PENN-sieve

A big hassle when you move is that you have to open all new bank accounts because there is no bank that has branches all over the country. Not even Bank of America which is not what I get when I hear their name.

I chose to bank at PNC because they have ATMs all over campus, I could have my student ID turned into an ATM card, and they also have branches in Pittsburgh and Philly. Oh, and then there was that whole free money thing...if I keep my account open for two years, I will end up receive a $250 account bonus. Seriously, they give me free money for having a free checking account with them.

I was very happy with the bank until I found this website: http://www.christmaspriceindex.com/

Apparently, PNC has a few employees calculate the cost of buying all the gifts of "The Twelve Day of Christmas". Then these employees put together a pretty elaborate website tracking the costs and trends. Do I really want a bank that spends time on such frivolous pursuits when they should be out there making me money?

LOL - I am just playing. I think it is pretty neat that they put together the website. It is pretty detailed and interesting so check it out!

This year my family once again made lists and requests for gifts they would like to receive for Christmas. Things on my list included: gift certificates for Eddie Bauer, Catchphrase the game, a wire whisk, and other such things. It's a nice normal list with a little variety.

My brother and sister-in-law would like a gift certificate to Wal-Mart. *moan* I don't like Wal-Mart and haven't shopped there but for a handful of times since January. My mom does not understand why I won't buy my brother a Wal-Mart gift certificate since it is all that he wants but here is my little analogy to help you all understand why my brother will have to do without.

I don't like crack and I don't support people who use it. I think crack use is bad for the person who uses it, their family, and the entire world around them. If my brother was a crack addict and just wanted some crack for Christmas, I wouldn't buy it for him. Oh, crack is illegal you say so this argument is not applicable?! Well, my step-mother's sister-in-law was an alcoholic (ended up drinking herself to death). I certainly would not give her a bottle of wine as a present. Wine is legal and I like wine but sometimes the people around you don't know what is good for them.

Some would say Wal-Mart is an addiction. How many times do you go there to grab a couple things and end up with a basket full of junk because it was a good bargain? I can honestly say that I am better able to manage my budget when I avoid the "Always Low Prices" (and always low quality). Wal-Mart is detrimental to what I envision as the American way and I refuse to enable my brother (and the rest of the world's) addiction.

Whenever you move or get a new job, there is always some fear that the new place will be worse than the old place. It's part of that the grass is always greener on the other side belief that typically is proven wrong as soon as you get to the other side. Thankfully, this is not the case here at Penn State. Not only do I love my living arrangements, the people, the town and my job but the grass here literally is greener!

I almost called this post "The best grass in the world". LOL!

It's late November and everywhere else in this country, the grass has turned brown. But not here at Penn State - the trees may have lost their leaves but the grass still screams of spring. At firs,t it was kinda freaky. Today I asked my colleague, Bryan, when the grass would turn brown and he said it stays green until it gets covered with snow. How cool.

The PennState turf management program is one of the top programs in the country. They have developed grass seeds that are used on the majority of golf courses in the country and people come from all over to participate in the turf management program.

THIS INFO IS FROM THE PENN STATE WEBSITE: The turfgrass program at Penn State has a proud tradition of serving the turfgrass industry, and boasts an impressive list of “firsts.” Initiated in 1929 through the efforts of committed clientele, it was one of the first turfgrass programs in the nation. It was the first to employ a turfgrass extension specialist (1934), the first to graduate a Ph.D. turfgrass scientist (1950), the first to offer a two-year technical program specifically for golf course superintendents (since 1957), and the first to offer an undergraduate major in turfgrass science (since 1992). But being first is not all that counts; it is the quality of the program that really matters. Some evidence:

The Penn State turfgrass program is internationally recognized as a leader in research that provides timely solutions to management problems concerning practitioners. This has culminated in strong extramural support and commitment from the industry.

Penn State is a world leader in the development of improved turfgrass varieties and other products, including PennMulch, Pennfine ryegrass, and several bentgrasses that are considered to be industry standards: Penncross, Penneagle, Pennlinks, and the new “A ” and “G ” series bentgrasses.

Turfgrass program faculty have received numerous regional and national awards for excellence and innovations in turfgrass science.

To date, more than 1,300 people have graduated from Penn State ’s turfgrass program. They have gone on to occupy the most prestigious jobs in the turfgrass industry.

M.S. and Ph.D. students from the Penn State graduate education program are sought after by industry and university employers nationwide.

Today was RA Appreciation Day and part of the thank you gift for the students I supervise was a helium balloon that said "Celebrate because I'm great". The balloons were filled with helium and during my staff meeting one of my RAs couldn't resist and started breathing in the helium. Laughs abounded until my RA Priyanka asked what was happening. She just moved to the US about 5 years ago and had never seen anyone inhale helium nor done it herself. So we told her she would kill some brain cells but we had to have her inhale - that's right, no one on my staff can say "But I didn't inhale".

LOL

I have had TiVo for about three weeks and I absolutely love it. At first, I did watch more TV than usual but I have settled back into my regular routine. Now instead of watching all the crap I used to watch like crazy dating shows and flipping the channel looking for something to watch, I get to actually watch shows I enjoy - like Oprah or Miami Ink.

Watching TiVo has also made me smarter. Here are two things I learned just this past week:
1. Young women get 50% of their calories from dressings!
2. The average woman has 21 cm from the base of her neck and her nipple. Any more than that and you need a breast lift!

One of the big headaches that occur when you move to a new town is finding all new medical providers. One of the Associate Directors recommended an optometrist that I absolutely love. Because my father has glaucoma, I always get tested but never quite understood why glaucoma happens, just knew that it caused pressure to build up in your eye. This doctor explained that as you age the fluid ducts shrink and the pressure increases because people with glaucoma are unable to properly remove fluid through the ducts. Very interesting and not really what I thought it was at all. My pressure was on the high end of normal but nothing that required any medical attention at this time. On a positive note, my prescription change was very minimal which means I can start to consider Lasix because your prescription needs to stabilize before you can have the surgery. Woo Hoo!

Post-it Command strips are amazing! Makes me glad I own stock in 3M.

Part of my job is to plan events for the University Cultural Lounge. I am working on having a few art shows where first year students show their artwork or photography. My first event is going to feature a resident's photos that she took in Morocco this past summer. When I met with the student to see her art and plan the showing, I asked her if she was an art major. She told me she wasn't allowed to be. Her major is premed. Apparently her father, who is a doctor, will not allow her to be an art major and she is depressed about it because she feels she has talent. Sometimes parents can be so wrong.

This was a bulletin board one of my RAs created. I thought it was too funny and so true. Enjoy!

The squirrel practically sitting at your feet doesn't phase you.

You waste 7 dollars on lunch at the HUB.

You can live your life off of Lion Cash/points and never have to spend cash.

You love the cookies at West more than life itself.

You know everything is named Beaver, but don't know why.

You've had 11 people sleep in one dorm room on one weekend.

You understand that when you wake up it's 30-40 degrees cooler than the temperature it will be by lunchtime.

You sing "Hey Baby" like it's your religion.

You own 16 things that say "Penn State" on them, just like every other person on campus. You got most of these things from "The Family Clothesline".

The movie theaters have 10 seats in them, and a couch!

You know all the places that serve a "dollar a slice" pizza and what time they start serving.