Monday

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

I'm not sure what Kiwi and Peanut are trying to do, something about an announcement next weekend and playing with an Ouiji board trying to communicate with the departed, not sure who they are reaching out to or even what the announcement is or will be. They are always up to something, even though we may not understand them at times. 

Still working 10's this week, I've done so ever since the night Nick died a month and a half ago. I got my one big project done and have been working on another project that I think will be really valuable. We did push out an update to our internal Outage Management System. We added easements that I created and also real-time vehicle locators, so the team in the back knows who is closest to any emergency that may happen. It's pretty amazing, and everyone loves it. 

Have yourselves a great day, make it happen. 

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit in a quiet household, Kiwi and I are up talking about Ouiji Boards for some reason, he ordered one off of Amazon that is due to arrive sometime today. Peanut is sitting on the couch watching South Park Reruns, Kiwi continues to be fascinated with an Ouiji board for some reason, might have something planned, and it could have something to do with next Sunday's announcement. He's always a few steps ahead of me. 

So what has happened this week, well, a week ago, I guess we had a death in the family as Sandy's husband Curt, had passed away. Pam and Terri made it to the viewings, but I didn't, although I heard Patty was in from Florida, so I wish I had. I was too busy working and couldn't really get away, plus the viewing was on a night that Michelle goes and visits her Mom with her Sisters. 

Michelle got the grocery shopping done yesterday morning. She said it was a little crowded when she went shopping, but she went at a regular time rather than the 6:00 AM time to avoid a big baseball game in town. The rest of the weekend is ours after that, and we really didn't get into too much. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit in a quiet household, I'm up early talking with Kiwi and Peanut and asking them their plans for the day, trying to see what fun and interesting things they will get into today. I think that they are both content to sit around and watch the grass grow. They cut it last weekend and they insist they are going to sit back and relax today. Even they need a break from their adventuresome lives. 

Not too much is going on this weekend. Michelle will do the grocery shopping and that will pretty much be the highlight of the weekend. No plans on doing anything other than just enjoying a little bit of downtime. Kiwi and Peanut have decided to take full advantage of this opportunity. 

It is West Virginia's 163rd Birthday, so don't forget to sing some Country Roads and show a little gratitude that we live in a great state after kicking that lesser Virginia to the curb. 

Have yourself 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 Cheap Entertainment this evening, and by cheap, I mean free? Well, head on down to the Ruby Ampitheatre this evening. Everclear will be the featured act at the facility. They had several hits in the 90's, including Santa Monica. Head on down if you have nothing to do, the price is right. 

Nothing going on this weekend other than normal stuff. Curt Brown passed away this week and his funeral was yesterday, I couldn't make it but I know Pam, and Terri did. 

Have yourselves a great day, make some memories. 

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Erica Nicholson

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my great niece Erica a very Happy Birthday today. If my math serves me correctly, she should be turning 22 years old today? 

 
Seems like it was just yesterday when we were all at the Hospital awaiting her arrival and here we are 22 years later with her already grown up, working and building her own life.

She is a great Mother to Ellie May and an amazing young woman. 

 
Not sure what if any plans there are for her today, and I don't even know what she has planned, but if you happen to see this young lady, wish her the Happiest of Birthdays.

 
Happy Birthday, Erica.

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 week's pic was from the Memorial Fund raiser for Nick. Michelle either volunteered or was volunteered to work the table and collect money for the fundraiser. Selling tickets and soliciting donations to step up and help out. She did an amazing job, and I really didn't get too many pictures from the day, but I did manage to grab this one of my lovely wife. 

It was a good day for the most part, everyone tried to remain focused on our primary objective, and that was to raise money for Nick Rehmani and his surviving family. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Lucy's Journal

June 17, 2026 – Operation: The Great BBQ Chicken Chase

Dear Journal,

Well, I can honestly say today was one for the record books.

It all started when Kiwi was sitting on the back of the couch, puffed up like a tiny green general, making plans for Sunday’s big Father’s Day BBQ for our favorite Dad and internet blogger.

“Every great BBQ needs chicken!” Kiwi squawked.

Peanut the gray tiger cat stretched out on the floor and flicked his tail. “I know where we can get one.”

That sentence should have been the first warning.

The Quackers, the two identical duck twins, immediately started quacking excitedly.

“QUACK! QUACK! CHICKEN MISSION!”

I, Lucy the tan and white Shih Tzu and the responsible leader of this household (at least that’s what I tell everyone), had a bad feeling about where this was going.

Thirty minutes later, we found ourselves sneaking across the yard like a team of furry and feathered secret agents.

Kiwi was the lookout.

“Chicken spotted at two o’clock!” he whispered.

Peanut lowered himself into his best hunting pose.

The Quackers waddled left.

The Quackers waddled right.

Actually, they both waddled the same direction because they’re identical and apparently share the same bad ideas.

“MOVE IN!” Kiwi shouted.

And that chicken took off like a rocket.

I have never seen something with feathers move that fast.

The chase began.

Peanut jumped over a flower bed and landed in a bush.

The Quackers tried to corner the chicken but somehow cornered each other instead.

Kiwi flew overhead yelling instructions that nobody followed.

“LEFT! LEFT! NO, THE OTHER LEFT!”

I chased the chicken around the yard three times before realizing I was just chasing my own tail because I got dizzy and forgot which animal I was after.

After an hour of chaos, muddy paws, scattered feathers from the chicken’s dramatic escape, and one very embarrassed cat, the chicken finally stopped and looked at us as if to say:

“You four are terrible at this.”

And honestly?

The chicken was right.

Kiwi looked at the chicken.

The chicken looked at Kiwi.

They both had feathers.

A moment of understanding happened.

“You know,” Kiwi said quietly, “maybe a bird shouldn’t be on the menu at a family celebration.”

The Quackers nodded.

“QUACK. FAMILY.”

Peanut sighed.

“I suppose hot dogs and burgers are easier to catch anyway.”

I barked in agreement.

So we marched back home, covered in dirt, smelling like the backyard, and with absolutely no chicken for Sunday’s BBQ.

But we did make a new friend.

The chicken is coming to the BBQ as an honored guest.

Kiwi promised not to tell any chicken jokes.

Peanut promised not to stare at him.

The Quackers promised not to teach him how to steal potato salad.

I made no promises because I am the only one in this house with any sense.

And if you believe that, you have never met my family.

Until next time, dear Journal…

Stay mischievous.

🐾 Love,
Lucy

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is over, now we are staring straight down at another spring time Tuesday, time for a tidbits

* It has been 22,817 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, new, and improved 1,069-day Calendar. Mom is at 30,466, which would make her 28 according to my new and improved calendar. 

* It has been 8,072 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? 

* 6,665 days ago, Michelle and I had our first date together. Life has been much better since then. 

* 5,869 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 5,906 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 3,044 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 1,698 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,280 days, I've now outlived him by 1,555 days, making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* Old roommate Gregg proposed to his fiancée 276 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 2,073 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.

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

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

* There are 191 more shopping days left until Christmas 2026. 

* There are 176 days until I hit the age of 63. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* There are only 60 more days to go until Michelle and I will celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary......maybe

* There are 6 days until my second favorite season begins, Summertime!!!!!!

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

* I have written 8,391 blogs in what is now 21 3/4 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. 

* Looking for Girl Scout Cookies? Ryleigh's Page

* Looking for Girl Scout Cookies still? Arabellas Page

* 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 are both being stubborn this morning. They realize it's summertime and they are on summer vacation (even though neither one of them is in school) and they have decided that they are going to sleep in today and let the hoomans do their thing. 

I'm still working 10's this week and should be for the foreseeable future. I still have my intern and will until the end of July when their program is completed, and they give them a couple of weeks before school starts back up. They have a lot of programs for them throughout the summer, including attending weekly meetings and luncheons. I think there are 10 or 12 in the program, but my department has one and they are working with me here in Morgantown. 

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit in a quiet household, and Kiwi and Peanut are quite happy with themselves. They teamed up with Lucy yesterday to figure out the problem with Mom's Chromebook; it was doing some crazy things and couldn't log her in on her profile. Kiwi researched it and said maybe we just need to wash it (set it back to factory and then reload the profile), and wouldn't you know, that was the solution. It's back to normal, Lucy said. The storms may have corrupted the profile, and it could not recognize the keyboard properly. They did an amazing job fixing it. 

I did manage to wake up and get an early start yesterday, and got the grass mowed. I didn't know if it was going to rain or anything, so I made sure to get an early start to make sure I could get it cut. Michelle did the grocery shopping as I was cutting the grass, so we got everything done fairly early. 

So what is on today's agenda? Nothing much, just relaxing and taking it easy to prepare for the upcoming week. It's going to be basically just some downtime. Might even watch a baseball game, the College World Series is going on, and I kind of follow a team that is in it this year. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Saturday

Here I sit in a quiet household yet once again. Kiwi and Peanut are in a semi-anxious mood as they know that, weather permitting, Dad is going to have to cut the grass today. They are both up in the garage, fueling up the lawn tractor and getting everything ready to cut the grass today.

Michelle will do a grocery run, same as every other Saturday. Only this Saturday will not be as nuts as last weekend. She can probably go at a semi-normal time rather than attempting to beat the overflow crowd at a Baseball game with people competing for a spot on Randy's Ridge. 

Other than spending time with the animals, no big plans for this weekend. It might be one where I can actually sit back and relax for a little bit, maybe take a nice nap and rest up from the previous week. 

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 Cheap Entertainment this evening, and by cheap, I mean free? Well, head on down to the Ruby Ampitheatre this evening. Leftover Salmon takes the stage at 7:00 this evening. Kiwi and Peanut said they are planning on attending. They said they have a really nice sound, kind of a Grateful Dead thing going on and they like that kind of music, although Kiwi is really a Bee Gees fan. 

No big plans for the weekend as of yet. Things change at the drop of a hat, so you know how that goes. Grass is probably going to me calling my name, so there is always that. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week, I like to take a little bit of time out, time to look at some of the 30,000+ photos that I have stored on my computer. Little lost moments in time that I either captured with a lens, scanned, or just stole from somewhere on the internet. I like to find just one and post it up, 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 weeks pic goes back to when the country was shut down because of COVID. I was just laid off and Michelle was working from home and we were both at home. Weather was nice and we were both home, so Kiwi got a lot of outside play time with his distant cousins, you know, the wild ones. They would stop by for a visit and say hello. 

The year was 2020, it's hard to believe that that was six years ago, but it has been. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Lucy's Journal

Lucy's Journal – June 10, 2026

Wiffle Ball Madness at Monongalia County Ballpark

Dear Journal,

Today was one of the most exciting days ever!

The gang and I headed over to the beautiful Monongalia County Ballpark for what was supposed to be a friendly game of wiffle ball. Of course, when you put me, Peanut the gray tiger cat, Kiwi the green cheek conure, and the Quackers (those identical twin ducks who still insist they're easy to tell apart) together, "friendly" usually turns into complete chaos.

Our opponents were an unusual bunch: a team made up entirely of giraffes and mice.

Now, at first glance, that might seem unfair. The giraffes could practically lean over the outfield fence without moving, while the mice were so tiny they could disappear between the blades of grass. But we weren't worried.

The first inning started with Kiwi stepping up to the plate. He swung so hard he spun around three times before making contact. Somehow the ball dribbled twenty feet down the baseline. Kiwi flapped his wings and declared it a home run anyway.

"It was airborne for part of the trip!" he argued.

The umpire disagreed.

Peanut the cat was our next batter. He immediately tried to negotiate a trade to the giraffe team after noticing they had better snacks in their dugout. When that failed, he smacked a line drive into center field and strutted around the bases like he had just won the World Series.

The Quackers were unstoppable. The twins worked together so well that nobody could tell which duck was on base and which one was batting. At one point they accidentally switched places three times during the same play, confusing both teams and the scorekeeper.

Meanwhile, the giraffes had an interesting strategy. They simply reached over everyone and caught nearly every fly ball. One giraffe caught a pop-up while simultaneously eating a leaf from a nearby tree.

The mice, however, were the real challenge. They were so small that every ground ball seemed to roll right over their heads. One mouse somehow stole second, third, and home before anyone noticed he had left first base.

By the sixth inning, the score was tied 12-12.

That's when I came to the plate.

The crowd roared. Well, maybe it was just the Quackers quacking loudly from the dugout, but it sounded like a crowd.

I took a deep breath, wagged my tail, and swung.

CRACK!

The wiffle ball sailed high into the afternoon sky.

A giraffe jumped.

A mouse climbed another mouse's shoulders.

Kiwi offered helpful advice that nobody could understand.

Peanut tried to call dibs on the ball.

But it didn't matter.

The ball landed safely in the outfield, and I raced around the bases for the game-winning run!

Final score:

Lucy and Friends: 13
Giraffes and Mice: 12

After the game, we celebrated with cold treats and plenty of victory photos. Peanut claimed he was the team MVP. Kiwi claimed he was the team manager. The Quackers claimed they scored all 13 runs.

As for me?

I was just happy to spend another perfect day with my favorite friends.

Until next time,

Lucy 🐶⚾

P.S. Peanut is still trying to trade herself to the giraffes for a bag of sunflower seeds. We're monitoring the situation.

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is over, now we are staring straight down at another spring time Tuesday, time for a tidbits

* It has been 22,810 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, new, and improved 1,069-day Calendar. Mom is at 30,459, which would make her 28 according to my new and improved calendar. 

* It has been 8,065 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? 

* 6,658 days ago, Michelle and I had our first date together. Life has been much better since then. 

* 5,862 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 5,899 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 3,037 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 1,691 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,280 days, I've now outlived him by 1,548 days, making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* Old roommate Gregg proposed to his fiancée 269 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 2,080 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.

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

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

* There are 198 more shopping days left until Christmas 2026. 

* There are 183 days until I hit the age of 63. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* There are only 67 more days to go until Michelle and I will celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary......maybe

* There are 13 days until my second favorite season begins, Summertime!!!!!!

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

* I have written 8,383 blogs in what is now 21 3/4 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. 

* Looking for Girl Scout Cookies? Ryleigh's Page

* Looking for Girl Scout Cookies still? Arabellas Page

* 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 told me this morning, he said: "Dad, I think Peanut and I are going to stay home today and relax, we want to play some PacMan". I think Kiwi wants to play Pac-Man because he knows the little guys moving on the screen will be like his own laser pointer, and he's planning on tricking Peanut into chasing them all day long. She is so easy to please sometimes. 

Still working 10's this week, I pretty much have my big analysis done, and I'm just tweaking a few things to make it more of a complete dataset. They are using this to find obscure easements that we have to get to wells that may be out in the middle of nowhere, based on our vehicles' GPS data in our fleet of vehicles. You would think that would sound simple, but every car puts out a signal every 5-6 seconds over the course of a year, and that was fleetwide (meaning upwards of probably 100 or more vehicles). Then, sorting through the data to make sure we don't capture things like employees who drive the vehicles home and such. No trips to the McDonald's drive-thrus for lunch, all of that had to be filtered out. I have it published, I'm just fine-tuning the results. 

Have yourself a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit in a very non-quiet household, Kiwi and Peanut have turned into big WVU Baseball fans, and they are practicing their rendition of Country Roads. They have an email out to Rich Rod to allow them to perform for Football Post Game celebrations this fall, but he hasn't responded yet. 

We had the Memorial Benefit Dinner for Nick Rehmani at Triune Halleck Volunteer Fire Department yesterday. I'm not sure of any totals or how things went, but hopefully this will help Terri out moving forward and ease any immediate financial burden that she may encounter. 

The celebration is on in Morgantown, for the first time in School History, we have advanced to the College Baseball World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, starting this coming weekend. The Mountaineers beat Cal Poly yesterday 17-1 to win the Super Regional and punch our ticket for the World Series. 

Have yourself a great day, make some memories and make it special. 

Happy Birthday's Hayley and Tyler Ash

Tyler and Hayley Ash 

I would like to take this opportunity to wish both Hayley and Tyler (his is tomorrow) Ash a very Happy 33rd Birthday today and tomorrow. It is a funny story that when Michelle gave birth and Tyler's Mom was two rooms down delivering him. Same Hospital, so these two were in the baby nursery at the same time and at the same hospital. Now they are a happily married couple. 

I could not ask for a better daughter than Hayley, she is absolutely amazing, very driven and focused on whatever she wants to accomplish. I love her with all my heart. 

Tyler is the best son-in-law anyone would ever want. Hard working, resourceful and a great father to Luke. 

If you happen to see either of these two today, make sure you take a little time out and wish them both a very Happy Birthday. 

Happy Birthday Hayley and Tyler. 

Saturday

Here I sit once again in a somber and quiet household, Kiwi and Peanut are both still sleeping and I'm up a little early, Michelle is going to do our shopping this morning. 

This afternoon there is a Memorial Benefit for the family of Nick Rehmani  at the Triune Halleck Volunteer Fire Department at 1189 Halleck Road from 1:00 to 5:00. All proceeds go to the immediate family of Nick to help assist with this transition. We would love for you to make and see you there, I guess they are raffling off baskets, so if you can make or donate a basket it would be much appreciated. 

Other than that, avoid the University Town Center today, it will be game 2 of the Super Regionals. We win this regional and this will be WVU's first trip to Omaha for the College World Series in it's current format. They last went in 1963, but it was a much smaller event. The ballpark will be electric just as it has all post season. 

Have a great day, make some memories and hope to see you today. 

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!!!!

Another week down and completed, so what is on the agenda for this weekend? There is a benefit for Nick's family tomorrow from 1:00 - 5:00 at the Halleck-Tribune Firehall. Terri's boss is putting this together for her, he has done so much for her between her diagnosis a couple of years ago to just being there for her all the time, can't say I have met him and his wife, but they are truly nice people. 

Other than that, Michelle will do our Sam's run this evening and the regular Saturday Shopping tomorrow morning before we head up to the Firehall. 

Hey I almost forgot, if you are not doing anything tonight, head on down to the Ruby Ampitheatre for the first act in the Summer Concert Series with Almost Queen hitting the stage this evening. The show starts at 7:00 and is free for anyone who wants to go. Should be some good music. 

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Gary Hall

I would like to take this chance to wish my youngest sibling a very Happy Birthday today. 

I've always loved this picture of Gary, Grandpa Hall used to refer to him as Jobo. No idea where he came up with that nickname, but that was what he called Gary. I used to call Gary BASH, which stood for Bozo, Arnetta (his made up Dad used to use for his Girlfriend), Suck-a-thumb, Hall. Don't worry though, Gary would always give it back to me so it went both ways. 

I know Gary has quit his job back up home and is planning on moving back to Morgantown sometime in the near future. Not sure as to when or where that will happen, but it's his plans. 

If you happen to see or talk to Gary today, wish him a very Happy Birthday. Is this 53? 

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.

I bought this shirt for Michelle a few years ago. If you know Michelle, you know she loves her coffee. She also loves her Kiwi and she has a shirt indicating how to start a good day. Let me tell you, Kiwi has a big personality and he just electrifies the household. Although he was in a contract disput and refused to pose for this picture, he was holding out for more seeds. Greedy bird. 

Have yoursleves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Lucy's Journal

 

Lucy’s Journal – June 3, 2026

Mini Golf Mayhem and Slush Puppie Victory

Today started out as one of those “everybody pile into the car and hope for the best” kind of days. Peanut was already causing trouble before we even left the driveway. He somehow managed to steal the little scorecard pencil and hide it under the seat. Nobody noticed until we got to the miniature golf course.

The place had waterfalls, little bridges, fake caves, and one of those giant windmills that always seems to knock the ball away at the last second. The Quackers immediately declared themselves “professional athletes” and marched straight to the first hole like they were entering a tournament on TV.

Kiwi spent the entire first hole yelling, “HOLE IN ONE! HOLE IN ONE!” before anybody even hit the ball.

Things stayed mostly normal until hole number four.

That’s when Peanut cheated.

Lucy lined up the perfect shot, but right before the ball rolled into the hole, Peanut casually reached out a paw and tapped his own ball ahead when nobody was looking. He acted like it was completely accidental too. The Quackers started yelling “FOUL! FOUL!” and flapping their wings dramatically while Kiwi laughed so hard he almost fell off the score table.

Then Kiwi decided HE wanted to cheat too.

At hole seven, Kiwi picked up his golf ball in his beak and tried to drop it directly beside the hole while shouting, “Birdie! Birdie for the birdie!” Unfortunately for him, Lucy caught him immediately. Kiwi tried pretending he was “just cleaning the ball,” which nobody believed for one second.

Meanwhile, the Quackers actually played surprisingly fair. They took forever lining up every shot, though. One duck would stare at the hole while the other whispered “strategies” into his ear like they were planning a military operation.

By the final hole, the scores were close.

Peanut insisted he should win because “style points matter.”

Kiwi claimed he deserved bonus points for “aerial maneuverability.”

The Quackers tied for second place after both accidentally knocking their balls into the water hazard at exactly the same time.

And Lucy?

LUCY WON.

The celebration was completely over the top.

Lucy ran around waving the tiny plastic golf club in the air while Kiwi made victory music noises from the scoreboard. Peanut pretended he “let her win,” even though everyone knew that wasn’t true. The Quackers demanded a trophy presentation and tried to build one out of napkins.

After all the chaos, everybody went out for giant Slush Pupppies afterward.

Kiwi drank his too fast and got a brain freeze.

Peanut got blue raspberry all over his whiskers.

One of the Quackers mixed every flavor together and proudly called it “swamp juice.”

Lucy sat there smiling with her championship scorecard sitting proudly on the table beside her giant cherry slush.

Honestly, it was probably one of the funniest afternoons we’ve had in a long time.

And yes…

Peanut is still insisting he won.

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is over, now we are staring straight down at another spring time Tuesday, time for a tidbits

* It has been 22,803 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, new, and improved 1,069-day Calendar. Mom is at 30,452, which would make her 28 according to my new and improved calendar. 

* It has been 8,057 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? 

* 6,651 days ago, Michelle and I had our first date together. Life has been much better since then. 

* 5,855 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 5,892 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 3,030 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 1,684 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,280 days, I've now outlived him by 1,541 days, making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* Old roommate Gregg proposed to his fiancée 262 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 2,087 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.

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

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

* There are 205 more shopping days left until Christmas 2026. 

* There are 190 days until I hit the age of 63. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* There are only 73 more days to go until Michelle and I will celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary......maybe

* There are 20 days until my second favorite season begins, Summertime!!!!!!

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

* I have written 8,374 blogs in what is now 21 1/2 years of Blogging.

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

* I actually have a Doctors appointment today, I'm switching Dr's to someone Michelle has known for years, she used to come to our softball games years ago with Michelle. I wasn't happy with my doctor at the POC and I was always seeing Residents who wanted to try new things. 

* There is going to be a benefit for Nick this Saturday. 

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

* Looking for Girl Scout Cookies? Ryleigh's Page

* Looking for Girl Scout Cookies still? Arabellas Page

* 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 said it is Summer vacation for them and they don't want to go to work today. We made them a deal to vacuum and dust everything, and we can consider that working. Personally, I think they just want to stay home and watch talk shows all morning long. 

So I get a Summer intern starting today, she will be here from today until the end of July when they finish up. My boss is coming up from Parkersburg for her orientation and everything that takes place today. Hopefully, I can finish up an analysis on what I have been working on and get it published to the portal sometime today. My bosses Boss is wanting me to do a write-up to publish what I did and how I drew the conclusion of my analysis, and post it on the internal featured stories. I had already written my entire methodology out, so this should be simple to be honest. 

I have a Doctors appointment tomorrow, so still working 10's.

Have yoursleves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit on a not-so-quiet Sunday morning, and around here, Kiwi and Peanut have decided to prepare breakfast for Michelle and me before we start our Sunday morning chores. I think they are just appreciative that we cleaned up all the poop from Kiwi's cage and Peanuts litter box. Peanut killed a mouse a couple of days ago, so she has been extra helpful the last couple of days. 

I did get a chance to mow the lawn yesterday; it had been a couple of weeks, and the weather was nice, so I took advantage of it while I could. It has rained like cats and birds (not dogs) the past couple of weeks, so it was primed and ready to be cut. It was a little bit wet, and I'm starting to cut the flat area where the big industrial garage used to be. 

Michelle went to a doctor's appointment yesterday with Hayley. For those of you in the know, everything is good and progressing as it should. She was a little nervous, but yesterday she was reassured that everything is OK. 

Have yourself a great day, make some memories. 

Saturday Morning Rambling

Here I sit in a quiet household, would you believe Kiwi and Peanut are still both sleeping, and it really is all quiet around here. I think they both love Bugs Bunny, and Kiwi likes the Road Runner, but doesn't care for that coyote trying to catch him. I swear they live full lives. 

So what is on today's agenda? Michelle will be doing a bit of grocery shopping to start off the day, and I'm going to try to cut the grass. It's been a couple of weeks since I last cut it, and we have gotten our fair share of rain this week. I would say the water table is saturated. 

WVU is hosting a Regional for the NCAA Baseball Tournament. We hosted once a few years back, so this is I know, at least the second time we have hosted at this level. Whoever advances out of this regional has to play #1-ranked UCLA. Last year, we advanced and played LSU in the Super Regional, and they won the World Series. If we advance again this year, we just might find ourselves playing the eventual champion again. 

Other than that no big plans. 

Have yourselves a superfantastic 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!!!

I'm still working 10's, Kiwi and Peanut sent me a postcard and said hello from the rails to trails, they don't know specifically where they are at, something about the Appalachian Trail. 

No big plans for the weekend, other than going to a fundraiser for my Sister Terri NEXT weekend on Saturday from 12:00 to 5:00. It's going to be at the Triune Halleck Volunteer Fire Department. Floyd Cowger will be playing the benefit and that is all she knows at this time. 

This weekend? Maybe try to cut some grass and entertain the animals. 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.

I should call this one like Mother, like Daughter. This was taken last Summer at the Hovatters Wildlife Zoo trip. Hayley was feeding a giraffe, something Michelle loves to do. However Michelle puts the carrot in her Mouth and lets the giraffe grab is straight out of her mouth. Hayley didn't appear to be that brave and handed it to them. 

We're planning on another trip up this year as a group if anyone is interested. Details to come.

Have youselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Lucy's Journal

 

Lucy’s Journal – May 27, 2026

Well folks… today the crew invaded the Morgantown Mall, and honestly, I think the mall may still be recovering.

The whole adventure started because I said the dangerous words:
“Let’s just stop in for a minute.”

Everybody knows there is no such thing as “a minute” at the mall.

The Quackers marched in first like they owned the place. They waddled straight toward the arcade, already arguing about which game they were gonna dominate. Five minutes later they came stomping back out grumbling louder than an old lawn mower.

“This arcade ain’t what it used to be!”
“Where’s the good racing games?”
“Half these machines just want you to scan a card!”

One of them spent three dollars trying to win a stuffed pickle and somehow lost every single time. The other one got mad at a claw machine and accused it of “psychological warfare.”

Meanwhile, I wandered off toward the shoe stores. Now listen… I did NOT need another pair of shoes.

But did that stop me from looking?
Absolutely not.

There I was holding up sandals, sneakers, boots, and shoes with little sparkly things on them while trying to convince myself they were “practical.” Peanut followed me the whole time dragging dramatically across the floor like a tiny striped hostage.

Every few minutes Peanut would sit up on his back legs and beg random shoppers for cat treats like he hadn’t eaten in six years.

One lady actually opened her purse and said,
“Oh my goodness, you poor thing!”

Poor thing?!
That cat had snacks TWICE before we left the house.

Peanut then had the nerve to look back at me like,
“See? These people understand me.”

And Kiwi?
Nobody knew where Kiwi disappeared to for nearly twenty minutes.

We finally spotted him up in one of those decorative food court trees. He was perched way up high like some tiny feathery detective watching everybody below.

I swear he was judging every person carrying pretzels.

Every once in awhile he’d yell:
“WHATCHA EATIN’?!”
right as somebody sat down with fries.

At one point a teenager dropped nearly his whole milkshake because Kiwi leaned out of the tree and screamed,
“HEY BUDDY.”

The food court went completely silent for about three seconds before the Quackers started laughing so hard one of them snorted lemonade out his beak.

By the end of the trip:

• The Quackers declared the arcade “washed up.”
• Peanut collected enough treats to open a small business.
• Kiwi established full surveillance over the food court.
• And I somehow left with two pairs of shoes I definitely didn’t plan on buying.

So all in all…
pretty successful mall trip.

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is over as is my extended weekend, now we are staring straight down at another spring time Tuesday, time for a tidbits

* It has been 22,796 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, new, and improved 1,069-day Calendar. Mom is at 30,445, which would make her 28 according to my new and improved calendar. 

* It has been 8,050 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. 

* 6,644 days ago, Michelle and I had our first date together. Life has been much better since then. 

* 5,848 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 5,885 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 3,023 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 1,677 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,280 days, I've now outlived him by 1,533 days, making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* Old roommate Gregg proposed to his fiancée 255 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 2,094 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.

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

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

* There are 212 more shopping days left until Christmas 2026. 

* There are 197 days until I hit the age of 63. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* There are only 80 more days to go until Michelle and I will celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary......maybe

* There are 27 days until my second favorite season begins, Summertime!!!!!!

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

* I have written 8,366 blogs in what is now 21 1/2 years of Blogging. 

* The students are Gone!!! I'm loving it!!!

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

* There is going to be a benefit for Nick not this Saturday but the following Saturday. 

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

* Looking for Girl Scout Cookies? Ryleigh's Page

* Looking for Girl Scout Cookies still? Arabellas Page

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

This is about when I would give the spiel about headding to start a new week of working and changing the world, screw it, it's the unofficial start of summer and Memorial Day. It's a day off for this guy and Michelle. 

No major plans for the day other than doing some brats on the Blackstone. Kiwi and Peanut of course said they will monitor the grill and do all the cooking for their favorite hoomans. 

We'll probably just relax for the day and prepare to hit it hard again starting tomorrow. It's been a relaxing weekend, that's another word for rainy, so just going to prepare for tomorrow and spend some time with the animals. 

Happy Memorial Day, remember the fallen. 

Sunday

Here I sit in a somber household, Kiwi and Peanut have decided that they want to go with us today to place flags on a couple of grandfathers' and my Dad's gravesites. They all served in the military, but none of them were killed in combat, but we will honor their time and service anyway because they have all earned it. 

Michelle went to Lowes on Friday and picked up a number of the smaller flags that they use on gravesites for us to place. If I only make it once a year to the graves, this is the weekend where I make sure that I take time out and honor those family members who are no longer with us. It is the very least I can do to pay tribute and remember these great men. She picked up a few extra to place in her flower pots around the house, I already changed the big one on the flag pole for the year. 

It's been a wet weekend to say the very least, it rained friday and yesterday and is raining today already. Wet is a way I would describe this whole weekend. 

They had High School Graduations on Friday, both Morgantown and University High had their commencement ceremonies on their football fields in the middle of all of this rain. It was a lack of planning on some highly paid indivuduals and a state land grant institute who tried to get greedy with the state tax payers that I honestly think some educators and executives need to lose their employment. Absolutely disgusting way to treat people celebrating a lifetime achievement. 

Have yoursleves a great day.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit in a semi-quiet household, Kiwi and Peanut are of course up already, they are complaining that it's too warm in the house and I reminded them they are more than welcome to grab the AC from the garage and stick it in the bedroom window so we can regulate the temperatures down here a little better. They are innovative and inspired, and they just want to hook the wagon up to the tractor and drive it down here. 

So I'm on a three-day holiday weekend, my lovely wife is on a 4 day as she was off yesterday as well as Monday. So what is on today's agenda? Other than grocery shopping, probably not too much. I mowed last week, so the grass looks pretty good and can go another week. 

This is the weekend I make my yearly trip to three cemeteries. I'll Start out at Arnettesville, then on to East Oak Grove and we will finish up at Mount Union. I take small little flags and put them on family members who have served and clean up the graves. Might even take the weed eater with me again this year just in case. Have yourselves a great day, a great weekend an an awesome 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 and the start of a three day weekend!!!!!!

I don't know what I am going to do with myself, three whole days off and I've been working 10 hour days (for overtime) since Nick had his wreck. Hopefully it will be filled with Happy times and memories, the students are gone so that is one factor of the Happy Times. 

I'm hoping to maybe fire the grill up this weekend, no plans but it is a three day weekend so it's a good time for the first cookout of the year. 

Michelle is off today and may be running to Rogers Ohio with Jim and Chris, she has a mammogram this morning and then they are talking about running up there after that. I'll be working. 

Have yourselves a great day and the start of a great weekend. 

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday(s) Pam and George McClain

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my Sister Pam and an early Birthday to my brother-in-law George and wish them both a very Happy Birthday today (although George's is Saturday). 

Pam is a sister that any brother would be very proud to have. She is the most genuine of the genuine, and it is an honor to call her my Baby Sister and one hell of a Grandmother. She would do anything for anyone and is one of the most innocent souls anyone would ever want to meet who has purple hair. 

George is the brother-in-law who would be my first round draft pick in the Brother-in-Law Draft. He is a brother from another mother to say the least. 

If you happen to see or talk to Pam today or George on Saturday, take a little bit of time out of your busy day and wish this special lady or this fine young gentleman a very Happy Birthday today.

Happy Birthday Pam and George a little early.

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 weeks pic happened last Thursday, Layla was graduating from the MedEd program and she was the Senior speaker for her class at University High. There is a whole album on Facebook that I posted up. 

I think she deserves not one but two pictures posted up (out of 145), I can't express how proud of her both Michelle and I are of her. She actually won the first award of the night called Mountain Movers and when they were talking about it and didn't announce who the winner was, I just knew it was Layla. She is that dedicated and that focused. 

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Lucy's Journal

Lucy’s Journal Entry — May 20, 2026

The gang gathered down at the local Sheetz this evening after work. The humans thought everybody was winding down for the night, but that was absolutely not the case. Kiwi, Peanut, and the quackers had officially begun planning Memorial Day Weekend operations.

The air smelled like gasoline, pepperoni rolls, curly fries, and just a tiny bit of bad decision making.

Lucy slid into the booth first carrying three pepperoni rolls and a giant sweet tea like she owned the place. Peanut jumped onto the seat beside her pretending to look sophisticated, but immediately stole half of Lucy’s mozzarella sticks when nobody was looking.

Kiwi was already bouncing around the table screaming:
“THREE DAY WEEKEND! THREE DAY WEEKEND!”

The quackers were all crowded around a basket of fries, loudly arguing over whether ranch or honey mustard was the superior dipping sauce. Things nearly turned violent.

Eventually Lucy got everybody under control enough to discuss the official weekend plans.

Since Kiwi never did finish building his “luxury tropical backyard waterfall paradise,” the group decided they should visit a real waterfall somewhere in the mountains instead. Kiwi became extremely excited at the idea of swimming and immediately attempted to cannonball directly into somebody’s cup of Dr Pepper.

The tentative plan now includes:

• Swimming all day in cold mountain water
• Peanut supervising from a dry rock while judging everybody
• Cooking hot dogs and burgers on a grill
• The quackers stealing every single chip bag they can find
• Kiwi attempting to become “King of the Waterfall”

Lucy said it actually sounded peaceful for once.

That peaceful feeling lasted approximately seven seconds.

Kiwi suddenly froze while staring out the Sheetz window into the parking lot.

There were cars everywhere.

Rows and rows of shiny clean cars.

Kiwi slowly turned back toward the group with the expression of a tiny feathery supervillain.

“There are too many cars,” he whispered.

The quackers immediately became interested.

Peanut narrowed his eyes and sighed because he already knew where this conversation was going.

Kiwi hopped onto the windowsill dramatically and declared:
“THIS PARKING LOT NEEDS MORE POOP.”

The quackers began quacking in support like tiny feathered henchmen.

Lucy nearly choked on her pepperoni roll laughing while Peanut buried his face in his paws and muttered:
“I can’t take these people anywhere.”

Kiwi then outlined what he called “Operation Memorial Droppings,” which apparently involves coordinated aerial chaos sometime this weekend. The quackers volunteered immediately because, according to them, teamwork makes the dream work.

Peanut has publicly denied involvement.

However… Lucy noticed him smirking a little.

This does not inspire confidence.

One thing is certain:
Memorial Day Weekend may never financially recover from this crew.

Wednesday