Back To My Roots

Last minute, I decided I would head back to Geneseo for my final Alumni Weekend.  I've been saying that for three years now.  I had a great time meeting the littlest Gibson Girl and catching up with everyone else.  Geneseo is slowly attracting more businesses: Applebees AND Staples!  Sadly, their Starbucks closed, but a locally-owned coffee shop, Muddy Waters, opened on Main Street.  (The town won't allow chain stores on Main Street, so hopefully this non-chain coffee shop located on Main Street, within walking distance from campus, will last longer than the off-the-beaten-path, not within walking distance from campus Starbucks.)  Other than that, everything else is the same: gossiped on the 14 Court couch, played beer pong (they use water in the cups now - beware of Swine Flu!), got my slice (or two) of Mia's, had a Kelly's drink, spilled half a whiskey coke at the IB, stood in the "Orange Knights" corner, and topped it all off with breakfast at Bank Street.  Old habits die hard.

Guess who engaged in daytime drinking?

Trendsmap

Trendsmap: real-time local Twitter trends plotted on a Google Map.  Looks cool so far.  I love anything that overlays statistical data on a map. 

On a similar note, whenever I read violent news stories in Syracuse, I plug it in to Google Maps to see how far it is from my apartment, well, looks like someone has already done some of the work for me. Maps and data also reminds me of this cool project created by a high school friend and this game I started to play, but never finished due to frustration with the overloaded servers. 

Some more cool uses for Google Maps can be found here, and the Mashable review on Trendsmap here.

Signatures, Small Businesses, and Screen Names

I'm pretty sure my UPS guy lied to me.  I [used to] have a good relationship with him since I am a steadfast Amazon Prime fan.  My package was due to be delivered yesterday.  Last night I checked the tracking site, apparently the attempted delivery was unsuccessful because I was "unavailable" to sign.  First, I was definitely home.  Second, I definitely can hear my doorbell in any room since my apartment is all of 600 square feet.  Third, when I got home today the package was here, on my doorstep,  no signature required.  I think someone was hungry and wanted to celebrate Eid ul-Fitr with the fam rather than deliver my package.  Actually, that's understandable.

Three local Pittsford boys founded Enertia Beverage, a company targeting the desire of seemingly every 20-something guy: energy drinks (no, not Megan Fox). I always like seeing the success of people from my hometown.  Economists are saying that now (yes, with the economy tanking) is actually one of the best times to start a new business.  Case in point: shows like Shark Tank and companies like Kiva.

I feel bad for people born 20 years from now.  Their screen names and gmail addresses are going to have to be really creative.  All the good ones are taken.

Random Thoughts

1. Starbucks' coffee machine was broken today. I think that's against the law.
2. I typically like everyone. I can probably count the number of people that really rub me the wrong way (not even hate!) on one hand. What do those people have in common? Know-it-alls. I like to use a well-placed passive-aggressive smiley face for these people.
3. Car washes are one of my favorite things.
   
4. I'm getting ready for Fall: just bought a new candle and an apple divider. No more cutting apples the hard way for this girl.
   

Beach Hair in Upstate New York

Boys, carry on. It's time for some girl-talk. I've been on a perma-quest for products to make my hair look like I just left the beach. I think I finally found my faux-beach fix. Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly (the name doesn't hurt either) gives my hair that perfect amount of messiness. I wanted to try Bumble and Bumble's Surf Spray, but both my Wegmans and Target has been out of stock for three weeks and counting. This led me to believe that the stuff must rock. However, I bought the Herbal Essences products for probably less than the bottle of B&B. I salute you, Herbal Essences, for my messy chic hair.