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Where I’ll be Watching the Super Bowl

February 5, 2012 Entertainment 0

Of course, even though my team isn’t playing, I plan on watching today’s Super Bowl.  The question I’ve been pondering though for a few days now is, where will I choose to watch it?  I don’t want to sit alone at home for the game, and no-one has invited me to theirs for a party or anything and Dani certainly isn’t interested in watching it and the boys are with their mom so…

I found out that Harrisburg’s Lancaster Brewing Company – where I’ve actually never been – is putting on some festivity for the Super Bowl.  Actually what really clinched it for me was the fact that the venue is offering half-price wings during the game as well as English pints at a reduced price of $3.25 and I certainly love my beer and wings. One of my colleagues had also mentioned a few weeks ago he’d gone there with a few friends and in general the food – American cuisine – is excellent.  So I’m quite looking forward to it actually.

Great City Project

January 31, 2012 Entertainment 0

I like it when I hear about projects aimed at improving the quality of life for the people of Harrisburg.  And it seems like – despite the problems the city encounters – there are many projects that develop with this aim in mind.  For example I just read that plans were approved for the Susquehanna Art Museum as long as people in the city share in employment opportunities.  This is great news, especially since the project is expected to be priced at $5.5m, so that will really provide jobs for people in our city.

So basically what is going to be happening is that all contractors working on the museum project will have to employ a certified compliance officer to make sure city residents and contractors are given some of the jobs.  I’m not looking for a job right now, but you never know; there is never 100% job security in any position, so it’s always good to know that there are more jobs being created in the city.

And of course, once jobs are created, the economy will improve and hopefully that will result in happier people, lowered crime rates and a better quality of life.  Well, at least in an ideal world!

 

AirTran Airways Bids Farewell to Harrisburg

January 25, 2012 Society 0

Of course, it doesn’t really affect me because it’s not like I’m a business traveler or anything. But the news that AirTran Airways is going to stop flying to and from Harrisburg airport, will be affecting my parents who try to come twice a year from Florida.  This is exactly the route that is being ceased.  The reason that has been given was “significantly higher fuel costs,” which didn’t surprise me but still irritated me.  I don’t know what my parents will do now.  As it is it is getting harder for them to travel due to the fact that they are aging.

But at least it’s not going to go into affect until the middle of August.  So we have a few months still.  And they were planning on coming in June next so we have that one covered.  After that we’ll just have to see.  No point in worrying about it now.

Kids Missing Snow

January 23, 2012 Weather 0

Despite the fact that I felt like the boys and I had all had a fun weekend, when they got back to their mom, they discovered they’d missed the snow.  In Beaver Falls (where they live most of the time), there was snow on Saturday.  My kids LOVE the snow. I mean, I know that kids generally love snow but my kids are just crazy about.  So it kind of put a damper on the time they spent with me as they weren’t happy they’d missed it by being with me. Of course, their mother wasn’t too pleased either because it didn’t make for top driving conditions; indeed, in western Pennsylvania traffic accidents shut down Interstate 70 and Interstate 279 South lanes.  The city thus got up to 7 inches of snow!

But, alas, by the time they got home, it was all gone.  There were just some light showers left which didn’t make anyone happy.  So of course they blame me. And that obviously makes my ex happy.  Still, I’m trying to tell myself that kids will be kids and they’re just a bit frustrated for now and by the time I see them again they’ll be over it.  Here’s hoping.

The Harrisburg Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

January 18, 2012 Entertainment 0

 

So I just heard from an ex-colleague that a couple of days ago it was the 10th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  In commemoration of this event, there was a breakfast with a full program at the Harris-Pruett Building.  I wasn’t able to participate but Derek – my ex-colleague who is currently out of work – went and he said it was really good.

 

This year’s theme was “With Faith We Are Going to Make It,” which Derek said was incredibly inspirational.  I guess the fact that they provided a yummy fry-up breakfast wasn’t too bad either.  Although, truthfully, I thought the city was meant to be focusing on healthy eating and exercise in its “Race to the Moon” program that I mentioned last week.  So when I heard what he ate – bacon, sausages, eggs, biscuits and gravy with some fruit (which seemed to me like a bit of a token gesture rather than anything else) – I was a bit perturbed.

 

Still, I’m glad the event was so successful and that Derek was inspired. But, while he might have left with food-for-thought he probably also exited the event with a few more clogged arteries!  Come on Harrisburg, let’s get back on target with healthy eating and good workouts.

 

Harrisburg Wellness Challenge

January 11, 2012 Harrisburg Health 0

 

So it seems like Harrisburg is taking its health and wellness seriously.  I’m definitely not averse to that.  I for sure could do with losing a pound or two myself given the fact that I’ve consumed rather a few too many chicken wings at McGraths – which is now really my favorite hang out on the nights I’m going solo.  But given that we all try to make our New Year’s Resolutions center around weight loss and healthy eating, this latest endeavor is to be welcomed.

Initiated by CaféWellTM and HealthAmerica, “Race to the Moon” has been getting willing and eager participants walk 208 million steps in two months.  The program apparently officially began in the middle of October and to date, people have clocked in a staggering 89,000 miles (which – if you’re counting – would render you one-third of the way to the moon) but I’ve not joined in yet.  Although it is definitely something I want to get involved in and encourage my kids too do as well. Neither Joanne nor I have been particularly good about encouraging the kids to eat well and exercise regularly; it’s something we definitely have to work on.

There are another three months left of the program so I’m going to try to find out how I can get involved.  I heard that there is still room for newcomers and we’ll get a free pedometer too!  And there are prizes involved too!  Now, if there is something that will push my kids to do something, it is prizes. So that’s my next task – to find out more.

 

 

My TV Stations

January 10, 2012 Entertainment 0

I was a bit disappointed to discover yesterday that two of my favorite Harrisburg TV stations might be slashed from Verizon’s FiOS network by the end of this week!  Apparently they need to renegotiate their re-transmission agreement by then, or they’re out.  This certainly does not make me happy as if it goes ahead, it will mean I won’t be able to watch my NFL playoff game over the weekend.  Given that this weekend the kids are with Joanne, it will just be one more thing to add to my misery.  I really do hope FiOS makes the right move and a renegotiation happens.

There are other shows on these stations such as “The Mentalist” and “The Vampire Diaries” that a lot of my coworkers watch but I’m not so interested in.  It’s the football that I need – I have been looking forward to my playoff games between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots ever since last Sunday!

Still, there is a chance I’ll be going out with Marjorie again over the weekend.  It’s going okay; she just has to see if she can get a babysitter for her two girls.

Harrisburg is Too Kind

January 9, 2012 Firefighters 0

I think our city is too nice for its own good sometimes.  I just read this article about how our city let another municipality in the region use its fire safety truck which clearly did  not take good care of it.  It was returned apparently in even worse condition, with one of his axles broken.  But, as the city of kindness, the Remodelers Council of the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Harrisburg on hearing about this, pulled out its wallet and gave us a van worth $20,000 to be used for fire prevention and safety demonstrations with our kids.  I know that all my kids will love that so that will be another activity I will be able to do with them when they next come to stay.

I love seeing such kindnesses in my city.  After that initial donation, Harrisburg’s Fire Department’s Relief Association gave a further $15,000 to the fire department to be used to purchase supplies, equipment, etc. for the van.  And then I heard that kids at Downey Elementary School will be the first  ones to see the new van; such a shame that it is not Jake’s school.  Still, hopefully at some point soon he’ll be able to see it too.

Rain, Rain Go Away

January 2, 2012 Harrisburg Shopping 0

It seems that 2011 marked Harrisburg’s wettest year in a long time.  The city was said to have encountered a record-breaking 73.73 inches of wet weather in 2011. Apparently it wasn’t all snow (if that were the case we’d be digging our way out of 61 feet of it!).  The average amount of precipitation per year for the city is 40.66 inches, so 2011 really did witness a lot more. So I’m hoping that this is going to be the end of it although it does seem that since we’ve only just hit January there are probably some even wetter days ahead over the next couple of months.

It’s fun.  Well, at least the kids like it.  I guess it’s probably time for me to invest in a decent umbrella though. I found a nice one online – and it’s very masculine-looking – I wouldn’t want one that will make me look effeminate; that certainly wouldn’t go down well with the kids.  I may get it from Macy’s though next time I’m at the mall as it sells there and for sure the Harrisburg Macy’s will be carrying it during this wet weather.  Either way hopefully by the end of this week I’ll have it.  I don’t like the thought of going out in this weather without it!

Happy Rainy Days from Harrisburg!

Post-Holiday Shopping

January 1, 2012 Harrisburg Shopping 0

I sure am glad that the holidays are over.  I’m looking forward to going back to work tomorrow.  I did actually end up having a pretty good time though at the comedy I went to last night and like I planned, I didn’t stay too late either.  I also got a lady’s phone number, so we’ll see where that goes.

I wanted to get a new briefcase for work. My kids kept telling me the one I have is really old-fashioned.  I know I shouldn’t, but I do probably overcompensate in how much I want to make them happy; my therapist tells me it’s the guilt associated with divorce. Anyway, at the end of the day, I don’t want my kids to think I’m an old man; I want them to be proud of me.

So I looked at the Harrisburg mall and apart from coming out with a coffee from Subway I left without anything.  I decided instead to look for what I wanted online.  I found exactly what I was looking for – although it was somewhat pricier than I had hoped – and ordered it.  It should get here in a few days.  It is the Amerileather Traditional Double Slip-in Executive Briefcase in burgundy.  Hopefully it will suit my needs perfectly; I do like the fact that it has a strap on it as well. I guess I’ll just have to wait for the true  judgment from the kids!