Happy Monday!

After a few days hiatus I am back on line. Honestly, I didn't have a whole lot to say over the past few days. I had a cold, Kev and Big E (aka my Dad) were in Vegas for Cigar Aficionado's "Big Smoke" event, and Penn State was playing Temple. There was simply not much going on.

Now it's Monday, I still have my cold, Kev and Big E are on their way home from Vegas, Penn State beat Temple (but apparently looked like crap based on the reviews I've read and the fact that despite winning, we dropped out of the Top 25), and I even received a few "salt in the wounds" bonuses: (1) OSU lost to Illinois which basically rules out any chance of PSU going to a New Year's Day Bowl (Alamo Bowl, here we come) and (2) the New Orleans Saints lost, kicking me out of my NFL survivor pool and ending any grandiose hopes of winning $1400. Damn the Saints. But kudos to the Air Force Falcons for beating Notre Dame!

Most of you think I'm just a Notre Dame hater, but alas, I do have Air Force connections. My cousin Steve graduated the Academy, Class of '83, and his son Kyle is now a freshman (and will be playing baseball for them this spring if his shoulder heals). So yes, while I do hate ND with every football loving bone in my body, I root for the Falcons every week as well.

On another note: a Happy Veterans day to all of the AFA alumni and the rest of our service men and women across the world (not that they are reading this, but if you know one, be sure to thank them).

Go State Beat the Buckeyes!

This Saturday our beloved #24 Nittany Lions host the #1 OSU Buckeyes at 8pm. ESPN's Game Day is broadcasting live on Saturday a.m. (10-noon). It's going to be nuts. If you've ever been to an 8pm game in Happy Valley, you know the crowd is going to be rocking. Check out this video for a glimpse of what it was like when OSU and Game Day came to town in 2005: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4TZtqeIMXM

I am embarrassed to say that I will be missing part of the game though. I know, what kind of fan am I? Weeks ago, before kickoff time was official, Patti Archer put together an evening in Philly: Dinner and then the "Terror Behind the Walls" Halloween tour of the Eastern State Penitentiary. It looks really cool so we jumped on board - check it out: http://www.easternstate.org/.

Hopefully we'll get out of the tour and back into the bar to catch the end of the game and celebrate a PSU victory. But then again, with #14 behind center and JayPa calling the plays from the booth, I'm not as confident as I was in '05. Those of you that follow PSU football know know #14 can be brilliant on one play and then be a complete idiot the next (watch a replay of the Michigan game for proof). We've had some injuries to our D-line (Jarred Odrick) and fullback Matt Hahn. On the plus side:

1. Austin Scott is finally gone, thanks to that sexual assault charge a few weeks ago & his life has been a complete shambles since then: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3075159. In the immortal words of Livia Soprano - OH POOR YOU! (FYI, this guy has been nothing but a complete bust for PSU save for a few TDs in the 2006 Orange Bowl).
2. Anthony Scirotto & Chris Baker have not yet been to trial for their role in that off campus fight in April.
3. Nothing has come of the fight at the HUB involving a few of our more stellar scholar athletes either.

Things are looking up for the Nittany Nation, I tell you!!!

I'm don't like making any predictions, but I do have some money riding on this, so I guess I'll go with PSU 14 OSU 10. I'm sure that will get some of my OSU friends talking.

More about Bon Jovi and the Pru Center later.....
Cheers!

PS - OSU QB Todd Boeckman should be very afraid (ask Jimmy Clausen). Here comes Dan Connor:

My First Blog Ever!

Greetings Friends!

This is my first attempt at a blog so bear with me!

With all the crap out there on the Internet you're probably wondering why I'm doing this. It's mainly self serving, I'll be honest. I need a new job. I want a new career. In an attempt to hone some of my writing skills a friend recommended that I start a blog so you'll just have to read it and try to enjoy it.

So what's going on in Jen's world? Not a whole heck of a lot right now. I just returned from a trip to Florida sans husband (Kevin), because he had to work (the perils of owning your own business, folks). Mom and Sis went with me instead. We saw some old friends from our Hillside (NJ) days which was truly a highlight, & hit the parks (Universal, Islands of Adventure, Epcot, MGM). A friend suggested Halloween Horror Nights at Universal along with the very pricey, but well worth it, RIP Tour. 8 Haunted Houses, the Bill & Ted Show and a creepy cast of characters around the park made for a great night. Kudos to Adam, our tour guide. If you read this and actually go, ask for him.

Some things to look forward to on this blog:
1. Lots of talk about College football. I love PSU and love to talk about it. I can link you to some great blogs out there. I also hate Notre Dame and love that they have one win this season.
2. Book reviews - I do love to read
3. Exercise & nutrition tips - health and wellness is a big part of my life (uh, when I'm not drinking beer and eating wings) and I will share the knowledge that I have gained from trainers, nutritionists, readings, etc.
4. General updates on what's going on in my life.

Please feel free to leave comments - it's way more fun to interact than it is to just babble!

Cheers!
Jen