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.

Now that I have come across this photo again, I have to make it a Photo Flashback. This is from 1983 and WVU had just beaten Pitt for the first time in a few years, Jeff Hostetler ran in the winning touchdown. Yes that is me on the left, I used to love that shirt BTW and I was walking up Sunnyside to meet up with Smitty at the old bullpen. Which is kind of funny when you consider I didn't drink (I still don't) during those years. 

Funny thing is, I never knew about this picture until a couple of years ago when I saw it on Facebook. I pretty much read the paper every day during those years and I not only missed it so did my Dad who also read the paper every day, either that or he just didn't say anything about it. There is another one of me a year later (drunk as a skink that time) carrying the goal post to the stadium loop after we had beaten Penn State, but I think that picture was in the old Collosantes before it caught fire. 

Have yoursleves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Lucy's Journal

 

September 30, 2026

The Great Coopers Rock Geocaching Disaster

Dear Journal,

Today started out like a perfectly normal Wednesday.

Which, in our household, should have been our first warning.

I was sitting on the porch enjoying a beautiful morning when Peanut came running out of the house carrying Dad's phone in her mouth.

Now, Peanut isn't supposed to touch Dad's phone.

But apparently she had discovered something called GEOCACHING.

She dropped the phone at my feet and pointed at the screen.

There was a little map.

There was a little treasure box.

And there was a little message that said:

"Geocache located nearby!"

Well, that was all it took.

Within fifteen minutes, the entire gang had assembled.

There was me, Lucy, the tan-and-white Shih Tzu and official leader of absolutely everything.

Peanut, the gray tiger cat and self-appointed Director of Navigation.

Kiwi, the green-cheek conure, who immediately announced that he was going because he had "excellent directional skills."

The Quackers, the identical twin yellow ducks, who didn't really understand what geocaching was but heard the word "treasure" and weren't about to miss it.

Then Gracie showed up.

She took one look at the map and said,

"I'm in."

And finally, floating quietly through the trees came the Ghost of Maybelline, our brownish pit bull ghost.

She looked at the map.

Then she looked at us.

Then she shook her ghostly head.

I could tell she already knew this was going to end badly.

She was right.

---

🗺️ OFF TO COOPERS ROCK!

We packed some snacks, water, a flashlight, a magnifying glass, three tennis balls, a bag of dog treats, and one extremely suspicious sandwich that Peanut insisted would be useful.

Nobody knew why.

We headed off toward Coopers Rock.

Peanut was in charge of the GPS.

This seemed reasonable.

Until about twenty minutes later when she announced:

"Turn left."

We turned left.

Then she said:

"Turn right."

We turned right.

Then:

"Make a U-turn."

We made a U-turn.

Then she stared at the phone for a long time.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Peanut looked up.

"I think we're in Pennsylvania."

We weren't.

But we weren't exactly sure where we were.

We kept going.

Eventually we found the trailhead.

The map said the geocache was only 0.8 miles away.

Piece of cake!

---

🥾 THE WALK

The first part was easy.

We followed the trail.

We crossed a little stream.

The Quackers immediately stopped to take a bath.

Nobody had asked them to.

They just did it.

Then they came waddling back covered in mud.

Gracie looked at them.

"Nice."

The Quackers smiled.

Peanut kept checking the GPS.

Kiwi flew ahead and came back every few minutes shouting:

"I FOUND IT!"

We would all run over.

Every time he was wrong.

First, he found a rotten tree stump.

Then a squirrel.

Then somebody's old boot.

Then a rock that he apparently found "extremely suspicious."

Finally, the GPS said we were only 100 feet away.

We all got excited.

Peanut looked around.

"According to the map, it's right here."

We searched under rocks.

We searched behind trees.

We searched underneath a log.

The Quackers searched inside a hole.

Gracie dug a small trench.

I dug another one.

Kiwi flew in circles above us.

The Ghost of Maybelline floated straight through a tree and came out the other side.

She pointed toward the woods.

We followed her.

That was mistake number one.

---

🌲 UH-OH.

We walked deeper into the woods.

Then deeper.

Then even deeper.

At one point I looked behind us.

The trail was gone.

I looked at Peanut.

Peanut looked at the GPS.

The GPS said:

"Recalculating..."

Oh, boy.

Then it said:

"No route found."

Nobody said anything.

The Quackers slowly looked at each other.

Kiwi landed on a branch.

Gracie whispered:

"Are we lost?"

Peanut answered:

"No."

We all relaxed.

Then she added:

"We're just somewhere we didn't intend to be."

That wasn't helpful.

---

🐿️ THE SQUIRREL INCIDENT

While we were trying to figure out where we were, a squirrel jumped onto a log.

Kiwi immediately decided it was an enemy.

He puffed himself up.

The squirrel puffed itself up.

Kiwi yelled.

The squirrel yelled.

Kiwi flew at it.

The squirrel ran.

Kiwi chased it.

The squirrel climbed a tree.

Kiwi landed on a branch above it.

Then the squirrel threw an acorn at Kiwi.

Kiwi came flying back screaming:

"THEY HAVE ARTILLERY!"

We decided it was time to leave.

---

🌲 EVEN MORE LOST

We kept walking.

Then we found a giant rock.

Peanut said the geocache might be underneath it.

We all pushed.

Lucy pushed.

Gracie pushed.

Peanut pushed.

The Quackers pushed with their heads.

Kiwi supervised.

The Ghost of Maybelline floated through it.

Nothing happened.

Finally Peanut said,

"Maybe it's not this rock."

Everyone stared at her.

Then Gracie said,

"That's what I've been trying to tell you for twenty minutes."

Suddenly we heard something.

A strange noise.

CRACK!

Everyone froze.

Then another:

CRACK!

The Quackers panicked.

They started running in circles.

It turned out to be a falling branch.

But for approximately thirty seconds, we were convinced the forest was full of monsters.

---

🌅 WE REALLY WERE LOST

By late afternoon, we finally admitted it.

We had absolutely no idea where we were.

We were somewhere deep in Coopers Rock.

Peanut's phone had almost no signal.

Nobody knew which direction the parking lot was.

And the snacks were disappearing at an alarming rate.

I looked at the group.

"This is bad."

The Ghost of Maybelline nodded.

Gracie sat down.

Peanut stared at the map.

The Quackers looked worried.

Then Kiwi said something that changed everything.

"Why don't we just fly home?"

Everybody stared at him.

Kiwi blinked.

"What?"

I said, "Kiwi, we're dogs, cats and ducks."

He looked at the Quackers.

The Quackers looked at Kiwi.

Then they looked at each other.

And suddenly one of the Quackers spread its wings.

FLAP!

The other one spread its wings.

FLAP! FLAP!

Kiwi smiled.

"You know...we CAN fly."

---

🪽 THE GREAT AIR RESCUE

Kiwi took off.

He flew straight up above the trees.

The Quackers followed.

Up they went.

Higher and higher.

From above the forest, Kiwi could see the road.

He could see the parking area.

He could even see the river in the distance.

He came flying back down.

"I FOUND IT!"

The Quackers landed beside us.

Apparently they had discovered something else.

They could navigate too.

So we formed a plan.

Kiwi would fly ahead and guide us.

The Quackers would fly up occasionally to check our position.

Peanut would keep the GPS.

Gracie and I would stay together.

And the Ghost of Maybelline would float through obstacles and make sure nobody wandered off.

It actually worked!

For once, Peanut's GPS wasn't even necessary.

Kiwi would fly ahead and yell:

"GO LEFT!"

We'd go left.

Then:

"GO RIGHT!"

We'd go right.

Then:

"WATCH OUT FOR THE MUD!"

Too late.

Gracie stepped right into it.

SPLAT!

She looked down at her muddy paws.

Then she looked at Kiwi.

"You could have warned me sooner."

Kiwi shrugged.

---

🏡 HOME AT LAST

After another hour of hiking, we finally saw something beautiful.

The parking lot!

We had made it!

Everyone celebrated.

The Quackers did a victory dance.

Kiwi did three victory loops through the air.

Gracie rolled around in the grass.

Peanut announced that she had "successfully navigated the entire expedition."

Nobody reminded her that we had gotten lost because she was navigating.

The Ghost of Maybelline simply smiled.

I was exhausted.

But I had learned something important today.

Sometimes getting lost can turn into an adventure.

Sometimes the best plans don't work.

Sometimes squirrels have artillery.

And sometimes the smallest members of the group turn out to be the ones who know how to get everybody home.

As we climbed into the car, Peanut looked at the geocaching app.

She said:

"There's another geocache about two miles from here."

Everyone shouted:

"NO!"

Even the Ghost of Maybelline disappeared into thin air.

I think she went home.

And honestly...

I don't blame her.

Until next time,

Lucy 🐾

Official Coopers Rock Geocaching Expedition Leader

*P.S. We never did find the geocache. But we did find a rusty boot, three acorns, a suspicious rock, a muddy duck, and one very angry squirrel.

So technically...

I think we won.

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is once again over with, time to get back to making this rock a better one to live on. 

* It has been 22,908 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, new, and improved 1,069-day Calendar. Mom is at 30,557, which would make her 28 according to my new and improved calendar. 

* It has been 8,163 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. Has it really been 22 years? 

* 6,756 days ago, Michelle and I had our first date together. Life has been much better since then. 

* 5,960 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 5,997 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 3,135 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 1,807 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,287 days, I've now outlived him by 1,639 days, making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* Old roommate Gregg proposed to his fiancée 367 days ago, I'm happy for those two. I asked him a couple weeks ago if they set a date yet, he said we would be the first to know. 

* I have 1,997 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 only 318 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our 16th Wedding Anniversary.

* 154 more days until Phil steps to the center stage once again for Groundhog Day. I'm still mad at the damn rat

* 107 more days to go until my Goodbye 2026 Blog is posted. 

* There are 100 more shopping days left until Christmas 2026. 

* There are 85 days until I hit the age of 63. Yeah, I know, I'm really older than 21. 

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

* I have written 8,499 blogs in what is now 22 years of Blogging.

* Still working 10's this week and probably next week as well. 

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

* Not much else going on, I can always see on the ring camera when Michelle gets another Amazon order for the baby and watch them deliver it. 

* Guilty, I ordered one of these compression sock assist devices to help you put them on (for fat guys with limited mobility) and love this thing. 

* If you lift a kangaroo's tail off the ground, it cannot hop. 

* Coca-Cola was originally green. 

* Have 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 to blow off work this morning, they have been busy all morning working on a crossword puzzle. Peanut gets stuck and Kiwi goes to Oneacross and cheats and gets her the answer. That kind of defeats the purpose of a cross word puzzle, but who am I to say. 

Nothing really planned out of the ordinary this week, I'm still working 10's and nothing is really changing other than the leaves in a few weeks. 

In was talking to Moke last week, he said he had a video that was getting a lot of hits on one of his Youtube channels. Enjoy and I get him a few more hits. 

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit in a quiet household; Kiwi and Peanut are both kind of quiet this morning after receiving a text from Lucy that this week's adventures have been planned out already. Mom took her up to Kaiden's birthday party yesterday, and Lucy kept sneaking and communicating with the quackers. 

Had a great time and a great day yesterday. Amy and Ralph hosted Kaiden's 18th Birthday Party up at their home, and it was a great turnout. Everyone was fed and had the opportunity to take food home with them for the game, and it was memorable. I wish I had taken my camera, but Birdie captured the moments on her iPhone. 

Josh came up mid-tailgate, three sheets to the wind, and enjoying himself. I think his plans were to go back to his tailgate and on to the game after we left. Erica had picked him up and was taking him back. I'm glad he is making the most out of his college years. 

Today we're watching the Steelers, but I think Michelle was to put some pumpkins out and decorate around the house. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Saturday

Here I sit in what should be a quiet household, but it is not. Kiwi and Peanut have decided they are going to do a full-on tailgate for the WVU Football game that doesn't kick off until this evening. They are ready, though, with the brats and burgers.

So what is on today's agenda? Let's see. Well, we have to do our grocery shopping this morning, and I have put the grass off for three weeks now. So, weather permitting, I am cutting this morning, but I said that last weekend as well. 

Going to Amy's this afternoon to celebrate Kaiden's 18th Birthday. She doesn't do parties every year, just for special numbers and that 18th is special. Plus Ralphie just poured a new concrete driveway, so it will be nice to see that. 

Have yourselves a great day, make some memories. 

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? Well wouldn't you know that we have it. University High is traveling to Fairmont to take on Fairmont Senior. Morgantown is on the road to play Spring Mills in the eastern panhandle. Clay Battelle is at home to take on Gilmer County. 

The Mountaineers do play at home tomorrow, but it is a 7:00 PM kickoff against Oklahoma State so traffic will be quite heavy around town in the early afternoon and heading into the night. It should not affect Kaiden's 18th Birthday Party tomorrow afternoon. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

This picture feels like a quiet moment caught between the past and the future.

The Kaiden standing beside the weathered pier seems almost small compared with the enormous structure around him. The pilings stretch endlessly toward the horizon, creating a powerful sense of perspective. Yet he isn't walking beneath the pier or trying to reach its end. He's simply standing there, leaning against one of its oldest supports, looking off toward something beyond the frame.

There is something deeply human about that.

The pier can be seen as a metaphor for life. Each wooden post represents a moment, a memory, a decision, or a chapter. Some are straight, some are crooked, some are worn smooth by years of wind and water. The ocean keeps coming and going beneath them, just as life keeps moving whether we're ready for it or not.

And then there's the man.

He's barefoot in the sand, almost as if he's temporarily disconnected from everything else. His hands are in his pockets. He isn't posing triumphantly. He isn't running toward anything. He's thinking.

Perhaps he's remembering where he's been.

Perhaps he's wondering where he's going.

Or perhaps, for just a moment, he's simply allowing himself to stop.

The ocean behind him adds another layer of meaning. The water is constantly moving, while the pier remains relatively still. That's life in miniature: the world continues changing around us even when we need a moment to stand still.

The weathered wood is particularly striking. These pilings have spent years being battered by salt water, waves, storms, sunlight and wind, yet they're still standing. There's a quiet lesson in that:

Being worn doesn't necessarily mean being broken.

Sometimes the marks left by life are evidence that we've endured it.

And the perspective of the pier disappearing into the distance makes the image feel almost philosophical. We can see where the path begins, but we can't see where it ultimately ends. That's much like our own lives. We can understand our past because we've lived it. We can experience the present because we're standing in it. But the future disappears around the bend.

Maybe that's why the man is looking away from the camera.

He's not looking at the person taking the picture.

He's looking outward.

Toward whatever comes next.

There is also something beautifully ordinary about the photograph. No dramatic sunset. No spectacular pose. No grand accomplishment. Just a person, a beach, an old pier, and the ocean.

And perhaps that's the deepest meaning of all:

Life isn't made only of the big moments we remember. Sometimes the moments that stay with us are the quiet ones when we stopped, looked around, and realized how far we'd already come.

The pier continues into the distance.

The waves keep coming.

The years keep passing.

And for one brief moment, he simply stands there.

Happy 18th Birthday Kaiden Dalton

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my great-nephew a very Happy 18th Birthday today. If my math is correct- and it is spot-on accurate, and it never is, he is three birthdays from catching up to me. =)

Kaiden is an exceptional young man, someone everyone is very proud of.  Ralph and Amy have raised an exceptional young man with a very strong work ethic. I know I am as well as many family members are very proud of Kaiden, his ethics and who this young man has become. 

We will be gathering at Amy's on Saturday to help this amazing young man celebrate his first day of adulthood. A time when he can vote, register for the Selective Service (which I hope he has already done), and a whole slew of things. 

If you happen to see or talk to Kaiden today, make sure that you wish him a very happy birthday.

Happy Birthday, Kaiden. 

Lucy's Journal

September 23, 2026

Dear Journal,

Today was a very special day.

In fact, I think this might have been one of the most important adventures our crew has ever taken.

It all started this morning when Peanut came running into the living room.

"Everybody wake up!"

Kiwi poked his head out from underneath a blanket.

"What time is it?"

"Time for an adventure."

That got everyone's attention.

The Quackers stopped arguing over a piece of toast.

Gracie, who was visiting, sat up.

And then the room suddenly became cool.

A soft glow appeared near the doorway.

It was the Ghost of Maybelline.

"I heard there was somewhere important we're going today."

I smiled.

"We're going with Hayley to her doctor's appointment. She's having her 25-week checkup, and we're going to see how the baby is doing."

Maybelline's eyes lit up.

"The BABY?!"

She floated several feet into the air.

"I GET TO SEE THE BABY?!"

"Well," Peanut said, "technically you're going to see the ultrasound."

"I DON'T CARE!"

Maybelline spun around excitedly.

"I'm coming!"

---

Operation: Baby Checkup

We immediately started getting ready.

I packed some snacks.

Peanut brought a notebook because she said somebody needed to keep track of everything.

Kiwi brought binoculars.

"Why do you need binoculars?" I asked.

"Baby surveillance."

"The baby is going to be inside Hayley's belly."

"Exactly. High-security area."

The Quackers brought their little backpacks.

Gracie brought absolutely nothing.

"Why didn't you bring anything?" Peanut asked.

"I'm the sensible one."

Peanut stared at her.

"You came with us."

"Okay, maybe I'm not THAT sensible."

---

When Hayley was ready to leave, the entire crew piled in for the trip.

We were determined to accompany her.

Well...

Most of us were determined.

Peanut was mostly interested in finding out whether the doctor's office had a vending machine.

Kiwi wanted to know whether doctors accepted birds as medical assistants.

The Quackers wanted to push buttons on the elevator.

And Maybelline...

Maybelline couldn't stop smiling.

She floated beside Hayley the entire time.

"This is wonderful," she whispered.

---

When we arrived, everyone became unusually quiet.

Even Kiwi.

We waited patiently while Hayley checked in.

The Quackers sat together in the corner.

Peanut pretended she wasn't watching everything.

Gracie sat beside me.

And Maybelline floated quietly near Hayley.

She looked happier than I had seen her in a long time.

Then Maybelline said something that made everyone stop.

"I've been waiting for this."

"For what?" I asked.

"To see my sister."

I looked at her.

She smiled.

"From where I am now, I can't be there for everything. But I can still be close in my own way."

Her ghostly tail wagged.

"I've been so excited to see how she's doing."

For once, Kiwi didn't have a joke.

---

Eventually it was time for the checkup.

We couldn't all go into the examination room, of course.

So we waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Kiwi paced back and forth.

"How long does a baby checkup take?"

"However long it takes," Peanut said.

"What if they're measuring the baby?"

"They probably are."

"What if the baby moves?"

"Then they probably notice."

"What if the baby waves?"

Peanut sighed.

"Kiwi, babies don't usually wave."

Kiwi thought about that.

"Maybe this one will."

---

Then Hayley came back out.

Everyone immediately gathered around.

"How is the baby?" Gracie asked.

Hayley smiled.

"Everything looks good."

The entire crew erupted.

The Quackers started quacking.

Gracie wagged her tail.

I jumped around so much I nearly knocked over Peanut.

Kiwi flew around the room yelling,

"THE BABY IS DOING GREAT!"

Peanut smiled.

"That's wonderful."

But nobody was happier than Maybelline.

She floated right beside Hayley, tears forming in her eyes.

"I'm so happy," she whispered.

Then she looked toward Hayley's belly.

"Hi, little one."

She gently placed her ghostly paw near Hayley.

"I can't wait to meet you someday."

It was one of the sweetest moments I have ever seen.

---

Of course, Kiwi eventually ruined the emotional moment.

"DOES THIS MEAN WE'RE GETTING A NEW CREW MEMBER?"

Everyone looked at him.

"I think so," I said.

Kiwi puffed out his chest.

"I VOLUNTEER TO BE THE BABY'S OFFICIAL BIRD."

Peanut shook her head.

"That's probably going to require training."

"I am highly trained!"

"You chased your own shadow yesterday."

"That was reconnaissance."

The Quackers began laughing.

"Quack!"

"Quack quack!"

---

On the way home, everyone was talking about the appointment.

We talked about how exciting it was that the baby was growing.

We talked about what the nursery would eventually look like.

We talked about how Hayley would need lots of help when the baby finally arrives.

And Maybelline listened quietly.

She looked out the window as we drove.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing," she said.

"I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

"About how strange life is."

She smiled.

"Sometimes you spend your whole life thinking about the people you love. Then even after you're gone, you still want to be there for them."

She looked at Hayley.

"And today, I got to be."

I put my paw against the seat beside her.

"I think she knew you were there."

Maybelline smiled.

"I hope so."

---

When we got home, the Quackers immediately began making plans.

"We need a baby-proofing committee!"

Kiwi raised his wing.

"I volunteer!"

"No," everyone said.

Peanut opened her notebook.

"First item: finish the nursery."

Gracie nodded.

"Second item: make sure everything is ready."

I smiled.

"And third item?"

Kiwi raised his wing again.

"Teach the baby to say 'Go Mountaineers!'"

Maybelline laughed.

"Give the baby a little time, Kiwi."

"I'M JUST THINKING AHEAD!"

And maybe he is.

Because before we know it, there will be a brand-new little person joining our family adventures.

And I have a feeling that when that day comes, our crew is going to have one more very important member.

Until next time, dear Journal...

Today wasn't about mischief, finding bottles, chasing snipes, or invading concession stands.

Today was about family, hope, and getting a little glimpse of someone we've all been waiting to meet.

And judging by the smile on Maybelline's face...

the afterlife has never felt quite so close to home.

With happy paws, excited feathers, cheerful quacks, wagging tails, and one very happy ghost,

Lucy 🐾

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is once again over with, time to get back to making this rock a better one to live on. 

* It has been 22,901 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, new, and improved 1,069-day Calendar. Mom is at 30,550, which would make her 28 according to my new and improved calendar. 

* It has been 8,156 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. Has it really been 22 years? 

* 6,749 days ago, Michelle and I had our first date together. Life has been much better since then. 

* 5,953 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 5,990 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 3,128 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 1,782 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,287 days, I've now outlived him by 1,632 days, making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* Old roommate Gregg proposed to his fiancée 360 days ago, I'm happy for those two. I asked him a couple weeks ago if they set a date yet, he said we would be the first to know. 

* I have 2,004 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 only 325 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our 16th Wedding Anniversary.

* 161 more days until Phil steps to the center stage once again for Groundhog Day. I'm still mad at the damn rat

* 114 more days to go until my Goodbye 2026 Blog is posted. 

* There are 107 more shopping days left until Christmas 2026. 

* There are 92 days until I hit the age of 63. Yeah, I know, I'm really older than 21. 

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

* I have written 8,491 blogs in what is now 22 years of Blogging.

* Still working 10's this week and probably next week as well. 

* They are taking out the turn at the top of Van Voorhis Road, it is now open and you top the hill differently. 

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

* Not much else going on, I can always see on the ring camera when Michelle gets another Amazon order for the baby and watch them deliver it. 

* Have 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 both decided this morning neither one of them want to go to work with me today, they were up all night studying and mastering the fine workings of the office stapler. Since most of my products are electronic and digital, they decided to go to work with Mommy for their stapler internship. They plan on mastering the age old trade and then moving on to another resume builder, licking stamps and putting them on envelopes. They are so talented. 

I am still working the 10-hour shifts and have been since May, and plan on continuing that for the immediate future, as we are trying to make GIS the statement of record for all things geospatial. We really do have a great team between the three sites (Morgantown, Parkersburg, and Strasburg, Ohio). I created a product for data integrity over the past year that they are going to use when we contract out our flyover data capture the first week of October. Plus, the large analysis I did using 150 million vehicle data point locations that we had to identify well roads, which is not exactly a dataset you can create from public data, especially when it is specific to your company. I really do enjoy what I do, and believe it or not, I don't watch the clock, and my days fly by.

Have yourselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit in a semi-quiet household; Kiwi and Peanut are still talking about last night's game as they switch from being WVU fans to Steelers fans today. They are still both complaining about last night's game being past their dad's bedtime, and they had to remain quiet as he slept. The Steelers play the Patriots this afternoon, and they both hate them. 

You know, I did run into an old picture of me yesterday, one that I knew existed but didn't have a copy of it. Yes, that is your favorite blogger years and years ago. It was actually about a month or so before my niece Valarie was even born. Back to October of 1983, I was walking up and down Sunnyside after we had just beaten Pitt 24-21, or the game Jeff Hostetler beat them with a late touchdown in the 4th quarter. I think I was walking up to the Bullpen to meet Smitty to the best of my recollection. 

So what is on today's agenda? Watch some football and prepare for the upcoming week at work. I know we have our menu planned, and Meatloaf is on today's menu. I get to peel the potatoes because you can't do instant mashed potatoes with homemade meatloaf. 

Have yourselves a great Sunday. 

Saturday

Here I sit in a quiet household, or should I say that's a lie. Kiwi is singing (Bee Gees) and Peanut just wants to sleep in. It's Saturday and she feels she has earned that right. Kiwi has always been an early bird and Peanut is more of a night owl trying to nap all day when we aren't around. 

Michelle is going to do the grocery shopping this morning, no home game today we are playing in Charlotte against the University of Eastern Virginia (That's just Virginia) this evening (7:30 kickoff). I may try to get out weather permitting as it has been a couple of weeks since I cut grass. Grass cutting season is drawing to a close, but we are not there just yet. 

Those are our big plans for the day, so to speak. I know I want to replace mine and Michelle's iPhones in the near future. They are iPhone 11s, and maybe it's just time to think about upgrading. Michelle is wanting a phoen with more storage capacity for the baby that is coming, Grandma wants to take lots of pictures. 

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 ready for a little bit of High School Football? Morgantown looks to be off this week, but University High is playing up on Bakers Ridge and taking on Wheeling Park. Clay Battelle will also be at home this week out in Blacksville as they take on Tucker County. 

Not a whole lot planned for us this evening, shopping at Sam's and eating dinner. Same old boring Friday night once again, I just have one question though. Where did Peanut and Kiwi get a Sears Christmas Catalog? Everything is done on the internet in this day and age. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Calvin McClain

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my Nephew Calvin a very Happy Birthday today.

 Don't ask me how old he is all I know is that all of my Nephews and Nieces have passed me up in age and I'm still only 21 (he's 3) Calvin is someone Michelle and I have watched grow up and mature more than any other family member since we have been together. 

He has matured into a fine young man and now has a beautiful wife and now a wonderful young Son to share his life with. I'm not sure what Jeanetta or even Jax or my sister Pam have planned for him today, but I will say it'll be memorable no matter what it may be. It has been a real honor watching this young man grow up into the man that he is today. 

Not sure what Jeanetta and Jax has planned for him, but you can guarentee it will be magical and memorable. 

If you happen to see Calvin today, make sure that you wish him a very Happy Birthday today. Happy Birthday Calvin.

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 is one my niece Amy did a few years back; she took a picture of her during her childhood and recreated it with Kynlea. I would call this a great example of some mother-daughter twinning 25 years apart. 

She can be very creative; she just has that gift and has done some remarkable work and taken some keepsake pictures through the years. 

Have yoursleves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Lucy's Journal

September 16, 2026

Dear Journal,

I have discovered something today that I am almost embarrassed to admit.

We went snipe hunting.

Yes, dear Journal.

Snipe hunting.

And if you don't know what a snipe is, apparently neither do we.

It all started this morning when Kiwi came flying into the living room carrying an old flashlight.

"EVERYBODY GET READY!"

Peanut didn't even look up.

"Ready for what?"

"SNIPE HUNTING!"

I sat up.

"The birds?"

Kiwi nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes!"

"The actual birds?"

"Absolutely!"

Peanut finally looked up.

"Kiwi, you are a bird."

"I KNOW! That's why I'm an expert!"

Before I could ask any more questions, there was a knock at the door.

It was Gracie.

And right behind her came the Ghost of Maybelline, floating through the doorway.

"What are we doing?" Gracie asked.

"We're hunting snipes," I explained.

Maybelline stared at us.

Then she started laughing.

"Oh, this is going to be good."

---

THE SNIPE-HUNTING EXPEDITION

Peanut decided that every serious expedition needs equipment.

So we gathered:

• Flashlights
• Blankets
• Buckets
• Nets
• Binoculars
• A cooler
• Three bags of dog treats
• Two bags of sunflower seeds
• And approximately seventeen completely unnecessary pieces of equipment Kiwi insisted we needed.

The Quackers brought two fishing nets.

I asked why.

"We don't know," they said.

"Good answer."

Kiwi had somehow acquired a whistle.

"What's that for?" I asked.

"Calling the snipes."

He blew it.

FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!

Every bird in the neighborhood took off.

Kiwi looked pleased.

"See? They're responding!"

"No," Peanut said. "They're fleeing."

---

We headed into the woods just outside Morgantown.

Maybelline floated ahead of us.

"Remember," she said, "snipe hunting is usually done at night."

Kiwi looked worried.

"Why?"

"Because snipes are nocturnal."

Kiwi immediately put on sunglasses.

"Good thing I brought these."

"It is nighttime," Peanut said.

"Exactly."

---

We reached our hunting area.

Peanut had a plan.

She and Gracie would hide behind some bushes.

I would sit near a tree.

The Quackers would stand in a clearing holding their nets.

Kiwi would fly overhead looking for snipes.

And Maybelline would float around looking spooky.

"What do I do?" I asked.

Peanut handed me a bucket.

"Wait."

"For what?"

"Snipes."

"What do they look like?"

Peanut paused.

"I don't know."

"Excellent."

---

We waited.

And waited.

And waited.

The woods became completely quiet.

Suddenly, something rustled in the bushes.

The Quackers froze.

Kiwi whispered,

"TARGET!"

He flew toward the bushes.

The Quackers threw their nets.

Gracie jumped forward.

I jumped backward.

Peanut jumped onto a log.

Maybelline floated through the entire scene.

And out of the bushes came...

A raccoon.

Everyone stared at it.

The raccoon stared at everyone.

Kiwi pointed.

"That's a snipe!"

"No, it isn't."

"IT COULD BE!"

The raccoon grabbed a cracker and ran away.

Peanut shook her head.

"Well, at least someone got dinner."

---

About twenty minutes later, we heard another noise.

Rustle... rustle...

Kiwi whispered:

"Snipe."

The Quackers whispered:

"Snipe."

Gracie whispered:

"Are you sure?"

Kiwi nodded.

"One hundred percent."

We all got ready.

The noise got louder.

Then something jumped out.

It was...

a plastic grocery bag blowing through the woods.

Kiwi stared at it.

"That was a very advanced snipe."

Peanut finally lost her patience.

"KIWI!"

---

Then Maybelline decided to demonstrate how it's done.

She floated into the woods.

Everyone waited.

A few seconds later, we heard her voice.

"I FOUND ONE!"

Everyone ran toward her.

Maybelline was pointing at...

a squirrel.

"It's not a snipe," I said.

"I know."

"Then why did you call us?"

"I wanted to see how fast you could run."

She started laughing.

We had been ghost-pranked.

---

By midnight, we had caught exactly zero snipes.

We had, however, caught:

One raccoon.

Well...

We didn't actually catch it.

It caught a cracker.

And then escaped.

We also caught:

Two plastic bags.

One stick.

Three leaves.

A moth.

And Kiwi's hat.

Which he had accidentally thrown into the woods.

---

Finally, Peanut called everyone together.

"Okay. We need to admit it."

"Admit what?" Kiwi asked.

"We don't know what a snipe looks like."

Kiwi thought about this.

"Maybe the real snipes were the friends we made along the way."

Everyone stared at him.

"That was surprisingly profound," Gracie said.

Kiwi nodded.

"Thank you."

Then he added:

"Also, I found a birdhouse. I think that's a snipe condo."

Peanut walked away.

---

We packed everything up and started heading home.

As we walked, Maybelline floated beside me.

"You know," she said, "I've been around a long time."

"I know."

"I've seen some pretty strange things."

"I believe you."

"But this..."

She looked at Kiwi, who was carrying three nets, a flashlight, and a bucket.

"...this is probably the strangest."

I couldn't disagree.

When we got home, everyone was exhausted.

The Quackers immediately fell asleep.

Gracie curled up on the couch.

Peanut disappeared into her favorite chair.

Maybelline floated through the wall and said she was going to haunt Kiwi's dreams.

Kiwi climbed onto his perch.

"Tomorrow," he announced, "we're going squirrel hunting."

Peanut's eyes opened.

"Don't you dare."

Kiwi smiled.

"I'll need bigger nets."

I think I'm going to hide the nets.

Until next time, dear Journal...

If anyone asks whether we caught a snipe tonight, the official answer is absolutely yes.

We just have no idea what it looked like.

Paws, feathers, quacks, ghostly giggles, and one very empty snipe bucket,

Lucy 🐾

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is once again over with, time to get back to making this rock a better one to live on. 

* It has been 22,894 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, new, and improved 1,069-day Calendar. Mom is at 30,543, which would make her 28 according to my new and improved calendar. 

* It has been 8,149 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. Has it really been 22 years? 

* 6,742 days ago, Michelle and I had our first date together. Life has been much better since then. 

* 5,946 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 5,983 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 3,121 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 1,775 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,287 days, I've now outlived him by 1,625 days, making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* Old roommate Gregg proposed to his fiancée 353 days ago, I'm happy for those two. I asked him a couple weeks ago if they set a date yet, he said we would be the first to know. 

* I have 2,011 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 only 332 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our 16th Wedding Anniversary.

* 168 more days until Phil steps to the center stage once again for Groundhog Day. I'm still mad at the damn rat

* 121 more days to go until my Goodbye 2026 Blog is posted. 

* There are 114 more shopping days left until Christmas 2026. 

* There are 99 days until I hit the age of 63. Yeah, I know, I'm really older than 21. 

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

* I have written 8,483 blogs in what is now 21 11/12 Almost 22 years) years of Blogging.

* Still working 10's this week and probably next week as well. 

* They are taking out the turn at the top of Van Voorhis Road, it is now open and you top the hill differently. 

* Hershman's House on top of Van Voorhis is gone. It's not only gone, they have torn up the landscaping and it looks like they are going to build some more apartments there. 

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

* Not much else going on, I can always see on the ring camera when Michelle gets another Amazon order for the baby and watch them deliver it. 

* Have 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.

That statement is true if and I mean if you are Human. Kiwi and Peanut have informed me that they aren't going to work today, as it is a three-day weekend for pets. Something about they have a day planned of making popcorn and binge-watching Animal Planet. I think their biggest decision today is going to be whether they add sunflower seeds to their popcorn, Kiwi wants it Peanut does not. 

Still working 10's this week, I joke at work since I am always there that they charge me rent and my office includes my wardrobe since I do wear a different outfit every day. Still chugging along trying to integrate two different databases where GIS will ultimately be the statement of record for everything. We're building something pretty awesome geospatially on the back end that is going to be a useful tool with a lot of information of our system. 

Michelle is doing Michelle things at her work. She does love her job and the people she works with. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit yet once again in a quiet household. Kiwi and Peanut are both excited from the game yesterday and are now switching gears and putting on their Steelers merchandise because the NFL Starts today. 

Not too much planned for the day. Michelle got all the shopping done yesterday morning; I just have to do my things around the house this morning, and the rest of the day is ours. 

 My doctor's appointment last week was rescheduled. My Doctor, Dr Amy, as I call her, was out of the office, and we had to reschedule to December. It was just a 3-month follow-up from my initial consultation with her since I switched from the Physicians Office Center. 

One thing I did notice, as did Michelle. When I was leaving work Friday, Michelle said they had invaded the town center with the spotted lanternfly. They are an invasive species that kills crops; if you see any of them, kill them. 

Have yourselves a super fantastic day. 

Saturday

Here I sit once again in a quiet household. Kiwi and Peanut jumped on the PRT this morning, and they are both downtown on campus, looking to play a little bit of pickup basketball with a couple of naive students. Kiwi things he can take off from beyond the 3-point line and dunk it all day for 3 pointers from above. 

Michelle is going to run out and do the grocery shopping and I'm not planning on doing too much today other than watching the Mountaineers this afternoon. We play UT Martin this afternoon at 1:00 on ESPN+.  Hopefully we can get out of the day with a win today, we should as this is a warm up game. 

Other than that we won't be getting into too much. I just cut the grass on Monday afternoon, so it doesn't need to be cut. 

Have yourselves a great day.