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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is once again in our rear view mirrors and we are staring straight down the barrel of another Tuesday, I can't for the life of me think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* 1,418 days ago I went on my first date with a woman who would later be my wife.

* 641 days ago I got down one one knee in the back yard and popped out the engagement ring and asked her if she would Marry me.

* 178 days ago, we tied the bonds of matrimony in front of our closest friends and family.

* 329 Days left to get your Christmas shopping done for 2012.

* In two short days I determine of I am going to have Groundhog for dinner or take a groundhog out for dinner. Yeah Phil I'm talking to you ole buddy.

* I do have to say that when I woke up yesterday morning I was not feeling very well. I did manage to make it to the gym and work all day, as I'm sure I'll manage to do today.

* Speaking of the gym it's a 100% cardio day for me. I usually do 3.25-3.35 miles on the treadmill on Tuesday's and Thursdays with a small but significant incline. That's twice a week when I do better than the equivalent of a 5K run walk. The other days I only do 30 Minutes of cardio, I go the full 60 minutes today.

* We had fried cabbage and kielbasa for dinner last night. Ironically I ran across an article that talked about all the benefits of cabbage and sauerkraut. Me? I just love the taste and we do it about once a week.

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday, January 30, 2012

Monday Again????

If there is one day of the week that there is a general consensus on as to everyone's LEAST favorite day of the week, I think Monday would win with an overwhelming majority. It's the day we stick our noses back on the grindstone and get back to doing what it is we do so we can enjoy the weekend.

We did upgrade our bedroom humidifier yesterday, we had one for the past couple of years, but both of our sinuses have been killing us this winter, so we got a better one that puts out significantly more mist and is well worth it.

So much for the procrastinating, the gym is calling my name and needs to see me there ASAP. It is a lifting and cardio day, so rest assured I'll get a very good workout in today. I have been going to the gym pretty much every day since we got back from our honeymoon last August. I'm feeling great, feeling strong and fit at a level that I haven't felt in a number of years.

Not sure what my work schedule has in line for me, there is a meeting in Mexico for the Atlas that I have been working on for the past year this week. I would have loved to have had the opportunity to go down, it was initially offered last year, but never came to full fruition. All the people who are actually working on it, are not the ones going. Ironic isn't it? LOL. Now if we can just arrange for the Next NatCarb Atlas to have the official kickoff meeting in Hawaii....(yeah, don't we all wish)

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Weekend Windown

Well we took a little road trip to JC Penney's and Tanger Outlets yesterday, to see if Penney's was running any sales and Michelle wanted to pick up a few things at Tanger.

JC Penney's has me wondering, I love their Van Heusen collection but I was under the impression they are either transitioning the store for a big sale in a few days or they are eliminating that collection which would really....well kinda suck since basically all my shirts are Van Heusen's. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

I missed it, but the Mountaineers were royally screwed while playing at 4th ranked Syracuse yesterday. It was a very controversial ending as the game tying basket was goal tended by Syracuse and the Big East refs did not make the call and we lost 63-61. When commentators are calling for the three refs to be suspended, and not our commentators but ESPN's Digger Phelps then you know something is wrong.

We did watch the Womens team put a 53-22 beating on Marquette last night on TV.

Normal chores and shopping today for Michelle and I.

Have a good one.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Saturday Morning Ramblings

I once again sit in a quiet household with everyone sleeping except me and the TV in the background. Lewis Black is doing a standup routine behind me on HBO and I'm sitting here trying to collect my thoughts for the new day.

Michelle finally got her bone stimulator yesterday. She broke her foot this past October, they finally put it into a cast earlier this year and they finally processed all the proper paperwork with my insurance that allows her to have one. We were told last month that many insurance companies will not allow for them, mine covers it at 100%. She has to wear it for ten hours a day until her cast comes off and then a few months after the cast comes off as well for ten hours a day. I'm just thankful she's on my insurance now, which I have to say is top of the line. I am very lucky in that regard.

Hayley is going to try to get a job at the Valley Mart, she had been working at Bed Bath and Beyond but was getting next to no hours there, so she is going to get something where getting there isn't an issue and she can get a few more hours under her belt. It's just right across the street, so that will be much easier for her for the time being as all she has to do is walk.

Yesterday was a hared day for Michelle and the kids, it was six years ago yesterday that her Husband and the kids father passed away in the middle of the night. It was an emotional time of remembered for all of them, I never had the opportunity to really meet the man other than seeing him once, so all I could do is offer my support and comfort in their time of remembering him.

Hi ho hi ho

Friday, January 27, 2012

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 say this was a pretty quick week for me, maybe it was just the nice spring time like weather for most of the week but this week did seem to fly on by. I'm hoping that this is a good thing and not the calm before the storm.

I don't know what the Mrs. and myself will be getting into this weekend, obviously we'll be doing our weekly shopping, laundry and weekend chores before Monday. Maybe we'll find something fun and entertaining to do this weekend.

Hi ho hi ho

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Photo Flashback Thursday



Once a week I like to spend a little bit of precious to go through my tens of thousand of digital pictures that I have and take a little time out to tell a little story about it. Some times it's an easy task, sometimes you have to look for a while to get that picture.

Today's picture takes us back to a time of of nations Bicentennial celebration year of 1976. A time when I actually not only had hair, but probably even had more hair than my sister Terri does here in this picture.

The more I look at this picture, I see her Granddaughter Erica Jean's eyes looking back at me. I never really noticed that until now, but wow is there a resemblance.

Anyways this was Terri's 1976 school picture that I had picked for this weeks flashback.

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Hump Day

Yesterday was another beautiful day weather wise, I can't believe we have been blessed with such nice weather at the end of January. We're usually cold and snowy at this time of the year so I can't complain.

Unless Punxsutawney Phil and Mother Nature are conspiring to just tease me a little before he get blasted with winter. I have to remember to send Phil a bottle or two of Scotch and Mother nature a nice bottle of perfume or some some really good chocolates, maybe they are just going to be nice this winter. Phil is my buddy though, he wouldn't plan a Pearl Harbor attack on me....would he????

On another note, last month I set myself a goal to try to achieve in the weight room by the end of 2012 as far as bench press. I thought it would be a nice way to keep working on a goal that I could be proud of, well I made a lot of progress in the Month of December and planned on hitting a certain benchmark by mid-February and had hoped to reach my goal six month ahead of schedule by July.

Well hard work in the gym and I reached that benchmark today, about a month ahead of schedule. The rate things are going I'm going to be able to reach a goal that I would be very proud of by now maybe April. Even much more ahead of my goal I set for 2012. Maybe it's time to re-evaluate and set that goal much higher than I planned on doing for this entire year. It gives you a great feeling knowing that you are really achieving goals that I could be proud of at a much earlier time than I anticipated.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well that dreadful Monday is now behind us and we are looking at it in our rear view mirror and staring straight down the barrel of a Tuesday, I can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1,411 days since Michelle and I went on our first date a few years ago.

* 634 days ago I got down on one knee in the backyard and proposed marriage.

* We are entering our 171st day of wedded bliss.

* There are only 336 more shopping days left until Christmas, unless the Mayans were right and we have experienced our last Christmas. Plan accordingly.

* How do you like these uncharacteristically warm January days? It was actually in the 65° yesterday afternoon, I have to love this kind of Winter.

* I'll be in meetings half a day today running a WebX session with a couple other countries today concerning our Atlas that is due out in April.

* Michelle just informed me it's supposed to snow later this week, so much for my happy Springtime mood...LOL

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday, January 23, 2012

Back to Work

All good things must come to an end and that includes our fun filled weekends. Yes it is time for those of us who work every day to stick our noses back on the grindstone and get back to doing what it is that we do that allows us to enjoy the weekends.

A lot of sadness this weekend as I learned about the passing of long time Penn State football coach Joe Paterno early yesterday morning. JoePa as he was referred to by Penn State fans and fans of all fan bases alike, was a coach that despite the recent scandals in Happy Valley that I still had a great deal of respect for. He used to make his bi-annual trip to Morgantown with his Nittany Lions and of all the times he did, we only beat him twice and he showed an extreme level of class in both of those occasions. Eastern Football is now a thing of the past.

I hope everyone has a great Monday, it's off to the gym for me so...

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Sterogram on Every Mans Mind


A little fun with a sterogram for those of us who can read them =)

Click on image for larger view

Optical Illusion


Shake Your Head

Sunday Morning

I guess it's never dull around here in the middle of the night. Yesterday they had the gunman downtown and just a few hours ago there were a couple of drunks fighting in the middle of the street up the road from our house. Chad was out there to break it up and I guess one of the guys actually was run over by a car. Chad said they were two brothers and of course the police were called. I was sleeping so I missed that b it of early morning excitement.

Nothing major on our agenda for today other than our grocery shopping that we do every Sunday morning. This weather I have to say is horrible and I feel like a hibernating bear on weekends. I guess Spring is on its way back as we have passed through the first third of winter already.

Maybe this would be a good time to start planning our back patio garden for 2012 as well as some of the projects we have been doing around here. Last year was our first go around with the backyard patio garden. We kind of entered into it not really knowing what we wanted to do with it. Our Mint is STILL going strong even today of you can believe that.

I don't think we are going try broccoli this year, they all flowered before they hit maturity. We did have a great deal of luck with our peppers and tomatoes and next to no luck with our Onions. Lettuce came in strong, but kind of over shadowed and screwed a few other things up. It was a leaf lettuce rather than a head lettuce and our cabbage never really grew to a point where we could harvest it. Something tells me this year will be more fresh spices, peppers and a tomato plant.

Stay warm and have a great day.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Auction Today

As many of you know my Brother in Law Jim is an Auctioneer. He is holding an auction today at Woodland United Methodist Church on the Mileground at 1:00 if anyone is interested.

There are a number of items they are Auctioning off today, if anyone is looking for furniture they have a nice amount of furniture. I know a couple of years ago my Brother in Law George was able to purchase a lot of old office furniture that he was able to use outside during the summer.

If you are looking to bargain hunt today and want to someplace centrally located as to avoid any bad roads, this might be for you.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Once again it is the weekend and I am up early, I'm not the only one up, Chad and Laiah are doing laundry and watching a movie in his room. I've got National Lampoon's Vacation playing in the background as Clark Griswald is trying to get his family to WallyWorld (or me every time I try to get to Idlewild Park LOL.

I guess there was a level of concern last night at WVU, the downtown area was put on lock-down as a gunman had been spotted. I guess this went on for a period of time until the gunman was subdued without any shots being fired (gotta love twitter). Turns out it was a kid who had a BB Gun. The Mountainlair went on lock-down, the dorms went on lock-down and I guess there was a lot of chaos. I'm glad it was something minor and did not turn out to be something like the Virginia tech incident a few years ago.

It was supposed to be cold with freezing rain and snow out this morning, so if you have to go anywhere be safe as travel may be a concern.

I did get a nice little iPhone Ap this week and the hardware to go with it. I installed and bought a couple card readers for SquareUp which allows me to accept credit cards with my iPhone. Not that I will ever need it, but you never know and it's always best to be prepared. I bought one reader, which Apple gave me my money back as a credit and then I ordered another free one from SquareUp.

Have a great day, stay warm and stay safe.

Friday, January 20, 2012

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.

First off a couple of Happy Birthdays. First to my Sister and Law Danni who is celebrating her birthday today. And to Chad's girlfiend Laiah who is also celebrating her birthday today. This has been the month of birthdays that's for sure. After eleven birthdays this month so far between family and friends, I think I am in the clear until March.

I think Michelle and I are going to just sit back and relax this weekend other than what we normally do with our shopping. I think we both fighting back against being sick and the rest will do us some good.

Hi ho hi ho

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Photo Flashback Thursday


Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all of my thousands of digital pictures that I have either taken or scanned through the years and select one to reflect upon.

This weeks picture is comes from not only a time long ago but a place a long way away. This was a picture of today's Birthday boy when he was growing up as a child with his family in Zaire (or Tanzania depending on where the picture was take).

I know Farida and Abdul, I can use a little deductive reasoning and see that the little boy is Nick. Now we have three girls, Nasrin, Samira and someone else and someone else. My best guess is that Nas and Samira are wearing matching dresses and my next guess is Nasrin is in between Abdul and Farida with Samira on Abdul's right.

This is my best guess, I would need someone else to confirm if I am guessing correctly.

Enjoy the flashback of the birthday boy.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Nihat "Nick" Rehmani

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my Brother in Law Nick a very Happy Birthday today. I'm lucky to have some of the best Brother in Law's a man could ask for, and Nick is one of the best.

He's always a man who would give you the shirt off his back in times of need and always wants to help others and put a smile on everyones face who ever meets him.

If you see Nick today, make sure you wish him a very Happy Birthday.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Hump Day

Well the first part of the week is now behind us, now it's just a matter of getting up over this hump and coasting to another fun filled weekend.

It's this time of the year that I really don't like. The days are still kind of short, but they are getting longer by the day, and the weather is still a little cold for my taste. I think this is the time when I start to suffer a little bit from SAD, I leave for work and it's dark, I get home and it's starting to get dark and even though I have been working my butt off the past five months in the gym, I feel like I could use an energy drink to revitalize me and get me past being tired in the afternoon. I have a few Five Hour Energy's in my office, that I can always use in the afternoon if I have an important meeting, but I tend to avoid taking them.

Note to self, remember to send a couple female groundhogs and a case of Aftershock to Phil before Groundhogs Day. Hopefully I can get him celebrating too much and he'll be too verschnockered to see his shadow in a few weeks.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Layla Marie Rosiak

I would like to take this opportunity to wish a very special little girl a very Happy Birthday today. Layla Marie Rosiak entered the world four years ago today, and if you use my logic of taking 27 years away from her to make me 21, she is now 31 years old. =) OK She's only four, but I like my logic and you can't blame me for trying.

Anyways if you see Layla Marie today, make sure that you take a little bit of time out and wish her a very Happy Birthday today.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is once again behind us, much easier for some of us with the day off, but it's still now in the past. I can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It was 1,404 days ago that I had the pleasure of having my first date with Michelle.

* 627 days ago we became engaged to be married.

* We're on day 164 of marital bliss and still going strong.

* You only have 343 more shopping days this year, unless the Mayans were right and the world will end in 339 days. My advice would be to plan for the contingency plan that the world will not end this year.

* I did have a nice relaxing day yesterday, watched a few movies and did a few chores around the house, but mainly just relaxed. Michelle had to work, so it would not have been any fun getting into anything without her.

* Spoke with Amy briefly over the weekend, she's working at H&R Block but working up front instead of doing taxes this season. She called it less stressful.

* I see my brother Gary bought himself a nice truck, a Dodge Ram 4 Wheel Drive with a lift kit appearing to already have been installed. The truck does sit rather high off of the ground.

* Is it springtime yet?

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday, January 16, 2012

One More Day

Today we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday and is a Federal Holiday, allowing for me to stretch my weekend out one more day and make it three days. Michelle has to work, so I'm probably not going to get into too much of anything, except maybe going over finances and paying bills. Yes, that's a lot of fun =)

For Michelle's birthday yesterday we went and did a late lunch/early dinner at the Olive Garden. Talk about a busy place on a Sunday afternoon, this was definitely one of those types of places. We had about a 20 minute wait by the door that kept opening and closing and letting all the cold air before we even had the chance to be seated. Food was awesome however, so no complaints. Dinner was awesome with some awesome company.

Have a great day.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Sunday Morning Ramblings

Well first of all Happy Birthday to my wife Michelle, but I also need to extend a very heart felt Happy Birthday to Michelle's Sister Chris. It's not that often when siblings share a birthday, especially when they are not twins.

Just got up and caught pieces of the Movie Black Swan on HBO we recorded it last night because we want to see it sometime today. Natalie Portman won an Oscar for best actress for this role that she played. It was kind of a dark movie from the little bit of it I did see.

It's a cold one out there, stay warm today.

Happy Birthday to my Wife

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my Wife Michelle the very happiest of Birthdays. I am a very lucky man to have such a woman be not only the love of my life, but my wife.

To my wife Michelle, may this be the happiest of birthdays today, I Love You with all of my heart and soul. I treasure the every minute we spend together and all that we do together. I don't think my life would be complete if I didn't make you that first cup of coffee in the morning so just simply annoy you asking you "How U Do?" multiple times a day.

We busted our butts yesterday, so this day is yours.

Happy Birthday

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Saturday Morning Ramblings

I would say I am the only one up at this hour, but I am not for my Wife Michelle is also up at this hour so we can get a few things done today. We have the ability to get into Sam's before everyone else with the Advantage Plus Membership we bought a few weeks ago, we did the math and if we can save $5.00 a month (or $1.25 a week) with some of the advantage plus deals, then that alone covers the extra cost of the membership.

I think we are going to do all of our shopping today, so that Michelle can have tomorrow all to herself as it is her birthday.

Is it me or has it been too damn cold out? Forget the fact that I hate snow, it;s freaking cold outside and I'm ready for springtime.

Have a great day and stay warm.

Friday, January 13, 2012

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 Three Day Weekened Friday thirteenth.

Well if the weather man was right, and I have no looked outside yet, we should have 3"-5" of that crappy white stuff that I tend to hate laying all over the ground. I know we had a winter weather advisory, but I did not look outside yet. If there is any of that thing we call snow on the ground, I don't know if I have ever mentioned this before to anyone or in any of my blogs previously but I HATE SNOW!!!!

Let's get this three day weekend party started, hi ho hi ho

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Photo Flashback Thursday


Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all of my digital pictures that I have on my computer and select one to tell a little story about.

This weeks picture is actually one that I scanned from my Sister Terri's box of pictures a few years ago, it's one of my Uncle Junior, Aunt Lottie and my Maternal Grandfather Don.

Not sure of the year of the picture, but my Grandfather passed away around 1986 or 1987, so that could be some kind of an indicator as to the year this was taken.

Like I said, this is one of Terri's pictures that Mom and I scanned a few years ago, so my knowledge of this day is pretty limited.

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Hump Day

Let's see, it is work for three days and then I will be off for three days. Today however, is my hump day as I work towards another fun filled weekend.

I think Moke is really liking his new iPhone, his has Sirri on it and mine doesn't, he is really starting to like the new feature that was introduced with the last release. He had to buy a Sociology Book, wow have the prices of textbooks when increased since I was last in school.

Just started working out again after a couple week holiday layoff when they were redoing our gym. I've blown the cob webs off and am back to where I was when I stopped, just a few pounds heavier due to the Holidays. =)

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Sandra Irene Bell aka Mom

I would like to take this opportunity to wish someone very important in my life a very Happy Birthday. Today is my Mom's Birthday, the woman who carried me for nine months and endured the pain of my breach birth is celebrating her Birthday today.

So if you see Sandra Irene today, make sure you take a little bit of time out and wish her a very Happy Birthday.

Mom from the bottom of my heart, I am thankful for all that you have done for me and I want to wish you the very happiest of Birthday's today.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is once again in our rear view mirrors and we are looking straight down the barrel of a Tuesday, I can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1,397 days since mine and Michelle's first date a few years back.

* 620 days since our engagement.

* 157 days ago we entered into marital bliss.

* There are only 350 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* Moke bought a new iPhone, he got the 4S and I gave him a call last night and showed him how to do a little bit of Facetime on it. I also got to speak to Ang for a few minutes.

* Moke has informed me he is enrolled in another semester at WVU. I have to say I am very proud of him.

* Speaking of college, Brittany started again at WVU (I would assume), Danielle is in the home stretch for the final semester at Wheeling Jesuit, Amanda (Michelle's neice) is finishing up at WVU this semester too. Kyle and Kayla Brown are also enrolled at WVU.

* It really is nice to see so many enrolled and finishing up college this semester.

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday, January 09, 2012

Monday

It's time to stop all that enjoyment and start to stick our noses back on the grindstone for a few days until we get to another weekend. I could use another weekend because I was sick all weekend, took numerous HOT showers to combat the cold chills that I get. I couldn't ever recall Michelle getting to a point where she has gotten sick and shivers like I do, when I get real sick I get the absolute shivers and I have been like that ever since I worked at Sterling. I remember a lot of the old timers talking about the brass chills.

I am feeling better today. Well as well as one can feel after seeing the Steeler's beaten at Denver last night in the playoffs, that was painful. The Steelers are hurt and beaten up and have been for a number of weeks.

Anyways back to the grindstone today after spending much of yesterday reorganizing our kitchen. Things were just getting too cluttered so we bought a couple sets of shelves and cleared out our big cabinets where we store all of our pans and cookware. It's actually neat and organized and very easy to find what you are looking for now. The bar in the kitchen where we used to stick everything, is all nice and cleaned off now and there is elbow room in the kitchen.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday, January 08, 2012

Sunday

Well I am still a little bit under the weather, but last night was much better than the night before, I only had to wake up one time and take a hot shower as opposed top the three times the night before due to cold chills.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) will be traveling to Denver today to play the wildcard playoff game against the Denver Broncos (8-8) and Tim Tebow. This will be the Steelers first chance in playing against Tebow, but I fully expect the Steelers to win this game quite easily.

Have a good day.

Saturday, January 07, 2012

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again in a quiet house with everyone sleeping but me. On the TV behind me is that Oscar winning movie "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter is Dead" playing.

It was a rough night for me, the Gym finally re-opened at work yesterday and I jumped right on it so I can pick up where I was a few weeks ago. Usually with our Gym, you sanitize your equipment after you are done with it to prevent any flus or viruses that may be floating around. About a half hour after my workout I noticed my temperature raising and I was coming down with being sick.

Last night was horrible, I slept with two large comforters on me and was still shivering from being cold. I'm feeling alright at the moment, but I'll probably be back on the couch covered up and watching TV here in a couple of minutes.

Nothing planned outside of our normal routine today. Michelle is getting around much better in her cast, she was so uncomfortable last week I really felt sorry for her. She does have a pretty pink cast however.

Have a great day.

Happy Birthday Arron Hill

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Arron Jill a very Happy Birthday today. I Have had the pleasure of watching him grow up from being in diapers to the 6'whatever he is now, and that's been an awful lot of growing that I have had the pleasure of watching.

If you see Arron today, make sure that you take a little time out and wish him a very happy Birthday.

Friday, January 06, 2012

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 and dawn of yet another weekend.

Now that Mountaineer Football is over for the season and we are not quite yet at spring or summertime, I'm going to need to find something new to talk about on Fridays, other than waiting for Punxsutawney Phil to do me a heck of a favor again and party it up until he is drunk and blind from the evening before that he can't see his shadow again.

I'm still on cloud nine from the Orange Bowl, talk about the absolute perfect storm when anything and everything was working just right. It still hasn't set in that we not only won the Orange Bowl, but did so by putting 70 points on the ACC Champions.

Hi ho hi ho

Thursday, January 05, 2012

Photo Flashback Thursday



Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and go through all of my pictures and find just one picture that I can select and tell a little story about.

This weeks picture takes us back about 25 or so years at Christmas time. I'm not sure if this picture is my niece Amy or Val, but this is a picture of them and a Christmas gift that my Dad and Jean had bought of a toy car.

As I look back at this picture, I look back to a time when the house was before all of the remodeling took place and the family room was added on, just on the other side of those white curtains.

Hi ho hi ho

WOW

I didn't want to jinx our Orange Bowl hopes, but never did I imagine us routing Clemson 70-33.

Congratulations to Coach Holgorson and the West Virginia Mountaineers. MAN Y Bowl records set in this game.

Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Orange Bowl

Tonight is the night, the West Virginia University Mountaineers will play the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl. This will be our third BCS Bowl game since the inception of the BCS, but it is the first ever appearance in the Orange Bowl.

The Mountaineers will be facing a very tough Clemson team lead by a former WVU QB Commit in Tajh Boyd. Both Geno and Tajh are two of the nations best Quaterbacks, so hopefully we show up tonight ready to play. Otherwise, it could be a long night for the Mountaineers.

On a sad note, it is rumored our Defensive Coordinator Jeff Casteel will leave to take a position on Rich Rodrigeuz's staff at Arizona after the game. I hate to see him go, but he has big aspirations of being a Head Coach someday and word has it he has been passed over because they felt he would not leave West Virginia, we'll have to see how it all plays out. I would love to keep him, but I understand the man has goals in mind and I can respect that and would wish him the best.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well our Monday is behind us now, it was very productive as we got our Christmas Tree down and I bought some large shelves to help us organize a mess of a countertop. With all that considered and I have to return to work today, can't think of a better reason than that to do the first tidbits of 2012.

* 1,390 days since mine and Michelle's first date going on four years ago.

* It's been 613 days since we became engaged..at 4:00 in the morning in our backyard.

* 150 wonderful days of wedded bliss for us.

* 357 shopping days left until Christmas. Yeah I know I just got my tree down from 2011, but can't start counting too early.

* Michelle and I have been talking about our vacation plans for this year already, actually we have started pre-planning for about a month or so and we are going to make a cruise the the Bahamas a reality this year. Baltimore has a port and offer numerous cruises, and the Bahamas is some place we would both like to go.

* We tested Michelle's ability to drive with a cast on her left foot yesterday. It wouldn't matter, except that pearl is a 5 Speed and she is going to need to use the clutch. We rigged up one of her original walking shoes to be non slip and be able to put on over the cast to prevent any slipping of her foot, and it works fine.

* Have I ever mentioned that I hate snow?

* Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday to my Mother in Law Susie

I would like to take this opportunity out and wish my Mother in law Susie a very happy Birthday today.

She lives up in PA and we're down here, so we probably will not have the opportunity to see her today, but I would like to take this opportunity to wish her the very happiest of Birthday's today.

Monday, January 02, 2012

First Regular Blog of 2012

I hope everyone had a very Happy New Years, both Michelle and I slept through it and spent the day yesterday day hangover free.

Michelle spent the day yesterday getting used to the pretty purple cast on her leg, she broke it in October and it's been a very slow healing process so they casted it Friday. She had a tough time getting used to using crutches, so I got her a couple of high stools and a computer chair with wheels to get around the house. We need to try driving today, before we return to work tomorrow.

We'll probably break down the 2011 Christmas Tree as today's project. It was a good tree and we have yet to lose the first needle from it in over a month of putting a little color to our home.

For those of you working today, stay warm. Michelle and I have the day off.

Sunday, January 01, 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012


SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT,
AND NEVER BROUGHT TO MIND?
SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT,
AND AULD LANG SYNE!

CHORUS.-FOR AULD LANG SYNE, MY DEAR,
FOR AULD LANG SYNE.
WE'LL TAKE A CUP O' KINDNESS YET,
FOR AULD LANG SYNE.



HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!