It has begun!  The US Open has come to town.  My header pic is the 9th hole of Oakmont Country CLub, the site of this years US Open, and I live less than 1 mile from the site, but if I try to drive anywhere ... ANYWHERE, I will sit for great lengths of time in my car going no place.  There simply is not enough room to contain the influx of humanity (and vehicles) that come along with such an event!  MERCY!!!

The building and fussing began in March with traffic steadily climbing both in numbers and in stupidity.  The town is an older quaint little one set along the Allegheny River about 20 minutes northeast of the city of Pittsburgh.  The tree-lined streets are mostly brick and narrow, with cars always parked on both sides.  The thing is ... we have 3 rivers and hundreds of bridges, but there are THOUSANDS of people, press, cars, busses, trucks and GAWKERS, all hoping for a glimpse of Tiger n Company.  Then there's those of us who live here ... work here ... and now, sit in traffic here (with the cost of fuel still at $3.00 gal). 

Golf has never been one of those "games" - "sports" that I cared much for ... I tried!  I even took it in school ... the first time around.  I like minature golf, but I don't get the fascination ... purses with plenty of zeros ... and the hype!  It certainly is a "rich" sport.  That is obvious by the lovely vehicles jamming the streets. 

Economically, it will be great for Oakmont, but I technically live in Plum, a neighbor, and Plum will gain virtually nothing but headaches from the event since what little business district Plum has is no where near the Open. 

So ... I propose that the next time OCC wants to bring the Open to town, it should be a referendum for us to vote upon!  I say ... Bah humbug!  (which is why phsbum and I are headed for Charleston, SC on Thursday morning!)