2.14.10:

It's been a while since I've written on my site. The holidays were really busy with work at AE. In January I was hired as full-time permanent. I really like working there.
Last night Tom and I took our friend, Doodie, to dinner at the Hoffbrauhaus, which is next to the building where I work. Yummy!

11.21.09:

Hi! I just have to say that I am loving my job at American Eagle and I really hope to be able to stay on at this great company when my contract position is done. The people are really nice and helpful. It's great to work at a company where people care more about the success of the TEAM than their own success. Kathy has been awesome - showing me the ropes and displaying an amazing ability to keep the constantly changing production requirements in order. I am so grateful to my friends for their support and kindness while I was searching for my next job opportunity. I feel blessed that things worked out as they did. Life is good!

10.24.09:

Hard to believe that I've been working at AE for 4 weeks now. I love it. Great people, a fantastic work environment and I am learning new things. Things are about to get really busy because we are into the holiday promotion season and planning for Spring 2010 at the same time. I am going to help coordinate the in studio photo shoot of the Spring fashions, which I think is interesting. My friend and former co-worker, Kathy, who is now the Web Production Manager, has been showing me the ropes and has been so patient and helpful. I am hopeful that when the contract period ends a permanent opportunity will be available that will allow me to stay on at AE. But even if it doesn't work out, it will still have been a great experience.
On another note, the Penguins are looking great and won another one last night. Go Pens! And the Steelers are going to have a tough game tomorrow against the Vikings. It'll probably be a nail-biter and I can't wait! GO STEELERS!

10.1.09:

Howdy friends! I am SO happy and excited to say that I am back in the work force. I accepted a contract position as a web production associate at American Eagle Outfitters. The AE Direct team recently moved into a beautiful new building and the department that I am in resides on the 5th floor. There are five former Ripple Effects peeps and a girl that I worked with at GNC in AE Direct. You probably know that I have wanted to join AE for a while and I really think I am going to like it here. Nice people, great brand and a lot of potential for career growth I think.

9.11.09:

Alright! The Steelers won their first game of the season. The Titans sure put up a fight, and there were a couple areas where the Steelers could use some improvement - namely the running game and sharper passing. Hopefully Troy's injury isn't too serious and he'll be able to return soon. He was a man on fire while he was in the game. Awesome! I felt bad for Hines when he fumbled the ball, but Jeff Reed saved the day in overtime to give us the win. Whooohoooo! Another football season has begun. I love it!

8.5.09:

Well, the summer is dwindling down and so is my veggie garden. There are still plenty of carrots to be enjoyed, along with a few green onions, beets and cucumbers, but for the most part the harvest is over.
However, my job search continues on. I can't help but feel that the right position is just around the corner. I am so anxious to returning to the work force and feeling that sense of accomplishment that comes from being really productive or seeing a project successfully delivered. Patience has never been my strongest point, but I have had the perfect opportunity to work on developing that ability. See, I knew there was some good to be had from this situation!

8.5.09:

Last night's Gov't Mule concert at the Riverplex was amazing! This was the fifth time I have seen the band and this was by far their best performance. Warren Haynes' voice and guitar playing were perfect. The sound was incredibly balanced ~ much better than the last time they were in Pittsburgh at the Byham ~ and this venue was outside!! One of the surprises of the night was hearing them play "Fearless," an old Pink Floyd tune. They also played an awesome version of Deep Purple's "Lazy" where Warren once again showed his licks. At one point early in the show the skies got really dark with black clouds just as the Mule played "The Storm's About to Rage." But the gods were kind and it didn't rain all night. Warren really seemed to be having a good time during the approximately 2-1/2 hours they played. What a great show.

7.29.09:

Do you like cucumbers? If you do, please stop in so I can give you some from my garden. I must say that the recent rain has sure kicked the garden into overdrive. Still waiting for the tomatoes to ripen, but they are starting to get red finally.
I'm still in search of that elusive job. In the mean time, I've become somewhat of a housewife. You know, actually cooking meals and doing yard work during the week instead of just on the weekends with Tom.
This coming Tuesday is the Gov't. Mule concert. Most of you know that is my favorite band, so fourth row seats are going to be so cool.

7.9.09:

This past Tuesday evening we saw Zappa Plays Zappa at Diesel in the South Side. What an amazing show! Diesel is not a good place to see a band, but the show had to be moved there from the Rex Theatre due to a last minute plumbing emergency. Dweazel played some great guitar licks that only his dad would've been able to beat. And the second song they played was one of my favorites ~ "Bamboozled By Love"! Unbelievable. We got to meet Dweazel after the show and he seemed like a very nice, happy guy.
Last week we went to see "Public Enemies" at the Pittsburgh Mills. Although I liked the movie, I couldn't help but wish the chemistry between Dillinger and his girl, Billie, had been a little more intense. It just didn't seem like they were as passionate about each other as they should've been. As usual, I really enjoyed seeing Johnny Depp, though.
The deer seem to have taken a liking to the beet greens and leaves on the bean plants in our garden. We've increased the height of the fence and have sprinkled kitty litter around the edges of the garden (hey, we read that this was supposed to help!), but the buggers are still managing to get in somehow. Going to have to try something else, I guess.

6.29.09:

Had a great weekend. After taking care of the seemingly endless summer yardwork, Tom and I enjoyed a ride on the bike to the Thunder in the Valley rally in Johnstown. Lots of bikes of course, and we got to see a couple bands. Really enjoyed the Jimmy Adler Band who played some nice blues.
Can't wait to see the new Johnny Depp film on Wednesday when it opens. It's "Public Enemies" about John Dillinger.
The garden has been producing Italian green beans, which we have been enjoying raw dipped in blue cheese dressing. We'll be trying out the beets very soon.

6.20.09:

I've started using Adobe Contribute to update my website. It's amazing how easy it is to use and I love how it still allows me to use Dreamweaver whenever I want. Pretty cool.
The garden is doing so well with the rain we recently received. I can hardly contain my excitement when I see new blossoms on the plants. I am really looking forward to harvesting some delicious vegetables.

6.17.09:

Wow! Winning the Superbowl and the Stanley Cup in the same year sure makes you even more proud to be a Pittsburgh sports fan. Congratulations to the Pens!

6.12.09:

Tonight is the night! The final game of the Stanley Cup finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings. It's going to be an exciting one, I'm sure. Let's make sure that Marian Hossa regrets his decision to go to Detroit by showing him the real winners are the Pens. GO PENS!

5.27.09:

Let's hear it for the Pens! A sweep of the third round of the Stanley Cup play-offs against the Carolina Hurricanes. Nice work guys! So, the new Eastern Conference Champions will most likely play the Detroit Red Wings again this year for the Stanley Cup. Should be a very exciting final round. And wouldn't it be great for Pittsburgh to be able to celebrate winning the Super Bowl AND the Stanley Cup in the same year?
My studying these past several months paid off when I received my PMP certification after taking the exam on May 19. Regardless of what type of position I eventually get, I think the knowledge of project management best practices will be valuable. And yes, I am still in search of that elusive job. I'm confident that it will happen when the right one comes along.
Meanwhile, the vegetable garden is growing nicely and the weather has been great. Tom and I got in some riding on the Harley over the Memorial Day weekend, which was so much fun. Can't get enough of that.

5.8.09:

Another Pens vs Caps game tonight. Like so many other Pittsburgh fans, I am hoping to tie it up at 2 wins a piece tonight. There's nothing like NHL playoffs when your team is fighting for their rightful place at the top. Well, ok, there is something else I like even more ~ and that is when the Steelers are in contention for the Super Bowl. We are so lucky in Pittsburgh. We have two of the top teams in two of the most exciting professional sports. GO PENS!
I'm scheduled to take the PMP certification exam on May 19. Wish me luck in passing, ok?
Tom and I have been enjoying the great weather on the weeekends and have been working on the yard and gardens. I think they look better this year than they ever have. The lilacs are our favorites. Could any flower smell better than lilacs? I don't think so.
Our seeds have sprouted and are growing into some nice-looking starters for the vegetable garden. I am so anxious to enjoy the home-grown goodness of tomatoes, beets, green beans, cucumbers and more. Yummy!
We recently ordered tickets to see two of our favorite musical acts ~ Govt. Mule and the Zappa Plays Zappa tour. Those who know me are aware of how much I love Warren Haynes and Govt. Mule. We'll be seeing them ~ from the 4th row no less ~ later this summer at Sandcastle. Tom's favorite has always been Frank Zappa, and since his unfortunate, early death from prostate cancer, his son, Dweazel, and several other top-notch musicians have put together a band and tribute extravaganza that is the next best thing for the true Zappa fan. We'll be enjoying that show at the Rex on the South Side in July.
That's all from here. GO PENS!

4.22.09:

Happy Earth Day everyone! Wish it was a bit warmer outside in my neck of the woods, but it's not too bad. I've been mostly indoors enjoying some super music on Sirius XM Deep Tracks. Can't remember the last time I heard Loggins and Messina's "Watching the River Run." Wow. I have to admit that listening to satellite radio can really spoil you. It's a worthwhile investment ~ even for someone like me that is "between jobs" ~ when you love music.
Our beloved Penguins pulled out another win against those Flyers and their "courteous" fans. Mostly thanks to some awesome goal tending by Fleury. I sure can't wait for tomorrow's game. This could be the clincher for the Pens in the first round. Always some exciting hockey when the Pens and Flyers get together.
I am so excited to see my seeds sprouting in the flats. How cool is it to see a fragile growth pop up through the soil?
Looking forward to another great weekend of riding with Tom on the Harley, since the weather reports are looking great. The bike is running great with the new stage 2 kit he got installed. Three Rivers Harley in Glenshaw is having their Spring Party this weekend too, so we may be stopping in to check that out. I know when it used to be Spirit Harley-Davidson they used to put on a wonderful party with good music and some delicious homemade food.

4.14.09:

Is it spring time yet?
The Penguins start their first round of the playoffs tomorrow night against the dreaded Flyers, but have home ice advantage. Should be some great, physical hockey. GO PENS!
The Steelers finally reached an agreement with my favorite defensive player, James Harrison - and what an agreement it is! $51+ million for six years, including a $20 million signing bonus. For folks like me that are out of work and looking for a job AND expecting to have to take a cut in pay, those numbers are just unfathomable. That's a whole 'nother world.
Yes, I am still in the job hunt and hopeful that my search will come to a productive end soon. And I must rely on a few friends/former co-workers to validate my work experience records that are part of my required PMP certification application. I hope that they can help me out and I can get the exam scheduled for later this month or early in May. In the mean time I'll keep studying.

3.30.09:

A dusting of snow appeared on the vehicles and spots on the ground this morning. Hopefully this will be the last snow of the year ~ at least until December. I'm still in the job hunt and have just finished the credits needed before I can register to take the PMP certification exam. So I'll be studying and taking a practice version now, with plans to take the "real deal" in late April. Wish me luck!
I've been enjoying the Penguins' games recently, although it would've been sweet to beat the Flyers last week. We may very well meet up with them again in the first round of the playoffs. Go Pens!
I'm starting to play (ok, TRYING to play) frisbee golf again. I never really played it much before and didn't use the proper disks. But my elbow is finally feeling good and I am ready to give it a try. It's always fun to get out there with Tom, Hole and Doodie, and DJ and his frineds when they join us.

3.9.09:

We went to see Joe Bonamassa last Wednesday at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg and it was the best I've seen him perform yet. He played for a solid two hours! And his guitar licks were perfection. His vocals were too. It was a fantastic show and our seats - eight rows back in the very center - gave us a great view of all the action. If you haven't seen Joe live and you are a blues and/or guitar fan, I strongly recommend you catch him when you can.
Looks like our Penguins are going to make it to the post-season afterall. The addition of Kunitz and Guerin, as well as Gonchar's return, have certainly helped the team. Has the new coach also made a difference?

2.6.09:

Way to go Steelers!! Champions again. SIX Super Bowl wins - unbelievable. And what a game too. I have to admit I was feeling pretty confident until the last three or four minutes of the game. My favorite play was the Harrison interception and 100-yard run back for a touchdown. Nice!

1.21.09:

Wow! My sisters, Sharon and Linda, flew to Pittsburgh from Kalispell, Montana to experience their very first Steelers game at Heinz Field. And boy, did they pick a good game too! We had so much fun and of course it was wonderful for our team to not only beat the hated Ravens, but to capture the AFC Championship and pave the way to the Superbowl. This will be so cool to have the Steelers win one for "the other hand." Way to go team, coaches and fans!
Be sure to check back in a week or so to see lots of photos of our super fun weekend.
And as always...GO STEELERS!

1.12.09:

How 'bout them Steelers? Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. They put a sound whooping on the Chargers last night to win their AFC divisional playoff game. Looked like the whole team contributed to the victory. Willy Parker had a great game. Nice to see a more balanced run - pass game strategy. Next up - the AFC Championship next Sunday at Heinz Field against our least favorite opponents, the Ravens. It'll be the battle of the defenses, for sure. Can't wait!
GO STEELERS!

12.29.08:

Another year is winding down. I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas. Mine was great. Now is the time to put together the list of resolutions for 2009. I have a few. Seems like they are always basically the same, but this year the list will include finding a new, and hopefully satisfying job.
Congratulations to the Steelers - the 2009 AFC North Conference champs! Looking forward to a successful playoff post-season and who knows, maybe even another Superbowl win. I can always dream, right?
Here's wishing health and happiness to you in 2009. May it be a year full of beautiful surprises and memories.

11.30.08:

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. So much to be thankful for. I've been enjoying acting as "caddy" for Tom while he and our friends, Doodie and Hole, play disc golf at nearby Deer Lakes park. Yesterday we took Flat Stanley with us. Flat Stanley comes from my niece, Alice, in Kalsipell, Montana. He's part of a project her class is doing, as he is sent around the country to visit various friends and family of her classmates. We'll write in his journal and send photos and a postcard as well to her class when we return him. How cute.
Steelers play the Patriots today. I really do not like New England's coach Belichick, mostly because he cheated against the Steelers and other teams. And I don't like his attitude. GO STEELERS

11.17.08:

Just learned about a great, young, Philadelphia blues singer named Gina Sicilia. Check out some short samples of songs from her two albums. Someone you might want to keep an ear out for.
Well, yesterday's Steelers - Chargers game sure was interesting. And it was the first ever NFL game to finish with a score of 11 - 10. Thankfully, the Steelers were on the winning end of this low-scoring game. Troy Polamalu and James Harrison gave excellent performances, but the number of penalties (13) against the Steelers was unacceptable. Not a lot of time to prepare for the next game this Thursday against the Bungles. GO STEELERS!
The Penguins won their 6th game in a row ~ another one with most of the excitement taking place in the third period. Malkin leads the NHL in points and the Pens are currently in second place in their division and in the Eastern Conference. GO PENS!

11.12.08:

Contemplating the next big move in my career and am thankful for the support of friends, family and past co-workers. In the mean time, lots of plans to finally update my website a bit - get some new photos posted and tweak some of the formatting, etc. Forgot how much I loved playing around with HTML.
Well, it should be interesting to see "how" and "who" as far as the Steelers this coming Sunday. Personally, I would like to see Ben get a rest so he can really heal up properly. Not sure if a week would do it, but I think that Leftwich is capable of taking care of things against the Chargers.
Heard it was a pretty darn exciting Pens game last night, but I didn't get to see Jordan Staal get a hat trick and the winning OT goal. Way to go!

10.19.08:

The Steelers win again! Now the schedule gets tougher. Challenges ahead, but I really believe they can win at least 6 or 7 more games this season. Hopefully we can get a few of the injured guys back in the line-up soon.
Last weekend Tom and I went on a bike ride to check out the leaves and enjoy the beautiful weather. There were bikes everywhere. We had a great time.
Went along with Tom and our friend Doodie to Deer Lakes Park yesterday morning where they play disc golf. Nice day for a walk in the woods. Saw a golden eagle and a pilated woodpecker. The leaves were awesome. October is my favorite month. Just seems to go by so fast.

10.4.08:

Whew! I'm back. And a few things have happened since I last left a message.
In August Tom and I went on a super vacation to Wyoming and Montana. Spent time in Jackson Hole, Cody and a couple small towns in Wyoming and enjoyed the beautiful Tetons from the hiking trail and from a motor boat on Jackson Lake. Fantastic!
Drove up through Yellowstone into Montana and eventually through Glacier NP to Kalispell to visit my mom and dad and two of my sisters and their families. Time just flew but we had a lot of fun. Wish I could've stayed for another couple weeks or longer.
I also started a new job at GNC in the eCommerce department in August. Learning a lot and hopefully also helping the team in organizing and scheduling production. It's a non-stop barrage of requests ~ no time to sit still.
I can't believe that summer is gone. Fall is always my favorite time of year and I am looking forward to getting away for a day or two with the hubbie next weekend to do some hiking and maybe see some leaves starting to change colors. It sure would be great if the weather was good enough to take the bike. I never feel like I get enough riding in.
Until next time ~ peace.

6.7.08:

Ok, I'm getting over the disappointment of our Pittsburgh Penguins' loss in game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. They had a helluva run and the fans are so proud of them. They are such selfless players, putting it all out there and really showing their passion and toughness. It'll be sad to inevitably lose some of the guys on this great team to free agency, but that is the way the puck flies. Congrats to an excellent Detroit team. They deserved the win, but we certainly had a chance.
Well, we've hit summer temperatures already here in SW PA ~ in the 90s and hot and very humid. Ugh! I think I am becoming additcted to those popsicles in the plastic sleeves. Cheap and yummy. Be cool everyone.

2.26.08:

Well, it's that time of the year. The time when NFL teams start making decisions that could effect the team roster. We all knew Alan Feneca was going to be playing for a team other than the Steelers next season, but a couple surprises were revealed today ~ namely Jerame Tuman and Clint Kriewaldt. Wishing them success wherever they land, except when they are playing against the Steelers!

1.31.08:

Ok, I'm back. I just got a new computer ~ a Dell XPS M1530 ~ and I love it. Although I am still getting used to using the touchpad instead of a mouse. That's still gonna take some practice.
I am enjoying the Pandora online radio station creator site. I've created the Gov't Mule Radio station and it is SO cool. This is my favorite thing on the web right now. Check it out and create your own personal radio station with the kind of music you want to hear. I'll let you go and enjoy that for a while.

12.31.07:

For me, 2007 certainly had its ups and downs ~ maybe more downs than I would've liked ~ but 2008 is about to begin. I am hopeful that it will be a great new year, full of positive changes and a continuation of the good things for my friends, family and myself.
Happy New Year everyone!

12.22.07:

Well, the holidays are here and I want to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and a new year full of good health and happiness and of course, lots of fun and a Steelers playoff berth.
Thursday night's game against the Rams was refreshing in a lot of ways, and cause of continued concern in others. I think the Steelers looked great in some respects, but the defense is still not up to the level that they should be and the front line is still not providing the protection that Ben should have. It is sad that Willie Parker's season has come to a premature end, but I think that Davenport looked good and really stepped up his game. I think he'll do fine. Now we are ironically cheering the Bengals on to a victory over the Browns to assure us of the AFC North Division Championship.
I'd like to say "Thanks" again to my friends and co-workers and President of Ripple for allowing Tom and I to see 4 Steelers games this season. Despite the weather conditions, we had a blast. We really appreciate the tickets! And Tom got to celebrate his 50th birthday at the Jaguars game.

11.10.07:

We were fortunate enough to get tickets to last Monday night's game where the Steelers took it to the Ravens big time. Wow! What a game. And if there is any team I love to see the Steelers beat, it is the Ravens. Hate that team.
This Sunday we play the Cleveland Clowns. Can't wait. We'll be watching from home this time. You just might be able to hear us screaming and cheering. GO STEELERS!