The William Rusk Blog

1993 blizzard

2012-03-13T23:59:00.001-04:00

Remember the blizzard of 1993.

I posted my pictures like this one

at
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150665782313774.417998.569523773&type=3&l=88a59be5e0.

There were also a couple features today on the AccuWeather web site including an interview video at
http://www.accuweather.com/en/outdoor-articles/outdoor-living/photo-album-personal-accounts-1/62708 .

Twitter 1 Blogging "0" ? More tweets

2012-02-06T15:39:00.002-05:00

Yes I (still) realize that I need to "kick it" with the blogging, but I have been good (still?) at posting items 140 characters or less on Twitter.

However I need to do more than what is celebrated on a certain day, where I am using Foursquare, what I'm watching using GetGlue, and what's unusual in the news.

There's just not a lot of topics I am interested in so that's my top reason to I'm just not "kicking it" with the blogging.

Here are more recent tweets, with some comments in brackets ([]):

Can polar bears really drink Coke? (2/5)[watching ad on Super Bowl]

Apparently the new #1 rule in Icers Section E is DON'T LEAVE THE GAME EARLY (2/5)

Chicken, Mac&Cheese, Pepperjack Cheese, Ice Cream, Coke - too much for dinner? (2/5) [I still have to finish the pepperjack cheese]

It's National Carrot Cake Day. I'll pass. (2/3)

It's National Baked Alaska Day. That's all. (2/1)

Updated Firefox to version 10 but sticking with Google Chrome as my default browser (1/31) [Chrome's way faster on my old home PC]

On this day in 1847 Yerba Buena, California was renamed San Francisco. (1/31)

It's Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day and National Croissant Day so.... protect your croissants? (1/30)

It's National Peanut Brittle Day but um I'm just not a fan of it. (1/26)

"Klout believes you are influential about Detroit." Really? http://klout.com/plusk/willdrusk/57871192?n=tw&v=plusK_ask (1/26) [Did I tweet Detroit too?]

THIS IS TWITTER! Unless your in Sparta like in NJ, VA, NC, GA, etc. then THIS IS SPARTA right? (1/23)

Please +K my influence in Duct Tape on @klout http://klout.com/plusk/willdrusk/51298866?n=tw&v=plusK_ask really duct tape [I mentioned it once? twice?]

Woo it's 14 degrees now (State College PA)! (1/20) [was COLDER]

@americanpickers #YouKnowYoureaPickerWhen when your finest stuff is OLDER than you. [1/18]

#FactsWithoutWikipedia Google, Bing, books, newspapers, magazines, cereal boxes, graffiti, signal flags, smoke signals, etc. (1/18) [Wikipedia outage protesting SOPA]

#TheBestThingInLifeIs Life (1/18)
and
#WhenLifeGivesYouLemons you have lemons (1/18)
Thank you Captain Obvious]

Blame it on the rain, oh wait that's still a Milli Vanilli song. (1/17)

Old Man Winter, Mother Nature, Jack Frost, and even Baby New Year fighting over the weather lately. NOT. Jan 17th, 32 degrees now, RAIN. (1/17)

It might be Friday the 13th but it's National Rubber Ducky Day (1/13)

It's also National Pizza Week & Cuckoo Dancing Week. At the same time? (1/12)

I did good on my New Year's resolutions - I didn't have any. What? Huh? Whatever. (1/12)

Saturday is International Programmers' Day! Might have to go out for that, eh? (1/5) [I don't think I did anything though]

It's National Bird Day and National Whipped Cream Day. Not related. [1/5]

Cold? [1/4]

And tweeting when I last watched Airplane (1/21):
Windy is the horse in Airplane
"Gate eight gate nine gate ten. ... gate 25"
"There's a sale at Penney's!"
"Fog is getting thicker. And Leon is getting larger."

Also at the Icers game on 1/21:
Yell over the glass - STAND UP
I'm The Section E "Godfather" but where's my painting? (Old School reference)
broke my "horse" again at @PSUMensHockey game (section e)

December Tweets

2011-12-28T15:20:00.005-05:00

Again here are more tweets rounding from this month. As previously stated I tend to "mini blog" in 140 characters and less using Twitter. At some point again (after the holidays maybe, again) I need to start blogging (again?) on some kind of semi-annual basis. Weekly? Monthly? Likely not daily. Tweets are listed from newest first and include the date (mm/dd) of the tweets.

It's National Chocolate Candy Day but I did that Sunday (Xmas) and Monday. (12/28 Tuesday)

It's also National Date Nut Bread Day so if you are what you eat, then eat some of that. (12/22)

Figured out how I can stand the coffee from the coffee pot. Add creamer, sugar, and Splenda. (12/22)

Joe Paterno. Eighty-five. Today. Now that's a birthday. (12/21)

It's National Hard Candy Day so assuming that doesn't include pudding. (12/19)

Colors of the rainbow are ROY G BIV (Red, Orange, etc.). If you see one with something like RIG B VOY, run? (12/16)

Believe my New Year's resolution is not to have any New Year's resolutions, but how would that work? (12/16)

Coffee making tip - don't confuse the teaspoon with the tablespoon when making coffee. The measuring cup is obvious.
(con't} that's a measuring cup (1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, etc.) not a WHOLE cup of coffee.
(12/16)

Maybe it's just me but when I see "GMail" I wonder if there's a guy named G. Mail. Mail as a last name? It could happen. (12/16)

I also hear that September 25th is William Rusk Day, oh wait that's just my birthday again. (12/14)

Also Friday is Chocolate Covered Anything Day, but um..... no comment. (12/14)

These are words. Ha ha made you look. Whatever. (12/14)

It's only Wednesday here but it's Thursday in Sydney Australia. Lucky folks down under, they're closer to the weekend! (12/14)

It's "Bell-font" not "Bell-e-font-e". http://bit.ly/vb5kkk @GetGlue @todayshow (12/13)

hey weekend hurry up get here ok? (12/9)

Yes we had snow on the ground this morning but what I thought when I saw it was sugar covered donuts. (12/8)

And by the way Britney Spears is THIRTY today. (12/2)

Ten years ago today... Enron. Chapter 11. The rest is history. (12/2)

More November Tweets

2011-11-30T13:13:00.001-05:00

Here are more tweets rounding out the rest of this month. As previously stated I tend to "mini blog" in 140 characters and less using Twitter. At some point (after the holidays maybe) I need to start blogging (again?) on some kind of semi-annual basis. Weekly? Monthly? Likely not daily. Tweets are listed from newest first and include the date (mm/dd) of the tweets.

"A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory." - LTCG (11/30)

I hashtaged myself #willdrusk (11/30)

If Chef Boyardee and Betty Crocker had a kid what would it be like? Or is Duncan Hines the father? Just kidding. (11/29)

Jon Stewart's (@TheDailyShow) 49 and relates to those 1/2 his age. Bill O'Reilly is 62 and relates to those who lost the remote. (11/29)

Apparently I have the short attention span of wait what we were talking about i like cheeses whatever happened to booger hey it's a long day (11/28)

Have to believe the most important historical event on this day, at least in the US, was the JFK assassination in 1963. (11/22)

Another great birthday day? Stan Musial, Dr. John, Harold Ramis, and Goldie Hawn have birthdays today. (11/21)

My usual response to "How you doing?" is "I'm awake and I'm here", which makes it unusual right? (11/19)

I don't know if Big Daddy Kane was wise because I don't personally know if pimpin isn't easy. Or was that is easy? I forgot. (11/19)
(con't) safe to assume Big Daddy Kane and Kane, PA NOT related and he's not from there? (11/19)

Have lots of quarters but I'm not the Tooth Fairy. (11/19)

A passing shower is a shower going by, not a shower trying to pass you in the left lane. No wait maybe that could happen. (11/18)

It's Homemade Bread Day & the Great American Smokeout. Instead of getting a cigarette, maybe grab a stick of French bread instead. (11/17)

On this day in 1973 was the "I am not a crook" quote. (11/17)

Another great birthday day? Marg Helgenberger, Terry Labonte, Burgess Meredith, WC Handy, and Erica Walsh were born on this day. (11/16)

Patrick Warburton is 47 today. If you don't know him have you seen Family Guy, Rules of Engagement, Venture Bros, Seinfeld, The Tick, etc. (11/14)

The Old Gatesburg Road extension is open. Seeing traffic on the road and some joggers went by (@SCNewsDesk) (11/11) [Surprised how many people don't know how to get thru a traffic circle - saw quite a few people going round and round and ......]

To all of our veterans TODAY is YOUR day. Happy Veterans Day (11/11)

11 11 11 11:11:11 (as stated on 11/11)

Mini-blogging? More recent tweets.

2011-11-08T18:58:00.000-05:00

I realized that I blog very infrequently but I "mini-blog" quite a lot on Twitter. Basically a lot of items I can note in 140 characters or less. Here are more tweets from the last 30 days.

Apparently I won the "horse race" at the Icers game (@HockeyValley)(6 Nov) - made it the other corner of the rink, possibly a first

Hey weekend, GET HERE. (4 Nov)

Maybe it's just me but can use "mild in the afternoon" for a weather forecast and for a talk radio show name. (4 Nov)

It's National Men Make Dinner Day but what's the point. I do that EVERY DAY. (3 Nov)

It's All Saints' Day to honor saints in Christian history, and not related to the NFL team. (1 Nov)

Watch it in the vegetable garden - potatoes have eyes, corn has ears, and beans talk. (1 Nov) - credit my sister Amy with some of that (from a joke)

Happy National Caramel Apple Day. Not kidding. (31 Oct)

Oh by the way Happy Buy Your Own Candy Day, otherwise known as Halloween. (31 Oct)

I'm dressed as @WillDRusk for Halloween today. (31 Oct)

Catch the Crack typo in the Williamsport Sun-Gazette? (29 Oct) - It's Cracker Barrel not Crack Barrel

Yeah like if you didn't know Monday is Halloween. #thankyoucaptainobvious #buyyourowncandy (28 Oct)

Snow tomorrow? CRAP (28 Oct)

"Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the same air." - JFK "Fart more." - WDR (27 Oct)

I see that Saturday is National Cat Day but cats won't care about that. (27 Oct)

Going out tonight for American Beer Day? (27 Oct)

"Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." CRAP. (27 Oct)

In the forecast when it's "becoming clear" the weather is clearing out, not that the weather has an epiphany. Captain Obvious again. (26 Oct)

If there's no one in Port Matilda named Matilda, you can say Port Matilda: Where's there no port & no Matilda. Oh crap, anyone named Port? (21 Oct)

If what you post on Twitter is tweets, why is Twitter not called Tweeter? (20 Oct)

When you see "light rain" that means there is less rain, not that regular rain is heavier. Thank you Captain Obvious. (20 Oct)

On this day in 1720 Calico Jack was captured by the Royal Navy, and there's another fact stuck in your brain. (20 Oct)

ha ha made you look (20 Oct)

It's National Seafood Bisque Day. Don't care. (19 Oct)

Yes it is National Chocolate-Covered Insects Day (14 Oct)

On this day in 1644 William Penn was born, and he put the Penn in Pennsylvania. (14 Oct)

If like is like a box of chocolates, dude I hate to tell you it's not all chocolate. (13 Oct) - caught like instead of life

On this day in 1792 the cornerstone was put in at the White House, and apparently lost since then. (13 Oct)

Happy Birthday Harry Smith. No not that one. (10 Oct)

On this day in 1971 the London Bridge opened in Arizona. Not a typo. (10 Oct)

@LexiMarton normal is so overrated (8 Oct) - in response to a "My team is weird. Get like us" tweet

I'm not down for scheduled maintenance either. (7 Oct)
- and -
I'm still open for Columbus Day. Wait that just sounds weird. (7 Oct)

Free big Snickers bars are good until you're on the fourth one. (7 Oct) - yes I had four. LARGE ones.

September tweets

2011-09-30T16:22:00.000-04:00

If you're wondering where the "real" stuff is I post sometimes, I usually save it for Twitter. Some of the stuff ends up on Facebook but not all of them. Not much on Google+ either.

Here are some tweets from me (@willdrusk or http://twitter.com/willdrusk) on Twitter this month:

It's Terry Bradshaw's birthday and I'm assuming he knows that. [September 2nd]

@bonesdiggitty because you can get donuts to go? [in response to a tweet about seeing a lot of cops]

If the roads flood here later this week, you can't fish for trout in them. Not approved stream for extended trout season. [September 6th]

Blame it on the rain? Oh wait that's still a Milli Vanilli song. [September 7th]

Only one week into September, and we'll have more precipitation than we usually do (on average) for the whole month. [September 7th]

Kiribati, Nauru and Tonga joined the United Nations on this day in 1999. Are toy trucks in Tonga called Tonga Trucks? [September 14th]

Great reply on web page "I have an even more expensive alarm clock. It's called a baby and it doesn't even have a weather app."

On this day in 1981 Vanuatu becomes a member of the UN, and in that country they drive on the right side of the road. [September 15th]

Hey weekend could you hurry up and get here? [September 16th]

Found out that Mark Hamill and I have the same birthday, but I am a Star Trek fan.

It's National Punch Day. That's all. [September 20th]

It's International Day of Peace today. Booked the rest of today so no time for anarchy. [September 21st]

If any UARS satellite pieces fall nearby, can you make a cup out of them? [September 23rd]

The first public release of Firefox was on this day in 2002, and still below version 10 now. [September 23rd]

if you are what you eat maybe I should lay off of the party mix.

If you flush a toilet on the moon..... clockwise? counter-clockwise? something else?

In Britain? Want to race your lawn mower? http://www.blmra.co.uk/

It's Mike Post's birthday and you've likely seen his name scroll by on TV at some point. [September 29th]

What I would put in a fortune cookie "Ha ha made you look!"

I am assuming that 52 inch portable Android tablets just won't happen.

I'm also assuming 48-ply toilet paper won't happen either.

Still seeing people IN Circleville Road

2011-05-04T12:23:00.005-04:00

When driving or walking to work, part of the route is on Circleville Road. Most of the road between Farmstead Lane and Park Hills Avenue West has no sidewalk.

There's also a great hike/bike trail near this section of the road. The trail can be seen at the Circleville Road and Park Hills Avenue West intersection. The trail is also visible farther down near the Circleville Road and Science Park Road/Valley Vista Drive intersection. The trail crosses Farmstead Lane south of the intersection of Farmstead Lane. The trail is also visible on Google Maps site and most local maps.

Anyone coming north to the Circleville Road and Farmstead Lane intersection may pass the trail as well. The trail is also nearby or visible to most of the buildings just south of this intersection as well.

The problem is some folks insist on taking the road instead of the trail. The section of the road is not a bike route (there is a BIKE ROUTE END sign at one end), there's no berm, and traffic has to cross the center line to avoid people hiking in the road. Have had two people in the last
three days hiking in the westbound lane. One person (today) appeared to be ticked off about having to deal with traffic (hey YOU'RE IN THE ROAD) and the one a few days ago (Monday) was picking up dog doo doo in the middle of the lane (yes had the dog too). Have seen others
cutting thru peoples lawns or thru the field right by this section of the road (tresspassing?), and some traffic will still stray over the center line to avoid them as well. Since there's no berm and the adjacent land is slightly higher than the road, it's possible for someone to fall in the road.

Have seen people hiking down Circleville Road eastbound, they come to the Farmstead Lane intersection, and keep right going. Seen others turning from Farmstead Lane onto Circleville Road, and still go thru this gap. Also have seen people walking down this section of the road, and then take the trail at the Park Hills Avenue West Avenue intersection. There are also some people I regularly seen on the bike trail, but then see them again in the road which does not make sense either.

I just don't understand why people still insist walking down this section of the road when a good trail is available nearby, especially when they know it's there. There's good reasons to take the trail here - no sidewalk, no room as it's not a bike route, no berm, and walking right by or
in the road is a safety concern.

When hiking to/from work, I stay clear of this section of Circleville Road. I just take the available sidewalks around the area, or I just stick to the trail.

Additional "paper"

2011-03-29T16:02:00.001-04:00

Also doing another "paper" thru paper.li at http://paper.li/willdrusk/oddnews for odd news.

"The William Rusk Daily"

2011-03-15T14:33:00.003-04:00

The William Rusk Daily is up and running at http://paper.li/willdrusk, based on my Twitter posts and people I follow on Twitter as well. The paper.li is a free service by SmallRivers that shows information from links in Twitter or Facebook posts.

Will have to recheck people I follow on Twitter, and start adding links to my Twitter posts as well.

Lunches For The Week

2011-01-09T17:04:00.002-05:00

I usually just take pre-packaged pasta to work for lunch but this week I am taking something homemade. This is what I make for lunches for the week.

Lunches For The Week

Ingredients:
One green pepper
One small onion
One bottle or can traditional or meatless spaghetti sauce (around 25 oz)
One can diced tomatoes (around 14-15 oz)
One cup BBQ sauce
One box (13-14 oz) elbow macaroni
One 12oz package Morning Star Meal Starters
Mrs. Dash Table Blend Seasoning
Hot Sauce
Olive Oil
Shredded cheese

Steps:
Cook macaroni, drain, and place back in the pot.
Chop pepper and onion.
Put some olive oil in a frying pan.
Add the pepper and onion, toss on a little Mrs Dash.
Fry the onion and pepper until it's less chewy or the onion is lightly browned.
Add onion and pepper to the pot.
Put some olive oil in a frying pan, add Meal Starters, and toss on some hot sauce.
Stir Meals Starters and hot sauce, heat it through, and add it to the pot.
Add spaghetti sauce, tomatoes, and BBQ sauce to the pot and stir.
Split it up to 5-6 containers.
Top each serving in the containers with shredded cheese.
Close containers and keep in the refrigerator, and there's lunches for the week.

Makes 5-6 servings.

Comments on "Instant Personalzation" again on Facebook

2011-01-04T22:56:00.002-05:00

This is a copy of my note on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=492090594188

On the "Instant Personalization" post that is going around again.

Instant Personalization is not new. It's been around since at least late 2009.

On some of the posts the steps are out of date. Facebook has made changes since these steps.

Sites that use "Instant Personalization" may use your Facebook information if you are logged in to Facebook. If you are not logged in to Facebook and visit one of these"Instant Personalization" sites, it still may do the "Connect/Login to Facebook" button like other sites.

These "IP" sites I have tried still work with a Facebook application and will ask you for permissions (like any other Facebook application), and you can change the application settings. Applications will ask "Access my friends information" for friends information, and shows what friends information it wants to use.

If you don't want to share your friends information, there's more besides turning off "Instant Personalization".
(1) Check your application settings: Turn off "Access my friends information" or remove the application.
(2) Make sure to log out of Facebook when you are done using it. Click the Logout link, under Account at the top right.
(3) Be careful about what information you are sharing with sites when using "Connect/Login to Facebook".

On a side note any privacy settings set as "Everyone" can be viewed by everyone. Might be stating the obvious to some, but check your settings for anything else you may want to make private.

If you still don't want to do "Instant Personalization" and not share your information without using a "Connect/Login to Facebook" button, turn it off. I am not discouraging anyone from turning it off.

However, I am not encouraging making any changes just because someone sends a post to turn something off. Most of these posts that are just forwarded again and again, usually have wrong information, and leave out important details other than turn it off. Please check any posts out before resending them. If you're not sure, best advice is not to resend the posts.

Another picture

2010-11-18T16:04:00.003-05:00

Yes again another submitted picture on the local paper web site. Photo is
http://media.centredaily.com/smedia/2010/11/17/16/RuskWilliam.standalone.prod_affiliate.42.JPG
and is on the CDT web site, in the November 2010 photos, at
http://www.centredaily.com/2010/11/17/2347863/reader-submitted-november-2010.html

Found.....

2010-11-07T20:02:00.001-05:00

Caught this photo from last month at women's soccer with me, Don, and Ike the Spike.

Another picture

2010-09-13T09:46:00.003-04:00

Yes I have another picture in the local paper photos of the month. It is in the September 2010 photos and the directly link to the picture is http://media.centredaily.com/smedia/2010/09/10/18/RuskWilliam.standalone.prod_affiliate.42.JPG.

First YouTube upload

2010-07-07T21:00:00.002-04:00

Finally uploaded my first video on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaakNHMKG9s for the fireworks Sunday night in Marienville.

Another photo!

2010-05-21T17:50:00.004-04:00

Another photo on the local paper website, this time from softball in their May gallery.

Photo gallery http://www.centredaily.com/2010/05/07/1963760/reader-gallery-may-2010.html and my photo is at http://media.centredaily.com/smedia/2010/05/19/16/WilliamRusk.standalone.prod_affiliate.42.JPG.

A "published" photographer

2010-04-27T16:01:00.003-04:00

Pleased to see that my photo from last Friday's PSU womens soccer game made it on our local paper (Centre Daily Times) web site.

The photo is part of the reader gallery of the month at
http://www.centredaily.com/2010/04/06/1896593/reader-gallery-april-2010.html.

A direct link to the photo is at
http://media.centredaily.com/smedia/2010/04/27/11/WilliamRusk.standalone.prod_affiliate.42.JPG.

For me it's a great photo considering I have just a basic Kodak digital camera. It was also a spring exhibition game so was right by the playing field, and not up in the stands like we usually are at Jeffery Field. Also the action was occuring right in front me as well, and had not originally noticed the ball was also coming in my general direction.

ACHA Nationals and Chicago.... Trip Summary

2010-03-10T23:23:00.004-05:00

Day 1

We left State College around 11pm Friday night and made it to the hotel on mid morning on Saturday. All night driving thru the rest of PA, all of Ohio, all of Indiana, and up to the Chicago area in Illinois. Did some driving on the toll roads in the western end of Ohio, and thru half of Indiana.

Believe this was the first time in the Central Time zone, which we crossed into in northwest Indiana. First time driving on toll roads too.

Saw a Cole bus in the parking lot at the hotel, and then found out that totally by chance we picked the same hotel the team was in. Was kind of weird running into them there.

Choice Hotels - the unofficial (or official not sure) hotel of Section E "lifers".

Took the pull out bed, just like Nationals last year.

Seafood restaurant next door was "McCormick and Schmick's". Schmick's? Where's Hardcastle - anyone remember that show? Not.

Made the RMU (Robert Morris University - "Bobby Mo") rink in the afternoon, picked up the tickets, and caught the SUNY Canton vs. Icers game. A little back and forth in the beginning but the Icers expanded the lead and won the game 7-3.

Ended up at the Woodfield Mall after the game. The mall was described as being one of the largest in the area. Lots of stores but on three different levels. Definitely needed to use the free map to find out where to go. Went to Samuri Sams for dinner and had cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory restaurant. It’s a restaurant, not an actual factory.

Day 2

Did the free breakfast at the hotel.

Darted across the highway Sunday morning with AT and went to the Dominick's grocery store and their Target store. AT picked up the Dominick's store card (under Safeway stores). Kathy the cashier was a 30-year employee there, and they sell alcohol in the store.

Lunch was at the Subway down the street. Was a McDonalds nearby with a chiropractor by them. Sign on the chiropractor’s office said after your Mac, get a crack.

Made the Central OK vs. Icers game at the rink and well.... did not turn out as expected. The net came off quite a few times at the Central OK end during the game (I did NOT say "The nets more loose than the goalies mom"), some apparent bad calls, and a close game until it ended up tied at the end of regulation. And unfortunately Central OK got the OT goal. "Sh*t!"

Stayed for the next game. Weird colors for Minot's jersey, well... weird to me (red, black, GREEN). Was able to sell our remaining tickets to some nice Lindenwood fans, at half price of course.

Some Lindenwood girls were near us. One of the Arizona State guys tried talking to them but they dissed him. Not sure if they were puck bunnies (yes I know the two words you can't say in Section E) but just that kind of strong vibe about it.

And a side mention here - what was up with throwing the pucks BACK in?

Went to Cheeseburger in Paradise after the game with AT's friend and had a good time there. Was kind of a light crowd but then found out they were closing about 15 minutes after we left. Ended up hanging out for a while after that.

Day 3

Did the free breakfast at the hotel.

Another trip over to Dominick's.

Had most of the Cliff bars for lunch.

Went into Chicago with AT's friend again and another friend showed us around a lot of Chicago on foot. Unfortunately most of the pics were dark, blurry, or just did not get saved on the digital camera. The good ones are on my Facebook page.

Surprised did not get a kink in the neck since spent most of the time looking up at all the tall buildings and skyscrapers like the Trump building and the "Sears Tower" (some locals still use the ORIGINAL name). Also checked out one of the local parks with quite an impressive amphitheater and outdoor skating rink.

We split up for a bit so I picked up some books at a Barnes and Noble on Rush Street. Went in to get a Chicago related book (IN CHICAGO) but ended up getting three more books. Made a caffeine stop at Starbucks (hey it was there) and went walking around. Noticed a store that had Lamborghinis and Lamborghini clothing in it - selling cars or clothes?

After some phone texting back and forth and asking where a certain street was, made it back to the friends and ordered out some very good deep dish pizza. If I ever have to do that again, will have to consider one of those portable GPS units. For someone originally from the "sticks" (rural north central PA), was kind of out of my element trying to get my bearings.

Then back to the hotel and it was all fog all the way back. Kind of foggy while in Chicago as well.

Also had a sinus/chest congestion cold most of the trip so had some loogies to get rid of before finally getting to sleep.

Day 4

One last free breakfast at the hotel then on the road back. Also mailed out some postcards as well. Just a few stops for food and gas, like on the way out. Made it back to State College on Tuesday evening.

I had to find the bed after getting home. While I was out the ceiling was replaced in the bathroom. I had moved the bathroom stuff to the bedroom, so moved it all back after I got home.

Other

Apparently there is some thing out in Illinois about getting a good price on gas, but if you want a car wash or E85 gas. The gas prices were easy to read, but the other stuff usually was not.

Mistook a cab for a cop car, which I am blaming on sleep deprivation. "Does it have numbers on it (the top)? Um... Yes."

If you're not aware I am not "well traveled" so making it all the way out to Chicago was a big deal for me. Although it was late night into early morning, also liked driving on the tolls for the first time. First time driving in Ohio and Indiana too, and already mentioned first time in Central Time zone.

Also took the following day (Wednesday - TODAY) off and heading back to work on Thursday instead of Friday. Spent most of the day trying to get caught up after the trip.

Will have to start planning on Nationals next year, which will be in Delaware. So no 10 hour road trip next year.

It was just a coincidence that I had the beard back in. The article in the Collegian, about the team growing out their beards, was after I started growing it back in. Maybe it was in my subconscious to grow it back in?

In summary it still was a fantastic trip and thanks to AT and SP. Also AT's friends Kim and Karen. I enthusiastically have to recommend making away games for the Icers, especially for Nationals. Looking forward to doing Nationals again next year, and also the away games at Ohio if they are in the fall again.

However it makes me realize that at some point I need to get out and do some road trips on my own, so hopefully sometime later this year will start doing that. Definitely doing Icers trips with others, though.

Just one long hockey question

2010-02-28T16:07:00.001-05:00

So what is the "game plan"? Major donor to Penn State, new ice area at Penn State, Penn State hockey goes varsity, Penn State does well in Big Ten hockey, then Penn State/Big Ten players in NHL, then Penn State gets someone in the Olympics like Ryan Miller (Michigan State/Big Ten grad, Buffalo Sabres in NHL)? Or just skip most of that?

Unusual Weekend

2009-10-17T13:30:00.003-04:00

Turing out to be quite the unusual weekend here due to the weird weather and finally having no events on a weekend.

Weather: We already have snow. Currently there is heavy wet snow, it's cold, and it's raining. Under a "disaster emergency" here to due the huge amount of fallen trees and branches causing a considerableamount of power outages. Made to and home from work yesterday but had to take an alternate route due to road closings. I may try to get out later but currently the wet cold damp weather is just miserableat this point. Was out to lunch and it is just messy out at this time. On a side note I did not drive to the hockey game last night as was expecting snow but still passable weather at the end of the game.
Note: A good example of the damage around here is what is left of the tree by my building (here's the link).

Free Weekend: After a long time (honestly don't know how long) I have a totally free weekend. Our course I still have to get to the grocery store tomorrow, but other than that currently NOTHING going on. Usually have been running around campus or downtown, or just have not been here on weekends. Still basically playing it by ear what I am going to do the rest of weekend, but believe it pretty much depends on the weather later tonight and tomorrow.
And there is still a day and a half to go.

It's back.....

2009-09-02T19:32:00.000-04:00

Had quit blogging some time ago but now getting back into it so it's back.....