Get Your Flippy Floppys Ready

That's right kids, you better get all the
essentials ready...

Flip Flops
Beach Towels
Nose Plugs
Water Wings
Board Shorts
Teeny Bikinis
Speedos
Snorkels
Suntan Lotion

What are we talking about?

Water parks.

That's what.

And the fact that we will be doing cannonballs
into a large pool of water, very soon.

And we're not going to have to travel all that
far to do it.

Because the sweet smell of chlorination will soon
be wafting through the air at the Pittsburgh
Mills Mall.

Turns out, a company that owns and operates 12
of these indoor parks/hotels across the nation, is
planning on building one here.


We are doing a happy dance.

Seriously, we love a good water park.

We love lazy rivers.
We love whirlpools.
We love water slides.
We love super soakers.
We love spas.
We love fitness centers.
We love arcades.
We love having a reason for our wife to
shave our back.

We love it all!

This really is exciting news, as we were heartbroken
when the go-cart track was ixnayed.

Cause if there's one thing we like more than a water
park, it's a go-cart track.

Seriously, we take our go-carting very seriously.

Seriously.

Can you tell how serious we are?

Good.

Gimme A "V!"

It seems that participation has been lacking
for a Valley Middle School football program.

They didn't field a team last year, as not enough
students signed up to play.

This is troubling for many reasons.

The main one being, when kids get to high school,
they won't have the football background that
players at other schools have.

Which could lead to less wins.
Which could lead to even less interest in local football.

It's a vicious cycle.

Now, they are talking about getting rid of the junior
varsity team, and having only the middle school program,
and the varsity program.

Sounds good to us.

Much better than having no option for the middle
school kids that wanna play ball.

There is also a question about what to do with the
money, if the program again is dropped.

Let's hope this question never gets asked.

We'll let you know more, as we hear more.

Some Days Are A Struggle

Sometimes, doing this site 5 days a week, doesn't
feel like its hard work.

Most times, there is something interesting to
write about.

Even when there's nothing going on, we'll write
about food, or post an email.

But some days, we are stumped.


Honestly.

Other than snow, and cold weather, this area
is rather boring recently.

Too bad we don't cover world news.

Cause we could talk about...

Mark McGuire being a roid-head. (duh)
Sarah Palin got a job. (good grief)
China is facing a singles crisis.
The movie 'Avatar' is racist.
Jillian Michaels used to be a fatty.
Jared from Subway go engaged.
Jay Leno is replacing Conan, who replaced Leno. (meh)
Simon Cowell is leaving American Idol. (pfft)

Wow.

Talk about news, eh?

Unlucky for us, we cater to New Kensington and it's
surrounding areas.

Seriously.

Are we missing something?

Is there news that we are unaware of?

If so, leave a comment.


While you think of something.

Watch one of our videos, and dream about the
upcoming warmer weather.

Random Picture Monday (01-11-10)

Old FOE building.





Props to David Cooper for the picture.

Run For Your Lives!

As the ominous news of a huge snowstorm approaching
(2-4 terrifying inches), locals do what they normally do...

Overreact, and run full speed to the nearest grocer, to
stock up on the essentials.

Milk
Eggs
Bread
Soup
Meats
Water
Rock Salt
Etc.

What really confuses us, is why people don't stock
up on condoms and hot cocoa.

Honestly, if you find yourself "snowed in," what
better things are there to keep you warm?


Back to our original thought.
(We apologize for getting distracted.)

We find it strangely amusing that people still freak
out when snow is in the forecast.

It's not as if we don't average 43.5 inches of snow
per year.


Normally, we wouldn't care what people do with their
time and money.

It just so happened that today was our day to go
grocery shopping, and we had the pleasure of sharing
the aisles with a couple hundred panicked consumers.

You couldn't imagine the looks I received, as I leisurely
browsed through the consumables.

With my ipod playing my shopping mix (consisting mostly
of rock and hip-hop, with the occasional Tony Christie track),
the music kept me from flying around like a speed-freak.

Which seems to have mystified the others.

They stared at me with wondrous disbelief, as my
relaxed persona slapped them in the face.

Many felt the need to try and rile me up, with the news
of the coming blizzard.

But my headphones prevented their message from
penetrating my ears.

I also feel as though my calm nature angered some folks.

Why would I get such a feeling?

Because, even though the shelves were stocked with many
varieties and sizes of milk, a 90 year old woman almost
shanked me as I reached for a half gallon of 2%.



~
It is normal for us to do our weekend weather report
on Friday.

But we're fairly sure you already have a pretty good idea.

So instead, we give you this...

Story Update (Datolla Theatre)

You may remember, back in late August.

We wrote a piece about the Dattola Theatre, and the
group of people trying to reopen it.

Read about it HERE.

Everything seemed like it was in order, and we
here at theNEWK were really looking forward to it.

We couldn't wait to see a movie, or take in the
latest production by the New Ken Civic Theater.

But we got some disheartening news recently.

The plans have been put "on hold."

What we heard was, there are a couple people at city hall
that put up a few obstacles.

That's rather vague, but we take what we can get.

Now listen, we aren't here to take sides.

There are a few people out there, that know exactly
what is happening with this.

We, just don't happen to be any of those people.

All we know is, this is news we didn't want to hear.

It wasn't that long ago, that they put on a nice fund
raiser down there.

Music, food, classic cars, etc.

Here is a picture we took of the Theatre, as we
drove up to it.


They seemed to have a really good turnout that day,
and people were genuinely excited about it.

We can only hope, that the excitement will turn into reality.


Maybe with the new mayor taking office, the issues faced
over the last couple months can be worked out.

Or maybe not.

As we always say...

We don't like getting involved in politics.
Unless of course, we ourselves have the power to change things.

Which will probably never happen.



~
Keep hope alive.

Bird Talk In The Winter

As if you didn't already know, today is
National Bird Day.

We feel it's rather strange that they made
a day in the dead of winter, dedicated to birds.

It's weird because most of the birds around
here, have flown to warmer climates.

Sure they'll be back one day.

But that's not the point, really.

If we are to take a day to enjoy the songs, and
flight of these creatures, shouldn't they have
waited until summer?

I'll be completely honest with you.

I can't stand birds.

- They poo on my car.
- They chirp outside my window in the morning.
- They tempt my dog into chasing them, in turn,
pulling on her leash, nearly knocking me over.
- They eat worms that I could use for fishing.
- And let's be honest, they act a bit 'stuck up.'


The one local image I think of, when I think
of birds, is the huge steel structure that bridges
over the entrance to the Pittsburgh Mills.

Take a look at it, the next time the birds are
in town.

They drop copious amounts of bird dirt on that thing,
as well as the road below.

It almost makes it look as though it snowed in
the middle of summer.

Which is a strange coincidence, as we hadn't
planned on connecting our previous bitch
session with this fact.

Which makes us look like fools.


Just goes on to prove my point...

I hate birds.




Random Article Fact:

My grandmother coined the term "bird dirt."

You may use it, if you wish.

Beat The Winter Blues

We know, we know.

It's snowing.

It's snowing a lot.

It's cold as well.

Stop updating your twitter and facebook about it.

We get it.

Now, since we live in this area, we should all
be mentally prepared for these times of bluster.

Some of us (you) complain about it.

Some embrace it.

Here are some things for you to do, rather
than bitch and moan.

- Go tubing at Boyce Park.
- Shovel an elderly neighbor's walk.
- Don't charge your elderly neighbor for said services.
- Have a snowball battle.
- If your elderly neighbor offers meatballs as payment,
we allow you to accept them.
- Find a nearby hill, and sled ride that sucker.
- Ice fishing at Northmoreland Park.
- Snow shoeing at Deer Lakes Park.
- Come surprise us, by cleaning off our car in the morning.
- Make a mug of hot cocoa.
- Build a snowman.
- Make a big fat snow angel.
- Play with your children, or your pet outside.
- Grow a winter beard.
(Top or bottom, your choice.)


See, there are tons of things you can be doing.

You may choose to do some of these ideas, or you
may choose to catch up on your DVR.

We won't judge you, whatever you decide.

But the next time you see a jolly/bearded/pudgy guy, lying
in his yard, flailing his arms and legs all about...

Just know, that we chose to make the snow angel.

Yes, that was meatball sauce on our cheeks.

Random Picture Monday (01-04-10)

The gateway.






~
Oh yeah, it's 2010.

We're over it.

Happy Newk Year!

If you have a cell phone.
If that cell phone has text messaging.
If you have friends...

Then, you probably got the picture above, at
least one time yesterday.

I personally received it 5 times.

I would go off on a huge rant here, if some of those
friends didn't read this site.

I have decided to be nicer in 2010.

I have also decided to share more (farts).
It's the sauerkraut speaking.


We hope you have a great year.

It will be everything you make of it.

We promise.



~~+~~
Auld Lang Syne
(Scottish pronunciation)

Shid ald akwentans bee firgot,
an nivir brocht ti mynd?
Shid ald akwentans bee firgot,
an days o ald lang syn?

CHORUS:

Fir ald lang syn, ma jo,
fir ald lang syn,
wil tak a cup o kyndnes yet,
fir ald lang syn.

An sheerly yil bee yur pynt-staup!
an sheerly al bee myn!
An will tak a cup o kyndnes yet,
fir ald lang syn.

CHORUS

We twa hay rin aboot the braes,
an pood the gowans fyn;
Bit weev wandert monae a weery fet,
sin ald lang syn.

CHORUS

We twa hay pedilt in the burn,
fray mornin sun til dyn;
But seas between us bred hay roard
sin ald lang syn.

CHORUS

An thers a han, my trustee feer!
an gees a han o thyn!
And we’ll tak a richt gude-willie-waucht,
fir ald lang syn.

CHORUS