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.

Michelle and I are switching cars today, she'll take LP to work and I'll take Pearl. The adjuster we are going to use is across the street from where I work, so I'll take it over and get the adjustment so we can start the repair process on her. Hopefully Pearl forgives me for putting here into the ditch.

In other news, Punxsutawney Phil committed suicide and  we are going to be stuck with a long winter. Mother nature wasn't going to cooperate and he just couldn't take the abuse like he did last year when he said Spring was around the corner. I think we went from Winter to 4th of July and back to Fall as we really didn't have much of a Summer last year.

There is some great news for people who like to Cruise, Carnival who is going to end services in Baltimore later this year will resume services next spring as the carnival Pride is going to get a big face lift and makeover.

Hi ho hi ho

Carnival Returning to Baltimore

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BRILLIANT NEWS

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES, PORT OF BALTIMORE ANNOUNCE RESUMPTION OF
YEAR-ROUND SERVICE FROM BALTIMORE IN MARCH 2015

Carnival Pride to Undergo Extensive Multi-Million-Dollar Makeover That Will
Add Variety of Line’s Fun Ship 2.0 Innovations Prior to Baltimore Deployment Next Spring


MIAMI (January 30, 2014) – Carnival Cruise Lines and the Port of Baltimore today announced that the cruise line will resume year-round departures from Baltimore when the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride begins seven-day cruises in spring 2015.
Carnival Pride is currently based in Baltimore where it will remain through October 2014 then reposition to Tampa for a winter cruise schedule before returning to Baltimore for year-round service in March 2015, hosting nearly 120,000 guests annually.
In anticipation of Carnival Pride’s return to Baltimore, the ship will undergo an extensive multi-million-dollar makeover in fall 2014 that will add a host of dining, bar and entertainment innovations that are part of the line’s $500 million Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancement program.
In addition to the new on-board features, Carnival Pride is one of several Carnival Cruise Lines ships that will be outfitted with exhaust gas cleaning technology – known as scrubbers –designed to reduce air emissions from cruise ships and large marine vessels. Scrubber technology will be installed on Carnival Pride prior to its Baltimore deployment in spring 2015. This new technology will enable the Carnival Pride to exceed the stricter air emission standards established for operation within the North American Emission Control Area (ECA).
“Baltimore is a convenient mid-Atlantic embarkation point for ‘Fun Ship’ cruising and we’re pleased to resume these attractive year-round departures which offer our guests an opportunity to visit a variety of beautiful, tropical destinations,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO. “We would like to extend our thanks to officials from the port and the state of Maryland for their outstanding support in our efforts to resume year-round cruising from Baltimore,” he added.
“We are pleased to welcome Carnival Cruise Lines back to Maryland and the Carnival Pride cruise ship back to the Port of Baltimore,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “Our Administration has a proven track record of advocating for a strong, healthy environment and fighting for high-quality jobs for Maryland families. I’m pleased Carnival and the Environmental Protection Agency and Coast Guard have agreed on a plan that will keep family-supporting jobs in Maryland and allow a cleaner and even greener Carnival Pride to return to this thriving cruise market.”

Year-Round Seven-day Cruises From Baltimore
On its year-round deployment from Baltimore, Carnival Pride will offer two distinctly different itineraries with voyages departing every Sunday beginning March 29, 2015. Week-long exotic eastern Caribbean cruises will visit Grand Turk, the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay and Freeport, The Bahamas, while a Florida/Bahamas schedule will feature Port Canaveral, Fla. (Orlando), and Nassau and Freeport, The Bahamas.
During these cruises, guests can relax on beautiful white-sand beaches, participate in fun watersports activities and visit popular landmarks and attractions throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas and Central Florida.

Exciting Fun Ship 2.0 Innovations
Carnival Pride will undergo a three-week dry dock from October 19 to November 9, 2014, during which it will be outfitted with a variety of Fun Ship 2.0 innovations, including:

Guy’s Burger Joint, a free-of-charge poolside venue developed in partnership with Food Network personality Guy Fieri serving hand-crafted burgers and fresh-cut fries in an atmosphere that celebrates the chef’s California roots and love of car culture

BlueIguana Cantina, a complimentary poolside Mexican eatery where guests can enjoy authentic, freshly made burritos and tacos on homemade tortillas that can be personalized with a variety of salsas and toppings

Bonsai Sushi, a full-service sushi restaurant offering delicious Asian-inspired delicacies – sushi, sashimi, rolls and more – all enjoyed amidst a contemporary Far East décor

WaterWorks, highlighted by Green Thunder, the steepest and fastest water slide at sea, as well as the line’s signature Twister slide full of exhilarating twists and turns and a spray park

Hasbro, The Game Show, where guests are part of the show through a series of larger-than-life productions and entertainment activities based on the company’s iconic and popular games

Playlist Productions, builds upon Carnival’s reputation for high quality entertainment, combining captivating live performances and high-tech special effects, all set to popular and recognizable songs

EA SPORTS Bar, a sports and video game lovers’ paradise where guests can catch live sporting events, check out scores on the real-time 24/7 sports ticker, and play the latest EA SPORTS games on a 16-screen video wall

BlueIguana Tequila Bar, a fun and festive outdoor watering hole offering a laid-back Mexican-themed atmosphere and tequila-based frozen drinks and beers, perfect for chillin’ by the pool

Alchemy Bar, a vintage-themed cocktail “pharmacy” that’s the go-to spot for guests seeking a unique experience with mixologists who “prescribe” concoctions from different elixirs and ingredients or guests’ own custom-created cocktails

RedFrog Pub where guests can enjoy the Caribbean’s best rums and beers – along with Carnival’s own ThirstyFrog Red private label draft brew – and island-inspired pub fare while soaking up the distinct British-West-Indies-meets-Key-West ambiance

RedFrog Rum Bar, a poolside adaptation of the RedFrog Pub offering the quintessential Caribbean vacation vibe with refreshing Caribbean rum-based frozen drinks and beers, including Carnival’s own ThirstyFrog Red

The Library Bar, a warm and cozy venue offering self-serve wine dispensers and full bar service for those seeking a more intimate spot for before- or after-dinner drinks

Cherry On Top, which celebrates the joys of simple indulgences with bins of bulk candy, fun fanciful gifts and novelties, custom apparel and more

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all my pictures that I have either scanned, taken or stolen off the internet and write a little blog about one of them. Little lost moments in time that was forever captured to be shared at a later moment in time. Sometimes this is a pretty easy task, and sometimes it's not that easy, but it is always a whole lot of fun.

This weeks picture I will confess, is not that old and I did steal it from the net. It is a unique picture although. The house you see is the historic Falling Water, the Kaufman's summer home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. I just thought it was an awesome picture and immediately knew that I wanted this to be this weeks picture.

It's not that often that it happens, but it has happened a couple of times this year, but the stream that flows under the home is completely frozen over. Temperatures dropped so low, that a movie waterfall was left completely motionless. Someone captured this piece of magic and put it on Facebook for me to grab and blog about.

I've been here numerous times, but never in the wintertime to see such a marvelous sight.

Hi ho hi ho

Meet Little Pearl aka LP

Yes I have finally retired the old Ford Taurus, we managed to get 5 good years out of a $2,100 investment on an old retired fleet car from Michelle's company. 215,000+ miles on it and to be honest with you it has seen its better days, so we decided to replace it. Would you believe the Taurus actually had no heat in it. It is a well know issue with linkage under the dash and we had it repaired once.  So it was either time to throw more money into it (just had a battery which I got under warranty) on a new starter or it was just time to retire it.

So I did a little looking around yesterday, my second day off this week, and found a Nice 2007 Subaru Legacy  that I bought yesterday. Michelle and I both are very comfortable with Subarus and it was Pearl White color just like the Forester. Hence where the name came from. The Forester we named Pearl due to the color of the car and it was a neat sounding name. When we saw this one, the first thing we thought of was "Little Pearl" or "LP" as we are starting to call her.

I have a claim started with Pearl from my accident on Sunday, we have to take it to an adjuster and have them look at it and report back to our Insurance Company.

I guess my extended weekend is over.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

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

* 2,145 days ago Michelle and I went out on our first date.

* We were engaged 1,369 days ago.

* 906th day of Marital bliss, we're getting closer and closer to that 1,000th day of marriage.

* I have 6,516 days to go until I retire, give or take a few.

* 337 days to go until New Years Eve and my Goodbye 2014 Blog.

* You still have 331 days left to do your Christmas shopping for this year. It's never too early to start planning.

* 190 days to go until our third wedding Anniversary.

* Only 51 more days to go until Springtime. I don't know about anyone else, but I am personally tired of all this snow and frigid cold temperatures that we have been experiencing this winter. I'm ready for warmer weather.

* This is my 3,526th blog that I have posted.

*  I Did manage to get my car home from work yesterday, I called Summers Towing and we successfully got it home. Now maybe it is time to start looking into other transportation options.

* Have I ever mentioned that I hate snow?

* With the Super Bowl this weekend it should be a good game. Will former WVU Linebacker Bruce Irvin get a Super Bowl ring or will Peyton Manning get one with the Denver Broncos. It should be a very good game. I'm leaning Seahawks to win this one.

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

Well normally I would say it's time to stick our noses back on the grindstone, but I'll be home today. We unsuccessfully tried to bring my car home yesterday, Summers said they would not tow it in these weather condition. On our way home someone got stuck on the hill on Van Voorhis, so I decided to turn around and try another route.

Into the ditch Pearl went, the same tow truck driver who said he couldn't the Taurus was sitting in the bank parking lot when I went into the ditch, and was there quickly to pull me out and assist. As you can see Pearl got hurt, but fortunately it is just cosmetic and we were able to snap it right back into place. We're going to go the the Subaru garage and have them look at it. It was a day I should have just stayed home.

Today I'm just going to stay home and extend my weekend, hopefully tonight I can get the Taurus home and start looking at it. I'm still thinking it's time trade in the Taurus, it has seen its better days.

Have a great day and stay warm and safe.

Happy Birthday Ralphie Dalton

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Ralphie Dalton the Happiest of Birthdays today.

Ralphie is my niece Amy's loving husband, and I can tell you you will not find many better than  this fine young man. He is a hard working loving father and Husband who has more than earned the love and respect of everyone in the family.

Not sure what they are planning to do today, I know Ralphie used to have a snow plow and did plowing during snowy weather days like like today,  clearing out parking lots and everywhere else.

I'm not sure if I will see Ralphie today, but I would like to extend him a very heart felt birthday today.

Happy Birthday Ralphie.

Sunday

Here I sit once again up early recovering from a losing battle with that dreaded Sandman from last night. I'm up early watching the Movie Ted on HBO and collecting my thoughts for the day. I seem to have a little bit of a sour stomach at the moment, so not sure what that is going to mean.

Well good news and bad news with my car, the batter was 23 months old and bad. It had a two year warranty on it, so I was in by about a month and received a new battery under the warranty for no charge. The bad news was I still couldn't get my car to turn over even with a new battery. My guess is something has frozen up, possibly the starter, due to the extreme cold weather from last week. I do have to say it has me considering buying another car to replace mine.

With the snowstorm yesterday and today, we really didn't get into much as will be the case today. We will be dog sitting Rocky and Lilly this evening as Ashley and Michael are taking Christopher to see the Royal Rumble tonight in Pittsburgh.

It'll be an around the house chores day and grocery shopping kind of day for us.

Have a great Sunday.

Saturday Morning Grumblings

Here I sit once again on a quiet Saturday Morning, I'm the only one up, but I was the first to lose that dreaded battle with the Sandman last night. I'm up early trying to find something entertaining on the boob tube and am not having any luck.

I think we are due for another snowstorm today, so for the most part we are going to have to hunker down and stay warm. Bitter cold temperatures are expected early next week once again.

I will have to go out either today or tomorrow, the cold killed my battery in my car and I had to leave it at work. I'm just going to buy a new battery and put in it, the bitter cold of the last two storms has just killed the cold cranking amps to nothing. We even tried jumping it yesterday and there was nothing. Time to replace it, but it really is only a couple years old. Kind of disappointed in the product.

There was a little bit of closure yesterday in the Skylar Neese case. Sheila Eddy pleaded guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with the chance of parole in 15 years, which due to a Supreme Court Ruling was the maximum that they could give her. I watched the stream yesterday afternoon, Eddy was sitting there crying, but I felt absolutely no compassion for her.

Have a great day and stay warm.

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.

We are a week away from the Super Bowl, so there is no Football this weekend except for maybe the Pro-Bowl, but who really watches that.

The weather outside is horrible and it is due to only get worse over the next few days. They are actually calling for temperatures to be -15° F Below on Tuesday. That's not even taking into consideration the windchill factor if there is any wind. Something tells me this is going to be a stay warm and nap kind of weekend in our household.

Have a great day and try to stay warm.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all of my pictures that I have either taken, scanned or stolen off the internet. I like to look to see if I can find that one special lost moment in time to post up and write a little blog about. Sometimes these images just stick out and you find them quickly, sometimes it's not so easy. One thing it always is however is a whole lot of fun.

This is one of my favorite pictures. If memory serves me correctly my nephew Moke was about to be deployed to Iraq. Before he left, Pam and George had a going away party for him at their home.

The picture is of me on the the left, Moke in the middle and my Brother Gary on the right. I can remember Moke was playing beer pong with his friends and as you can see by this picture wasn't feeling too much pain. To say that he was feeling quite happy would be an understatement. We managed to get this picture of the three of us when these two were playing beer pong against each other.

Not sure who won the game of beer pong, but my camera definitely had a winning moment by capturing this picture. Like I said, one of my favorites.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day....Kinda

It is Wednesday, Hump Day as many know it. To me it might be the first day that I actually go to work this week.

With Monday's Holiday and Yesterday's Snowstorm that actually closed the Facility where I work, this may be my first day this week when I actually make it to work. I like the idea of these short work weeks to say the least.

My wife Michelle on the other hand has absolutely been a trooper, I even tried to convince her to stay home yesterday or even come home early, but to no avail. She went and worked all day, so for her this truly is her Hump Day.

I don't know if I have ever mentioned this before, but I hate snow. I'm actually already tired of the white stuff falling to the ground and the cold temperatures that seem to go with it. I'm ready for the warm weather, the birds a singing, long days, shorts and Sandals. I don't think Springtime can get here soon enough for me.

As you can tell, Pearl was under the snow yesterday, good thing is that this was at Michelle's work and I was at home not having to go ans sweep all the snow off of Pearl.

Have a great day.

Hi ho hi ho (I think)

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well my three day holiday weekend are over with and the blue footed boobie is hiding under the bed in fear of all the snow we're supposed to get today. Still can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* Blame this snow on my wife, she does her little snow dance and next thing you know...we're getting snow. Thanks Michelle.

* Speaking of Michelle, it's been 2,138 days since the two of us went out on the town for the first time. Our first date together.

* 1,362 days ago I got down on one knee and proposed marriage to this wonderful woman, I would like to say though this was before she stated doing her snow dances.

* 899 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, with the help of a friend of ours, we exchanged our wedding vows.

* I have 6,523 days to go until I retire, give or take a few.

* 344 days until New Years Eve and my Goodbye 2014 blog post.

* 338 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* 197 days until mine and Michelle's third Anniversary.

* 58 more days to go until SPRINGTIME!!!!!!!

* This is my 3,518th blog post that I have written, that's a whole lot of blogging.

* The last day that I did not blog, was December 29, 2006. That is 2,581 consecutive days, a little over 7 years and almost one month that I have written a daily blog. That is 368 weeks that I have went without missing a single day of blogging.

* Believe it or not, that streak has caused me some stress as of late. When I hear something didn't post or that I forgot to write something, it increases stress levels to the point where I'm almost unbearable. Just ask my wife. So, I have to say that I am considering either breaking that streak and taking some time off from blogging, or retiring altogether as a blogger. The blog used to be a whole lot of fun to to write, and has seen a number of events happen in both mine and those around me's lives. However I know if I just take time off, I'll get away from it completely. Hopefully this is just a seasonal thing, and the blog can continue to live, but I have to say that the thoughts of ending it have crossed my mind.

* Hi ho hi ho

Federal Holiday

Today I am lucky enough to enjoy a Federal Holiday. I day off with pay is one way to look at it, but lets not forget the reason that we have this day.

Today is the day we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday, even though his actual birthday was last Wednesday. Dr. King was a civil rights leader from a time that I was alive, but too young to remember.

To honor Dr King, here is his legendary "I have a Dream" speech.


I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.'

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

Sunday Morning Rumblings

Here I sit once again in a quiet household, I'm up watching Lethal Weapon 4 and surfing around on the internet catching my thoughts for the day. That dreaded loss to the Sandman is now behind me and I'm now drinking a Soda Stream version of Diet Mountain Dew, so I'm probably up for the day.

Well the West Virginia Grand Bash took placer yesterday at Mylan Park. I stopped in a couple of times fro some updates, that place was packed. I was kind of amazed that so many actually showed up for it, but there were 10,000 tickets. Sadly to say that the only thing Michelle and I won was a charitable donation to West Virginia University Children's Hospital. I would say they had a very successful event and I would look for them to do it again next year.

One thing that we did manage to get done yesterday was to finally after break out our Fiestaware. My Mother in Law Susie has been buying this for Michelle and I for a number of Christmas's now, she has been adding on and adding on to the set. We have a total of 8 place settings, 4 Black and 4 Gold which are the colors we chose years ago. Yes we are Steelers fans and that is why we chose to do two colors in sets of 4 instead of one color in a set of 8. I went out yesterday afternoon and got a nice Bamboo Silverware drawer organizer.

Michelle and I had decided to leave this wonderful gift in the original boxes and were not going to take them out until it was only her and I. Call it an empty nest celebratory prize that has been slowly accumulating through the years. It was a wonderful gift and all thanks goes to my Mother in Law as it is one that will last us a lifetime. The factory is actually between where her Mom and Grandmother live in Newell, West Virginia.

Have a great day and stay warm.

Happy Birthday Nihat " Nick" Rehmani

I would like to take this opportunity to wish one great Brother In Law a very Happy Birthday today. Today is Nihat Rehmani's, or as we all have known him through the years "Nick", birthday. 

I'm not too sure what Terri or Nick have planned for the day, but I have a feeling Nick will be watching some football at some point today. He is the one who used to have the wall of TV's in his living room and one in the bathroom so as to make sure that you would not miss a play.

I would like to extend a very hearty Happy Birthday to Nick today, I hope you have a wonderful day and that all your dreams come true. 

Happy Birthday Nick. 

Happy Birthday Layla Marie Rosiak

I would like to take this opportunity to wish a very beautiful young little lady a very Happy Birthday today.

If memory serves me correct, and it could be fading because I am getting a little older now and that tends to fade away, Layla Marie should be turning 6 years old today.

Not sure what Trish and Joe have planned for Layla today, but I'm quite sure this little girl will be spoiled today.

Happy Sixth Birthday Layla Marie Rosiak.

Saturday Morning Rambings

Here I sit in the early morning, I'm the first one once again to recover from a losing battle with that dreaded Sandman and am up watching GI Jane on HBO and trying to get some scores from around the world.

Sidney Switzer Softball  represented the US yesterday in the first round game against the Dutch National Team in the Netherlands. The US team 2-1 in the opening game and the game was streamed for all to see. Her second round game started at 4:00 AM US time, but the stream isn't working and I can't get any updates. At 7:00 AM our time they play their third pool game against the Czech Republic. This round robin pool will determine the seedings for the tournament. UPDATE before I can Post the Blog, they won their second round game 3-0.

My brother in law Jim is having his "Chocolate Lovers Delight" auction this evening at 6:00 at the Cassville Fire Hall. They are auctioning of a WVU gnome, much like our Steelers Gnome, but dressed in WVU Colors.

Michelle and I will be paying attention to what is going on at the WV Grand Bash, as we try to win one of the prizes in this monster raffle that benefits WVU Children's Hospital.

Have a great 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 and a three day weekend.

Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday is going to be celebrated Monday, it's a Federal Holiday which means I get a nice long weekend.

If you are looking for something exciting to do, keep your fingers crossed for Michelle and I as we try to win a prize in the WV Grand Bash that benefits WVU Children's Hospital. I'm kind of hoping to win that $100,000 Grand Prize, but I will accept ANY prize that I could win. Even if we don't win, the money is going to a very good cause. I would like to win something though, they are giving away 1- $100,000 prize, 5 cars, 15 - $4,000 prizes, 1- $10,000 prize, a couple Harley's a few 4 wheelers and Jet Ski's, I think 25 custom rifles, jewelry and a few other things. I'll take any of them.

Have a Great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out to look at all of the pictures that I have either taken, scanned or just stolen off the internet over the years. Little lost moments in time captured with some kind of a camera and stored away waiting for the day for me to pick it to use in one of my blogs. Relive it a little bit and bring it back to life, if only on the internet, but life will be restored. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that picture, and sometimes you take a while to find something you want to use. One thing that it always is, is a whole lot of fun.

If you have ever been to Ocean City Maryland, you have probably had some of the best French Fries you have ever had in your life. Thrashers French Fries are something that you will never forget once you've had them.

This weeks picture comes from mine and Michelle's honeymoon a few years ago. After we got married we took our honeymoon trip to Ocean City, stayed in the cheapest hotel we could find and it was Go go go from the time we hit the island. I think the one thing that we will remember is the French Fries and I still have Malt Vinegar in my Fridge and our deep fryer has peanut oil in it due to what you see in this picture.

If memory serves me correct, we were at the very south end of the boardwalk when I took this picture, we were eating at Boog Powell's near the pier and were eating a delicious and carb free tub of fries. If memory serves me correct, a seagull pooped on Michelle not to long after that. I got pooped on later, but we were at a different part of the board walk.

Great memories.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Well if you poke your head up over than noon time hump, just on the other side of a photo flashback,  you can see the dawn of another weekend off in the distance.

First off I would also like to wish my Sister In Law Chris Paugh a very Happy birthday as well today. She is Michelle's older sister, but they do share the same birthday. Welcome to the club Chris!

Starting to plan our cruise for 2014. We have 4 of them we are looking at this year. We're wanting to do something a little different this year, so we're looking at places other than Baltimore (did that the last two years) to cruise from. I think she is leaning towards sailing out of New Orleans so that is a possibility. I've been starting to do my research looking for cheapest flights, cruise prices, etc.

Hope you have a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Michelle Dawn Hall

I would like to take this opportunity to wish the most wonderful person who has ever entered my life a very wonderful Happy Birthday today. My beautiful wife entered this world on this day, some years ago.

For Michelle's birthday I told her I would take her out to dinner, and I've told her I'll take her where ever she wants to go, it's her birthday she should get to pick.

We will both be working today, but after work we plan on going out and probably relaxing for the evening.

I Love You with all my heart Michelle, you are my best friend, my wife and my soulmate. Happy Birthday Sweetie.

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well that dreary old Monday is once again in our rear view mirrors and we are staring down the barrel of a Tuesday. The Blue Footed Booby and the Sloth are back in town, so can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* 2,131 days ago I had the opportunity to go out on my first date with a very special lady.

* 1,355 days ago we went to a Friday Night Spring Game, oh yeah we got engaged to be married earlier that day. After the Spring Game we went to Trish's for a cookout, it was a pretty good day.

* 892 days ago in front of some very special people, we exchanged our vows and entered into a life together of Matrimony.

* If you are counting, I only have 6,530 days to go until I retire.

* 351 days to go until my "Goodbye 2014" Blog posts. I need to write a few more blog posts before I start that one though.

* 345  more shopping days left until Christmas, it's never too early to start.

* 204 days away from mine and Michelle's third wedding anniversary.

* 65 more days to go until Springtime!!!!!!!

* It's that time of the year when I start watching the forums for rumors of when Jimmy Buffett will be coming to Pittsburgh.

* There was a huge Chemical Spill in Charleston this past Friday. Some areas are now being told that they can flush their lines if they live in the Blue Zone . Don't you just love GIS!!!

* Got some extra money wanting to donate it to a good cause? How about Sidney Switzer Softball. She'll be representing the good ole USA this year in the Europe Games, she needs a little bit of sponsorship help as this won't be cheap.

* Looking for another good cause? How about taking a chance to win some awesome prizes and help out WVU Children's Hospital how about the WV Grand Bash this Saturday. Chance to win up to $100,000. The event is this weekend.

* We're still talking about our 2014 Vacation plans. We'll be doing another cruise this year, it's just a matter of from where and to where that we need to work out.

* For Christmas this year I asked Santa Claus for a Soda Stream. I love a good glass of soda or pop which ever you make refer to it as. My lovely wife told the Santa this is what I wanted and I received a very nice one. It's not so much a cheaper solution, but it is by far a much healthier one. Since I am diabetic, I drink diet sodas. Most diet sodas sweeten with Aspertame, which is not the healthiest thing for you. Soda Steam uses Splenda and Acesulfame K. When you go to Cancer.org and look at a comparison of the two types of sweeteners the results stand out.

* This is my 3,509th Blog Post.

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday Morning Misery

All good things must come to an end and that includes those things we call our fun filled weekends. Now it's time to stick our noses back on the grindstone and get ready for another week of doing what it is we do that allows us to enjoy our lives the way we do.

We had a relaxing but productive weekend. Michelle really has been battling illness all weekend and just hasn't been herself most of the time although we did manage to get out and around this weekend. I think she is battling some stomach flu that has just knocked her down.

Now it's back to work for both of us today. Looking at the week ahead and the weather there is no major Polar Vortex this week, no subzero freezing temperatures and actually a pretty mild week compared to last week. Maybe it's time to start bribing my old Punxsutawney little buddy and Mother Nature this year. In years past I've bribed Phil, well last year he complied but Mother Nature did not. Maybe it's time to send her a nice fruit basket or something so that she'll take it much easier on us this year than she did last year. I hope she's not mad that Phil lied last year, maybe it was her we should be bribing.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Ramblings

Well here I am, up early and recovering from that epic battle with the Sandman last night. I'm up early watching the Beach on HBO and surfing the net to see what was happening in the world.

Yesterday was a good day, we stopped up to see my Mom and wish her a Happy Birthday, we watched an Army of midgets break down the Christmas Tree and put it away for the year. It will make another appearance later in 2014.

We met Michelle's Cousin Julie and her family for dinner at the Texas Roadhouse. They are in town for their daughters soccer tournament that is taking place today at Pro Performance at Mylan Park. We're planning on stopping by before we go shopping to see her play.

Today it's going to be shopping, Laundry and watching a little bit of Soccer. Nothing major planned, the NFL playoffs continue this afternoon with San Fran and Carolina playing at 1:00 and San Diego and Denver both competing for a chance to play Seattle or New England Next week for their Conference Championships and an invitation to the Super Bowl.

Have a great day.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit on an early Saturday Morning, I was not only the last one to lose a battle with the Sandman, I am also the first one to recover from losing to him last night. I'm up with some movie on in the background and have no idea what it is.

Michelle was a little under the weather yesterday, she was going to take a few hours off in the afternoon to go and get her drivers license renewed and ended up going in the morning and coming home and sleeping. She's getting a bit of a chest cold it appears and hasn't felt too good the past couple of days.

Her cousin Julie will be in town today for her daughters soccer game, so we are talking about doing dinner with them this afternoon. It was Julies house that we celebrated Christmas in East Liverpool this year to give Michelle's Grandmother a nice break.

Considering we suffered from the Polar Vortex a couple of days ago, as of the time I am writing this blog it's 59° here in Morgantown. It's going to be a nice day, so get out and enjoy it.

Have a great day.

Happy Birthday Sandra Irene Bell

I would like to take this opportunity to wish a very heartfelt Happy Birthday to someone very special in my life. If it were not for My Mother this blog would not exist and this blogger would not even exist.

It is my Mother's birthday today, a wonderful woman whose Christmas Tree I need to break down sometime this weekend.

Today my Mother celebrates a milestone 50th anniversary of her 21st birthday. So for those of you will bad math skills, this makes her 29.

Happy Birthday Mom, I hope all of your dreams come true today and this turns out to be a good day for you.

Happy Birthday.

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.

Oh what to do what to do. The weather is supposed to be warm, a nice change from the polar vortex that we were hit with earlier this week, so maybe we should all get out and take advantage of the weather. Yes it will be a slight tease of Spring as the temps get close to 60° tomorrow, it might just be a nice day to do something outside.

Michelle's cousin Julie will be coming into town this weekend for her daughters soccer game. My guess is that it will be at the pro-performance facility, an indoor facility with the comforts of climate control.

I do want to bring to everyone's attention a new blogger that is starting out on top. Already Syndicated by the Huffington Post as a Blogger and a pretty good softball player by the name of Sydney Switzer. Her first blog was just posted this week. She's a pretty good softball player, she will be representing the United States as the Catcher in the Europe Cup next year.

Get out and enjoy the weather.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out to look at all of the pictures that I have either taken, scanned or just stolen off the internet over the years. Little lost moments in time captured with some kind of a camera and stored away waiting for the day for me to pick it to use in one of my blogs. Relive it a little bit and bring it back to life, if only on the internet, but life will be restored. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that picture, and sometimes you take a while to find something you want to use. One thing that it always is, is a whole lot of fun.

Last year for Christmas my Mother in Law bought everyone these Pittsburgh Steelers Gnomes. She thought they looked cute and that we would all like them. Michelle's sisters have taken theirs on trips as have Michelle and I. This is out little gnome friend relaxing on the beach at Grand Turk. Ironically our little gnome could very well be at the first place in the Americas that Christopher Columbus actually met landfall in 1492 as this island is believed to be where he first set foot on land. I love Grand Turk as does Michelle.

On this day we had taken the gnome to do a little bit of snorkeling with us. On this picture he was just relaxing on the beach and enjoying the day. I seem to recall he may ahve had one too many Margaritas at the Margaritaville Restaurant that was right behind us.

Ah, the good warm times of the past.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day Goodbye Polar Vortex

Well we weathered that, some of us much warmer than others as I decided to stay home yesterday and out of the frigid cold weather. Michelle on the other hand went into work, so I guess I can officially ask her what day it is.

The coldest reading I got here yesterday was -6° below for a temperature and a -24° below for a wind chill factor. With that being said, goodbye Polar Vortex, I hope you don't come back any time soon as I prefer the warmer weather.

Now for all of you who braved out yesterday, if you peek your noses over that noon time hump, just on the other side of a photo flashback you can see the dawn of another weekend off in the distance.

I was looking around a couple of days ago on the Carnival Website for cruise ideas for 2014. I think we want to change it up this year and do something different rather than going out of Baltimore one final time as Carnival will cease operations there later this year. I have about 4 cruises picked out so far as possibilities and I'll have Michelle go through and pick out a few that interest her and we'll start eliminating from there and choosing our 2014 destinations. We will be leaving out of a Southern Port this year, meaning Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale or New Orleans will be where we will board our cruise boat this year.

I hope everyone stayed warm yesterday, I know I stayed warm, but now it's back to the grindstone.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well that dreaded Monday is now behind us, and so is warmer weather, still can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits. The blue footed booby and the sloth said screw it this week, they are on vacation in Florida and the snowman is trying to join them.

* It was 2,124 wonderful days ago that I had the honor of taking a very wonderful woman out for a night on the town. Pizza Hut and a Horrible movie were on our agenda for the evening.

* 1,347 days ago I got down on one knee and proposed marriage to that wonderful woman.

* We are on day number 885 of Marital bliss.

* I have 6,537 more days to go until I retire. I know it's a long countdown but I'm at the point where we can start counting.

* 358 more days until Goodbye 2014 blog will be written. I guess I have time to do one or two more blogs in there.

* You have 352 more shopping days left until Christmas. Never too early to start that countdown.

* In 211 more days, Michelle and I will celebrate our third wedding anniversary, that is if she hasn't beaten me to my death by then.

* 72 more days to go until Spring. I repeat, only 72 more days to go. Think warm weather.

* Have I ever mentioned that I hate snow? I hate the arctic cold just as much if not more.

* Guess what, this is my 3,500th blog post. Sort of a milestone for me wouldn't you say? Pretty amazing considering that yesterday morning when I found out I forgot the write a blog that I got so upset that I contemplated stopping writing my blog. It's supposed to be fun, not a burden.

* Due to the arctic temperatures and the fact the BCS Title game was played last night, I have considered taking today off work. I'll say this is by choice before I try to go out and start my frozen car.

* Stay Warm

* Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Arron Hill Rosiak

I would like to take this opportunity to wish a very Happy Birthday to Arron Hill Rosiak today. If memory serves me correct, this should be #19 for him today. He's still not to the point when you have to lie to make yourself younger or celebrate anniversary of birthdays, but he's still at the age you need to lie to buy beer.

I haven't seen Arron much over the past year, really not since the 4th of July party, but I know he is a busy guy and has an adult life that he is living now.

If you happen to see Arron today, make sure that you take a little bit of time out and wish him a very Happy Birthday today.

I don't know what he has planned or if Trish has anything planned, but I would like to extend a very heart felt Happy Birthday to my favorite CD scratcher. Hey, you scratched my CD.

Happy Birthday Arron.

Late Monday Live Blog

Here it is Monday Morning and I forgot to pre-write my Blog yesterday afternoon for this morning. In a morning where everything else seems to be going wrong, this just adds immensely to a level of frustration that I already have. I overslept and that was the start of it.

Anyways here we are on Monday morning and it's time to stick our noses back on the grindstone again to start another week of work.

Be careful traveling today, school has already been cancelled and it is putting the snow down. Temperatures are expected to drop to sub zero or about 40° cooler than it is right now by this evening. Make sure that you wear your heavy winter coat if you do have to go anywhere today because it is supposed to get much worse today and tomorrow. If you don't have to go anywhere, stay put because it is about to get all kinds of nasty and cold.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit once again in a quiet household, I'm the first one to recover from a losing battle with the sandman and am up collecting my thoughts on the day. I have HBO on in the background, but have no idea what is playing and I'm up collecting my thoughts for the day and collecting my Facebook game bonuses.

Well we got our Christmas Tree down and packed away, the back bedroom cleaned up and organized while building Michelle a makeup station with mirrors and all of her cords and hair tools neatly hung next to the desk. We shampooed carpets in the new bedroom and made the transition from our old bedroom to the new much larger one that we always let the kids have. No more tripping around things in the middle of the night and walking the dark maze to get to the bathroom,. no longer have to try to avoid stepping on the dog, all because we now have plenty of space.

We've converted our old bedroom into a spare room, I left the TV and cable box in there as Michelle likes quiet when she sleeps. Me, I could sleep if a parade was marching through, you could say I prefer the noise to the silence.

Be prepared, we have an arctic blast coming our way in the next 48 hours. Temps here are supposed to be pushed close to double digit sub zero, which means if any wind is blowing it's going to go from Oh No this is cold to HOLY SCHNIKES this is freaking ridiculous.

Stay warm and enjoy your day.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again in the early AM, I'm the first one to recover from a losing battle last night with the Sandman. I'm up watching Patch Adams on HBO and collecting my thoughts for this cold 7° morning.

I have a couple of condolences to hand out, first and foremost to the entire Devault family for the passing of William yesterday morning. The Funeral is Sunday afternoon and I'm going to do my best to be there. It's Mark's Dad and he was a heck of a guy. Used to always come and watch us play Softball and is the Devault family historian.

This afternoon a former Softball team mate from my first BOPARC team will be laid to rest in Myrtle Beach. Kevin Seymour who was one of our pitchers from the old Press Box Team passed away unexpectedly a couple of days ago. Kevin was very healthy and a Golf Pro and left us way too early.

Mine and Michelle's plan for today, break down our Christmas Tree and scrub the carpet in the new bedroom that we are moving into. It's too cold to really go anywhere so this is a home kind of a day and stay warm kind of a day.

Have a Great Day and try to stay warm.

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.

Our plans for this weekend are going to be simple. First of all stay warm, because it is supposed to drop to sub zero temperatures on Monday.

We're probably going to take down our Christmas Tree and move into the big bedroom this weekend. New Years has passed and it's time to take our Christmas decorations down for the year and start preparing for Spring ( I know wishful thinking).

While I am at it, I would like to with my Mother in Law a very Happy Birthday today. This is a very birthday filled month and Michelle's Mom Suze starts it off for us this month. I think thye should rename this month Birthdaymageddon.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all the pictures that I have taken, stolen, scanned or just grabbed off of the internet over the years. Little lost moments of time that were captured for a brief second to relive another day. I like to select just one of those pictures and tell a little story about it. Sometimes these pictures are easy to find, and sometimes they are not that easy. It is always however a whole lot of fun.

This weeks picture goes all the way back to 2014, yes that picture was taken yesterday afternoon. The little doggy that you see me playing with is none other than the Rock Star, Little Rock of Love or better known as my little buddy.

13 days ago as I was getting ready to go to work, this little firecracker of life ran across the street to have a few words with the paperboy. On his return trip home he was run over by a car and broke his pelvis. Yesterday he paid me a surprise visit to show me that he is quickly recovering. He is not back to 100% by any means, but his little nub of a tail was wagging when he saw me and I think I was just as excited to see him.

Anyone who has ever met this little bundle of joy has absolutely and instantly just fell in love with Mr. Personality himself, Rocky. Michelle snapped this picture as I was down on the floor playing with this little bundle of joy.

I am so thankful that he is still here and not a memory.

Hi ho hi ho.

Happy New Years 2014

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!