Goodbye 2025

 January

* Right after the New Years, Michelle changed our Christmas Tree to a Valentine's Day Tree. 

* There was a fear that the platform TicTok was going to be taken down and I went on a rant for people like my Brother in Law Nick who has built a business on that platform. It's still around. 

* There was talk about a family game night, but it never really came to fruition in 2025. I volunteered a magnetic chess game that I have. 

* I actually made a statement in January that I had a project that was ending that week (It ended in June) and Michelle was pretty secure in the company that she was working for (that basically went bankrupt a few moths later). 

February

* Punxatawney Phil ruined my first couple of days by seeing his shadow on Groundhogs Day, That damn rat. 

* French Creek Freddie on the other hand did not disappoint and delivered for me. 

* The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles played in the Superbowl with the Eagles winning it all. 

* Robert Layton had passed away. I always enjoyed my talks at family gatherings with Robert. 

March

* Michelle was excited to have a new phone system installed at her place of employment, one that she would see end in 2025 but that will be another point and a happy ending later this year. 

* Michelle and I hosted Lucy and talked her into doing a Journal on my blog, as Mom was in the hospital for a few weeks. 

* Eugene Aitken joined his wife Joyce in the afterlife. 

* Personally I had my lowest A1C rating ever (or at least since I became a Diabetic) with a 5.5, which is quite amazing for me. 

* My funding was supposed to end with Parsons, but some came through. 

* WVU Named Ross Hodge as our new Men's Basketball Coach.

April

* My April Fools Day prank was on my Tuesday's Tidbits where I always do a numerical countdown or count up using arabic numerals, I switched to Roman Numerals just to screw with people. 

* Jon and Laura had a birthday party for their daughter Maddy at Keystone Safari and Michelle went back home to celebrate with her. 

* Michelle with a little bit of help from Kiwi and Peanut prepared our Easter Dinner right here at the house, I was happy for the deviled eggs. 

* I actually talked about an old business that Dad, Terri and myself started up called BST Hotline and even remember the phone number. 296-3030. 

May

* Kiwi, Peanut and myself were all happy to see that the WVU Students had completed the spring Semester and were leaving town for the summer!!!!!

* I managed to do my first grass cutting of the 2025 cutting season. It was a later start, but the grass really wasn't that bad yet. 

* I bought Michelle a remarkable that she had been wanting, something that she uses every day for personal or work related things. It doesn't play movies though. 

* I found out that my Great-Grandfather is burried in the same cemetary as my Grandparents, I have been unable to locate any headstone and even contacted the people who keep track of all of the records. 

June

* I submitted mine and Michelle's picture to be taken from Space on Crunchlabs, it may take a year or two but mine and Michelle's picture will be taken as a selfie from space. 

* My funding working for Parsons had ran out, I'm still employed by Parsons but until funding for a task that I work on comes through, I'm not doing any billable work for them. 

* Hayley, Tyler and Luke went to Florida, Mark and Alice were somewhere else adn they were house sitting for them. 

* I did an idiot move and accidently dropped a rubber band down into my oil reservoir. I towed it to Hartsells and Brian pulled it out for me. 

* I had to buy a new air conditioner, the one I left in the window all winter kind of went kaput. 

July

* In early July, we were introduced to a little doggie named Lucy who has written a number of blog posts this past half year. She is entertaining to say the least. 

* I found out my plates were expired on one car, it was an easy fix but the state had sent me an email a couple months ahead of time and no paperwork, so I forget that they needed renewed. No issues, got them taken care of. 

* I started working for Hope Gas when my Parsons work slowed down, still employed on both jobs. 

* Kynlea became a teenager, when did that happen. 

* There was a nice large gathering of people who went to Hovatters Zoo, mostly Michelle's family but Val and Arron also came with their crew. 

August

* At Hope I got moved upstairs near all the VP"s and the President in what is arguably the nicest cubicle I have ever occupied. 

* Michelle and I celebrated 14 years of Marriage on August 6th. 

* We had a big Baby shower for Erica up at the Community Center on Summers School Road. 

* Ellie May was welcomed to the world and to the family, she as an early riser at 5:17 AM. 

* We joined together for a big kickoff party to the start of the 2025 Mountaineer Football season. Ralph and Amy were our gracious hosts for the day and did a wonderful job, I tried to get a five-generation pic but Amy ended up getting it. 

September 

* Michelle went to Starbucks and locked her keys in the car, I had Kiwi fly the spare set of keys down to her and unlock it then fly back home. Such a good bird. 

* We almost had College Gameday here for the Pitt game, only problem was we went to Athens Ohio to play Ohio U and lost. 

* We did play Pitt in the Backyard Brawl, my old room mate Gregg came into town and actually proposed to his Girlfriend Lifang at Coopers Rock. 

* My nephew Moke wrote, perfomed and released his first album Crown of Scars. 

* Michelle interviewed for a new job at Swanson Industries. 

* My brother in law Roy came over and helped up cut up a big oak tree that had fallen in the back yard. He and Andy were absolute troopers as was Michelle. 

October

* Michelle finally started her new Job at Swanson Industries. She is very happy to be away from the instability that comes along with working in a retail environment and the additional security you get when you work in Manufacturing. 

* I started posting from Jose Monkey on Wednesdays. I usually like to do Mark Roper as his are the most educational and entertaining. I've done a few from the beard who does food challenges, and Jose Monkey now, who finds people based off a short video clip.

* Terri did the Cancer Survivor walk for the second year as a Cancer Survivor. I was going to go, but they got a large turnout and we showed up late and couldn't find a parking space. 

* Michelle made it four years free of alcohol. I bought her a nice celebratory coin to commencorate the occasion. 

* The MoHawk Bowl was played with the eventual State Champions coming out on top. Both teams made it to at least the Semi-Finals and Clay Battelle played for the Championship. 

November 

* November started out with both Michelle and I under the weather, we both had our flu shots this year as well. 

* I had accepted a job offer that I was supposed to start in November. Ran clear to Preston County for a drug screen, had the background search done and employment history,  got my new work computer delivered to me and the friday afternoon before I was scheduled to start (on a Monday) the entire task got cancelled. 

* Jim and Chris had their annual Christmas Auction. Michelle ended up volunteering and working it. 

* We had our annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the Firehall. It was a decent turnout this year, lots of good food and we had an auction afterwards to pay for space rental next year. 

* I actually started to format and write the blog post that you are reading. =)

December 

* Morgantown High won the 2025 AAAA State Football Championship against Martinsburg, a team that has dominated the state the last 20 years. 

* Hayley had to have a D&C procedure after losing her pregnancy where she was pregnant with twins. 

* We had a couple bad snowstorms here in Morgantown, I managed to get to work before it got too bad on one of them, the other happened on a weekend. Have I ever mentioned I hate snow? 

* I started to develop a new skillset in my professional career, working with developing Geospatial Dashboards has been a lot of fun. 

* I have written 411 Blog Posts this year, that is the most blog posts in one year since 2014.

* See You on the other side. 

Lucy's Journal

Lucy’s Journal – New Year’s Eve Plans (Operation: Midnight Mayhem)

Dear Journal,

It has come to my attention (because I overheard the humans talking and also because I am very observant and important) that New Year’s is happening. Naturally, this means the crew and I must celebrate in our own highly organized, mildly chaotic, and slightly sticky way.

First, there is me, Lucy — fearless leader, party planner, and official treat quality inspector. I have decided this New Year will be about fresh starts, big naps, and snacks that mysteriously appear when no one is looking.

Peanut immediately volunteered to “help” by knocking all the decorations off the table so we could “start over.” He claims this is symbolic. I think he just likes gravity. He has already tested the New Year’s hats by sitting on them, crushing them, and then acting offended when they no longer fit his head.

Kiwi, on the other paw/wing, is very excited about the countdown. She has been practicing yelling “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” at full volume every ten minutes since breakfast. Sometimes she says it backwards. Sometimes she says it while hanging upside down. Either way, everyone will definitely know when midnight happens… possibly several hours early.

The Quackers are in charge of refreshments, which worries me. Their idea of party food is anything that can float. They are planning a “sparkling water feature” in the dog bowl, which I suspect is just an excuse to splash everyone and then waddle away laughing. I have assigned them to outdoor supervision, mostly for everyone’s safety.

Our official New Year’s agenda includes:

• Wearing fancy hats for exactly 12 seconds

• Barking, meowing, quacking, and squawking at midnight (or whenever Kiwi decides it’s midnight)

• Making New Year’s resolutions we will absolutely not follow

• Falling asleep before the humans do

My resolution is to be braver, kinder, and possibly get away with stealing at least one extra treat per day. Peanut’s resolution is to knock things over more thoughtfully. Kiwi resolved to learn one new word, though she immediately forgot which one. The Quackers resolved nothing and are deeply proud of that.

As the clock gets closer to midnight, we’ll all gather together — feathers, fur, whiskers, and webbed feet — ready to welcome the New Year the only way we know how: together, slightly noisy, and completely convinced we’re in charge.

Happy New Year, Journal.
May the treats be plentiful, the naps be long, and may Peanut stop pushing things off shelves…
(He will not.)

Love,
Lucy 🐾

Tuesday's Tidbits

* The Christmas Holiday is now behind us and we are looking at New Years, good time to do a tidbits. 

* It has been 22,651 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, new, and improved 1,069-day Calendar. 

* It has been 7,903 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. 

* 6,497 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together. Life has been much better since then. 

* 5,701  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 5,738 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 2,876 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 1,530 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,273 days, I've now outlived him by 1,393 days, making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* Old roommate Gregg proposed to his fiancée 108 days ago, I'm happy for those two. 

* I have 2,234 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.

* There are 359 more shopping days left until Christmas 2026. 

* There are 336 days until I hit the age of 63. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* There are only 220 more days to go until Michelle and I will celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary......maybe

* There are 79 days until my favorite season begins, a lot of people love different seasons, I am a Spring person who loves the Springtime. 

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

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

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

* I have written 8,196 blogs in what is now 21 years of Blogging. 

* 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.  

* Are you looking to buy some Girl Scout Goodies? Well Releigh has started her campaign to sell chocolates, candles, stationary and other things. This is her store. 

* Are you looking to buy some Girl Scout Goodies? Well Bella has started her campaign to sell chocolates, candles, stationary and other things. This is her store. 

* They both have their own stores, their own campaigns and their own goals to meet. 

* Let's keep it in the same household, go give Crown of Scars a listen. It's my Nephew Moke and he tells his life story through song, so listen to the lyrics, it's pretty deep. 

* This is my favorite TikTok for this week, don't mess with Kiwi. 

* Progress on my Selfie in Space, right here. We are ready for liftoff and holding. 

* I think my AI skills are really expanding, I'm using a number of them doing all kinds of different tasks (other than drawing pictures). 

* Have yourselves a great day

* Hi ho hi ho

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.

It's back to the office after having two weekends last week (with the Christmas Holiday), so now it is back to 10-hour shifts once again this week to make up for Thursday, so it's 3 on 1 off and 1 on before another fun-filled weekend for me. 

My personal license for ESRI reset over Christmas, so I had to call customer support to get that all straightened out so I could play with it and create some data to try to do a personal dashboard. I know I'm such a geek I even do this stuff at home from time to time believe it or not and do it for enjoyment. I feel you always have to be willing to learn something new and never get stale, and when you enjoy what you do that makes the learning something you'll enjoy rather than an undaunting task. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit in a quiet household this morning, Peanut and Kiwi were Gnip Gnopped out and needed time to rest. I told them that the Steelers play today at 1:00 so they ran and put on their Steelers gear and are ready to cheer on the team today. 

Other than that, no real plans for us today. Oh I'm sure Peanut and Kiwi will keep out attention but that's just them being them. 

I do have my Goodbye 2025 Blog written and ready to go for Wednesday. That is the most time-consuming (especially with the formatting) Blog I write but it is also the most enjoyable one as I get to go back through all of my blog posts from the year and read them and recall my previous year. It's a way for me to remember the year before we start a new one. We got through our entire lives closing chapters on books (in my case a year of blogging) sometimes it's a little therapeutic to glance through it before closing it and putting it away. 

I think Michelle wants Chili and Corn Bread for dinner this evening, no arguments from me. 

Have yourselves a great day, make it memorable and special. 

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again in what I wish was a quiet household, but Kiwi found an old toy from my childhood on Temu called Gnip Gnop, and he and Peanut have been up all night playing it and having a blast in doing so. I don't have the heart to tell them that that is a cheap imitation of the game, and it has three buttons on each side, but they don't seem to care and are having an absolute blast. 

So what is on my agenda for the second weekend this week? I'll have to finish up writing my end of the year blog for Wednesday. I'm planning on doing one earlier in the day for Lucy's Journal, because we all want to know how Lucy, Kiwi, Peanut and the Quackers are going to spend their New Years Eve. So some writing will be involved as well as me probably watching a football game or two. 

Other than that not too much, both Michelle and I stayed home on Christmas Eve and Christmas, I've been under the weather and she had been sick for a few days beforehand, hopefully this thing subsides pretty soon and we can get back to life as normal. 

Have yourself a great day, make it memorable. 

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!!!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, for me it is back to the office ofter two days off to work a 1 day work week before another weekend. I kind of like these back to back weekends with one day working inside it. There won't be many in the office today if there is anyone there other than me. 

No big plans for the weekend, other than what we typically do. I'll be working 10's this coming week as well and then I geet a couple of week break before I have to prepare for MLK day which is our next Holiday. That is going to be 7 Holidays in a little under two months that I have had to make up and account for. After that it should be smooth sailing for a few months before I have to work any more altered schedules. 

I need another weekend, so lets get this day started. 

Hi ho hi ho

Merry Christmas

 

Lucy's Journal

Lucy’s Journal — December 24th

Dear Journal,

Today was officially declared Operation: Wrap Everything Without Anyone Losing a Tail Feather. The declaration lasted approximately four minutes before chaos began.

It started innocently enough. I laid out the wrapping paper, tape, ribbons, bows, and a very optimistic pair of scissors. Peanut immediately took this as an invitation to become King of the Crinkly Paper Mountain. He flopped directly onto the largest sheet, eyes half-lidded, daring anyone to challenge him. I tried to slide the paper out from under him, which resulted in Peanut sliding with it, knocking over a roll of tape and pretending it was all part of his plan.

Kiwi, seeing tape involved, assumed this was a personal challenge. He swooped in like a tiny green engineer, stuck one foot to the dispenser, and began waddling across the table yelling victory chirps while dragging three feet of tape behind him. Peanut watched this with deep suspicion, as if tape monsters were a known enemy.

Then came the quackers.

No one knows how, but they got into the ribbon bag. Suddenly the living room looked like it was attacked by festive spaghetti. One quacker ran through wearing a red ribbon like a superhero cape. Another attempted to eat a bow and looked personally offended when it fought back.

At some point, I realized I had wrapped my own coffee mug instead of the gift next to it.

Peanut knocked over the box of ornaments (nothing broke—Christmas magic or pure luck), Kiwi tried to climb the Christmas tree “to supervise,” and the quackers formed what I can only describe as a suspicious council under the table, quacking quietly and plotting something.

Despite the hijinx, the presents eventually got wrapped—some a little crooked, some suspiciously lightweight, and one gently rattling (thanks, Peanut). The room smelled like pine, tape, and impending cookies.

As we collapsed in a heap—me on the couch, Peanut purring like he personally saved Christmas, Kiwi preening tape fuzz off his feathers, and the quackers asleep in a ribbon nest—I realized this is exactly how Christmas Eve is supposed to be.

Messy. Loud. Ridiculous. Perfect.

Now if everyone could just agree not to unwrap everything before morning, that would be great.

—Lucy 🎄

Christmas Eve Videos Past

Every year I try, or should I say I attempt to try to put together a Christmas Video from our Christmas Eve. I've done a number of these through the years, enjoy some of my past work and Merry Christmas Eve.

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

 

2018



2016



2015




2014




2013

2012

2008




2007



It doesn't appear that I did one for 2006, but here is one of the first videos that I ever did to fill in a little.





2005 which is probably my all time favorite one that I have done.




2004



1999 Which was my Dad's last Christmas

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is yet once again in our rear view mirrors, we are chugging along with another week of work and aiming towards the weekend. 

* It has been 22,644 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, new, and improved 1,069-day Calendar. 

* It has been 7,896 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. 

* 6,490 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together. Life has been much better since then. 

* 5,694  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 5,731 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 2,869 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 1,523 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,273 days, I've now outlived him by 1,386 days, making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* Old roommate Gregg proposed to his fiancée 101 days ago, I'm happy for those two. 

* I have 2,241 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.

* There are 343 days until I hit the age of 63. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* There are only 227 more days to go until Michelle and I will celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary......maybe

* There are 86 days until my favorite season begins, a lot of people love different seasons, I am a Spring person who loves the Springtime. 

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

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

* There are 1 more shopping days left until Christmas 2025. We're down to double digits, quick everyone panic. 

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

* I have written 8,188 blogs in what is now 21 years of Blogging. 

* 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.  

* Are you looking to buy some Girl Scout Goodies? Well Releigh has started her campaign to sell chocolates, candles, stationary and other things. This is her store. 

* Are you looking to buy some Girl Scout Goodies? Well Bella has started her campaign to sell chocolates, candles, stationary and other things. This is her store. 

* They both have their own stores, their own campaigns and their own goals to meet. 

* Let's keep it in the same household, go give Crown of Scars a listen. It's my Nephew Moke and he tells his life story through song, so listen to the lyrics, it's pretty deep. 

* Still playing Monopoly Go, but not as often, as a matter of a fact I haven't touched it in a while. 

* We sent out our Christmas Cards, be on the lookout to get one from us. 

* This is my favorite TikTok, Peanut loves her Mommy. 

* Progress on my Selfie in Space, right here. We are ready for liftoff and holding. 

* I think my AI skills are really expanding, I'm using a number of them doing all kinds of different tasks (other than drawing pictures). 

* Have yourselves a great day

* Hi ho hi ho

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.

It's still me working 10 hour shifts this week, making up for a couple of Holidays. I'll work 2 days, be off for two days and then work a day then off two more for another weekend.

It's going to be a short week for me for blogs, not many of the traditional ones on Wednesday and Thursday because of the Holidays, everyone needs a little bit of a mental break every now and then. 

Last Friday I was working on some data driven pages at work, I have not used any of them since my NETL days and I almost forgot how to do them with the 10 series no longer supported. I had to teach myself to do them in ArcGIS Pro which I never did export them as that. It was a series of 82 maps that I got a request for, and they wanted them by mid-january, they told me after lunch they wanted me to do them and I had them done in a couple of hours and some of that is my re-teaching myslef where all of my favorite functions are at. I felt pretty good about it as not many people use them, but I like them. They are multi-page, interactive PDF maps that are kind of my specialty. 

Have yourselves a greeat day

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit in a quiet household, Kiwi and Peanut are attempting to mathematically figure out the Winter Solstice, and why we are in this season called winter. Just like their Daddy, their favorite season is Spring when they get to go Meoutside to play and have fun. They like the warmer weather and prefer that. They are just not fans of the snow and cold. 

Normal house chores today, then maybe a little running around as we prepare for the upcoming week. It's going to be a strange week for me, work 2 10-hour shifts, off for 2 days, work another 10-hour shift, then off for the weekend. Life of a contractor I guess. 

Still got some work to do on my Goodbye 2025 blog, it's not completely written and I have been dragging mey feet a little this weekend. You know they have had some football games on this weekend that I have been interested in. 

Have yourselves a great and relaxing day, make some memories. 

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit in a quiet household, believe it or not, Kiwi and Peanut are a little worn out from all the Christmas Decorating they have been doing. Kiwi is in there snoozing away and Peanut is somewhere also sleeping in. I guess they know the hoomans (as they refer to us) don't have to wake up early on Saturday morning so they are going to sleep in too. 

Well it was a long week at work where I had to bank 10 hours for this coming week. 5 10 hour shifts and I've got two holidays this coming week (16 hours) that I have already made 10 up for. Three more 10 hour shifts this week and that should account for the second set of double holidays without missing any hours. The hours have went quick because I'm teaching myself ESRI Dashboards and really tying everything together dynamically. I'm actually pretty happy doing these, new skillset that I am mastering, so that always makes me happy. 

No plans for Michelle and I today other than what we normally do (except for last weekend when we knew the storm was coming through). 

I still have a few months to write in my Goodbye 2025 Blog post that posts at the end of the year. I think I have written all the way thru September and have October and Novermber to do and start on December which I can't finish up until the end of the month, I'm trying to avoid the Spaceballs Matrix. 

Have yourselves a great day, make it special and memorable and remember Winter starts tomorrow (yuck)

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!!!

I'm finishing up a long week where I am banking hours for next week. Hope takes off on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so that will be two holidays next week that I will have to make up hours for by banking hours this week, plus working long days on the three days I do work next week. There are two times in the year when they do back to back Holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas are those two days. 

No big pl;ans for us that I know of, other than watching Peanut and Kiwi having a light saber fight (they watched Star Wars yesterday) and are acting up. I swear these two just love entertaining themselves and they are pretty good at it. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

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, recalling or reliving 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.

Peanut had just walked up to me and said, Dad, I never see you post any of my baby or kitten pictures from when you first adopted me. Would you believe this picture will be 10 years old this May? This little multi-talented cat of ours is coming on 10 years since we first got her. She was a shy, but cute little thing that just melts your heart. 

Both Michelle and I found her on Perfinders on two different searches as we both said that is the cat that we want, and walla we have been blessed with a Peanut ever since that day. 

Have yourselves aa great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Lucy's Journal

Lucy’s Journal — December 17, 2025

Entry Title: The Quest for the Impossible Place

Dear Journal,

Today started like any ordinary Wednesday… until Kiwi announced — in his tiny but extremely commanding conure voice — that we needed to go on a quest. According to him, a “mystical wind” (which I’m pretty sure was just the heater kicking on) whispered about a legendary location called The Impossible Place.

Naturally, Peanut’s eyes lit up like someone had opened a fresh can of tuna, and the Quackers immediately started quacking in harmony, which I think meant “Adventure!” or “Snacks?” Hard to tell with them.

So off we went.

---

Step 1: The Map of Confusion

Kiwi insisted we needed a map, so he drew one on a napkin with a highlighter he stole from my desk. It had all the essentials:

• A giant X

• Several squiggly lines

• A doodle of himself wearing a crown for some reason

Peanut studied the map very seriously before declaring, “This way!” and immediately marched us straight into the coat closet.

The Quackers waddled in behind him. Kiwi landed on my head and said, “The path is dark and full of terrors!” No, Kiwi, it’s a closet.

---

Step 2: The Field of Peril (aka the backyard)

We finally got outside. Peanut crouched low like a mighty jungle tiger (all 9 pounds of him) while Kiwi rode on his back like a tiny feathery cowboy. The Quackers formed a marching line behind me, quacking an off-beat theme song.

Peanut suddenly froze.
“Danger,” he whispered dramatically.

It was just the neighbor’s garden gnome.

Kiwi, however, began yelling at it like it had insulted his honor.

---

Step 3: The Bridge of Uncertainty

We came to a huge obstacle: the old wooden footbridge over the creek.

The Quackers refused to cross unless I carried them one by one, despite the fact they are, well… ducks.

Peanut strutted across like he was modeling for Cat Fancy magazine.

Kiwi flew ahead and shouted back, “The air is thin! Press on!” He was literally two feet above us.

---

Step 4: The Impossible Place… Found?

The map said the Impossible Place would be “where no foot has stepped, no wing has flapped, and no quack has quacked.”

We walked for what felt like ages (Peanut stopped 14 times to sniff stuff), until finally we came upon a strange, mystical clearing…

…that looked suspiciously like the old abandoned tree fort behind the neighbor’s shed.

“WE FOUND IT!” Kiwi declared, puffing his feathers dramatically.

Peanut jumped inside, looked around, and promptly knocked over a bucket, which rolled downhill, spooking the Quackers, who ran into me, which made Kiwi fall off my shoulder and land in Peanut’s tail.

It was chaos. Pure chaos.

Which, frankly, is exactly how our adventures usually end.

---

Step 5: A Hero’s Return

We returned home muddy, exhausted, and smelling questionable.

Kiwi claimed he should be knighted.
Peanut demanded treats because “quests burn calories.”
The Quackers fell asleep in the shoe rack.

And as for me?
I made hot cocoa and vowed that tomorrow, everyone stays inside.

(But deep down… I kind of hope we find another impossible place soon.)

Until the next adventure,
Lucy

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is yet once again in our rear view mirrors, we are chugging along with another week of work and aiming towards the weekend. 

* It has been 22,637 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, new, and improved 1,069-day Calendar. 

* It has been 7,889 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. 

* 6,483 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together. Life has been much better since then. 

* 5,687  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 5,724 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 2,862 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 1,516 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,273 days, I've now outlived him by 1,379 days, making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* Old roommate Gregg proposed to his fiancée 94 days ago, I'm happy for those two. 

* I have 2,248 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.

* There are 350 days until I hit the age of 63. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* There are only 234 more days to go until Michelle and I will celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary......maybe

* There are 93 days until my favorite season begins, a lot of people love different seasons, I am a Spring person who loves the Springtime. 

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

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

* There are 8 more shopping days left until Christmas 2025. We're down to double digits, quick everyone panic. 

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

* I have written 8,180 blogs in what is now 21 years of Blogging. 

* 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.  

* Are you looking to buy some Girl Scout Goodies? Well Releigh has started her campaign to sell chocolates, candles, stationary and other things. This is her store. 

* Are you looking to buy some Girl Scout Goodies? Well Bella has started her campaign to sell chocolates, candles, stationary and other things. This is her store. 

* They both have their own stores, their own campaigns and their own goals to meet. 

* Let's keep it in the same household, go give Crown of Scars a listen. It's my Nephew Moke and he tells his life story through song, so listen to the lyrics, it's pretty deep. 

* Still playing Monopoly Go, but not as often, as a matter of a fact I haven't touched it in a while. 

* We sent out our Christmas Cards, be on the lookout to get one from us. 

* This is my favorite TikTok, Peanut loves her Mommy. 

* Progress on my Selfie in Space, right here. We are ready for liftoff and holding. 

* I think my AI skills are really expanding, I'm using a number of them doing all kinds of different tasks (other than drawing pictures). 

* Have yourselves a great day

* Hi ho hi ho

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 will be working 20 hour shifts starting today until the end of the year. 3 Holidays coming up and I have to bank and/or get ahread of the hours we are going to be taking off. I asked Kiwi if he wanted to go in with me, and I dot a mean look so I will be doing this solo today without the help of either Peanut or Kiwi. 

We're going to be presenting some dashboards to upper management today, these are really unique especially with a geospatial aspect to it all. We can do quick little bits of analysis to generate the numbers that some people may be wanting. Still have a lot of tricks to learn before we add too many bells and whistles to it, but I'm pretty excited about doing them. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

I Hate Snow Sunday

Here I sit on a cold and wintry Sunday Morning, Kiwi and Peanut are all excited because of all of that white stuff on the ground, but I do not care for it one little bit. Michelle likes snow, but I'm not sure if I have ever mentioned it here before, but I am not a big fan of snow. I actually Hate Snow, truth be told. It makes travel hazardous and dangerous, and I prefer to not see it or feel it. That's just me, though. 

I did manage to get a good bit of my Goodbye 2025 blog written so far this weekend. It's a lot of fun reflecting on your past year when you write something each and every day. It's also good documentation and timelines of events that have been happening in my life, especially when you consider there have been well over 8,000 blog entries during my 21+ years of writing it. 

I did manage to get my windshield wipers changed yesterday morning and I mailed out our Christmas Cards for the season. One of my wipers was almost torn off the blade Friday morning, so I decided that I should get it changed before the snow and the long week coming up for me. 

Have yourself a good day, hopefully no one has to travel anywhere. 

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit yet once again in a quiet household. I'm up collecting my thoughts for the day and trying to figure out what Kiwi and Peanut are dancing to. They are dancing to some kind of celtic music and having themselves a good old time. Of course this is my one morning to sleep in, aye carumba. 

So what is up in my world? I have worked 8 hour shifts the last two weeks and will go back to 10 hour shifts once again for the next 3 weeks. That will be 6 out of 8 weeks of working 10 hour shifts to make up for 6 Holidays (Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Day After Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Years) that I wouldn;t get paid for because I'm a contractor. Hopefully something breaks this year and I get on full time or get another contract where I can work from home. 

I'll probably spend a good bit of time this weekend writing my Goodby 2025 Blog that posts as the last one of the year. I actually have it formatted and half of the year written already, so the heavy lifting is done now it is just a matter of doing the last half of the year and closing it all out. 

I have been learning how to write dashboards in ESRI, which is a skillset that I really don't have, the industry has been going this way for a while, but I like the local in depth editing as opposed to making something for someone else to see. 

Have yourselves a great day, make it memorable. 

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!!!

Kiwi has told me that he and Peanut are planning on setting up a bowling alley this weekend in the hallway and to watch where I step. He doesn't want me to mess up the lanes oil patterns and he thinks he can beat Peanut in bowling. 

I have no idea of any plans that we have this weekend as of presstime. I know I have to do some more writing for my Goodbye 2025 blog that will be the last blog of the year and recalls my year according to my blog. I will admit I have had a lot of brain farts this year as I have put out a lot of empty content so to speak. I'll do better. 

Let's get this weekend started.

Hi ho hi ho

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, recalling or reliving 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 picture I think is about 10 years old, it's me drinking out of my Marty Moose Mug I got in Amish Country. The mug is from the movie Christmas Vacation where Clark and Cousin Eddie were standing there talking and drinking eggnog. I do have a confession, my eggnog is actually Chocolate Milk and it was pretty damned good. 

We had bought the mug at Tis the Season in Millersburg. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Lucy's Journal

Lucy’s Journal — December 10, 2025

Ohhh mercy, what a morning this turned out to be! We woke up to a beautiful blanket of fresh snow — the kind that sparkles like powdered sugar and just screams, “Come play in me!”

Peanut, of course, immediately claimed the windowsill and looked out like a hunter sizing up his prey. The Quackers (both of them) waddled up beside him, quacking in big dramatic gasps like they had just discovered the secret of the universe. And Kiwi? Kiwi was already plotting. You could hear those little gears turning in his green-feathered head.

“Lucy,” he said, puffing up proudly, “today… we make history.”

I should’ve been suspicious right then, but the thought of warm cocoa pulled my brain away for a minute. By the time I got boots on, the troops had already rolled a snowball halfway across the yard. I don’t know HOW they got organized so fast.

The Quackers had clearly been lifting weights, because they were patting and stomping snow like a couple of crossfit champions. Peanut supervised — naturally — and Kiwi hopped atop the growing snowball shouting instructions like a general in the middle of battle.

“This is gonna be the biggest snowball EVER!” Kiwi chirped.

And honestly… they weren’t far off.

Soon they had a snowball nearly as tall as Peanut. They decided the next logical step was to declare an all-out snowball war. They formed two teams:

Team Lucy & Peanut
vs.
Team Kiwi & Quackers

The second I picked up a little snowball, Kiwi screeched, “FIRE!” and three tiny but vicious snowballs pelleted me right in the coat. Peanut hiss-laughed beside me and started scooping snow into his paws like a furry little catapult.

The Quackers waddled straight at us, heads down, wings out, like they were storming a fortress. And Kiwi — bless his mischievous little soul — dive-bombed from the lilac bush, smacking me with a snowball the size of a softball.

Peanut retaliated by launching a snowball so perfectly formed I swear he studied aerodynamics. It hit Kiwi square in the chest and sent him tumbling backward into the giant snowball they had built earlier.

And that was the moment things escalated.

Because that big snowball started rolling.

And rolling.

And rolling!!!

It scooped up both Quackers, Kiwi, and poor Peanut who clawed at it trying to escape, but nope — rolling snow monster now. Down the little slope in the yard it went, collecting more snow like some giant winter burrito, until it finally smacked into the maple tree with a WHUMP!

Out popped everyone, covered head-to-tail in white fluffy snow like four confused marshmallows.

Nobody was hurt, thank goodness. But Peanut looked like a snowman with whiskers, Kiwi resembled a snow-covered kiwi fruit, and the Quackers just shook themselves off like wet dogs and waddled away peacefully as if that didn’t just happen.

We ended it with cocoa (for me), warm towels, sunflower seeds for Kiwi, cat treats for Peanut, and bread bits for the Quackers. Everyone agreed that this was the best snow day ever.

Though… we also agreed that we should maybe avoid giant rolling snowballs in the future.

Maybe.

Probably.

Okay, fine — DEFINITELY.

But knowing this bunch?

There’s no promises.

— Lucy

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is yet once again in our rear view mirrors, we are chugging along with another week of work and aiming towards the weekend. 

* It has been 22,630 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, new, and improved 1,069-day Calendar. 

* It has been 7,882 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. 

* 6,476 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together. Life has been much better since then. 

* 5,680  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 5,717 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 2,855 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 1,509 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,273 days, I've now outlived him by 1,372 days, making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* Old roommate Gregg proposed to his fiancée 87 days ago, I'm happy for those two. 

* I have 2,255 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.

* There are 357 days until I hit the age of 63. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* There are only 241 more days to go until Michelle and I will celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary......maybe

* There are 100 days until my favorite season begins, a lot of people love different seasons, I am a Spring person who loves the Springtime. 

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

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

* There are 15 more shopping days left until Christmas 2025. We're down to double digits, quick everyone panic. 

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

* I have written 8,172 blogs in what is now 21 years of Blogging. 

* 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.  

* Are you looking to buy some Girl Scout Goodies? Well Releigh has started her campaign to sell chocolates, candles, stationary and other things. This is her store. 

* Are you looking to buy some Girl Scout Goodies? Well Bella has started her campaign to sell chocolates, candles, stationary and other things. This is her store. 

* They both have their own stores, their own campaigns and their own goals to meet. 

* Let's keep it in the same household, go give Crown of Scars a listen. It's my Nephew Moke and he tells his life story through song, so listen to the lyrics, it's pretty deep. 

* Still playing Monopoly Go, but not as often, as a matter of a fact I haven't touched it in a while. 

* This is my favorite TikTok, pretty bad to think you are answer to the Jeopardy question and get it wrong. 

* Progress on my Selfie in Space, right here. We are ready for liftoff and holding. 

* I think my AI skills are really expanding, I'm using a number of them doing all kinds of different tasks (other than drawing pictures). 

* Have yourselves a great day

* Hi ho hi ho

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.

Kiwi and Peanut have decided that they are going to give Daddy a hand today at the office. They said they wanted to come in and help me work, I think Kiwi just wants to fly around and do reconnaissance about my office mates. Peanut thinks she gets extra treats if she comes in, truth be told she will nap all day, don't let her fool you.

Nothing on my agenda for the week that I know of yet, we usually have a catch up meeting every Monday to go over what everyone has been working on. Those have been kind of hit or miss during the holiday season. Other than that I have a few new projects, one is to build a dashboard, but that is going to take some Project Mangement skills. Great way to pick up a new skillset. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Mourning (not a misspelling)

This blog is one that I wish I didn't have to write, but for documentation and healing it needs to be written. 

On November 7th, Hayley confided to her Mom that she had taken a pregnancy test and that she had a positive result. Her and Tyler were excited as they wanted to get pregnant and they were both Super Excited as was Michelle. It was pretty much kept under wraps until Hayley could have an ultra sound done and then they would make the official announcement. 

On November 24th she had her first Ultra-Sound, but it was inconclusive as they were unable to get a proper reading on it. They did mention that her HCG levels were very high and that it could possibly be twins. 

On December 1st, Hayley had a second ultra sound done here in Morgantown and while it was confirmed by that ultra sound that she was pregnant with twins, then came the earth-shattering news. Hayley said the ultrasound room was very quiet and she began to worry a little bit then came the news, that neither one of the twins had a heartbeat, she had lost both children. 

On Thursday she had a D&C performed and she is still recovering both physically and psychologically. 

Please keep Hayley, Tyler and Michelle all in your thoughts and prayers as they were all very excited to welcome these planned family additions. They are three very special people in my life and my heart hurts because theirs is broken. 

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again in a quiet household, Kiwi and Peanut are up and doing nothing. Kiwi keeps reminding me that he is Kiwi and Peanut is playing a game of hide and go seek with no one other than herself. Cats do tend to do crazy things like that at times. 

Congratulations are in store for the 2025 AAAA WV Football State Champion, Morgantown Mohigans, defeating Martinsburg 28-21 and bringing the title home to Morgantown. 

It was two years ago today that our friend Trish had her heart removed from her body and they transplanted a donor heart. She seems to be doing great and it has influenced Layla to persue a career in Medicine. 

I really have no plans today, Michelle is planning on baking cookies as this is the only weekend her and her sisters all have available before Christmas. As of press time I honestly don't have any ideas as of yet. Not sure oif they are doing it here, one of Dani or Chris's houses or going back to the church again to bake.It's going to be a one-day thing again this year either way. 

I will probably be working on my Goodbye 2026 Blog this weekend, I have the formatting of it done and I think January written. I might try to review 3 or 4 months later today and start knocking it out for the end of the year. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

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 High School Football? This will be the last time in 2025 that I will be referring to it, because it is the State Championship Weekend and it's all over after tomorrow. Four State Champions will be crowned and the season will officially be over with. All I have now is the NFL and the College Bowl Season. Morgantown High punched their ticket and will be playing Martinsburg, who I honestly don't know if we can beat after they beat UHS last week. Clay Battelle last week avended an earlier season loss to advance to the State Championship against Wheeling Central. Good luck to both Monongalia County teams tryiong to bring home a  state Champinship and congratulations to University High for making it to the semi-finals against a juggernaught. 

So what is on our agenda? Tomorrow is going to be a cookie baking weekend for Michelle and her sisters. I don't have any details asd of yet, we just know that this is the only time that they will all be available to do it before Christmas due to Dani, Chris and Amanda all having to travel for work over the next few weeks. 

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

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, recalling or reliving 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 picture was taken this past summer at Hovatters. Michelle loves giraffes and I thought she would be the one getting her picture taken, but alas it was none other than Hayley who was feeding her new long necked friend. 

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Kim Sanjulian

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my Sister Kim SanJulian a very Happy Birthday today. We started out in life where I was one year older than her, but since I am only 21 years old, she has passed me up by a couple of years by now.

Kim is an amazing sister, one that I have had numerous arguments through the years, but there has always been a great deal of respect for her and her viewpoint even though I would never let her know that. She has made selfless sacrifices for others and that is a characteristic that is to be commended.

Not sure what Kim and Robert have planned for the day, but I'm sure it will either be a nice dinner or something along those lines that will be memorable. I know she really likes Minards in Fairmont, but who knows. 

If you see Kim today, take a little bit of time out and wish her a very Happy Birthday today.

Happy Birthday Kim, make it a great one.

Lucy's Journal

 Lucy’s Journal — December 3, 2025

Well, mercy me… today was supposed to be a nice, calm Wednesday. A simple “let’s get some chores done” kind of day. But of course that’s not how it went. Not in this house. Not with Kiwi, Peanut, and those feathered menaces known as the Quackers.

It all started when I decided to reorganize the pantry. Apparently, the moment I opened that door, my entire household heard a mystical chime that translated to: “Adventure awaits—charge forth!”

Kiwi was the first to dive in, wings fluttering like he was Indiana Jones entering a forbidden temple. He found the bag of dried mango right away (of course), ripped it open, and immediately started celebrating like he’d just discovered ancient treasure. Mango dust everywhere. The Quackers saw this, honked in excitement, and stampeded in after him.

Meanwhile Peanut, who I thought was sleeping on the couch, suddenly came barreling down the hallway with the single-minded focus of a raccoon who’s just heard someone open a can of tuna. She dove into the pantry like a furry torpedo, skidded across the floor, knocked over a stack of green beans, and then popped up with a proud “Mrrraaap!” like she’d saved us from something.

Chaos erupted instantly.

Kiwi was perched on the cereal shelf, screaming “WHEEP!” every time Peanut got too close. Peanut was standing guard over a box of spaghetti like it was sacred. The Quackers started tugging at a loaf of bread in a three-way duck tug-of-war. And me? I was in the corner wondering why I ever clean anything at all.

Things only escalated when Kiwi discovered the box of instant oatmeal packets. He grabbed one, flew out of the pantry, and began circling the kitchen like a crop-duster, flinging oatmeal dust behind him in a blizzard of whole grains.

Peanut saw the raining oats and decided it was her moment to leap. She launched herself off the counter (where she did NOT have permission to be), swatted at Kiwi mid-air, missed entirely, landed on the dish towel rack, and pulled the whole thing down with her.

The Quackers, seeing towels fall, assumed it was a victory flag and began honking triumphantly.

By the time the commotion died down, my kitchen looked like someone had blended a farm, a bakery, and a demolition site.

Kiwi ended up proudly sitting in a mixing bowl like it was his new throne.

Peanut strutted away with a single spaghetti noodle draped over her shoulder like a fashion accessory.

And the Quackers waddled off happily, each carrying a stolen cracker in their bills, as if they’d just completed a well-coordinated heist.

I guess I’ll clean tomorrow. Or next week. Or… never.
Living with this crew, the pantry may just have to remain a wild, lawless frontier.

— Lucy, exhausted but still laughing.