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Saturday, March 31, 2018

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit in a quiet household, I'm the only one awake I think and Michelle is up north for the Easter weekend. I'm here watching nothing at all on the TV as I was streaming a movie earlier.

Sometimes when we post to Facebook, we have to know that sometimes we have a bigger audience than what we may perceive. Case in point, my sister Kim wrote a post about Heather being killed in a car wreck earlier this week. There was a news source out of Ohio that picked it up and ran with it, and another one out of China that ran a similar story. I brought these to Kim's attention that she was being quoted, and her obvious response was can they do that. Well yes they can, it's on Social Media and it's set to public, meaning it is fair game to whoever wants to use it whether they are making money on it (as the case with these two incidents) or not. Just a word to the wise and a heads up.

I get to hold down the fort today,  hopefully the weather will warm up a little and I might get a chance to go somewhere and fly my drone this afternoon. Not sure where I am going to go, but I would like to extend the range a little and get away from the no fly zones like where we live. You can't fly a drone within so much of a range of an airport and withe Hart Field and the Heliport at the Hospital, we are within both of those ranges. I've kept it on trainer mode, as the height has been limited to 100' (as opposed to 400') and the range has been about that too (as opposed a couple mile range).

Have yourselves a great day today.

Friday, March 30, 2018

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 big plans for me this weekend, I think Michelle is going to Jon and Laura's after work this evening, so I will be here holding down the fort for the most part this weekend. Chad came home last night and not sure if he is going back up this weekend or not.

The new quarter for RTI officially starts on Sunday, but Sunday is Easter and
I'm not going to invade people's family time during the most religious holiday of the year for the Christian Religion and will start my quarter the following day on Monday. IOW my life is about to get very busy again for a while after a nice break this quarter due to illness.

It will be warm enough to fly the drone this weekend, but of course it looks like it is going to rain this weekend. It's coming to that time when the weather will be nice and sunny and I can take flight.

Have yourselves a great day today and the start of a great Easter Weekend.

Hi ho hi ho

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Photo Flashback Thursday Part II


Twice this particular  week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through some of the pictures that I have either taken, scanned or stolen off of the internet through the years and find one special picture that stands out. Little lost moments in time from yesterday caught with a Cameras lens and relived right here in my blog. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that one special picture and sometimes it's not that easy, one thing it consistently is however is a whole lot of fun.

Once again it is with another heavy heart that I have to do this, with Uncle Junior's passing I thought that was enough tragedy for the week, I found out yesterday morning that my Cousin Heather (center) died in a car wreck a couple of days ago in Ohio. She had just became a Grandmother and was traveling to see her Granddaughter and the car she was in (not sure if she was driving) wrecked pretty badly and she lost her life.

I had only met her a couple of times, each time she had traveled to Morgantown for our family picnic, she was full of personality and someone who came off as very kind. I'm thankful that I did get to meet her, she will be missed.

Photo Flashback Thursday



Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through some of the pictures that I have either taken, scanned or stolen off of the internet through the years and find one special picture that stands out. Little lost moments in time from yesterday caught with a Cameras lens and relived right here in my blog. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that one special picture and sometimes it's not that easy, one thing it consistently is however is a whole lot of fun.

This weeks pic however comes with a bit of a heavy heart. It is a picture of the Koon Family Reunion from a number of years ago. I knew I had to do one to honor the fact that Uncle Junior and Aunt Lottie are once again eternally united.

I do have to confess that I stole this weeks picture from my cousin Marianne and her Facebook wall, but I needed one of Junior and Lottie and found one of my favorite childhood Gospel group, the Gospel Singing Koon Family.

I will not be able to make it over for the funeral today, and I think they want to do a private graveside service, but Michelle and I did go over last night and pay our final respects to Junior and all of those celebrating his reunion with his lovely wife in the afterlife.

Have yourselves a great day today.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Hump Day

I learned Monday evening that Uncle Junior had passed away on Sunday. He was a very good man and has left behind one heck of a legacy leaving behind 7 children and 17 Grand Children and 23 Great Grand Children.

He was an amazing man, who lead a Gospel group years ago who still sing together to this day, but years ago the Gospel Singing Koon Family put out albums and toured the country singing their gospel tunes. You could always seem to find them on TV early Sunday mornings singing gospel songs as long as I can remember.

This evening Michelle and I will make a trip over to pay our respects to Uncle Junior and grieve with my cousins and their family at the Westover United Methodist Church where he first met Aunt Lottie.

Uncle Junior was a huge sports fan, I saw him at numerous WVU Fall Madness's for Basketball and a number of West Virginia Blackbear games.

He will be missed, but his legacy lives on. 

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Tuesday's Tidbits

* It's Tuesday, can't think of any better reason to do a tidbits. Short but sweet intro..lol

* It has been 19,841 days since my reported birth, by my calculation and using my patented 938 day calendar (like I pointed out yesterday for Amy), that should make me 21 years old by my calculations or 54 by these old antiquated calender's.

* It has been 5,063 days since I graduated with my Degree in Geography, been working in the field ever since.

* 3,664 days ago Michelle and I went out for our very first date, we're still working on our second decade and going strong. I'm a lucky guy.

* 2,888 days ago I proposed to my wife Michelle, I'm a lucky man.

* It was 2,425 days ago in front of our closest friends and family that Michelle and I poured sand into a vial and said "I Do" and we were.

* I am now 50 days older than my father was when he passed away, life is too short.

* I have 4,997 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, or at least start doing something else with my life other than working. I am under 5,000 now, so there is that milestone that is accomplished.

* The next Backyard brawl where we beat Pitt's ass in Football is only 1,635 days away. Here Kitty Kitty Kitty.

* 312 more days until Phil tells me that we are going to have an early Spring in 2019, doesn't matter what he says though, that Geriatric wench Mother Nature obviously doesn't listen to him.

* 279 more days to go until my Goodbye 2018 Blog is posted, nice round number to go until the end of the year.

* There are 273 more shopping days left until Christmas, not ready to start shopping just yet but I know kids have their lists started.

* My next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 249 more days. I think this will be the 34th anniversary?

* There are 139 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our magical Seventh Magical Wedding Anniversary. She is in fact one amazing woman.

* There are 121 days to go until MountainFest Starts, we already have our tickets and this will be our second year of attending. Alabama, Brett Michaels and Montgomery Gentry will be the featured acts throughout the weekend. Ticket's are now $50 each for the weekend, we bought ours just before Christmas for $40 each for the entire weekend and before all acts were named.

* There are 102 more days until we go and see Jimmy in Pittsburgh again. We were listening to Radio Margaritaville this past weekend.

* There are 86 more days to go until it's going to be Summertime officially. I'm ready for shorts and sandals weather.

* I have written 5,194 blogs in what is now my 13 plus full years of being a Blogger and working towards 10,000. Only 4,806 more t go until I reach that Milestone.

* Nothing new on the Brother Search, but what else is new. Hopefully one of these DNA searches will turn up a niece or a nephew that I don't know about to be able to tie it all together.

* No drone flights this past weekend, Mother Nature isn't being too cooperative. I did open my new Cox Airplane and started putting it together to fly.

* Just a little tidbit, since this is usually the longest blog of the week to write, I have been writing it on Sunday afternoon lately. I don't feel rushed and can spend a little time thinking about it.

* Have I ever said how much I love Orange Soda? Or at least the diet Orange Soda. This stuff was also my Grandmother's elixir when I was young. get sick, get Orange Soda. Seems that is the only time I can recall drinking it in my youth though.

* I'm hearing that some of the people who used to attend and drive at the Morgantown Speedway are talking about having a get together. That might actually be interesting to go to. I spent many a Saturday Night at the Speedway in my youth.

* I ordered some hot sauce in the middle of the night over the weekend. It's supposed to be the hottest sauce in the world short of Pure Capacian. 3.5 Million SHU and I have tried it before in a very small quantity. Anyone up to try it? Dave's Insanity Sauce was 200,000 SHU for a point of reference. This is what we used to put on people's food years ago to prank them.

* Michelle has been binge watching Santa Clarita Diet on Netflix on a recommendation from Chad. It must be funny because she occasionally breaks out in laughter. I think Chad binged watched the entire second season when it came out and Michelle is following suite.

* I did find out Monday evening that my Great Uncle, George "Junior" Koon had passed away on Sunday. His obituary is posted on the McCulla Funeral Home website.

* This weeks Riddle: Until I am Measured I am not known. Yet how you miss me when I have flown. What am I?

* I'm STILL converting some old VHS tapes to Digital Format for Trish. I really need to get back on this as I am such a procrastinator.

* Have yourselves a superfantabulous day

* Hi ho hi ho

* OK, answer to riddle....Time.

Monday, March 26, 2018

Monday

Well all that fun stuff of a weekend is now over with and we once again faced with a Monday Morning. It's time to make this a better work so let's get up and get this next work week started.

Well the cookout went great yesterday, but Chad ended up going to Jon and Laura's for a few days up north and wasn't there when we finally fired the grill up. It was already marinated and we have no idea how long Chad will be gone (I would guess until next weekend as it is Easter and he needs a ride back) so we ended up cooking it on the grill. Maybe we'll split it up and take it for our lunches, today...lol

The household is kind of quiet now that Ace has gone with Chad too, Peanut and Sophie are once again ruling the roost and on the prowl. Something tells me that they are going to be partying, and carrying on today as we are at work. Frolicking Felines will be running wild today in the Hall Household, or at least one of them will be frolicking, Sophie is getting old and will probably just take a nap.

Have yourselves a great day today, make a difference.

Hi ho hi ho

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Sunday

Here I am up just past midnight (woke up to pee) and I decided to sit down and write my blog. Grease is playing on the boob tube behind me and I'm up collecting my thoughts.

We did do a lot of running around yesterday, we ended up going to Harry's and we bought three really nice Delmonico Steaks that we have marinating in the refrigerator as we speak. Chad has the best marinade that he uses, some personal concoction that is freaking awesome. We'll be firing up the grill for the first time in 2018 later this afternoon to fix them.

We also went to Defense in Depth yesterday to upgrade one of our firearms. We had one we bought from my niece a few years ago that was alright, it was more of a concealed carry firearm than a range gun so we decided to upgrade it to something a little more suitable for what we needed it for so we did upgrade it to something more suitable.

Typical Sunday for us, shopping and Phoenix bakery. This is going to be my last relaxing nothing to don Sunday for a while. Next weekend is Easter and the start of a new quarter for RTI, so my relaxing evenings and weekends are about to come to an end for a month or so. Hence why I am going to enjoy today.

Have yourselves a great day.

Saturday Morning Rambling

Here I sit in a quiet household yet once again, the TV is on behind me and I have no idea what noise is being played, but something is on. I'm up early checking my NCAA brackets and reading on the WVU loss to Villanova and wiping my tears and collecting my thoughts for the day.

Well the Mountaineers Basketball season ended last night with a 90-78 loss to #1 seed Villanova in the Sweet 16. It was the final game for two great Seniors in Javon Carter and Daxter Miles Jr and we thank them for four very exciting years that they were our boys on the court. They will be missed and congratulations to Villanova on a hard fought win. I try not to jinx the Mountaineers before they play by posting anything here of any significance, it always seems to come back and bite me in the long run. Thank You to both of these great warriors.

Mine and Michelle's plan for the day are to take a trip north of the border and go to Harry's to stock up on some fresh meat. I swear since I found this butcher we have not bought any meat from anyplace else. He has an amazing product and service and it's more than worth the to up across Rich's Farms.

I did win my Cox Airplane this past week and it arrived a couple of days ago. It was still wrapped in the manufacturers plastic so I did debate as to whether to open it up or not for that reason. It was at that point I said myself I bought it to fly, not for any other reason and opened it up last night. It needs to be assembled and put together but I have everything I need to make it fly. I was determined to win the auction, but still got it at about half of what I thought it would go for.

Have yourselves a great day today, get out and try to enjoy yourselves. 

Friday, March 23, 2018

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 Mother Nature hasn't been too cooperative with us this week, it's Spring time and the Geriatric Wench has dropped a bit of snow on us and made the temperatures kind of frigid this week and it doesn't look like the weekend is going to get any better. Geriatric Wench STOP IT!!!!

WVU plays Villanova at 7:30 this evening in Boston, the winner of this game goes to the Elite 8 and the loser goes home. Many experts believe Villanova is the best team remaining in the tournament, we'll have our shot at them tonight.

I had my presentation this past week at Work. I'm not one who is too strong on Public Speakinating, but I think I knocked this one out of the ballpark and am going to change the Geospatial Culture at NETL on this current support contract. They like what they have seen and this was the money people. Life is pretty good.

Have yourselves a great day today, make a prank phone call to Mother Nature and hang up on her. That'll teach the mean Geriatric Wench.

Hi ho hi ho

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Photo Flashback Thursday



Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through some of the pictures that I have either taken, scanned or stolen off of the internet through the years and find one special picture that stands out. Little lost moments in time from yesterday caught with a Cameras lens and relived right here in my blog. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that one special picture and sometimes it's not that easy, one thing it consistently is however is a whole lot of fun.

This weeks picture goes back to August of 2005, I'm pretty sure Pam and George were hosting a Birthday Party for my Nephew Moke, but that is not what caught my eye on this gem. On the right you see a young (and much shorter than his 6'9" frame) Calvin with a pretty fashionable hairdo. I can't say I remembered him with a shaved head, that is until I came across this magic picture.

I guess you can see something a hundred times and never notice something, this is one of those times where I always overlooked Calvin's hairstyle.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Hump Day

Well that is once again two days down, including the long one yesterday as I went out for RTI, now it's just a matter of getting up and over this noon time hump so we can start the downhill portion of our week.

Big presentation at work for me today, I'm feeling pretty good about it and I think I'm more than prepared. Hopefully this will make me very busy in the near future with requests. I have a feeling this is going to catch on and I'm leading it. Makes you feel pretty good about yourself. 

I have found an ap that gives me some entertainment while I am at work, I downloaded this thing called Zello that I like. It's a walkie talkie ap that has a number of different rooms for discussion. I'm at work, so I never key in, but it's interesting to listen to some of the conversations that are taking place. Some of the channels are just kids acting like big shots, but I do have to say it can make an afternoon go fast just listening to all these people pretending to be something they are obviously not. It's a nice way to pass the afternoon, just put on the head phones and just listen to the drama.

Have yourselves a great day today.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday completed and we are off to the start of another week of changing the world, now we are once again looking at a Tuesday and I still can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* It has been 19,834 days since my reported birth, by my calculation and using my patented 938 day calendar (like I pointed out yesterday for Amy), that should make me 21 years old by my calculations or 54 by these old antiquated calender's.

* It has been 5,056 days since I graduated from WVU, a school that I always wanted to go to and call myself a graduate of.

* 3,657 days ago Michelle and I went out for our very first date, we're working on our second decade and going strong.

* 2,881 days ago I  got down on one knee at 4:00 in the morning and proposed to Michelle.

* It was 2,418 days ago in front of our closest friends and family that Michelle and I exchanged our wedding vows.

* I am now 43 days older than my father was when he passed away, my Cox airplane should arrive this weekend and I'll be thinking of him the first time I fly it.

* I have 5,004 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, or at least start doing something else with my life other than working.

* The next Backyard brawl where we beat Pitt's ass in Football is only 1,642 days away. That whole school is in Athletic Department turmoil, doesn't bother me. =)

* 319 more days until Phil tells me that we are going to have an early Spring in 2019, I just wish he could eliminate winter after January 1st.

* 286 more days to go until my Goodbye 2018 Blog is posted, nice round number to go until the end of the year.

* There are 280 more shopping days left until Christmas, still plenty of time to do your planning.

* My next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 256 more days. I think this will be the 34th anniversary?

* There are 146 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our magical Seventh Magical Wedding Anniversary. She is in fact one amazing woman.

* There are 128 days to go until MountainFest Starts, we already have our tickets and this will be our second year of attending. Alabama, Brett Michaels and Montgomery Gentry will be the featured acts throughout the weekend. Ticket's are now $50 each for the weekend, we bought ours just before Christmas for $40 each for the entire weekend and before all acts were named.

* There are 109 more days until we go and see Jimmy in Pittsburgh again. I haven't heard anything about any busses, but I haven't started looking really hard yet. A Saturday night concert will be the first for Jimmy and Me.

* We have 0 more days to go until Spring, wait did I just say 0 days? TODAY IS THE START OF MY FAVORITE SEASON!!!!!!!!!

* I have written 5,186 blogs in what is now my 13 plus full years of being a Blogger and working towards 10,000. Only 4,814 more t go until I reach that Milestone.

* Nothing new on the Brother Search, but what else is new. Hopefully one of these DNA searches will turn up a niece or a nephew that I don't know about to be able to tie it all together.

* No drone flights this past weekend, maybe in the near future I can fly the drone and the Cox Airplane. Use the drone to take pictures from above.

* Michelle has not visited Starbucks since I bought her that Espresso Machine. She's got it down pat and has developed some pretty good barista skills especially when it comes to her White Chocolate Mocha. I guess that is the difference between a professional grade and an off the shelf espresso machine.

* With Spring time coming up, my patio swing, my smoker and my grill are all calling my name. Come on warm weather, it's time for some outdoor festivities.

* Jim and Chris, my two favorite auctioneers, don't appear to have any auctions planned in the near future.

* We did buy Peanut and Sophie a new Cat tree this past weekend. Sophie must be a creature of habit as she still uses her old one whole it appears Peanut has adopted the new luxury penthouse.

* Ace got a new heavy duty ball rope this weekend, he literally tore the other one up (and it is the Kong Brand) in a matter of minutes. He's an absolute muscle bound moose.

* I'm going out this evening for RTI, so this will be a long one for me. Arguably the longest day of the workweek for me.

* This weeks Riddle: What Rock Group has Four Men who don't sing?

* I'm STILL converting some old VHS tapes to Digital Format for Trish. I really need to get back on this as I am such a procrastinator. Jackie has a few more she wants me to convert as well. Slacker I am.

* Have yourselves a great day

* Hi ho hi ho

* OK, answer to riddle....Mount Rushmore.

Monday, March 19, 2018

Monday

All good things must come to an end, and that does include those semi-fun filled things that we refer to as weekends. Now it it time for us to take our collective butts back into the offices and do what it is we do for a living.

I have to say that it was somewhat of a relaxing weekend, I did get out yesterday for RTI, so it was kind of a one day weekend. We're just closing out the quarter and closing lines and making sure people are not home. It'll be calmed down a few weeks and we'll go at it full steam starting the day after Easter. The quarter starts on Easter Sunday, but I think me visiting on a religious holiday will agitate people more than anything else. Plus we are talking about traveling north for Easter as well.

I have a big presentation coming up this week at work. I'm usually one who is nervous giving presentations especially if I am not 100% confident on the material I am presenting. In this case, I am the expert and just giving a broad overview of our capabilities and showing a number of examples of products that I have produced and what we could do for the clients. I'm trying to expand what we can offer, and I think the world is mine to conquer in this one. It's just me on this contract and my work is specifically targeted for the Morgantown Facility. I'm not competing with summer interns for research projects anymore, so that makes it nice. The customer knows and wants GIS capabilities, and I'm going to knock their socks off Wednesday.

WVU advanced to the Sweet 16 once again last night with a 94-71 win against in State Marshall in San Diego. The Mountaineers now advance to Friday Night's game against Villanova in Boston for a chance to advance to the Elite 8.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Amy Dalton

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my niece Amy Dalton a very Happy birthday today. I think she is now officially 11 years older than I tell everyone that I am, but if she used my patented 938 day calendar she is pretty accomplished for someone who is 12 1/2 years old, but that is using my patented calendar.

Amy is an amazing young lady and she is goal driven and comes up with a game plan no matter what it is she wants to accomplish and that is something that makes me very proud of her. Whether it be career oriented or just something she wants to do for someone, she is a focused and an amazing young lady. She is an inspiration to all. She is also a very accomplished Photographer with that eye that you either have or not, she definately has it.

I'm not sure if Ralph, Kaiden and Kynlea have anything planned for Amy today, but something tells me that they will all make it memorable for her no matter what it is.

If you happen to see Amy today, make sure that you wish her a Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday Amy.

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Sunday

Here I sit on a quiet Sunday Morning, the TV is even silent behind me and the only sounds I hear are the sounds of the fans running in the bedroom and the echo of my keyboard with each keystroke as I still my thoughts on the net.

Well earlier this week I said I was participating in an Ebay Auction of a toy from my youth (I didn't have this particular one). I saw a Cox Airplane that was still new in the box and I just had a feeling this would go for a couple of hundred dollars so I played around to see if I could get it cheaper. I did have a couple of challengers, but I increased the bid significant each time they challenged me and did so that I outbid them within a dollar each time. Lucky guesses of people who put higher bids in in anticipation of someone bidding against them. I ended up winning the auction yesterday and I was really happy about it.

When I was a kid, Cox planes were the big thing. I always got to watch people fly them at the Church, but never got the chance to fly one myself and I always wanted one. One Christmas my Dad actually bought me one, imagine my excitement of a toy that I had watched so many others play with was now mine. I got it at Christmas time one year, and was one of my all time favorite gifts. Of course I had to wait for my dad to fly it with me as it has an internal combustion engine that powers it. They made tether cars as well that some of them reached speeds of 200 MPH before they started on airplanes.

Well long story short spring finally arrived and I was excited that I was going to finally be handed the handles of this toy that actually flies. This was toward the end of when they were flown with a line and before they went to the radio controlled, if I want radio controlled I have a kickass drone my wonderful wife bought me for Christmas time, but this was the type of plane that first attracted me to them. My Dad lived in a trailer court at the time (mid 1970's when a lot of people lived in mobile homes) and he was going to fly the first flight with it. He did, he flew it for a couple of minutes and it would be my turn once it ran out of gas, only problem was he ended up ended up smashing it into the trailer next door. Smash kaboom, put it in the trash type of crash. I never had the opportunity to fly one. Now I own another one and I'm so excited.

Didn't end up making it out for RTI yesterday, there was a technical snafu where the cases are in the system and set to transfer to me, but have never been transferred. It was a little frustrating trying to get the cases and I never did manage to download them yesterday. I did finally get my cases this morning, so I may try it this afternoon.

NCAA Basketball you say, oh yeah tonight at 9:40 WVU and Marshall will play in San Diego for a chance to move on to the Sweet 16 and play Villanova.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Happy St Patricks Day

Here I sit in the early AM, I'm up early looking for Leprechauns so I can take their pots of gold. I think it is the best strategy to get rich, however I am having zero luck finding the little bastards, they are too elusive for me.

If you have an NCAA Basketball bracket, I'll bet once you find out last nights scores you'll be cussing. The #1 seed for the whole tournament and a region #1 seed Virginia, a team WVU has beaten this year, lost their first round game to UMBC (University of Maryland Baltimore County). First time in Tournament history a #1 seed lost their opening game against a 16 seed. The thing is, the game was not even close, UMBC blew them out by 20 points.

Both the Mountaineers and Marshall won their first round games. Marshall won their first NCAA Tournament game in school history (they were 0-5 prior to yesterday) and the two teams who are from West Virginia and competing in the East Region, will play each other this Sunday in San Diego California for a chance to advance to the Sweet 16 and the next round of games in Boston. I rooted for Marshall to win their first game yesterday, but that is where my Marshall fanhood stops.

My weekend, I am scheduled to work for RTI this weekend and maybe a day next week to close out the quarter. My next quarters materials should be here this week as we attempt to finish this quarter up and put it to bed. I was only useful for about 2-3 weeks this year before I came down with influenza and they sidelined me for a period of time. It'll feel good to shake the rust off and get out.

Have yourselves a great day today.

Ho hi hi ho

Friday, March 16, 2018

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 my streak of weekends off is coming to an end, I had a great run but we need to closer out some lines for RTI and I'll be going out tomorrow to work during the day and possibly Sunday as well. We need to finish everything up for the first quarter this weekend, as the second quarters materials will be released next week. Meaning I will have new places to go and new people to meet soon. Both sections are in town, so it's not like I have to travel too far which is a good thing. I hope I'm not too rusty, I haven't been out in the field in almost two months.

Other than that the Mountaineers play in the NCAA Tournament today, it will be our first round game. We will play Murray State at 4:00 for our first round game, if we win today we will play Sunday for a chance to go to the Sweet 16. It's the NCAA Tournament and anything can happen and it all goes to the last man (or team) out of 68 standing. It's one of the most exciting sports times of the year.

Have yourselves a great day today.

Hi ho hi......Wait a Minute, Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Ten Years Ago

I thought I would change it up a little bit this week, it's still a Photo Flashback but it goes back to a very special time and a very special Picture from my past.

It was ten years ago today that my life changed forever. It was ten short years ago that I took Michelle out on a date and grabbed some Pizza. She has been a very special part of my life since that very first date.

This picture while not the first picture ever taken of us together, was one of the the first ones ever taken of us together (I think the 3rd). We had taken Hayley to Ohiopyle to do a little bit of Geocaching, and deep into the woods we went to find that cache. This picture however I think is down by Cucumber Falls. We had spent the day together down at the PA State Park and had a great day together. Funny thing is, where did I take them for dinner? Pizza Hut, but not the one here in Morgantown, the one up right outside of Ohiopyle.

It was a time when my attitude about Solitude was being changed and influenced, and I am a very lucky man that this wonderful woman not only came into my life, but has shared it with me.

I Love You Michelle with all my heart.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Hump Day

Well that is two days down, two more ahead of us, now all we have to do is get our working rear ends up and over this noon time hump as we work towards another fun filled weekend.

Do you believe that this Saturday is actually St Patrick's Day? Is it me or is this year just flying by, seems like it was only yesterday that it was New Years and here we are a few days from when my Grandparents always planted their Potato Crop every year. They were  a little superstitious and always believed that potatoes had to be planted on St. Patrick's Day. The again my Grandmother didn't want you to walk under a ladder or ever rock a rocking chair when you are not sitting in it.

Well there are a couple things going on tomorrow, the most important this is the ten year anniversary of Michelle and my first date. A milestone that I half wondered if I were even capable of making before I met her. I'm blessed.

Oh and there is that Basketball Tournament that everyone is paying attention to. You know that thing that will be interrupting all your TV shows and will be about the only thing you hear about for the next four days as the first two rounds are played. The Ten year thing is bigger news though...lol

Have yourselves a great day today, we're most of the way there and it is all downhill after lunch.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday completed and we are off to the start of another work week, time to concentrate on the next day and that is a Tuesday. The Sloth and the Blue Footed Boobies are dancing, that means it's time for a Tidbits.

* It has been 19,827 days since my reported birth, by my calculation and using my patented 938 day calendar, that should make me 21 years old by my calculations or 54 by these old antiquated calender's.

* It has been 5,049 days since I graduated from West Virginia University, a lifetime dream that I fulfilled later in life.

* 3,650 days ago Michelle and I went out for our very first date, This Thursday will be the Ten Year Anniversary of that first date. Ten years Michelle and I have been together, she is an amazing woman for putting up with me for that long.

* 2,874 days ago I  got down on one knee at 4:00 in the morning and proposed marriage.

* It was 2,411 days ago in front of our closest friends and family that Michelle got upgraded from Girlfriend 1.0, to Wife 1.0. It was an awesome upgrade.

* I am now 36 days older than my father was when he passed away, I guess that is when the reality of how short his life was really hits you.

* I have 5,011 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, or at least start doing something else with my life other than working.

* The next Backyard brawl where we beat Pitt's ass in Football is only 1,649 days away.

* 326 more days until Phil tells me that we are going to have an early Spring in 2019, that is if Peanut doesn't whip his ass first.

* 293 more days to go until my Goodbye 2018 Blog is posted, nice round number to go until the end of the year.

* There are 287 more shopping days left until Christmas, I think I should have bought Michelle that Breville Espresso Machine then instead of a few weeks ago.

* My next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 263 more days. I think this will be the 34th anniversary?

* There are 153 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our magical Seventh Magical Wedding Anniversary. She is in fact one amazing woman.

* There are 135 days to go until MountainFest Starts, we already have our tickets and this will be our second year of attending. Alabama, Brett Michaels and Montgomery Gentry will be the featured acts throughout the weekend. Ticket's are now $50 each for the weekend, we bought ours just before Christmas for $40 each for the entire weekend and before all acts were named.

* There are 116 more days until we go and see Jimmy in Pittsburgh again. I'm starting to get excited to see him once again.

* We have 7 more days to go until Spring, Peanut already had her first time outside for the year just this past Sunday. Longer days, warmer weather and I have shorts that are calling my name to be worn.

* I have written 5,178 blogs in what is now my 13 plus full years of being a Blogger and working towards 10,000. Only 4,822 more t go until I reach that Milestone.

* Nothing new on the Brother Search, but what else is new. Hopefully one of these DNA searches will turn up a niece or a nephew that I don't know about to be able to tie it all together.

* No drone flights this past weekend, cold weather kind of inhibited my desire to get out and fly (plus it's a little colder than the recommended temps), hopefully in the very near future. 

* Michelle has duplicated the Starbucks drink that she likes so much. The White Chocolate Mocha she now has down to perfection, the new Machine has 15 bars of pressure where her Mister Coffee had 2. It's some kind of a unit that they use the measure how the water is pushed through the coffee. I guess the higher number of bars, the darker the espresso. Me, I hate coffee..lol

* As I mentioned earlier, Thursday will make it 10 years since Michelle and I went out on our very first date. That is one hell of a milestone for me.

* Still thinking about smoking meats here in the very near future, my smoker is calling my name.

* April Fools Day is coming up in less than a month, I like to have something in store for the day.

* I'm bidding on and hoping to win a childhood toy. I doubt if I win it, but I'm trying to win Cox Airplane on Ebay, I had the opening bid of $40, but something tells me new in the box this thing may fetch upwards of $300-$400 by the time the auction is over. I'm just hoping no one sees it.

* This weeks Riddle: What has cities, but no houses; Forests, but no trees; and water, but no Fish?

* I'm STILL converting some old VHS tapes to Digital Format for Trish. I really need to get back on this as I am such a procrastinator. Jackie has a few more she wants me to convert as well. Slacker I am.

* Have yourselves a great day

* Hi ho hi ho

* OK, answer to riddle....A Map

Monday, March 12, 2018

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

Seems like an ongoing theme of these work weeks. We work all week (Lather), get to relax a little bit on the weekends (Rinse) and then Monday smacks us in the face and we have to do it all over again (Repeat). Now it is time to take our collective noses and stick them back on the grindstone to start another fun filled week of working.

Well the NCAA selection show was last night, so today is the day everyone fills their brackets out at work, attempting to be the person that takes home all that money.

This was the shortest weekend of the year, but that is OK as it will be light longer in the evening. I know there were days around Christmas where it seemed like you went to work when it was dark and you came home when it was dark, hopefully this can cure everyone who is suffering from Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD) and give us time to actually see a little daylight. 

And a note to Phil the Groundhog, this Friday will be the official six week mark from your prediction earlier this year about six more weeks of winter. OK, the six weeks are up so knock it off or I'm going to send my killer Cat Peanut out to get you..lol

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday, March 11, 2018

Sunday

Here I sit yet once again on an early Sunday Morning, the television behind me is silent and I'm trying to wake up and start to get adjusted to Daylight Savings Time.

Today is what I call the adjustment day, in reality it is only 23 hours long and we need to get our bodies to adjust to a clock different than they have grown accustomed to over the past few months. I'm not complaining though, it just means that Winter is fading and Spring is blossoming, now we just have to convince the damn snow to go away...lol

Our plans for the day other than adjusting to the new schedule are our typical Sunday plans. Grocery shopping, laundry and preparing for another week of working.

I'm sure we will all be watching the NCAA selection show this evening in anticipation of our attempts to win our office bracket challenges. I used to be pretty good at them, like I said used to be, seems like the last few years mine have blown up early as teams I pick to win it do not even make it out of the first two rounds. We'll have to see how it all plays out.

Have yourselves a great day.

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Saturday Morning Rambling

Here I sit early on a Saturday Morning, I got up to watch the end of the WVU Basketball game where we have advanced to the Big 12 Championship game for the third straight year. Now I'm kind of awake and checking box scores and message boards and contemplating on whether or not I'm going to lay back down anytime soon.

One thing you might want to remember before you go to bed tonight (Saturday Night), Make sure that you set your clocks one hour ahead as Daylight Savings time begins and we will lose an hours worth of sleep. Might as well start adjusting to change in time and just right this off as the shortest weekend of the year.

Nothing really on our agenda today, I know Michelle is wanting to go and do a little bit of clothes shopping today. We might even travel south to the Meadowbrook Mall later today of she can't find what she is looking for here in Morgantown. I know she is wanting some kind of a woman's business suit for work for the future. We'll see what she can find and get her something, something business professional.

Have yourselves a super fantastic day today, I think it's a little too early in the morning for me to stay up for the day. Some stupid movie to fall asleep to is calling my name.

Friday, March 09, 2018

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 this is going to be a short weekend, this is the weekend of the year when we actually lose an hour of sleep and we move the clocks ahead one hour as Daylight Savings Time Begins. Days are now going to be longer with more sunlight (or at least the sun goes down later in the evening) and this all starts Sunday Morning.

I would like to say I am going to get to fly my drone this weekend, but the weather does not look like it is going to be too cooperative this weekend. Might be a little below the desired temp to fly a drone plus looking at the forecast we might be seeing some rain on Saturday.My time is coming to fly, it just takes a little bit of patience.

Have yourselves a great day, it is Friday.

Hi ho hi ho

Thursday, March 08, 2018

Photo Flashback Thursday


Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through some of the pictures that I have either taken, scanned or stolen off of the internet through the years and find one special picture that stands out. Little lost moments in time from yesterday caught with a Cameras lens and relived right here in my blog. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that one special picture and sometimes it's not that easy, one thing it consistently is however is a whole lot of fun.

This weeks pic is from a group of guys I used to refer to as my Boys of Summer. Most of us had played Softball together going back clear into the 90's and were still playing together during my last year of regular league softball in 2010.

This was the MiHaley's Softball team, the front row is me, Chris Ostien, Kevin Coleman and Adam Teadway. Back row was Dan Barnes, Sean Arthurs, Brian Bailey, Paul Gunter, Chewy Stavar, Michael Toth, Cris Evans and Justin Napper. There were a few others not pictured, Casey Quinlan and Ryne Barrall to name a couple of them.

One of the best group of guys I ever played with, we spent many hours together outside of softball whether it was Fantasy Leagues, going out to dinner or just whatever.

Have yourselves a Great Day.

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday, March 07, 2018

Hump Day

Well that is two days down, two more to look ahead to before another fun filled weekend, now all we have to do is get our butts up and over this noon time hump and it will be all downhill as we work towards another fun filled weekend.

Yes this picture is from our Kitchen, I think my wife has an addiction to coffee. She has her industrial Keurig on the right, this is one actually could be plumed to have a water supply in the back our use the large reservoir. She has her espresso Machine in the middle and she thinks she makes a comparable cup of coffee to her Vente White Chocolate Mocha from Starbucks, she refers to it as Michellebucks. And she upgraded her coffee bean grinder to one that is made for espressos that is a burr grinder instead of a blade grinder to grind it into a very fine powder. I guess I am getting an education as to the fine art of being a Barista, even though I can't stand the taste of coffee.

I did manage to contribute though, I bought her the mat to put down to show that it is her coffee station. I feel it was the least I could do, since I no longer have to make her coffee in the morning. Of course what is not shown is the big jug of White Chocolate with the pump, but maybe I can make that another Wednesday blog when I can't come up with content and need something to talk about.

Have yourselves a great day today, coffee or not.

Hi ho hi ho


Tuesday, March 06, 2018

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday done, Tuesday on the Radar, time for a tidbits.

* It has been 19,820 days since my reported birth, by my calculation and using my patented 938 day calendar, that should make me 21 years old by my calculations or 54 by these old antiquated calender's.

* It has been 5,042 days since I graduated from West Virginia University. would you believe I still get nightmares of missing tests and assignments.

* 3,643 days ago Michelle and I went out for our very first date, she hasn't dumped me yet so I must have gotten one right finally.

* 2,867 days ago I  got down on one knee at 4:00 in the morning, she was awake and anticipating the question.

* It was 2,404 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, Michelle and I listened to a few words, poured some sand in a vase, exchanged rings and became Husband and Wife.

* I am now 29 days older than my father was when he passed away.

* I have 5,018 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, or at least start doing something else with my life other than working.

* The next Backyard brawl where we beat Pitt's ass in Football is only 1,656 days away.

* 333 more days until Phil tells me that we are going to have an early Spring in 2019 due to all the bribes I send his little rodent ass.

* 300 more days to go until my Goodbye 2018 Blog is posted, nice round number to go until the end of the year.

* There are 294 more shopping days left until Christmas, although I don't even want to think about Christmas until I get some very warm days.

* My next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 270 more days. I think this will be the 34th anniversary?

* There are 160 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our magical Seventh Magical Wedding Anniversary. She is in fact one amazing woman.

* There are 142 days to go until MountainFest Starts, we already have our tickets and this will be our second year of attending.

* There are 123 more days until we go and see Jimmy in Pittsburgh again. He took off last year, but we forgive him.

* We have 14 more days to go until Spring, the Lilly's and Snow Crocuses are really starting to pop up. Peanut's really taking notice and wants to go out.

* Daylight Savings time starts in 5 more days, I'm ready for the long days season.

* I have written 5,171 blogs in what is now my 13 plus full years of being a Blogger and working towards 10,000. Only 4,829 more t go until I reach that Milestone.

* Nothing new on the Brother Search, but what else is new. I've done DNA tests and nothing has been returned. I did get a return on a First Cousin this week that I have never heard of, but I'm looking for a sibling, not a cousin.

* No drone flights this past week, but we'll have to see what the weather looks like, this week may be a time to get a flight in.

* Michelle is replacing Starbucks. Her Barista skills have greatly improved and she is now Michellebucks.

* I did get a chance to text Gary this past weekend, although I was a little busy when he sent it and never got back around to it.

* With all this nice weather, it might be time to consider firing up the smoker and or the BBQ in the very near future. It's just getting that time of the year.

* April Fools Day is coming up in less than a month, I really need to come up with a good one this year.

* This might be a website you might need to bookmark for school closings, this strike appears that it may be a long one. #55Strong

* At night they come without being fetched, and by day they are lost without being stolen. What are they?

* I'm STILL converting some old VHS tapes to Digital Format for Trish. I really need to get back on this as I am such a procrastinator. Jackie has a few more she wants me to convert as well. Slacker I am.

* Have yourselves a great day

* Hi ho hi ho

* OK, answer to riddle....Dreams

Monday, March 05, 2018

Grindstone on, Apply Nose

Well everyone's least (or favorite) part of the week is once again upon us, it's time to take our collective noses and stick them back on the grindstone for another fun filled week of doing what it is we do to make a difference in this world and make it a better place. It's time to start yet another fun filled week of work.

Well today when Michelle goes into work, it will be a day of transition. MEPCO's last day of production was this past Friday and now they will start working to remove equipment and secure the mines for capping and final closures. She'll still be there for at about 3-4 more months before they finally close the doors even in the corporate office, but that will also be moving locations as they are trying to sublet it and move to another location.

Ace and Michelle
Jim dropped off the Lane cedar chest from Michelle's Grandmothers yesterday. She had went through and grabbed everything she wanted from the estate (pictures, diaries, etc) and put them in there for safe keeping. Michelle had a field day yesterday going through it and remembering everything, it was like Christmas in March for her as these were the Grandparents that she was very close to and the ones we traveled to Letart Falls a couple years ago to visit her Grandfathers Grave. She had many fond memories with them growing up, so that made this very special for her. It would be like me getting my Grandma Hall's things, they were that close.

Have yourselves a great day today.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday, March 04, 2018

Sunday

Well it's actually late Saturday Night and I plan on resting tonight, so I'll write this and schedule it to post in the morning. The auction went great, arguably the best auction Jim and Chris have ever had.

Now that the auction is done and over with, time to focus our attention to the house. Today will be a regular day of finishing up laundry, going grocery shopping and going to Phoenix Bakery. I love my Sunday Mornings and our routine, arguably mine and Michelle's best quality time together during the week on some occasions.

The mess that is the West Virginia State Legislature continues. I am 100% behind the teachers and think there is a certain group of legislators that just need to be voted out of office this November. A bunch of incompetent buffoons to say the least. I guess the same guys who don't want to give the teachers a pay raise, ran up $2,000 dinner bill and charged it to a state account just last night in Charleston. You also got to love a Billionaire who is $3 Million delinquent in their own taxes talking about fiscal responsibility. They have made a mockery of our State Legislature, it's time to put the adults back in charge. Rant over.

Have yourselves a great day today.

Saturday, March 03, 2018

It's an Auction Day Saturday

Here I sit once again, waaaaay too early in the morning to wake up for the day, but I am awake enough to sit here a few minutes and type my thoughts onto a keyboard and onto the net for the world to see. Amazing the technology we have today, I think back to the time of my youth and living with my Grandparents and how far we have come. This would have been unfathomable.

It's Auction Day and it's been in the works for a couple of week. Tonight at 6:00 at Woodland United Methodist Church Gym, two of the best Auctioneers I know will be auctioning off some treasures for all to enjoy. Come on out and find yourself a bargain or a treasure. They have updated the items page with a number of other new items that are up for auction this evening.I know Jim also has a number of tools from the Tool Shed, his business in Blacksville, up for sale. Come on out and find yourself a deal, treasure or bargain. There are a number of collectibles up for auction today.

Both Michelle and I will be at the auction this evening, she went up last night after work to assist Jim and Chris but they seemed to have it all done when she got there. I was going to go up, but they had pretty much all set up when she got there that I stayed home. I know she is going to go up this afternoon as they do the final set up and  get ready for this evening.

Have yourselves a great day and come find yourself a bargain.


Friday, March 02, 2018

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.

Today is the 56th Anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain scoring 100 points in an NBA Game. The record still stands to this day. Don't know why I know that fact, I just always think about it come March 2nd.

As of yesterday the West Virginia Teachers were still on strike. They walked out last Thursday and after a few attempts by the Governor to get them back into the classroom, they were out once again yesterday and I would imagine it will continue to today as well. I don't see the teachers backing down at this point and it could carry very well beyond this. I am behind the teachers 100%, they and all state employees during this time, it's amazing that although they are on strike, they are making sure that children from low income families are being fed. They are honorable, and I support them in their cause without question.

In case I haven't mentioned it, P & P Family Auctions the two best Auctioneers I personally know, will be holding an Auction tomorrow afternoon at 6:00 at the Woodland United Methodist Church. They have a number of items up for Auction, come and find your treasure.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho


Thursday, March 01, 2018

Photo Flashback Thursday



Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through some of the pictures that I have either taken, scanned or stolen off of the internet through the years and find one special picture that stands out. Little lost moments in time from yesterday caught with a Cameras lens and relived right here in my blog. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that one special picture and sometimes it's not that easy, one thing it consistently is however is a whole lot of fun.

This weeks pic just simply goes back to last Summer. Michelle and I took a trip to Hovatters Wildlife Zoo as Michelle had basically spent most of the previous few months watching April and Oliver and waiting for April to give birth. These are the two Giraffes that were being streamed on the net and Michelle was one of the people who was addicted to the channel. 

Once the weather cleared up last year, and she had spent so much time watching the Giraffes on the computer, I thought I would treat her to feeding some real ones. She was in seventh heaven being able to feed them last year, it was one of the high points of my Summer, just getting to see the look of sheer joy on her face. I think she wanted to take them home with us, but that was before we bought Ice who has a Moon Roof and they would not have fit into Pearl.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho