The collection of Ellis Hall

I received the 12 songs that Marc Crabtree told me he had obtained from the WVU collection at the Wise Library at the WV Collection.

There are 12 tracks, none of them have been named as we will need to start working on finding the names of these songs.

The 12 songs:

Track 1
Track 2
Track 3
Track 4
Track 5
Track 6
My Little Home in West Virginia is Track 7
I believe Sllepy Eyed Joe is Track 8
Foggy Valley is Track 9
Stoney Fork is Track 10
Track 11
Track 12


These are the 12 songs and that includes the four songs he released on the RCA Victor Label. If anyone would happen to know the names of the unnamed songs, I would greatly appreciate knowing.

Could it be the season

You know I'm ready to fire up my GPS unit now that I have downloaded the software for the iPhone and ready to get out and start my 2009 season of geocaching. I'm a little eager to get out and maybe we'll go and seek one or two of them today.

I'm currently at 53 find and 1 hidden. I have another one ready to be hidden, I actually have had it ready since last summer, that I think Michele and I have found one or two good places to place it. Our first one "My Little Home in West Virgina" was our first hide, now that I have come across some more of my grandfathers Music I may incorporate that into the cache.

I'm ready for some outdoor activities.

I've heard nothing yet

I had a couple calls yesterday asking me about how Kim was doing, I have to say that I have heard nothing from them since Thursday Night when she was in a good deal of pain. Mom said she spoke briefly with her but Kim was very groggy and they did not speak long.

As soon as I hear anything I will be sure to let everyone know how she is doing. It's not that she does not want visitors, she is trying to get well and need the rest. One person popping in after another whether it be friends, family, co-workers and the Dr's and Nurses who are doing their jobs can prevent a patient from gaining any rest. So please everyone be considerate until she is ready to entertain visitors and is through this.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes it is yet once again that time of the week when we cease the labors of the week and just take a little time out to enjoy the fruits of our labors. It is the dawn of yet another weekend and another Big Ole Hairy Friday.

Half of a day for me, my time will be in by lunchtime and I'll be heading to the home front a little bit early today. Add that little bit extra my weekend, if my part comes in I'll take my car to be worked on if not I'll be napping.

New is Kim was admitted to the hospital again yesterday. They think she has developed pancreatitis again and a little problem with her Gall Bladder that is soon scheduled to be removed anyways. I'll keep everyone up to date with her progress and status report. She has requested the chance to rest in the hospital, so please no visitors until she is ready to receive them. She's there to get better and recover for right now.

Mine and Michelle's weekend plans are up in the air, don't know what we will be getting into just yet. Maybe a WVU Baseball game or doing the first Geocache of the year may be on the agenda.

For those of you making any plans for this summer around Morgantown, BOPARC has their Summer Guide ready to be viewed. There is a nice movie under the stars lineup this summer.

Have a great day and the start of another weekend.

Rails to Trails

I love the springtime, it is the time of the year when I spend a little bit of time each day down on the Rails to Trails and try to shed a few of the winter pounds that I have put on through the Holidays and bring up my cardio vascular and brings my weight down.

I really enjoy winding down after a day at the office with the opportunity to take a nice relaxing walk with my sweetheart and enjoy a little bit of fresh air along the river.

We're talking about starting to do a few geocaches in the near future and even setting another one up that we have already have ready with the exception of placing it and setting it up on the website.

I did find a nice geocaching application for the iPhone.

Another Article

A Strange Chance Meeting

Last night after work, Michelle and I decided to take a little walk down on the rails to trails. Now you want to talk about being knocked off your feet, well listen to this.

I'm walking by the old glass factory and see a gentleman taking pictures of the old glass factory. A couple of years ago I corresponded with a gentleman in Florida whose father once worked at the factory and he asked me "is your name George?" Well, what I thought it was, was not but it completely shocked me.

The man's name was Mark Crabtree and he was a fiddle player. He had done a great deal of research on my grandfather and actually has most of his recordings in digital format. He knew a lot about Grandpa Hall and had actually tried playing Foggy Valley (we were standing basically where it was written) and he told me he had a Youtube video of him performing the song.

I will be in touch with him in the near future to exchange as much information as possible.

Enjoy Foggy Valley (see





**** update*****

Article on my Grandfather

Music

Foggy Valley

Stoney Fork

My Little Home in West Virginia


Mark Crabtree's performance. A Big Thank you to Mark for providing me this information and bringing some lost music back into the family.

It's Softball

Well in my opinion it is now my favorite tome of the year, last night was our first practice of the year and it was great to see everyone together again having a great time and just being, well, the guys.

After practice we managed to drive over to MiHALEY's for a few beers and some dinner. I had eaten earlier in the night so I didn't eat, but I think the guys really like the place, the atmosphere and the food.

Both Mike and Patty had a chance to stop by and meet everyone, Mike was out running errands and Patty was still over at the store and came over for a broom. I managed to talk to both of them for a while as the guys feasted and created a few new drinks.

It was a good day, and the first day of my favorite season of the year...softball.

A fun filled day ahead

Oh yeah, can you pick up on the hint of sarcasm? It's going to be a busy tie wearing six hours of meetings and three hours of traveling kind of day. 90 Minute seminar to run out to catch the shuttle to Pittsburgh, to a 90 minute teleconference with a bunch of geologists around the country to another shuttle back to Morgantown to possibly be able to make it back to our first softball practice of the season.

yeah, I'm going to have a very busy day to say the very least. I hate wearing a tie, but if I am going to be in Pittsburgh, wearing a tie is about par for us contractors.

Hope you have a great day, I'll have a busy one.

Softball sponsor for 2009

Over the last two seasons we have been sponsored by MVP Paintball, a very gracious sponsor and one of the best that we have had. Actually the two owners are team mates of ours and everything was good. This season however we received bad news that they would not be able to sponsor us this season. It was off to find a new sponsor.

Enter Michael Toth and MiHALEY'S, our 2009 Softball sponsor. Chris Ostein and I went over yesterday afternoon to talk to Mike, Mike had agreed to sponsor us a couple weeks ago but this was the first time that we had all had a chance to sit down and talk.

Funny thing is, MiHALEY'S is located on two floors, one of which used to be three apartments that Mike and Patty used to rent out. Here is the irony, a former team mate who left the team last season used to live in one of the three apartments that Mike converted into the bar.

Hopefully the guys on my softball team have found a new place to hang out, I think Chris was quite impressed with everything including the outside deck on the second floor.

Thanks Mike, you stepped up for us this year.

A MiHALEY'S Food review...again

A little over a month ago Michelle and I visited MiHALEY'S and I wrote a BLOG Entry about our visit. We loved the Hot Sausage Hoagies and have ordered take out numerous times since then.

Last weekend we heard a recommendation from a completely unbiased source and out of the blue about them going out to Red Lobster and couldn't get into the door so they tried MiHALEY'S and thought it was better.

Well last night Michelle and I ventured over across the street and tried the Seafood Alfredo that we had heard so much about. I was impresses with the Hot Sausage, I thought I would give the pasta a try now,

Sat down and the owner got our drinks for us, kind of made us feel like we were getting the VIP treatment. I wonder if him being my cousin has anything to do with this? Anyways the Weedhawks were playing, it had been a while since we last saw them so that was an added bonus.

The food, well it once again even went beyond expectations. The shrimp were large, fresh and done perfectly. The delectable creamy Alfredo sauce was just proportioned right with the thick pasta noodles to give it the perfect taste and make it a more than enjoyable dining experience.

Both me and Michelle gave it two thumbs up, and even though I had high expectations going in, it not only met but exceeded them for our dining experience.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

It is once again that tine of the week when you cease the labors of the week and take a little time out to enjoy the fruits of our labors. It is once again the dawn of yet another weekend and another Big Ole Hairy Friday.

If you are looking for a little cheap entertainment, Saturday Night in Grafton there will be a Patsy Cline Impersonator to go along Casey (Willie Nelson Impersonator) in the building beside he Grafton Bowling Alley. We were up there a few weeks ago and it was good time, bring the family and make sure you buy a few things edibles from the snack bar. Michelle's Sister and Brother in law will be running it.

The NCAA Basketball tournament will be down to the Elite 8 after tonight. It does kind of stink to know that WVU is no longer playing in the post season, this is where I had them exiting rather than where they did.

I haven't had a chance to talk to anyone this week, maybe I'll catch up a little with as many people as possible.

Have a great day and enjoy the start of your weekend.

I finally upgraded

I have been one who did not like the Microsoft Office Suite at all since Vista had been introduced. I just wasn't fond of the entire interface and I have liked my Office 2003 and have never upgraded.

Being an SAIC employee, I am allowed to purchase a Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise edition for home use for $19.95, so I figured why not and ordered it. I have two computers at work, one runs 2003 and one runs 2007. If I would just go out and buy it, we're looking at $700.00 for this piece of software and I could get a copy for less than $20.00/

I prefer 2003, however to keep up with technological changes I have upgraded to the 2007 edition.

Nothing else going on, the NCAA basketball tournament re-starts tonight.

Hump Day

This week is going pretty quick, we are already at the hump and ready go head back down the other side. I can say I think I am ready for another weekend already and my guess is Michelle is too.

The NCAA basketball tournament starts again tomorrow, but WVU is no longer in it and my bracket is already pretty much shot already. I'll pay attention to a few of the games, but I don't know how close.

The good thing is that Spring Football is finally under way. I'll be going to the spring game this year as I pretty much do every year. I'm ready to see not only starting QB Jarrett Brown, but backup Quarterback Coley White (Pat's brother). Should make for an interesting spring game.

Hopefully the Mountaineers will return a solid team and be able to return to a BCS Bowl this season. I think everything is in place to be successful, we'll have to wait and see how the season plays out though.

Have a good hump day.

How about a tidbits

* Every once in a while you come across a little bit of writers block and the only solutions you have is to either not do a blog post or do a tidbits, I don;t like not being able to post so you get the tidbits.

* I talked to Web today at work, he's at the DOE doing a little contracting for a while. He said Nick and Terri are finally getting settled in and getting everything organized.

* I'm still updating all my contacts on my iPhone, there was a lot of information lost and I just need to repopulate the data. The important ones are done so far to an extent, I've still got a ways to go. I would like to get as much data about people as possible.

* As I was writing this BLOG (the night before) one of Michelle's cats got itself into one of the most precarious of situations. We're still trying to figure out how she got in butt end first in a tight and elevated space.

* In case you have not noticed, Illegal fireworks are about to be legal in West Virginia. It is currently in the state legislature and about to be voted on. The fireworks would be taxed at 10% and the revenue from the taxes would be used to support local Volunteer Fire Departments. We'll be able to buy the real stuff this year without having to go to Ohio or another neighboring state.

* How's that for a blog without having anything to say?

All Good Things Come to an End

All good things do come to an end, WVU Men's Basketball season ended Friday afternoon, the students spring break which is now over with and an influx of students comes back into town and my long three day weekend is now officially over with.

Can't say it wasn't a great weekend, it was pretty good if you ask me. We actually grilled out last night with hamburgers, hot dogs and and home made french fries to wind the weekend down.

Today however, it is back to the grindstone and back to work for me. Back to sitting at my desk for a few days and answering a few questions to people making a heck of a lot more money than I do. Next Monday I'll have to return to Pittsburgh for another meeting, mainly so I can be the technical lead on a WebX with a few geologists around the country as we determine a final well grid ranking.

Hi Ho Hi Ho......

We bought a new TV

Yesterday Kim and Robert with a little help from their close friend Ron brought me the entertainment center that Kim has been wanting to get rid of. It's a beautiful one and very much appreciated. Last night as we were moving things around, the back end of the 25" TV we had in the living room came out and pretty much ruined that TV as it broke the solder off of the board inside the TV to where it connects the cable.

So, we headed out and decided to get a new TV. We decided on a 37" High Definition Vizio and thought it would fit nicely into our newly given entertainment center and as you can see it does. I will now need to go to Comcast and get the HD service to go along with it.

The Wii, the VCR and all the movies that we had scattered all over the place fit into it quite nicely as the rest of the movies are in their own little container.

It is going to make for some very nice family TV viewing. We now have a TV and entertainment center that is not just overshadowed by the large family room. It makes it kind of nice that as I am typing this I have a fire going in the fireplace and the TV is on sportscenter.

Some Saturday Morning Rumblings

I'm up and I think that everyone else is asleep all nice and cozy in their beds, except Chad who is draining a fish tank, and resting peacefully. I have a nice fire going in the fireplace for a little early morning ambiance. We bought a little over a cord from Michelle's brother in law last week, so we're using it to heat primarily. The heat has been shut off for a while (it was an oven down here with it on), so the fireplace makes it nice and comfortable.

Did anyone watch that basketball game yesterday? Wow you talk about being a little disappointed, I have West Virginia going to the Elite 8 in my basketball bracket and they lose in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Dayton. Not taking nothing away from Dayton, they played hard and played to win, and managed to pick up their first NCAA Tournament Basketball victory since 1990 with a 60-68 victory over the Mountaineers. I guess I don't have to pay too close of attention to the Sunday games as we are not in them. It was a good season, a little disappointed with the way it ended, but a good season. I look forward to the 2009-10 season after we only lose Alex Ruoff and add a little more beef upfront.

What's with this cold weather, it's springtime the temps should be much higher than they are right now (it's 21 Degrees outside as U type this) and I am ready for a little bit of that warm springtime weather.

I've not had a lot of luck electronically in the past few days. My computer crashed and after I got it all back up and running I lost all of my contacts in my iPhone. I've started adding them all back in, but it will tale some time to get everything just right again. Shoot me an e-mail with your addresses (email and physical) if I haven't already talked to you.

I think Kim is going to stop over today, she has a TV stand that she wants to get rid of since they got their new Big Screen TV, so I'm going to take it off of her hands for her. I think I can find a place to put it.

I hope everyone has a great day.

Have I mentioned

That Phil the Groundhog is no longer news ans we have turned the corner, the Vernal Equinox aka Spring has peered its wonderful head officially saying goodbye to winter and the significance of a Rat in Pennsylvania.

Woo Hoo!!!!!!

I HATE SNOW, I LOVE SPRING!!!!!!

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes it is once again that time of the week when we take a little time our from our labors of the week and take a little time out to enjoy the fruits of our labors. It is once again the start of yet another weekend and another Big Ole Hairy Friday. Except I'm off today and started me weekend yesterday.

I have been busy the last couple of evenings, got a nasty computer virus and I couldn't find my restore disc. So, I ordered one from Dell and it was here the next day. Wed night I re-installed Windows without reformatting the Hard Drive, thinking maybe that would do it. Well, that was an obvious no and I had to reformat it yesterday before I left for work and go the majority of it up and running last night when I got home from work.

If you are a basketball fan, the Mountaineers play this afternoon at 3:00 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Dayton is a pretty good team and we are going to have to play a solid game to beat them, I'm hoping we do because I have the Mountaineers winning in all my brackets.

Michelle was under the weather a little bit the last few days, I think she has caught the stomach flu again. Hopefully she'll be feeling a little better today and I don't catch it.

Have a great Friday and let's cheer on the Mountaineers.

Happy Birthday to Amy

It's been a year or two since that birthday, but if you see Amy today make sure that you take a little time out and tell her Happy Birthday.

I meant to post this last night (for this morning) however I am still fighting the major computer battle.

I would like to take this time out and wish Amy a Very Happy (insert your favorite number) Birthday. I started telling lies about my age about this time.

Let the Madness begin

I hope if you are playing a bracket that for March madness that you have it filled out already. I'm participating in a few of them, and basically all of mine look pretty much the same. SEE MY BRACKET. I love this time of the year, the next four days will be filled with NCAA basketball with the losers going home and the winners staying to play another day. They'll stay until they are crowned National Champions or they lose in a later round.

In the last five seasons the Mountaineers made an Elite 8, a Sweet 16, An NIT (Another tournament) Championship and another sweet 16 run last year that came oh so close to another Elite 8. There are 10 teams that NBC says could win it all and guess what local Morgantown team is #8 on that list.

I have an all Big East Final (3 of final 4) with Louisville beating Pitt in the Championship. It pains me to say Pitt will be in the finals, especially since we just showed everyone how to beat them in the Big East Tournament and gave them their biggest loss of the season.

Let the Madness begin.

Computer Problems

Looks like I get to restore my computer again as soon as I get my restore CD's from Dell. I was hacking some software and screwed up and got a virus that just invaded my computer and actually deleted Windows Explorer, basically making my computer worthless.

I tried to do a restore, but noticed I did not have all then needed CD's, I must have lost one in the move. I got on Michelle's machine and ordered a new one.

Of course my Windows machine isn't running, but I run a dual boot system and have Ubuntu running also. So, I can be online and have access to all my files to back up, I just can't run the windows operating system at this time.

Pittsburgh was nice yesterday, it was nice to get out of the office and hand out some business cards to a few feds.

Have a great day.

Happy St Patricks Day

Remember to wear your green today, it's St. Patrick's Day

Back to the Burgh Today

I'll be traveling again today back to Pittsburgh for a meeting on a project I am working on. Not the same one as last time I had to go up, a different project and meeting with different people.

I should be back in town at my normal time this afternoon, it'll just be nice getting out of the office for a little while today to hear what is going on with this new project.

I would say the majority of my day will be traveling.

Sherri's Visit

yesterday morning Michelle and I stopped over to visit Sherri while she was in. She looked great and was in great spirits and wanted me to put a little music on her MP3 player before she had to Charleston later yesterday evening.


She was going to stop over Saturday evening, but it was Michael's birthday and never got a chance to stop over. So Michelle and I took the opportunity to go over and visit for a little while before she had to return to Charleston.

I have her address if anyone would like to write her, I'm quite sure that she would appreciate any and all correspondence from anyone. I think Michelle and I will start to write her on a regular basis. That way we can keep up with what is going on in her life and maybe be able to give everyone updates from time to time. If anyone would like the address, feel free to contact me and I will get it to you for a small price....LOL

Hi Ho Hi Ho, it's back to the grindstone we go.

It has been one Magical Year

It was one year ago today that I went and saw arguable and laughably the worst movie that I have ever went and paid to go see, 10,000 BC. With me for the first time was my former boss at Valley Mart as we were on our very first date.

I remember she was nervous as heck and her heart was beating out of her chest the first time I kissed her. That was one year ago today. The past 365 days that have arguably been the best of my life so far.

I've spent Holidays with someone I love, done numerous and adventurous GeoCaches, WVU Sporting events and just lived a full life. It's been a year later and I have finally officially living with someone, the first time in my life as strange as that may seem.

It's been a special year with a special lady, let's hope she'll have me for a few more.

To the love of my life, I would like to say Happy Anniversary sweetie.

14th National Championship

The WVU Rifle team just won it's 14th National Championship in School History. Just a few short years ago they were on the brink of extinction, bu the fans spoke up and would not let this illustrious program die.

That is 14 Time National Champions. I think every championship that was won in between the times we won our last, was coached by either Dave Johnson, a WVU Alumni and National Champion or Glen Dubis, a Morgantown native.

Terri and Nick's new place

Stopped by to help Nick and Terri move earlier this afternoon. It's a nice little farmhouse out on Joes run with a gorgeous view if you are like me and getting tired of seeing so many neighbors around you. Their new home has the peace and serenity that one who may live an event filled life may envy. They have a beautiful hillside to look at from their backyard, it's all farm land, so the grandchildren will have a nice yard to run around and enjoy themselves in.

I think they will move in and Terri will make this a home like she did with their old house on England Road. I can see this being a fresh start and a new beginning for both Terri and Nick.

You know the bar ownership has taken so much of their time over the past few years that they just need a place to sit down and relax in. I think this will be what they were looking for.

Moving Day, Part II

Earlier this year Michelle and I moved to our current location on Van Voorhis Road. Today, my sister Terri and Nick will be moving to their new place.

If you are not doing anything today, I'm sure that they sure can use the assistance in moving today.

-------------------------------------------------------


Anyone stay up and watch that Basketball game last night? Syracuse followed their 6 OT game from the night before to beat my beloved Mountaineers in OT last night 69-74 in the Big east Semifinals.

It was a great game to watch, but we came up a little short. Tomorrow is selection Sunday and we didn't hurt our potential seeding for March Madness.

It should be a busy day for us today.

It's a Big Ole Hairy Friday the 13th

Yes it is once again that time of the week when we cease the labors of the week and take a little time out to just sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labors. It is yet again the dawn of yet another weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday. This month, for the second straight month we have a Friday the 13th for those of you that may be a little bit superstitious.

First off, let me just say that beating the #2 ranked (twice #1 this season) ranked Pitt Panthers last night 74-60 was absolutely awesome. We beat the #2 team in the Country in the biggest College basketball stage in the Middle of Madison Square Garden. Pitt may STILL be a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and we play in the semi finals tonight at 9:00. IT IS a great day to be a Mountaineer.

I am quite excited that Sherri Toth will be in town this weekend. I was working yesterday on a nationwide exercise emergency response and my phone rang. Much to my delight it was Sherri telling me she will be at home this weekend.

This is going to be a special weekend for me, Sunday it will be one year ago that I took Michelle out to see the horrible movie 10,000 BC. The movie stunk and I'll be enjoying my one year anniversary of my first date with my sweetheart. I'm not sure what we will do, but we have to do something. It's not too many times in my life that I have dated anyone for one year straight without an ounce of problems or turmoil. I'm a very lucky guy.

The WVU baseball team will be home for a series with Sienna the entire weekend. There will be games Friday at 3:00, Saturday at 1:00 and I think that that is a double header and Sunday at 1:00. It's calling for it to be in the 50's, it may be doable.

Ok the easy part is done

Murderer's row of basketball tournaments, and I am referring to the Big East Tournament enters the quarterfinals tonight when the WVU Mountaineers will try for the third time this season to beat Pittsburgh.

Last night WVU beat Notre Dame for the second time this season with a 74-62win last night to advance to the quarterfinal round. Alex Ruoff lead the Mountaineers with 25 points and Freshman Devin Ebanks had a career high 18 rebounds in the win. The win runs the Mountaineers record to 22-10 on the year and pretty much secured not only an NCAA Tournament bid but a decent seed for the tournament that starts next week.

Last nights win was the easy part though, to win the Big East Tournament we will have to beat Pitt, then most likely UCONN and finally Louisville in the finals to win the Big East Tournament. When the NCAA tournament pairings come out next week, there are four regions of 16 teams, these three teams could probably be the #1 seed in 3 of the 4 brackets. Talk about a big hill to climb in front of you, this could hopefully be an exciting week of basketball.

Bring on the Panthers, maybe the third game this season will be the charm.

Hump Day

I made the grave mistake yesterday of not blogging in the morning, or should I say the night before, so I am going to make sure that we don't make that mistake two days in a row. As absent minded as I appear to be this week, I'm making sure that my readers will have their daily dose of George's Journal with their breakfast and coffee this morning.

For those of you interested, West Virginia Men's basketball team will play today against the winner of last night's Notre Dame v Rutgers game in the Big East Tournament. Hopefully we can win this one and make it the quarterfinal round of eight. Hopefully we'll be ready for them or it will be a very short tournament.

A few updates, First I talked to Terri last night, she and Nick have found a place off of Joe something road. They will be finalizing everything today and should be moving in shortly and I'm sure they will appreciate a hand if anyone wants to pitch in when they move.

Talked to Amy last night, she wants me to convert a few files for her from her old camcorder. I told her no problem and I would be more than happy to do it for her.

Michelle and I watched the movie Role Models last night. It was actually quite entertaining. See the trailer.

Late BLOG

Wow, my creative but empty mind just remember that I forgot to BLOG today. Needless to say I have been busy at work and Michelle has had some major Migraine headaches the last few days so my attention has been on other things.

It's been a busy week at work for me to say the least and I have to take another trip to Pittsburgh next week for the kickoff of another project I will be working on.

Clock is ticking, it's almost time to head on home.

A Date

Last night I had a cheap date with Michelle. It was a really simple date that will create a memory that will last forever and we can easily do it again.

I came up with the idea earlier in the afternoon, we had went shopping and I found a watermelon that I just had to have. A nice succulent seedless one, but that was beside the point. It was a nice little snack though.

In our backyard there is a nice walkway and a big concrete bench at the other end of the yard. So, I invited Michelle to go out with me and eat a little watermelon at a time when just 24 hours earlier it would have been dark.

We sat on the bench along the walkway in the yard and enjoyed each others company, a little conversation, and some watermelon. Now to most people you may be thinking so what, but to me a guy who lived in small cramped apartment for the last eight years, it was a nice evening at home with a special person. Michelle has had a Migraine all weekend, that magical watermelon has helped ease the pain and created a special memory on our night of the 359th day since our first date.

Ir was a good weekend.

A Little Less Sleep

If you are looking at your clock and forgot to turn it back last night (unless it is set to the atomic clock), you might be a little late if you need to be somewhere at a specified time this morning.

Days will now be longer, it'll start getting dark later and spring is just right around the corner (damn rat caused the delay). Michelle and I were walking around the yard yesterday and eying up the planters and noticed that some of the plants have started to sprout.

The WVU Baseball team swept a double header yesterday and the WVU basketball team dropped a heartbreaker last night to Louisville 59-62 in front of a near packed house and a Prime Time network game with the "A" Crew here calling the shots.

The baseball and Women's Gymnastics teams will be in action this afternoon if you are looking for a little cheap entertainment.

Get up and go out and enjoy the weather.

Going to be a Beautiful Day

The sun is up the birds are chirping and it is going to be a beautiful day out today.

I'm going to try to find out why I have had so much car trouble the last month or so. Every time there has been a weekend or a chance to look at it, we've either been busy or it was cold as heck outside. Signs are pointing to the Catalytic Converter being blocked.

Tonight Michelle, Me, her Mom and Hayley will be traveling to Grafton to see her sister Chris's father Casey Ferguson perform.



Just for Michelle, who is currently making my breakfast of Turkey bacon, Eggs and High Fiber English Muffin, I had to write something below the video. I guess you can say I am blogging for my breakfast.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes it once again that favorite time of the week when we cease the labors of the week and take a little time out to sit back and actually enjoy the fruits of our labors. It is once again another Big Ole Hairy Friday and the dawn of a nice weather filled weekend.

First off as a reminder to everyone, that you will lose an hours sleep this weekend as we spring our clocks forward and welcome a little more daylight at the end of the day. Obviously this means we are on the downside of the season I don't like and entering the dawn of the season I love. The time of the year when the smell of fresh springtime emanates through the air ticking our sensitive nostrils with a hint of fresh and new foliage. I time when trees start sprouting their buds and when the beauty of so many bright and cheerful colors just starts to develop over the landscape. Have I mentioned I love the spring and summer time and hate snow.

The weather is expected to be in the 70's this weekend, so even though it is calling for rain today, the rest of the weekend looks to be filled with great weather. Michelle's Mom is coming into town Saturday and staying with us Saturday evening.

WVU is playing their first home baseball game today and over the weekend, I have to try to make it to at least one game. Michelle and I went to about a half dozen games last season and loved it.

Enjoy your Friday and get out and enjoy yourself this weekend.

Great Game Last Night

First of all a very big thank you to Gerald Bell for providing me and Michelle not only tickets, but great seats to last nights WVU Basketball game against DePaul.

WVu came out on fore and cruised to an 83-62 win lead by Alex Ruoff's team leading 20 points. DeSean Butler (16 Points 10 Rebounds) and Devan Ebanks (14 Points 14 Rebounds) both had Double Doubles and Kevin Jones almost had one (13 Points 9 Rebounds) himself. It's rare a WVU player turns in a Double Double, or at least it was prior to Huggs returning home, and last night we had two and almost a third with limited action.

Just to see how the future looks, WVU's three Freshmen combined for 39 Points, 24 Rebounds and 10 Assists as they combined shooting .630 Field Goal percentage.

Gameday will be here Saturday in the last Home Game of the Season, the Big East Tournament starts next week.

Once again thank you Gerald Bell.

Over the Hump again

Yeah we're getting closer to that time we like to call the weekend again, but we're not quite there yet. It is however the middle of the week and over the hump day.


I know, this is no where near as exciting as a Big Ole Hairy Friday, but bite me. Sometimes content isn't the easiest thing to come up with.

I did get a brief chance to talk to Amy last night, I think it was the first time I had gotten a chance to talk to her since Christmas. I told her to bring Ralphie and Kaiden on down sometime.

Talked to Val too briefly as I started to make my rounds with a few phone calls.

Talked to jean briefly, a guy I work with was looking to buy a house next to her Brother Richards and we were trying to get a little bit of information on it.

Tonight courtesy of one Gerald Bell, Michelle and I will be going to the WVU v Depaul game at the WVU Coliseum. We'll be cheering the Mountaineer's on to victory number 21 on the season.

Enjoy your hump day.

Dear Phil

Listen you little sawed off runt excuse for a groundhog, just because you saw your shadow a month ago doesn't mean anyone wants anymore of this cold damned weather. I know I am ready for springtime and probably so is the rest of the people living around the country. No More snow, no more cold weather and I mean it.

You have had your day in the sun, the snow mizer has had his run and Christmas was over with a couple of months ago. It's time to hang it up for the year and call it a season. Take a trip to Australia and snow on them.

It;s time for the new season, a time for the heat mizer to come up from down under and heat it up up here. I'm ready to hit the rails and the softball field, time to geocache and spend evenings out having fun instead of staying home and watching old 1980's movies.

Come on Phil, it's time to a little time in the sun, not the snow.

A back to work kind of day

Yep the fun for the weekend is now over and it's time to take our sorry butts back to work and back to the grindstone that we call work.

It was a pretty good weekend overall, Michelle wasn't feeling too well Saturday Night, I thought we should have made a trip to the hospital, but she's old school and refused to go.

We had a cookout Saturday evening and Trish, Arron and Layla paid us a visit. Hot Sausage and cheeseburgers were on the menu for the evening as we fired up the four main burner Char-Broil and cooked out. We even managed to fire up the side burner for our peppers and onions for the Hot Sausage.

I missed the game today, but WVU put it to South Florida 64-50 this afternoon to give the Mountaineers that magical number of 20 wins on the season.

And finally Kim and Robert got their first taste of Ryan's. They sounded impressed, I think they were thinking it was more like a USA Steak Buffet, but obviously it is much better and I think they both left impressed.

Last Day in Business

Today is a day of new beginnings, a day after the era of Nick and Terri owning a bar has ended it's long four year run. It is the dawn of a new day and a different start of a new and exciting era in their lives.

Yesterday was the closing of Nick and Tavern on Old Rt 73. I had to stop down one last time as I have always enjoyed the times I have been there to the company that was always there. For Nick and Terri their patrons were more like family than friends. They had spent both good times and bad together and created everlasting friendships and bonds that will last them forever.

Prior to Nick and Terri's they had the Country Inn, but there was just something about Nick and Terri's that The Country Inn just didn't seem to have. Maybe it was the interpersonal touch of all the regular patrons who always seemed to bind together and have a good time.

Nick and Terri's may now be gone, but it will never be forgotten. It was a dream of the two proprietors to make happen on less than a shoestring of a budget and for three years they made it happen. A real testament of their character, resources and will power.

Today is a new day, the first day after Nick and Terri's. The first day in the chapter of their new lives, taking the friendships, the knowledge and the integrity from the adversity they had learned over the past few years and have given them a strong base in which to build upon. Nick has been working as a successful independent contractor the last few years and Terri is getting ready to make the career transitional move.

With great sadness we say goodbye, but with great anticipation we embrace their futures.

Tidbits

* Early Saturday Morning, everyone is asleep, time for a good tidbits.

* Kim is home from the hospital, I thought she went home a few days ago, but maybe I was mistaken and she was released later than that.

* Tonight (today) is officially the last day for Nick and Terri's to be open, I'm going to try to make it down sometime today.

* I have to have my car looked at, it's running very, very rough. Backfiring and gaining power and losing power. I've changed spark plugs and added fuel injection cleaner, but that doesn't seem to help. I'm going to try to have one of Michelle's friends look at it. George seems to think it's a timing belt, Advance Auto has a machine that punched out a few errors and today I am going to have someone loom at it that knows a lot more about them than I do.

* Next weekend the WVU Baseball team will start their home schedule against New Jersey Tech. Ticket's are usually pretty cheap ($5.00) and it's a good time.

* It's been 251 days since mine and Michelle's first date. We're two weeks away from 1 year !!!

* Speaking of time lines, 115 days until we assemble in the Parrot head nation and the Jimmy Buffett Concert.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes it is once again that time of the week when we cease our labors for the week and take a little time out and enjoy the fruits of our labors, it is once again the start of yet another fun filled weekend and a Bog Ole Hairy Friday!!!!!!!

The weather appears like it may be breaking a little, so there may be a little outside time this weekend.

Tomorrow night will be the final night of business for Nick and Terri's. They are hanging up their taps after a few years in business. Go and bid them a fond farewell and a last day in business.

...before I forget

Starting Friday, West Virginia will have a new 681 area code in addition to the 34 that we currently have. Starting Friday, there will be no more 7 digit dialing in West Virginia, you will have to dial a 10 digit number (area code + number) to reach who you are calling.

If you have numbers preset in your home phone, you may want to adjust to them to the new 10 digit number.

My cell phone is ATT, so I have to dial the 10 digit number anyways, but this will affect land line phones. You're phone didn't go bad, you just have to dial 10 numbers instead of 7 starting tomorrow.

Off to the Burgh Today

I'll be out of town on business today, I'll be leaving late morning and coming back this afternoon. It's for the Carbon Sequestration project that I have been working on, one of the guys I have been working with is going to be the State Wide GIS Director or something to that effect and I'll be taking over as the lead analyst.

I'll be going to Pittsburgh to meet some of the other people working on this project and for our monthly update meeting.

Should be an interesting day, I also have another meeting at 9:00 in Morgantown.

Ash Wed

Man, I had a perfect opportunity yesterday to talk about Fat Tuesday and I didn't. I could have talked about getting beads and making cuties earn them, but Michelle probably would not have been to fond of that so I was a good boy.

For those of you out there this is Ash Wed, and the start of Lent. Last year I gave up soda pop for lent, but I don't know if I am giving anything up or not this year.


I will go to Riverside Church again this year and see their performance they are planning on doing this year. Chad and Jason, a couple guys I worked with at IMC were in it last year and I think they will be doing it again this year. Mom was also in it last year, my primary reason for going. I enjoyed it and had a good time, I'm not sure if they are doing the same play this year, but I'm sure it will be entertaining.

Personally I think they need to do a play about hunting shadow seeing groundhogs, but that is another post.

Michelle finally saw the Greatest Movie Ever

Last night we sat and watched arguably the greatest movie ever made, it had the best plot you could ever imagine and Michelle was on the edge of her seat the entire movie. I think she was a little disappointed to find out that the Rocky Horror Picture show did not last the four hours that we told her it did.

Just for you sweetie because we know you loved this movie.

Come on Phil

What are you getting a little bit nervous just because I mentioned roasting a random groundhog (name Phil) on the fireplace and AI hear that you're getting all defensive. Sitting up fully armed, like you don't take an occasional nap you rat.

I can't stand all this snow, I am so ready for sunshine it is not even funny. This cold weather and snow falling to the ground is quite depressing.

Michelle did make some really mouthwatering female banana nut bread last night. We had some old banana's laying around and she whipped some up. Oh was it good. It was the kind of food that you just let sit in your mouth and let the saliva just slowly melt it away as you experience oral gratitude of a warm fresh baked bread. Mmmmmmm

Yes my sugar numbers have been running normal..LOL

Another Cold Morning

What is up with all this cold weather? I know Phil saw his shadow and we are three of the six weeks into his prediction of more winter weather, but can't we have a little more warmth?

I'm up this morning with the fireplace a going pretty good and everyone else still snuggled into bed. I've got Michelle's coffee made for her, but I think she dozed off and went back to sleep again. I can hear her sawing a few logs in the bedroom. Come to thing of it, we may be able to use those logs she has been sawing this morning.

I wonder what roasted groundhog tastes like when it is cooked over an open fireplace? I know, I have to make sure Phil...er I mean the random non named groundhog gets plenty of garlic when I roast him.

I'm ready for spring time, softball, sandals and shorts.

Pretty Remarkable story

As many of you know, I have a younger sister named Kim who has had her share of health problems over the past few years. She has been in and out of numerous hospitals, had numerous surgeries and has just been living a life of hell the past few years health wise. Before I forget, she has been released from the hospital, she had Gall stones.

A couple of years ago a growth was noticed internally, they opened her up and saw a growth about the size of a golf ball and a half attached to her spine and a major artery. I was there as the Dr briefed us after the surgery and they sent it off for a biopsy. It came back as non cancerous but it could not be explained any further than just saying it is a tumor.

Kim has lived in a great deal of pain the past few years and her and Robert decided to try homeopathic type medicines. She has been going for acupuncture the past month or so and she says it has done wonders for her pain management. The pain is relieved her pain like no prescribed drug could have.

Something else she has tried has been a Ion Spa Detox Foot Spa Ion "Chi" Foot Bath Massage. What it is is a foot bath and you put this machine in it and and some sea salt and it is supposed to detoxify the body. She was trying everything.

She used it once, and the water was dirty, she used it a second time and the water was actually muddy and this is when she started to develop Gall Stones. Well she goes into the hospital and they run their usual tests on her and later determined she had gall stones and they had passed.

Some thing the radiologists report failed to mention was her tumor. They mentioned everything else about her, but not the first word about this gold ball and a half sized tumor that was inside of her. Robert thought it was kind of weird and asked them for confirmation, or to see if the radiologist just didn't note it.

Last night I got a call that shocked me. First, Kim was released from the hospital and home. Secondly, the radiologist didn't overlook anything. The tumor is gone, not overlooked, it is no longer there.

Both Kim and Robert who is as big of a skeptic and I am both believe that it was the salt water detoxification that gets the credit on why this disappeared.

I sit here in amazement. I'm sure there will be future blogs about this topic. I'm even going to post a label for this subject called detox.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes readers, it is once again that time of the week when we cease our labors for the week and take time out to enjoy the fruits of our labors. It is once again another bog ole hairy Friday and the start of yet another weekend.

Did you miss my BLOG yesterday? I actually wrote one and for some reason it not only did not post, it was deleted. Michelle pointed it out to me last night. It was a BLOG about W. Edward Deming, but I guess I'll have to re-write that BLOG another day.

Update on Kim, her results finally came back and she has multiple Gall Stones. She was in a lot of pain earlier in the week, and we think she passed a stone and that is what caused her so much pain. I asked her initially if that was what it was, but initial reports were negative.

Maybe it is just me, but it seems more and more people are migrating away from MySpace and using Facebook more. Just a simple observation and seeing quite a few people recently make the transition.

I had another Hot Sausage sandwich last night from MiHALEY's. Michelle had to work late and we just ordered out. I did get a chance to talk to Michael, he said it took him SIX vendors before he found the right Hot Sausage. I told him these were awesome.

Have a great Friday and a great weekend.

No Blog Today

Sorry, I had one written and it must have gotten deleted.

Check back tomorrow.

Kim is back in the hospital

This announcement is coming late at Kim's request so she could get settled in, been by the Doctors and hopefully get moved out of her small semi-private room.

Monday Morning she went to Ruby Hospital to be admitted for pancreatitis. She has been in a great deal of pain and needed some rest and some antibiotics, so I suggested waiting on letting everyone know what was going on so she could rest and relax and let the Med's and Dr's do their job.

She is in a small semi-private room, Robert is not even allowed to stay past visiting hours, they are on the list for a private room, but I'll let her tell the story on how long (12 hours) it took to get a room in a full hospital.

I left last night and she was eating some orange jello and waiting on her two hour overdue pain meds.

She is in Ruby in room 930, unless they move her.

Three day weekend is over

Wow did that go fast, seems like just yesterday that it was Friday and here we are at Tuesday and I'm going back to work again.

We did have a little fun last night as it was the first time we had introduced Michelle's cats to catnip. To say that it was entertaining was an understatement, they got down right hateful with the other trying to prevent the other from getting to their catnip.

What do you think of this damn weather, I was changing my Spark Plugs yesterday afternoon in the Rodeo and it started to freaking snow again. I think Phil was really trying to ruin my day off.

Oh well, Hi Ho Hi Ho.....

Sterograms

For years I would see books of images called Sterograms. That is when you place a 3 dimensional image into an image and you have to adjust your eyes to allow you to see it.

Sort of like this image below:




Some people just see a blue pattern, but inside of that blue pattern is a 3 Dimensional image of two dolphins swimming. Once your eyes are adjusted it is very easy to see, for me I looked at these things for years and never understood how they worked, or should I say was not able to see them work. Yesterday someone at an online forum showed me how to make it work, and I have been fascinated ever since.

If you have trouble seeing the Dolphins above and need a little tutorial on how to see them, check out stereograms.net, they have a pretty good tutorial on how to adjust your eyes. Hint, what you are looking for is not necessarily what it is a picture of, it's just the background that creates the three dimensional image.

If you get the hang of it, make your own and see if you can see it.

MiHaleys

Yesterday evening Michelle and I decided to go across the street and give Michael and Ashley's new sports bar a try for dinner. Not knowing what to expect I went in and decided to judge it as if it were some place owned by someone I didn't know. Michael wasn't around and Michele and i could get a real chance to compare notes without having to be nice and not offending everyone. This is my unbiased review.

We both ordered Hot Italian Sausage Subs, I ordered a side of fires with mine and Michelle got the chips. $7.50 for a 12" Hot Sausage Sub/Hoagie was pretty much on par with every place else we go, if not a tad bit cheaper.

I am one who LOVES good Hot Sausage. For me it is a food that you can compare with other establishments on the overall quality of their food. The bread was a little longer than the meat, but I'll bet back to why this is a good thing in a second. After my first mouthwatering bite, I looked at Michelle and she could easily tell that this thing was something special. Many places advertise Hot Sausage, but really don't deliver on the hot part, almost as if there is no spice in it. MiHALEY's not only delivered, it hit it out of the park with a grand slam. WOW was hot enough to garner your attention, and had just enough bread at the end of the sandwich to relieve the hot sensation that you enjoy while devouring this masterpiece.

I didn't even make it through half a sandwich and I had to call Jean and tell her to get down and try this, she will not be disappointed as her Pam and Gary are the connoisseur's of spicy hot in this family.

Overall I was really impressed, the drinks came in large and very favorable glasses. All too often you go some place and they give you these little glasses that you need refilled a half a dozen times. These were just perfect. The fries were actually pretty good, perfectly cut and done to a crisp golden brown texture that just please the taste buds.

Good thing I just live across the street, I can get the best Hot Sausage Sub/Hoagie in Morgantown just by crossing the street.

I give it 6 stars out of five and three thumbs up!!!


Their menu, click on image for full size:

An eventful day

Yesterday was my and Michelle's first Valentines Day together and it was a really nice day. It started off when we decided that we would use the money we were going to use for Valentines day for each other and combine it and use it for something we could all use and get good use out of.

Our tract started off by going to Wal-Mart and buying the grill that we had both liked the night before at the one on Hornbeck road, but we went to the Wal-Mart in Granville and found what I would consider a very humorous picture to say the least. Notice how that $157.00 Grill has a great big "Unbeatable" pricetag on it...for $177.00. I had read a review on that grill earlier in the day and the person who got it as a gift wasn't too fond of it, pretty much saying it all the burners had rusted out in two months. Can you say RED FLAG??? We did not purchase the piece of crap $157.00 grill from the Discount store for $177.00.

We stopped by the Morgantown Mall and went back and forth between Sears and Lowes and bought a really nice Stainless Steel Char Broil gas grill with four stainless steel burners, a stainless steel side burner, 685 sq in cooking surface putting out 48,000 BTU's. Michelle and I were back and forth between this one and a Kenmore at Sears. After going back and forth, we decided on the Stainless Steel Charbroil from Lowes.

I did manage to see an old friend of mine from College at both Sears and Lowes. We then went up to K-Mart only for me to run into my old buddy from Sterling Faucet Jimmy Campbell who just turned 80 (and he still looks good) and then turned around and caught up with Paul and Vicky Koon and talked to them for a little while before finally heading back home.

Yesterday afternoon my sister Pam and George decided to stop by and check out our new abode. Calvin had a little fun playing with the Nintendo Wii. I even made sure AI made him the first loser once when we raced together, don't ask about the other three times that we raced and he beat me, those didn't count.

After they left last night Michelle and I decided to go out to dinner. This deserves it's own BLOG, so it will be granted.

To my sweetheart

What can I say, other than 129 days and counting until the next time we go and see Jimmy Buffett in concert.

On a serious note to Michelle, thank you for everything that you have done for me these last 337 days. They have been by far the happiest times of my life and it is all because of you.

I have to say that I am one lucky person, you have rescued me from the purgatory of my solitary life and breathed life into my empty heart. I want to tell you I love you and wish you a very Happy Valentines Day.

It's been a long time since I had the pleasure of being with someone I loved on this day, a long time.

Friday the 13th

Didn't realize this until this morning, but today is Friday the 13th.

Could Friday the 13th be a lucky day for WVU? 13th ranked (uh oh) Villanova Wildcats will be coming to Morgantown for a rare Friday Night match up at the WVU Coliseum.

Come Hon Hugg's ruin the 13th ranked teams Friday the 13th.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes it is once again that favorite time of the week when we cease the labors of the week and take a little time out to enjoy the fruits of our labors. It is once again another Big Ole Hairy Friday and the dawn of yet another weekend.

Once again I'm not sure what Michelle and I will be getting into, but I would imagine we'll do something for Valentine's Day tomorrow. That's tomorrow though and another Blog.

This is Friday and MiHaley's is having a DJ tonight if you are looking for a night out about Morgantown. I looked in the paper and couldn't find what Nick and Terri are having this weekend, but I know they are having a few great shows coming up later this month before they finally close up shop at the end of the month.

Have a great Friday and the start of a weekend, it'll be a three day weekend for me =)

Happy 21st Anniversary Pam, and George

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my sister Pam and Brother in Law George a very Happy 21st wedding anniversary. Wow how fast 21 years has just flown by, I remember it like it was just yesterday.

It's been quite a few years since this picture was taken, but it seems like just yesterday that Dad was walking Pam down the Isle. I remember George's dad was running all over town trying to find a copy of the wedding march to play at the old Drummond Chapel Church.

It was also a day when all five siblings managed to take a little time out and have our picture taken together, which doesn't seem to happen that often, or at least not often enough.

Last nights entertainment

OK< I think it takes less and less to entertain me anymore. We have puzzles and things like that laying around as well as my etch a sketch, 20 questions and a few others.

Last night I got to watch Chad and his girlfriend feed their Monitor. A growing lizard who is not a vegetarian should we say, he eats small mice and pinkies. I got the chance to watch one mouse meet his demise and one fight valiantly, but finally lose after a few minutes. I had my money on the mouse, I wonder how the monitor would do against a groundhog, say one from Punxsutawney PA named Phil who can't seem to avoid seeing his shadow.

It was a night of simple, but satisfying entertainment.

It's humpday by the way!

I'm even impressed

It takes a lot for a professional to be amazed in their own field, Google Earth 5.0 has done just that, impressed me to no end. I could take time and explain everything, but here is a nice little video that explains a portion of it.




Some things not covered in the video is that they now have a significant amount of street data in street view. I showed it to Michelle and stood in the center of Westover Bridge and pulled up street view. She was quite impressed.

ALSO in the upgrade is Google Mars, plus the sky. Showing you where the stars are and it also reproduces the planet Mars in Google earth style.

Finally, there is a flight simulator built into the new version. I haven't mastered that quite yet, but it is going to be a challenge.

Back 2 Work

Time to cease enjoying the weekend and get back to work for yet another week of work.

If anyone is interested, today is the day that Jimmy Buffett tickets go on sale for the June 23rd concert. I'm planning on going again this year, only problem is I will be in a meeting at the time the tickets go on sale. I'll have to slip out and order the tickets. If you wait you lose, as it only takes a few short minutes to sell this event out.

When I was actually looking for inspiration for this BLOG, I was eating a moist and delicious piece of Michelle's Butter Pecan cake. Don't you just love where I get the inspiration for this BLOG? There has to be some type of correlation between eating Butter Pecan Cake and authoring a brilliant blog.

Tidbits

* Every once in a while you suffer from a little brain fart as far as content for the BLOG, so I like to do a little tidbits to keep it going.

* I know this is my Mom's favorite thing to read, she like's the tidbits and asked me a couple of weeks ago to do more of them.

* The WVU Basketball team easily handled the Providence Friars 86-59 yesterday. Alex Ruoff broke out of his minor slump and pumped in a game high 24 points in leading the Mountaineers.

* Very little rest for the Mountaineers as they have today off before traveling to take on 6th ranked Pitt Panthers tomorrow evening for big Monday.

* Maybe it's just me, maybe it's not. I'm starting to like Facebook a lot more than myspace.

* It's been 331 days since mine and Michelle's first date. Wow we're coming up on a year of her putting up with me.

* For you football buffs that are missing your Football, today will be your last chance to see the NFL in action until late July early August. The Pro Bowl is this afternoon and is the final game of the year. Go AFC!!!!!

* Anyone hear where Heather Bresch, daughter of Governor Joe Manchin and the center of the scandal that reaked WVU last year, wants an explanation on her MBA from the Board of Governors. Dear Heather, from this and every other WVU grad who earned their degrees my suggestion to you is earn it. Not because your daddy is the Governor, but because you met the required curriculum to have obtained a Masters Degree in Business Administration from West Virginia University. Just earn it.

* The Geocache that Michelle and I hid last summer has been found a total of 56 times so far.

* I did have a little bit of a scare during our move, I thought I had misplaced my power source for my external hard drive that has ALL of my pictures on it. Rest assured the cord has been found and the pictures are still safe. Maybe I should back them up on the net, it's not like I don't have the space.

* Enjoy your Sunday

Weekend

Woo Hoo, we are going to have a nice relaxing weekend this weekend. No packing or moving, just a chance to sit down and relax with some nice weather. If anyone is not doing anything and would like to stop by and pay a visit, we would love to entertain and show the new place.

Michelle and I will be running to Comcast here early this morning, but we should be back after that and ready to go. Come on over and we'll play a little Nintendo Wii today.

Come one, come all.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes it is once again time to cease the labors for the week and take a little time out to enjoy the fruits of our labors, it is once again the start of another weekend and another Big Ole Hairy Friday!!!!!!

This will be our first weekend in our new home, or at least should I say when we don't have to be moving in. Michelle was a little under the weather yesterday, and she stayed home and managed to get the house in order. If you aren't doing anything this weekend come and give us a visit and take witness to our little abode.

I think it's going to be a nice relaxing weekend for us. The weather is going to warm up a little, so the possibility of enjoying our yard may be a slight possibility.

Have a great weekend!

Pete the PRT

Taxes

I bought a copy of Tax Cut again this year, and it include five free electronic filings. Michelle had already had her taxes done and that leaves me to use one of the five free filings.

That being said I have four more free electronic filings that I can use and have it installed on my computer. If anyone wants to electronically file their taxes this year for free, just be one of the first four people to ask me to use it.

That's right, as a free gift for George's Journal readers, I will hand out the free electronic filings to anyone who wants to quickly and electronically file their taxes this year.

Tidbits

* 327 days and counting for mine and Michelle's first date.

* Jimmy Buffett tickets go on sale Monday at 10:00 AM.

* Slinky's are great toys, when you are just sitting on the couch with nothing to do to keep your hands occupied, you can't beat a slinky.

* Just remembered....we have stairs. Stairs + Slinky.....

* Our stairs are too wide, I can't seem to get proper down stair slinkyism to work. It's a delicate science, I believe our stairs are 2.34643 inches too wide to get maximum slinkyism effect.

* Reading a little Myspace, Val is getting hardwood floors in her house.

* Once again thanks to Myspace (I prefer facebook though), Amy and Ralphie are planning on getting married this summer. Congrats to Amy and Ralphie.

* Spring is 44 days away and I couldn't be more ready for it. Have I ever mentioned that I hate snow? Thanks Phil....you Rat. Maybe we'll feed you to one of Chad's Pythons.

* It's Humpday!!!!!!

Cash for Gold Scam

LINK


10 Confessions Of A Cash4Gold Employee

From the acid-cloud haze of the Cash4Gold processing center steps forth a shadowy figure, fingers stained with orange testing fluid. It's an ex-Cash4Gold employee and in-between tuberculosic wheezes he manages to pass you a yellow legal paid with 10 confessions about how his former employer taught him to rip people off. Then he evaporates leaving behind a pile of gold dust. You dip your finger in it and touch it to your tongue. Just as you thought: fool's gold.

If you decide to investigate the creaky clock tower, turn to page 4.
If you decide to read the confessions, to the post inside.

Spotted on ComplaintsBoard: "I would like an article to be posted pertaining to the refinery Cash 4 Gold, located in Pompano Beach, Fl. I am a former employee, who would like to alert/warn the public on the scamming process involved with this company. There are many of us who would like to vouch on behalf of this fast growing scam. We would like to get the word out to everyone on this step by step scam which involves so many people in this country and their valuables.

Below I have attached the full details on the scam involving this company. We know this first hand, because this is how we were trained. Please take note of this information and do what you can to get the word out there, especially in a time when the economy has truly affected everyone for the worst. Thank you!

I am a former employee of Cash 4 Gold. I did not know much about the company before being hired. On my first day of being hired, I was taught the "Cash 4 Gold Scam" from beginning to end.

1. The "refiner's pack" that is used for you to put your jewelry is "insured for UP TO 100 dollars, " according to how much they determine from a description from you, the worth of your items to be, NOT an actual fully researched appraisal.

2. We receive your "Refiner's Pack" within 3-4 days, BUT we are instructed to tell you that it takes "7-10 business days, for us to receive your pack, ALTHOUGH many times, your package has already arrived.
(All cash4gold customers who have called customer service to track a package can vouch for this)

3. Your jewelry gets appraised by hand, a magnifying glass, a plastic container, a small weight pad, and a bottle of ORANGISH fluid, which your items are then determined a value for. Not million dollar equipment or specially trained jewelry experts. The company was temporarily closed recently due to health and code violations. I have witness testers being transported to Medical Centers, due to the testing department environment. There is literally a cloud of smoke in the air from acid and other testing material. If you were thinking it was some state-of-the-art testing facility, you thought WRONG.

4. Although the payment (check) for your item is dated within 24 hrs of testing your jewelry, we SOMETIMES DO NOT actually send out the check until up to 3-4 days later. (if you are a customer check the date the check was issued against the stamped date on the envelope.)

5. We do offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee or your jewelry returned, BUT THE CATCH IS, that the guarantee is to contact us within 10 DAYS from when your check is DATED. (This begins with the time it took for the accounts payables dept. to ISSUE the check and also including the TRANSIT TIME for you to receive your check in the mail. **** NOTATE THE COMMERCIALS THAT INSINUATE THAT YOU GET YOUR CASH IN 24 HRS.*** If you request (sign) for FAST CASH (direct deposit) you automatically WAIVE your rights to have your items returned, EVEN if you are not satisfied with amount of your deposit.

6. You generally receive your check around the "7th-10th" business day, AND majority of the time Customers are outraged when they lay eyes on the amount of their check. Some Customer's even receive a check for 0.01 cents.

7. There have been times when we have received your package and MISPLACED or LOST it at the facility. We CLAIM to not have received the items and even try to convince you that it was lost in the hands of USPS. At which point we begin an insurance claim process on your package. We ask you to send us an itemized list of the content of the package, trying to be as descriptive as you possible can (if you can remember everything in full detail) and a copy of your state issud ID. We then issue an INSURANCE CLAIM for UP TO 100 dollars. GOD FORBID your items are worth more then a 100 dollars. If you call customer service to check on the status of your shipment, and we actually have not received your package, we inform you of the insurance claim process. For those who know that their items are worth more than a hundred dollars, they become very upset and threaten to take action against the company, at that point we inform the customer that if they knew their items were worth more they should have added additional insurance at the Post Office. BUT unless you are paying to ship your items in a completely different package other then the refiner's kit, you are unable to add insurance to the package.

8. For those who do get in touch with us within the allotted time frame, we already know what you are calling about. Customers want their items returned, because there
check amount is so insultingly LOW. The first thing a Rep will
ask you is "HOW MUCH WERE YOU EXPECTING TO GET BACK?" This way we can know how much to "BONUS" you.

*Definition of a BONUS: We issue low checks just to have you call us back if you are smart enough to realize that you just got scammed. For the smart one's we are paid to offer u a bonus up to 3x the original amount of your check and you accept. For ex: Sally Smith receives a check for $27.86 for a Rolex watch(which we don’t issue value for), a class ring, a ring with diamond chips, a pair of earrings with emeralds, as well as a few sterling silver pieces, and maybe a few items that were really of no value. Now Sally Smith calls the cust srvc dept, where she speaks to a rep who seems so concerned and will see if she can do better with the amount by speaking to a "SUPERVISOR". We then place the caller on Mute, and speak to our neighbors or doodle on a sheet, or twiddle with our hair for about 45 seconds, while we are supposedly speaking to our supervisor about Ms. Smith's complaint. We then come back with an offer to "BUMP UP YOUR MELT DATE or any other lies the cust srvc reps can think of, and offer you a total amount of $53.20 which is a little under double the amount of your original check; in which case if you accept, the cust srvc rep makes a 15.00 bonus off of your transaction. If the customer service rep offers you under triple the amount of your orig check, he/she makes 10.oo in bonuses.

9. If you accept the offer, the deal is done, and you are told that the call is recorded (which most of the time, the record button does not work, or the box if full.)It’s just a way to make your feel binded by a verbal contract. IF you do not accept the deal, you have to return your check, and it takes sometimes up to a month to receive your items back after we receive the check.

10. If you only want the items that we do not find of any value back, you have to pay 10.00 shipping and handling fee to have your own items returned, which varies. Although it is listed under the terms and conditions, this charge varies from a 10.00-15.00 charge to NO charge, reason being, UNSURE.

Cash 4 Gold is definitely not a trustworthy or credible company to do business with. You are almost better off taking your items to a local pawn shop or shopping around for other companies. With the economy the way it is, Cash 4 Gold seems to be a way out of financial stress for some, but in actuality becomes a stress of its own. I would advise you to think twice before sending in valuables or items inherited and of sentimental value, its not worth it."