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Sunday, July 31, 2016

Sunday

Well here I sit yet once again in a quiet household, the only sound that I hear if the fan running in the background, it's the only thing standing in the way of complete silence. The TV is on, but literally nothing is on as I fell asleep streaming a movie last night and it has completed. It's very peaceful to say the least.

I think Hayley and Josh moved in last night, they were not here by the time I went to bed, but the bedroom door is closed so they could very well be in there sleeping or they just dropped off some stuff last night. The suspense will be answered later this morning.

Our plans for the day? We went out last night and bought a pretty good sized pork shoulder, I'm going to throw it on the smoker here in a few hours and let it smoke all day. This will be our biggest smoking job since we bought our smoker earlier this year, we have used it for smaller meals, but this will be our first test with a large hunk of meat.

WV Mountainfest finishes up today, it has been a little wetter than years past and off the top of my head I would say that there are significantly less bikes this year than in years past. I could be wrong, I just haven't seen them out in full force like previous years and I acknowledge that that is largely in part to the weather. We have seen a lot of rain the past few days. Michelle grabbed this pic yesterday afternoon of the formed waterfall, pond and rainbow that all do not exist on a daily basis right outside of the WVU Alumni Center.

Have yourselves a great day today, try to stay dry and once again be cautious for extra two wheeled traffic as Mountainfest wraps up and they start to leave for the year.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit in a quiet household, I'm the first to recover from that knockout blow by the dreaded Sandman last night and I'm up once again collecting my thoughts for the day. Something is playing on the TV behind me, no idea what it is as I have it on for a little bit of background noise.

Today is going to be a semi-busy day in this household, Michelle has another eye appointment this morning and I will head out and do a little bit of field work for RTI. I've worked these segments down this quarter so this might be the last time I go out in my segments and may start cleanup of other field interviewers sections here in a couple of weeks.

Hayley and Josh have their U-Haul packed and should be moving into one of the spare rooms that we have here. They are taking my old office and we spent Thursday evening moving everything around and clearing it out so that they can make the move. So my quiet household is about to get a little less quieter so to speak.

Mountainfest is in full gear today, featured act Montgomery Gentry takes center stage this evening. Once again I can't emphasize enough that there is extra traffic around the town, many are visitors and may not be as familiar with the area as everyone else. I say a couple last night so to speak, so have a little bit of patience and use a little more caution when traveling around town this evening,

Have a great day.

Friday, July 29, 2016

Happy Birthday Josh Nicholson

Josh and Erica
I would like to take this opportunity to wish my Great Nephew Joshua Nicholson a very Happy 10th Birthday today if my math is correct.

Josh is a bundle of joy who is a lot of fun to be around, I know that he likes to spend his summer days swimming and having fun his sister Erica during the day. Both he and his sister received new 4 wheelers for their birthdays this year, talk about a couple of lucky kids.

Val and Bobby held a duel Birthday Party for both Josh and his sister earlier this Summer. Everyone gathered and had a great time as Val had a couple of custom cakes for both of the kids.

If you happen to see Josh today, make sure that you take a little bit of time out and wish him the Happiest of Birthdays today.

Happy Birthday Josh.

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.

Well depending on the weather and Mother Nature has not been all that cooperative this week, WV Mountainfest is at full throttle now. Thousands of two wheeled bikers have ascended upon our little city for a few days. The roads are probably going to be wet, so please use extreme caution and allow yourself a little extra time traveling around town this weekend. No one needs any accidents and everyone needs to return home to their loved ones when this is over. So for everyones safety, pay close attention to your surroundings when driving around town this weekend.

No plans for Michelle or I, but Hayley and Josh will be moving back in with us this weekend. They will be taking mine and Michelle's old bedroom and I'll have to break my RTI office down and move it somewhere else in the house. So much for the peaceful lives of empty nesters....lol

Have yourselves a great day and a great weekend.

Hi ho hi ho

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Photo Flashback Thursday




Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out, time to look back through the 30,000+ pictures that I have either captured with a camera, scanned or just stolen from some place on the internet and select just one picture. One lost moment in time to post up and relive briefly right here for everyone. Sometimes this is a little challenging and sometimes it's a breeze, it's always a lot of fun so no complaints from me.

This weeks picture is of a handsome young man who was the original George Hall. Yes that is a picture of my Father from during his days back in school. I have no idea as to the actual date of this picture, but I'm guessing mid to later 1950's.

It was just a little over a week ago that we had once again endured another anniversary of his passing. 17 years now it has been and it just seems like yesterday.




Have a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Hump Day

Well that is two days in and two more ahead of us, now all we have to do is get up and over this noon time hump and it'll be all downhill working towards another fun filled weekend.

OK I can't emphasize it enough, we are going to have a lot of two wheeled visitors here in my city and in the surrounding area this weekend. WVMountainfest is starting meaning that there are going to be a lot of bikers here the rest of this week through Sunday. Although I am not personally a biker, I have many family members who are and will be out on their bikes this weekend. Please and I can't emphasize that enough, please allow yourself a little extra time for traveling around town and be prepared for all kinds of motorcycle traffic.

Funny little story, back in 2000 I went to the Music City Bowl in Nashville Tennessee. It was Don Nehlen's last game and we were introduced to Eli Manning in the process. The halftime show was two country acts, one I was pretty favorable of who were Ole Miss fans and one up and comer who was a WVU fan. Montgomery Gentry was in their hay day and put on a great show, they will be headlining Mountainfest this weekend. The relative unknown WVU fan? Country Music Superstar Brad Paisley. Game, set match WVU!!!!!!

Stay safe and have a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Daniel Bell

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my nephew Daniel Bell a very Happy Birthday today.

Daniel lives in Kentucky with his lovely wife Kamey. They just recently took a vacation trip to Myrtle Beach and seemed to have a great time while they were there.

Daniel has lived in Kentucky now for probably about 20 years (guestimate) now, ever since he and his Dad Danny moved there for Danny's Job.

I'm not sure what Kamey or anyone has planned for him today, I'm sure there will be a whole lot of fun involved would be my guess for these two re-newlyweds.

If you happen to see Daniel today, make sure that you taker a little bit of time out and wish him the happiest of  Birthdays.

Happy Birthday Daniel Bell.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is done and we are now looking towards a better Tuesday, I still can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits despite this wonderful weather we have been having.

* It has been 19,231 days since I first set foot on this planet, now using my math and my new and improved 905 days calendar, which I should trademark, that makes me just 21 years old.

* 4,454 day ago I fulfilled a lifetime dream and graduated from West Virginia University, my hometown University and Alma Mater. Speaking of my Alma Mater, those damn students will be returning in a few weeks.

* 3,055 days ago I was fortunate enough to take a very special lady out for a night on the town, we did Pizza and a movie that was horrible and that was the start of the rest of my life.

* 2,279 days ago I proposed marriage to Michelle, I had made her wait until a certain number of days, but she knew it was coming and said yes.

* 1,816 days ago in front of our closest friends and family at the Marilla Center, Michelle and I exchanged our marital vows and became husband and wife. We then feasted on a great meal prepared by some very special ladies.

* I have around 5,605 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred here or there depending on how I feel.

* We are 2,244 days away from the Backyard Brawl being renewed when WVU and Pitt will once again take the field and the Mountaineers will once again whip that pathetic ACC rear end into the ground.

* My nephew Calvin and his GF Jeanetta will be getting married in 333 days from now. They have their wedding website up and running.

* My favorite season of the year is Spring, which were are just a mere 237 days away from =)

* Phil the Groundhog takes center stage in 191 more days where he will predict our next 6 weeks worth of weather. I see he was on Facebook this past week getting hammered.

* My Goodbye 2016 blog where I relive everything that was posted in my blog over the last year will appear here in just 158 more days.

* I still haven't seen WalMart put up Christmas stuff just yet, but it's getting closer as there are only 152 more days to go until Christmas.

* The next anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in just another 128 more days.

* We tried to make it to the Springs Festival last year but the weather was not cooperative, we'll try it again in 74 more days. It's a great place to go and see if you have never been there.

* Our fifth Sea Cruise will take place in 47 more days when we set sail out of Baltimore once again. Everything is already booked, paid for including out hotel room and we're just counting the days down until we head east. Here is the AFT Deck cam of what is going on right now

* The WVU Football team will take the field and open their 2016 campaign in 39 more days when they take on Missouri.

* We are 28 days away from all of us Parrot Heads uniting once again in Pittsburgh, that is just four weeks and we'll be hearing Jimmy sing.

* There are 11 days to go until Michelle and my Fifth Wedding Anniversary.

* This is my 4,541st blog that I have written for George's Journal. I'm going on 12 years as a blogger here in less than couple of months.

* I have moved to the next step with the Brother Search, I have submitted my DNA sample and it has been accepted at the Ancestry site. I will let everyone know when it is completed.

* The Hall Family Tree is still up and running with 370 members in the database and that will continue to grow this fall.

* If anyone is wanting to go see Jimmy Buffett this year, I have six tickets up for sale. We were going as a group of 8 last year with another couple bringing two other couples. Yours truly bought all of the tickets as I have in years past and now they have split up and leaving me with six tickets that need to have the cost recovered from. They are all lawn seats and will sell them at just under my cost of the ticket plus fees of a little over $52 per ticket. I'll sell them for $50 each to anyone who wants them.

* After last night we have two more games left to play this season and they will both be played in a double header next Monday night. We will be the first team to finish the regular season as we will have a Bye the following week. it's been a great year and I have had a lot of fun. Update, we were rained out last night.

* WV MountainFest starts tomorrow. This means that there will be a lot of bike traffic in town and a lot of people on the roads. Give yourself a few extra minutes to get to where you are going and please drive safely, we don't need any accidents.

* Well Michelle and I will once again no longer be empty nesters, Hayley and Josh will be moving back in temporarily at the beginning of the month. Their lease ran out and they did not renew it and will need a place to stay until they find one.

* We still need a family event for August, anyone have any suggestions for a family get together? I'm not opposed to grabbing some picnic table somewhere and doing a small cookout or even just a kickball game someplace.

* I love these warm temperatures, and just in cast anyone has forgotten. I Hate Snow.

* The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.-- Helen Keller

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday, July 25, 2016

Monday

Well all that fun that we had this past weekend had to come to an end, now it's time to take our collective noses and stick them back on that ever running grindstone for another week of doing what it is we do for a living. It's time to start another week of work.

Just like this past weekend, the weather looks to be filled with 90° days all week long. I will have to be in my office rather than out enjoying this wonderful weather, so if you happen to be off work today, think of me and everyone else who is working today as you enjoy this beautiful weather.

I have another Softball game this evening, we play one game tonight at 7:00 and are hoping to pull our record back even at .500 after losing last weeks hard fought game. It should cool down a little by the time we play this evening, so it won't be as bad. The team we play this evening has a double header this evening, so that could possibly work to our advantage as they are going to be worn out a little in the heat. Go Whitetail!!!

Have yourselves a super fantabulous day and do your best to stay cool and hydrated if you are working outside today.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Smoking Sunday

Well here I sit yet once again on a quiet Sunday Morning, I'm the first one in the household to recover from the butt kicking I took last night from that dreaded Sandman. I'm up early watching something or another on HBO and collecting my thoughts for the day.

Well if you thought yesterday was a hot one, today is going to be a little hotter and we are looking at a week filled with 90° days this week. If you are going to be out in the heat, make sure that you stay hydrated and don't over exert yourself. Enjoy the sun but stay cool.

I think Michelle and I are going to do a little smoking this afternoon, we sat out some pork ribs yesterday from the deep freeze and they are still thawing getting ready to be placed in our smoker a little later this morning. Not sure what flavor of wood we are going to use, that will depend on how we season them, but we are prepared any route we go.

Have yourselves a great day and try to stay cool, it is going to be a warm one.

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Saturday Morning Rumblings

Here I sit once again on a very early Saturday Morning, non one else is up and I'm up too early watching Comedy Central and collecting my thoughts for the day before I take my butt back to bed for a few hours. 2:20 in the AM is just waaay too early to wake up for the day, even the cats are asleep.

Now what are our plans for today, well I have to go out and work later this morning for RTI, this quarter is starting to wind down but I'm hoping to nail down a couple of interviews this morning. I've had a great quarter and exceeded last quarters numbers, now I just want to drive it home with a few more.

Michelle has an eye appointment this morning, she has put it off and put it off, but she needs a new prescription and it's getting time to order her new contacts. She'll actually leave the house this morning before I do.

There are no major plans afterwards, it may just be a relaxing weekend before life gets busy again. It's calling for it to be in the mid 90's both today and tomorrow, so staying in in the cool weather may just be our biggest priority for the day. If you are out today stay hydrated to help avoid heat exhaustion.

Have yourselves a great day and enjoy the sun.

Friday, July 22, 2016

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.

What to do what to do. Well I would get out and around town this week if you want, next week we will be invaded for WV Mountainfest so enjoy peaceful travel around town for a few more days, it's about to get pretty crazy around this town with a significant increase in traffic around town.

Michelle and I actually have no set in stone plans for this weekend, I'm going out and working tomorrow morning for RTI, but after that we have no real plans for the first time in a while. I'm sure we won't be bored as there will always something for us to do or go and see.

I know that we are going to have to get together with Jim and Chris (Michelle's sister) and talk to them about cruising. They have a cruise coming up next month (before ours) and they will be first time cruisers and we will give them a few tips for their trip.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Photo Flashback Thursday



Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out, time to reflect on days gone by that I have captured in pictures. Little lost moments in time that we are allowed to relive once again because someone had a camera handy and captured the moment. I like to select one of those lost moments in time and write a little something about it, briefly reliving a time and maybe stirring a few memories of some of my readers of yesteryear. Sometimes these are really easy pictures to find, it just jumps out at you saying pick me pick me. Sometimes it seems like you have looked at all the pictures over and over and it's hard to make a decision. One thing that always stands true though is that I always enjoy myself looking through the pictures.

This weeks picture is one that goes back to the mid 1980's. I would guess that since I am wearing a sweater that this is around Christmas or Thanksgiving time. The picture was taken up at Dad's before they remodeled the house. If I would have to guess, being that I still had a full head of hair back then that it would be around the 1985 to 1987 time frame but that would just be my best guestimation.

I was a few pounds thinner back then and did have a full head of hair on my head, I was just a sexy man whore posing for a picture...lol. Speaking of my Dad, yesterday was the 17th Anniversary of his passing. I sure do miss the days of yesteryear sometimes.

Have a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Hump Day

Well that is the first two days of the week down, now all we have to do is get up and over this dreaded noon time hump (finish the day for me as I'm working Saturday for RTI), then it is all downhill working towards another fun filled weekend.

Like I said I will be out ion the field this coming Saturday, so there are no immediate plans for Michelle and I, but just like any other week that could change pretty easily. Hopefully I shouldn't be out too long and we will have most of the afternoon available to us.

As far as my week up to this point, we played Softball Monday night and lost dropping our record to 3-4 on the season. We will play again this following Monday and a double header the weekend after that to finish our regular season. It has been very nice coming out of retirement after a few years of not playing.

Have yourself a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is done and we are now looking at a fabulous Tuesday, I still can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits, unless it is to annoy a few people which I have been known to do.

* It has been 19,224 days since I first set foot on this planet, now using my math and my new and improved 905 days calendar that makes me just 21 years old.

* 4,447 day ago I fulfilled a lifetime dream and graduated from West Virginia University, my hometown University and Alma Mater

* 3,048 days ago I was fortunate enough to take this special lady out for a night on the town, we did Pizza and a movie and that was the start of the rest of my life.

* 2,272 days ago I proposed marriage to Michelle, I had made her wait until a certain number of days, but she knew it was coming and said yes.

* 1,809 days ago in front of our closest friends and family at the Marilla Center, Michelle and I exchanged our marital vows and became husband and wife. We then feasted on a great meal prepared by some very special ladies.

* I have around 5,613 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred here or there.

* We are 2,251 days away from the Backyard Brawl being renewed when WVU and Pitt will once again take the field and the Mountaineers will once again whip that pathetic ACC rear end into the ground.

* My nephew Calvin and his GF Jeanetta will be getting married in 340 days from now.

* My favorite season of the year is Spring, which were are just a mere 244 days away from =)

* Phil the Groundhog takes center stage in 198 more days where he will predict our next 6 weeks worth of weather. I see he was on Facebook this past week getting hammered.

* My Goodbye 2016 blog where I relive everything that was posted in my blog over the last year will appear here in just 165 more days.

* I still haven't seen WalMart put up Christmas stuff just yet, but it's getting closer as there are only 159 more days to go until Christmas.

* The next anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in just another 135 more days.

* We tried to make it to the Springs Festival last year but the weather was not cooperative, we'll try it again in 81 more days. It's a great place to go and see if you have never been there.

* Our fifth Sea Cruise will take place in 54 more days when we set sail out of Baltimore once again. Everything is already booked, paid for including out hotel room and we're just counting the days down until we head east. You can watch what everyone is doing on the lido deck mid-ship right here.

* The WVU Football team will take the field and open their 2016 campaign in 46 more days when they take on Missouri.

* We are 35 days away from all of us Parrot Heads uniting once again in Pittsburgh, that is just six weeks and we'll be hearing Jimmy sing.

* There are 18 days to go until Michelle and my Fifth Wedding Anniversary.

* This is my 4,534th blog that I have written for George's Journal. I'm going on 12 years as a blogger here in just a couple of months.

* I have moved to the next step with the Brother Search, I have purchased a DNA kit and just mailed my sample in yesterday morning for analysis. Results should be back in the next 6 to 8 weeks. Maybe this will lead to something, maybe this is just a dead end as well, but this is our final hope. I'll post the DNA results on a couple of sites, hopefully we can find a match if he is looking too.

* The Hall Family Tree is still up and running with 370 members in the database and that will continue to grow this fall.

* This coming weekend will be the first one for a while that Michelle and I actually won't have any plans. I will in all likelihood be heading out into the field for RTI and doing a little field work.

* Despite what some people may believe, I do not have OCD, especially when it comes to counting things. I enjoy sports statistics, balancing my bank accounts and other types of activities, but my Tidbits is more of a content filler for my blog than an obsession with numbers despite this being the 34th time we have had this conversation.

* With everyone playing the Pokeman Go game around the country, might I suggest a more rewarding and fun game like geocaching which I highly recommend.

* Former All-American and NFL Wide Receiver Stedman Bailey will be returning to WVU to work as a Student Assistant this fall. Bailey was shot in the head last year by a drive by shooting and is recovering very quickly, I would love to see him make it back to the NFL.

* We still need a family event for August, anyone have any suggestions for a family get together? I'm not opposed to grabbing some picnic table somewhere and doing a small cookout or even just a kickball game someplace.

* “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” ~Arthur Ashe

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday, July 18, 2016

Monday

Well all good things must come to an end, and that does include those fun filled things that we refer to as Weekends. Now it is time to stick our collective noses back on the grindstone for another fun filled week of doing what it is that we do for  a living.

We have been off a few weeks due to the holiday and the fact that it was our bye week, but the Whitetail Crossing Softball team takes the field once again this evening after having a few week layoff. When we last hit the field we swept a double header bringing our record to 3-3 on the season. Tonight we play the leagues top team and hopefully we can be strong enough to pull the upset.

Looking at the week ahead it doesn't appear to be too busy, other than the fact that I am working two jobs. WVMountainfest is still a week or so away, so this may be the last peaceful week that we have this summer, so I would say enjoy it while you can...lol

Have a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Kynlea Rae Dalton

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my Great-Niece Kylea Rae Dalton a very Happy Birthday today.

This little photogenic girl is an absolute bundle of joy to be around, as we spent last weekend with her at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

I'm not sure what Amy and Ralph's plans are for a Party or anything, I think that they are possibly planning on taking a trip to Amish Country later this summer with the kids and celebrate Kynlea and Kaiden's birthdays out there.

If you happen to see this little bundle of joy today, make sure that you take a little bit of time out and wish her the happiest of Birthdays today.

Happy Birthday Kynlea.

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Sunday

Here I sit on a  quiet Sunday Morning, not even Peanut is up and I'm up all alone watching Brewsters Millions on HBO and collecting my thoughts for the day.

We had a great day yesterday, Marietta Ohio is a nice little city and I really liked their campus. I did manage to grab a few pictures from yesterday. After the ceremonies we all went out to dinner at Da Vinci's in Williamson, WV. I think there were 14 of us that went out to dinner and the food was very good, although they put us downstairs where the AC wasn't working and temperatures down there got up to 80° inside the building. Other than that the food and the companionship was very good for dinner, everyone had a great time.

Today we are back to our normal routine of grocery shopping, laundry and I will be heading out into the field for a while for RTI this afternoon. I've never worked a Sunday yet for RTI, I like to have one weekend day off, but since I traveled yesterday I'll be working this afternoon out on the field.

My sister Pam has attended her first two Black Bear games this weekend, she must have liked Friday's game so much she went back yesterday to cheer on Double Stuff Dave. Her son Calvin went fishing yesterday and reeled in a good sized Muskie out of the Monongalia River. It was such a nice catch that they didn't return it to the river.

Have a great day today.

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Road Trip Saturday

Here I sit on a not so early Saturday Morning, Peanut and I are up watching Back to School on TV and collecting our thoughts for the day while I am also surfing the internet.

Our plans for today will be to travel to Marietta Ohio for Amanda Paugh's Graduation from her Physician's Assistant (PA) Program. It will just be Michelle and I as Chad can't make it and Hayley has to work this afternoon, so Michelle and I will jump in Pearl later this morning and hit the road. We are both very proud of Amanda, she is one very intelligent and very determined young lady.

Not sure what sites we will or what else we will do today, but we do plan on enjoying ourselves and making the very most of it. It has been a long couple of weeks for me with the new quarter starting for RTI (my second job) and it's time for a little bit of a break. I've been fighting off a chest cold for a couple of weeks now, I just can't seem to shake whatever this is in my chest.

Have yourselves a great day today, we plan on it.

Friday, July 15, 2016

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 real immediate plans for me this weekend, I may go out into the field tomorrow to do a little bit of field work, or I just may get in the car with my wife and head to her niece Amanda's graduation tomorrow in Marietta, Ohio. She will be graduating as a PA and we could not be any more proud of her.

If you want to enjoy some fireworks, BFS Companies is sponsoring fireworks this evening after the conclusion of the WV Black Bears Game at Monongalia County Ballpark. You can see the fireworks from many places around town, being up on that hillside gives them a pretty visible plateau to launch from. You don't need a ticket, just position yourself in a strategic location and free fireworks.

Get out and smell the roses, make the most out of your day and just do something nice for someone, it's makes the world a lot better place.

Hi ho hi ho

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Photo Flashback Thursday




Once a week I like to take a little bit of time to look back through some of my 30,000+ images that I have either captured with a lens, scanned from someone elses pictures or just simply stolen off of the internet through the years. Little precious lost moments in time to reflect back upon and relive and share right here. There are times that finding these pictures is a challenge and there are times that this is pretty easy. It's always enjoyable and good therapy for all of us to remember who were were and where we came from.

I thought I would change it up a little bit this week. This was the first movie that I made with my pictures with Microsoft's Movie Maker. I think I did it right after college when I was trying to do a little movie editing before it became popular.

This is truly a reflection of how I viewed the past about 12 years ago, it is amazing how much has changed in that short period of time. I usually do a video like this every Christmas Eve, maybe it's time I do another one that is more updated for today's times and events so we can look back on it some day they same as we can look at this one.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Hump Day

Well that is two work days now behind us, and now all we have to do is get up and over this noon time hump and it will be all downhill working towards another fun filled weekend.

For me on a personal note, I'm off this evening from my RTI job as I have been out the last two nights and just need an evening off to enjoy and evening with my wife who I have not seen very much of the last two days.

These are the few days of the year when there are no professional sports being played in this country, the Major League All-Star Game was last night in San Diego and everyone is off until later this week. Now it is time for teams to start wheeling and dealing players in an attempt to set up for a post season run.

At work I have been attending a few seminars this week on GEOINT, I was invited late last week (all online) to attend and I have been taking them in when I can and recording them for playback later on.

I leave you with the words of Helen Keller who said "Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow". 

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is done and we are now looking at a fabulous Tuesday, Can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* It has been 19,217 days since I first set foot on this planet, now using my math and my new and improved 905 days calendar that makes me just 21 years old.

* 4,440 day ago I fulfilled a lifetime dream and graduated from West Virginia University.

* 3,041 days ago I was fortunate enough to take my old boss out for a night on the town, we did Pizza and a movie and that was the start of the rest of my life.

* 2,265 days ago I proposed marriage to Michelle, I had made her wait until a certain number of days, but she knew it was coming and said yes.

* 1,802 days ago in front of our closest friends and family at the Marilla Center, Michelle and I exchanged our marital vows and became husband and wife.

* I have around 5,620 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred here or there.

* We are 2,258 days away from the Backyard Brawl being renewed when WVU and Pitt will once again take the field and the Mountaineers will once again whip that ACC butt.

* My favorite season of the year is Spring, which were are just a mere 251 days away from =)

* Phil the Groundhog takes center stage in 205 more days where he will predict our next 6 weeks worth of weather.

* My Goodbye 2016 blog where I relive everything that was posted in my blog over the last year will appear here in just 172 more days.

* I haven't seen WalMart put up Christmas stuff just yet, but it's getting closer as there are only 166 more days to go until Christmas.

* The next anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in just another 142 more days.

* We tried to make it to the Springs Festival last year but the weather was not cooperative, we'll try it again in 88 more days.

* Our fifth Sea Cruise will take place in 61 more days when we set sail out of Baltimore once again. Everything is already booked, paid for including out hotel room and we're just counting the days down until we head east. You can watch what everyone is doing on the lido deck mid-ship right here.

* The WVU Football team will take the field and open their 2016 campaign in 53 more days when they take on Missouri.

* We are 42 days away from all of us Parrot Heads uniting once again in Pittsburgh, that is just six weeks and we'll be hearing Jimmy sing.

* There are 25 days to go until Michelle and my Fifth Wedding Anniversary.

* This is my 4,526th blog that I have written for George's Journal. I'm going on 12 years as a blogger here in just a couple of months.

* Once again nothing new on the brother search, we are thinking about doing the DNA sample to see if we can find any answers that way.

* The Hall Family Tree is still up and running with 370 members in the database and that will continue to grow this fall.

* I'll be out in the field once again this evening for RTI, I'll take tomorrow evening off and head back out on Thursday.

* My niece Val is building a privacy fence around her house, she has been having a little bit of trouble with a neighbor and is solving any problems by building this fence.

* Michelle's niece Amanda is graduating her program as a Physician's Assistant this weekend, Congratulations to my new Physician.

* Congratulations to my niece Brittany, she has been offered a new position at Ruby and will be moving up in the very near future.

* We still need a family event for August, anyone have any suggestions for a family get together? I'm not opposed to grabbing some picnic table somewhere and doing a small cookout.

* One small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday, July 11, 2016

Monday

All good things must come to an end, and that includes that short little period of the week when we actually go out and have a little bit of fun. That thing we refer to as the weekend is now behind us and now we have to stick our noses back on the grindstone for another week of work.

I'll be both in my office all week and out in the field a few days this week for RTI. It'll be a busy week, but the field work is starting to slow down as I have been through the roster a couple of times and just trying to finalize the selected units this week, not a real big work load this quarter. Shouldn't be too stressful of a week, it's usually the first week of a quarter where everything gets really busy.

No softball games this week for me, but we will return to action next Monday at 6:00. We have gotten a few weeks off after sweeping a double header a few weeks ago leading into our long break. No one played last week and this week is just our bye week, so that does leave us with a long stretch in between games that are scheduled to be played.

I think we are trouble, Peanut is now starting to climb trees. I'm telling you this poor deprived cat has no toys and no one to play with...lol

Have yourselves a great day today.




Sunday, July 10, 2016

Sunday

Here I sit on  quiet Sunday Morning, I'm up early watching Ted 2 and collecting my thoughts for the day. I don't see Peanut or Sophie so the Sandman's effects are probably still lingering on our feline friends.

We had a great time at the Pittsburgh Zoo yesterday, it has went through a few changes since the last time either I or Michelle were there. Personally I think this is only the fourth time in my life that I can actually recall being at this particular zoo. Michelle on the other hand has been there many more times than I have.

Today's agenda is going to be to go grocery shopping and do our laundry for the week. Our normal Sunday routine, we're probably not going to get into too much other than that because I am still fighting off this crud that has been in my chest for the past week. Needless to say that I have been keeping Kleenex in business this past week. '

Have yourselves a great day, make the most of it and make some memories.

Saturday, July 09, 2016

It's a Zoo Kind of Day

We will be traveling north sometime this morning and heading to the Pittsburgh Zoo in Pittsburgh to celebrate Sabrina Helbig's High School Graduation.

My sister Terri and Niece Amy and her kids will be following up is to the the Zoo today. This will be the first time that I have been to this zoo in a few years, Michelle and I went up a few years ago and had a great time. I'm looking forward to seeing what all has changed at the zoo in the few years it has been since I last visited.

It was be nice to see Nasrin again, I haven't seen her for a few years, I think we all went to Cafe India the last time I saw her and that has been a few years.

I hope everyone has a great day today, I know we are planning on having a whole lot of fun today.

Friday, July 08, 2016

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Cooper and Michelle
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'll be out of the office at NETL today and be out in the field doing fieldwork for RTI today. I did the same thing last week because we had WV Black Bear tickets as we do again this evening.

Speaking of the Black Bears, they take on the Tri-City Valley Cats (Astros Organization) tonight at the Monongailia County Ballpark. There will once again be fireworks after the game, just as there is after every Friday Night Home Game for the Black Bears. The Black Bears are 3-0 with Michelle and I in attendance this year, let's see if we can keep that streak going and end the losing streak by Double Stuff in the Pepperoni Roll Race. Go Doublestuff.

Have yourselves a great day today, hug someone close to you and make the very most of it.

Hi ho hi ho

Thursday, July 07, 2016

Photo Flashback Thursday



Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out, time to look at some of the 30,000+ photos that I have stored on my computer. Little lost moments in time that I either captured with a lens, scanned or just stole from some place on the internet. I like to find just one and post it up and recall or relive the picture to the best of my ability. Sometimes this is a pretty easy task and sometimes it's not that easy, one thing it has always been is a whole lot of fun.

This weeks picture doesn't go back very far, only as far as this past weekend but relevant in this case. This is a picture of one of my oldest and dearest friends John Smith, or for anyone who has lived in this great city anytime during the past 40 or so years, "Smitty". The lovable big guy that it seems that everyone knows.

Smitty and I first became friends when we were in High School, we had played football together and we were both members of Fellowship of Christian Athletes in High School together. We hit it off since we first met and he has been one of my best friends ever since then. I'm fortunate to know the man, he got me started playing a longtime summer passion of Softball.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday, July 06, 2016

Wisdom Wednesday

Well we have a workweek started, that is one down and a couple more ahead of us before another weekend. I thought I would change it up a little bit today and do a wisdom blog since I really don't have any new content to talk about.

How about we re-do a blog I wrote from ten years ago and update it a little.

Morgantown as it was yesterday

* The Underground Railroad/Underground
* Morrison's coat store down town
* Second Ward Elementary (and annex)
* First Ward Elementary
* Central Elementary
* Mistakes at Dairy Queen
* Fins, Feathers and Fur
* Health Sciences was the hospital
* Chico Dairy: Mighty Mountaineer Ice Cream Sundae
* Ray's Pastries (downtown, where the Blue Moose was as well as every other incarnation)
* Why McDonald's downtown closed
* The Theatre at the Mountaineer Mall
* Lums at the Mountaineer Mall
* When the Middletown Mall was the only mall, and actually had stores....
* Shop & Save/Foodland/Thorofare (?) downtown on Richwood Ave
* Roller Rink downtown
* Morgantown Jr High School (end of the Walnut Street bridge)
* The Vanity Shop
* The Mountainlair when:
1) you could smoke there
2) it didn't look like a mall
* Why the old stadium was great:
it was downtown
the band running out of the tunnels
* Sunnyside
* The Backyard Brawl
* When the Met was actually a working theatre
* Hardee's downtown--it had a basement dining room
* Wings & Things
* People hanging out in front of Massulo's Dry Cleaner (I was never that cool)
* When the fountain in front of the post office downtown worked
* When the Little Village was a red-neck bar
* The theatre next to Hills
* When Captain D's was next to Shoney's
* Burger Chef downtown
* The Foxfire
* Chalkies, when that alley had a wooden fence in the middle that made it a dead-end
* The goddam dryhouse/the machine shop
* Craig's Comics
* Space Port
* Carousel library cards
* Falstaff's in Sunnyside
* The miniature golf course/batting cages on Greenbag Road--was it Hole in One
* Montanero's in Sunny Side
* Alfredo's on Pineview Drive
* The payphones by Dairy Queen, at the beginning of that alley on the wall.
Two of them.
* Little Caesar's Pizza
* The Fayette House
* Don't forget the miniature golf course that was behind Hills.
* Scotto's Pizza on High St., where the Subway is now.
* Dr. John's (DJ's) was on street level in Sunnyside and the place to be.
* Gabe's was where the Brew Pub is now and you didn't want anyone to see you shop there.
* Mario's Pizza at the top of High Street.
* Nick's Canteen was the greatest place to get hot chocolate before the Christmas parade.
* WVU was the #1 party school and proud of it.
* The Steppin' Out guy painted on the side of Daniel's, before they painted over it with that huge Main St mural.
* BOPARC dances in the summer.
* Record Mart on Walnut St.
* Plant and Pet Shop
* Hecks--one in Sabraton, and one in Westover
* St. Francis de Sales Elementary School and the Convent.
* On the corner of Prairie Ave and University there is only the back wall left of a two story garage. That used to be Prairie Street Gym. Before that it was a garage for Wilson Chevrolet. You can still see the paint on the walls from the locker/shower room.
* Lof's
* Dr. Pizza. They used to deliver their pizza's in an old ambulance
* G.C. Murphy's
* Rite Aid
* Revco
* Mc Vicker's Pharmacy
* Famers and Merchants Bank
* Morgan's (when they had hobby supplies)
* Murphy Mart
* Sterling Faucet (where I used to work)
* Carosuel Drive -In (Mileground)
* Dairy Delight in Sabraton (Hero Hut)
* Giant Eagle In the Mountaineer Mall Parking lot
* Wayne Womble Whiteside's , a department store downtown on High St.
* Biafora's, a clothing store across the street from Masullo's Cleaners
* The Flora Dora Shop, a women's clothing store next to Daniel's
* The Olympia, a great bar and dance hall close to the Book Exchange
* The Cottage, a dirt bar where most of the football players frequented
* Wizard Records
* Backstreet Records
* Falstaff's
* The intersection of Beechurst and University Ave. was AAA for years, but before that it was a Texaco gas station with upper and lower gas pumps.
* Across from that Texaco gas station was the Beechurst Ave. Market and the Gold & Blue Restaurant.
* Where Mode Roman and Nautilus is now, was Wilkins Motors.
* Where Vic Solomon's garage is now, was Wilson Chevrolet.
* On Chestnut St where SaraTec was, Pizzaria Italia was downstairs and the Castle was upstairs. And, before that it was the Pontiac Garage.
* Where Great Wall on High St. is now, use to be Moore - Parriott Pharmacy.
* Right beside where Great Wall is, was Bakers Hardware.
* Where BW3 is use to be Greys Cutrate Drug Store and the ajoining street of High and WAlnut use to be McCrory's.
* On Chestnut St the building where the restaurant is with the deck and lanterns and hanging lights, used to be the Sanitary Milk Co.
* Where the Human Services Dept is now, used to be the ACME Supermarket.
* Where the Dollar General is by the South High bridge now, used to be the A & P Grocery Store.
* A & P also used to be where Boston Beanery is on Patterson Drive.
* At the top of High St. where the bank is used to be Borden Burger Foods (remember the big Satalite)
* Across the street where the VooDoo Shop is, used to be Gioviani's Pizza Shop.
* To the left of the Dairy Mart on Willey St. where the parking lot is used to be the Thorofare Grocery Store. After that is was Foodland until it burned down.
* Where the Senior Center is on High St, used to be Montgomery Ward. It was 3 stories. If you look up at the building you will still see the big "W"
* If you look at the ingraving on where the Pawn SHop is now on High ST. you will see Farmers & Merchants Bank. Also down from where Subway is now used to be Woolworth's.
* Where the bike shop is by the courthouse use to be O. B. Fawley's and beside that was the State Liquer Store. and before that it was Rogers Drug Store.
* The Mountain Peoples Co-op used to be Picketts Dry Cleaners.
* On University Ave where the parking garage is now, used to be a small white building that was Kelly Cab and Yellow Cab.
* At the end of Westover bridge where Wings Ole is now, was Firestore Tires.
* Where Gibby's is now use to be Communtzis Restaurant.
* On Walnut St. down from where the Blue Moose is now, used to be Presto Lunch
* Where Salvation Army Shop is now, used to be Radio Shack.
* Where WesBanco is in Sabration used to be a Sunoco Gas Station.
* Where Hardee's is in Sabraton used to be a Texaco Station and a car wash.
* Beside KFC used to be Mr. Donut.
* Dominion Post used to be on Spruce St where Manpower is now.
* To the right of where manpower is now on Spruce St. is a Medical building. That used to be the Moose Lodge.
* To the left was a gas station and the building on the corner was Plaid Stamps Store.
* At the intersection of Stewart St. and Chestnut Ridge Rd and Stewartstown Rd was Chestnut Ridge Grade School (became Bed & Breakfast and then some kind of Lodge after that) and across the street was a Texaco Station.
* "The Press Box" (bar) and the trailers behind it, near the stadium.
* Dick's Hot Dogs ("Everyone Loves Dick's"), one of many drive-thru ideas in the building near the intersection of University and Patteson.
* Pizza Man on University Ave, all you can eat pizza buffet for (if I remember correctly) 3.99. Not a bad deal if the folks in the kitchen were actually making pizzas while you were there. The price eventually went up, in anticipation of the liquor license, which never went through, and the joint went out of business. Next it was the Alamo, some of the most expensive burritos I've ever seen.
*  Ed's barber shop on Brockway avenue
* Carl's roller rink also on Brockway next to Connie's grocery building is gone now.
* This goes way back: The Commodore restaurant and department store used to set in front of Sterling Faucet along route 7 in Sabraton.
* The Hayloft bar then it was Company B dance club in Dellslow where the Dairy Mart is now
* Beckman Brothers Feed Store in Sabraton where Southern States is now.
* Cloverleaf drive in on Cheat road
* Johnnie's Texaco on Cheat road
* Whipper will on the lake (Cheat Lake)
* Sycamore lounge on Fairchance road
* Sycamore Lanes
* LuLu Belle's on Fairchance road
* The Columbian Dorm - on Beechurst Ave. - now an office building
* My Brothers Place - in an ally downtown
* Communtzi's Restaurant - Downtown - Slogan was "Where Dad took his girl and grandad too"
* The Armory
* The "tin can"
* Reynolds Hall
* "Bonded" gas station on Beechurst
* Shoe shines at the Met Theatre
* Pool Hall in "old" Morgantown BEFORE the BBF was built there
* Whatever was "49 steps up Walnut from High"
* Old Hawley Field drill area (ROTC) - where coliseum is now
* Tony's Restaurant - Italian restaurant near Chico Dairy
* WVU Dairy at Ag School - when it provided ALL milk and ice cream for all residence halls
* Golf course where the new Mountaineer Field is
* Mont Chateau motel and restaurant
* Cantina
* RedBeard's (best Dart bar in Morganown)
* Di Giovanni's on Sunnyside- old married couple ran it- home of 3 am pizza- but watch your change!
* Sunnyside itself, everything is gone including the Superette.
* The Old KA House (just knocked down)
* Original Mario's Fishbowl- don't curse!
* The "CI" a/k/a College Inn on Sunnyside
* The Bullpen on Sunnyside
* The Down Under
* The Fifth Quarter
* The Nyabhingi (after the Underground)
* Grant Street Block Party
* The College Inn
* The old, three-story offices of the Daily Athenaeum near the corner of Pleasant and Price Streets (am I remembering those correctly?) -- it was across the street from a sorority house... Man, that was a great old building for a geeky newspaper crew to hatch its world-domination schemes from... before putting the paper to bed every night and heading down to Mario's Back Door for a pitcher! =)
* The Burger Chef on (now) on Chestnut Ridge Road. Was right next door to Flatts Elementary school.Plus there was one downtown at the top of High Street.
* Flatts Elementary School.
* Chestnut Ridge School.
* How about Fredlock's? Fredlock's used to have one of those weird Zen things that made designs in the sand. Also they used to have these raunchy mugs with women on them, and when there was condensation on the mugs the women's clothing would disappear. I would love to know if anyone remembers this.
* Grey's discount
* The Dining Room!
* Jambie's
* Hero Hut
* Remember the Morgan Theatre, it stood up from what is now the Boston Beanery, right at the alley. It became a hot dog place and beside it was a clothing store. I think the clothing store moved across the street. Where the hot dog stand was is now a bar.
* How about Pike's Rest. near the corner of High Street, later on the House of Cards and now a lawyer's office.
* Mom and pop grocery stores: Chester Hartley's store on the corner of Grand Street and Gordon Street in South Park (briefly became Dairy Mart, before moving to its present location on Dorsey Avenue); Bobette's store on the corner of Wilson Avenue and Kingwood Street (later located in the building behind its first location); Marvin Luckini's store on Kingwood Street (I hope I spelled Marvin's last name right); Forlini's store on White Avenue; Bailey's grocery on the corner of Arch and Green Streets; Cobun Avenue Confectionery on the corner of Cobun and Maryland (Connie Negri still has her business, but it's on Pleasant Street now); the one on Barrickman Street in First Ward which later became (and may still be) Roto Rooter; and many others across Morgantown that I don't remember because they weren't on the south side (where I obviously grew up).
* The five-and-ten's: Woolworth's on High and Wall Streets--I especially remember their record section in the basement; Murphy's, across from the court house, where the Dollar Store is now--you went through the front door, down the stairs, and the toys were on the right, pets on the left--and at Christmas time, Santa came there so you could sit on his lap and tell him what you wanted; and the ultimate five-and-ten, McCrory's on the corner of High and Walnut--so huge that a multitude of businesses now occupy its space (BW3, Z Club, the state treasurer's office, etc.)--McCrory's had great old wooden floors, a great restaurant at the back, and the ladies' underwear was segregated into a separate room where little boys weren't allowed to go so they wouldn't get any bad ideas.
* Downtown restaurants: Remember when the Acropolis was a restaurant and not a coin shop? (It was where the Discount Den now is.); Remember when {where BB&T Bank is} was the BBF before it was Borden Burger before it was Burger Chef? (and before that, it was a Chinese laundry and Olan Mills photography studio.); Bonanza steak house on the corner of High & Fayette (later Hardee's, & later still Cafe of India's old location); the Indian restaurant that was in the back of Cafe of India's old location before it became Cafe of India; Cosmopolitan hot dogs; Healthy Bites (now the Blue Moose); Hav-a-Lunch on the corner of High & Pleasant, where the Huntington Bank drive-through now is.
* The bench on the corner of High and Kirk Streets, which had "Southside Lumber" painted on it--used to be the only bench in all of downtown Morgantown, but I never saw anyone ever sitting on it.
* The pet store on West Street in Westover (at the far end from Holland Avenue).
* The bakery on Walnut Street (now a lawyer's office), next to D&A Jewler's (now the porn store).
* The house on Wall Street with the great balcony and the barber shop on the first floor, which was torn down to become Morgan's parking lot. The barber's wife was a painter, and her paintings were always stacked up so the barber couldn't use one of his chairs. The barber shop moved to the location which is now the Blue Moose's new dining room extension.
* Grocery stores on High Street! (High Street Market & Morgantown Market)--one was on the corner of High and Forest, recently torn down--the other was where Subway is now.
* The Blue Tic Tavern in the Mountainlair!
* The Double Decker bar on Walnut Street (now the Living Room), and another bar down the street, the Washington Cafe (now GARO).
* The miniature golf course on the Greenbag Road, where Bluegrass Village is now.
* Downtown newstands: Walter's News, on the corner of High & Pleasant, and before that in the middle of the block of Pleasant Street between High & Spruce; and Stenger's, where Casa d'Amici is now.
* John Marshall Records, at its many locations up and down High Street, and even on Willey Street at one point; Record Bar in the Mountaineer Mall; and Disc Jockey in the Morgantown Mall.
* The Euphorium, upstairs in Sunnyside--Morgantown's very first head shop, I believe. Speaking of head shops, where Cool Ridge is now used to be the Morgan Theater.
* The stadium bridge--no wonder I don't walk to Sunnyside anymore!
* Morgantown's first pizza delivery place, Phantom Pizza. Its location was supposed to be a secret, but it was on Beechurst.
* Morgantown's first Kentucky Fried Chicken was in a small building on Patteson Drive which today would be located in the plaza on Patteson Drive.
*The "Today's Buffet" Chinese restaurant next door used to be another Bonanza steak house.
* Morgantown used to have good Chinese restaurants! The Great Wall (not affiliated with the current Great Wall) was where Fatty Loaf's is on Walnut Street; East Garden is now that tea house above Zen Clay; and Foosheen used to be called Hallelujah Chinese Restaurant and used to be good despite the fact that they were serving up cat meat.
* Independent book stores! Who can forget Stilwell's on the corner of Pleasant and Chestnut Streets? (Before it was Stilwell's, it was a bar called El Toro.)--Not to mention the cafe in back of Stilwell's. I remember it first as an oriental grocery store, then Cafe Libretto, then Cafe Catherine, then Grasshopper Locomotive--and now a parking lot. How about the book store on Foundry Street, next to the South High Street Brigde? First it was Wolf's Head, then Abshire's, and finally Books Books Books. Remember Trans-Atlantic Books on Fayette Street? Or how about Riverrun in the Garlow Building above where Kinko's used to be? (and remember when Kinko's was on Willey Street?)--well, some good news, Riverrun is back, now in the Sand Castle on Walnut Street across from the police station/parking garage.
* Hills Department Store
* Space Port, where you would waste all of your spare quarters on video games.
* Yanns on Brockway Avenue, yes we had one of Fairmont's finest here in Morgantown.
* Daily Kneads Bakery
* New Day Bakery
* The Firestone tire store that now Wings Ole at the end of the Westover Bridge.
* Dog N Suds
* Oats Tele-dine.
* Red Rose at the Mountaineer Mall
* The Bargain Bookshelf, then later named the Bookshelf.
* Baskin Robbins
* Bill's Laundry
* Picway Shoes
* One on One Go-Cart Track and Minerature Golf Course
* Mario's Pizza
* Pizza Inn at Hill's Plaza and the Mountaineer Mall.
* Pizza and Pasta by George
* Ray's Bakery
* Frontier Bakery
* Hardees on Chestnut Ridge Road
* Giant Eagle up at the main plaza where the Mountaineer Mall is located.
* The Wharf Rat
* Rax in the Hills Shopping Plaza
* Big B Grocery Store
* Shop N Save in Westover
* Farm Fresh on Van Voorhis Road.
* The Texaco station at the corner of Van Voorhis and University Avenue.
* Foodlands (3)
* Apples and Bilo
* SuperX Drug Stores
* The number of frozen Yogurt places that were around town.
* Papa Johns at the Mountaineer mall when it was a Greek Fast Food Restaurant.
* Dairy Marts (are there any left?)



This list has brought back a lot of memories. From the old Burger Chef's to Flatts Elementary to Scotto Pizza downtown.

Tuesday, July 05, 2016

Tuesday's Tidbits

* I hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend, I had a great time and am thankful for tall the memories that were created and the pictures that were taken. Michelle and I are very blessed.

* If you have a few spare coins laying around, please consider donating to a GoFundMe account that is very personal to me and my wife, this is a very close friend and she needs assistance and prayers. Please and thank you in advance.

* There have been 19,210 days since my birth, I'm fortunate to be able to continue to add to that total. Using my 905 day Calendar that makes me 21 =), but only if you are using my new and improved calendar, I think I should trademark that calendar.

* It has been 4,433 days since I graduated from West Virginia University, it had always been a dream of mine, and it is better late than never is what I always say. This is my hometown University and I can proudly call myself an alumnus.

* 3,034 days ago I took a very special lady out on our very first date together, seems like it was only yesterday.

* It was 2,259 days ago that Michelle and I announced our engagement, it was 4:00 in the morning and she knew that it was coming, so it was no surprise, but greatly anticipated. I had a feeling she would say yes.

* It was 1,796 days ago that Michelle and I had our wedding in front of our closest friends and family at the Marilla Center. We partied down and feasted and had a few pictures taken.

* I have around 5,641 or so days to go until retirement, give or take a few hundred here or there one way or the other.

* In 2,265 more days the Backyard Brawl Football Rivalry between WVU and Pitt will once again resume. I feel a butt kicking of some Panthers coming up.

* There are but a mere 258 days to go until Spring 2017, my favorite season of the year.

* Phil will one again take center stage in 212 more days as we celebrate Ground Hogs Day, hopefully we'll get the same result we got this year.

* I have 179 more days of content to write until my Goodbye 2016 blog is posted, recounting my previous year based on events that were posted right here in my blog.

* If you haven't started Christmas Shopping yet, you still have 173 more days to go to get this accomplished and plenty of time.

* There are 149 more days until the next anniversary of my 21st Birthday, using that old and outdated conventional 365 day calendar, I suggest using my 905 day one it's better.

* There are only 95 days to go until we attempt once again to go to the Springs Festival in Springs PA. Last years event was a little dampened and hopefully we can have a little better success this year.

* There are but a mere 68 days to go until our next Cruise, it's all paid for as is the hotel room. We'll be staying at a different hotel this year, there is a Guy's Burger Joint right next door to our hotel.

* There are 60 days until the WVU Men's Football team opens their 2016 schedule against Missouri here in Morgantown.

* 49 days to go until Jimmy Buffett in Burgettstown, not too late to still get tickets to see this legendary performer and the Coral Reefer Band. I have lost count on how many times this will be for me seeing Jimmy perform but that doesn't bother me, I'll keep going until he no longer tours.

* In 32 more days Michelle and I will be celebrating our Fifth Wedding Anniversary together, woo hoo!!!

* I have written 4,519 blogs in the 11 3/4 years that I have been writing this blog. That's a lot of thoughts, ideas, rants, announcements and emotions that I have put into this site over the years.

* Once again there is nothing new on the brother search, I know big surprise on that bullet as it is getting stale. We are considering going to the next step in the process by doing a DNA sample and see what that returns. Maybe he is looking for us as well.

* A little bit of work done this week on the Hall Family Tree, the database keeps growing and currently has 370 members in it.

* Once again thank you to everyone who came to the Third Annual Friends and Family Picnic.

* We have tickets once again for this Friday Night's Black Bear Game!!!! This will be the fourth game we have went to this year. Knock on wood we are undefeated when Michelle and I attend.

* We will be heading north on Saturday for Sabrina's Graduation Party at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

* I'm back on the job this evening for RTI, I went out on Friday and took a few days off for the Holidays.

* West Virginia allowed the sale and use of regular fireworks this year, Bottle Rockets, Roman Candles and Firecrackers were purchased by this blogger.

* Make the most of today and live it to the fullest like it is your last, enjoy those around you and make as many memories as possible.

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday, July 04, 2016

Happy 4th of July

As we celebrate our nations Birthday, I take a little bit of time out and thank everyone who made it to yesterdays picnic and made it once again a very eventful day and one to remember.

All of the pictures from yesterday are posted on my Facebook Album for all to see and share. I'm glad we did the picnic yesterday, a day that was not too hot and not too cold, it was just about right for a picnic. Today however looking at the forecast is calling for rain all day.

A special thank you to my Brother in Law George McClain who handed all the grilling and cooking, I usually help but got a little sidetracked socializing with everyone. A big thank you to George, I owe you a million and 2 favors now.

I hope everyone has a great day day.

Happy 4th of July

Sunday, July 03, 2016

It's Picnic

I think the Count Down started last January or February when I reserved the Krepps Park Pavilion. The Third Annual Friends and Family Picnic is finally here and I could not be more excited.

Pictures from the initial picnic and the second picnic are both located on Facebook. I will be there today with my cameras and I'll create another shared album on Facebook later this morning and add a number of people going to the picnic so we can all share our pictures of today's festivities in one location. I know my Sister Kim said that she is going to be doing some post processing and of some of the pictures and make a little movie or two.

The weather looks like it will be in the upper 70's and overcast, I guess I'll take that as opposed to the colder weather that we had last year. It was pretty bad when people were huddling up around the BBQ pit to stay warm, I don't think we are going to have that problem this year. The pool will be open and anyone wanting to go swimming will have that option.

Michelle and I as well as Pam and George and Chad will all be there around this morning to set up and to start cooking. If anyone wants to lend a hand, please come on over early as we will be there for a a while today. I figure we can start to eat sometime around 1:00 or 2:00 ish, depending on how many people get there and it will give the time for the church goers to get there and say the blessing for the food.

It's going to be a great day.

Saturday, July 02, 2016

Saturday Morning Rambling

Here I sit yet once again in a quiet household, the cats and I are up and I have no idea what we are watching on the TV. We got in late from the game last night and here I am up early still collecting my half asleep thoughts on the day.

We had a great time at the game last night, the Black Bears beat Auburn 11-5 last night in front of a crowd of around 2,500. Auburn had Ryan Ripken playing for them, Ryan is the son of MLB Hall of Famer and legend Cal Ripken Jr. After the game we were treated to a real nice fireworks display.

Today we will be doing our final shopping for tomorrows Friends and Family Picnic at Krepps Park. Today's shopping will just be for the perishables as everything is ready to go. Hopefully the weather is much more cooperative than it was last year and we can all get our picnic on. There is still some preparation to do, but we are in the home stretch and just about ready for tomorrows festivities.

Have yourselves a great day, the Sandman is swinging at me to lay back down, he is relentless and I must follow his lead...lol

Friday, July 01, 2016

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 4th of July Holiday Weekend.

I have to say that I am going to have a very busy weekend for myself. I'm on vacation today from my normal career job and starting a new quarter for the SAMHSA project for RTI today, so I will be out in the field stopping at my assigned housing units for this quarter. The start of a quarter is always busy and it starts today.

This evening Michelle and I will be going to the WV Blackbears game at the Monongalia County Ballpark. This will be our third game this season and we have another one that we will be attending next week as well. Go Doublestuff Pepperoni Roll, end the o'fer streak in the Pepperoni Roll race.

Tomorrow we were scheduled to go to the last Rosiak 4th of July Picnic, however that picnic due to some pretty serious circumstances has been put on hold for the time being. Unspoken prayer request for a very good friend is all I will say.

Sunday is the big day, the Third Annual Friends and Family Picnic is finally here. All the planning and preparation is being finished up and we are ready to get our picnic on.

Have a great day.

Hi ho hi ho