The Pittsburgh Saga, Part 2
On Sunday morning, Date #7 tells me to put on a pair of sneakers.
“Sneakers?” I ask. “Seriously? I hate sneakers.” It’s true: I don’t wear sneakers unless I absolutely have to, especially this time of year.
“Well we’re going to be outdoors,” he replies.
“Are we hiking?”
“No.”
“Then I can wear sandals.”
“I guess.”
“Can I wear a dress?”
He shrugs and finally tells me I can.
Pssssh.
Surprises are sweet and romantic and all but they don’t make for easy wardrobe selections and seeing as I’ve managed to cram four pairs of shoes into my weekend bag (sandals, sneakers, platforms and stilettos), I have quite a few options to pick from.
I settle on my sandals and my blue and white wrap dress and we head down to the car.
“I hate to be one of those people,” I begin, “but can we stop at a Starbucks on the way?”
Date #7 doesn’t drink coffee and having scheduled my visit immediately following the celebration of my 26th birthday, it was only through the grace of espresso-spike chai lattes that I even made it to Pittsburgh. I intended to get a good night’s sleep on Saturday, so I’d be ready for Sunday’s surprise but who are we kidding? One does not drive across the state to sleep; I needed caffeine.
Unfortunately, there was nary a Starbucks in sight so to keep myself awake, I decided to make pleasant conversation with Date #7 during the drive to—well, I can’t tell you; it would ruin the surprise.
Unbeknownst to me, Date #7 isn’t much of a conversationalist, especially in the morning.
After my fiftieth question or so, he finally turns to me and says, “I should probably tell you… it takes me a while to get going in the mornings. I don’t really talk.”
I don’t really talk?
This strikes me as positively absurd—what else are we supposed to do during the 90 minute drive to… you know…? This is almost as bad as the time that Date #17 took me to the movies and told me he wasn’t really “into snacking.”
Talking and snacking are the stuff of life.
But not to Date #7 evidently, and it does eventually occur to me that in my sleep-deprived, coffee-deprived state, I might possibly have been babbling.
When we finally reach our mystery destination, I make a beeline for the café. One iced mocha frappuccino and a bar of dark chocolate later, I’m feeling much better and Date #7 discovers, much to his surprise, that he actually enjoys coffee of the iced mocha frappuccino variety.
In fact, he’s positively loquacious as we make our way down the path.
“By the way,” he announces, “this is your birthday present. I think you’re really going to like it.”
Ten points to the first reader who can guess where we went. Here’s a hint:
Fieldwork in Stilettos 
27 Responses to “The Pittsburgh Saga, Part 2”
I LOVE FLW!!!! How cool was it?
It was WAY cool 🙂 And given the ridiculous thunderstorm the night before, the water was definitely falling!
Very nice!!
Architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright … think it is called waterfalls, or something like it.
Close, its Fallingwater.
BRAZILIAN: Close. It’s Fallingwater.
Damn, I could’ve earned ten point! For what, though?
For what? For WHAT? Don’t you know that my “points” are the very best points there are? Even if they are totally non-redeemable for anything? 🙂
Very cool, now I want to see it, although I’ve always wanted to see it, but with all of our traveling, have never really toured the Pittsburgh area.
Wasn’t there a rumor that Brad Pitt was going to buy it? Maybe instead Date #7 snatched it up for you. If so, he’s a keeper, liking to talk or no…
Wait, Date #7 gave you a Frank Lloyd Wright house — perhaps the best known FLW house — for your birthday?
I didn’t realize it was for sale, but in this market *sigh.
Haha- when i host my first Fallingwater soiree, I’ll be sure to invite all of my loyal readers 🙂
Too fun! Why would you need sneakers to go there??
I think he probably meant “sneakers as opposed to heels” and not “sneakers as opposed to sandals.” LOL!
Ha! I don’t talk in the morning, either, so I feel him on that. Although I probably wouldn’t tell that to someone I hadn’t been dating that long.
Kat, the dude is a CATCH. Active, amazing surprises. My hub and I plan these things, and we love them…Date #7 is assuming you love them and you do. Awesome, awesome.
Sounds like a lot of fun, and nothing like getting someone hooked to coffee. I got introduced to coffee by my fiancee, and now we make Starbucks runs, I always get it the way he has his drinks. Once you have a mocha frap you won’t go back!
I know, i feel kind of guilty. I kept telling him “You do NOT want to get hooked on these things! They are like a million calories with ZERO nutritional value!”
Yea! How exciting!!!
Ok…he gets some points for this. Such a beautiful place!
I never drank coffee before I met my husband. He doesn’t talk in the morning either. Simple fix — he gets up at 5:30, makes the coffee, and by the time I can face the day he’s “gotten going.” I don’t see any deal breakers so far….
This has to be one of the best birthday presents ever. I have always wanted to see Falling Water! Ohhh, I’m jealous! This guy has great taste (proof: you and FLW).
I am extraordinarily jealous … I have always wanted to see FallingWater! That was a great idea and deserves MAJOR brownie points!
OMG, I am SO jealous! I know I missed out on being the first one here, but when it comes to wanting to visit the buildings from my architecture history books, Fallingwater ranks right up there with the Notre Dame Cathedral.
[…] I have leftover sushi from dinner and leftover chocolate from Fallingwater so I ration myself according (two squares of chocolate and one piece of California roll per period) […]
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not a clue, but awesome building