It's Softball

Well in my opinion it is now my favorite tome of the year, last night was our first practice of the year and it was great to see everyone together again having a great time and just being, well, the guys.

After practice we managed to drive over to MiHALEY's for a few beers and some dinner. I had eaten earlier in the night so I didn't eat, but I think the guys really like the place, the atmosphere and the food.

Both Mike and Patty had a chance to stop by and meet everyone, Mike was out running errands and Patty was still over at the store and came over for a broom. I managed to talk to both of them for a while as the guys feasted and created a few new drinks.

It was a good day, and the first day of my favorite season of the year...softball.

A fun filled day ahead

Oh yeah, can you pick up on the hint of sarcasm? It's going to be a busy tie wearing six hours of meetings and three hours of traveling kind of day. 90 Minute seminar to run out to catch the shuttle to Pittsburgh, to a 90 minute teleconference with a bunch of geologists around the country to another shuttle back to Morgantown to possibly be able to make it back to our first softball practice of the season.

yeah, I'm going to have a very busy day to say the very least. I hate wearing a tie, but if I am going to be in Pittsburgh, wearing a tie is about par for us contractors.

Hope you have a great day, I'll have a busy one.

Softball sponsor for 2009

Over the last two seasons we have been sponsored by MVP Paintball, a very gracious sponsor and one of the best that we have had. Actually the two owners are team mates of ours and everything was good. This season however we received bad news that they would not be able to sponsor us this season. It was off to find a new sponsor.

Enter Michael Toth and MiHALEY'S, our 2009 Softball sponsor. Chris Ostein and I went over yesterday afternoon to talk to Mike, Mike had agreed to sponsor us a couple weeks ago but this was the first time that we had all had a chance to sit down and talk.

Funny thing is, MiHALEY'S is located on two floors, one of which used to be three apartments that Mike and Patty used to rent out. Here is the irony, a former team mate who left the team last season used to live in one of the three apartments that Mike converted into the bar.

Hopefully the guys on my softball team have found a new place to hang out, I think Chris was quite impressed with everything including the outside deck on the second floor.

Thanks Mike, you stepped up for us this year.

A MiHALEY'S Food review...again

A little over a month ago Michelle and I visited MiHALEY'S and I wrote a BLOG Entry about our visit. We loved the Hot Sausage Hoagies and have ordered take out numerous times since then.

Last weekend we heard a recommendation from a completely unbiased source and out of the blue about them going out to Red Lobster and couldn't get into the door so they tried MiHALEY'S and thought it was better.

Well last night Michelle and I ventured over across the street and tried the Seafood Alfredo that we had heard so much about. I was impresses with the Hot Sausage, I thought I would give the pasta a try now,

Sat down and the owner got our drinks for us, kind of made us feel like we were getting the VIP treatment. I wonder if him being my cousin has anything to do with this? Anyways the Weedhawks were playing, it had been a while since we last saw them so that was an added bonus.

The food, well it once again even went beyond expectations. The shrimp were large, fresh and done perfectly. The delectable creamy Alfredo sauce was just proportioned right with the thick pasta noodles to give it the perfect taste and make it a more than enjoyable dining experience.

Both me and Michelle gave it two thumbs up, and even though I had high expectations going in, it not only met but exceeded them for our dining experience.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

It is once again that tine of the week when you cease the labors of the week and take a little time out to enjoy the fruits of our labors. It is once again the dawn of yet another weekend and another Big Ole Hairy Friday.

If you are looking for a little cheap entertainment, Saturday Night in Grafton there will be a Patsy Cline Impersonator to go along Casey (Willie Nelson Impersonator) in the building beside he Grafton Bowling Alley. We were up there a few weeks ago and it was good time, bring the family and make sure you buy a few things edibles from the snack bar. Michelle's Sister and Brother in law will be running it.

The NCAA Basketball tournament will be down to the Elite 8 after tonight. It does kind of stink to know that WVU is no longer playing in the post season, this is where I had them exiting rather than where they did.

I haven't had a chance to talk to anyone this week, maybe I'll catch up a little with as many people as possible.

Have a great day and enjoy the start of your weekend.

I finally upgraded

I have been one who did not like the Microsoft Office Suite at all since Vista had been introduced. I just wasn't fond of the entire interface and I have liked my Office 2003 and have never upgraded.

Being an SAIC employee, I am allowed to purchase a Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise edition for home use for $19.95, so I figured why not and ordered it. I have two computers at work, one runs 2003 and one runs 2007. If I would just go out and buy it, we're looking at $700.00 for this piece of software and I could get a copy for less than $20.00/

I prefer 2003, however to keep up with technological changes I have upgraded to the 2007 edition.

Nothing else going on, the NCAA basketball tournament re-starts tonight.

Hump Day

This week is going pretty quick, we are already at the hump and ready go head back down the other side. I can say I think I am ready for another weekend already and my guess is Michelle is too.

The NCAA basketball tournament starts again tomorrow, but WVU is no longer in it and my bracket is already pretty much shot already. I'll pay attention to a few of the games, but I don't know how close.

The good thing is that Spring Football is finally under way. I'll be going to the spring game this year as I pretty much do every year. I'm ready to see not only starting QB Jarrett Brown, but backup Quarterback Coley White (Pat's brother). Should make for an interesting spring game.

Hopefully the Mountaineers will return a solid team and be able to return to a BCS Bowl this season. I think everything is in place to be successful, we'll have to wait and see how the season plays out though.

Have a good hump day.

How about a tidbits

* Every once in a while you come across a little bit of writers block and the only solutions you have is to either not do a blog post or do a tidbits, I don;t like not being able to post so you get the tidbits.

* I talked to Web today at work, he's at the DOE doing a little contracting for a while. He said Nick and Terri are finally getting settled in and getting everything organized.

* I'm still updating all my contacts on my iPhone, there was a lot of information lost and I just need to repopulate the data. The important ones are done so far to an extent, I've still got a ways to go. I would like to get as much data about people as possible.

* As I was writing this BLOG (the night before) one of Michelle's cats got itself into one of the most precarious of situations. We're still trying to figure out how she got in butt end first in a tight and elevated space.

* In case you have not noticed, Illegal fireworks are about to be legal in West Virginia. It is currently in the state legislature and about to be voted on. The fireworks would be taxed at 10% and the revenue from the taxes would be used to support local Volunteer Fire Departments. We'll be able to buy the real stuff this year without having to go to Ohio or another neighboring state.

* How's that for a blog without having anything to say?

All Good Things Come to an End

All good things do come to an end, WVU Men's Basketball season ended Friday afternoon, the students spring break which is now over with and an influx of students comes back into town and my long three day weekend is now officially over with.

Can't say it wasn't a great weekend, it was pretty good if you ask me. We actually grilled out last night with hamburgers, hot dogs and and home made french fries to wind the weekend down.

Today however, it is back to the grindstone and back to work for me. Back to sitting at my desk for a few days and answering a few questions to people making a heck of a lot more money than I do. Next Monday I'll have to return to Pittsburgh for another meeting, mainly so I can be the technical lead on a WebX with a few geologists around the country as we determine a final well grid ranking.

Hi Ho Hi Ho......

We bought a new TV

Yesterday Kim and Robert with a little help from their close friend Ron brought me the entertainment center that Kim has been wanting to get rid of. It's a beautiful one and very much appreciated. Last night as we were moving things around, the back end of the 25" TV we had in the living room came out and pretty much ruined that TV as it broke the solder off of the board inside the TV to where it connects the cable.

So, we headed out and decided to get a new TV. We decided on a 37" High Definition Vizio and thought it would fit nicely into our newly given entertainment center and as you can see it does. I will now need to go to Comcast and get the HD service to go along with it.

The Wii, the VCR and all the movies that we had scattered all over the place fit into it quite nicely as the rest of the movies are in their own little container.

It is going to make for some very nice family TV viewing. We now have a TV and entertainment center that is not just overshadowed by the large family room. It makes it kind of nice that as I am typing this I have a fire going in the fireplace and the TV is on sportscenter.

Some Saturday Morning Rumblings

I'm up and I think that everyone else is asleep all nice and cozy in their beds, except Chad who is draining a fish tank, and resting peacefully. I have a nice fire going in the fireplace for a little early morning ambiance. We bought a little over a cord from Michelle's brother in law last week, so we're using it to heat primarily. The heat has been shut off for a while (it was an oven down here with it on), so the fireplace makes it nice and comfortable.

Did anyone watch that basketball game yesterday? Wow you talk about being a little disappointed, I have West Virginia going to the Elite 8 in my basketball bracket and they lose in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Dayton. Not taking nothing away from Dayton, they played hard and played to win, and managed to pick up their first NCAA Tournament Basketball victory since 1990 with a 60-68 victory over the Mountaineers. I guess I don't have to pay too close of attention to the Sunday games as we are not in them. It was a good season, a little disappointed with the way it ended, but a good season. I look forward to the 2009-10 season after we only lose Alex Ruoff and add a little more beef upfront.

What's with this cold weather, it's springtime the temps should be much higher than they are right now (it's 21 Degrees outside as U type this) and I am ready for a little bit of that warm springtime weather.

I've not had a lot of luck electronically in the past few days. My computer crashed and after I got it all back up and running I lost all of my contacts in my iPhone. I've started adding them all back in, but it will tale some time to get everything just right again. Shoot me an e-mail with your addresses (email and physical) if I haven't already talked to you.

I think Kim is going to stop over today, she has a TV stand that she wants to get rid of since they got their new Big Screen TV, so I'm going to take it off of her hands for her. I think I can find a place to put it.

I hope everyone has a great day.

Have I mentioned

That Phil the Groundhog is no longer news ans we have turned the corner, the Vernal Equinox aka Spring has peered its wonderful head officially saying goodbye to winter and the significance of a Rat in Pennsylvania.

Woo Hoo!!!!!!

I HATE SNOW, I LOVE SPRING!!!!!!

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes it is once again that time of the week when we take a little time our from our labors of the week and take a little time out to enjoy the fruits of our labors. It is once again the start of yet another weekend and another Big Ole Hairy Friday. Except I'm off today and started me weekend yesterday.

I have been busy the last couple of evenings, got a nasty computer virus and I couldn't find my restore disc. So, I ordered one from Dell and it was here the next day. Wed night I re-installed Windows without reformatting the Hard Drive, thinking maybe that would do it. Well, that was an obvious no and I had to reformat it yesterday before I left for work and go the majority of it up and running last night when I got home from work.

If you are a basketball fan, the Mountaineers play this afternoon at 3:00 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Dayton is a pretty good team and we are going to have to play a solid game to beat them, I'm hoping we do because I have the Mountaineers winning in all my brackets.

Michelle was under the weather a little bit the last few days, I think she has caught the stomach flu again. Hopefully she'll be feeling a little better today and I don't catch it.

Have a great Friday and let's cheer on the Mountaineers.

Happy Birthday to Amy

It's been a year or two since that birthday, but if you see Amy today make sure that you take a little time out and tell her Happy Birthday.

I meant to post this last night (for this morning) however I am still fighting the major computer battle.

I would like to take this time out and wish Amy a Very Happy (insert your favorite number) Birthday. I started telling lies about my age about this time.

Let the Madness begin

I hope if you are playing a bracket that for March madness that you have it filled out already. I'm participating in a few of them, and basically all of mine look pretty much the same. SEE MY BRACKET. I love this time of the year, the next four days will be filled with NCAA basketball with the losers going home and the winners staying to play another day. They'll stay until they are crowned National Champions or they lose in a later round.

In the last five seasons the Mountaineers made an Elite 8, a Sweet 16, An NIT (Another tournament) Championship and another sweet 16 run last year that came oh so close to another Elite 8. There are 10 teams that NBC says could win it all and guess what local Morgantown team is #8 on that list.

I have an all Big East Final (3 of final 4) with Louisville beating Pitt in the Championship. It pains me to say Pitt will be in the finals, especially since we just showed everyone how to beat them in the Big East Tournament and gave them their biggest loss of the season.

Let the Madness begin.

Computer Problems

Looks like I get to restore my computer again as soon as I get my restore CD's from Dell. I was hacking some software and screwed up and got a virus that just invaded my computer and actually deleted Windows Explorer, basically making my computer worthless.

I tried to do a restore, but noticed I did not have all then needed CD's, I must have lost one in the move. I got on Michelle's machine and ordered a new one.

Of course my Windows machine isn't running, but I run a dual boot system and have Ubuntu running also. So, I can be online and have access to all my files to back up, I just can't run the windows operating system at this time.

Pittsburgh was nice yesterday, it was nice to get out of the office and hand out some business cards to a few feds.

Have a great day.

Happy St Patricks Day

Remember to wear your green today, it's St. Patrick's Day

Back to the Burgh Today

I'll be traveling again today back to Pittsburgh for a meeting on a project I am working on. Not the same one as last time I had to go up, a different project and meeting with different people.

I should be back in town at my normal time this afternoon, it'll just be nice getting out of the office for a little while today to hear what is going on with this new project.

I would say the majority of my day will be traveling.

Sherri's Visit

yesterday morning Michelle and I stopped over to visit Sherri while she was in. She looked great and was in great spirits and wanted me to put a little music on her MP3 player before she had to Charleston later yesterday evening.


She was going to stop over Saturday evening, but it was Michael's birthday and never got a chance to stop over. So Michelle and I took the opportunity to go over and visit for a little while before she had to return to Charleston.

I have her address if anyone would like to write her, I'm quite sure that she would appreciate any and all correspondence from anyone. I think Michelle and I will start to write her on a regular basis. That way we can keep up with what is going on in her life and maybe be able to give everyone updates from time to time. If anyone would like the address, feel free to contact me and I will get it to you for a small price....LOL

Hi Ho Hi Ho, it's back to the grindstone we go.

It has been one Magical Year

It was one year ago today that I went and saw arguable and laughably the worst movie that I have ever went and paid to go see, 10,000 BC. With me for the first time was my former boss at Valley Mart as we were on our very first date.

I remember she was nervous as heck and her heart was beating out of her chest the first time I kissed her. That was one year ago today. The past 365 days that have arguably been the best of my life so far.

I've spent Holidays with someone I love, done numerous and adventurous GeoCaches, WVU Sporting events and just lived a full life. It's been a year later and I have finally officially living with someone, the first time in my life as strange as that may seem.

It's been a special year with a special lady, let's hope she'll have me for a few more.

To the love of my life, I would like to say Happy Anniversary sweetie.

14th National Championship

The WVU Rifle team just won it's 14th National Championship in School History. Just a few short years ago they were on the brink of extinction, bu the fans spoke up and would not let this illustrious program die.

That is 14 Time National Champions. I think every championship that was won in between the times we won our last, was coached by either Dave Johnson, a WVU Alumni and National Champion or Glen Dubis, a Morgantown native.

Terri and Nick's new place

Stopped by to help Nick and Terri move earlier this afternoon. It's a nice little farmhouse out on Joes run with a gorgeous view if you are like me and getting tired of seeing so many neighbors around you. Their new home has the peace and serenity that one who may live an event filled life may envy. They have a beautiful hillside to look at from their backyard, it's all farm land, so the grandchildren will have a nice yard to run around and enjoy themselves in.

I think they will move in and Terri will make this a home like she did with their old house on England Road. I can see this being a fresh start and a new beginning for both Terri and Nick.

You know the bar ownership has taken so much of their time over the past few years that they just need a place to sit down and relax in. I think this will be what they were looking for.

Moving Day, Part II

Earlier this year Michelle and I moved to our current location on Van Voorhis Road. Today, my sister Terri and Nick will be moving to their new place.

If you are not doing anything today, I'm sure that they sure can use the assistance in moving today.

-------------------------------------------------------


Anyone stay up and watch that Basketball game last night? Syracuse followed their 6 OT game from the night before to beat my beloved Mountaineers in OT last night 69-74 in the Big east Semifinals.

It was a great game to watch, but we came up a little short. Tomorrow is selection Sunday and we didn't hurt our potential seeding for March Madness.

It should be a busy day for us today.

It's a Big Ole Hairy Friday the 13th

Yes it is once again that time of the week when we cease the labors of the week and take a little time out to just sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labors. It is yet again the dawn of yet another weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday. This month, for the second straight month we have a Friday the 13th for those of you that may be a little bit superstitious.

First off, let me just say that beating the #2 ranked (twice #1 this season) ranked Pitt Panthers last night 74-60 was absolutely awesome. We beat the #2 team in the Country in the biggest College basketball stage in the Middle of Madison Square Garden. Pitt may STILL be a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and we play in the semi finals tonight at 9:00. IT IS a great day to be a Mountaineer.

I am quite excited that Sherri Toth will be in town this weekend. I was working yesterday on a nationwide exercise emergency response and my phone rang. Much to my delight it was Sherri telling me she will be at home this weekend.

This is going to be a special weekend for me, Sunday it will be one year ago that I took Michelle out to see the horrible movie 10,000 BC. The movie stunk and I'll be enjoying my one year anniversary of my first date with my sweetheart. I'm not sure what we will do, but we have to do something. It's not too many times in my life that I have dated anyone for one year straight without an ounce of problems or turmoil. I'm a very lucky guy.

The WVU baseball team will be home for a series with Sienna the entire weekend. There will be games Friday at 3:00, Saturday at 1:00 and I think that that is a double header and Sunday at 1:00. It's calling for it to be in the 50's, it may be doable.

Ok the easy part is done

Murderer's row of basketball tournaments, and I am referring to the Big East Tournament enters the quarterfinals tonight when the WVU Mountaineers will try for the third time this season to beat Pittsburgh.

Last night WVU beat Notre Dame for the second time this season with a 74-62win last night to advance to the quarterfinal round. Alex Ruoff lead the Mountaineers with 25 points and Freshman Devin Ebanks had a career high 18 rebounds in the win. The win runs the Mountaineers record to 22-10 on the year and pretty much secured not only an NCAA Tournament bid but a decent seed for the tournament that starts next week.

Last nights win was the easy part though, to win the Big East Tournament we will have to beat Pitt, then most likely UCONN and finally Louisville in the finals to win the Big East Tournament. When the NCAA tournament pairings come out next week, there are four regions of 16 teams, these three teams could probably be the #1 seed in 3 of the 4 brackets. Talk about a big hill to climb in front of you, this could hopefully be an exciting week of basketball.

Bring on the Panthers, maybe the third game this season will be the charm.

Hump Day

I made the grave mistake yesterday of not blogging in the morning, or should I say the night before, so I am going to make sure that we don't make that mistake two days in a row. As absent minded as I appear to be this week, I'm making sure that my readers will have their daily dose of George's Journal with their breakfast and coffee this morning.

For those of you interested, West Virginia Men's basketball team will play today against the winner of last night's Notre Dame v Rutgers game in the Big East Tournament. Hopefully we can win this one and make it the quarterfinal round of eight. Hopefully we'll be ready for them or it will be a very short tournament.

A few updates, First I talked to Terri last night, she and Nick have found a place off of Joe something road. They will be finalizing everything today and should be moving in shortly and I'm sure they will appreciate a hand if anyone wants to pitch in when they move.

Talked to Amy last night, she wants me to convert a few files for her from her old camcorder. I told her no problem and I would be more than happy to do it for her.

Michelle and I watched the movie Role Models last night. It was actually quite entertaining. See the trailer.

Late BLOG

Wow, my creative but empty mind just remember that I forgot to BLOG today. Needless to say I have been busy at work and Michelle has had some major Migraine headaches the last few days so my attention has been on other things.

It's been a busy week at work for me to say the least and I have to take another trip to Pittsburgh next week for the kickoff of another project I will be working on.

Clock is ticking, it's almost time to head on home.

A Date

Last night I had a cheap date with Michelle. It was a really simple date that will create a memory that will last forever and we can easily do it again.

I came up with the idea earlier in the afternoon, we had went shopping and I found a watermelon that I just had to have. A nice succulent seedless one, but that was beside the point. It was a nice little snack though.

In our backyard there is a nice walkway and a big concrete bench at the other end of the yard. So, I invited Michelle to go out with me and eat a little watermelon at a time when just 24 hours earlier it would have been dark.

We sat on the bench along the walkway in the yard and enjoyed each others company, a little conversation, and some watermelon. Now to most people you may be thinking so what, but to me a guy who lived in small cramped apartment for the last eight years, it was a nice evening at home with a special person. Michelle has had a Migraine all weekend, that magical watermelon has helped ease the pain and created a special memory on our night of the 359th day since our first date.

Ir was a good weekend.

A Little Less Sleep

If you are looking at your clock and forgot to turn it back last night (unless it is set to the atomic clock), you might be a little late if you need to be somewhere at a specified time this morning.

Days will now be longer, it'll start getting dark later and spring is just right around the corner (damn rat caused the delay). Michelle and I were walking around the yard yesterday and eying up the planters and noticed that some of the plants have started to sprout.

The WVU Baseball team swept a double header yesterday and the WVU basketball team dropped a heartbreaker last night to Louisville 59-62 in front of a near packed house and a Prime Time network game with the "A" Crew here calling the shots.

The baseball and Women's Gymnastics teams will be in action this afternoon if you are looking for a little cheap entertainment.

Get up and go out and enjoy the weather.

Going to be a Beautiful Day

The sun is up the birds are chirping and it is going to be a beautiful day out today.

I'm going to try to find out why I have had so much car trouble the last month or so. Every time there has been a weekend or a chance to look at it, we've either been busy or it was cold as heck outside. Signs are pointing to the Catalytic Converter being blocked.

Tonight Michelle, Me, her Mom and Hayley will be traveling to Grafton to see her sister Chris's father Casey Ferguson perform.



Just for Michelle, who is currently making my breakfast of Turkey bacon, Eggs and High Fiber English Muffin, I had to write something below the video. I guess you can say I am blogging for my breakfast.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes it once again that favorite time of the week when we cease the labors of the week and take a little time out to sit back and actually enjoy the fruits of our labors. It is once again another Big Ole Hairy Friday and the dawn of a nice weather filled weekend.

First off as a reminder to everyone, that you will lose an hours sleep this weekend as we spring our clocks forward and welcome a little more daylight at the end of the day. Obviously this means we are on the downside of the season I don't like and entering the dawn of the season I love. The time of the year when the smell of fresh springtime emanates through the air ticking our sensitive nostrils with a hint of fresh and new foliage. I time when trees start sprouting their buds and when the beauty of so many bright and cheerful colors just starts to develop over the landscape. Have I mentioned I love the spring and summer time and hate snow.

The weather is expected to be in the 70's this weekend, so even though it is calling for rain today, the rest of the weekend looks to be filled with great weather. Michelle's Mom is coming into town Saturday and staying with us Saturday evening.

WVU is playing their first home baseball game today and over the weekend, I have to try to make it to at least one game. Michelle and I went to about a half dozen games last season and loved it.

Enjoy your Friday and get out and enjoy yourself this weekend.

Great Game Last Night

First of all a very big thank you to Gerald Bell for providing me and Michelle not only tickets, but great seats to last nights WVU Basketball game against DePaul.

WVu came out on fore and cruised to an 83-62 win lead by Alex Ruoff's team leading 20 points. DeSean Butler (16 Points 10 Rebounds) and Devan Ebanks (14 Points 14 Rebounds) both had Double Doubles and Kevin Jones almost had one (13 Points 9 Rebounds) himself. It's rare a WVU player turns in a Double Double, or at least it was prior to Huggs returning home, and last night we had two and almost a third with limited action.

Just to see how the future looks, WVU's three Freshmen combined for 39 Points, 24 Rebounds and 10 Assists as they combined shooting .630 Field Goal percentage.

Gameday will be here Saturday in the last Home Game of the Season, the Big East Tournament starts next week.

Once again thank you Gerald Bell.

Over the Hump again

Yeah we're getting closer to that time we like to call the weekend again, but we're not quite there yet. It is however the middle of the week and over the hump day.


I know, this is no where near as exciting as a Big Ole Hairy Friday, but bite me. Sometimes content isn't the easiest thing to come up with.

I did get a brief chance to talk to Amy last night, I think it was the first time I had gotten a chance to talk to her since Christmas. I told her to bring Ralphie and Kaiden on down sometime.

Talked to Val too briefly as I started to make my rounds with a few phone calls.

Talked to jean briefly, a guy I work with was looking to buy a house next to her Brother Richards and we were trying to get a little bit of information on it.

Tonight courtesy of one Gerald Bell, Michelle and I will be going to the WVU v Depaul game at the WVU Coliseum. We'll be cheering the Mountaineer's on to victory number 21 on the season.

Enjoy your hump day.

Dear Phil

Listen you little sawed off runt excuse for a groundhog, just because you saw your shadow a month ago doesn't mean anyone wants anymore of this cold damned weather. I know I am ready for springtime and probably so is the rest of the people living around the country. No More snow, no more cold weather and I mean it.

You have had your day in the sun, the snow mizer has had his run and Christmas was over with a couple of months ago. It's time to hang it up for the year and call it a season. Take a trip to Australia and snow on them.

It;s time for the new season, a time for the heat mizer to come up from down under and heat it up up here. I'm ready to hit the rails and the softball field, time to geocache and spend evenings out having fun instead of staying home and watching old 1980's movies.

Come on Phil, it's time to a little time in the sun, not the snow.

A back to work kind of day

Yep the fun for the weekend is now over and it's time to take our sorry butts back to work and back to the grindstone that we call work.

It was a pretty good weekend overall, Michelle wasn't feeling too well Saturday Night, I thought we should have made a trip to the hospital, but she's old school and refused to go.

We had a cookout Saturday evening and Trish, Arron and Layla paid us a visit. Hot Sausage and cheeseburgers were on the menu for the evening as we fired up the four main burner Char-Broil and cooked out. We even managed to fire up the side burner for our peppers and onions for the Hot Sausage.

I missed the game today, but WVU put it to South Florida 64-50 this afternoon to give the Mountaineers that magical number of 20 wins on the season.

And finally Kim and Robert got their first taste of Ryan's. They sounded impressed, I think they were thinking it was more like a USA Steak Buffet, but obviously it is much better and I think they both left impressed.

Last Day in Business

Today is a day of new beginnings, a day after the era of Nick and Terri owning a bar has ended it's long four year run. It is the dawn of a new day and a different start of a new and exciting era in their lives.

Yesterday was the closing of Nick and Tavern on Old Rt 73. I had to stop down one last time as I have always enjoyed the times I have been there to the company that was always there. For Nick and Terri their patrons were more like family than friends. They had spent both good times and bad together and created everlasting friendships and bonds that will last them forever.

Prior to Nick and Terri's they had the Country Inn, but there was just something about Nick and Terri's that The Country Inn just didn't seem to have. Maybe it was the interpersonal touch of all the regular patrons who always seemed to bind together and have a good time.

Nick and Terri's may now be gone, but it will never be forgotten. It was a dream of the two proprietors to make happen on less than a shoestring of a budget and for three years they made it happen. A real testament of their character, resources and will power.

Today is a new day, the first day after Nick and Terri's. The first day in the chapter of their new lives, taking the friendships, the knowledge and the integrity from the adversity they had learned over the past few years and have given them a strong base in which to build upon. Nick has been working as a successful independent contractor the last few years and Terri is getting ready to make the career transitional move.

With great sadness we say goodbye, but with great anticipation we embrace their futures.