Someone that I worked with for eight years came to town this past weekend for a meeting and I was fortunate enough to meet up with him on Saturday. It was quite interesting to me that I felt as though he never left - we just picked up where we left off. (Except for the fact we were both working different places and happy working) A big thanks to Ben for a nice Saturday, his chauffeur services, the dinner at Lawry’s, and the wonderful picture I have hanging in my office! Rock on!

If there is one thing I absolutely love about McDonalds (besides their superior Coke mixture) I love their Monopoly game. I even dreamt about the game a few nights ago that I pulled off Park Place and Boardwalk from the same Coke…and won $246. With that said - the excitement of pulling off the little game pieces from my medium Coke and putting them onto the board is usually enough to make me smile. I happened to have a pile of pieces at my house (maybe 6) and decided to go online and check out their “online Monopoly game“. When I first got to the page - I was instantly frustrated. My #21 pet peeve in life happens to be sites that resize my browser window. However, after I resize it back to how I wanted it - I was blown away with the coolness of the site. I entered in my name and information, and then started to play. It was cool, intense, and well done (and my #12 pet peeve in life is overdone flash). I look forward to playing soon! If you have not checked this out … [more]

Today I went into a Trader Joe’s to pick up some beer and the the guy at the checkout reminded me that if I did not like the beer I was welcome to bring it back for a full refund. I told him I was very impressed with their customer service and he told me it was to promote customers being more adventurous. I have been a Trader Joe’s for a few years now and even more so after tonight. I love that they want their customers to be more adventurous with their choices. Cheers to Trader Joe’s for making me think about trying new things!

Well, as 2005 is my first year as a small business owner, I am learning something new everyday. On Monday, I learned the importance of having a really good accountant, as he called me and gave me a heads up on the fact that my 2005 taxes were due today. Thankfully he prepared an extension letter and sent me the details of what I would need to do to make sure I would not be penalized. I had met with my accountant earlier this year to learn QuickBooks and to get to know him before tax time…thankfully that paid off. Thanks!

While trying to find someplace close to mail the letter to the state, and needed to get it stamped today, I stumbled onto a little shipping/mailbox store that not only sold me some stamps, but also sold me a bottle of Moxie. Seems there is local business called Retro Soda Inc that he had partnered with to provide these retro sodas in his store. I had heard of Moxie on FoodTV, but never saw it in any stores. Given the chance to have another…I would. … [more]

Ahh, trips to the east coast are good for at least one thing: Yuengling beer. Some of my fondest memories in college were spent with a bottle of Yeungling beer in my hand. Way before the game, before the game, after the game, during the game…it was always there for us at Penn State. If you have a chance to order a Yuengling, give it a shot. If for nothing else, you can say you had beer from America’s Oldest Brewery. On a side note, go Joe! Congrats on the four year contract!!

Ok, I have a Coke problem…a Coca Cola Coke problem that is. I would love to cut my Coke habit down a bit. I am not too functional before my morning 12 ounces of enjoyment. I have been religously drinking Coke for six years now and I am sure all the sugar goodness has not been beneficial, but I love my Coke. Along comes Coke C2 with half the calories and half the sugar. Immediately I was both excited and cautious. Excited=less calories. Cautious:aspartame. I first tried this new Coke mix on Sunday out of a 20oz bottle and was not impressed, but a friend of mine brought me in a cold can of it this morning and I was pretty happy with it. Nothing will ever beat a McDonald’s Coke, but you should definitely try the new C2. (I feel like they should have come out with this in 1997 when T2 came out) Now aren’t you glad it has my seal of “ok” products? I thought so.