A loss

Wes called me this afternoon while I was sleeping and told me he needed to drive out to Penn State and pick up Mike.

His dad had died.

Wes just got back. Poor Mike...

RIP Mr Shea.

Oscar the...

Lent bothers me. Well, religion, in general, bothers me.

I think I'm grouchy because I'm tired.

I put in my application for The Market yesterday. I told my boss at WaWa today. I haven't decided if I'm going to take The Market job if I interview and it's offered... it's difficult to tell right now when I don't really have any good leads for "big girl jobs."

I need a nap. Then I'll be more... me!

C'est la vie, mon petit chou chou*

*This is the life, my little cabbage head*

The good:
- we watched a documentary called Religulous that I thoroughly enjoyed. It's hosted by Bill Maher and is really more for laughs than info... But we did laugh. A LOT! Any one who knows me knows that I find religion preposterous so laughing at religion is an activity I enjoy.
- We watched the Oscars. I didn't think I'd get as much enjoyment out of it as I did... But it was pretty easy to pick fun at.
- BMT sandwiches (basil, mozzarella, and tomato)
- My movie and dinner date with my good, but often unheard from, friend Chris. He chose Friday the 13th. icky. It's always nice to catch up though.
- I applied for my old Market job!!!! It would be like Christmas if I got it!!
- I know how much my Wesley loves me and cares for my well-being.

The Bad:
- We spent a lot if time with Matt and Sam this weekend (that's not the bad). Matt is moving back to Rhode Island this coming weekend (that's the bad). We know he'll be happier there... But it's like one of those inevitable break-ups: everyone knows it needs to happen and it'll be better in the long run but it still doesn't hurt less. At the very least though, I think it'll give us a good reason to go to New England more often.
- I didn't get any work done.

The Ugly:
- If you read my last post, you'll get a sense of The Ugly. I wrote quite extensively about it to my mother today so I think I'm done actively thinking about. But if I think I'm having blog snoopers, it might get deleted.
-Goldie's god awful dress she wore to the oscars.

This is my first post written entirely from my iPod. To me, thats special AND it's probably the closest I've ever been to carpal tunnel!!!

Enraged

I am not a fighter. That's not to say, of course, that I'm a pacifist who lets everyone walk all over me... But I don't look for conflict, I don't enjoy conflict, and I generally try to avoid it at all costs.

I am also not a bad person. Meaning, I am respectful, work hard for what I have and where I'd like to go, I maintain healthy relationship, both romantic and friendly, I don't go out of my way to ensure other peoples misery, I don't lie, cheat, or steal, I'm not conniving or scheming, and I like trying new things.

I am also 22 years old. I like to drink in moderation, I smoke cigarettes, I like to go out to the movies and to restaurants, I like to spend money on my hobbies and interest's, and the one person I should be concerned with is me.

I'm not saying all this toot my own horn but primarily, I think, to convince myself that when people viciously attack my personality, my way of life, and my manner of doing things, that it is unwarranted.

As I've said, I don't like conflict so when someone says, "I demand that you say 'Hello' to me every time you walk by me," I do. It's not difficult nor out of my way. So I do. When someone says, "Don't do laundry past 9pm! There's no reason for that! You're going to burn the house down!" then fine, I won't do laundry past 9pm. When someone says, "You are going to pay rent and make dinner on this night," then I shall pay rent and make dinner on that night. So I do all these things, be pleasant, do my best to avoid interfering with people's day-to-day lives, don't bother their stuff, rarely eat their food, and just do my best to live in peace... and it's not enough. Of course.

What really gets to me is that when some people fight, they aren't fighting to solve any problems. They are fighting to yell intentionally hurtful words at you. Er, me, rather.

...

Unfortunately I had a 12-hour interruption so this blog will have to end there... I still get the angry shakes and that upset stomach, anxious feeling that you tend to get when you know you're in trouble and haven't yet faced the consequences. The whole thing is bologna.

AH!!

I went to see Friday the 13th with my friend Chris last night... I hate, hate, HATE scary movies!! I'm so tense and jumpy the whole time. My whole body literally hurts afterwards (because I sit in my seat in the fetal position like a little bitch). But, I have found that a couple of glasses of wine after such an awful experience makes feel much better and less paranoid.

I realize that my photo blog has suffered somewhat this week but don't worry! I ghave plans for all my pictures, I just need to get around to getting them up. As soon as I get grumpy up, I'm giving him a Mohawk so I suspect that'll be today's picture... So don't give up on it just yet!!!

Short N Sweet

Ah ha!!!!!

I've finally discovered how to blog from my iPod!!

Not that I NEED too... But I CAN and that's all that matters :)

I will be watching Choke then napping before work... Should any one need to find me

Wineing and Cleaning

Yay! Thursday!

Wait... no? Dammit. It's only Wednesday. Wishful thinking...

Since the people that run DelVal are half-retarded (no offense to retarded people of all levels) tomorrow is a Monday schedule... which means I go from no classes to class from 8-4:20. Super!

We went to Pottstown to pick up the motorbike pieces last night. They look AWESOME! Unfortunately, the sun hasn't been out so I haven't had the chance to take any pictures of the little beauties. The paint job Wes decided on (black paint, red pearl, matte finish) goes for about $3,000... and he paid $84 for it. Nevermind the 30 or so hours the boys spent sanding the damn thing. It is lovely though! The pearl only really comes out in strong inandescent or sun light... otherwise is just looks flat black. It's a really mysterious trick! So hopefully pictures soon!

Tonight we're cleaning the bike (read: the frame and componants) and getting ready to put her back together (then I can stop blogging about it and we can actually ride it!!!).

Things that are currently exciting:
- Being that much closer to done with the bike
- I rented Choke through iTunes today (I have 30 days to watch it and a 24 hours period to finish it once I've started it)
- The slight bit of snow we had today because if it's not going to be 70 degrees, it should be snowing
- Ordered my graduation announcements
- Having psychology two days in a row
- No work tonight!
- Which means I'm drinking my bottle of Stone Cellars Pinot Grigio by Beringer (while cleaning the bike)!!
- The weekend is just around the corner

Blah, Blah, Blah. Oh! I've decided my next piercing is going to be a navel (inverse, perhaps?). It'll be my first below-the-neck piercing. I find that mildly exciting.

blah blah boring

haw jeeze... no post since Thursday?

I've really been too tired and uninterested in this blog to want to write everyday. My photoblog is a completely different story though. It's not that I find that one easier to maintain, it's just more exciting I think because it's (usually) quick, to the point, and visually stimulating. I love reading and writing, but pictures say a lot more and even leave some up to the imagination.

Friday we went to see Misstallica and Tragedy... but bailed before Guns and Roses so missed Tragedy. Misstallica was insane and a whole lotta fun. The David Bowie tribute band that went on first was... interesting to say the least. I'm not familiar enough with the Ziggie Stardust aspect of Bowie to have been moved or terribly interested in what was going on on stage. The singers outfit was the only thing that kept my attention (can't use words to describe it).

From Philly we went to The Horse in Perkasie. We had tickets for free drinks and it's tons closer to 'home.' Our first two drinks were free (the bartender likes us) and there were almost multiple fights and someone told me that my style was much more "beat box" than Mikes. That made me giggle.

Saturday started well... we went for coffee and breakfast then decided to head straight for the movies... we saw He's Just Not That Into You (my choice, obviously, which Wesley stayed awake for AND sat quietly through!). Then, back at the house afterwards, there were some 'discussions' that led to quite a bit of anger from our end... but the promise of dinner and wine at Matt's that evening was exciting (salmon, asparagus, brown rice, and strawberry and spinach salad!!!).

Sunday (NOT Saturday) was bike-painting day. Tonight we'll get to see the finished pieces... I'm wicked excited!

I tried to nap for a couple of hours Sunday (NOT Saturday) evening before my 11-hour shift at the goose... it didn't go well and it ended up being more like 12 hours... so I crashed Monday morning. I worked again last night and just got off work an hour and a half ago and came straight to campus. I'm supposed to be doing my lab for class in another two hours... but my attention span is non-existent. I think that's the only thing that keeps this blog alive during the semester: my attempt at avoiding actual work.

I smell like hoagie and coffee. My eyes feel like sandpaper. My brain is fried. I just wanna be in bed :(

WOW! It sure is windy!

THANK GOD IT'S THURSDAY!

Thursdays are my Fridays... technically the end-of-my-week. I have one class on Friday... but as of Thursday evenings, I'm ready to just chillax. The craziness of school-work-school-homework-school-work really beats me up. Today though, I got back to the house, sent Wes on his way and then settled down for some baking and sewing. Um, yeah. Baking. And sewing. I made banana bread with the mushy banana's from work and fixed a couple of holes in some or our favorite sweatshirts. My baking skills are much better than my sewing skills, but I can manage with a needle and thread.

Yesterday I went to Lilly's with one of my managers from WaWa. She and her husband make a lot of money (he owns a Domino's franchise) and they have no kids so she likes to take our her employees I guess. I got the red hot chile peppers sandwich and she got the allman brothers wrap. My sandwich was good... it was like a home-made sandwich... only better! I think I'm going to do a review of Lilly's for my next RamPages blog. I'd like to go at least one more time, maybe two, before I form an official opinion about the place.

So... Valentines Day this weekend. It's a made-up holiday so Wes and I don't typically "celebrate." Meh. I think we usually get/do practical stuff for each other because that's more important than lavishes.

Spaghetti and Meatballs tonight at Matt's (to replace my Wine&Tattoo night...). The bike should be all painted by the end of this weekend... BUT no bolts to put anything back on! It'll be done soon though... it's wicked exciting!

Too Frustrated for Words

I'm a fat racist. No... I'm not saying that I'm fat and racist, I'm saying that I have a problem with fat people... and it all stemmed from my idiot "advisor."

He's a closet eater with an ego bigger than his waist. I can't concentrate on what he's saying through all the fat jiggling around his jowls. He walks like a penguine and breathes like an asthmatic that just ran a marathon. He's disgusting and in love with himself. Oh, and has no idea what fuck is going on, ever. I've given up going to him to be "advised" because he has no concept of anything.

All this anger stems from the fact that I thought my employment program was done and taken care of... until I went to the Career Office and inquired as to why my grade hadn't shown up on my transcript. And they were like, "oh, well, we don't have your capstone or resumee." AHHHHHHHHH. The fat man told me to send them to him and he would grade them and send them over to the office. That was in November, it's not February, and I'm just finding out with was never fucking followed through with!!!!

The worst part about it is that this past semester was the only semester I didn't make Dean's List... and I easily could've IF I'D GOTTEN THOSE FUCKING CREDITS. I literally missed it by 0.06 points.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH >:(

I need to hurt a fat person.

Puff the Magic Dragon

Attention! All pot-users who have insisted that it's "harmless," here's some news for ya:

Marijuana Linked to Aggressive Testicular Cancer

Yup. Stop smoking pot. Protect your balls.

Hahaha. Actually, I know better than to believe everything I read (especially all these whack studies) but since I don't like pot, I like this study (only slightly biased, right?).

Anywho... I feel confident about both tests today... so I'll be able to sleep peacefully before work. Blah.

In a flash...

This weekend!:

Friday we stayed in and watched Burn After Reading and Fargo while sipping vodka and rum. It was a cheap and relaxing evening. Plus, it was the first time Wesley and I had spent time together, just the two of us, all stinking week.

Yesterday I got Wes up early (10:30am) and we got around and went out for coffee... and a long drive. It was awesome. The weather was great and the tunez were good. We came back, putzed for a bit around the house, then headed down to Philly to meet up with Matt and Sam and go to the car show. Their friends Fank and Jade (Frank'nJade as Matt calls them) came and picked us up (yeah... 6 people in a little four-door). Frank is a valet and so gets free parking at his hotel... a convenient two blocks from the convention center! Plus his work gave him a bunch of tickets for the show... so we ended up NOT spending $16 that we had thought we were going to. Super cool!

Car show was funish. There were A LOT of people there and they all just rushed-rushed-rushed. Plus we were all trying to keep track of each other the whole time. I think it would've been less exhausting if it had just been the two of us. We went back to Sam's where a fight between the roommates broke out. We hadn't been planning on staying in Philly for the night so Wes and I left after a half an hour of yelling. We got back and ended up crossing the street to sit on John's back deck with him and Kyle for some drinks and cigarettes. We ended up being out there for 3 hours I think. It was pleasant... Until Kyle and Johns girlfriends showed up. They were both miserable for whatever reason and misery loves company. The party broke up soon after that.

Got Wes up at 9:30am today (I KNOW!!!) and we loaded up the bike pieces and headed down to Pottstown to meet up with Matt and his workplace, Pollocks. It took a couple of hours to completely prep everything (well... almost everything) for priming, but once everything was cleaned and taped and hanging, the painting went really fast. The wheels didn't get done yet because we're going to do them in one clean shot. Prime; paint; gloss. There will be less "layers" so that it won't chip from stones on the road. The front and left fairings need to be fiberglassed where cracks are and then they'll be ready. The plan, I think, is to paint the bike flat black and then, in a finishing coat, add some red pearl. So... essentially the bike itself won't be shiny or glossy, but it'll have that little something-something that'll make you look twice.

I'm really enjoying being the photo-journalist for the whole bike endeavour. Ultimately, we'd like to do a write up and submit that and a ton of the pictures to a bike magazine and maybe end up with a few page spread. That would be super awesome!

From there we ventured into Pottstown on a mission for lunch. Pottstown is like a zombie town. Literally. When people walk, you half except their arms to be out in front of them and their mouths open in a dumb, hungry gaze. It's ghetto and secretive all at once. There is something strange about everyone. Since we were all dressed to get dirty, we kinda fit right in... which was slighty alarming. It was a gloriously warm, sunny day (for the middle of February) and there were maybe 3 people on the sidewalks. Strange, strange. I wonder if the darkness shows up after sun-down?

Tonight... studying for Stats and Psych tests tomorrow. Blah. We have next Monday off from classes so it gives me an extra night to work... which is AWESOME.

The school is making it difficult to get my refund monday and my parents haven't recieved my W-2 from WaWa yet. Glorious. >:(

Can't believe it's Sunday night already...

Review!!!!

Alrighty... I don't have the patience to update since the last time I wrote... So this is my restaurant review for The Porterhouse. Enjoy!!!

For the college student with a desire for great but reasonably priced food and beer that is brewed on site to compliment the restaurants menu, The Porterhouse Brew Pub and Restaurant in Lahaska can’t be beat.

The Porterhouse is a ten minute drive from campus, straight up 202 North in Peddlers Village. It’s unassuming from the outside but guests are welcomed by the 10 vats of fermenting beer behind a wall of glass. There’s a view of the vineyards from the upper-level seating area and the overall effect of the restaurant is friendliness.

Frequented by suits-and-ties, young families, and couples young and old, The Porterhouse caters to those with a desire for great food in a comfortable atmosphere who don’t want to break the bank. The ambiance is relaxing while not too dark. Most of the employee’s are Philly sports fans so there is a good chance that one of the multiple flat-screen TV’s will be tuned in to the evenings game. Don’t worry though ladies, the volume is kept low so as to prevent that sports bar vibe.

The best time to go is Tuesday thru Thursday evenings. This is when you’ll be able to mingle with the regulars and get great one-on-one service from your wait staff or bartender. This is also the best time for more intimate dinners. Beware! If you plan on going on a Friday or Saturday evening, go early! For one, the lunch menu will be much gentler on your wallet and secondly, it’s not unusual to encounter one-hour waits as early as 6 o’clock.

For the uncertain diner, the wait staff is generous in suggesting menu items that are popular and wine or beer selections that will compliment your meal. Waiters and bartenders are great resources for a superb meal that most diners take for granted!

It’s difficult to go wrong with any of the appetizers, soups, sandwiches and salads though. These college-kid-friendly items are simple, slightly adventurous, extremely satisfying and priced well. Their renowned burgers are less than $10 (unless you upgrade to the sweet potato fries which is highly recommended by the author) as are their fresh salads and flavorful appetizers. For diners who have more sophisticated palates and a great appreciation for well cooked steaks (and, perhaps, slightly deeper pockets) the selection and the quality of Porterhouse steaks rivals those of steak houses.

Gabe, the man in charge, is often found mingling, greeting, and serving dinners. When asked how he wants people to feel when they walk into the restaurant he says simply, “Welcomed!” In these tough economic times, the restaurant industry is suffering. People realize that it’s much more cost-effective to go to a grocery store than dine out. As Gabe points out though, “…We have our regulars and our menu is consistent 99% of the time, the portion sizes are good, and the prices are modest. That’s why people keep coming back.” And when asked to pick his favorite item from the lunch menu? He considers all his options (it is an extensive menu), verbally debates with himself, then, fifteen minutes later announces, “The buffalo chicken sandwich is my favorite!”

To recap, students with grumbling bellies and thin wallets can enjoy numerous menu items for less than $10. For the best deals, go in the afternoon and eat from the lunch menu. To avoid the crowds and enjoy an intimate dinner with your sweetheart or good friends while getting attentive service, go on a weeknight. For those who get giddy about food and wine/beer pairings, ask for suggestions from the wait staff. For a couple, an appetizer to share and a sandwich or a salad each will put the bill at a comfy $30. Skip the appetizer and save $10. If your parents are visiting and offer to take you out for dinner, take the opportunity to cash in on Mom and Dad’s generosity and go to The Porterhouse and get your steak and seafood entrée’s. Just make sure to say thanks!!

whoops!

So... the great Michael Phelps made a boo-boo. Meh. He's not any less of an amazing person for his bong sucking. Really though, media has spent too much time on this. How old is? 23? For crying out loud! I read an article through msn.com about it... and some of the comments people are leaving are priceless:

- He's probably having pre-marital sex too.
- I'm going to buy an Omega watch and wear it sitting at the pool in my Speedo's (this one is concerning the decision of Omega and Speedo to not remove their Phelps endorsements)
- WOO-HOO ... companies with sense. who cares...let him have fun !
- He actually got his 9th gold medal in Beijing in the "taking bongloads freestyle" event...tee hee hee.
- Personally, instead of wasting money on drugs (shouldn't he feel good without them? If I had his money I would...) I'd go get my palate stretched. I hate his smile - his mouth is twice as wide as his teeth. Instead of spending all that money on swimming, his mother should have had his teeth fixed!
- No one smoking pot ever dropped a nuclear bomb on Japan.
- Pot is good for you. Makes you a better driver, a better lover, maybe a better athlete, cures insomnia, anorexia, cancer, common cold, plebitis, shrinks brain tumors, solves the homeless problem, improves public trainsit, and gives hiphop artists something to do while waiting for mtv to come around and do a crib show. Good stuff.
- But it does explain why he eats so much.

These, of course, are the light-hearted and funny ones (oh! and short ones). I'm pleased to see that most people think it's ridiculous how blown up this has become. I don't like pot in any way, shape or form. But Mike does, so we should just let him smoke in peace.

Oi! I have that religion class today...

So it's official!! I'm writing a foodie blog for the school!

I guess they're trying to get rid of the actual paper and just do an online thing... which makes sense I suppose. DelVal isn't necessarily known for it's outstanding journalistic endeavours, it may surprise you to discover. I'm going to be reviewing area "hot spots," more-or-less. I need to do some restaurant-reviews-reading to get an idea of just exactly how to go about doing it... But I think I'm going to do The PorterHouse for my first one (oh c'mon, everyone should've known that was coming!) and then I'll have more time to prep for my second one. Woo!

Weekend was swell... Wes, Mike and I went to Red Robbins for dinner on Friday night (they have a 27oz margarita!!). I got the french onion soup because that's usually my yummy-but-cheap fall-back... not so in this case. I guess a place known for its burgers can't be expected to make half-decent onion soup, unfortunately. From there we went to The Horse (formally, The White Horse) which was dead for a Friday night. Good for us. Bad for the owners. There were literally just enough people there to fill the bar. We really liked it, obviously, because it's a lot of chatting with the bartenders and making good with the guy that runs the place plus we're not being pushed around and having a tough time getting service. A BUSCH rep was there so we got free junk and free beer (I opted for the Labatt's over the Bud Light... ick) so all was swell.

Saturday was relax and recover day. Wes and Mike went to Mike's brothers house... I stayed behind. And napped. It was glorious. They're taking a hiatus from stinky Sean because he has a habit of hooking up with everyones ex-girlfriends (I think he's up to 5 or 6 and still going strong)... which is uber shitty of him. The worst BO ever, has a "fiance," and still manages to find other girls that will get naked with him? What is this world coming to!!!???

Sunday we went to the pet store and food for the pig. I finally broke down and bought him a giant ball because he's a little tub-tub and we don't let him run around as much as we used to in Gwynedd. Sadly, piggie did not appreciate the ball as much as we did. He literally just sat in it for an hour and was like, "What the F*%# do you want me to do?" Oh well. I'll keep trying it... hopefully he'll get the hang of it.

Then to Andrews for the superbowl! Tons of food and tequila, good friends, and a great football game. It was a pretty fun evening. Poor Andrew though... he mixed his first drink a little strong and missed the end of the game I think. I was rooting hard for the Cardinals and they almost had it... but almost isn't enough. Epic game though!

This will be my first full week of classes. I'm exhausted already.

OH! And yes, I gave my blog a snowy-facelift. I realize that the picture at the top of my page doesn't fit properly... and it really annoys me... but I haven't taken the time to fix it (obviously). I shall later. Maybe.