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LAUREN'S CREATIONS
Blogs
Why the heck am I going to college?
I am going to Rock Valley College because I want to pursue my specialized media production certificate. I am also a competitive bowler. I would like to take my love of bowling and my love of media and make it into a successful career. I have been fortunate to be able to work with the Professional Bowlers Association"s Fox and FS1 broadcasts. I learned how a professional show is produced at all aspects and even got to interview some of the top bowlers in the world. I plan on working with them again when the tour comes back to Illinois and Wisconsin this year. This is why I am in school and working hard to get my certificate.
This is the Funniest Video Clip on the Internet
I think this compilation of hilarious bowling fails qualifies for one of the funniest internet videos. Thank goodness when I have been bowling that this has never happened to me, knock on wood, but I may have jinxed myself. People don't understand that bowling can be a dangerous sport.
The Person Who Has Influenced Me the Most in My Life, Whom I Have Never Met, But I Would Love Too is: Josh Groban.
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I absolutely love his music. I first learned about Josh Groban when when I was over at my grandparents house, when I was very young. They would play the DVD Live at the Greek and I remember wanting to watch it all the time. I would always ask for Josh Groban DVDs and CDs for Christmas and Birthday presents. When we lived in Belvidere, IL, I would come home from school, and after my homework was done, my parents would let me go downstairs in our finished basement to watch my Josh Groban DVDs. My favorite one at that time was the David Foster Children's Day Concert. It featured Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Yolanda Adams, Nick Carter, Peter Cetera, Michael Buble and Enrique Inglesias. Josh Groban has influenced me so much because by watching his videos and listening to his music, that he collaborates with other musicians, I learned that I like other types of music and artists. I currently have a very big range of music that I like. I can listen to Josh Groban or classic rock or even hard rock and everything in between. Another reason Josh Groban is so influential is his voice is so mesmerizing and calming. I am a competitive bowler and when I get off the lanes I use Josh Groban's music to unwind from the stress of the day's tournament. My favorite song is "You Raise Me Up." It is such a beautiful and inspiring song. Listening to his music, I find it very emotional, touching, and heart warming. I can just chill out and focus on his amazing vocals. Josh Groban has so much talent. Not many singers have voices that are so clear, sound flawless and can hit the high notes like he can. Groban has proved that he can work with anyone, young or older and be successful. He and David Foster make an incredible duo. Because of Josh Groban, I have really come to like David Foster and the more I learn about him, he has had an incredible amount of influence with some amazing stars and started careers of some, including Josh Groban, who David Foster discovered in 1999 at the age of 17 years old. Josh Groban has been extremely influential in my life, even though I have never met him, because it is wonderful that I want to listen to a song for the singer and focus on his incredible vocal talent that is able to bring so much emotion and feeling to his music and take me away to a different place for a while as I am listening to it. That is why I feel Josh Groban is popular with people of all ages.
This Week I Have a Fun Blog Topic:
The 5 Songs That I Feel Like Are the Best and Why.
My first song is: You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban. When I listen to this song, Josh Groban's voice is so mesmerizing and the lyrics are so beautiful and moving, you can't help but be inspired and feel emotional when you listen to this song.
My second song which I think is one of the best is: Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard. This song has a catchy and very energetic chorus that everyone can sing along with. "Pour Some Sugar on Me" really captured the tone of the 80's classic rock and was the defining song for Def Leppard. It is as popular today as it was back in the 1980's. When you hear this song, you can't help but to start dancing and digging out the leg warmers and the aqua net.
The next song that is on my list of one of the best is: Welcome to the Jungle-Guns N' Roses. I love this song because Slash is such a talented guitarist and Axl Rose has such powerful vocals on this song. The combination of the two of them make this a 80's hard rock anthem. I use "Welcome To the Jungle" to help me prep for a long day on the lanes at my bowling tournaments. Just like "Pour Some Sugar on Me," "Welcome To the Jungle" stands the test of time and to this day is still being played on the airwaves.
My next song that is on my personal list that I think is great is: Circus by Britney Spears. When you really listen to the lyrics, you can get sad because they are emotional because I think Britney is singing about her feelings about being an entertainer, basically her whole life. There is a different part of the song that I like as well. It has a catchy tune and good beat. It could almost be considered a dance hit and I liked the video.
My last song on my list of the top five best songs is: I Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith. I feel like it is one of the best songs because it is considered a rock ballad that has an orchestra. Not many rock songs have an orchestra. Even though this song is a ballad, it features Steven Tyler's incredible vocal range. "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" was in the film "Armageddon," which sent the song to number one on the charts.
Since the Super Bowl was just played, the clip that I am including highlights Aerosmith playing, what some call the best Super Bowl halftime show ever, back in 2001. Aerosmith is joined on stage by NSYNC, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, and Nelly. I hope you enjoy the show.
A Strike of the Heart
Melony had never been much of a bowler. The last time she set foot in a bowling alley was back in high school for a friend's birthday party, where she spent more time on her phone than doing any bowling. Here she was, back in the neon-lit lanes of Sunset Lanes,
all because her best friend, Lisa insisted it was the perfect place to go for some fun.
As Melony laced up her rental shoes, she couldn't help but glance over at the lane next to them, where a group of friends cheered each other on. Among them was a guy with a bright smile, sending a ball down the lanes, Melony noticed that his strike made the pins explode in all directions. She noticed his name on the overhead score card was Jake.
"Watch and learn," Lisa teased as she took her turn, sending her ball into the gutter. Melony laughed and took her shot, she was surprised when she knocked down half of the pins.
It was during the second game when their paths finally crossed. Melony was at the ball return, reaching for her ball when Jake approached from the opposite direction, their fingers brushed together as they reached for the same ball.
"Oh, I'm sorry about that," Jake laughed, his eyes twinkling.
"No problem," Melony replied, she could feel her cheeks getting warm and flush.
"You're a pretty good bowler for someone who doesn't bowl much," Jake said with a friendly smile.
"Thanks, but I'm just winging it and having fun," Melony said with a shy grin.
As the evening progressed, Jake and Melony found themselves gravitating toward each other. Between frames, Jake taught Melony how to improve her approach and release, while Melony showed Jake her secret talent for balancing a bowling pin on her head.
When the final game ended, Jake turned to Melony, with a hint of nervousness, "You know I had fun tonight. Maybe we could do this again sometime?"
"I'd like that," Melony replied, feeling flush once again.
As they walked out into the cool night air, Melony couldn't help but think that sometimes the best things in life come when you least expect them. Love, it seemed could strike even on the bowling lanes.
Days turned into weeks, and Jake and Melony made a tradition of their bowling nights. What started out as friendship had grown into love. One evening, as they stood on the lanes, Melony looked over at Jake and smiled. The neon lights seemed to dance in his eyes, and she realized that their love story was one she would never have expected. It was fun and filled with moments that she would cherish forever.
From that night on, Melony knew she would always have a soft spot for the neon lights of Sunset Lanes, and the guy who made her believe in strikes of the heart.
The Happiest Moment in My Life and Why it Meant so Much!
I went to Belvidere North High School, in Belvidere, IL. My dream as I came into this school was to make their bowling team. I made Jr. Varsity my Freshmen and Sophomore years. I worked extremely hard and practiced all the time during the off season, which paid off. I made the Varsity team both my Junior and Senior year and even became a NIC 10 or Northern Illinois Conference Scholar Athlete those two years. The happiest moment in my life came the night of the Northern Illinois Bowling Proprietors Association awards banquet. It was held at the old Giovannis restaurant, I was a senior, and this was my last awards banquet. My teammates and I had just finished a delicious sit-down dinner and were mingling with members from other teams that we had competed against all season but were still friends with. Ann Buja, who has been a part of high school bowling for years, a lot of us think of her as our second mom, she was in charge of the awards banquet. She had the hard task of trying to get over 300 people to their seats so the program could start. One by one and team by team different awards and scholarships were passed out. There was one award left. It was a bright, shiny, new bowling pin with a platform around the bottom. I thought to myself that looks like a special award. In the next few minutes I was about to find out how special.
Ann Buja came back to the microphone and said there was one more award to be handed out. "This is going to be an annual award starting this year and it is called the inspire award." Ann Buja told the crowd. She also said "the winner of this award is always smiling, has a positive attitude, always cheers for her teammates and her competitors, this girl makes everyone around her better." Then I heard, "Your first annual inspire award winner is Lauren Schaefer, from Belvidere North High School." I could not believe that my name was being called. As I walked to the front of the room, some people were giving me a standing ovation, it was so overwhelming. I received the beautiful award from Ann Buja, along with a huge hug. She started crying as she told me this award also came with a $500.00 scholarship. I gave an impromptu thank you speech. I wasn't even nervous talking in front of such a large group. I pointed out that my parents were crying, then I went on to thank my personal coach, coach Schockley, I then thanked my high school coach. I tried to get out that being a senior, leaving my high school friends and bowling family is going to be hard but after seeing my parents, coach Schockley, Ann Buja, and some in the crowd crying I completely lost it too. I was so overcome with emotion. I had so many people come up to me that night and congratulate me. The night was so magical. I ended up using the scholarship money when I first started at Rock Valley College. This is why March 17, 2019 is the happiest night of my life.
What is the Most Hated Band and Why I Like Them
There is a band that everyone seems to hate but I really like their music and music videos. That band is Nickleback. The band has become a cultural phenomenon and it almost became fashionable to express dislike for the band. Some people have said that Nickleback comes across as inauthentic and focused on making money rather than having their focus on artistic expression. The widespread dislike for Nickleback is complex, and there is no single reason why, but there are several contributing factors:
1. Many listeners feel like Nickleback's songs follow a predictable and repetitive formula. This perceived lack of originality has led to accusations of being overly commercialized. This excuse does not make sense to me, because you could say this about a majority of musical artists.
2. During Nickleback's peak in their popularity, during the 2000s, their songs received heavy airplay on radio and television. This led to overexposure that some people did not like. This is just an excuse to hate on Nickleback, because you can scream overexposure with a majority of rock and pop stars.
3. Some listeners of Nickleback's songs felt the lyrics were lacking any depth or substance. Most rock songs or artists, you can't even understand the lyrics.
Nickleback has had commercial success. They have sold over 50 million albums worldwide, they have received numerous awards and nominations, including Grammy nominations. In 2009, Billboard ranked Nickleback the most successful rock group of that decade. In 2023 the band were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
I started listening to Nickleback from my mom and dad's influence. We have music going in the house all the time and driving to bowling tournaments, we always have the music blaring. I downloaded songs and videos from Nickleback to my Amazon Music account. My favorite songs are: Far Away, How You Remind Me, Rock Star, Photograph, and Animals, my favorite video is This Afternoon, because it is so funny. Chad Kroeger, who has always been the lead singer and is also a guitarist has such a great and unique voice. That is one of the reasons that I have like Nickleback all of these years.
Despite all the criticism, Nickleback's popularity and commercial success is undeniable. They are continuing to tour around the country, in fact, they are playing Alpine Valley, in East Troy, WI, on July 18th, 2025. While a segment of the population dislikes this band, Nickleback clearly resonates with many others, like myself. I will continue to enjoy their music.
Rockford's New Gem: Hard Rock Casino
Located in the heart of Rockford, Illinois, the Hard Rock Casino has quickly become very popular for entertainment and excitement. Since it's grand opening, August 29th, 2024, this vibrant place has brought in visitors from all over the country, eager to experience the legendary Hard Rock style. The new casino sits on the former site of the Clock Tower Resort that was a staple in Rockford for so many years. The Hard Rock Casino is a beautiful building, right off of a major highway, I-90, so it is very accessible. As you drive in you are greeted by a 63 foot tall replica of Rick Nielsen's checkerboard guitar, from the famous rock group, Cheap Trick, who are from Rockford. The Hard Rock has more of an upscale feel than your typical casino. It has something to offer every adult. Hard Rock Casino does not allow kids, even in the restaurants, which has been a complaint by some people. The Hard Rock has 64,000 square feet of gaming floor, 1,300 slot machines, 50 live tables, which includes a poker room and a sportsbook. The casino also offers six restaurants, including the famous and always fun Hard Rock Cafe. The food is great and there is a stage where they can have live music, usually from local bands. Hard Rock Live has been a huge hit since the casino opened. They have been able to bring in top, national touring artists to perform in the state-of-the-art 23,000 square foot venue, which can seat about 2,000 guests. For the shoppers, there is the Rock Shop that is the perfect place to purchase Hard Rock branded merchandise.
Whenever I go to the Hard Rock Casino, the employees are all so friendly. I want to interview different staff members and get their views about what it is like working at the Hard Rock Casino Rockford. I also want to talk to some of the visitors and see what they enjoyed about the casino. I want to see what both groups, overall, think about the new gem in Rockford, Illinois. Here is an outline of how my larger Hard Rock Casino Rockford project will be put together:
Rockford's New Gem: Hard Rock Casino
1. Introduction
A. Brief introduction to the Hard Rock Casino Rockford
2. History and Development
A. Overview of the journey to establish the casino
B. Opening of the temporary casino in November 2021
3. Gaming and Entertainment
A. Overview of gaming options
B. Hard Rock Live
4. Dining
A. Descriptions of the six restaurants
5. Community Impact
A. Casino's contributions to organizations
B. Educational partnerships
a. Rockford Promise initiative
b. Scholarships
6. Visitor and Staff Testimonials
A. Quotes from staff: how employees feel about working at the Hard Rock Casino Rockford
B. Quotes from visitors: how guests have enjoyed their visit to the Hard Rock Casino Rockford
LAUREN AND THE PROS!
If any of you were watching Fox on March 22nd, 2025 around noon, you saw the two best bowlers in world that compete on the Professional Bowlers Association tour, in an epic battle for a World Championship title. This match took place at the national bowling stadium in Reno, Nevada. EJ Tackett is from Bluffton, Indiana where as Jason Belmonte, or Belmo, as he is known on the tour, is from Orange, New South Wales, Australia. Their bowling styles are completely different as well. EJ bowls one-handed, while Belmo invented the two-handed style, that is so popular today, especially with younger bowlers. EJ ended up winning this battle 242-222. This was EJ Tackett's third consecutive PBA World Championship title. He also has 27 career titles, seven of them being majors, and EJ has been named PBA Player of the Year three times. Belmo has had an amazing career on the lanes as well. He has also achieved three consecutive World Championship titles, thirty-two PBA career wins, with fifteen being majors, and Belmo was named PBA Player of the Year seven times. When you read through the accomplishments of these two incredible, and Hall of Fame worthy bowlers, you see why their battles are so epic.
I have been extremely fortunate to meet and form friendships with some of the best bowlers on the planet. I have seen several of the Tackett vs Belmo battles up close and personal, as well as other pro bowlers' matches. I have been in the audience for the Fox/FS1 shows, I have interviewed several of these pros for school projects for Rock Valley College. I have bowled with multiple pros in different pro-am tournaments for years and I have been so fortunate to work with the PBA and their Fox/FS1 media crews for several live shows. One thing I know about these professional bowlers, they are all so nice and always willing to help me out if I need a video or anything for school. Last October I had a class at Rock Valley College, Advanced Audio Production, I had to do a project that involved doing Foley, or sound effects after I shot a video. I was bowling in a pro-am in Wisconsin and asked some of the pros if they would do a video for me, they said yes, without hesitation. The three pros that helped me were EJ Tackett, AJ Johnson, and Marshall Kent.
The Professional Bowlers Association will be having a fun event coming up April 4-6th 2025. It is the All Star Weekend in Waukesha, Wisconsin at Foxx View Lanes. I will be bowling in the pro-am Friday night and then I will be working behind the scenes on Saturday and Sunday. The show on Saturday will be aired live on FS1 and will feature one-handed bowlers taking on the two-handed bowlers. On Sunday, the show will be, the always exciting strike derby. This where the pros have to throw as many strikes as possible in a race against the clock. This is always a crowd favorite. The strike derby will be taped on FS1 for a later broadcast. Both shows are at 11:00am. Tune in to see some great bowling and a lot of fun competition.
Dreaming Big: A Future in Media with the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA)
In the world of sports, the PBA epitomizes the spirit of competition, friendships, and passion. As a competitive bowler myself, and my love for media production, I have imagined my future within the media world of this incredible organization. The idea of combining my love for bowling and my love for media, into a career is not only my goal but it is my calling and my passion.
Bowling, as a sport is not just about knocking down pins, it is about perseverance, precision, strategy, and a commitment to excellence. The PBA has played a huge role in promoting the sport worldwide. From organizing the tours, running special tournaments, to celebrating the legends of the game, the PBA represents everything that makes bowling such a popular sport.
Media is very important in bowling. You currently have the Professional Bowlers Association on Fox, FS1, and Bowl TV, which is an online streaming service. Whether it is through broadcasting live events or doing something like creating a documentary, which I did when the tour stopped in Mount Prospect in February 2024 for the Illinois Classic tournament. These play an important role in the success of the PBA. Social media is also very important. This is a way for the pros to be able to interact with their fans and also a way for the sport to attract new audiences.
One of the most exciting aspects of working in media for the PBA is the potential to go beyond the lanes and learn about the journeys of these competitors. Being around the pros like I have, you learn about a lot of the feel good stories and some hardships as well.
Since I have been a media production student at Rock Valley College in Rockford, Illinois, I have been fortunate to work with the PBA and Fox/FS1 media crew four times. The first time was at the World Series of Bowling, April, 2023, in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. I filmed for two weeks and got to interview EJ Tackett, the number one bowler on the planet, after his twentieth championship. The next time was at the Illinois Classic 2024, in Mount Prospect, Illinois This is the tournament that I filmed for my documentary for my cinematography class. The PBA, Fox/FS1, and the pros were all so nice and accommodating. I did interviews with four pros, including EJ Tackett again as well as two hall of fame bowlers. The third time that I worked with the PBA was The Illinois Classic 2025, this time in Vernon Hills, Illinois. Then in early April of 2025 I filmed the All-Star Weekend in Waukesha, Wisconsin. I interviewed EJ Tackett again, after he had just won his third consecutive World Championship title and his twenty-seventh PBA title.
After my experience with the PBA, Fox, FS1, I see my future as an opportunity to contribute to the sport I love while sharpening my skills as a media professional. It is a chance to be part of an organization that always celebrates excellence and inspires generations of bowlers, there is now a PBA Jr, for child competitors up to the age of eighteen. The dream of working in media for the PBA motivates me to work hard to make my dreams come true.
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