Happy Birthday Chad Richard Collins

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my step son Chad a very Happy Birthday today.

Chad is a reptile enthusiast and arguably the most knowledgeable person that I have ever known when it comes to reptiles. He actually has a snake that is quite large, last I heard was 13' and 65 lbs and it is hand friendly in case anyone is curious. It even has its own bedroom at Chad's place.

I'm not sure what Chad's plans are for the day, I do know that he is working today and is in the process of getting a permanent job at West Virginia University in his field of interest.

If you happen to run into Chad today, make sure that you take a little time out and wish him a very Happy Birthday Today.

Happy Birthday Chad.

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 picture goes back a lot of years, back to the 1960's when my Dad married his second wife Jean at Drummand Chapel Church. My Grandmother is standing there in the blue dress, my Dad standing beside her in the white tux, Jeanie and then her Dad are the four in the receiving line.

I Think my Aunt Glenna Mae is there with Lynn in the middle of the picture, but I'm not sure if that is them or not. It could very well be. I was there somewhere, probably standing beside my grandmother, but that is just a guess and I could be wrong about that as well.

Have yourselves a great day today

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Well there are a couple of days down, even though I took off yesterday for a kickoff with RTI and to get ready for this coming quarter. Now all we have to do is get up and over that dreaded noon time hump and it is all downhill working towards another fun filled weekend.

Of course part of the reason I took off yesterday was due to playing a double header Monday night in the extreme heat and playing one game short handed. I can't say that that heat didn't take a little bit of a toll, because it did. However I had a number of things to do yesterday so it was perfect timing to say the least.

Is everyone ready for this coming weekend? I know mine is going to be busy as all heck with so many things going on, but I am looking forward to it. It's one of the few times that so many friends and family all gather in one place and just have a good time.

Have yourselves a great day today.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is now over with, now we are looking at that less dreadful Tuesday and no softball games last night, can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* There have been 19,203 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/

* It has been 4,426 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.

* 3,027 days ago I took a very special lady out on our very first date, it was Pizza Hut and a movie, and fortunately we are still going strong today. I am a very lucky man to say the least.

* It was 2,252 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.

* It was 1,789 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 5,634 or so days to go until retirement, give or take a few hundred here or there one way or the other.

* In 2,272 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 265 days to go until Spring 2017, my favorite season of the year.

* Phil will one again take center stage in 219 more days as we celebrate Ground Hogs Day, hopefully we'll get the same result we got this year.

* I have 186 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 180 more days to go to get this accomplished and plenty of time.

* There are 156 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 102 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 75 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, the one at the inner harbor that we like is booked up for when we want to stay there.

* There are 67 days until the WVU Men's Football team opens their 2016 schedule against Missouri here in Morgantown.

* 56 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 39 more days Michelle and I will be celebrating our Fifth Wedding Anniversary together, woo hoo!!!

* In 5 days we will be partying down at the Third Annual Friends and Family Picnic at Krepps Park, I'm ready for the celebrating to commence and the picnicking to begin. Time for everyone to start communicating, it's coming up on us.

* I have written 4,511 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.

* I start working Quarter 3 for RTI this Friday, this coming 4th of July weekend is going to be a busy one.

* We have tickets once again fro this Friday Night's Black Bear Game!!!! This will be the third game we have went to this year.

* Chad likes his job at WVU that he started earlier this month, he may be getting a full time permanent position as they have one in his area posted.

* Hayley is working at Smoker's Friendly in Westover, her and Josh are looking for another Apartment to move into.

* We did go shooting this past weekend, Michelle is still a better shot than I am.

* Make the most of today and live it to the fullest like it is your last.

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

The weekend is over with, my last calm weekend for a while is now behind me and now my weekends will be busy for a while as I have a number of things planned over the next few weeks including working my second job. So much for the relaxation, now it's time to put my nose on the grindstone for another fun filled week of work.

I do head back to the softball diamond tonight, we have a double header at 6:00 and another game at 7:00 this evening. We were off last week and will be off next week for the 4th of July, but this will put us up and over the halfway point on our season. It's been a lot of fun and if the opportunity presents itself again next year I'll play again. I've had a lot of fun out there this season.

Yesterday Michelle and I went out and shot a few rounds through all of our handguns. It had been a while since we last shot and we needed to get out and do that. It gave me a chance to make sure that they were all cleaned up and lubricated and all in good working order in case the need would ever arise that either of us would have to use one. They are not sitting around unloaded and collecting dust, that is for sure.

Have yourselves a great day today, make the most of it.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again in a quiet household, I know Peanut was up and running around a little while ago but she might have went back to sleep. I'm up watching something on the TV and collecting my thoughts for the day even though I have slept in this morning.

Yesterday was very productive for Michelle and Me, we did a whole lot of running around yesterday in preparation of next weeks picnic. We picked up cutlery, Styrofoam containers, soda, kool aide, table covers, pans and lids, serving utensils, condiments, snacks and about anything other than the perishable food that we will get next weekend. I think I personally made four trips up to the University Towne Center yesterday for one reason or another.

Today's activities are going to be the same as every other Sunday, we'll finish laundry and go grocery shopping this morning followed by a trip to our favorite bakery, and then I think we will finish binge watching Orange is the New Black and the final two episodes for season 4. I have to say this season is very good arguably the best one so far, so we'll have to wait to see how it all plays out.

Have yourselves a great day today and make it special.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit yet once again on a quiet Saturday Morning, I'm the first one to recover from that knockout the dreaded Sandman issued to me last night. Even the cats are sound asleep as Peanut is not even up playing around. I'm watching Smokey and the Bandit 3 on some channel and collecting my thoughts for the day.

My Brother in Law Jim who is a an auctioneer is holding a Auction this evening at Woodland United Methodist Church on the Mileground. It should be a great auction, so come on up and see if you can find yourself a deal or two out of all the items being auctioned off. This is the first auction that they have had for a while due to the construction around the Cassville Firehall.

There are multiple locations around Morgantown where you can purchase and donate needed items to the Southern Part of the state that was hit with some tragic flooding earlier this week. There are multiple people and places where things can be dropped off including my Softball Sponsor White Tail Crossing on the Grafton Road.

Mine and Michelle's plan for the day is to simply start planning for the picnic next week. It's time for us to go out and get all the non perishable things that we are going to need. The picnic is next Sunday and slowly creeping up upon us so it is time for us to actually get started.

Have yourselves a great day today and make a difference in someone else's life today.

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 for me this is the Friday before the storm, this is the last weekend that I'm not going to be busy for a while. The next quarter for RTI (my second job) and the SAMHSA study starts next Friday, plus I have a couple of picnics to attend including the one we are hosting at Krepps Park. Weekends after that we have a couple of Graduation Parties to go to so I will be busy the next few weeks to say the very least.

BOPARC used to do movies on the lawn on Friday Night's, but I can't seem to find anything on anything like that this year. It was something that they have done for a number of years that provided some free family entertainment for the community. Kind of sad to hear that they are not having that program this year.

So what is on Michelle and my agenda for this weekend? I honestly don't know. Maybe some preparatory shopping for next weekends picnic. It's go time and we need to start getting ready for it, so that very well could be in our plans this weekend. If not this weekend we'll be running around next weekend getting it done.

Have yourselves a great day today and make the most of it.

Hi ho hi ho

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 pic goes back to last year, the Championship season for the West Virginia Black Bears and a game that Michelle got tickets for and we invited her Sister and Brother in Law Jim to come to the game with us. It was a lot of fun and maybe everyone can get together once again this season and watch another game. If you haven't been to a Black Bears Game yet (we've been to two already this young season), you don't know what you are missing as it really is a family friendly and entertaining experience with some sort of entertainment between every inning.

The only sad part about this day was that we actually lost the game by one run, hence the need to do it again and correct this monstrosity as we can't have our last attended game together be a loss.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

The No Blog Today Blog

How about this for an original, there is no blog today mainly because I forgot to write it in a timely manner. I screwed up to say the least and did not wrote a blog for today.

Michelle and I went to the Black Bears game last night thanks to my Steelers Trivia Team Mate and we were in a Suite for the game and got back a little bit late, so to say that my creative juices were flowing would have been an inaccurate statement.

Allow me to share one of my favorite poems instead. Enjoy and Hi ho hi ho

Casey at the Bat

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville Nine that day;
the score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play.
And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,
a sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game.

A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest
clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
they thought, if only Casey could get but a whack at that –
they'd put up even money, now, with Casey at the bat.

But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake,
and the former was a lulu and the latter was a fake,
so upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat,
for there seemed but little chance of Casey's getting to the bat.

But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all,
and Blake, the much despised, tore the cover off the ball;
and when the dust had lifted, and the men saw what had occurred,
there was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third.

Then from five thousand throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
it rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
it knocked upon the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,
for Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.

There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place;
there was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile on Casey's face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,
no stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat.

Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt;
five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt.
Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,
defiance gleamed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip.

And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
and Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped--
"That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one," the umpire said.

From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,
like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore.
"Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted someone on the stand;
and it's likely they'd have killed him had not Casey raised his hand.

With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shone;
he stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
he signaled to the pitcher, and once more the spheroid flew;
but Casey still ignored it, and the umpire said: "Strike two."

"Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and echo answered fraud;
but one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed.
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
and they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.

The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate;
he pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate.
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
and now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
the band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
and somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
but there is no joy in Mudville — mighty Casey has struck out.

Ernest Thayer

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is now over with, now we are looking at that less dreadful Tuesday and no softball games last night, can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* There have been 19,196 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 =)

* It has been 4,419 days since I graduated from West Virginia University, it had always been a dream of mine, and it is better late than never.

* 3,020 days ago I took a very special lady out on our very first date, it was Pizza Hut and a movie, and we are still going strong today. Amazing simply based on how bad of a movie that I picked.

* It was 2,244 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.

* It was 1,782 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 2,279 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 272 days to go until Spring 2017, my favorite season of the year.

* Phil will one again take center stage in 226 more days as we celebrate Ground Hogs Day, he did his job it was just Mother Nature who was not cooperative this year.

* I have 193 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 187 more days to go to get this accomplished and plenty of time.

* There are 163 more days until the next anniversary of my 21st Birthday, using that old and outdated conventional 365 day calendar.

* There are only 109 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 82 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, the one at the inner harbor that we like is booked up for when we want to stay there.

* There are 74 days until the WVU Men's Football team opens their 2016 schedule against Missouri here in Morgantown.

* 63 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.

* In 46 more days Michelle and I will be celebrating our Fifth Wedding Anniversary together, woo hoo!!!

* In 12 days we will be partying down at the Third Annual Friends and Family Picnic at Krepps Park, I'm ready for the celebrating to commence and the picnicking to begin. Hopefully we have much nicer weather this year and it is once again a big success.

* I have written 4,504 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.

* 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.

* No work done this week on the Hall Family Tree, it's just that time of the year when I don;t concentrate on this site as there are too many things going on.

* We are supposed to be going to another Black Bears game this evening, some friends of ours have one of the suites for this game so we will be up above everything in the luxury area enjoying everything.

* I found out this weekend that my Sister and Brother In Law Chris and Jim have a cruised booked for August this year going out of Orlando. A 4 Day cruise to the Bahamas.

* Congratulations to the Cleveland Cavaliers and their first NBA Title, LeBron delivered on his promise.

* Make the most of today and live it to the fullest as it is SUMMERTIME!!!!

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

Well all good things must come to an end and unfortunately that does in fact include those fun filled things we call weekends. Now it is time to stick our collective noses back on the grindstone for another fun filled week of working.

First off on this day in 1863, West Virginia officially because a state. So Happy 153rd Birthday West Virginia. Most state employees get to enjoy this day as a Holiday, but I'm not a state employee so I will be hauling my butt into the office this morning.

Michelle and I were fortunate enough to attend the Penn League Champions WV Black Bears first home game of the season yesterday. Ten Black Bears beat Batavia 12-2 in which the pretty much dominated from the get go. I created an Album on Facebook where I will try to stick all of the seasons pictures in one album. I'm sure this was just the first of a few games that we'll be going to this year. Thank You to Michelle's employer BFS Companies for the tickets, they were greatly appreciated and our two didn't go to waste. Thank You once again.

Have yourself a great day today and make the absolute most of it and live it to the fullest.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Rambling

Here I sit on a quiet Sunday Morning, I'm up early watching who knows what on Television and am up writing a number of early morning blogs as well as trying to collect my thoughts for the day.

Our agenda for today will be some early morning grocery shopping and our normal Sunday morning routine. I trip to Phoenix Bakery and a return home for a few hours. We may even try to work in an early afternoon nap before we head on over to the Monongalia County Ballpark to see our first WV Blackbear game of the season as they try to sweep the series against Mahoning Valley and start the season 3-0. I'm kind of excited to go to the ball park for the first time this year.

We didn't get into a whole lot yesterday believe it or not. Pam and George finally got their power back on around 3:00 and it had been off since Thursday afternoons storm. Tornadoes were have said to have touched down in Monongalia County on Thursday evening.

Have yourselves a great day today and Happy Father's Day.

Happy Father's Day

Today we take a little bit of time out and celebrate our fathers. It's Father's Day, another holiday dedicated to our parents that despite what you may hear, actually just like Mother's Day has it's roots right here in North Central WV at Fairmont WV is on record as the first recognition of a Father's Day Service.

My Father, as pictured here years ago doing a job that he loved so much, is no longer with us and has been gone since we lost him in 1999 but he will never be forgotten.

Another man who was very special in my life and was very much an inspiration and a father figure to me was my Father's Father, My grandfather Ellis Hall who has been gone since 1977.

I do try to take a little time out a few times a year and visit both of these men's grave sites. They are both laid to rest in different cemeteries in different parts of town, but I make the effort to go several times a year to each and make sure that their grave sites look nice and that they are both honored and presented properly.

To all of the men out there who are Fathers, the ones who are true daddies I bow to you and what you have done. If you have inspired your children like my father and grandfather have inspired me then you have done one heck of a job, so enjoy your day.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Birthday Erica Jean Nicholson

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my Great niece Erica Jean Nicholson a very Happy Birthday today,

The family all got together last weekend at Val's to celebrate a duel Birthday for Erica and her brother Josh's birthday. We all had a great time and the kids got a number of great presents.

I'm not sure what or even if Val and Bobby have anything special planned for her today, but if you happen to see this special little girl make sure that you take a little bit of time out and wish Erica Jean a very Happy Birthday today.

Happy Birthday Erica Jean, may all your dreams and wishes come through today.

Saturday Morning Rambling

Well here I sit on a quiet Saturday Morning, Peanut is up running around and creating havoc in the household and I'm watching the end of Something About Mary and collecting my thoughts on the day.

No specific plans for the day, Michelle came home from work yesterday a little under the weather and not feeling very well. She tried to go back in after a few hours of sleep and was there for a while, but ended up leaving again due to not feeling very well. What we do or do not do today may depend upon her and how she feels.

I did get my materials to start working on field work for RTI, the next quarter doesn't begin until July 1st but I got all my lead letters, and housing units for my new sections that will begin in a couple of weeks. The first few days of July are going to be very busy with me with the new quarter kicking off, the holiday, the Rosiak Picnic and our big picnic all within the first 3 days before the 4th of July. It's going to get busy to say the least those days.

There are still a number of Power Outages due to the sever storms that we had here Thursday night. I know as of last night that my sister Pam still did not have her power restored yet. Hopefully theirs either already has or will be restored very soon. Crews have been busy and this past storm knocked a lot of people's power out throughout the area.

Have yourselves a great day today and live it to the fullest.

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 Michelle and I had talked about traveling to Newel WV this weekend for the big tent sale, but I think we are probably going to do something more local as we already have cabinets full of Fiestaware that her Mom has bought for us with a specific color theme through the years.

With that being said, we may not get into a whole lot this weekend. Sunday we have tickets for the WV Black Bears game at Monongalia County Ballpark. Michelle got them from her work and they are great seats behind home plate. We didn't make it to any WVU games this year, but we'll start it off right with the Black Bears.

Other than that we may just load up the Grill in the Subaru tomorrow and go find ourselves a nice little picnic table somewhere and enjoy the day.

Have yourselves a great day, enjoy every second of it.

Hi ho hi ho

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.

It is with great sadness that I have learned that this year will be the last Rosiak 4th of July Party. Pat is getting a little older and this year will be the final party. I have been going to these parties every year since 1998 or 1999 I do believe. I still have my super soaker that I took to my first one and fought the yearly water battle with.

I have pictures of this party from 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and the 2010 parties. I have pictures from a few more years, Trish has a few of them posted on her album on Facebook. This party has been a big part of my Summer and if I'm counting right, this will be my 19th picnic that I have attended.

I've met some great people through the years and have built a few very good friendships all as a result of this party. The highlight always seems to be the water battle that I have taken part in in every year but last year, which was the first one I did not participate in.

The picture above since this is a Photo Flashback is the first time I took my future wife and her daughter to the picnic. We had just been dating a few months and this was the first time Michelle got to meet Frank and Pat. Just one of many memories through the years.

Thank You Frank, Pat and Trish for allowing me and mine to be a part of you and yours.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Monday...Check. Tuesday....check. Now we are addressing Wednesday and we are getting to that point of the week of work where the uphill ceases and we begin our descent downhill working towards anther fun fill weekend.

Looking ahead towards the weekend, one thing Michelle has mentioned is possibly going to the Fiestaware Factory Sale in Newell WV where the factory is located this weekend. That is a possibility of something we may do, but we'll have to wait and see as it was something she mentioned a couple of weeks ago.

For any of you Motocross fans, the Highpoint Nationals are being run this weekend in Mount Morris. This used to be the National Championship of Professional Motocross at one time, but I don't think it holds that particular distinction anymore, but I don't follow the sport and could be wrong on that.


Have yourselves the best day ever, hug those around you that you love and make some memories.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well that dreaded and dreary day we call Monday is now over with, now we are looking at that less dreadful Tuesday can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* There have been 19,189 days since my birth, I'm fortunate to be able to continue to add to that total. Using my unique 905 day Calendar that makes me 21 =)

* It has been 4,412 days since I graduated from West Virginia University, it had always been a dream of mine and I finally fulfilled it.

* 3,013 days ago I took a very special lady out on our very first date, it was Pizza Hut and a movie, and we are still going strong today. I am a very lucky man to have this wonderful woman in my life.

* It was 2,237 days ago that Michelle and I announced our engagement, I felt I had made her wait for than long enough and if I made her wait any longer she would have probably killed me. =)

* It was 1,774 days ago that Michelle and I had our wedding in front of our closest friends and family at the Marilla Center, the most special day in my life so far.

* I have around 5,648 or so days to go until retirement, give or take a few hundred here or there one way or the other.

* In 2,286 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.

* Phil will one again take center stage in 233 more days as we celebrate Ground Hogs Day, he did his job it was just Mother Nature who was not cooperative this year.

* I have 200 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 194 more days to go to get this accomplished. It's never too early to start planning.

* There are 170 more days until the next anniversary of my 21st Birthday, using that conventional 365 day calendar.

* There are only 116 days to go until we attempt once again to go to the Springs Festival in Springs PA. Last years event was a little dampened, hopefully we can get back up there this year and get some vegetables.

* There are but a mere 89 days to go until our next Cruise, this one has been the longest countdown as we booked it last year on our last cruise and we are really now starting to get ready for it. It's all paid off now and just waiting for us to get on the ship.

* 70 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'm waiting for the concert and another great tailgate with a great group of Parrot Heads.

* In 53 more days Michelle and I will be celebrating our Fifth Wedding Anniversary together, I am a very lucky man.

* In 19 days we will be partying down at the Third Annual Friends and Family Picnic at Krepps Park, I'm ready for the celebrating to commence and the picnicking to begin. Hopefully we have much nicer weather this year.

* There are but a mere 7 days to go until the "Official" start of Summer, although I think we are already there and have been celebrating it so far.

* I have written 4,495 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.

* Nothing new on the brother search, I know big surprise on that bullet as it is getting stale.

* No work done this week on the Hall Family Tree, it's just that time of the year when I don;t concentrate on this site as there are too many things going on.

* Hopefully I'm feeling alright today, Grandpa here played Softball again last night. That's 4 games into the season and I'm still going strong. Double header next Monday.

* Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguins on winning their fourth Stanley Cup Sunday evening.

* .Amy and Kim were talking recently and had an idea, my siblings and I first took this picture together in 1978. It was the first time that all of us were together. Amy says she has a barn to use and we should try to duplicate that picture 40 years later. Now I have to find a blue Elvis shirt, green shorts and Miami Dolphin ugly color tube socks. I just need to find this iron on and I'll have a start. I found it....lol

* Make the most of today and live it to the fullest because tomorrow is never promised.

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

Well all good things have to come to an end, unfortunately that includes the times of the week that we like the most, the weekends. Now it's time to stick our collective noses back on the grindstone for another fun filled wee of doing what it is we do for a living.

The good news is we have a Softball gamer this evening at 7:00. Yes me and the new edition of the boys of summer, senior edition, will assemble once again tonight at 7:00 to take on a mighty foe. With only 4 teams in this league, we have seen every other team now and are going through our second round of playing everyone. Hopefully we have better results than we had for the last game where we pretty much got smoked by a bunch of other old guys....lol

I have to say that we ended up with much better weather this weekend than originally predicted, they were calling for rain and thunderstorms all weekend and we pretty much avoided all of that. I'm so glad that we went out and did a few things we wanted to do, rather than change any plans we had because of fear of rain.

Have yourselves a great day today, time is precious so make the very most of all of it.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Ramblings

This is rare, I have actually slept in this morning later than I have for sometime. I'm usually up around the 3:00-4:00 hour and I opened my eyes up this morning and saw light outside the window. I'm still the first one up this morning, even the cats are still sleeping. I've got nothing on the boob tube, and I'm trying to get my bearings after sleeping in.

We had a great time yesterday, started off by putting some new flowers on my Dad and Jean's grave. I had also purchased a few solar powered Dragonflies that I also added to the grave. I saw something like that a few weeks ago and wanted to order something similar for them.

After that it was lunch at Whitetail Crossing. This is the first time that I have been there since Ron and Sarabeth have opened the establishment. I kept promising that I was going to go up and try the food. I have to say that they had some really good wings that we had for lunch, but everyone else is telling me to try their ribs as they are out of this site.

After that we had a little family get together for Erica and Josh's Birthday Party at my niece Valaries home. I think the kids made out pretty well and there was even a water battle with the younger kids. My and my siblings did turn back the clock of time a little when Terri threw a hot dog at me, reminiscent of the old family picnics from the 1980's, the only thing missing was the CCR music in the background...lol

Our agendas for the day, grocery shopping. Nothing too exciting as the weather forecast that did look pretty rainy, doesn't look too bad now. We'll have to wait and see.

Have yourselves a great day.

Saturday

Well here I sit yet once again in a quiet household, no one else is stirring around and I'm up watching Something About Mary on some TV station and collecting my thoughts for the day.

Well our plans for today are to go to Erica and Josh's Birthday party this afternoon. Val combines both kids parties and does it all in one day during the summer, today is that day were we all gather together at her home and celebrate with birthdays with her kids.

The weather has been back and forth, now it's calling for it to be Sunny and in the 90's during the party as opposed to the Thunderstorms it had been calling for all week. It should be a warm one today.

Have yourselves a great day today and make the very most of each and every moment of it. Don't waste one single second of it.

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 we have finally made it, it's Friday and another weekend has been bestowed upon us.

Usually at this time of the year I go through and discuss what kind of free movie BOPARC will be running for the Summer. However either they have it pretty well hidden on their website and I can't find it, or they are not doing the program this summer. I hope that is not the case, that has been something very nice for the community through the years. I hope this series has not ended, I have really enjoyed discussing these movies in the summer over the years.

So what is on the agenda for Michelle and me this weekend? Well tomorrow we are going to Erica and Josh's Birthday party. It's calling for Thundershowers and 90° weather. This should be interesting to say the least weather wise, but I always look forward to when the family can get together for any occasion. The good part is it starts at 4:00 so maybe we can get a break from the worst of it all. She said she will have her pool open. =)

Have yourselves a great day and a better weekend.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out. Time out to look through all of the pictures that I have either taken, stolen, scanned or stolen through the years and stored on my computer, or somewhere else on the world wide web. There are literally tens of thousands of images that I could look through and find one special lost moment of time to write about. Sometimes this takes a while and is not an easy task, sometimes the image just sticks out and you find it very quickly. One thing this always is, is a whole lot of fun and a chance for me to walk down memory lane.

This weeks pic goes back a couple of years, back to when we had our first Family Cookout at Krepps Park. It was the start of a tradition that we will now be having for the third year in a row in just a few short weeks. This picture is from the early morning of that first cookout, grillmaster George McClain was on hand to do all of the grilling for the day and we had just set the grill up and had it started and ready.

It turned out to be a great day and most people took a dip in the pool on that day, as opposed to last year when it was a tad bit chilly. Hopefully this years festivities will be much warmer and have it's own story to tell.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday Wisdom

Well I have not done one of these for a while, and I'm suffering from that ever so often midweek brainfart, so I thought I would try to do another Wisdom post but change it up a little from the ones I used to do. That is my topic for the day, now comes the formidable task of finding a bit of wisdom to share with everyone.

Something that we are dealing with right now where I live is our 17 year cycle of the Cicadas that have taken over and dominated the silence with their mating calls. It seems like anywhere you drive they are around and making their call for a mate. They are harmless to humans and will only be here for a short period of time before they lay their eggs and disappear until 2033.

I have discussed this before here, but has anyone ever made butter at home? A simple little task if you have a good kitchen aid mixer. All you need is some Heavy Whipping Cream and a little bit of time. A cheesecloth can also be used to help you drain out of the excessive water out once the product is completed. It's no big task, but it is a nice little trick that will make you feel a little better about yourself.

Have yourself a Great Day

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is now over with, now we are looking at that less dreadful Tuesday. Tidbits time.

* There have been 19,182 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 =)

* It has been 4,405 days since I graduated from West Virginia University, it had always been a dream of mine, and it is better late than never.

* 3,005 days ago I took a very special lady out on our very first date, it was Pizza Hut and a movie, and we are still going strong today. Amazing simply based on how bad of a movie that I picked.

* It was 2,230 days ago that Michelle and I announced our engagement, I felt I had made her wait for than long enough.

* It was 1,766 days ago that Michelle and I had our wedding in front of our closest friends and family at the Marilla Center.

* I have around 5,655 or so days to go until retirement, give or take a few hundred here or there one way or the other.

* In 2,293 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.

* Phil will one again take center stage in 241 more days as we celebrate Ground Hogs Day, he did his job it was just Mother Nature who was not cooperative this year.

* I have 208 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 202 more days to go to get this accomplished.

* There are 177 more days until the next anniversary of my 21st Birthday, using that conventional 365 day calendar.

* There are only 124 days to go until we attempt once again to go to the Springs Festival in Springs PA. Last years event was a little dampened.

* There are but a mere 96 days to go until our next Cruise, this one has been the longest countdown as we booked it last year on our last cruise and we are finally under 100 days.

* 77 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.

* In 60 more days Michelle and I will be celebrating our Fifth Wedding Anniversary together, woo hoo!!!

* In 26 days we will be partying down at the Third Annual Friends and Family Picnic at Krepps Park, I'm ready for the celebrating to commence and the picnicking to begin. Hopefully we have much nicer weather this year.

* There are but a mere 14 days to go until the Official start of Summer, although I think we are already there in my opinion.

* I have written 4,488 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.

* Nothing new on the brother search, I know big surprise on that bullet as it is getting stale.

* No work done this week on the Hall Family Tree, it's just that time of the year when I don;t concentrate on this site as there are too many things going on.

* Hopefully I'm feeling alright today, Grandpa here played Softball again last night. That's 3 games into the season!!!

* I think school is out for the Children of Monongalia County today. I think they are officially off for their Summer Vacation!

* Val is going to have Josh and Erica's Birthday Party this coming weekend, should be a nice little get together for everyone.

* Make the most of today and live it to the fullest.

* Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Hayley Dawn Collins

From the Play Sweeney Todd

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my wonderful step daughter a very Happy Birthday today.

If I could have designed a daughter or step daughter from scratch, this is what I would have ended up with because she fits the bill perfectly.

Hayley turns 23 today and I'm pretty sure that her and a few friends are heading to a Waterpark in Ohio, Michelle said that they found the deal on Groupon and I did a great deal for this park, so her Josh, Bethany and one other person are going to be hitting the road today for some waterpark fun.

Anyways, if you happen to see Hayley today, make sure that you wish her a very Happy Birthday Today as she is more than deserving of it.

Happy Birthday Hayley.

Good Luck Chad

For most of us it is the start of the work week. The day the weekend ends and we all head back to our places of business and do what it is we do for a living to start another work week. It's not exactly a day that any of us gets excited about to say the very least.

Today however Michelle's son Chad starts a new job at West Virginia University. It's more money than he was making at his previous job and a chance to continue to work with animals which has been his passion. Good Luck to Chad today as you start at WVU. It was a short journey, but you have made it despite what you may have feared.

For Michelle and I it is back to the office and business as usual. Nothing major on either of our agendas this week, although we will be attending a couple special kids birthday party this weekend. I do have another Softball game tonight, we were off last week and return to action this evening at 7:00 PM at Ogden Field. Come on over and cheer on a bunch of old guys making fools of themselves, well namely this old guy making a fool of himself...lol

Have yourselves a super fantastic day.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Ramblings

Here I am up way too early in the morning, I'm watching something on Netflix and collecting my thoughts for the day.

We had a pretty good day yesterday, Michelle went out early to her company picnic and I joined her in the afternoon. She was out early to help set up, but by mid afternoon you could see the 90° day was starting to take a little bit of a toll on her and she needed to cool down and relax.

After we left there we stopped by my Sister Kim's to see her new puppy Bella. Her and Robert had driven to Weston yesterday to pick her up from the breeders and we stopped by to meet the little furball. I know Kim has been talking about this dog for some time now and she was literally counting down the minutes on Facebook until she could pick her. up. She is a little bundle of joy.

Not to be outdone by the worlds greatest kitten Peanut as she has stolen Michelle's spider chair that she bought at a yard sale yesterday morning. Michelle was worried that her daughter Hayley was going to steal the chair, I think Peanut has laid claim to this chair and claimed it for her own now.

The weather today looks like it is going to be less than cooperative, so no smoking or grilling on todays agenda. My guess is that there is going to be a nice lazy Sunday afternoon nap configured into our plans for the day, so no major plans for the wife and I other than grocery shopping this morning.

Have yourselves a great day today and make the very most of it.

Happy Birthday Gary Allen Hall

I would like to take this time to wish my little brother Gary a very Happy Birthday today.

Gary is the youngest of the group and the best little brother anyone could ever ask for. He was also the best man in my wedding a few years ago when Michelle and I got married.

I'm not sure what Gary's plans are for the day, he has been very active in his church as of late thanks to his fiancee Tonya and may even be doing a little remodeling of the church that Tonya's parents are going to take over.

Gary has had his trials and tribulations this past year, but I have the utmost confidence that he is coming back bigger and stronger than ever before.

If you happen to speak with Gary today, make sure you take a few minutes out and wish him the Happiest of Birthdays today.

Happy Birthday Gary

Saturday Morning Rambling

Here I sit in a quiet household, Sophie and I are the only two who are awake at this hour and I'm not sure what we are watching on the television. I think Peanut is sound asleep with Michelle, but she'll be up and around before long.

Michelle's company picnic is today at Mason Dixon Park. Our car is loaded down with a bunch of stuff and she has to be at the the park by 8:00 to help set up the dunk tank. They rent out the whole park and a number of vendors make donations to the company in the way of food, drinks, and prizes. It really is very well done and a nice way for the employees to get together and congregate without all the normal stress from work. Should be a good day.

My sister Kim is picking up her new Puppy today. Her and Robert are traveling to the breeders to pick up a friend for Brandi this afternoon. We'll probably stop by and see it after the picnic.

There was some heartbreaking news overnight, and this just seems to be a bad year for celebrity deaths, but Muhammad Ali, the former 3 time heavy weight boxing champion of the world has passed away over night. Maybe it's just that I am getting old, but there seems to be a high number of celebrity deaths this year.

Have yourselves a great day today and make the very most of each and every minute in it.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

I'll start on a somber note. I woke up yesterday morning to learn that long time Morgantown DJ and former Marconi Award Winner Lacy Neff had passed away. He has been battling health issues for a few years now, but Morgantown lost something when Lacy passed away, he had an electric personality.

On a positive note Chad starts a new job on Monday. He is officially starting at WVU in Animal Resources on Monday. He spent all last week getting his paper work and all pre-employment conditions finalized and is all ready to go on Monday. Congratulations to Chad on his new job.

Tomorrow Michelle and I will be attending her company's picnic at Mason Dixon Park. Somehow she volunteered to sit in the dunk tank, so I'll need to warm my arm up a little bit..lol

Have yourselves a great day and a better weekend.

Hi ho hi ho

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.

Here is one for everyone who has been in Morgantown a number of years. Back in the mid 1970's, arguably the top burger joint in Morgantown was Burger Chef, there was one on Chestnut Ridge Road where Wings Ole is currently located and there was one downtown at the top of high street. For me, this was my burger joint as it was close to my home and I always loved going there to eat.

Burger Chef is long gone and was sole to Hardees about 20 years or so ago, but Burger Chef and their burgers and way of doing business were long gone by that point. The original door handle however (see pic) is still there today hanging on the Wings Ole Building on the door closest to Dunkin Donuts. I've actually thought about even making this a geocache.

I spent many of days in the old burger chef, Dad and Jean lived right behind it for a while and when I would go and visit, Grandpa Hall always gave me $0.36 so that I could buy myself a milkshake every day I went to visit. However bubble gum was $0.01 each and Stix were about a nickle, Candy bars were like $0.10 and smoke bombs were a nickel all at the local Farm Fresh at the corner. I was pretty resourceful also knowing Baskin Robins gave free taste samples away and Suburban Lanes gave a free game of bowling away to school aged kids every day.

Boy do I miss those days.

Have yourselves a great day, appreciate every new day, but don;t forget about your past.

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday

We that is officially two days down (we only worked one of them) with only two more days ahead of us after today. As for now all we have to do is get up and over this dreaded noon time hump and it's all downhill working towards another fun filled weekend.

Looking at the weekend ahead, we will be attending Michelle's Company picnic this weekend at Mason Dixon Park, this is where they have always had it and it will be returning there once again this year. Michelle has opened her big mouth and volunteered to get inside of the dunk tank. With that being said it is softball season and I will need to loosen my arm up a little bit before Monday's game...lol

I did get a chance to talk to my brother Gary over the past weekend, he seems to be doing pretty well and has been spending a lot of time in his local church. They are talking about expanding the church and Gary may be the main contractor to do all of the work which is a good thing. It'll keep him pretty busy and occupied for a while.

I did do a few additions to the Find a Grave website, I added a few pictures and even added an entry for a family member that departed less than a year ago. I feel if I help them update that site that it helps others down the road to be able to get any information that they may be seeking.

Have yourselves a great day today and make the very most of it.

Hi ho hi ho