This thumbnail is of me, enjoying my birthday dinner at the Olive Garden. My week off was starting very soon and I was very excited for what was to come. Would this be a great week off? Only time would tell.

My week-long vacation is set to start this weekend. This will be the second time this year that I’ve had a paid vacation. I just celebrated my third anniversary with Giant Eagle, thus I have a third week off of work coming up. I’m just coming off of a mini-vacation where I went to Hershey and had a great time listening to Trans-Siberian Orchestra. In today’s blog, I’m going to give a summary of these vacations and offer suggestions for improvement.

I took my first week off at the end of June. I had so much to be excited about. It was Summer and it was hot. So, I was definitely looking forward to being in the pool a lot of the time. I also had some little trips planned that week and that included a shopping trip to Tanger Outlets in Washington PA. In the beginning, it was hard for my body to get used to the change in my sleep schedule. Summer TLI came early and while I was learning a lot, I was having a hard time staying focused. I was fighting some negative feelings that were self-inflicted.

Eventually, I got it together but I think I should have validated myself more. I wanted to take and get. In reality, it’s better to give and not expect anything back in return.

This past weekend, I went to Hershey to see Trans Siberian Orchestra with my cousins. The trip was something my aunt and I had been talking about since the beginning of September. It began with some anxiety, and none of that was tied to the elements that I had to face while getting to Somerset.

My schedule changed at work and I made the mistake of looking at it the day that I left for Hershey. That was a big mistake. For a time, I also thought that I had lost my vacation which was scheduled for the first week of December. My thinking turned to despair as I speculated that I wasn’t good enough to work at Giant Eagle. At least early in the trip I was fighting my emotions, just as I did back in June. It turned out to be a great weekend in the sweetest place on Earth.

This time I didn’t expect anything in return and I wasn’t desperate for attention. I felt good coming home that weekend, and then I got sick within a few days of Thanksgiving. But the good news was that I didn’t lose my vacation and will begin it this Sunday. It’s just that everyone took Saturday off. All I need to do now is just get through these next five days at Giant Eagle and I am home free.

Regardless of how many compliments I get on my outfit or my accessories, none of it matters, unless I compliment myself and accept myself.

The time has come to review the best of 2024. There’s a lot of things that were worthy of being in the top 🔟 for the year. That includes major events in our country and our world. I take a look back on what made my year and go from there.

January and February weren’t much to write home about. We had our share of snow events. I made my first trip to Cutie’s and also made a failed attempt at a Vision Board for 2024. I watched a lot of NFL postseason football including the Super Bowl. I was at the halfway point of Harry Potter finishing the Goblet of Fire and beginning the Order of the Phoenix.

March was the beginning of important Speech contests. I was able to attend three of them including my division contest in Blairsville and the last one in White Oak. I did a fish sandwich tour during lent and included Whale of a Cod in my itinerary. Also, Benny went back to Children’s for another extended stay and we’re hoping this will be it for those times he’ll be away for weeks on end. 

April was a very wet month. Pittsburgh saw more than its fair share of rain. I visited Indiana and Johnstown Toastmasters online. I did a 2020 series in the blog this Spring which chronicled that year like no other through my eyes. Also, the Johnstown Toastmasters club celebrated its 70th anniversary at Hoss’s in Richland Township. 

April was wet, while May was stormy. Southwestern PA saw more than its fair share of tornadoes, including one that damaged a church in Washington County. Mr. Clougherty and I reconvened our dinner series at Primanti’s and Oliver’s Pourhouse. I attended my first in person conference in five years at the Doubletree in Washington at the beginning of the month. Just before Memorial Day, I attended Night Market in downtown Greensburg and it has grown so much. But I was feeling sad because I wasn’t getting the validation and attention I wanted in my journey, although I needed to learn to love myself more. 

Next week, we’ll look back at summer and fall and see what events were the Best of 2024.

The final day of our Hershey trip meant we’d be heading home. We made the most of our morning at our hotel in the waning hours. I didn’t swim but I made it to the arcade which was on my floor (it was to the right when you came out of the elevator). You need a card to work the game and the minimum amount of credits is 20 which will cost you $5. I like the old school video game cabinets and one of the games there was Ms. Pac Man, which I played a couple of times. I also did a round of skee-ball and got a decent score. Instead of getting tickets that you can trade for prizes they’re put on your card. Ten grand will get you the hot dog maker.

We checked out at Noon and went to lunch at Funck’s located in Palmyra, just over the Lebanon county line. They had great food and even a buffet (up until 2:00pm). I was tempted to try the buffet but ended up ordering the turkey wrap. It wasn’t a Thanksgiving feature but it was still good. The onion rings were a nice compliment to the wrap, but could have had petal sauce for dipping. We received excellent service and the atmosphere was great, and the menu had plentiful options. While Macaroni Grill gets a B-minus, Funck’s gets an A-minus. I got a few pictures of the decor before we parted ways. My cousins went back home while we would be en route to our last destination before we got back on the turnpike to go back to our homes.

We made it to Chocolate World and while we weren’t long, we bought ourselves enough time to shop. Lots of cars were there like Saturday and I’m sure it was for Hersheypark. Chocolate World is the world’s biggest candy store and it surely lives up to its name. You can take a tour and learn how chocolate is made, and even make your own candy bar. I bought a Pot of Gold sampler. Gardner’s and Sarris candies also make awesome samplers too as does Wilson Candies in Jeannette. I also bought a bag of peppermint bark bells. I could have gone for some deals but I think I did pretty well for myself. I also bought a tote and a Hershey’s bar that I ate on the ride home. It was cotton candy flavored and very sweet. The tote is pretty sweet and has all of the Hershey’s brands on it. We were now on our way home to Somerset and Greensburg. If I would have done this trip on my own, it would have been a three hour drive.

While at the hotel, I picked up some brochures in the lobby that I thought my family might enjoy. There was one on Chocolate World as well as Knoebels, which is in Central PA near Selinsgrove and Lewisburg. I also got pamphlets on Gettysburg and Lancaster as well as Daniel, which is showing at the Sight and Sound Theatre through New Year’s Eve. South central Pennsylvania and the Capital Region do have a lot to offer and I was close to some of my fellow Greensburg Toastmasters who just relocated to the York area.

I got home just after 6:00 Sunday evening, enjoyed some football, and relaxed. Dinner was a burger and a bratwurst. I am currently listening to some Trans Siberian Orchestra right now and reflecting on how great this weekend was.

The second day of our Hershey trip was the best, because it was the day of the concert. It was a full day that started with breakfast at the hotel. Breakfast was all right, but nothing to write home about. In past hotel stays, I always liked making my own Belgian waffles but haven’t done this since COVID. This place had a conveyor belt that churned out pancakes. They also had breakfast sandwiches that were OK, but didn’t have a lot of taste.

After spending some time at the pool, I got myself ready to start the day. The plan was to meet my cousins between 2 and 3. On our way there, I saw where the Milton Hershey School was located, as well as one of the roller coasters that was operating. The Christmas Candylane was going on, after all, and that meant that Hersheypark would be all lit up for Christmas as the sun went down. That’s probably why there were so many cars at Chocolate World, as they were all at the park.

We all met up after finding our parking spaces and getting through the crazy traffic. We entered the area and made way to our seats for the show. It was chaotic getting in there but we got in and found our seats which were floor level. The arena is home to the minor league hockey team, the Hershey Bears. They have a long history in the league and are currently the farm team for the NHL’s Washington Capitals.

The show had begun just as we took our seats. The music and lights were great, as were the special effects. A lot of work goes into these shows and a separate part of the band was also performing at a show in Seattle at the same time as our concert yesterday. The story I felt didn’t relate to the show itself but I was able to excuse that. Something like the Christmas Story or the Polar Express would have been better. Also, for the money we paid for the tickets, the seats were pretty uncomfortable. For being floor seats down near the action, they could have been a little more relaxing. However, I was able to look past the faults of the day. The music sounded great and I was familiar with some of their work through listening to the songs on the radio at Christmastime. I posted video from my phone onto my socials and sent it to my mom via text message.

My outfit of the day was a knockout. I wore black pants and a striped turtleneck sweater with black boots. All my fits did very well this weekend. My cousins were impressed with my style. I’m trying to be me and validate myself but some days it’s just so hard and I used to want to give up when I felt no one was listening. I got outfit pics Friday and Saturday, but none on Sunday. Maybe I just forgot is all. The teal sweater came from Target (a few years ago). Everything else? Thanks, it’s Old Navy.

Our post concert meal took us to Macaroni Grill in Harrisburg. My cousins know how to pick great places to eat. I mentioned to Abby some Pittsburgh-based food influencers if she’s interested in finding a great spot to eat in the city sometime. We even waxed Texas Road House as they’re new to eating there and how great their rolls and cinnamon butter are. I also mentioned Burgatory, and how you can make a custom burger as well as the amazing shakes.

I enjoyed my dinner (I ordered the fettuccine alfredo with shrimp) which also included bread with pesto sauce. Even though the food was great, some other issues sullied the experience for us a little bit. But I felt like I was in good company being there with my cousins as well as Aunt Sue and Ben. Judging by the upscale shops in the retail complex, it gave off Mount Lebanon or North Hills vibes. This place reminds me of Bravo, which has five locations in the Pittsburgh area.

The appetizers were amazing as my cousins ordered mozzarella sticks and bruschetta. To go with my fettuccine alfredo, I also ordered a bowl of lobster bisque. I didn’t get dessert like everyone else but the cannolis and tiramisu looked yummy. Had I ordered dessert, I’d have went with the New York Style cheesecake.

We capped off the night by swimming in the hotel pool until closing.

On Friday, we arrived at our hotel around 5:30 and got checked in. As soon as we got our rooms, we made plans for what we wanted to do. We ate a big lunch in Breezewood at Bob Evans, so we weren’t in a hurry to eat. I looked up information on the drive-thru Hershey Sweet Lights that were taking place Friday night.

The Christmas Lights were separate from the Christmas Candylane at Hersheypark, which also had lights. We went to that back in 2016 between Christmas and New Year’s. While riding roller coasters in December wasn’t really cool, we still had a great time. The hotel we stayed at? Not so great but at least Mainstay Suites made up for that disaster.

The light displays were really beautiful, almost similar to what you see at Overly’s. Both the Hershey Sweet Lights and that began on Friday night. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for opening night at Overly’s with the snow that fell on Friday (a little more there than in Pittsburgh).

I agree that we should have planned ahead and got the better deal online, but it all worked out. I took plenty of pictures as we passed through all of the sections and saw the lights. We wrapped up the trip with a Sheetz run across from the hotel.

The MainStay Suites has a lot to offer. For starters, the first floor has an awesome pool. Just above that on the second floor is an arcade, complete with games, as well as a pool table 🎱 and a small basketball 🏀 court, in case you’re interested in shooting hoops. Benny swam until the pool closed at 10:00. Not too long after, we all settled down and got ready for bed.

Here’s some pictures of the lights to close out the blog. I hope you enjoy them.

Judging by the weather forecast on Thursday, it’s apparent that winter has arrived in the Ohio Valley. If you were watching the game on Thursday night, how about that snow that fell during the game. It reminded me of the blizzard that hit Philadelphia during the game in 2013 against Detroit. Your opinion on the snow and whether NFL teams need to play in domed stadiums may differ. However, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect for a game between two hated rivals in two cities two and a half hours apart.

At home, we didn’t see too much snow Thursday night, but enough to leave its mark as we spent part of Friday morning brushing off our cars. Schools weren’t cancelled in our area, but just a few miles east, Mount Pleasant and Ligonier did not have school. Somerset was in the same boat as well. These places got a lot more snow and driving conditions worsened the further east you were. Cleveland’s snowstorm Thursday night turned into a rain event Friday. While the ridges and the Laurel Highlands got annihilated. I had to brush off my car Friday morning as I made my way to Somerset en route to Hershey. My usual route on PA 31 through Mount Pleasant and Donegal was going to be out of the question. If you were going skiing this weekend at Hidden Valley or Seven Springs and leaving Friday, best to exercise caution getting there.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike was my best bet to getting to Somerset. New Stanton and Donegal weren’t too bad, though Somerset was a little more tricky. The ridges of Westmoreland and Fayette, as well as Somerset, Cambria, and Garrett County (Maryland) had a Winter Storm Warning in effect. Grantsville and Accident in Maryland got the most from this storm with both towns getting over a foot of snow. Ligonier got over five inches, Greensburg came in at four inches and Pittsburgh recorded a few tenths of an inch. That snow occurred during the day and has melted by now.

I got to my destination between 12:30 and 1:00. We loaded the car and were on our way soon after. The snow tapered off around Bedford and picked back up in Breezewood. We were still experiencing rain and snow in the Southern Alleghenies going towards the Cumberland Valley, but soon after we got off the turnpike and then we arrived at our destination.

Yesterday, Mom and Dad began the process of getting the Christmas decorations out of the attic. We won’t put anything up at the earliest until Black Friday. Though, Dad may want to spend some time this weekend or early next week putting up Christmas Lights and decorations. This is all dependent on what the weather does next week. At least we’re ready to decorate the house next weekend. When I get home Sunday, I might even be up for a Christmas movie or special. This coming Christmas Eve may be one to look forward to with company coming. It might be our biggest celebration we’ve had in a while.

After two mild, yet rainy, days to start off the workweek, our weather changed drastically on Wednesday. We started out the day warm, and then temperatures fell. We went from 60s and showers and thunderstorms, to 30s and a brisk wind. It was a crazy weather day that saw tornadoes and severe weather, and a little snow to follow. 

Wednesday night I had my Greensburg Toastmasters meeting. We had a small turnout with only four people in attendance as other members were busy. But, we made it work. Luckily, I was ready to give my speech which was about celebrating five years of my blog. I talked about the history of my blog and my milestones which I was about to achieve. In my evaluation, one of the suggestions was to highlight some of those blog posts I really liked. So, I’m going to do that on December 4 when I give this speech again. Our Club President served as Table Topics Master and came up with Table Topic Questions on the fly. The questions centered around the word “fly”. Our general evaluator had a lot of good to say about our short but sweet meeting and praised me for my speech about my blog. I sent the agenda in advance due to the concert at the Palace Theatre so people can make arrangements to park somewhere else. Maybe getting it out early is also helpful in getting more guests to come as well. 

A new club is coming to District 13 very soon, and that is the Mounties Club. This is a club that will meet at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson. One of my RA’s at HGA attended college there and got his undergrad. I’m not sure if this club is closed to Mount Aloysius students and staff or open to anyone. Still, a nice addition to our District!

Finally, Christmas music is taking over as Pittsburgh’s WISH 99.7 (WSSH) is all-Christmas music. 3WS (WWSW, 94.5) should be flipping over soon, if not yet. I enjoyed Michael Buble’s Christmas album the other day from beginning to end, including “It’s Beginning To Look a Lot like Christmas”. I will be playing more holiday music this weekend all the way up to December 25. 

On Monday’s Holiday Bakjng Championship, the first half of the snow centered around Friendsgiving. The bakers made dishes to take to a Friendsgiving party at someone’s home or apartment. Watching this brought me back to a few years when I attended my first Friendsgiving party in 2021. My “sister” had planned an event the Saturday before Thanksgiving and invited me. A few years later she invited me again. Both times I enjoyed myself and I ate good.

For the first Friendsgiving in 2021, I brought pumpkin bread for everyone to enjoy. It was a vegetarian Friendsgiving as my “sister” didn’t eat meat. But I had a great time. We ate a lot of greens, in addition to great desserts. Even though my other sister took home her pie and we didn’t get to try any of it. We played Cards Against Humanity and even though Sara and I lost, it was still fun. We took pictures on her deck with everyone there. The night ended with a walk to the Johnstown Incline. Leaving that night to go home was hard, because my chosen family gets me. I was experimenting with different styles and was early in my journey. I was also in transition as I left my longtime position at WIS a few days earlier and would be starting at Giant Eagle very soon. We were still in that pandemic season with another variant soon to be discovered that would affect our holiday plans.

In 2022, we didn’t get together for Friendsgiving. I wouldn’t be able to do so anyways because of work but I had planned to FaceTime during the dinner. Turned out no one was available this year so she ended up cancelling it. At home, it was a great holiday (for me, at least) as we got past the two Covid-ravaged holidays, determined to have a great Christmas. The plan was to go to Aunt Sue’s but because we were unsure about Benny’s health, as a precaution Mom had it at her house. I made the most of the changes and had a great Thanksgiving at home. Dad and Uncle Bob enjoyed some football, and I enjoyed eating turkey and sides with Olivia, Benny, and Aunt Sue. The next day we got out Christmas decorations and I introduced myself to A Christmas Story Christmas, the sequel to the 1983 movie. It was a hit.

A year later, Sara messaged me on Instagram and announced another Friendsgiving was happening. My schedule allowed me to attend, so I was excited to go to it and get together with her and her friends. I purchased a cutting board at JCPenney a week before, and a charcuterie kit at Giant Eagle. I found her place with no problem and experience the lights of the South Side. I got a nice introduction to everyone whom I hadn’t met and remembered a few faces. I knew some of the guests from Greensburg Alliance Church when they were in youth group. This ended up being my 500th blog post last year, and I wanted to save the best blog post for the milestone event.

The Steelers win and the Chiefs lose, making for a great weekend of football. Light-Up Night in downtown Pittsburgh will have a festive feel to it. If you’re going down there Saturday night, bundle up. It’s uncertain how much snow we’ll see later this week, but my trip to Somerset en route to Hershey could be a little bit white.

If you’re a old school Dolphins fan, you were really celebrating Sunday when Buffalo beat Kansas City to hand the Chiefs their first loss. Old players from the ‘72 Dolphins popped their champagne, meaning the undefeated Dolphins season stays intact. If you’re a fan of any other NFL team not named the Chiefs, you also celebrated too because it means this team is beatable and it’s been showing for a while. Shades of so many years ago when it felt good to beat Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the evil New England Patriots empire.

This NFL rivalry weekend was a great one. Whether it was Steelers and Ravens, Packers and Bears, or even Bills and Chiefs, you were in for a great game. The Steelers won their game on a missed two point conversion that would have tied it. Chris Boswell was money with six field goals. Green Bay won on a blocked field goal at Chicago, thus continuing their dominance of their longtime rivals. The Buffalo Bills got a great game from Josh Allen to hand the Kansas City Chiefs their first loss of the season.

Thursday night, the Commanders and Eagles game looked like a defensive struggle until the home team poured it on in the final quarter to seal the victory. As the Eagles are rolling, so are the Steelers at 8-2. We’ll see what the rest of the year holds leading up to a possible marquee matchup in mid-December. That game and the Bills vs. Lions in Detroit look like Super Bowl previews. But anything can happen between now and then.

In the weather department, we are heading into a very unsettled weather pattern this week. While it may be in the mid-60’s through Wednesday, don’t be fooled because of the rain that is accompanying the mild weather. It’s going to feel festive by the weekend as we see our first snow flurries of the season by Thursday. Bundle up if you’re planning to go to Light-Up Night in downtown Pittsburgh.

If you’re in the Laurel Highlands, you may see some higher accumulations on the order of 3-6″ and even higher in Garrett County (Maryland). I was expecting some snow as I make the drive from my home to Somerset en route to Hershey on Friday afternoon. But I hope it’s still safe to drive and that the worst is over by then. We should be fine over the weekend at our destination; but, the reality is that winter is coming.