuff keeps going up earlier and earlier every year. It seems it anyway.
We usually put our Christmas stuff up the week of Thanksgiving. Any earlier and I feel like Thanksgiving is just being forgotten about….
If I decorated for Christmas I would probably do the same. Although one year when I still lived at home I think we got our tree up a day or two before Christmas.
Once it snowed at the end of October, I don’t think we had much choice in the matter.
Snow does not equal Christmas, Thoughts.
I was stuck in that stuff also when all I wanted to do was get home. In fact, I needed that street too! Gotta love light up night in da ‘burgh
Do you and your family live in Pittsburgh? Did I know this?
Yes, we do (thought you knew – I’ve posted events/pictures before.) We live (ok, we’re actually burb people not right in the city), breath, work in the ‘burgh. Oakland is by far the most horrid to get home from. The worst communte yet was when I sat on 5th Ave and moved a total of two lights in 2 hrs. I was ready to kill anything that moved which, thankfully for mankind wasn’t much. The hubs has it much easier at AGH (Northside.) He can hop on 279 and zip on home. Grrrr.
It’s a great city though. Can’t complain – even though I am!
For all I know I’ve talked to you about living by the Burgh. I just moved from the Burbs closer to the city. Still Burbish but not by much. I get the grrr. Today was crazy busy! I word in Oakland 3 days a week but can usually get out before it gets bad.
YES. IT. WAS!!! Total GRRRR. I am in Oakland (UPMC-Presby) two days a week and usually there is a 50/50 chance I’ll make it out before it gets bad. Somedays (if I miss the golden window of opportunity) I just wait it out slurping on a Starbucks rather than stew in traffic. Although the 25-30min non-traffic commute isn’t too bad, it would be nice to live closer.
Small world Clay, small world!
Wait, you don’t at least know which river is the Ohio? For shame, young sir, for shame.
(For future reference, it’s the leg of the “Y” – the other two confuse me also.)
Cracking up at “for shame”! But no, I still don’t know.
Our local news featured a Christmas event the other night and I about fell over. I’m still thawing a turkey!! Talk about stressing a mom out…
I think you should stab the turkey and feel okay about it. Or stab the TV.