Photo Flashback Thursday

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

With a Jimmy Buffett Tribute band coming into town tomorrow night, and both Michelle and I being at multiple Buffett Shows (I have one more than her), I thought it would be nice just to take a picture of us from one of our tailgates and post it up.

The year was 2016, the year we thought Jimmy forgot about his loyal following in Pittsburgh. The concert was in late August and there was talk this might have been his last tour. He did make it to Pittsburgh a couple of more times before his passing, and we did make one of them, but this was one that we felt we could see the end of his time touring and it was getting closer. 

It was still a great day.

Hi hi hi ho

Lucy's Journal

Journal Entry – July 30 th

Written by Lucy, the white and tan Shih Tzu

Dear Journal,

Okay Lucy… deep thoughts. Clear mind. Wagging tail. It’s Monday again, and that means one thing: a new week of opportunity. Mischief is in the air, and I can feel it in my paws.

Last week’s adventure — Operation Mud Paw — was a total triumph. Peanut tracked muddy prints across the clean laundry, I rolled in the flower bed, and Kiwi dive-bombed the bathroom mirror like it owed her money. The humans were baffled. They blamed the neighbor’s dog, a sudden thunderstorm, and a “haunted hair dryer.” We didn’t correct them. Obviously.

But now… the stakes are higher.

Dad’s going back to the office this week. Which means:

• The living room is ours.

• The snacks are less protected.

• The Roomba becomes our only adult supervision.

And most importantly… we’ve got time.

Kiwi’s already planning. She’s been pacing the windowsill all morning whispering, “Big week. Big week.” Peanut’s acting all casual, but I caught him sharpening his claws next to Dad’s sock drawer — which is never a good sign.

So here's what I'm thinking for this week’s master plan:

---

Operation Ghost Dog 👻🐾

Goal: Make Dad think the house is haunted while he’s gone. Not scary haunted. Just weird enough that he questions everything.

Step 1:
Kiwi will sneak into the home office every afternoon and press random buttons on Dad’s keyboard. She’s good at this. Last time she sent an email with just the word “AAAAAAAAAA” in it. To his boss. Iconic.

Step 2:
I’ll bark once at exactly 2:33 p.m. every day, even if there’s nothing there. Peanut will stare at the same corner of the ceiling like he sees a ghost. We’ll do this for five days straight. Humans are weird — they’ll start to believe it.

Step 3:
Peanut will push one slipper under the couch and leave the other perfectly centered on the staircase. Dad will swear he left them both by the door. Classic confusion. Perfect execution.

Step 4:
We rotate the couch pillows. Just a little. Just enough that he starts wondering, “Was that… always that way?”

Optional Add-on:
Kiwi chirps the X-Files theme. She’s been practicing. It’s not great. But it’s spooky-adjacent.

---

This plan is subtle. It’s clever. It’s psychological. And best of all — it keeps the humans guessing while we nap in peace.

We’ll be legends, again. Quiet chaos is still chaos.

Until the next mission,
🐾 Lucy the Brain (cunning, classy, and just a little bit muddy behind the ears)

P.S. If Dad comes home early and catches us, we play dumb. I wag. Peanut rolls over. Kiwi pretends to faint. We've rehearsed.

Mark Roper

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is once again completed, now we are once again on to a tidbits. 

* It has been 22,489 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, new, and improved 1,069-day Calendar. 

* It has been 7,742 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography. I love what I do and am thankful to still be working in my field. 

* 6,336 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together. Life has been much better since then. 

* 5,540  days ago I proposed to Michelle in the backyard at 4:00 in the morning. I've been the luckiest guy since that fateful day. 

* It was 5,578 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, for the most part, Michelle and I became husband and wife at the Marilla Center, it was a great day with friends and family. 

* I have now lived 2,715 days longer than my Dad did and I'm still going strong, slowing down but still going. 

* Michelle has been living a clean and productive life and beat that alcohol demon 1,369 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,273 days, I've now outlived him by 1,232 days making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* I have 2,387 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, but I love doing what I do. Who knows, though, doing what I do I may never retire.

* 195 more days until Phil steps to center stage once again for Groundhog Day.    

* 176 more days to go until my Goodbye 2025 Blog is posted. Hopefully, I can put some better content together this year.

* There are 155 more shopping days left until Christmas 2025.

* There are 134 days until I hit the age of 62. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* Pitt comes back to Morgantown in 57 more days. I can't wait. Revenge time for Rich Rod!!!!

* In 39 Days, Rich Rod leads the Mountaineers back onto the field to finish some unfinished business. 

* There are 15 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Fourteenth Wedding Anniversary together. 

* It has been ∞ (infinity symbol) days that I have hated both Pitt and Penn State.

* I have written 8,012 blogs in what is now 20 3/4 years since I started blogging. I'm coming on 21 years of writing these things.   

* Older Drone still needs to be sent out for repairs, not a big priority at this time. My little drone is awesome and I really like it....when I take time out to fly it.   

* Life is much better when you eat Girl Scout Cookies, just saying, Ryleigh would appreciate it. They are really doing well and it benefits their troop. 

* Still playing Monopoly Go. I'm still in 3rd place among friends and family, I had someone pass me this last week. 

* This is my favorite Tiktok for this week. A littel truth bomb about the issue of abortion in this country. 

* Progress on my Selfie in Space, right here

* Have yourselves a great day

Monday

All good things must come to an end—but if you’ve got to wrap up the weekend, today’s a pretty exciting way to do it. Now it’s time to take our collective noses and press them firmly back onto the grindstone of life. Back to work, back to the hustle, back to doing our part to make this spinning rock a better place.

Well for me I have to wait until next Monday to start with Hope Gas. I had to go through background searches from my employers including a drug screen and everything else that is associated with it. Now because Hope Gas is a gated and guarded workplace, I also had to go through their background search and I'll be badged. All the hoops have been jumped through, I just have a target start date of next Monday. Peanut and Kiwi are happy I'll be home one more week. 

So what is on my agenda for the week? Probably trying to keep these two in the picture as well as Lucy in line. They are always conspiring to do something. 

No Hi ho hi ho's for me this week, next week. 

Sunday

Here I sit on a quiet Sunday Morning, Peanut, Kiwi and Lucy are all not talking to me, they wanted to go to the zoo and just aren't talking to me this morning. I'm getting a cold shoulder so to speak. They'll get over it sometime, I told them they were being punished for the mischief they got into a couple of weeks ago. 

Overall, it was a very good turnout. Val and her clan came, but unfortunately, Mom is still in the hospital and may be there through the weekend. Wishing her a very speedy recovery. 

Today it has been 26 years ago that my Dad passed away. It was a sad day and one that I will always remember, one where my life changed forever. Just of what this amazing man who left us way too early has missed. Too much and it saddens me to think about what he has missed. 

Have a good day, make some memories as you just never know how long any of us are going to be here. 

Zoo Day

Here I sit in a quiet household, Kiwi and Peanut and even Lucy are upset with me that none of them will be going to the Zoo today. Who would have thought that you can't bring your own pets to the zoo, but Kiwi has been insisting that the Giraffe is his friend and he wants to ride down his back. Sorry Charlies, no pets at the zoo today.

Speaking of, it is a Zoon Day. Michelle and I will be heading to Hovatter's Zoo this morning so Michelle can get her french kissing a giraffe moment on. We're planning on taking Mom, provided she is up to it after a brief hospital stay this week. She asked us to take her the next time we go and this is it. It's going to be mostly Michelle's family, but we have invited a few from my family to go if they want. Hovatter's is a local zoo that has grown and grown over the past 20 or so years. I'm anxious to see what improvements have been made since the last time we visited a couple of years ago. I know they have a new feature out front, with a Koi Pond and a Monkey viewing area. 

Other than that, not sure of our agenda for the day. Shopping may be a tomorrow thing or a later this afternoon thing. We'll have to assess the situation as I make it up to a couple of pets. 

Have yourselves a great day, go make some memories. 

Happy Birthday Kynlea Dalton

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my inspiring young great niece a very happy 13th Birthday today. 

Kynlea has a creative side, one that I think that she gets from her Mom and that I pretty much lack, she has creativity and likes making tiktok videos as well as other things. 

Wishing Kylea the happiest of birthdays as you officially become a teenager today! May your day be filled with laughter, cake, surprises, and all the things that make you smile. Keep being amazing, kind, and uniquely YOU. The world is lucky to have someone as bright and awesome as you in it.

Have a fantastic birthday, Kylea! 

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes, it is once again that time of the week that we all look forward 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 again the dawn of another weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday!!!

Looking for a little bit of cheap, and by cheap I do mean free entertainment? Well head on down to the Hazel Buby McQuain Ampitheatre and see a free show this evening. Country Music Artist Dasha will be taking the stage tonight asd the headliner after the Bennett Hall Band opens the show at 7:00 PM. So grab yourselves a blanket, or get there and grab a seat for this evening's entertainment. 

Tomorrow is going to be a lot of fun, we are going to join Michelle's family for a trip to the Hovatters Zoo tomorrow. We're taking Mom, as she has never been to that zoo and she really wants to go, we promised to take her last year but we never made it there last year. One downfall, is all the pets will have to stay at home as they don't allow pets in the zoo for liability reasons, we are talking about wild animals and you never know how they will act. 

Have yoursleves a great day. 

Photo Flashback Thursday

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

This weeks pic is from the summer of 2021, Michelle managed to get a giraffe to eat a carrot out of her mouth at Hovatter Zoo, a place we are planning on going to this weekend. Maybe we can see if we can get a pic like this on Mom feeding a giraffe as well this year. 

Yes I will have my camera with me as we go Saturday. 

Have yoursleves a great day. 

Lucy's Journal

Journal Entry – July 16th

Written by Lucy, the white and tan Shih Tzu

Dear Journal,

Okay, Lucy. Deep breaths. Let’s think. Let’s strategize.

Last week’s pool poop party was a masterpiece — a chaotic, poop-splattered ballet of distraction and deception. Kiwi’s aerial attacks were legendary, and Peanut even smiled for once (which, for him, is the equivalent of doing cartwheels). But now… now we’ve got a problem.

How do we outdo that?

I’ve been pacing the hallway all afternoon, tail twitching, brain buzzing. Peanut says we should “just let the legacy live” and not try to top perfection — classic cool cat cop-out. Kiwi, on the other hand, wants to dye herself blue and pretend to be a parrot on the run from the zoo. Not the worst idea she’s had. (That was the time she tried to ride the ceiling fan. We don’t talk about that day.)

But me? I want bigger. I want sneakier. I want the humans scratching their heads and whispering, “How did this happen?” while we nap peacefully in plain sight.

Here are my current top ideas:

1. Peanut Butter Paw Prints.
   I get into the pantry, find the jar, and then we all take turns walking across the kitchen floor. Peanut’s dainty, Kiwi can do the windowsill, and I’ll handle the couch. By the time the humans figure it out, it’ll look like a crime scene from a very sticky nature documentary.

2. Alexa Shenanigans.
   Peanut’s been studying how the humans talk to that Alexa box. What if Kiwi flies over and squawks “Play Baby Shark!” twenty times a day while nobody's home? We’ll blame the toddler next door.

3. Toilet Paper Takeover.
   Classic but effective. We each grab a roll. I tug it down the hallway. Kiwi drags hers out the bathroom window. Peanut just shreds his into confetti. Instant house party vibes.

4. The Great Snack Swap.
   We replace the dog treats with cat treats and vice versa. Confusion. Suspicion. Delicious chaos. No one suffers. Everyone snacks.

As I write this, Kiwi is perched on the windowsill whispering something about “commandeering the garden hose.” That’s terrifying. And... oddly inspiring.

Whatever we choose, it’s got to be epic. Clean paws. No evidence. Full deniability.

Time to sleep on it — and dream of mischief.

Scheming sweetly,
🐾 Lucy the Ringleader (with fur as soft as a cloud and a mind as sharp as Peanut’s claws)

P.S. If we do pull off the garden hose thing, I’m insisting we call it Operation Sprinkler Blitz.

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is once again completed, now we're doing a Tidbits

* It has been 22,482 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, new, and improved 1,069-day Calendar. 

* It has been 7,735 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography. I love what I do and am thankful to still be working in my field. 

* 6,329 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together. Life has been much better since then. 

* 5,533  days ago I proposed to Michelle in the backyard at 4:00 in the morning. I've been the luckiest guy since that fateful day. 

* It was 5,571 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, for the most part, Michelle and I became husband and wife at the Marilla Center, it was a great day with friends and family. 

* I have now lived 2,708 days longer than my Dad did and I'm still going strong, slowing down but still going. 

* Michelle has been living a clean and productive life and beat that alcohol demon 1,362 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,273 days, I've now outlived him by 1,225 days making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* I have 2,394 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, but I love doing what I do. Who knows, though, doing what I do I may never retire.

* 202 more days until Phil steps to center stage once again for Groundhog Day.    

* 183 more days to go until my Goodbye 2025 Blog is posted. Hopefully, I can put some better content together this year.

* There are 162 more shopping days left until Christmas 2025.

* There are 141 days until I hit the age of 62. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* Pitt comes back to Morgantown in 64 more days. I can't wait. Revenge time for Rich Rod!!!!

* In 46 Days, Rich Rod leads the Mountaineers back onto the field to finish some unfinished business. 

* There are 22 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Fourteenth Wedding Anniversary together. 

* It has been ∞ (infinity symbol) days that I have hated both Pitt and Penn State.

* I have written 8,003 blogs in what is now 20 3/4 years since I started blogging. Two decades ago.   

* Older Drone still needs to be sent out for repairs, not a big priority at this time. My little drone is awesome and I really like it....when I take time out to fly it.   

* Life is much better when you eat Girl Scout Cookies, just saying, Ryleigh would appreciate it. They are really doing well and it benefits their troop. 

* Still playing Monopoly Go. I'm still in 4th place among friends and family, I had someone pass me this last week. 

* This is my favorite Tiktok for this week. I love these AI creations. 

* Progress on my Selfie in Space, right here

* Have yourselves a great day

Monday

All good things must come to an end—but if you’ve got to wrap up the weekend, today’s a pretty exciting way to do it. Now it’s time to take our collective noses and press them firmly back onto the grindstone of life. Back to work, back to the hustle, back to doing our part to make this spinning rock a better place.

Well I told Kiwi and Peanut that they better enjoy me this week, because most likely starting next Monday Daddy is going end his five years of working from home exclusively and return to an office environment when he starts working a contract for Hope Gas next Monday. So soak in all the daddy time you can this week. Honestly I think they are conspiring to create havoc and here while I am gone. My start date could have been today, but there are a number of things that still need to be done before I can start. We'll have to get me badged for the facility since it is enclosed and guarded. 

So what do I do this week? Maybe some clothes shopping, I doubt they will let me work in my underwear and slippers like I have been. I'm actually going to have to get dressed in business casual again. I'm still woring for Parsons as well, but work is a little slow right now with the uncertainty in the Government. We'll wait it out. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Sunday

Here I sit once again in a quiet household, Kiwi and Peanut are outside with a tape measure and a hard hat, it seems like they are getting this bright idea of building some kind of an animal playhouse/clubhouse where no hoomans are allowed, just pets. They want their own little place where they can go build and draw things to further get them into trouble. 

I managed to cut the grass yesterday, Michelle did the grocery shopping and I did the yard work, so all of that is complete. It was another hot one, but I got out early in the morning and managed to get it cut before it got too hot. I know Peanut and Kiwi appreciate it. 

So what is on today's agenda? Just some chores around the house. Michelle brought some ears of corn him from Ohio on Friday. I think we are going to soak them and then throw them on the grill this evening for dinner. She bought a dozen ears, and we'll probably par-broil some and either take it off the cob or freeze it. You can't beat the taste of garden corn in the winter. Anything you buy from the grocery stores is just tasteless, so we freeze some for the wintertime.  

Have yourselves a great day, make some memories. 

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit in a quiet household, Kiwi and Peanut are Happy and helping Mommy today. They heard that she ran off yesterday and out of state and they were worried that she wasn't coming home. So I tricked them and said if you promise to bring the groceries in today, Mommy will re-appear and she did!!!! Now they are bringing the groceries in. 

So what is on my agenda for the day? Probably going to try to cut grass weather permitting. It's not really tall enough, but if I let it go then it will be too tall. 

So update on me and my contracting situation. I'm still employed by Parsons and am available whenever they need me at my convenience when there is work available. In the meantime I have picked up a GIS Contract working for Hope Gas, only difference is for the first time in years I will have top be in the office rather than working from home. We have started the onboarding, I would guess my start date is going to be July 21, but it could be sooner. I've done my part, but now I'm waiting on the background check and the drug screen to come through. I'll be in an office for the first time in 5 years, I will be in the old Mylan Building on Chestnud Ridge Road, or about 3,000' from the house. 

Have yourselves a great day, make it special. 

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes, it is once again that time of the week that we all look forward 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 again the dawn of another weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday!!!

Are you looking for a little bit of cheap, and by cheap I always mean free entertainment? If you are head on down to the Hazel Ruby McQuain Amphitheater this evening. Tonight's featured act will be a Huey Lewis Tribute band called the Heart of Rock and Roll. The Rick K Road trip will be opening in the evening, surprisingly. Rick is someone I went to High School with, and he's been on world tours and is part of a viral video with 54 million hits from a few years ago. Kiwi and Peanut have went down early to reserve themselves some good seats. 

No plans for this weekend I think, I know next weekend we are planning a get-together at Hovatters Zoo, but that is next Saturday not this weekend. 

Have yourselves a great day, make some memories. 

Photo Flashback Thursday

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

Since we will be going to Hovatter's in less than a couple of weeks, I thought I would take a picture from one of our previous visits to the zoo. Michelle's favorite thing to do is feed the Giraffes, but she has a second favorite thing to do, and that is to go into the bird enclosure and feed the birds. (Don't tell Kiwi). 

One of their attractions is an enclosure that literally has hundreds of parakeets in it, and they are friendly and can be bribed with the bird seed and honey popcicle sticks that you can buy when you first enter the park. 

Have yourself a great day. 

Lucy's Journal

Journal Entry – July 9th
Written by Lucy, the white and tan Shih Tzu

Dear Journal,

Well, today was absolutely glorious. Mischievous. Sneaky. Downright devious. And I loved every second of it.

It all started right after breakfast. The humans were distracted with sunscreen and sunglasses and floaties and whatever else they lug out for pool day. Meanwhile, I spotted Kiwi doing little loops near the ceiling fan, already plotting. That bird’s got a glint in her eye that always means, “Let’s raise some chaos.” Naturally, I wagged my tail and joined in.

We waited until the humans were all lounging around the pool — some were reading, some sunbathing, one guy was floating on an inflatable flamingo with zero awareness of what was about to happen. That’s when Kiwi gave me the signal: a quick chirp and a head bob. The Operation: Dive-Bomb was a go.

Kiwi soared out the back sliding door like a tiny feathery superhero. He circled once, then twice, then — SPLAT. First victim: the bald guy with the Bluetooth speaker. Right on the shoulder. He thought it was sunscreen at first. Ha!

I was down below pretending to sniff around the garden beds, but really I was trying not to laugh. Peanut was lurking in the shade, rolling her eyes, pretending she was above all this. But I saw her smirk when Kiwi got Aunt Terri,  Aunt Kim, and Aunt Pam in her purple hair.

“Direct hit!” Kiwi squawked, zipping past me, laughing like a goblin. “Next one’s for the lifeguard!”

(We don’t even have a lifeguard. It was just my teenage cousin who thinks he’s important because he wears sunglasses and carries a whistle.)

Anyway, after three more precision air strikes and one near miss on the nacho plate (which I absolutely would’ve eaten if I could reach), we all regrouped in the garage. I pretended to be hot and tired. Peanut dramatically flopped onto a pile of beach towels like he’d just run a marathon. Kiwi, still jazzed from all the flying, perched on my head as I laid in the laundry basket and started writing this journal.

He’s still here now. Preening. Probably planning tomorrow’s air raid.

The humans? Never suspected a thing. They blamed it on random birds. Ha! As if a common pigeon could land that many bullseyes.

We’re legends. Feathered and furry legends.

Til next time,
🐾 Lucy the Poolside Prankster

P.S. Kiwi says he’s working on a midair fart move. I told him that’s not how bird anatomy works, but he’s determined.

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is once again completed, it was back to work after a three day weekend and now we're doing a Tuesday. TIDBITS!!!

* It has been 22,475 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, new, and improved 1,069-day Calendar. 

* It has been 7,728 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography. I love what I do and am thankful to still be working in my field. 

* 6,322 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together. Life has been much better since then. 

* 5,526  days ago I proposed to Michelle in the backyard at 4:00 in the morning. I've been the luckiest guy since that fateful day. 

* It was 5,564 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, for the most part, Michelle and I became husband and wife at the Marilla Center, it was a great day with friends and family. 

* I have now lived 2,701 days longer than my Dad did and I'm still going strong, slowing down but still going. 

* Michelle has been living a clean and productive life and beat that alcohol demon 1,355 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,273 days, I've now outlived him by 1,218 days making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* I have 2,401 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, but I love doing what I do. Who knows, though, doing what I do I may never retire.

* 209 more days until Phil steps to center stage once again for Groundhog Day.    

* 190 more days to go until my Goodbye 2025 Blog is posted. Hopefully, I can put some better content together this year.

* There are 169 more shopping days left until Christmas 2025.

* There are 148 days until I hit the age of 62. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* Pitt comes back to Morgantown in 71 more days. I can't wait. Revenge time for Rich Rod!!!!

* In 53 Days, Rich Rod leads the Mountaineers back onto the field to finish some unfinished business. 

* There are 29 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Fourteenth Wedding Anniversary together. 

* It has been ∞ (infinity symbol) days that I have hated both Pitt and Penn State.

* I have written 7,995 blogs in what is now 20 3/4 years since I started blogging. Two decades ago.   

* Older Drone still needs to be sent out for repairs, not a big priority at this time. My little drone is awesome and I really like it....when I take time out to fly it.   

* Life is much better when you eat Girl Scout Cookies, just saying, Ryleigh would appreciate it. They are really doing well and it benefits their troop. 

* Still playing Monopoly Go. I'm still in 4th place among friends and family, I had someone pass me this last week. 

* This is my favorite Tiktok for this week. I love these AI creations. 

* Progress on my Selfie in Space, right here

* Have yourselves a great day

Monday

All good things must come to an end—but if you’ve got to wrap up the weekend, today’s a pretty exciting way to do it. Now it’s time to take our collective noses and press them firmly back onto the grindstone of life. Back to work, back to the hustle, back to doing our part to make this spinning rock a better place.

I'm not sure if I should be worried or not, I caught Kiwi and Peanut taking turns talking to Lucy this morning. They would say something, Peanut would cheer them on and Kiwi kept nodding his head as if to say that's a great idea and I can do that, then he would break into laughter. I think these three are planning something this week, I'm not sure what but something tells me they are going to get into trouble no matter what it is. I'm sure they are going to get into some kind of mischief. 

Since last week was the 4th of July and it was the beginning of the fiscal year, I'm hoping the companies that need GIS services will be reaching out this week and next. Everyone I have been speaking to have been contract roles, some are quite lucrative and one is in an office, but it's less than a mile from here at the Mylan Building. Keep your fingers crossed, I'm getting bored. I think I am going to take some time while I am waiting and learn FME (Feature Manipulation Engine), it seems to be where the more lucrative opportunities are at this time. 

Have yourselves a great day, keep an eye on this blog and we'll see if Lucy spills the beans about what they are planning. 

Sunday

Here I sit in a quiet household contemplating on what I am going to do today other than my typical Sunday chores. I could look to Kiwi and Peanut for inspiration, but they are too busy lounging around watching reruns of Captain Kangaroo and complaining that it was too hot outside yesterday. No inspiration at all today from these two. 

We didn't get into too much yesterday, mostly stayed home and stayed out of the heat. I'm thankful that I decided to cut grass on Friday rather than waiting for yesterday, it was scorching hot is an understatement. 

I did hear Kiwi and Peanut collaborating this morning though, something about trying to get Lucy's phone number. I'm not sure what kind of mischief they are going to get into, but you know it is something.

Have yourselves a great day, stay cool and hydrated. 

Saturday

Here I sit in a quiet household, Kiwi and peanut are cleaning up from yesterday's party and last nights fireworks display. They want to make sure that all the fireworks have been discharged and are not going to be any future danger to anyone else. They enjoyed watching them with the ooos and ahhhhs but now is the next day and it is time to clean up their mess. 

So what is on today's agenda? Michelle will be doing the shopping and I'll be out doing some yard work and mowing grass most likely, or at least weed eating as I mowed yesterday. It has been a couple of weeks since I last mowed and it needed it so I knocked it out. That is if weather is permitting. Hopefully it is because it needs to be trimmed. 

So what is everyone else doing with their holiday weekend? Anyone having cookouts, grill ins, or just simply having get-togethers? Hayley and Tyler are just outside of Romney for the weekend at his parents camp site. 

Something to watch for because West Virginia changed how they did things this year, your cars registration. Check and make sure when your plates run out (at the beginning of the month not the end) and don't wait on West Virginia sending you anything. I felt mine was due earlier this week so I had Michelle check them, the plates on Ice were expired since June 1st (I usually renew 2 years at a time). Fortunately I didn't get pulled over, but I was able to get them renewed this week. It took a couple of days to get the email to print off my new registration and I'm still waiting on the sticker, but they are renewed for two more years. Pay close attention, they changed up how they do everything this year. I think I got an email like 2 months before they expired, but I forgot about it and never gave it a second thought. 

Have yoursleves a great day, make some memories. 

Big Ole Hairy Friday and 4th of July

Yes, it is once again that time of the week that we all look forward 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 again the dawn of another weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday and a 4th of July weekend!!!!

Michelle is off today, which means she will have an extended holiday weekend. Party time!!!

Are you looking for a little bit of cheap entertainment, and by cheap, I do mean free? Well, the Hazel Ruby McQuain Amphitheater is not having one of their typical concerts tonight, which will return next week. They will be having a number of 4th of July events this evening, including Fireworks at around 9:45 or 10:00 this evening. 

Not sure what our plans are for the day, maybe a cookout at some time, but that won't be determined at press time. I'm sure a trip to Sam's will be on our agenda at some point. 

Have yourselves a great day, have a cookout and make some memories. 

Photo Flashback Thursday

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

This weeks pic goes back to August 6, 2011. I was at Marilla Park and I am standing there with my best man and Brother waiting on Michelle to join me at our wedding. She was being walked up the pathway by her Mom and Grandmother. 

My last moments of bachelorhood, as I was just a matter of minutes from being married to the most wonderful woman I have ever met in my life. 

Have yoursleves a great day. 

Lucy's Journal

Journal Entry – July 2nd

Written by Lucy, the white and black Shih Tzu

Dear Journal,

Ohhh what a day. What. A. Day.
I don’t even know where to begin… but I suppose the beginning is a good place.

I woke up on the couch like a good girl, in my fluffy blanket cocoon, when I heard the unmistakable sound of trouble flapping its little wings — Kiwi. That green-feathered rascal was already out of her cage and doing aerial recon around the kitchen. I don’t know how she gets out. I swear she’s got tiny tools stashed somewhere.

Peanut — oh, Peanut — was already lurking by the back door with his “I’m innocent” face on, which I never believe. The second the humans stepped outside to do whatever boring human things they do (probably yard stuff or maybe watching that glowing rectangle they love), the three of us locked eyes. That’s when I knew: it was going to be one of those days.

Operation Snack Attack was underway.

Kiwi dive-bombed the pantry shelf button. I distracted the Roomba (which I still don’t trust), and Peanut, with his freakishly bendy cat limbs, opened the bottom cabinet. Jackpot. Dog biscuits, a box of cereal, and — would you believe it — marshmallows. The marshmallows were a happy accident. They exploded everywhere when Kiwi pecked the bag. We were slipping and sliding like it was a winter wonderland.

Peanut batted one under the fridge, declared it “gone forever,” and moved on like it never happened. Meanwhile, Kiwi got a sugar rush and started yelling, “WHATCHA DOIN? WHATCHA DOIN?” at the top of her lungs. I had to calm her down with some peanut butter from the spoon drawer. (Yes, we opened that too. Don’t ask how.)

The best part? Not a single human found out. Kiwi flew back into her cage like she’d never left. Peanut napped in the window like he hadn’t just committed four crimes. And me? I curled up in my spot and perfected my “I’ve been sleeping all day” face.

We’re innocent. Totally innocent.
Unless they check the security camera in the kitchen.
Then… we were hacked by raccoons. Yep. Raccoons.

Until tomorrow,
🐾 Lucy the Good Girl (with just a sprinkle of mischief)

P.S. I saved a marshmallow in my bed. For later.

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is once again completed, you know what that means. Time for a Tidbits

* It has been 22,468 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, new, and improved 1,069-day Calendar. 

* It has been 7,721 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography. I love what I do and am thankful to still be working in my field. 

* 6,315 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together. Life has been much better since then. 

* 5,519  days ago I proposed to Michelle in the backyard at 4:00 in the morning. I've been the luckiest guy since that fateful day. 

* It was 5,557 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, for the most part, Michelle and I became husband and wife at the Marilla Center, it was a great day with friends and family. 

* I have now lived 2,694 days longer than my Dad did and I'm still going strong, slowing down but still going. 

* Michelle has been living a clean and productive life and beat that alcohol demon 1,348 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,273 days, I've now outlived him by 1,211 days making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* I have 2,408 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, but I love doing what I do. Who knows, though, doing what I do I may never retire.

* 216 more days until Phil steps to center stage once again for Groundhog Day.    

* 190 more days to go until my Goodbye 2025 Blog is posted. Hopefully, I can put some better content together this year.

* There are 176 more shopping days left until Christmas 2025.

* There are 155 days until I hit the age of 62. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* Pitt comes back to Morgantown in 78 more days. I can't wait. Revenge time for Rich Rod!!!!

* In 60 Days, Rich Rod leads the Mountaineers back onto the field to finish some unfinished business. 

* There are 36 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Fourteenth Wedding Anniversary together. 

* It has been ∞ (infinity symbol) days that I have hated both Pitt and Penn State.

* I have written 7,987 blogs in what is now 20 3/4 years since I started blogging. Two decades ago.   

* Older Drone still needs to be sent out for repairs, not a big priority at this time. My little drone is awesome and I really like it....when I take time out to fly it.   

* Life is much better when you eat Girl Scout Cookies, just saying, Ryleigh would appreciate it. They are really doing well and it benefits their troop. 

* Still playing Monopoly Go. I'm still in 3rd place among friends and family, still going strong. 

* This is my favorite Tiktok for this week. I love these AI creations. 

* Progress on my Selfie in Space, right here

* Is it really July now? 

* Have yourselves a great day