I always wanted to incorporate my concert tickets into a sort of mosaic timeline, but i never got around to doing it. In the year and a half that Lynn and I have been a couple, we have accumulated a vast amount of tickets and I really wanted to pull our tickets together to create a representation of our relationship. It wasn't until after I saw this blog article that I knew what to do.

Here is every ticket that we could find of places and events that we have been. I am really looking forward to adding more tickets and I have in mind the places where our 3 upcoming concerts will go

JK

Change has come!




JK

Breakfast with Medusa

JK

Why drink poison Romeo??

JK

I have made the choice to never shop at Wal-Mart or Sam's Club again in my life. Over the past week or so I have learned a lot about Wal-Marts business dealings and how they compensate their employees. Walmart makes 12 billion dollars annually and in 2008 the average full time employee made $2,000 below the poverty line. Wal-Marts wages are 16% lower than the average retail store. For a company that makes as much money as they do, it is shocking to see how poorly they pay their workers.

And It doesn't end with just wages, did you know that Wal-Mart recieved over 1.2 billion dollars in tax subsidies from state and local governments to open up stores in areas. So that means our tax dollars are going to help Walmart open up stores across the Nation... I can think of about 1 million things our tax dollars would be better spent on.

If you want to learn more I reccomend watching the movie Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price or you can check out this website. I urge your to read about Wal-Marts health care plans, how they force employees to work off the clock and how the negatively impact the environment and communities they are placed. Did you know that as of 2006, there were 320 empty or soon to be empty Wal-Mart buildings in the U.S. This is valuable land that could be used for schools, residential housing, or green space, but instead it is an eyesore. How sad!

You cant break my heart, its liquid...It melted when I met you
JK

After my two week long Christmas hiatus, I am now back at work and really pleased to be here. Being away from Pittsburgh for 2 weeks was a lot of fun but I am definitely happy to be back. Sleeping in 3 different beds, living out of a suitcase and having little to no privacy became very frustrating. During our time home, Lynn and I got to see a lot of friends, we watched my brother get married, we got some great Christmas presents and I visited Cooperstown, NY (baseball hall of fame and Ommegang brewery).

Since being back we have been working very hard to get our lives back to normal. Besides unpacking and cleaning, we desperately needed to go to the store, do laundry, and take down our tree so we can put all our Christmas decorations away. There is still a lot left to do but I am happy with the progress we have made.

Hopefully by this weekend I will finally have posted the pictures from our time spent in Old Forge, Bloomsburg, Cooperstown and Bethlehem. Keep an eye out!!

and who the hell can remember which way the east wind blows
when you're lying on the ground staring up at an inverted compass
JK

For the longest time, my favorite book has been Michael Chabon's "Mysteries of Pittsburgh". I really get swept up in the whole "last summer before you have to grown up" storyline and I enjoy the characters that Chabon creates within the books chapters. It was safe to say that I was very excited when I heard they were going to adapt the novel into a movie. Sunday night I finally saw the movie. Where excitement once rested, has now been replaced by disappointment.

After reading the preliminary movie reviews, my expectations were low. But I did not expect the movie to be as bad as what I saw on screen. I mean there was a great story and some quality actors to work with.

Overall the movie was more of a comedy that you watch on cinemax at 2 a.m.

Don't get me wrong the movie did have some bright spots. There was some great original music and the Director really got some great shots of Pittsburgh. There was also a nice scene reminiscent of the Garden State pool scene and the ending was pretty true to form.

I have never walked out of a movie, but throughout the mysteries i fought the urge to leave numerous times. I feel that I have to reread the novel asap to get the bad taste out of my mouth. I do not know if this is good or bad news but the movie now has a distributor and will be showing on movie screens across the States soon.

If there is a god, he is laughing at us
JK

Before the Penn State game yesterday I went to McBroom's to pick up some beer for the game, and its a good thing that I did. While looking through their selection I saw Harpoon's 'Wintry Mix' variety which contained one of my favorite beer's. Winter Warmer is here!!! I am a firm believer that it isn't the holiday season until Harpoon releases their winter beer. So now the holiday season can begin.

Currently McBrooms only had Winter Warmer in the variety pack but hopefully that will change the next time I need beer. On a side note, the variety pack also has a limited edition chocolate stout, which tastes like a melted chocolate bar...



Just a few honest words is all I need
JK

You know its election season because all the crazies are coming out and making outrageous comments. Here is an example, Dennis Prager, a right-wing radio host speaking before an audience of 3,oo0 in Minneapolis said this "Equality, which is the primary value of the left, is a European value, not an American value".

I do not know what Mr. Prager was thinking because it clearly states in the Constitution, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. I do not know what bothers me more, the fact that Mr. Prager said what he did or the applause he got from the crowd. You can check out a post on you tube below and let me know what you think



On a lighter note, I scheduled my classes for the spring. I will be taking two classes (Algebra and Intro to Information Systems and Science) and will be in class Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. The times will be varying and I am looking forward to the challenge.

Yes We Can!
JK

Here is a picture of some Jack-o-Lanterns that Lynn and I carved. Mine is on the left and Lynns is on the right

JK

I just wanted to comment on the sheer stupidity of the human race. A story broke this morning detailing a McCain supporter who was apparently mugged while at an ATM. The mugger supposedly beat her unconscious and then carved a B on her face. When brought in for more question, the McCain campaign volunteer confessed that she made everything up and inflicted the wounds herself.

This just baffles me! What was this person trying to prove, that if Barack Obama was elected, everyone would have to have a B etched into her face? When I read about stuff of this nature, it saddens me that people do not have the mental aptitude to make proper decisions.

everybody’s sick for something that they can find fascinating
JK

Jesse Dylan created this video on Creative Commons



JK

There are many reasons why I love the fall. Here is one of them...PUMPKINS!!



JK

Its October and we have been living in Pittsburgh for a little over 7 months. In that time I have become a full time employee with the University of Pittsburgh and Lynn found a job working for Dicks Sporting Goods at their corporate head quarters. All in all everything has worked out well for us. We have been working on paying off our bills and spending what money we have left over on fun stuff for our apt. We also have met some really great people and found a bunch of awesome places to eat.

This coming January, I will be going back to school to complete some courses in hopes to earn another Masters degree. I am looking forward for the opportunity of attending the University of Pitt and furthering my education but I am also a little nervous about working and taking classes at the same time. I feel that my wii time will take a significant hit.

I am starting to realize how much I took for granted having my family and friends so close. It has definitely been an adjustment not seeing them as often. It will be nice when Lynn and I head back to Eastern PA in a few weeks.

They say everything can be replaced, yet every distance is not near.
JK

One of the biggest topics of conversation around the city has been the recently administered Drink Tax. Allegheny County has instituted to the chagrin of its residents a 10% tax on all alcoholic beverages sold in bars and restaurants. Pittsburgh bars are up in arms because the tax throws off all their daily drink specials. The taxes purpose is to help pay some of the county's overdue public transportation bills. What it really has done is anger the cities people and proves to be a topic of interest in future election. Personally, it has not been too much of an inconvenience to myself, mainly because I do not spend as much time in bars as I use to. It just shows something else that I have to get use to in my life.

In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.
JK

I am definitely not the same person that I was a few years ago. The most recent example of this was a recent gift from my parents. For Easter, my parents gave Lynn and I a gift card to Pier 1. The old Jason would have scoffed at such a gesture, but the new and improved Jason was absolutely ecstatic.

With our gift card Lynn and I were able to purchase:

1. Wine Rack
2. Serving Bowl
3. Serving Platter Dish
4. Coffee Creamer/Sugar set
5. Canister set for flour and sugar

Oh well, I guess I'm something of a ne'er-do-well-who fell asleep at the pealing of the steeple bell
JK

I am starting to think the grocery store is my favorite place in the whole wide world. On average Lynn and I spend about an hour per visit and usually are there at least twice a week. We usually go at it with a list or on the more daring moods do it on the fly. In Pittsburgh, we are conveniently situated right smack dab in the middle of numerous stores including Giant Eagle, Trader Joes, Whole Foods and many more.

I am starting to notice somethings about the shopping in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh citizens like to stock on their would-be essentials. I am learning that essentials for Pittsburghers are bananas, cereal, bread and eggs. It is not out of the ordinary for people to leave the store with three or four of each of those items.

Another thing that I have noticed about food shopping in Pittsburgh is that the name of one of the supermarket chains is called Giant Eagle. A city that is dominated by sports, most importantly football would have a store name after two of their tri-state rivals the giants and the eagles. These are just two of the things that I have noticed in my short sting in the city.

www.lynnreichard.com
JK

Hey everyone!! Here are some pictures of Lynn and I in Pittsburgh. Enjoy

PICTURES

Go DUKE!!
JK

Well I have started my new job and I have a few days under my belt. I really like what I will be doing and I also really like the people that I am working with. So far I have not been working on too much besides getting acquainted with the new surroundings and completing compliance modules. Tomorrow I will be getting my feet wet in the companies many servers.

I have compiled a short list of three areas that my new job is far better than my last: 1) I have a increasingly better computer with administrator status. 2) Today I mentioned that I did not have macromedia flash on my computer and instead of being told to find an alternative or download a trial, my supervisor Tim reached into his desk and gave me a copy of the program. 3) Last but not least I have been my very own office. This office is just temporary until the department increases its office space. Those are just three of the perks.

With any new job comes new responsibilities. I spent this evening enrolling in my benefits. I had to pick my health, dental and vision plans. I also had to choose my primary dental and health physicians. After that I picked my life insurance plans and then I had to name my beneficiaries. It was just two weeks ago when I had no insurance at all and now I have the best insurance the University of Pittsburgh can offer. This brings a smile to my face because I am much needing some check ups.

I got it all here in my head, there's nothing more needs to be said
JK

Well since the last time I blogged a lot has happened. I will be started my new job tomorrow at 830 in the morning. I have to report to Craig Hall for Orientation and then on Tuesday I need to report to my office for my official first day. The last two weeks off from work have been very nice, but I am definitely ready to start my new job and to make some money.

Money has become increasingly tight lately. This is because both Lynn and I failed to receive our last pay checks. I have heard most people say "well thats just bad timing" and my answer to that is, yes it was. My old company and Lynn's current did not pay us for work we did. The timing could not have been worse. There is not much we can do about it now, except wait until Monday and call so we can get to the bottom of it.

Friday night, we had our first date night in Pittsburgh. We started by going to Mr. Smalls (amongst many things, it is a concert venue) to purchase tickets to see Grace Potter and the Nocturnals with the Duo tonight. It becomes quite obvious whose idea this was. Afterwards we traveled to a Ethiopian restaurant called Abay. I definitely recommend Ethiopian cuisine, it was a very delicious and modestly priced meal. After that we wanted to go up the incline and get some pictures of the city, but since it was raining we had to settle for our second choice....the Warhol Museum!!! I was not upset about that. I like a lot of Andy Warhol's art and from walking through the museum I got to see a lot more. It also gave Lynn the chance to shine and wow me with her knowledge of art. All and all it was a fantastic evening and we hope for many more.

All I have left to look forward to is some Sunday afternoon cleaning, the concert tonight and my first day of work tomorrow. I will be trying to post pictures sometime this week. So check back often and maybe you can see some of them

You give me something to remember, each time you look into my eyes
JK