In the News

Guess who's vacation photo made the Daily Courier?

If you take the Courier to a cool place, take a picture, and send it in, your vacation can become county news. And proof that sometimes we do leave, even if it's only temporary.

More Fun Blogs

Like I said, we spawn plenty of creative people here, it's just that they all leave. Want even more proof? Check out Mongo Angry! Mongo Smash!, The Steel Trap, and Andrea Disaster, all written by former Nam residents. Neither blog is all Nam all the time, which may be perfect for anyone needing a break from this pit of despair. You'll usually get the occasionally short anecdote, but who doesn't love anecdotes? Andrea also happens to be my friend's sister who wrote all about a Catholic Halloween party. I'll probably talk about this at length around Halloween because seriously, even though Andrea's older than me and this story takes place before my time, there are lots of small Nam/Conn Area truths laying in that beast.

Anyway, for now, it looks like me and The Fayette Patch Hunky are the only two that are all Fayette County all the time. But I'm the only one that doesn't seem to have an agenda against Mark O'Keefe, so there ya go.

Video Tribute to Zack Nelson

Zack Nelson's friends and classmates made a very touching video tribute for him that's sure to make basically everyone weep. My mom did. Sorry, Mom. I did, too, and not just because I cry in everything ever made ever but because this was truly a beautiful, heartfelt memorial



Whoever did this did a great job.

Plus if anyone wants a Zack Nelson memorial bracelet, I can either get you one or direct you to the people that can.

Also in the realm of sad but heartwarming Zack Nelson news, I've got a little something in the works. Stay tuned.

Fort Necessity Is Legit Now

When I was little, I used to love going to Fort Necessity. That's because I'm a total nerd. And I probably just liked going outside and doing stuff. But the fort's moving up from the logs in a field and old informational films of my childhood!

First, the whole place got a makeover. It's pretty now, with proper museum exhibits and a gift shop, plus a playground that includes a replica of the fort. And I thought the fort was fun back in the day!

Now they're going to have this interactive website called "Young George Washington's Adventures." It's a good thing the internet didn't exist when I was a kid. Otherwise, I'd probably still be unemployed and living at home with no friends. I'd also probably love it.

The thing is, not all kids are total nerds. So while it's cool that they now have resources to do this, and it's probably going to be pretty cool, I don't know how much of a draw it will really be. The funny thing about the Nam is it has a lot of interesting history and landmarks and they draw a lot of outsiders and make for good field trips, but that's about it. No one seems to pay much attention otherwise, which is a shame not just for the nerdy knowledge aspect but because of the programs and things all these places have.  I mean, aside from the renovations and this new website, they just had an authentic campout in Jumonville over the summer. Fallingwater drew in Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who, by the way, might be totally stealing my idea of building a similar house to live in somewhere else since I can't live in the real one.

I know people have a tendency to not see the cool stuff going on in their hometowns, but come on!

Missing the Summer Fun

I sympathize so much.

Like me, Tessa has abandoned the Nam for the 'Burgh, which is a grand upgrade, but Pittsburgh doesn't have the Yough or the Fayette County Fair or the smell of cigarettes always in the air. And rafting in Pittsburgh just wouldn't be the same. 

The Nam on Twitter: Uniontown

ktd71589 Uniontown sucks @jen_trump 3/23/12 11:40 PM

Sorry, guys. I have nothing to add. That about sums it up.

Besides, I live in Pittsburgh now, suckers! In fact, the last time I was in the Uniontown area was to hang out with my boyfriend while he was home on spring break. Know what we did? Came back to Pittsburgh, where he had his first Primanti's sandwich. What iconic food items does Uniontown have? Venison. In fact, "deer" has a tag on this blog.

Speaking of Talent

If you're in the market for short but awesome reading material, check out March by Erica Ritenour.

This time, I've actually read what I'm talking about! I loved March. In fact, I'm probably going to read it again soon. And best of all, it's free and you can download it right to your computer and probably e-readers, too, but I'm like a little old lady with those. I know nothing. But I do know March is really good, so you should get on it and read it.

Help One of Our Own!

The Nam has spawned some surprisingly artsy and talented people. I know, I know--you'd never guess it. Everyone seems uneducated and narrow-minded. But I promise we have some winners!

One of them is Rob Hensley. I've talked about Rob before. He has his own tag on the blog. That's serious business. He's probably one of the funniest, most sassy people I've ever met.  Lately, he's been up to a little of everything. After his novella, Leo's Love Story, which I have yet to read (I will someday, Rob!), he's now trying to raise enough money to bring a play to life. And you (and I) can help him!

It's called Life, Death, and a Creme-Filled Center. He's started a campaign over at IndieGogo. The goal is $2,000 by May. Rob has everything lined up--actors, director, a theater, everything--he just needs help to make it happen. He's got $525 right now. $2,000 is totally doable. Plus you get presents and nice things for donating. Unfortunately, since this is out in Los Angeles and few of us have the luxury of hopping a plane to party at will, we won't actually see this production. Unless, of course, it's amazing (I'm sure it is) and becomes super successful and tours or something. Or Rob films it or something.

And over at the campaign's page, you can hear Rob talk all about the play in his own words. He's a better salesman than I am.

I plan to donate as soon as I get paid. Rob's got plenty of cool perks as rewards for donating, so get to it! This may not be taking place in our home, but it's for one of our own and the arts always need support. I know that from experience.

Bonus story about Rob I may or may not have told before: this one time, I let him cut and dye my hair in the middle of his kitchen. I'd do it again, too, if he still lived here.

Maybe if Rob meets his goal or I have confirmation that someone donated because of this post I'll tell even more Rob stories. I promise gems.

Musicals and Stuff

• Connellsville High School is doing Cinderella, but between Mexico, my neighbors building a wall outside my room, and work, I've lost track of things. It's probably already over. Regardless, I hope it was better than the last Connellsville musical I saw, "Bye Bye Birdie." What happens when director's cast kids based on connections and favors? A terrible show. Even "Guys and Dolls" a year or so prior was really good, and I don't even like "Guys and Dolls" because of how damn long it is. But nothing will beat "Titanic." Oh, the glory days of Connellsville musicals.
• The kids over at Conn-Area are doing "Honk, Jr." I have no idea what that is, but it's Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2. All you need to do go get in is take a canned good. Bless Catholic school kids and our love of food drives.
• Geibel is taking on "Cats" next weekend on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I'll be there. I'll also be the only one totally excited because seriously, I love "Cats." I expect to see lots of alumni who mutually ignore each other and former teachers who I'll alternately hide from or talk to.

County Crime Round-Up

Same old, same old. We have:

• A Republic man who chased his girlfriend down in a car in Uniontown.
• We've got a new sexual predator! Please, hide your shock. I'm not going to go into details because frankly, I really don't want to. But that's not all! We also have a brand-new rape case. The good news is a January rape victim is seeing some justice, as the man is now in jail. Oh, and the woman was mentally challenged. Kill me now.
• There's a Gallatin Avenue Concered Citizens Association, and they're planning a meeting. I hope their concerns are the prostitutes.
• A delivery man was beaten and robbed in Brownsville. I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often.
• Speaking of things I'm surprised don't happen more often, an inmate sprayed a prison guard with urine and feces.
• Oh, and then there's the guy who violated his supervised release by trafficking drugs and the two bags of cocaine police found during a traffic stop.
• Someone shot a horse in the head. The only good thing about that is the horse may have died instantly, which is better than the animals that get tortured or abused or neglected or tied outside all day. With the exception of my boyfriend's dog, who once refused to come inside during a storm and preferred to hang out on the porch.

Don't Let a DUI Stop You

Everyone in this county knows someone with a DUI, but don't think those or even the checkpoints that are gonna be out this weekend stop anyone from drunk driving. In fact, I know they don't. How do I know this? Because I've heard tell of people taking alternate routes because they know where the checkpoint is. In fact, one night at Sherwood's, I wasn't even drunk or driving and was advised by a patron to be careful due to the cops out. I've told that story before, but I just want to repeat that he told me to be careful because of cops and not because drunk driving is a terrible idea.

Stay classy this weekend, Fayettenamese.

Nelson Family Featured in Book on Forgiveness

The Nelsons really are impressive for forgiving the driver responsible for the death of their son in a car accident in the fall, and I'm not the only one who's noticed.

They're featured in the new book Why Forgive? By Johann Christoph Arnold, who met Trish at a school assembly where she was speaking about Zack. The section is brief, but it deals with their ability to move on and their struggle with it.

There's a free ebook online here, plus paperback copies on Amazon.

Perryopolis Is a Meme

Bless you, nerdy and creative Fayettenamese. Keep up the good work. First Fayette County and Geibel Problems on Twitter and now Perryopolis Memes on Facebook.

Perryopolis itself is nothing but a giant speed trap. Even the fastest of drivers know to adhere to the speed limit there, or at least watch for the cops.

As for Marlene's, my dad always uses it as a kind of a teaching tool. Not to stay out of strip clubs, mind you, but to stay out of the baddest of them all, Highway Playground.

Seriously, the departure of the Punk Priest is a big deal, and I don't blame anyone for being upset. If I still lived in the Nam, I'd haul out to wherever he is for church. Dude knows what's up, and my mom would just be glad that I was in a church willingly.

The king of all flea markets. Everything Laurel Mall wants to be. Outdone only by that beast up in the mountains in the summer. Or should I just say "up the mountain"?

Fayettenamese Take Mexico

Just because I'm no longer a college student doesn't mean I can't go on a spring break trip. While you were wondering why I haven't been talking about whatever has been happening the past week, I was in Mexico, where my friends and I took pictures for the Daily Courier at Chichen Itza.

My only regret is that we didn't think to pose with it when we did this:

I'm at the top, just like I was in all those eighth-grade sleepovers.