The weather has been working in our favor this year when it comes to outdoor Bible Study. Monday night brought pleasant weather and an amazing turnout of people to Cutie’s for the event. A few passing clouds but not too hot or humid. I got there around 5:15 and went inside to order my PB&J Latte. I’d been craving this for some time now since Cutie’s began promoting their summer menu and enjoyed it during the event. It ranks up there with the Ocean Breeze Latte that I got from Caleese a few weeks ago. 

The night began with a song by popular American contemporary worship band Elevation Worship titled, “Trust in God”. I didn’t know the words, but I listened to the song as I made my way downtown. It was one of the top songs from Amazon Music for the band. ‘Can You Imagine?’ was released in the Spring of 2023 and “Trust in God” peaked at number two on the Hot Christian Songs chart. Victoria led the study and spoke a powerful message that was about Trust. We spent most of our time in Genesis and I took plenty of notes. This was one of the best programs so far in the 2026 Cutie’s Bible Study season. 

The study wrapped up around 7 and everyone made their way home. The additions are coming in nicely at Cutie’s. The stairs leading up to the second floor are in and soon, I’ll be able to enjoy a drink upstairs while looking down at Otterman Street and the new Otterman Square. At some point this summer, I’ll have to visit Caleese on the Trail in Export. Their grand opening is June 10, but I’ll be focused on vacation and some other projects.

As I celebrate a big Toastmasters anniversary this week at my meeting, it’s time to look back.  Here are some of the highlights from my journey since I joined. 

It was the night of June 1, 2011 and I was officially in the last month of my 20’s. Fresh off of a quarter-life crisis that began just after I graduated from Slippery Rock, I still had aspirations of going post-bac. I attended this thing called “Greensburg Toastmasters” and from the beginning, I was hooked. 

Filling out the application and paying by check, I was officially a member. At the next meeting two weeks later, I gave my ice breaker speech. I even became an officer one month into my Toastmasters journey. It would still be a while before I signed up for other roles like Toastmaster, Table Topics Master, and General Evaluator. Those would come with time. 

I completed ten speeches within a year and achieved my Competent Communicator award. How much things have changed since that first night. 

Toastmasters has gone from designations like CC and ACB to paths and levels. It took me some time to get used to the new way of doing speeches after I earned my Distinguished Toastmaster award in 2019. Fitting that just a few months later, we would be getting used to another new normal. 

The COVID-19 pandemic definitely changed things for the entire world, and Toastmasters was no exception to the rule. For me, it also put things into perspective as I would soon transition in other parts of my life. It took me time to get used to Pathways, as well as attending meetings on this online platform called Zoom. Having a laptop and a webcam has made life easier for me while I’m online. There’s no substitute for in-person meetings and fellowship, though. 

My previous work experience at WIS involved a lot of travel to other parts of the area. It also gave me leverage when it came to visiting other clubs. One of those clubs is on my radar next week when I will be enjoying my week off. It’s a club that I’ve visited many times in the past dating back to 2016. 

My visits to the Cranberry High Noon Toastmasters club have taken place at different locations over the years. From Pella Windows to the Cranberry Township Municipal Building and now the Dutilh United Methodist Church, each experience has been memorable. One of those experiences was the multiple Tastemasters meetings during the holidays when I sampled different foods. I was also in attendance for the club’s tenth anniversary celebration in June 2023.

I’m sure that I’ll make some new memories when I visit next Monday at High Noon.

If Special Occasion speeches were part of my path, I’d have given a good eulogy on Joe Negri,

Mr. Negri was part of a special neighborhood that we saw through the magic of television. He appeared on Mister Rogers Neighborhood for over three decades from 1968 to 2001. He was a jazz musician and taught jazz guitar at the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University.

He was a little over a week short of turning 100 years old when he passed peacefully on Saturday from natural causes. As a young kid, I always watched Mister Rogers and remember the episodes where Fred would visit the music shop.

One of his trips there was when he met jazz musician Wynton Marsalis. He played a few songs with Negri and the staff at the music shop and entertained Fred and us, his television neighbors.

At Tuesday night’s Laurel Highlands meeting, we had two amazing speakers. One gave her ice breaker speech. We also held nominations for new officers for the 2026-27 Toastmasters year. We took the last half hour installing our new officers. I’ll be serving as Vice President Education for both of my clubs, so that will be a nice challenge for me. It will be rewarding and will keep my focused on the success and health of my clubs.

Greensburg will do the same Wednesday night at their meeting. I may step away from speaking as I need some more time. I may evaluate (if our current Vice President Education gives her presentation from the Better Speaker Series) or take on the role of time or grammarian/ah counter.

June 9 I plan to attend the South Hills meeting as a guest. Thus, I’ll be absent from the Laurel Highlands meeting. I have reached out to their officers about my plans. South Hills is one of two clubs in the District to achieve Smedley Distinguished (10 goals and 25 members). Maybe I’ll get some pointers on how to achieve their success. The other club to achieve highest honors is the Eloquent Speakers and Leaders Club (ESL).

I evaluated Ryan’s speech on ups and downs as he talked about his work in robotics and as President of Laurel Highlands Toastmasters. He began and ended with quotes that really stood out. “Life is like a Rollercoaster” at the beginning, and his famous coined phrase to close out the speech, “R. I. O. T.” The latter stands for “Relax, It’s Only Toastmasters”.

He was able to bounce back after sharing tragic news that derailed the high he was on during his holiday weekend at camp. I liked how he covered in the speech, using good vocal variety.

I have reached out to South Hills Toastmasters about visiting on the Tuesday that I’m on vacation. The club has 28 members and has met all ten goals. Also, the day before, I plan to visit Cranberry High Noon. They’re a few speeches and a couple of members away from Smedley Distinguished too.

A visit to the Johnstown club is in the plans for October.

This week, I found another gym to exercise at. It’s still a Planet Fitness but it was in North Huntingdon. I have a black card so I’m able to work out at other locations in the chain. 2026 has been my year so far as I’ve made more of an effort than I ever have to get to the gym. May has been busy but I’ve made the most of the time I’ve had available. I should have a lot more time in June. There might even be an opportunity for me to close my exercise ring for a whole week in one of the first two weeks.

The North Huntingdon location is different than Greensburg, and newer as well. Once a week, I‘ll make it a habit to visit another location, such as Latrobe or Mount Pleasant. This week I plan on an outdoor walk at Twin Lakes, Mammoth, or Legion-Keener/Downtown Latrobe.

This weekend was mostly wet with a few dry periods. Yesterday during our Memorial Day picnic, we did see a downpour. North of Pittsburgh there were Flash Flood Warnings. Despite the rain, it wasn’t a lost holiday but there were missed opportunities for me.

I’m hoping to make a coffee run at some point this week. But I think exercise wins out. There might be a Caleese stop on Friday morning and then my PB&J Latte Sunday or next Monday at Cutie‘s.

Most Toastmasters clubs at this time of the season are getting their new officers lined up for the July 1. That day marks the beginning of the new year and for our new District, it’ll be new beginnings.

Laurel Highlands will hold their elections Tuesday night at their meeting and Greensburg soon. Following the lead of the Imeses from a couple of years ago, I’m looking to hold down the same role in both Greensburg and Laurel Highlands. I’d be serving as Vice President Education.

The Pitt Season 2 is officially underway for me. Last night, I also checked out the podcast on HBO Max that reviews every episode. The hosts have experience with the show, with a medical doctor and pop culture writer deciphering every nook and cranny from that episode. I’ll be watching another episode Thursday night with the rewatch podcast on Sunday.

Thursday I’ll be celebrating Mr. Clougherty as it’s not only the last week of school. This week marks his final as a teacher as he announces his retirement. He taught 30 years at Hempfield and before that was at inner city schools both in Pittsburgh and Washington DC.

He’s not returning to the classroom but will continue to coach at the pool as he returns to coach swimming next year.

The weather was summer like on Monday night for Bible Study at Cutie’s. With it being warm and humid, it almost felt like we were having Bible Study on the beach. Picture it: all the folding chairs and towels in the sand, a nice sea breeze, and the waves. Plus some talented guitar players singing a song or worship or two.

Reminds me of Panama City Beach during my Spring Breaks at Slippery Rock.

We had no worship but that was fine as the message was a good one. Victoria led the study reading from 1 Corinthians 12 and 13. We learned about love.

I stepped up my game Monday night and got a Cutie Pebbles Latte. It was a fitting send off to the Spring menu. Saturday ushers in the new Summer menu. My presence won’t be felt at the market, and I’m not sure the weather bring a lot of people out. We’ll see though. I’m hoping to come out this weekend of early next week for a PB&J Latte.

If you wanted to imagine that you were on the beach Monday night, picture this. The Cutie’s parking lot can be a stretch of a white sand beach. The auto repair shop and woods can be the water, and the sound of the train can be a crashing wave.

The summer like weather on Monday night reminded me of time spent on the beach during Spring Break in the 2000’s. The destination was Panama City Beach. Even though it was a long time ago, that was a great experience

The Ocean Breeze Latte I got at Caleese on Sunday had me dreaming of past Cape May trips. I’m overdue to make it back to the Jersey Shore.