The Best, Worst, and Weirdest of Philly

Hey everyone!  Nice to see you again.  I know I've taken a little break.   Or maybe an extended vacation.  A sabbatical even.  But I'm back.

We've been in Philly now for just over a month and I thought it was time that I documented what I've learned.  Here goes!

Let's start here . . . 

The Weirdest Things About Philly:

1 - There are more dogs than children.  By a hundred kajillion.  No joke folks, lots of people have two ore three dogs and no one bats an eye, but I get weird looks walking around with my two kids.

So of course, when we walked to dinner with some friends, I had to document something that has probably never happened here before: 3 dads walking with 3 double strollers.  I'm surprised this pic hasn't been on the cover of one of the tabloids here in Philly.

2 - The outlets are all upside down.  Yeah, take a closer look.  I've even asked a bunch of other people living in different areas of the city.  All of them are upside down. 
 

3 - People ask me if I'm the nanny.  Everyone is shocked to find out I'm the mom.  I go to the park and hang out with all of the other nannies.  I know it's crazy, but where I'm from you assume the adult with the kids is the parent :)

  Maybe I need to look into this whole nanny thing . . .

And then there are these:

My Least Favorite Things About Philly

1 - Everything convenient is So.  Far.  Away.  Costco should never be more than 7 minutes from where you live.  The following image is extremely graphic, so shield your eyes if necessary.  This estimate is if there is no traffic whatsoever.

2 - There are about 300 freeways and highways and all sorts of other ways here.  Usually I have to switch on and off about 4-5 of them to get anywhere.  I miss Utah and I-15.  Singular.  One freeway.

3 - Discrimination against strollers.  Me and a friend walked to Anthropologie the other day.  Here is what we found:

Yep, stairs.  The nemesis of two moms with two strollers with two kids each.  Sad, sad day.

4 - You have to pay in order to get people to hang out with you.  Not really, but sort of.  You have to pay to park to go see them and that's pretty much the same thing.

And finally, TA-DA!!!


My Favorite Things About Philly

1 - Moss grows on the sidewalk.  That's how humid it is here.  To be clear - the humidity is not my favorite thing, just the moss on the sidewalk.  Isn't that cool?

2 - They use words like TAVERN.  Love it.  I feel like I'm living in the 1700s or something.  Not that I even go to taverns, but doesn't it just sound so much better than "bar"?  I mean, really!  Also, the street names are really cool.  Like Brandywine Street, and North York Drive.  You almost have to say them with a British accent.

3 - I'm friends with Ben.  Yep, Benjamin Franklin.  Or I would have been if I'd been born around 200 years earlier.  We're like this:

4 - I love the row houses!!!  They just have this wonderful big-city-yet-still-cozy feel.  Gorgeous, right?

5 - It's the City of Brotherly Love!  And for the most part, I'm feelin' the love.  We've made great friends, people are helpful, and I feel like Philadelphia has welcomed me with open arms.  I couldn't be happier.

I hope to be back before another year and a half goes by.  That's my goal at least!  Peace out - from the City of Brotherly Love!