How I Spent my Midweek Vacation!

Wednesday night’s visit to the Beaver Toastmasters Club was a lot of fun. To reiterate, it was a well-run meeting from the speeches and introductions to the fun Table Topics session. Members explain their meeting roles and everyone tells us their “why” they’re here. It’s a very close-knit family atmosphere with the group picture at the end being the cherry on top. Members and guests come from Cranberry, Butler, and even Columbiana County, Ohio, to attend.

In addition to the club, the town of Beaver itself is a gem. The local park in town has a lot to offer as well. Irvine Park is located across from the courthouse, and gives off those vibes that remind me why I love Ligonier’s Diamond. Beaver, like Canonsburg and Indiana, becomes its own little Hallmark Christmas town. The Beaver Toastmasters Club held a “Speakers in the Park” event in April 2024. 

I made my way up the stairs to the Courthouse. It felt like I was walking to the north end of Slippery Rock University heading to a night class. The little stroll reminded me how simple life was a little over 20 years ago. 

Coming home that night from the meeting, I drove down I-376 and eventually through Pittsburgh. Getting onto the Parkway from the Beaver exit, I saw the cracker plant all lit up and it looked like a little city skyline. Sights along my journey home included the hotel where we will be having our Fall conference in just under a month. How can I forget the Pittsburgh skyline as I came out of the Fort Pitt Tunnel, making my way towards Forest Hills? As I pulled in sometime after ten, reality struck. I soon discovered that these long trips (while fun) don’t come aren’t as easy for me as they used to be.

Thursday was my second day off in a row, and I started off the day by going to the gym. Afterwards, I stopped at West Point and enjoyed a latte at Caleese.

Annabelle had a band concert in the evening. Meanwhile, I went to the AMC theatre behind Westmoreland Mall and enjoyed the Super Mario Galaxy movie. This is the sequel to the first one and while different than the original, it’s still a good film. The original movie dealt with the early days of Mario and Luigi and included characters from Donkey Kong. The sequel had Rosalina, Bowser Jr., and Yoshi. But nothing can top “Peaches” as sung by Jack Black who did the voice of Bowser. 

Both movies are good and each have their special charm.