Photo Flashback Thursday

It's once again that time of the week when I take a little time out and look through all my old pictures to write a blog about.

This week's picture is a picture of my grandfather and his Nephew Red. Red used to perform yearly at the Forest Festival in Elkins. Both were very talented musicians and I remember the day this picture was taken.

My Grandfather had an old recording machine, one that you put a blank record in and it would record the sound straight to the record. It was a one time thing, if you messed up you didn't get a second chance. If it was wrong, it was wrong you might as well throw the record away.

How do I know this? They were recording that day and I was behind them making a silent but audible grunting noise so I could be on the record. This was like in 1972, so to have your voice recorded was a neat thing, unlike today with the electronic devices that everyone has grown so accustomed to.

Well anyways, they made a recording and I put in my unnoticed grunt, and it came through on the record. Neither musician expected to hear my unpleasant ugh, especially when they are trying to create a work of art.

They re-recorded it and I managed to pull it off a second time and a third time. After three attempts and they could not figure out what it was, they stayed with the third track and kept it.

I was a lil stinker.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Monday, Check. Tuesday, Check. It's HUMP DAY!!!!! If you look on the other side of this hump and just past Thursday there is another weekend over the horizon.

I think we are going to start getting real busy at work, headquarters posted a release about the Atlas and linked to the website for sequestration. They even posted the announcement on Facebook, I'm sure we'll start getting a few prank map requests before the month is over with. I welcome the chance to be busy, it's been a little slow this month when it comes to requests.

The good news is, Michelle is now 100% over her migraine that has lasted since last Friday. It had her down all weekened, was still in pain Monday and yesterday morning before it all finally subsiding and getting full relief. I hate seeing her in that much pain, she's one who can take pain and this was just kicking her butt.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesdays' Tidbits

* Well Monday is now in our memories and we are looking straight down the barrel of a Tuesday, I can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1,201 days since mine and Michelle's first date.

* It's been 424 days since our engagement.

* It's 39 days until our wedding.

* I had Michelle watch a classic movie last night we got from NetFlix, she had never seen Citizen Kane prior to last night. Rosebud.

* The annual Rosiak Party is this weekend, a party that I have been attending a number of years and Michelle and I will make our appearance once again this year.

* I'm pretty sure my niece Amy took MY 12 MP camera from the Pic Nic Sunday.

* Hi ho hi ho

Weekend Reflection

Well the weekend is now faded into our memories, but with the kids birthday party yesterday and the large number of pictures that I did manage to get and post online at my newly redesigned website. I have to say it was a great day, only Michelle had a migraine from hell and tried to sleep through it. Hopefully she is feeling a little better this morning, but we'll have to see.

It was nice to sit down with everyone for an extended period of time, like a few hours and just reflect on pic nics gone by.

As the days festivities wound down and as we reflected upon the days past as we watched the next generation get into their food fight and create their own memories, A strange thing happened. At my father's funeral, the preacher told the story of a Dragonfly and related it to my Father's life. He was a huge influence on my all of our lives, including my niece Val who has a dragonfly tattoo that she had done this year. I looked on George McClain's back and what did I see, a dragonfly. It was as if my father was there at a place we used to celebrate at to check in on everyone, to see how his family had grown.

It was a very nice day and a memorable one.

Birthday Party Today

Tha annual Erica / Josh Birthday party has now moved to the next level, Val and Bobby's house has been outgrown by the number of people planning on attending. This year Val has decided to do it the Old Fashioned Pap Hall way, we're doing it at Marilla Park. I think someone needs to bring a little CCR and play on the boom box, that and a food fight and it will feel like 1987 all over again.

It'll be nice to spend the afternoon with everyone, it's one day I always look forward to during the summer and I love to get lots of pictures.

As of right now (7:00 AM) Michelle is a 50/50 on making it. We usually do our Sunday shopping and around 8:30-9:00, she has had a very bad migraine all weekend after being up all night. We have already completed the weeks grocery shopping, note to everyone no on is at Wal-Mart at 4:00 AM, and she has given herself a shot in an attempt to get some rest. This the worst Migraine I've ever seen her have. I've suggested going to the hospital, but she is just trying to suffer it out. I guess the change in barometric pressure and the stress of the upcoming wedding.

Hopefully Michelle can either feel better or get some rest and join the fun.

Let the party begin.

Saturday Morning Blog

Well I am writing this blog a little later than I normally would, I did get up earlier but the couch and the TV were calling my name and I has to answer that call.

Not too much going on for us today, we have to take Hayley to work at 1:00 and probably do part of our weekly grocery shopping and then go buy a couple of birthday gifts for a couple special little kids who are having their birthday party tomorrow. Other than that, this will probably be an uneventful day, but you never know what the day holds.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes it is once again that time of the week that we all look foreword to, when we can take time to cease the labors for the week and take a little bit of needed time out to enjoy the fruits of those labors. It is once again the dawn of another weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday!!!!

I like these short two day work weeks, two days off, two days on and now after today another two days off!!! It's almost like I have had a weeks vacation, which to tell you the truth I haven't had a full week off paid from work in about 20 years or so. I never took a whole week at once since Helmick. Until this August that is for the wedding/honeymoon.

Nothing really on our agenda this weekend, other than probably some wedding stuff and some shopping.

Oh well, hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

It's once again photo flashback Thursday, the one blog of the week when I get to take a little bit of time out and look back through all of my pictures from the years gone by. It's nice to take a little time out every week and reflect on parts of your life.

This weeks picture is a picture of my Sister Terri and Cathy. It was taken during a time period when I was staying with them while in college and she was having one of her get togethers at the house. I'm not sure of that is from a Christmas party, or just some random get together from days gone by.

Marriage License Day

After a great day yesterday at the Jimmy Buffett concert, we met some great people and partied with them, the storms held of until after we were out of there and I had the best location to tailgate (Against the road) it has come to an end. This was mine and Michelle's fourth Buffett concert together and it may have been one of the funnest ones that we have been to yet.

On to today, we're both off work once again today. Today's festivities however include us going and applying for and obtaining our Marriage License. We're within the 60 day time period that they are good for with our August 6th date, so we are going to get all the official paperwork to make it legal when that day gets here.

Hope you people working today have a great hump day.

Fins Up

Your normally scheduled Tuesday's Tidbits has been interrupted this week so that we may bring you the following Margaritabville Blog.

Yes today is the day that the Parrot head Nation will assemble in Burgettstown PA, where people will be wearing clothes of all colors and pretending they are on some tropical island for a few hours tonight in PA.

Michelle and I will be once again going to see Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band this evening, this will be our fourth year that we have made the trip to see Jimmy. Michelle has a Parrot in her office (Paper One) named Fin that is packed up and ready to once again make that trip with us this year.

To anyone who has not experienced this pleasure, you don;t know what you are missing.

Fins UP!!!

Big Ole Hairy Monday

Yeah today is Monday, but it's kind of like a Friday to me. I work today and then I am taking the next two days off for the Jimmy Buffett Concert tomorrow night in Pittsburgh. So even though today is Monday, it's like the start of a weekend so it's not so bad.

Today;s BLOG is going to be like my workweek, short and sweet.

Hi ho hi ho.

Oh, PS. Happy 148th Birthday West Virginia

Happy Birthday Erica Jean Nicholson

Today is a very special day to one little girl in this family. While it may be Father's day today, more important than that it is Erica Jean Nicholson's Birthday. If my math is correct she will be 7 on this day.

I can remember that day like it was just yesterday. Everyone was at the hospital waiting for the new addition to the family, Nick was pushing Gary up and down the halls in a wheel chair having fun, Bobby was watching Scooby Doo, Amy was as nervous as any Aunt to Be could ever be and I was fortunate enough to be there that day to grab a few pictures.

Val is planning both Erica's and Josh's Birthday party together next Sunday at Marilla Park. Traditionally this has been one of my favorite days of the year, this year it has grown and I am just as eagerly anticipating seeing Erica and Josh celebrate their birthdays.

If you see or talk to a very special little girl named Erica Jean Nicholson today, make sure you wish her a very Happy Birthday.

Happy Fathers Day

Today is Father's Day a day that like Mother's day has it's origins in North Central West Virginia. Father's Day had their first observance took place in 1908 to honor the 210 Fathers that were killed in the 1907 Monongah Mine explosion.

The picture I posted covers two people, my Father and my Grandfather. Both men were very influential in developing me to the person I am today, and both of them are missed today.

My Grandfather raised me until I was 13 and the time of his passing, my Father was my rock of security up until the day he died. I owe both of them a lot and am very Thankful that I had two wonderful men to influence me in my life.

They are both missed and honored every day of my life.

Happy Father's Day

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again in a quiet household in the early AM, collecting my thoughts while everyone else is losing a battle with the sandman. I'm an early riser so I am already up and at em this morning.

I am on the first of four days out of five where I will be off from work. Weekend then work Monday then off Tuesday and Wednesday for a concert.

Not too much on our agenda for the day, by the end of the year I am looking to buy a new car. I'll have the Rodeo paid off and I think I'm going to purchase a new car for the first time. We stopped at a few places yesterday to start our research, Michelle really liked a Jeep Compass, at the Waterfront Jeep Dealership.

I did vaguely mention a few weeks back that I had to go to the Doctors for a procedure to be done. I had a very large mole on my back that needed to be removed and biopsied. I had the procedure done a few weeks ago and I got the call from my Dr with my results back and it was benign.

Maybe it's time for a nap. =)

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes it is once again that time of the week that we all look foreword to, when we can take time to cease the labors for the week and take a little bit of needed time out to enjoy the fruits of those labors. It is once again the dawn of another weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday!!!!

No movies on the Mon this week, they are going to be taking a three week break from their schedule and will return in July with the Karate Kid. I'm sure all the constriction downtown is part of the problem.

For me and Michelle it's work today, off two days, work one day, off two more days for the Buffett concert, work two days and then another two days off, followed by a full week at work then a three day weekend. Woo Hoo, I'm excited to get out of the office for a while.

Photo Flashback Thursday

Maybe the more appropriate title for this blog should be "Every Boy needs a Dog". This boy growing up was no different, and this was my companion Rocky. I had had dogs that I was attached to previously like Dad and Jean's dog Mitzi, but Rocky was MY first dog.

Rocky was my buddy and was a very friendly dog, he would always get excited when someone he knew would show up, always happy to great someone. I had begged Grandma Hall and begged her for a dog, and she finally gave in and this was my dog.

We went to the city pound to get a dog and he and I instantly connected, I knew this was going to be my dog.

Rocky was with me through some tough times in my life, I got him not too long after Grandpa Hall passed away and he was there with me when Grandma Hall passed away and I entered into a new life.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

This week is actually going by pretty quick, so I can't complain. Weekend is just over this horizon that we need to go over.

We finally got a chance to really eat out of our urban garden last night, we picked a bunch of lettuce yesterday morning and ended up making some very nice steak salads with the lettuce that grew in our raise garden on the patio. We had taken some herbs out of there before, but this is the first time we were able to make a meal out of what was grown in our garden. It feels like a monumental achievement.

Not much else to say today, other than the garden it was pretty much and uneventful day. So I guess it's hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is once again behind us and we are staring straight down the barrel of a Tuesday. I can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* 1,187 magical days since I was blessed with the opportunity to take the love of my life out on our first date.

* It's been 410 days since I got down on one knee in the wee early morning and proposed marriage.

* 53 Days until that becomes a reality and we become man and wife.

* 7 more days until we head off to Margaritaville for the fourth straight year together. This will be my fifth Jimmy Buffett Concert and Michelle's fourth.

* A big shoutout to Josh Nicholson. I heard from the tooth fairy (otherwise known as Mommy) that he had perfect teeth yesterday when he went and visited the dentist.

* For you music lovers looking for a little cheap (as in free entertainment), tonight at 7:00 at Krepps Park Boparc is going to have their first Concerts in the Park series with An evening of Jazz with special guests Curtis Johnson and James Moore. This will be the first concert of the year. You might want to put on your calender that the next one will be on July 26th with, the Hillbilly Gypsies putting on a free show.

* Our garden is really kicking some butt, I actually saw the first tomatoes of the season a couple of days ago. Our lettuce is ready for the first harvest and might even be dinner tonight.

* Hi ho hi ho

Back to the Grindstone

All good things must come to an end, and that includes time away from work we call weekends. It's time to take our noses and stick them back on the grindstone for another week so that we can enjoy the creature comforts that we all so much like.

It was a pretty nice weekend weather wise, we really didn't get into too much and stayed home for the most part of the weekend. It's nice to have an occasional relaxing weekend, and for Michelle and I, this weekend was one of them. The weather was awesome, but we were movie watching home bodies this weekend with the exception of running Hayley too and from work, shopping and an occasional meal.

I'm relaxed, maybe it is a good time to head back to work. With that said hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Mid morning Sunday and Michelle and I are getting ready to go and do breakfast, take Hayley to work and do our weekly grocery shopping today. It's just a typical Sunday morning for us, nothing exciting planned, just routine.

We did receive some very good news this morning, jean will be allowed to use the church to cook for the food for mine and Michelle's wedding. That'll make it real nice and allow her to have a large kitchen with biog ovens to prepare the days feast.

Have a great day and get out and enjoy the weather.

Early Saturday Morning Ramblings

I sit here once again on an early Saturday morning, quiet place and I'm pretty sure everyone in the household has been attacked by the sandman and is in lala land.

I have to say that the events that have transpired at WVU this week and culminating yesterday with the resignation of a very good man with a lot of integrity, Bill Stewart, has me at a level where I am absolutely disgusted by my Alma Mater.

I'm not saying Bill Stewart was a world beater as a head coach, but the man was 28-12 was WVU's head football coach, that is a .700 winning percentage. Six of those 12 losses, one play was the difference in the game, meaning a fumbled ball, a dropped pass or a missed field goal was the difference in the game.

Last seasons defense was one of the nation's best, despite playing through many injuries the defense was among the nations elite.

Bill Stewart had two downfalls as a head coach, but neither constituted this. One he put faith in an offensive coordinator that really was not ready. I didn't question Mullen's knowledge of the game, it was his in game management skills where he was that was his shortcoming. Bill Stewart stuck with the man, he believed in the man, but I guess for this fickle fan base it wasn't enough to have a defense that one games instead of the offense. Bills second downfall was his clock management skills. Don't even want to go there, but neither of these should have been enough to be treated like he was.

This fan base has put blind trust into a lawyer who has lied to this fan base, is very deceptive and I honestly am not liking right now. His own son would have been, nit could have but would have been the first pick of the past springs NFL Draft and Oliver advised him to return to school. First pick of the NFL draft is an instant Millionaire, set up for life with the stroke of a pen and Oliver advised him to return to school. Like I said he would have been the first pick of the draft, Denver already stated it and he chose to return to school. This spring, figure out how many Millions that decision cost his own son.

Rant over and I would really like to extend a heart felt thank you to Bill Stewart. You have more integrity in your pinky than that snake in the grass lying Athletic Director could ever fathom.

I am as disgusted in my alma mater as much today as I was a few years ago with the Heather Bresche incident.

Rant over.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes it is once again that time of the week that we all look foreword to, when we can take time to cease the labors for the week and take a little bit of needed time out to enjoy the fruits of those labors. It is once again the dawn of another weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday!!!!

Looking for a little cheap entertainment, as in free? Movies on the Mon tonight will be playing How to Train Your Dragon tonight at the Hazel Ruby McQuain Amphitheater on the River. So grab yourself something soft to sit on, your favorite beverages and snacks and head on down for a free family movie.

Not really too much on Mine or Michelle's agenda for the weekend, but that is always subject to change. I hate sitting inside and the weather has been beautiful, maybe a geocache or two may be in store.

Have a great friday, Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I take a stroll through all the thousands if not tens of thousands of pictures that I have managed to acquire overt he years and pick one and tell a little story about it.

This weeks picture comes from about six years ago, when Nick and Terri owned the Country Inn on Rt 73. This weeks picture was from a poker run. They were the last stop of the run, meaning that they had to provide a meal and it was the place where everyone congregated at the end of the run.

I remember this being a very busy day at the Country Inn until one drunken idiot pulled out of the parking lot doing a wheelie with his girlfriend on the back of the bike. She fell off and cracked her head on the pavement of Rt 73, meaning the police came and the majority of the people and bikes you see in this picture (as well as any money Nick and Terri would have made with such a large crowd) were gone.

I think they did additional poker runs, but they were never the final stop where all the money is made again.

They did have one heck of a crowd for a while.

Hump Day

Monday, Check. Tuesday, Check. It's Hump day!!! The day of the week when you are able to look up over the horizon and see another weekend in the distance.

Michelle bought a nice King Sized bed from her brother in law yesterday, it was nearly brand new and he picked it up and was going to take it to auction, but they called us first. made us a heck of a deal and even delivered it for us, can't beat a heck of a deal like that.

Not much to say today. so it's a short blog.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Hayley

18 years ago today my beautiful daughter Hayley Dawn was born. I don't know where the time has gone, but it sure has gone fast. This picture is from her home visit before she started kindergarten. She has grown into an amazing person.

Ed surprised her Sunday by buying her an iPhone, I am going to take her out for a girls day and go shopping next weekend. She wants to buy summer clothes and get a manicure.

Kevin is taking her out for dinner tonight and when she gets home we will have cake and ice cream.

If you see or talk to Hayley today please wish her the happiest of birthdays.

Hayley we love you and hope you have a great day:)

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is now behind us and we are looking straight down the barrel of a Tuesday, can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* Let me start out by wishing Hayley Dawn Collins a very Happy 18th birthday. She turns 18 today and we're hoping to see her. Yes she lives here, but you know those young adults. If anyone wants to send her money, I'm sure she'll spend it..LOL

* For those of you counting, it has been 1,180 days since mine and Michelle's first date.

* 403 Days since I got down on one knee early in the morning and proposed marriage.

* 60 days remaining until the wedding.

* We finally got our first round of wedding invitations sent out, yesterday. We still have a few more to send once we get a few addresses to go with them. Please send them back so we can get a headcount.

* Our garden is doing very well. I'm actually quite happy with how it is developing so far. Yum fresh vegetables.

* Oh, the kids have been playing a four man monopoly game the past few nights outside under the canopy. Hayley won Friday Night and her boyfriend Kevin won Sunday night. I told Chad he needs to invent a better set of rules.

* Hi ho hi ho

Back 2 Work

All good things must come to an end, including weekends and this one was no different. It's time to take our noses and stick them back on the grindstone and get back to work for yest another work week.

Tomorrow is Hayley's birthday, but I started a couple of days early and got her an iPhone yesterday for her 18th Birthday. She was worried about breaking it, so I bought her an Otter Box to go with it. iPhones are very durable, but I figured this would allow her a little extra sense of security because she is so hard on phones.

Anyways, it's back to work today. Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Gary Allen Hall

If I were allowed to design the best little brother in the whole wide world, I would not have to look very far for the mold because I already have him. If my math is correct, this should be Gary Hall's 40th Birthday today and I am REALLY starting to get old.

If you have the opportunity to see Gary today, you know he likes to work, make sure you wish him a Very Happy Birthday today.

Happy Birthday Gary.

Late Morning Ramblings

Thanks to Michelle for reminding me that I have not done a blog today, I am such a slacker. It had completely slipped my mind and I would never have given it a second thought the rest of the day. That would have killed one heck of a streak with consecutive days that I have posted at least one blog, a streak that goes back a number of years and one that I wouldn't exactly want to start over.

Michelle has her next to last hair appointment this morning before the wedding, I guess the next one will be the morning of the wedding, and I'll be running the errands today as she gets pampered.

It's a Sam's Club kind of day!!

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes it is once again that time of the week that we all look foreword to, when we can take time to cease the labors for the week and take a little bit of needed time out to enjoy the fruits of those labors. It is once again the dawn of another weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday!!!!

I have to love this weather this week, it has been absolutely beautiful and my kind of weather. Hot with sunshine and perfect weather for my garden to keep growing. We should be starting to harvest some of the crops in the next month or so and I am rather excited about that.

If you are looking for something cheap to do this evening, as in free, BOPARC now calls it Family Fun Fest & Movie at Hazel Ruby McQuain Amphitheater on the river. Tonight is the first movie of the year and tonight's movie begins at 9:00 AM. It's a kiddie favorite tonight with a free showing of Yogi Bear




Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

It is once again that time of the week when I get to write one of my favorite Blogs, A time when I actually take a little bit of time out and look back through all my old pictures and pick one and blog about it.

Today's Picture is from August 14th, 1975 and that's me in the back row with the yellow baseball cap peeking through standing in front of Suburban Lanes owner Steve Lorenze. It was taken from a program that then Sheriff Charlie Whiston had implemented. It allowed school aged children to go to Suburban lanes during the summer and have one free game of bowling. Considering I basically lived there playing Pinball, I participated in this routine on a daily basis. I still talk to or work with a few people in this picture believe it or not.

That was a great summer, I remember we used to take snap and pops and put into the bowling ball holes and roll it down the lane and then try to hit the snap and pop on the next ball if it fell out. It was good times, it was innocent times and it was a summer filled with pinball (Top Card was my favorite game) and riding my bike all over the place.

Days gone by that I sure do miss.

Hump Day

Well with the convenience of a Holiday on Monday, we have already reached Hump Day where you can see another weekend in the not too far off distant future. Woo Hoo!!!!

I do have a Dr's appointment this morning, it was scheduled last February and they are just now able to get me into the specialist to do what he has to do. Nothing to worry about, just going to see a Dermatologist, shouldn't take that long and I should be back at work later this morning.

How do you like this weather as of late? I Love it!!! No rain, nice warm weather and this is my favorite time of the year. Have I ever mentioned that I hate snow?

Hi ho hi ho