Bad play ?

[Dankenstein]

Hi thank you for reading my post. I am relatively new to NLHE and am trying to improve my game. I recently ran into this hand that busted me out of the table today. I am hoping to receive more experienced players opinions of mistakes I made during this hand.
Full Tilt Poker - No Limit Hold'em Cash Game - $0.10/$0.25 Blinds - 8 Players - (LegoPoker HH Converter)

SB: $31.10
BB: $28.65
Hero (UTG): $9.50
UTG+1: $23.70
MP1: $29.25
MP2: $19.95
CO: $10.00
BTN: $4.20

Preflop: Hero is dealt A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (8 Players)
<font color="red">Hero raises to $0.85</font>, UTG+1 calls $0.85, 6 folds

Flop: ($2.05) 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 Players)
<font color="red">Hero bets $1.50</font>, UTG+1 calls $1.50

Turn: ($5.05) J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 Players)
<font color="red">Hero bets $2.50</font>, <font color="red">UTG+1 raises all-in to $21.35</font>, Hero calls all-in for $4.65
Uncalled bet of $0.00 returned to UTG+1

River: ($19.35) Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 Players - 2 All-In)

Pot Size: $19.35 ($0.95 Rake)

UTG+1 had T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (a straight, Queen high) and WON (+$8.90)
Hero had A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (two pair, Jacks and Eights) and LOST (-$9.50)

The main mistake I can identify is playing AJo UTG. I understand that AJo isn't a good hand from this position and I often limp with it here as well as AQo (any opinions on whether that is a good strat would be appreciated), but this time I decided to raise it to mix things up a bit.
Thank you

[DaycareInferno]

you're definately better off raising AQ/AJ utg than you are limping them, but there's no shame in just dumping the AJ there. its probably not a situation you want to mess with at this point.

if you're going to play with a shortstack, you will end up making a lot of calls like this when you're likely beat. playing a shortstack is viable, but i think you will improve your play much faster playing with a full buyin.