Happy Birthday West Virginia

My home state declared it's independence 147 years ago today, on June 20, 1863. It is the only time in our nations history that one state has told another state "screw you, we are out of here" and it took the Mountaineers to do it.

Happy Birthday to the place that I may not have been born in, but in the state I have lived the vast majority of my life in and considering myself a West Virginian.

Happy Birthday West Virginia, my favorite state.

Happy Birthday Erica Jean

Today is a special little girl's birthday, it is my Great Niece Erica Jean Nicholson's sixth birthday today. Make sure you take a little time out and tell her a happy birthday if you see her today.

Val is going to have her birthday party in a few weeks so that she can have Josh's and Erica's birthdays together.

Happy Birthday Erica Jean.

Ahhhhh Weekend

I just have to say that weekends in the summer time are definitely my absolute favorite times of the year. Beautiful summer time weather to enjoy and not having to work, who could ask for anything more other than not really having to be anywhere at any certain time to throw on top of it.

No major plans today so far, or at least not at the time I am actually writing this BLOG. Hopefully we can get out and enjoy the day, the fruits of our labors. Days like these are the ones you look forward to, days when all conditions are right and you can do whatever it is you want to do.

Maybe there will be a Geocache associated with the day. Maybe a festival or even just a lazy day of taking a nap on a nice warm summer afternoon. What does this day have in store for me?

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

Looking for a little buit of that free and or cheap entertainment tonight, Movies on the Mon returns this evening at Hazel Ruby McQuain Amphitheater this evening at dark with the playing of the Eddie Murphy comedy Daddy Day Care. Grab you a few snacks and your favorite beverage and head on down to the Mon river and enjoy a free movie under the stars.

The next day the 10th AnnualArts on the River will be held at the HRM Amphitheater featuring fine music, dining and wine for all to enjoy.

So if you are thinking about staying at home, just remember this past winter and how much you hated being stuck at home in the snow and get out and have a little bit of fun this weekend.

Hi ho hi ho

How About Another Tidbits

* Two tidbit posts in one week? Surely you est, but no I just have a few things to address.

* First of all an update on my softball team mate Phil Caskey. Phil was injured last night had to be carted off in an ambulance. He broke his Humerus in three placed and one broke off and T'd to the point that surgery was necessary. He had his surgery yesterday afternoon and there was no nerve damage, the surgery went really well and the plate was a very good fit. I'll update from time to time as information is available.

* My sister Kim is getting her new dog today. I tried to unload a cat that has yet to be born on her, but to absolutely no avail. She is very excited and can't wait to get her Yorkie.

* Update on Kennywod. Giant Eagle has tickets at a discount price if anyone would like to go. You have to plan on using the tickets Monday through Friday or there is an additional $10.00 surcharge at the gate to enter. If anyone is wanting to go, get with me or Kim or whoever so we can start coordinating a time.

* Amy has entered Kaiden into the WVAQ Baby Idol contest. The Grand Prize consists of the following:

• $500 US Savings Bond provided by Clear Mountain Bank.
• $500 Gift Basket from the Mon General Hospital Gift Shop
• $500 VISA Gift Card from Women’s Health Care of Morgantown
• $500 in Mall Gift Certificates from the Morgantown Mall
• $550 Photo Prize Package from Dalton’s Photography
• $500 in Pediatric Services from Cardinal Pediatrics
• A Chance to beat Eric Maguire's poor dog.

* Speaking of WVAQ, this Fridays half off hook ups is for Coal Country Mini Golf in Fairmont.

* It was supposed to have rained the past week or so. I think every time I look at the forecast it has called for Thunderstorms. Now it's calling for it to be clear until next week, watch it rain now.

* Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Well that is two days down, working on this one and we have two days to go until we are at yet another weekend. Don't get too excited yet, it is still only Wednesday, but it is over the hump day.

Yesterday was a day of running to say the least. Both Michelle and I worked a normal day and turned around and ran out to the ballpark for an over the hill men's slow pitch softball double header last night.

The first game we managed to pull off a nicely played defensive game and won a one run decision 5-4 to start out the day. We played the USGS and I recall that they beat us last year, so it was a little bit of revenge.

Game two was us playing a team that hammered us last year, Classics 3. Once again we managed to win the game by one run in the bottom of the last inning 6-5. On the games next to last play, our right fielder who was trying to score the winning run in the last inning either separated his shoulder or had a clean break to his humerus. He was toted away by ambulance and I'll be checking on an update today to see how he is doing.

We did sweep the double header which felt pretty good.

Oh well, hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* It's Tuesday, I can't think of a better reason to to a tidbits than that.

* Good weather has continued through yesterday, I hope the weather holds out for tonight as we have a double header at the softball fields at 6:00 and 7:00 on Ogden Field. We have one single double header on the season and tonight is the night. Come on out to the ballpark and cheer us on, we need it.

* What would a tidbits be without a count from mine and Michelle's first date which was 823 days ago today.

* It's been 45 days since the engagement. Michelle is without her ring for the time being, her stone became loose so we took it to have it repaired. She noticed what she thought was a crack in one of the smaller side diamonds, but it turns out the main stone was loose so we sent it away for repairs. I was smart enough to buy the lifetime warranty for the ring for all repairs.

* There are merely 193 shopping days let until Christmas this year. Maybe I should do a count for next seasons softball rather than something that involves snow. Have I mentioned I hate snow.

* Talked to Mom briefly yesterday, she was under the weather over the weekend and told me she had some trouble walking Gabbie the night before as both she and Gabbie were attacked by another dog not on a leash. When I spoke with her she was resting and doing just fine.

* Hayley is still on vacation in Alabama visiting her boyfriend Phil and his family. She'll be returning this Sunday.

* It's going to be a long day so hi ho hi ho

Kennywood

A week or so ago, my sister Kim had a suggestion of possibly doing a day at Kennywood Park where a bunch of family members could take a day and go up and have some fun. Only problem is ticket prices to Kennywood have gotten semi-ridiculous over the years and are $35.99 for adults and $22.99 for kids under 46" tall.

Ruby Memorial has a special going on for employees where they can pick up tickets for $21.50 for adults and can only be purchased on June 23. Kim is going to check to see if there is limit of number of tickets she can buy (I would guess not), but if anyone might be interested we need to pick a date and arrange to have tickets purchased (Money to Kim) by the time she needs to buy the tickets.

Seniors (over 55) have no limit on tickets, their price is $17.49 every day.

If anyone is interested in a family day at Kennywood, let Kim know ASAP.

Monday Again

Hey everyone, I think the weekends weather turned out better than originally thought. Sunday turned out to be a nice day for the most part, but Monday Morning has decided to rear its ugly face once again and start another week of sticking our noses to the grindstone and earning that living.

Not much on my agenda this week as I recall, other than a softball double header tomorrow night. These will be out fifth game in eight days, and we'll have a downtime with one game in a three week time period after Tuesday night.

We stopped up to see jean yesterday after the game, she had some pictures of mine from a number of years ago that she had found and wanted to return to me. Pictures from my Trip to the Coca Cola 600 12 years ago, a softball team pic nic and pictures from inside Helmick Corporation from when I used to work there 12 and 13 years ago all respectively.

This past weekend was fun, but I can;t enjoy the next one until this week is over with. So I might as well get it started.

Hi ho hi ho

Softball Day

It's going to be a day at the ballpark for us, as the rained out games are made up today. Thankfully for us we only have on game on the agenda for today that has to be made up. I know Michael really wants to beat these guys because they have came into the bar talking a lot of trash.

Last night Michelle and I went to watch the WV Gladiators play for the first time in a couple of seasons. They went up against the WV Lightning out of Charleston and a team the Gladiators had lost twice to the past season. You could tell the Gladiators were not the same team we watched a couple of years ago. Many of the familiar names have moved on and a new bunch has filled their spots. When we left last night the Gladiators were losing 7-20 and that was near the end of the 4th quarter.

Have a good day.

Is it going to rain?

After looking at the radar for the weekend I was quite sure it was going to rain all weekend. I may have to reassess that after looking at it again this morning. It's still calling for Thunderstorms today, but the radar is no where near as ugly as it looked yesterday. We could possibly have a better looking weekend weather wise than I anticipated.

Michelle and I did a lot of running around last night right after work, half way anticipating that today would be rain filled and soaked.

If the weather holds out, maybe there could be a geocache or two on the agenda for the weekend.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

If you are looking for a little bit of free and cheap entertainment this evening, Movies on the Mon will once again be playing this evening at Hazel Ruby McQuain park and will be playing the movie Monsters vs Aliens.

Michelle has been very much under the weather the past few days with some Migraine headaches. I think they have been barametric headaches that has been what has had her down. She was feeling much better last night and hopefully is herself again today.

The weather for the weekend doesn't appear to be too cooperative, so you might want to make sure you get your outside fun activities in tonight before the rain dampens everything.

We have a softball makeup game Sunday at noon.

Hi ho Hi Ho let's get this Friday Started!!!

Rainy Days

Yesterday we received some much needed rain to help cleanse the air. It renews and cleans everything giving us a nice spring fresh smell. I'm just glad we got our two softball games in this week on Monday and Tuesday.

I still have a website that I need to develop again and I have been looking for ways to redevelop Shitzngiggles again, even though I haven't done anything with it for a while. I may just stick the old website back up there with the games. I've played with the idea of putting a topic specif blog there and I have played with the idea of throwing some type of a video site up. I've been looking, but nothing seems to have tickled my fancy as of yet. I have been looking at Hotscripts for something to put up there. Anything I guess is better than nothing.

Oh well, hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Well we have our softball games in for the week and the two busiest days for me this week are now behind me. Now it's just a matter of looking ahead towards the back part of the week and ahead to the weekend. I do have to say I have been busy, but the good part is the week has sped on by.

I got an e-mail yesterday that I have been invited to Golden Colorado from August 10-12 for a Sequestration Seminar. The dates conflict with a Doctor's appointment and a A Jimmy Buffett Concert, so I'm not sure how hard I'll press to go to this one. Just the work worst time period of the year for me to travel across the country on business. A week before or a week after and everything would have been kosher. I may have to pass on this one though.

We had a great time playing softball last night, we took out our frustrations from the evening before and it all came together last night. We pulled out a nice 14-4 victory as we strung together hit after hit all night long. It was a sparse lineup, I put our right center fielder in at shortstop by accident and he played very well. I even had to start the Wookie on the pitchers mound. Great job Chewy and Kevin in relief.

Ok back to reality...hi ho hi ho

Tuesdays Tidbits

* It's Tuesday, it's time for a quick tidbits.

* For those of you keeping track, you have 200 shopping days left until Christmas. We're starting to get ton crunch time, if you buy everything now, YOU can be surprised on Christmas too. LOL

* Still counting, it's been 816 days since the first date with the love of my life and 39 days since our engagement.

* Weather looks like it has and will hold out for a day or so more so that we can get both softball games in this week. We play again this evening at 6:00 following last night's 9:00 game where everyone and his brother seemed to be traveling, sick, had to work or had a death in the family. Maybe we can get a few more guys out tonight.

* I saw my Doctor for the last time yesterday, I'll be meeting my new one in a couple of months when I go back.

* It's been a bus=y week to say the least, so hi ho hi ho

Monday

Well Sadie and I took full advantage of the nice weather yesterday afternoon with a stroll along the rails to trails yesterday evening to culminate our weekends activities. We managed to get lucky enough to find some gorgeous weather to take advantage of, so take advantage of it is just what we did. I did manage to get a few pictures along the route, I've shared one with everyone here.

It's going to be a busy couple of days for us, this afternoon I have a Doctor's appointment and will probably be meeting my new doctor for the first time as I say goodbye to Dr. Feathers as he moves on with his career.

After that we have the first of two softball games this week where I have no option but to be there. Chris is in Georgia, so I have all of the equipment and will be assembling the lineups the next couple of days. We play tonight at 9:00, and then return tomorrow night at 6:00 for the second game. Needless to say I will be busy for the next two days.

Oh well, can't get to another weekend until we get Monday over with so....Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Hayley Dawn Collins

A year ago we celebrated your 16th birthday with a surprise birthday party. This year you are in Alabama visiting Phil for a couple of weeks and enjoying the nice weather and the vacation.

I have to say that I am quite proud of what she has done during this past semester, she has really busted her rear end. With the exception of the occasional door slam you couldn't ask for a better kid.

Anyways Hayley is not here, but that does not mean I take a little time out and wish a very special girl a very Happy Birthday on a very special day. Happy Birthday Hayley, we'll celebrate when you get home.

Rainy Weekend

Well the weather hasn't been all that cooperative so far this weekend, but we have managed to make the most put of it so far. Friday evening Michelle and I went up to Mylan Park to see Kim and Brittany who were taking part in the Relay for Life event that they had then. It was actually the first time I had been to that particular facility and I was quite impressed with it. It was the first time I had been in that building.

We drove up through the complex, and although she had been at that facility, Michelle said she had never been through the rest of the complex so we drove through for her to get a chance to see everything.

Yesterday even though it was raining most of the day, we managed to go out and attempt to garner a couple Mystery Geocaches. We got the first one we had tried, but the second one we were having a bot of trouble with to to the leaf cover of the trees where we were at. It was causing the GPS to jump all over the place and we could not pinpoint where the cache was located. We will probably try that one again this fall after the trees lose their leaves.

Mystery caches are comprised of puzzles you need to solve to get the coordinates, Michelle and I solved two yesterday morning and sought out to find them.

The problem was however it had rained a good bit and by the time we were on the trails at 2:00, the temps were heating up and it was rather humid out there. So, we did get out and manage to get a good healthy walk on the trails before heading home to some more rain.

Hayley left early yesterday morning for Alabama, she arrived safely early yesterday morning and is enjoying a couple of weeks with her boyfriend.

P&P Family Auctions Monthly Auction

Jim Paugh and crew will once again set up their monthly auction at the Blue Horizon Flea Market behind Vance's Service Station this morning. People may want to take very special note that the Auction will be starting earlier than normal today, it will be starting at 10:00 AM instead of the normal start they had and, this will extend throughout the summer as the rest of their monthly auctions will also be starting in this time slot.

As always, there are numerous items up for bid today. So bring your money and do a little bargain shopping to see if you can find a nice deal to bring home for yourself. All kinds of tools, glassware and antique toys going up on the auction block today.

Happy Birthday Gary Allen Hall

I have to be the luckiest man on earth, because I have the best brother that anyone could ever ask for and today coincidently happens to be that particular brothers birthday. If you should happen to see my brother Gary today, make sure that you take a little time out and wish him a very Happy Birthday today.

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to wish my favorite little brother the very happiest of birthdays. may all your dreams and wishes come through for you, especially on this day.

Happy Birthday Gary.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

Well Hayley is finally done with school for the school year, she finished up yesterday and will probably be spending much of today packing and getting ready for leaving from the Pittsburgh Airport at 3:00 tomorrow morning for Alabama. She will be going down for two weeks to see her boyfriend Phil and his family.

Movies on the Mon kicks off their summer long movie series tonight with Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. It will be the firs tin a series of movies this summer. So if you are looking for a little cheap (free entertainment) for the kids, grab your favorite drinks and a few snacks and maybe a lawn chair or a blanket and head on down to the Hazel Ruby McQuain Amphitheater.


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Have a great weekend and Hi ho hi ho

Brain Fart

There comes a time where people like me who try to write a blog every day manage to suffer from the occasional brain fart, where the genius that was going to be used to write a life changing blog post slips away from the brain. For me, this is one of those days where the creative juices decided to take a days vacation and not show up in my cranium.

Today is the last day of school for Hayley, she has a couple of finals that she has to make up today because she was sick on Monday. She'll be going to Alabama for two weeks starting early Saturday Morning, providing she stops slamming doors in the morning.

Oh well, brain fart over, and I have to go. So it's hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Wow, that was quick. I guess when you don;t work on Monday, Hump Day comes around much faster than a normal week.

Anyways we played softball last night and we were once again just not on our game. We dropped a 5-15 decision to Town Hill when they were warmed up and ready to go and we just played very apprehensively. Make no doubt, the better team won last night, but we didn't seem to give our best team effort. We're back in action again this coming Monday at 9:00 and Tuesday at 6:00.

Possibly tonight after dinner I might take Sadie for a nice walk weather permitting. It's been a few days for her and I know she loves to get out of the house, she is due for a nice one. We did take her to the dog park over the weekend, but I need to step up the efforts a little.

Oh well, hi ho hi ho

Oh No, Back To Work

All good things have to come to an end, in this case the good thing that came to an end was my extended four day holiday weekend. Four marvelous days with some very beautiful weather that didn't confine us and allowed us the freedom to enjoy the entire weekend. Now it's back to the grindstone after a rejuvenating weekend with my Sweetie.

This evening it is back to the softball field to resume the season after being off since last Tuesday. We hit the diamond at 8:00 tonight and hopefully we can get back on the winning track and start a nice winning streak. We're playing well this season, even our bad games that we lose we are making them very close games, this season should be interesting come August.

Oh well, and I dread saying this but.....

hi ho hi ho

Memorial Day

It it is the last day of an extended holiday weekend, but we should all take a little time out and remember why we have this day off from work. It's Memorial Day and is a day set aside by our nation to remember those former soldiers who died in the line of duty protecting the very freedoms that we enjoy today and may even take fro granted.

If you see or know a vet, or an active member of the military make sure to take a few seconds out and thank them for what they have done. We live in the greatest country in the world because of the ultimate sacrifices these men and women have made for us.

Enjoy your extended weekend, and take a few moments out and remember why you are not at work today.

For those of you traveling home, have a safe trip.

Beautiful Weather

I don't think you could ask for better weather during a holiday weekend. Michelle and I went out yesterday and got a few geocaches out of the way. It's been a slow start on the season for us for weather reasons or just having something else to do. Yesterday however was a day when conditions were right for us to find a few. We actually found a couple of caches that were set by two people I helped get started in geocaching, but they have way more finds than I have now and have been all over the country doing it.

Yesterday evening Jane and Chris Came into town and we went out to dinner with them at Puglioni's. Of course when we get together there is a nice long BS session that always seems to be associated with it. Jane tells me her kids are into something similar to geocaching, called letterboxing. It's similar in many ways to geocaching, except instead of swag and GPS unit's you make a rubber stamp and a compass is your primary resource for finding the location of the object you are attempting to find.

I think we are going to get an early start this morning to get out and do our grocery shopping so as to avoid much of the crowds that we ran into last week when we got a later start. I think Hayley is going with us this morning.

I hope everyone enjoys their day, the weather is going to be beautiful.

Earl Saturday Thoughts

After a day off yesterday, plus a trip to Milanos for dinner and going and visiting Jean, we stopped at Wal-Mart yesterday evening to get a few flags to put on a few graves. We stopped and put one on dad's and one on Grandpa Hall's graves.

Today Hayley will be going to both the Morgantown High and the University High School graduations for a few of her friends.

I think we will seek out to find a Geocache or two sometime today. It's been a while since we have went and I for one would like to take advantage of the nice weather and get out and find a few caches today.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

For me and Michelle however, our weekend started last night and we will be off for the next four days. Today we are finishing up some spring cleaning and carpet shampooing that we started last night. It's a good way to start the summer season, and helps remove the remaining wintery smells like from the fireplace.

Nothing major planned for the weekend, maybe a geocache or two. Jane and Chris are going to be coming into town so we are planning on having dinner with them Saturday evening.

Movies on the Mon has released their summer schedule that will start next weekend.

Schedule
June 4 - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
June 11 - Monsters vs. Aliens
June 18 - Daddy Day Care
June 25 - Fame
July 2 - Imagine That
July 9 - Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
July 16 - Rudy
July 30 - ET
August 6 - The Spy Next Door
August 13 - Where the Wild Things Are
August 20 - Up

It is my weekend, everyone needs to hurry up and join me.

2009

No it's not a year, it's is the number of Blog posts that I have made since becoming a Blogger a number of years ago. I was planning on doing something special for my 2000th BLOG, but I guess I kind of missed the opportunity so I'll take it now.

I want to thank my readers, for you have been my inspiration as well as wanting to create a document of my life over the past six years.

Since I missed 2000, here is to the next 1991 posts to get me to 4,000.

Update

I said I would decide sometime today on whether or not I was going to work tomorrow, well as it turns out I have a single call in conference call that I'll make from home.

Hello Four day Weekend!!!!!

Weekend is almost....

It's Thursday and I know Michelle is taking a four day weekend with today being her last day. I'm keeping the option open and will decide today if I am going to work tomorrow or also take an extended four day weekend.

We have the Carbon Sequestration Atlas III coming upon it's deadlines and benchmarks. I'll have to see where we are with that today before I make a decision on tomorrow. That, and probably the weather will play a significant factor in my decision. I've seen varying weather reports, from sunshine to rain all weekend and back to sunshine.

Oh well can;t get it started until....hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Happy Hump Day. First a couple tidbits of bad news. My niece Brittany was in a little bit of a fender bender yesterday evening. She was leaving the Kroger's Parking Lot on 705 and dinged up her car a little bit. It had to be towed away, but she is physically fine and not injured although she was a little upset when she called me.

Michelle was at the Ball Park with me and left to go and assist Brittany while getting in touch with Kim and Robert with a partial assist from my Sister Pam. Grandpa John was also on the scene to re-assure Brittany everything will be alright. The front passenger side quarter panel was damaged and the car was leaking fluid very badly. The adjuster will look at it today.

The other bit of bad news is we lost last night in softball. The loss runs our record back to 2-2 on the season. We played a decent game, but quite a few mental mistakes could have been considered the difference ion the game.

Hi ho hi ho...

Tuesday's Tidbits

* It's once again Tuesday, so I guess it is a good time to do a tidbits.

* Michelle made a treat for me last night, we put our ice cream maker on its initial trial run last night by making our first batch of ice cream. It was pretty good, we're going to change a few things up and do it again later this week. I think we are going to make our own from scratch.

* Moke and Ang have bought their first home together. They closed on a trailer yesterday out towards Mason Dixon park. I'm sure that a man who just served our country for a year half way around the world could use some young able bodied assistance in setting up their home.

* Back to the fields tonight for another softball game. We play at 8:00 tonight.

* I've been helping Jane the last week or s set up a couple of websites. The registration and setup for the Laurel Soccer Club. She built a registration form and I helped her tie it into a back end MySQL database. That and the Blast Softball team picture pages.

* Both Kim and Michelle are making an effort to quit smoking for good. I bought Michelle one of the NJOY Electronic Cigarettes to help assist her in quitting. She still gets the nicotine, but no carcinogens.

* Went for another good walk last night down on rails to trails with Sadie. It was nice and warm and a little humid, so I came back with a good deal of sweat all over me.

* It's been 802 days since mine and Michelle's first date, 25 days since our engagement and 214 Shopping Days left until Christmas. However there are only four days left until an extended Holiday Weekend.

* Hi Ho Hi Ho

Back At It

yesterday was filled with grocery shopping (also bought a new Ice Cream Maker), followed by a nice afternoon nap.

Later on it was time to play softball. I think as a team we played one of our better games in some time with a 13-0 win in a makeup game to run our record to 2-1 on the young season. We played a solid game all around, hitting and on defense, it was like we turned the clock of time back a few years.

After we got home I took Sadie out for a good healthy walk along the rails to trails.

It was a pretty good and relaxing weekend to set us up for yet another week of work. This will probably be a short week for me, as we are thinking about taking Friday off and extending our three day weekend into a summer starting four day weekend.

Can't get to the extended weekend until I get this Monday over with, so....hi ho hi ho.

Happy Birthday George McClain

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my brother from another mother the very happiest of Birthdays today. His son returned from Iraq in one piece yesterday and today George McClain and breath a sigh of relief on his birthday.

To the man who I owe a million and a half favors to, I want to extend a very heartfelt Happy Birthday wish.

Happy Birthday George.

Moke Coming Home

Fresh off of his nearly year long tour in Iraq, Moke will be returning to Morgantown today. I know that my sister Pam and George and a slew of others will be traveling down to meet him as he gets off of the airplane.

Knowing that traveling half way around the world and haven't seeing his fiancée for a number of months, that he is going to need a little bit of time to get acclimated to being home, so I will probably wait till he gets situated and settled and then we will pay him a meaningful visit.

I have to say that I am very proud of him, it takes a special kind of man to have been what he has been through the past year.

Welcome Home Moke

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

Yes as stated in a previous BLOG, Moke will be coming home tomorrow. I think Pam and George and a few others are planning on going down to Benedum Airport and pick him up tomorrow afternoon. He and Ang have purchased a trailer that they will be moving into over the weekend. I'm sure they could use any available hands to help assist them as they can get.

Tonight we will be going over to Trish's once again, this time to celebrate her and Jen's birthday. We were just there a few weeks ago celebrating Jackie's, but got started a little late do to the spring game. We'll be going over after work tonight.

I can't get this weekend started until I do what I have to do, so hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Pam McClain

I would first like to take this opportunity to wish my Sister Pam the very Happiest of Birthdays today. Pam has always been that sister that was always on your side and willing to lend a hand no matter what the situation.

I consider myself a very lucky guy to have a sister Like Pam.

If you happen to see Pam today, make sure you take a little time out and wish this very special person a very Happy Birthday.

PS, her son returns home from Iraq tomorrow.

WVU Baseball

Went to the WVU baseball game tonight. This was actually our first baseball game of the year, and this is the last home stand of the season.

The Mountaineers lost to Villanova 504, but it was a very good and a very memorable game.

I have had the pleasure of connecting with one of my old wrestling team mates son this morning, when I got to briefly talk to Nick Christoloulou's son on Facebook. The big surprise for me was at the WVU baseball game. I won a 12 pack of Coke and when I was coming back from picking up the coupon, I ran across my old High School Wrestling coach. I no more than said hello and he turned to the man sitting beside him and low and behold, Bobby DeAntonis. A man who I tried to structure my wrestling style after and someone I haven't seen in probably 25 years. It was a pleasure to say the least.

I have to say, it was a pretty good day, too bad the Mountaineers cake up a little short.

Mom Released from Hospital

I just got the call fro Mom a little while ago, she is being released from Ruby Memorial to go home.

She has been in there since Monday for observation after she started getting a little bit short of breathe, but there was no infection around her heart and everything was good. There was an infection somewhere, but not around the heart.

They've kept her for a few days to observe and inject her with a few anti-biotics.

Big Ole......Not yet

I know, I wish it was Friday, but it's not.

Stopped by at the hospital yesterday after work to check up on Mom, she appeared to be in very good spirits but she is still in there. She will probably be going home sometimes today from the hospital and once again start enjoying life at home.

I have had the opportunity to eat hospital cafeteria food for the past couple of days, and for the record I love the food at the cafeteria. It's almost a treat.

Michelle and I are thinking about making next weekend a four day weekend by taking Friday off before Memorial day. Weather permitting of course.

Hi hi hi ho....

Hump Day

Hey we are one step closer to the weekend, it is up over the hump day!!!!!

Not much excitement yesterday, Michelle and I went to the hospital after work yesterday to see Mom. She seemed like she is doing very well and will probably get to come home today. There is an infection, but it is not around her heart.

Moke will be returning this weekend. Pam and George tell me he will be returning home on Saturday. Time to start the next phase of his life with Ang.

Not much to say other than this weather sucks, so hi ho hi ho...

Happy Birthday Trish Rosiak

Both Michelle and myself would like to take this time and wish a very special friend a very Happy Birthday today.

I have been going to her families 4th of July pic nic for about 13 years now, so she is like a sister to me.

We love you Trish, and Michelle and I want to extend the happiest of birthday wishes to you.

Tuesdays Tidbits

* Well Monday is now behind us and we have a good start to the week of work ahead, I guess it is a goof time to do a tidbits.

* On the softball front we got good and bad news yesterday. The good news is we have a make up game scheduled for this Sunday. The bad news, just look outside at all the rain. WE were going to go to the game in the limo tonight too being it was our only 10:00 PM game.

* Hayley went and had her hair done this weekend, and the place she went to absolutely fired it. She went to Mastercuts in the mall and told them to color her hair. It usually costs her around $50.00 when she goes there, although this time it was a nightmare. They completely fired her hair (and we are talking about a high school aged teen aged girl) and CHARGED HER $140.00. Michelle was livid and went up last night and spoke with the manager. My advice, don't go to Mastercuts. Professionals is not the impression that I got.

* Mom went to the hospital yesterday complaining of tightness in the chest. I'll update when I find a little more information than I have.

* This weekend looks like we will be helping Trish celebrate her 21st birthday again. Or at least we'll all like like we were 21, I think that was 1984 for me.

* Oh well, Hi ho hi ho....

Commencement

Yesterday I had a very distinct honor of watching a former US President be issued an honorary Doctorate from my Alma Mater and give the commencement speech. I did manage to get a number of pictures from the event as well as the last ten minutes of his speech that have shared with this BLOG.





It was an honor for me, on the 33rd Anniversary of my Grandpa Hall's passing and on the sixth anniversary of my own commencement, I was in the same room listening to a former President of the United States for the first time.

It was a day I will remember for the rest of my life.

Commencement Today

West Virginia Universities 141st Commencement will finish up today at 2:00 when Eberly has their colleges commencement at the Coliseum. I plan on attending today mainly due to the main speaker who is receiving an honorary Doctorate from WVU. Former US President Bill Clinton will be today's guest speaker at 2:00.

I have been to a couple of commencement's other than mine, I went when current Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee spoke and I went when Governor Joe Manchin spoke. I wanted to go when John Chambers spoke but didn't make it then.

I think today's graduates are going to be in for a real treat and a very memorable day.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

It's Saturday morning and like the other six days of the week I am up early. I think this is something that I have always done, clear back to when I was a kid and would wake up early and watch, well Buggs Bunny.

I'm not sure what the day holds for us, I know Michelle wants to go to Michaels to use a 40% off coupon that I received last week when I purchased a couple of Military Flag Cases to put dad's and Grandpa Hall's Military flags in.

We stopped by the graveyard yesterday afternoon to see my dad's grave. Since Thursday was his birthday and we were in the area I decided to stop by and see the grave. We walked around and saw the graves of a few friends of mine that were my age or younger who have met their demise at one time or another. Makes you think when you see things like that.

This weekend is the WVU commencement. I see that WVU has finally unveiled their new statue at the Alumni Center. The whole place was done very nice and it is a real showpiece for the University. Former President Clinton will be here tomorrow to deloiver the commencement speech to my old College (Eberly). I did FINALLY manage to register in the Alumni Online Community.

Have a great day and enjoy it.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

Man what a rainy week it has been for us, Monday was the only day so far this week that just wasn't down right dreary outside, and it wasn't that great out. Calling for more Thunder Showers today, then finally tomorrow it is supposed to clear up and we can get a little bit of the sunny weather.

I did manage to take out Sadie for a nice relaxing walk last night. I out a little Ozzy Osbourne's "Live and Loud" on the iPhone and used it as an iPod and took a good hour power walk along the rails to trails.

I can;t to the weekend without finishing today so hi ho hi ho

Got My Livescribe Last Night

Happy Birthday George Edward Hall Sr

Today is once again May 13th, it would have been your 65th birthday. It would have been a time for you to start your retirement and enjoy the later years of your life watching your great grandchildren now grow up. I'm sure it was a day you envisioned yourself, the day you retired and hung up the mining gear for the last time. A time when you wanted to get in the RV and just tour the country and enjoy the rewards of a long life of working under the earths surface.

Unfortunately for all of us, this summer will be 11 years since your dream of this day was halted. Life is short and it waits for no one and I think that this more than anything is what I walked away from with your passing. 54 years old was way too young to leave, too many memories that were yet to be shared and enjoyed.

We all wish you could have been here the last 11 years and would have allowed all of us to join together today and celebrate your 65th birthday and the day you would have most likely hung up your mining equipment for the last time. It would have been a wonderful celebration enjoyed by everyone around you.

Unfortunately this large celebration is not going to happen, but I will keep the memory of what should have been alive today on my blog. We miss you Dad, Happy 65th Birthday.

Hump Day

Happy Humpday everyone!!!! We're getting closer and closer to yet another fun filled weekend.

Tonight after work, Michelle and myself will be going to watch Hayley's Spring Time Choir Concert at the Morgantown High School Auditorium. I have yet to experience the spring event, but I have been fortunate to see the Christmas Concert twice, so this will be a first for me at attending.

It's just a little bit sad that the weather for the spring time concert is calling for rain. I can't say I am disappointed, we are needing the rain to increase the water table, I'm just glad it had decided to rain on days that I work this week.

Oh well, hi ho hi ho it's over the hump we go!!!!

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well this workweek started out just great for me. My work computer kept getting BSOD's on Friday and I had to find the problem. Wasn't the drive, we just reformatted it and rte0installed Windows. Now it's just a matter of putting all my software and data back on my computer.

* I did make a Pen Drive version of Kubuntu to restore all of my data from the crashed drive. It's just another Linux based live CD, it can run from a flash drive so that makes it nice. No need to worry about carrying around CD's or DVD's.

* It's been 788 days since Mine and Michelle's first date and 11 days since our engagement.

* Well Monday is finally over with, and now we are looking at Tuesday. We are making a little bit of progress towards the weekend.

* Visiting with everyone this past weekend I thought I would share a few updates. Mom is doing very well, she is getting around exceptionally well and it's hard to even imagine she just had open heart surgery a few weeks ago. Jean, Nana and Gary planted a whole lot of flowers over the weekend in front of the house.

* WVU will have their 141'st Commencement this weekend. Former President Bill Clinton will speak at 2:00 at the Coliseum, I am planning on attending. There are not too many times in your life you get to hear a President, either past or present speak, and I would love to hear him speak.

* Oh well one down and four more to go. Hi ho hi ho.

Let's Start This Again

All good things have to come to an end, and another weekend has come and gone. It's time to put the nose back to the grindstone and head back to work for the week. Look at the bright side, once we get today in it will only be 4 more days till another weekend.

Softball season resumes tonight with a game at 7:00 tonight. This is our third scheduled game, but only the second time we will be hitting the field for the season. Hopefully we can extend our winning streak to two games this evening.

I have to say it was a busy day yesterday. We stopped over to visit my Mom and then stopped over to see Jean. Grabbed a few pictures from yesterday, that are up in my General Pics 2010 album for all to see.

Happy Mother's Day

Mother's Day, an international day of celebrating Mother's is a day that has its very origins right here in North Central West Virginia. Anna Jarvis is credited with celebrating the first Mother's Day in Grafton.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Mother's, Step Mother's, Grandmothers and everyone else a very happy Mother's Day today. I hope your day is filled with flowers and gifts and spending time with your children and grandchildren.

Hayley and Prom

Today came as a little bit of a surprise as we had less than an hours notice to know that Hayley would be attending the University High Prom tonight. She had a dress to wear, but no shoes to go with it. Off to the University Towne Center we went to find a shoe store. We pulled into the parking lot there at 6:41 PM and were leaving the parking lot at 6:46. Five minutes for two women to walk in and find a pair of shoes for a formal dance, choose the shoes, checkout and be out the door and heading back home. This has to be some kind of world record.

I have started a General Pics of 2010 Album on my website that I uploaded the pictures to so that they can be hosted. Inside there are also a few pics of the engagement ring.

Birth Certificate and other things

A couple of weeks ago I ordered my Birth Certificate, a document that I lost track of a number of years ago and to be honest had never really seen with my own eyes other than a quick glance one or two times.

Yesterday I received it from the Georgia Department of Health and Human Services (I was born in Georgia) and now have a certified copy of my birth records. They are safely put away in the safe with the rest of our important items.

I don't know why it has taken me so long to have enough common sense to get a copy of this, but I currently have it in hand.

Kim, Brittany and Michelle are planning on going to Buckhannon today to look at a Terrier puppy that Kim is wanting to buy. The Dog is a week old and she won;t be able to pick it up for another six weeks, but she is going down today to pick which one she wants.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

Hey I think the town is almost empty. Today is the next to the last day for finals at WVU (other than a few Saturday Finals), but most of the city's temporary residents have already packed up and left town. Most of the undergraduate candidates who will be back in 2010-11 have already boot scooted out out town, knocking the heck out of all the traffic that we have here most of the year.

As Morgantown is starting to transition from the University City to getting the local kids out of school and starting the summer programs, Movies on the Mon will once again be playing tis summer at the Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront Park, but that will start with the first Friday in June, so there is still a little bit of time to go before that starts.

Looking at Mylan Park, the WV Outdoors Sports Show ran yesterday and today.

Hi Ho Hi Ho, let's get this day over with...

SKYWARN®

As a professional geographer/GIS Analyst you are always looking to expand your capabilities and be able to add something new to a Resume that may help you out down the road.

A few weeks ago while watching the news, I saw a call for people to be weather spotters. It was from an outfit called SKYWARN® which is a group of trained severe weather spotters that report directly to the National Weather Service. I was thinking to myself it could be something to add to my resume and it looks like it might even be a lot of fun.

So this evening I will be going and taking the basic SKYWARN® class that is a prerequisite to be able to take the advanced class later down the road and certifications are good for a period of five years. I'm really interested in seeing what this is all about.

Learn Chinese in 5 Minutes

Hump Day

Well we have made it through two days this week, now it's just a trip over the hump and cruise on down to another weekend.

Jean called me yesterday afternoon all excited that she is now a geocacher. She found the Johnny Cash Cache that I had told her about previously. She seemed to remember right where it was at and managed to find it and sign the log sheet. I'm thinking that this was also my first find as well as Michelle's a year or so later.

One of our softball players is out for the year, and he is an avid photographer. Skip is the teams photographer this year and has put up a number of pics from our first game this year on his website.

Happy Cinco De Mayo everyone.

Tuesdays' Tidbits

* Well it is Tuesday, I guess it is time for a tidbits.

* We started our softball season last night on a winning note with an 11-5 victory for our first game of the season. After the hard fought season opening victory, many of the team traveled to our sponsors and had a nice dinner out on the deck with the guys.

* For you people keeping track of the Christmas Shopping season, there are 235 shopping days left until Christmas.

* We, as in the team, are talking about taking the Limousine and a bus to the game in two weeks. It will be a late game and we just want to have a little fun with it. Should be interesting.

* I haven't gotten a chance to stop in and see Mom since she as sent home, I'll have to make it a point to check up on her this week sometime.

Let's Try This Again

Well last week we wee supposed to have our first softball game of the 2010 season. However Mother nature did not cooperate with us and with a good bit of rainfall our first game of the season was rained out and postponed until a later date. That was last week.

Tonight we will once again attempt to start our 2010 softball season with our first game of the season this evening. It rained basically all day yesterday and there is rain in todays forecast, so it may be guess as to whether or not Mother Nature will cooperate.

I'm ready to head to the ball park and enjoy all the fun that is associated with a good softball game.

A Big Thank You

Yesterday evening Michelle and I were invited over for dinner to my old Buddy Smitty and his wife Stephanie's house. It had been a while since I really got a chance to spend much if any time with John, and I guess he took the initiative to say it had been too long.

We were treated to a seafood dinner that included shrimp, scallops and mussels. I've always thought John was a very good cook, and once again he has come through with a very nice dinner.

From Michelle and myself, I would like to thank John and Steph for a great evening, we need to get together again sometime soon.

Our Day

P and P Family auctions will be having their monthly auction today at the Blue Horizon Flea Market.

A lot of big heavy equipment, trucks, campers and other such items appear to be on the agenda for the auction today.

This evening we are going over to my buddy Smitty's for dinner. I'll give me a chance to sit down and do a little BS'ing with him, which we are long overdue for a good BS session.

Should be a great day.