Steelers seemed to play better overall today, but sadly, end result was still a FAIL. Not that 6-6 is a bad record, because it's not, it's just not what the team is truly capable of achieving, and we have blown several games to ourselves not being able to outplay the other teams. The opponents may have appeared to everyone else as the weaker team (esp. Kansas City and Oakland) but they had fleeting moments of sheer greatness that impressed everyone and allowed them to make magic happen, and win. I know it's "just football" and the Steelers did win the Super Bowl last year, so it makes them somewhat more of a target, but it's still a tough pill for me to swallow. Plus, I was working today and didn't get to see any of the game until it was sliced and diced on Sunday Night Football (where, for the record, Brett Brett & the Vikings lost to the Cardinals, and lost pretty badly, not as close as the score may imply to some, sadly).

Football rant/commentary suspended. On to other topics...

Christmas is coming, and coming SOON (18 days? WHAT?!)! This year has marked a lot of big events, and changes. There are always good moments mixed in with bad moments, but I am an extremely reflective person and like to see the big picture of life as a whole. Deep down, I know some traditions (or I guess I shouldn't say I know, it's more like I hope) will never die, and I am looking forward to the sights and sounds I typically come to love with the people who mean most to me! There are so many things I want to try to accomplish in the coming weeks but we will have to see what time I can dedicate to making these things happen. Gifts are almost done, and it's party planning that I'm really concentrating on now.

I think I'm temporarily tapped out of commentary for the time being, and that's only because being tired just hit me like a Mack truck. Sleep and to be continued later!

My cousin Jason burned me Lady GaGa's The Fame before Bill & I left Detroit and I listened to it anytime I drove anywhere, for about a week straight. I managed to snag the 2 disc version of Lady GaGa's The Fame Monster for Stacy on Black Friday and the past few days, we've been listening to it pretty heavily. I'd say I'm all GaGa'ed out, but that would be a lie. Her songs are out there, but so addictive. I hope she doesn't lose her edge, because even if it is just dance/pop music, she's become a class act very quickly. This reminds me, Bill wanted me to burn Lady GaGa for him too... need to take care of this tomorrow.

I have spent a lot of money the past few days, but I'd like to believe that 90% of the money that was spent, was on worthwhile items that will last me a long time. Not many people take Black Friday as hardcore as I do, but I just get wrapped up in the energy and the excitement of spending a solid half day shopping. I was better about being awake this year, than in years past, because my experiences of opening/having to be at work at 4:30 AM made getting myself out of bed easier. Stacy and I split our forces best we could, since our third Black Friday partner in crime (my cousin Alison) was in DC this year. I dropped Stacyfur off @ Target, then I headed to Best Buy. I went through there, then went to Target to meet up with her. Following Target was Wal Mart, then the mall, which was nuts by the time we got there, because it was filled with all the people who had been out at other places in Robinson and culminated their more aggressive shopping ventures. I'm pretty excited about the fact that most of my Christmas shopping is done too, so when people will be packing the stores searching for the perfect present, I can just do some mild browsing for fun. This year, I vowed to myself to be better about writing Christmas cards, so I am starting this tomorrow as well. This is what days off can inspire. Or... they can lead me to being mega lazy. But let's hope not!

Steelers lost tonight, in overtime, in a similar fashion to how we had lost last week to the Chiefs. I am quite sad when the Steelers lose. But we will get through this...

I finally finished it.

That is all.

~Jen~

P.S. Going to see HP & HBP in an hour or so! Gonna be so so awesome! :-)

Work has started to get kind of stressful/frustrating because Ashley had her baby (a boy, his name is Jonathan but they're going to call him Jack! from seeing the pics on facebook/cell phone, he's adorable!) at the end of June and now we are down a shift supervisor until early October. We were supposed to have another shift transferred to help us out for a few months, but his living situation changed and he was no longer going to be in the Pittsburgh area. Also, this situation would not be so bad if our manager did not only schedule herself to work all morning/mid shifts. She has closed @ B-ville a handful of times in the past 4-5 months, and she is also unavailable/never works Sunday. Personally, I'm not too peeved about it, but one of the other shifts has 2 young children, and her husband is kind of looking for a reason to force her into quitting, despite the income. Other shift lives about an hour from the store and it's frustrating for her to have a schizophrenic schedule due to gas prices/sleep time/etc. I'm trying not to get swept up in the mania but I fear it's going to be hard not to get sucked in to the conflict.

Aside from the crazy schedule, work/customers/other partners have not been bad, thankfully! Summer is just naturally crazier than all other seasons but hey, we live and learn.

I have a shit ton of events/people that I'm going to see over the next month/two months, and I'm hardcore excited about (except July 4th, because I have to close, and July 6th, because I want to see Plain White T's since I couldn't in November and I don't want to go alone but I don't know if any of my friends want & are able to come with!) These are the memories that I will cherish from summer, and they will help get me through the tougher/more frustrating times. So as the subject line states, behold, the powers of positive thinking...

<3 Jen, the Shifty Shift Starbucks Supervisory Girl

Jon said he thought he was gonna have to file a missing persons' report on me, because I haven't geeked out with him on WOW, for like a week. In that time, he went camping with Rizz and her awesome fam, and I've been working and rehearsing like a beast with Ethan. I talked to him for like 10-15 minutes while I was taking my break @ work and we caught up on life. Just not on World of Warcraft.

Watching this Pirates/Cubs game, instead of taking a nap or taking a shower before heading Downtown to see Spring Awakening with Rizz and Sarah. Unfortunately for me, one of our relief pitchers (Jesse Chavez) gave up a solo HR to someone on the Cubs, and now we're down 4-2 in the bottom of the 8th inning, after a few CRAZY plays to tie the game up at 2.

I feel like customers at 13355 (Banksville) are really starting to enjoy seeing me and getting to know me. Yay for building up a foundation of camaraderie and customer service awesomeness. I had quite a few of great conversations today, and even though it was really busy this morning (on a smaller, without drive thru scale store), I felt that we didn't have any major mishaps (aside from running out of plastic spoons. I had to serve oatmeal with a fork, and just hoped that people didn't check the bag before they left the store. LOL) I genuinely enjoy my job, and the work that I do, although I do wish it paid more and/or it could suffice to appease my parents.

Should really take my nap now. Also need to start LJing or journaling to myself, more often. I have had a lot on my mind that I feel needs unleashed, somewhere... what else is new?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! (I cleverly backdated this entry so it would still be posted on my birthday.)

Today was rather pleasant, even though I didn't actually do anything to celebrate/commemorate my birthday (that was yesterday, and will also be next Saturday)! Dad and I went out to Robinson, shopped a little bit, good times.

Only slightly shitty part of today was having to work close on my birthday, 3-10:30. I worked with a girl that I'm not crazy about, for a variety of reasons, but I didn't even let it faze me. We were pretty busy throughout the night, despite the fact that the Pens were playing, since the weather was nice. Miraculously we still managed to get out 15 minutes early, although I had to unlock the doors after I set the alarm to go turn off the patio fans. Then I reset the alarms and left. I'm a dork like that and didn't want to leave the fans running all night...

Stacy and I made a Wal-Mart run tonight after I came home from work, because she needed some last minute conference supplies, the most important being a glue gun. I convinced her to get me a new beach towel, a storage container, and some cute designed ribbon for scrapbooking as my birthday present. :-D

I need to start writing in a paper journal again when I am actually having thoughts that I want to remember. That's probably why my LJ sucks anymore, because when I actually go to write, I don't feel inspired with anything of value to say. We shall see if I can improve upon this.

Watching the replay of the Pirates/Nationals game on FSN, and then probs going to bed since I work @ 9:30... So flipping amused by the Pittburgh Pierogies (Oliver Onion, Cheese Chester, Jalepeno Hannah, and Sauerkraut Sal) racing against the US Presidents (yes, the Nationals' mascots are actually the Presidents on Mt. Rushmore (President Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt). HA. I bet people have put this on YouTube. I should look... lol

~Jen, the Whee, I'm 23 Girl~

Like I said in my Facebook status, yesterday was a Pittsburgh sports fan's dream come true:

1) Hines Ward gets signed to a 4 year, 22ish million dollar contract. After I saw them break the news on FSN, I had to immediately go online to see whether this was true. When I was convinced that it was, I told Bill that Hines Ward has to be the stitched jersey I'm gonna buy. Aside from being an amazing wide receiver, he can block like hell (breaking jaws and taking names, lol), and has a killer smile/ great attitude about football and life. I only hesitated about getting his jersey before, because I feared he would retire or be traded before I could wear the jersey and do it justice. But he wanted to retire a Steeler, and it looks like they're gonna make it happen. I'm pumped.

2) Pirates CRUSHED the Padres late last night, in San Diego! Zach Duke (caught yesterday that he does spell his name with an 'h') has put up some really impressive numbers in his first 4 starts, and we ended up winning 10-1. I'm a little worried about the injuries we seem to be coming down with early in the season, specifically Ryan Doumit's wrist injury (8-10 weeks), Nate McLouth's oblique injury (day to day, but could be diagnosed & put on DL for 6 weeks or more), and Jack Wilson's finger injury (seems to still be lingering from Opening Day, is still playing, but you just never know when you catch/throw a ball "the wrong way" and re-injure it). Seems that we are still having success, even with these injuries though, and that's just amazing, considering how many people, Pittsburghers and pros alike, have cast off the Pirates as destined losers.

3) Penguins came back from a 3-0 deficit vs. the Flyers to take the series! I missed the entire game, because I was at work, but it provided me a few hours of relaxed work environment, which was welcomed because yesterday was a hot one, and lots of people were in and out. I was kind of disappointed by their play in Game 5, but it seems like I would have been more convinced that the Pens deserved to move on, from the highlights I saw during/after the baseball game.

I just want to say that there was SNOW 3 weeks ago, and now, it's brighter than sunshine outside, and the temp's supposed to tie the record at 87 degrees. Is it April, or is it June? I'm not sure! LOL

Chelsea and I had a fantastic closing shift last night, and I'm hoping for a repeat tonight. This week is bound to be a better week for me than the last, because I had to waste half of last week feeling gross, and being sick. Blah...

PENS > Flyers, 3-1
PIRATES > Marlins, 3-2
1991 Honda Accord > State Inspection/Emissions Test
Jen > Fever/Stomach Issues (hopefully soon, anyway!)

Since my Pirates game was blacked out due to Game 4 (friends, you know how frustrated this makes me), I watched the Pens game tonight, and even I, a non-hockey person, has to acknowledge Marc Andre Fleury's absolute gem of a performance tonight. I can't say that the rest of the team impressed me as much, there seemed to be an awful lot of power play opportunities for the Flyers, and thankfully for the Pens, good penalty killing + Fleury's goaltending greatness saved this game...

I was nervous about the Marlins coming in to Pittsburgh, because I acknowledged that their win/loss record was 11-1, coming into this Sunday's game. However, yesterday's shutout performance by Ross Ohlendorf was spectacular, and then tonight, we edged past them again, thanks to Freddy Sanchez's solo HR in the 3rd inning. I don't really care how we win, but my faith in this year's team has not wavered yet. Here's to a potential series sweep tomorrow afternoon...

Dad took my car in for inspection this morning, and I was expecting to wake up and find out that my car failed. Amazingly, by some grace of the car gods, they passed me, and so I don't have to shell out my savings to search for a new/gently used car right away. My goal was to save enough money to buy said car outright, or at least pay for a good part of it, and having this extra year to put money away, would be super helpful...

Oh, the being sick. I haven't had this sort of illness for some time, and I hate throwing up. It is torture. I would much rather be dizzy, have laryngitis, ear infection, anything but a stomach bug that doesn't allow me to hold down food. I'm sorry for being gross, but it is certainly not a sickness anyone would want. I hope it goes away soon.

I think that's really all that's on my mind, for now anyway. Adios amigos.

What's new in my world? Not too much. Work @ Starbucks, and then I fill my free time contemplating how I can stop being such a disappointment to my parents and in the eyes of many people "older and wiser" than I. Unfortunately for these people, I really enjoy what I do, and while I'm not making six figures, I'm happy and far less stressed out about the future than I have been for quite some time, and I am able to spend time doing things and seeing people I enjoy being around. I continue to search for a happy balance of these views... I could go on but that tidbit seems to sum it all up.

Went to dinner with Courtenay, Mark, Rob, Kelly, and RJ this afternoon after my 8-4:30 shift! Made an excursion up to Cranberry to do it this time, because that's where the restaurant that RJ (Kelly's bf) is the assistant manager, and his parents are co-owners. The place is called Freedom Diner, and they have delicious food there! The decor and atmosphere is sweet too, because there are lots of colors and cool pieces of art. Rob and I split an appetizer platter, and then I had a Black Angus Cheeseburger with fries, and a piece of homemade Oreo Ice Cream cake that I'm gonna remember for a long time because it was that ridiculously good. Who needs anything else but friends and food? It's an awesome cure all.

Dad and I are going to the Pirates game Wednesday night! So the April showers need to hold off, or else I'll be mega mad about it. Home opener was today, and Zach (or is it Zack? too lazy to look it up at the moment) Duke pitched a shut out victory, 7-0! I didn't see the game when it was originally airing, because I was at work, but FSN typically does a replay of many games in the evening/late night. LOVE IT. Because then I can catch as many games, or parts of them, as possible, instead of just reading it in the newspaper or relying on sports tickers. Byaaaaaaah.

I have a lot of faith in the Pirates this spring/season. I think you should too. I think I'm gonna do something dealing with baseball game + my birthday. I know everyone's schedules are crazy, but this way, if you wanna go to the game, then you can. If you wanna hang out before and or after, you also can. There are options and avenues for all schedule types. Keep May 29 and 30 in the back of your head for this one...

And end, simply because I'm calling Bill and going to bed. Until next time...

My parents and I went to the cemetary yesterday morning, to place flowers at the gravesites of my paternal great grandfather (who I had never met), my Uncle Ed (who passed away from lung cancer before I was 3), and my paternal grandfather and grandmother (both of whom I was fairly close to). It is in the Chinese tradition to pay these respects annually before Easter, I think it has something to do with spring being a time of rebirth, and so you are to spend time with your loved ones who have passed and are looking over us... When my sister and I were younger, and before my MaMa had passed away in 2006, our entire family used to go together, and burn incense and essentially have a mini-feast at each site. It felt sad to go this year, since a lot of my aunts/uncles/cousins have different work schedules now that the Restaurant is gone. It also felt sad to be there without Stacy, but we may make a trip with her before she leaves for Spain, since she couldn't come this time...

I kicked off my first of three days off by staying up til 4 AM last night, by myself! It wasn't entirely intentional, but I guess the three shots of espresso I had in my drink during my break last night affected me more than it typically does, because I wouldn't have been able to sleep a lick. So I just stayed up online, talking with Jon about practically anything and everything that came to our minds. I did a little bit more of reading Twilight and checked my e-mail and Twitter about 10 times. Fun times.

Rob called me yesterday afternoon while I was out to lunch with my parents after our journey to the cemetary, wanting to see if I could meet him for lunch. I had to work at 2, so it didn't work out yesterday, but we ended up getting our schedules to link up and we had lunch @ Maharaja, a local Indian restaurant. I hadn't been there before, but I must say, their lunch buffet was pretty scrumptious. The aroma from the spices in Indian food can be a bit overbearing at first, but it was delicious. The mango lassi, the aloo gobi, the tandoori chicken, the bahsmati rice, the naan, and a bunch of other dishes I don't think I could even attempt to spell. It was also good to talk to Rob, it's kind of awesomely incredible how close of friends we became from just working @ Starbucks together. He's one of the only people I can talk to @ home about my insecurities without fear that he's judging me. We are both ramblers too, so if you can keep up with our conversations... lol

I need to go pack some things because I'm going up to Slippery Rock tomorrow morning/afternoon, and then heading to New Castle for some much needed SRU Crew reunion time, with about half of my bests. I wish everyone could get together again, but I also know that grad school and being in different states will keep that from happening any time soon. But here's to hoping...

Scrapbooking crop tonight with Nicole @ Scrapbooker's Dream too! I need this desperately, so I have a sporting chance of finishing this part of Bill's graduation present in time. That, and I love to scrapbook, but it's just not as much fun/exciting to do by myself.

Hope things are well with everyone. I know updates from everyone, besides Rizz, Jess, and Sarah Mo, are harder to come by anymore, but I still read them all and they are appreciated.

Imagine all the people, living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one...
I hope someday you join us, and the world will be as one...

The rain is falling from the sky incredibly quickly, and it does not appear that it plans on stopping anytime soon. I do find the sound of the rain to be peaceful, but it also makes everything so wet, and gloomy. Which leads to the irony that I was just listening to John Lennon's Imagine, a song that is filled with optimism and peace, and while the outlook outside seems so dark and destructive.

Going to post an update, but just not in this entry.

Friday, September 16th, 1994 5:33 PM
Dear Journal,
I'm watching Full House. I like Fridays because I get to sleep late. I'll see you tomorrow!
Y.B.F. (that stands for Your Best Friend, in case you didn't know!), Jennifer

Thursday, October 20, 1994 8:30 AM
Dear Journal,
Today is school picture day! We are getting it taken this morning. I'll see you soon!
Y.B.F., Jennifer

Saturday, October 22, 1994 6:07 PM
Dear Journal,
I got a new Baby-Sitters Club book! It is a Super Special. See ya soon!
Y.B.F., Jennifer

... flip flip flip ...

Monday, May 26, 1996 2:51 PM
Dear Journal,
I just got back from K-Mart. Stacy and I got Funoodles. They are a float and a toy combined. We both got yellow. We are on the way back to the restaurant. Tomorrow we are going back to school. I'm glad, but I'm not glad.

Thursday, May 30, 1996 3:40 PM
Dear Journal,
I just got home from school. Today at school, I had some fun. Gotta pick up Stacy soon. We're probably going to the library soon. See ya later! Party on!
Jen





This is an accurate reflection of how simple life used to be.

"Back to you, it always comes around, back to you
Tried to forget you, but it's too late...
Over you, I'm never over, over you
Something about you
It's just the way you move, the way you move me..."
Oh John Mayer, how you continue to entertain me via iTunes shuffle. It has been too long since I have last seen you live. Sad.

The work life: I do find working @ Starbucks is still spectacular, despite the day to day criticism I sense from my parents/random people who see me and think they know what's best for me. I was transferred out from my home store to work at another nearby store in mid-January, which was a bit of a shock at first, but I have adjusted and really taken a liking to my new store environment. I still miss the camaraderie and the regulars that I used to know, so I could have their drink half made before they even ordered it. :)

The new muffler/exhaust/resonator pipe on my car seems to be working just fine now, despite the awesome falling out we had after the Super Bowl on Sunday. I would type about what happened in more detail, but the frustration of the entire situation is too fresh and still too frustrating to give much thought on it.

I thought I had more to say, but I guess the words are not coming to mind. I'll try again later...

~Jen, the This Isn't As Easy As It Used To Be For Me Girl~

It's kind of something I've had in the back of my mind lately, in light of the recession of the economy and the holiday season, etc. I feel reaffirmed that my life decisions the past few months have been right for me, for where I want to be, right now.

I hope that my BFFs get everything they deserve this year, because they have shown me that they are absolutely fantastic. Even though we're not living side by side in Bard Hall anymore (oh, the good old days) or spending time hanging out in the band room, those who are meant to be a part of your life will never fade away.

~ I don't know how many of you guys watch TLC often, but I have begun to become addicted to Jon & Kate + 8, 17 Kids and Counting, and of course, What Not to Wear. I am psyched because they have this great song in their Monday night line up, and I just downloaded it from iTunes. The name of the song is "Beautiful Life" by Fisher. The song is easy to listen to, and rather catchy in a contemporary kind of way.

~ Tis the season: Sears is doing this holiday commercial campaign with a bunch of different celebs (Ty Pennington, Vanessa Hudgens, LL Cool J, to name a few). I recognized the voice as John Ondrasik (may have spelled that wrong) from Five for Fighting, because it's pretty distinct, but again, was too lazy to find the song, until tonight.

Hence why victory is mine.

If anyone else has song recommendations of things you can't stop listening to, I'm game for suggestions. Not like I'm ever at a loss of having music, but I like to stretch my horizons whenever possible. Odds are, if my friends like it, I will too. :-D

~Jen, the Music Music Music Girl~

President John F. Kennedy was in Dallas, TX. Riding in a motorcade, waving at the American public alongside his wife, Jacqueline, when an "unknown assassin" began shooting at the car and he ends up dying from these wounds.

I felt the need to acknowledge the event because I have always had this in-depth fascination about American Presidents. I have also covered this topic in several classes, learning about Lee Harvey Oswald, the grassy knoll, the infamous book depository, Arlen Specter's Magic Bullet Theory, other theories on the Who/When/Why...

Food for thought today.

Plain White Ts are playing a show @ the Diesel Club Lounge in the South Side, if anyone is interested or cares to come with me. I have really started getting into them because their music is constantly on GREEK, and Stacy had started getting their CDs a year or so ago?

The tix aren't too expensive, I think they're like $18, and the concert is Tues. Nov. 25th. Just throwing it out there cuz I'm kind of into it but don't want to go alone (that would feel kind of silly).

Past few days had been pretty sweet, hung out with Bill Friday and Saturday nights to celebrate his birthday early. In the absence of a Steelers game Sunday, Jess and I headed up to SRU to visit Stacy since she was swamped with work and couldn't come home. I was off on Monday so I went to Applebee's with some of my fave barista buddies (Court and her husband Mark, Kelly G, and Josh) and later that afternoon Heather and I ran around Bridgville (mmm, Sonic! A new addition to my stomping ground!) and Robinson (she was on a search for the new Sidney Crosby DVD, and during our travel, we met one of the only people in Pittsburgh who had no clue who Sid the Kid is. Ridiculous.)

Last presidential debate has started... gonna head downstairs, watch part of it, and then probably head to bed so I can wake up tomorrow and go to SBUX #794 at 5 AM. Looking forward to Homecoming Weekend a little more than I planned to, because I will be reuniting with some of the SRU Crew, to go to a corn maze, and other exciting things, I'm sure!

~Jen, the It's a Big Bad World But I Try To Make the Most of It Girl~

I suggested to Bill that we should watch the Penguins game, and then tear into the chocolate cake that his mom made for his birthday (which is this upcoming Wednesday). I regret this decision now, for one of a few reasons: 1) I'm not too crazy about hockey, so me suggesting this is just goofy. 2) Bill was listening to the Detroit Red Wings game on his computer and I wasn't really able to focus on watching the TV and hearing something different from his computer speakers. 3) I am more interested in checking my facebook and reading my friends' posts than watch the game. and last but not least 4) I was full after dinner but now I'm kind of in the mood for cake. Sad. But it will be time soon...

As far as other things are concerned, life is good. I'm leaning toward not using my music education degree more these days, just because I am growing accustomed to the life I am living through working at Starbucks and being able to spend time with my family and friends. It might seem stupid to a lot of other people, but I recognize the value of sitting back and not getting super stressed out anymore. I spent a lot of time in high school and college pushing myself to the limit and making sacrifices that I regret now, and there is plenty of time later to "make more money" etc. I am saving my paychecks now toward a car possibly, and toward an apartment that I hope to move into within the next year. Really just interested in taking things one day at a time right now, and believe me, I am much happier with this philosophy.

I'm really getting psyched about next Friday-Saturday @ Slippery Rock. I wasn't really planning on going up for Homecoming Weekend, but Rizz and Megan are planning some awesome things for this get together, like going to the Corn Maze we went to last year, and camping out by the ski lodge. Pimp. Can't wait.

Pens game over. NJ just won in overtime, 2-1.
LJ post over.

~Jen, the Hmm, I Just Really Feel Football/Baseball are My Sports Girl~

It absolutely amazes me how much richer and fulfilled my overall self seems to feel when I'm with my friends or away from home. Not that I don't love my job, or being at home (even if I'm annoyed with my parents, I don't know where I'd be without them), but man, it is unreal how great I feel now after several key "mini vacations".

DC with Kellyn, Dominican Republic with Alison: This is the trip that certainly does not qualify as a mini-vacation, but more of a full on one. Even though Kell had work the next Saturday, it was nice just being able to walk around a new part of the city that I hadn't seen before and the LOVE Cafe we stopped into was cool. I hope to be able to let myself spend the time and money to come visit again soon Kell, but in the meantime, hopefully you are figuring out if/when you can make it back up to Pittsburgh?

Sing Sing @ the Waterfront with Rick, Sara, Rizz, Jon, Ashlei, Erik, and Bill: The only thing that could have made it any better was having the rest of our bests there. Rizz got all of us a reservation (even though they totally screwed up her name and put "Melissa" on the tables) and we were as close as we could be without being on the stage, up front and center. Honestly I didn't know what to expect out of Sing Sing, because I had heard from lots of people about how it's fun and cool, but I was wondering how that description matches up with a dueling piano bar. Sounds like it should be the antithesis of cool, but no, seriously, it was an awesome experience. We'll definitely have to do it again sometime...

New Castle/Butler/Slippery Rock: Not exactly the most exciting of places to most people, but to me, it definitely still feels like home. Well, actually, at least it does when 99% of campus is home for Fall Break. It was great RPGing with Bill, Jon, Rick, and Tommy, and going shopping @ the flea market and Clearview, and just all around hanging out.

Life is good.
~Jen, the Let the Good Times Roll Girl~

So hi there, LJ friends. TGIF, and hope you are all having a fantastic day, although the weather certainly doesn't reflect that at all.

Fall is coming just around the bend, and being at work reminds me of this fact because we are selling through Pumpkin Spice and Caramel Apple Spice drinks like whoa. It never ceases to amaze me that it seems like holidays are starting earlier and earlier every season, but it seems to make for good casual conversation. I mean, our fall drinks aren't directly linked to Halloween, but I definitely saw some retail stores with displays decked out in Halloween decor before August came to an end. How silly. Don't get me wrong, I love Halloween, but it just didn't feel right when it was still 80 something degrees out...

Steelers fans, get pumped for Sunday night's showdown vs. the Cleveland Browns. It should certainly be a good game, although I hope it won't be a close one, because my boys in the black and gold should have no problem taking down the Browns after last week's start vs. the Texans (and the Browns losing to the Cowboys by a double digit margin). I am pretty psyched because I will be heading to Courtenay and Mark's house for the first time, to watch the game with them and some of my other SBUX buddies (Rob, Kelly G and RJ). Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go!

Title of the LJ refers to the fact that I am finally going to get to see Bill today or tomorrow. It feels like such a long time, even though in real time, it's only been 2-3 weeks. I did get to see Kellyn and her new apartment in DC, which was really cool. And I went on vacation with my Uncle Bill, Aunt Colleen, and Alison to the Dominican Republic. That trip was incredible, despite the fact that it rained a lot for about half of our trip (thanks to Hurricane/Tropical Storm Hanna and Ike). Somehow I didn't communicate this vacation very well with people because a lot of my friends/co-workers were like, "you were here, and then you were gone?! Where did you go?" etc. So if you were in that lost/confused/temporarily out of the loop group, I'm sorry. It was awesome to get away for those 8-9 days, to another city/country where I didn't have to deal with criticism and pressure and life (ex. I didn't use my cell phone because of roaming charges. It was a nice break from having to talk to people, haha.) Although seriously, I miss a lot of my other friends/family terribly, and I hope in time I will get to catch up with them. :)

I thought I had more to say at the moment, but I guess I don't... but then again, I guess I've already said more now than I have for probably a month. Catch y'all later!

~Jen, the Whoo-di-Whoo It's Friday Girl~