Back To Work

Well we had a great weekend, we got a few things accomplished that we wanted to accomplish for the wedding, got our law chairs and canopy hooked up outside and even took a little bit of time yesterday to grill up some awesome steaks, little potatoes and some fresh asparagus on the grill. We also purchased a little garden that we are going to build on the patio and line it with plastic. It was pre-fabricated with recycled material and we can tale it down in the fall and reuse it next year. 3 1/2' X 7' x 8" will give us a chance to plant a few fresh veggies and some fresh herbs.

So much for the fun though, this is Monday, we have a Federal Budget and it's back to the grindstone for both Michelle and me today.

It was a great and very productive weekend and I just loved the weather!!!

Hi ho hi ho

Geocaching 2011

We finally got our start on the 2011 geocaching season yesterday. We had been out once earlier looking for a single cache that we did not retrieve, so we tried it once again yesterday and once again failed. However we did manage to do a couple of other caches yesterday afternoon, officially giving us a start to or season.

One of the caches we did asked you to upload a picture of yourself, as the young couple that set the cache had met at this location.

I am hoping to do a little more geocaching this year than I did last year, mainly because I have now officially hung it up and retired from playing the game of softball. I'll miss the game, but I can keep myself busy geocaching.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Once again I sit in a quiet house with everyone sleeping collecting my thoughts. I've always been an early morning person, and yes I am up at 5:00 AM even on my days off. I think this sleep schedule was bestowed upon me by my grandparents as a child growing up and I have never really shaken it. I've had other sleep schedules, but this one has always seemed the most comfortable for me. I guess I'm a get up and get it over with so I can enjoy the rest of the day kind of a guy.

Well I guess I still have a place to go to work on Monday. Yesterday Secretary Chu announced that the DOE would continue operations with money that had no year associated with it and all employees, Feds and Contractors were to report to work Monday if Congress could not agree on a budget. So regardless I have to report Monday.

However last night at the 11th hour (Midnight actually) the Senate Approved a budget presented by the House earlier in the evening calling for 48 Billion in cuts (about to Billion less than Obama had called for) preventing a Government Wide Shut Down.

I think both sides were playing poker, but knowing a shut down was the last thing anyone wanted they passed a budget late last night.

I was prepared either way and may even start my own company on the side. When opening up a GIS business the one thing you need is first a market (it's there) and a work flow that will keep you busy and that might have just fallen into place Thursday by sheer accident. I was presented a chance to tie into a large company as an independent contractor, and I think I really want to pursue this market and make my own name on the side. More to come on that, it's something I have always talked about doing.

Enjoy your Saturday.

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.

I should watch what I am wishing for though as the Federal Government is fighting over a budget still and have a deadline of midnight tonight or the Government is going to shut down. What does this mean to a Federal Contractor such as myself? It means my office is locked up and we are not permitted on site or to be able to work until the budgeting issues have been resolved.

To say that it is on my mind is an understatement. I hope they get this resolved as soon as possible so that any Federal Employee or contractor can get back to doing what we do and earn our money.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Terri Beth Hall Rehmani

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my beautiful sister Terri, aka "Teddy Bear" a very happy birthday today.

I could combine this post and talk about this picture as my photo flashback. This picture was at a party that she had at her house a number of years ago. She and Nick always had an open door and were always hosting get togethers if for no other reason than getting together. I think this is one of my personal favorite pics of her, I even remember using this photo in my wonderful world movie that I did a number of years ago. It was through her eyes that I got the inspiration to do the video.

If you see Terri today, make sure you wish Terri a very Happy Birthday today.

Hump Day

Well 14 hours after I left the house in wearing a tie I finally made it home. Talk about a very long day, at least I had dinner at the Hotel Morgan and someone else picked up the tab.

Now we're at Wednesday and day two of the conference. It'll all be over with tonight after we give them a tour of NETL this afternoon and show everyone a few things.

I hope everyone has a great hump day. I'm brain dead this evening (I usually write the blog the evening before) and really aren't the most articulate this evening. Have a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesdays Tidbits

* Well, Monday is not behind us and we are looking straight down the barrel of a Tuesday. I can;t think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1117 magical days since Michelle and I had our first date a little over three years ago.

* It's been 340 days since we became engaged.

* We are 123 days before our wedding date later this summer.

* I'll have a busy week this week starting today. It's the first day of the three Country NACAP Conference that WVU and NETL are hosting. Needless to say that this will be a very long day for me. Tomorrow shouldn't be as long as today.

* Trish, Arron and Layla stopped over yesterday evening for a nice little visit. It had been a while since we had seen them, so it was nice to see them as it always is.

* Yesterday was also Michael and Ashley's third year wedding anniversary.

* Hi ho hi ho, it's going to be a long, tie wearing day.

End of the Weekend

All good things must come to an end, and that includes weekends. The weather was a little less than cooperative for us, but we did manage to get out yesterday evening and help out Smitty and Stephanie find a graveyard that they couldn't find by using the GPS. Her grandparents are buried in a small graveyard off of Snake Hill Road and they were having trouble locating it. She had used Find A Grave to located the coordinates, we converted them to something our GPS could use and plugged them in. It took us right to it. When we got home I managed to find by Grandparents Gravesite on that site.

Michelle made a large batch of home made chicken noodle soup yesterday. I bought a canning jar attachment for our FoodSaver and we put it into 8 quart jars and a 2 quart vacuum sealed container. Michelle loves soup and will be taking them for lunch at work. She is one heck of a cook.

This week for me is going to be chaos starting tomorrow. We have the NACAP Conference here in Morgantown this week. It's not going to be the typical week for me and that's for sure.

Have a great day, hi ho hi ho

What is Up With This Damn Weather

Paging Punxatawey Phil and Mother Nature. What the heck is up with this weather? And Snow? In April? Give me a break, it's going on NINE, count them NINE weeks since Phil said we were going to have an early spring. By my count that is three weeks past your jurisdiction, and we are ready for Spring Time. So make with the spring time NOW.

I've had enough of this cold winter weather, it's time for shorts, sandals and Spring time weather. The past few days have been the most absolute craziest weather wise. One minute it's bearable, next thing you know it's pouring snow down. It was snowing yesterday and calling for 72° tomorrow. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Well April Fools is now behind us and I do have to say I saw and heard a couple good ones that were not even mine.

On WVAQ Kevin and Timmy kept apologizing for something that was said on air and offered a chance for viewers to chime in. Michelle, my co-conspirator on yesterdays pranks said they kept talking about it and wondered what was said. I just looked at her and say Ken in pretty good at this, just like a few years ago when he and Eric started an hour early and reported the time an hour ahead fooling many into thinking they were late for work. Good prank Kevin and Timmy.

Josh Hertlein a guy I work with actually had me second guessing on one that he did when he announced his wife had their baby. He had a lot of details and I almost bit, but once again I knew it was April Fools Day so I held of on congratulating them until today. Good thing, because that too was a good one.

I also tried one on Facebook telling people they could see who has viewed their status by using the windows command to close a window "CTRL + W".

Yesterday was a pretty productive day however, I finally made it to the DMV to have my address changed. It's only been two years and I've actually started using checks with my current address and now have the drivers license to support that.

We also stopped in at the Marilla Center and had a chance to go in and take some notes. I managed to grab a few pictures for those of you who have not been there recently or not at all.

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 and an April Fools Day.

Hope everyone liked my first post today, it was a lot of fun trying to come up with something. We had to keep in par with what we did last year when we told everyone we ran away in the middle of the night to get married.

Well consider this, by the time this posts I'll already be off work for the day running some errands with Michelle.

Have a great weekend.

We're Going to Have a Baby

Michelle and I have been blessed, she did a pregnancy test this morning and it came back positive, we are going to have a baby.

We are both stunned and excited and can't believe we have been blessed with this little bundle of joy. It does come as a surprise as she is a few months pregnant already and we are thinking of moving the wedding up from August to later this month.

We are both very excited, we already have a name picked out for our little bundle of joy. Sloof Lirpa Hall. We derived the name from a special event.

Photo Flashback Thursday

Photo Flashback Thursday is starting to be one of my favorite BLOGs to write during the week. It gives me a chance to look back through Thousands of pictures and reminisce on days gone by.

This picture was long before I was even thought of, this was when my Mother and my Aunt Bonita were living in Hawaii and getting lei'd every day. Speaking of getting Lei'd, we're gonna make sure everyone gets lei'd at mine and Michelle's wedding.

Mom and Bonita shaking their rear ends in the grass skirts on the beaches of Hawaii. Why did they ever come back to the mainland? Actually I have it on good authority Mom's addiction to midget porn and lack of internet services in Hawaii lead her back to Morgantown.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Once again we are at the point of the week where the wait until the weekend is growing shorter and shorter. It is hump day and I couldn't be more excited.

However I am having that dreaded brain fart that hits me every once in a blue moon where the creative juices just aren't there. Some blogs are easy to write, some aren't that bad and then there are those where you could sit and ponder for an hour what the first word was going to be over a subject you still hadn't picked up on.

Either way, I am still committed to writing daily as I have for a few years now.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is now behind us and we are now staring down the barrel of a Tuesday, can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits than that.

* If you are still counting, I know I am it has been 1110 days since that first magical evening when Michelle took four hours to get ready for a date with me.

* That mean's it has been 333 days since I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me.

* Speaking of, we're 130 days from that magical date this August when we will tie the knot and get married.

* What's up with this cold front? I'm ready for some 70°- 80° days here before long, this 20° stuff is really starting to get old. Warm up and bring us warmth and sunny days.

* If anyone is interested, there is a group of guys going to MVP Park this weekend to play paintball. A guy I work with and a guy I used to play softball with are organizing it. They will start at 11:00 Saturday Morning.

* Hi ho hi ho

Back to Work

Well it's time for most of us to put our noses back to the grindstone and get ready to start another week of work in our offices or places of employment.

The picture you see is of Josh Judy who should break with the Indians and be a part of the 40 man roster this season, but he will probably start the year om Columbus again. I saw the picture on MLB.com and thought I would put it up.

For me however it's back to the office today. This week should be finalizing a few things for the conference that we will partially host next week with West Virginia University for the North American Carbon Atlas Partnership (NACAP). A report due today, finalizing a few things and that is my agenda for this week.

Hi ho hi ho

We Made Butter

Well with yesterdays weather a little less than acceptable we decided to make it a day at home and try something new. I found a recipe for making butter, so to speak.

Neither one of had ever made it before and really had no concept of what to do. So with the weather being less than suitable we decided to give it a try. There has been a butter that we have found that we really like from Homestead Creamery , and if you have never had their milk it is the best I have ever had. WE go weekly to buy their dairy products at Krogers on 705.

However we wanted to try to make our own butter as something different. The ingredients are heavy whipping cream and a little bit of salt for your own preference in taste. The process is simply beating the heavy whipping cream (we have a kitchenaid, but any food processor will do) for about 10 minutes.

The butter comes out and separates from the milk leaving you two products. One is obviously the butter and the second is buttermilk. You just have to make sure you get all the milk separated from the butter. The butter is cheaper, healthier and can be seasoned to your own taste.


To see for yourself, here is a video we found on how to make two different kinds.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Once again I am siting here in a nice and quiet house, one where I don't think that a soul is moving in other than me collecting my thoughts.

What happened to spring time? It's 28 degrees out this morning and I wanted to get out and do a little bit of geocaching this morning, instead it's cold weather. So much for wearing shorts this morning and going out and having a little bit of fun in flip flops. Instead it looks like blue jeans and tennis shoes.

It may just turn out to be a lazy day if the weather doesn't clear up a little bit.

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 I'm not to sure if I am fond of this weather, it's springtime and a time for sunshine and warmer days than we have been experiencing this week. The students are on spring break, but today is the last day off and it will be back to the classroom Monday and traffic headaches around town. That's OK, they are getting to start the home stretch on the school year.

I would like to get out tomorrow and do a little bit of geocaching. It would be our first real time out this year.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

I introduce to everyone, the worlds best looking baby that has ever existed. Look at that cute kid (I hope this is me and not Kim), isn't he absolutely adorable?

Obviously this is a picture of my Mom and Dad and of myself. It is one of the very few if only one that I know of that is comprised of just the three of us without anyone else in the picture.

I notice the picture was taken while my Dad was still in the Army and my Mom had the Jackie O hairdo of the day, even though she was a Kennedy at that time.

Michelle made the comment that looking at my dad, she really sees my Nephew Moke in this picture. Saying those are Pam's eyes. I have to agree with her.

Speaking of pictures, yesterday was Maxine Snider's Birthday and I took my camera for a few pictures.

Happy Birthday Maxine Snider

I would like to take this opportunity to wish someone very special a very Happy Birthday. Maxine "We all know her as Nana" Snider has finally reached the age where I think she can legally buy beer (which means at least 21).

I snapped this picture last summer and Michelle knew exactly which one I should use for this blog, so I can't argue with the boss.

If you see Nana today, make sure you wish her the very happiest of birthdays today. If you don't see her, make and effort to either call her and wish this very special lady the happiest of birthdays today.

Tuesdays Tidbits

* Well Monday is now behind us and we are staring down the barrel of a Tuesday, can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* Day 1,103 since mine and Michelle's first date a little over three magical years ago.

* It's been 326 days since I got down on one knee in the back yard and asked her to Marry me.

* There are only 137 days to go until the wedding.

* Wow did we get some rain yesterday. Michelle sent me a picture of the road that was flooded as she was on her way to pick me up. I'm sharing it in this BLOG so you can see what she saw. The picture was turning onto Van Voorhis from Chestnut Ridge Road.

* BTW, I think she is really starting to fall in love with her iPhone.

* Hi ho hi ho

Back To Work

Well it's time to stop all the weekend fun and enjoyment and time to take our relaxed persons and stick our noses back on to the grindstone.

As of 7:21 PM yesterday evening, we are now OFFICIALLY in spring time!!! Winter is over, it's time for shorts and sandals and getting out and having fun. It's time for geocaching and driving with the windows down and the radio playing your favorite summertime songs. It's a time of birds a singing rather than snow plows a pushing. I love this time of the year!!!

Around Morgantown you may see traffic a little bit more bearable this week as the student sare off on Spring Break.

Hi ho hi ho

Saturday Morning Ramblings

I sit once again in a quiet house, Hayley is up and on the couch with her laptop, but neither one of us is watching TV. I've been up playing Texas Hold Em on Facebook. I'm trying to win this morning, but the cards are not falling my way on this day as of yet. I am in the final 10 of the 1,000 player three round tournament for the second time. I'm really wanting to win one of these 1,000 player tournaments so I can have that on my record.

Yesterday we went to the monthly P&P Family Auction. We ended up not buying anything, but there was a very good turnout and they appeared to be moving a good bit of merchandise. I guess the nicer weather had everyone out and wanting to see what deals they could find.

Not sure what is on our agenda for today beyond our weekly shopping. There is a WVU Baseball game at 1:00 this afternoon, Michelle's Mom has also came into town so it is hard to say what we will definitely be doing.

Lot;s of sadness after the WVU men's basketball team lost to Kentucky in yesterdays game, knocking us out of the tournament and officially putting and end to the 2010-11 Mountaineer Men's Basketball season. I have to say that this team went above my expectations this season. Great job Coach, and thank you to the outgoing Seniors.

Jimmy Buffet Tickets

Calling all Pittsburgh area Parrot heads, Jimmy's tickets for his 2011 tour that will be running through Burgettstown are on sale today at 10:00. Be online, be ready and have all your information ready if you plan on getting the seats where all the action is going to be located (The lawn of course).

Happy Birthday Amy Dalton

I would like to take this esteemed opportunity to wish my beautiful niece Amy the very happiest of birthdays today.

Her in laws kind of caught her off guard last weekend and gave her a surprise birthday party. I know she wasn't expecting that one, so Kudo's the the Dalton gang for catching her off guard.

I don't know what her plans are for today, but I'm sure it involves two very special men in her life.

If you see Amy, make sure you wish her a Happy Birthday.

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.

I hope everyone didn't drink too much Green Beer and watch too much NCAA basketball yesterday.

Well, tomorrow at 10:00 AM is when the 2011 Jimmy Buffett Tickets go on sale for his concert this summer in Pittsburgh. I'll be at the computer trying to round myself up a couple of lawn tickets for his show this summer. We always have a great time when we go, I just wish a few others would decide to join us.

The Mountaineers advanced in the NCAA tournament yesterday with a 84-76 win over Clemson in the first round of the tournament. The Mountaineers will return to action tomorrow in a rematch game of the Eastern Finals last year when we once again play the Kentucky Wildcats for a chance to advance to the Sweet 16.

Happy St Patricks Day

Happy Saint Patrick's Day. A day of leprechauns, Green Beer and lots and lots of green beer consumed in celebration of Saint Patrick.

Make sure you wear a little bit of green today, you don't want to people around you to pinch you. Especially if you are of Irish Decent.

Have a great day and if you see a leprechaun, tell me me he is at and I'll go steal him gold.

Flashback Thursday

I started a thing a couple of weeks ago when I find and old picture and talk about it as a Flashback.

No one ever said I wouldn't post pictures of my days as a fashion model. Actually I was auditioning for the movie Dazed and Confused years before it was even made.

Actually this is a picture from about 1976 or 1977, and was actually the day I met my sister Kim for the first time. I had met Terri a few times before, but Kim was one that I had yet to meet. So we arranged to met at Suburban Lanes to go bowling and allow me and Kim a chance to meet each other.

You got to love those fashionable Chuck Taylor Canvas Converse, the cut off shorts, the knee high tube socks being held up by rubber bands and how could you not love that 1970's hair style? I was definitely stylin and profilin, that is for sure.

It was a day that I have never forgotten.

Tuesdays Tidbit's on a Wednesday

* Due to yesterday being mine and Michelle's three year anniversary, I moved the tidbits back until today.

* 1,097 days since mine and Michelle's first date, three years and one day ago.

* It has been 319 days since our engagement.

* 143 days until the wedding day.

* I've got a day half full of meetings today, it's going to be my busiest one in a few weeks. We're preparing for a conference that is going to be held here in Morgantown in a few weeks.

* Had a Doctors appointment yesterday, just a routine visit with my Doctor and discuss how I am doing. He did comment on my lungs and no signs of me ever being a smoker. It'll be going on either none or ten years since the last time I lit one up.

* For our third Anniversary, Michelle and I had dinner at Applebees yesterday. I love their steals.

Hi ho hi ho

Three Magical Years

Three years ago my life changed forever. After a lifetime of trying to find the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, I finally met her.

I had first met her nine years prior and we got along great, but she was married at the time with two young kids and I was just starting college.

Pan ahead eight years later, I'm done with college, she had been widowed and I asked her to come to our Christmas Party. I was very excited about seeing her, only to be stood up on that night.

Pan ahead three months later and we finally did manage to go out, and my life has been for the better ever since. We have been together for three magical years as of today, that is 1,096 magical days.

The best is yet to come though, in about another 144 days when she will become my bride.

Michelle, thank you for coming into my life and ridding my emptiness, I love you and look forward to the life we have ahead of us.

Happy Three Year Anniversary.

Brackets are In

Let the 2010 version of March Madness begin. The brackets were announced yesterday evening and the Mountaineers are a playing in Tampa and will take on the Clemson/UAB winner in our first round game.

The winner of that game will most likely get to play the Kentucky Wildcats, a team WVU beat last year to earn our way to the Final 4. Last years Kentucky's team was comprised of five first round NBA Draft Picks including the 31 overall pick John Wall.

Wouldn't it be nice if Hugg's can end their season two years in a row?

Time to get your office brackets ready and Hi ho hi ho

Spring Forward

It is the start of my favorite time of the year, when we move our clocks ahead one hour (If you haven't done it yet, you may be an hour behind) for Daylight Savings Time.

It will now start to get dark an hour later and we have to get up an hour earlier. If you feel like the entire day is a day of playing catch up because you are behind, your body has not adjusted yet. Mine has been adjusted for this for a few weeks now.

We had a great day yesterday, Michelle and I were at Hawley Field to watch a little bit of Mountaineer Baseball.

It is a Minion Morning

From Chewie:

Hi! My name is Edith Ann Marie Stavar. I was born today at 3:43 am. I am 6 lbs. and 12.2 oz. I am 19 inches long. Mommy and I are doing fine. More pictures to come.

Congrats to Courtney and Chewie.

Is it a Minion Morning?

You have to love Facebook to find news and information. I was up bright and early as I am every day and our friends Chewie and Courtney may be having their little Minion as we speak.

Chewie started with a Here we Go followed by a pushing time, so something tells me that they will be proud parents any moment now (I am actually writing this at 4:00 AM as opposed to having it post at 4:00 AM like I usually do).

I'm watching Facebook for some kind of a word from Chewie, but something tells me he is busy right now.

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.

First of all I have to ask, what the heck happened to the 70°+ days that I had been hoping for? Come on, I'm losing an hours sleep this weekend, Mother Nature should at the very least be cooperative and allow us some nice warm spring type weather instead of this cold rail/snow crap we're getting.

The WVU Baseball Home season has finally got a start for the year. They are supposed to have a four game home stand this weekend starting this afternoon against Rider College. Speaking of 70°+ days..you know they would be nice and fitting for right now. Soak up a little sun, wear some shorts and enjoy a little baseball. I'm just saying Mother Nature.

If you want to get this party started, we have to get Friday over with. Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Thursdays are a hard Blog to get any inspiration for, so last week I thought I would look back through my 12,000+ pictures and do as flashback. Tell a little story about a picture from sometime in the past.

This weeks was no doubt a transitional period in my life. This is me in the evening after my first day in college in the fall of 1999. A time when my life was at a crossroads and I had to choose a path. My path I chose was to go to college, and I had no idea what would lie in front of me.

This is my going over my Psych 1 notes with my pierced ear, my Dale Earnhardt shirt and one of those cancer sticks that I wasted way too much money on in my life (It has been since May of 2002 since I have had one) when I used to smoke. We had just came back from Ocean City the day before and I was starting college on that day.

I had no idea what I was getting into, but I have never looked back. I had no idea if I could or could not do it, so I gave it everything I had for the next five years and worked in my field (for next to nothing) for my last three years of college.

It was a day my life changed forever.

Ash Wednesday Edition of Hump Day

Well you better have your Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday celebration out your system, for today is ash Wednesday and the first day of lent. I hope everyone has a Charlie Sheen type of good time and were in some type of exchange of some beads.

Well it's back to work after an evening of fun filled frolicking last night, now the fun is over and it is time to get back to work. Looking at the bright side, there will be a lot of great fish sandwich deals for a few weeks, and I love fish.

Hayley had an interview yesterday at Krogers, she thinks it went pretty well. They did a few employment types of things that they really wouldn't do if they were not interested in hiring her. Hopefully she'll be hearing some good news in the immediate future.

Speaking of employment, hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well that dreaded Monday is now past us, and we have our sites set straight upon Tuesday, can;t think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* 1,089 days since mine and Michelle's first date a few years ago. We're actually a week away from three years since our first date.

* 312 days since I proposed marriage and she accepted.

* 151 days until the wedding.

* Talked to Amy briefly yesterday on Facebook, she said that she fixed her computer problem by reformatting her machine and reinstalling the operating system.

* Talked to Pam a couple of nights ago, she is interested in going to the rails to trails with us. We spoke about possibly renting bikes and going riding on the trails sometime this summer. It would be nice if we could get a group of people to do this. (hint hint)

* Still waiting to see when Jimmy Buffett is planning on going to Pittsburgh this year. He's usually announced by now, so something is telling me this may be up this year for something different from him. Just don't do it August 6th.

* Today is Fat Tuesday. Tonight is the time to be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Obviously Wed is Ash Wed.

* We also spring the clocks forward ahead one hour this weekend, so you lose an hour of sleep, but you gain an hour of daylight in the evening. I think my body has already adjusted for the change.

* Hi ho hi ho

Tried a Real Good Recipe yesterday

I was at work on day last week when a co-worker told me about this Spicy Sausage Rigatoni that he couldn't get enough of. Michelle and I tried it yesterday and give it a two thumbs up and highly recommend it. Allow us to share.


http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/spicy-sausage-rigatoni-recipe/index.html

Ingredients

• 12 ounces rigatoni, cooked and drained
• 12 ounces hot Italian sausage, removed from casing
• 1/4 cup reserved cooking liquid from rigatoni
• 2 tablespoons olive oil and chopped
• 2 cups whole canned tomatoes, drained
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/2 cup parsley, chopped
• 1/2 cup Parmesan, grated

Directions

Heat oil in large skillet, Cook garlic, red pepper flakes and cayenne over medium high heat quickly. Add in crumbled sausage meat and cook until completely browned. Add in tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Cook about 5 minutes until sauce begins to thicken and add cream. Return to a rapid simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add cooked Rigatoni and reserved liquid. Return to simmer and sprinkle with parsley and Parmesan. Serve with extra Parmesan cheese and black pepper.

Michelle and I absolutely loved this and for you cooks out there looking for a pasta recipe with a little bit of a a bite to it, try this. It was awesome.

On that note, hi ho hi ho

Finally Made It

Last weekend I really wanted to go and see the movie Hall pass, but we ended up not making it to see it last weekend for one reason or another. This weekend however we took a little time out to go to the movies and see the movie.

I gotta say, the guys who made this are the same guys who made Something About Mary and it more than lived up to its expectations. Most of the theater were literally laughing out loud at this movie, and both Michelle and I enjoyed it. If anyone is looking for a good movie to see that is out right now, we gave it two thumbs up for adults. Might not be suitable for the young ones though.

That makes two movies that we have went to see this year so far. It had been a while since we had gone to the movies, it's nice going back and seeing all the previews. Kung Fu Panda II is definitely on my agenda to see this may.

Earl Saturday Morning Ramblings

Once again, the house is all quiet and peaceful and I am up in the wee hours of a Saturday Morning trying to come up with a few original thoughts to put into a blog. I'm bit a freaking Rock Star from Mars and my life lacks the excitement level that is the life of Charlie Sheen. (I had to make at least one Sheen reference this week)

I spoke with Chris O and he is talking about gathering a group of his co-workers to go and play paintball on April 3rd at MVPPark. I saw Sean and Danny a couple of weeks ago and mentioned that a few people I work with may be interested in playing and he said Chris was going to bring a crew on that date. I called Chris yesterday and confirmed that date and he said the more the merrier. So if anyone is looking to play a little paintball, get in touch with me and I'll give you the details.

Michelle did have a hair appointment today, but moved it to next weekend so we really have no plans this weekend. It's calling for rain anyways, so our outdoor activities could be limited.

Have a great day.

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.

Once again no plans for the weekend, although those days will soon be drawing to a close with longer days and warmer weather where we can get out and have fun geocaching. There are a number of new ones around Morgantown since we last went, and I'm ready to go out and start finding them.

Michelle was off work yesterday with a beginnings of a migraine. I should consider myself fortunate as I have no idea what one feels like. I've had headaches, but nothing like what she gets and what other describe to me as a migraine.

Gotta get this party started, hi ho hi ho

The Day I Learned I Was Going Bald

Sometimes its just a lot of fun to go back through your old pictures and remember certain events in your life.

I was looking at this picture and realized it was the day my Sister Terri married Nick, and I was there in attendance. My sister Kim was on the upper deck Video taping the event, and I was sitting beside my sister Pam. Although looking at this picture, I should have been sitting on the Bride's side of the isle, I guess you live and learn.

My Father walked Terri down the isle, who made a very beautiful bride by the way, and it was a great day. We all enjoyed the ceremony and the reception at Terri and Nick's place. My brother Gsry was the featured entertainment, he and his band were having their world debut en route to the world domination tour that they were planning but never got around to.

The next day I was over at Kim's, and watching the tape that they made from high above the church and I noticed a bald guy sitting beside my sister Pam. I recognized everyone in the church expect this strange looking fellow and then it hot me like a ton of bricks. I was that bald guy sitting beside my sister. I knew I was balding, but never really saw it.

It was a day I will remember forever for a multitude of reasons.

Thursdays are my hardest blog to write during the week, maybe I just need to reflect a little upon my life.

Hope you enjoyed the story, but now it is Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Monday, Check. Tuesday, Check. First part of the week is in, now it's time to get over that hump and work towards another fun filled weekend.

I think March should officially adopt February 28 this year. Why? because it thunder-stormed and the weather was much more lion like than lamb like that was yesterday's weather. You know what they say about March, in like a Lion, out like a Lamb and in like a Lamb and out like a Lion. Although I can't complain too much, because for once my buddy Phil was right with his prediction of an early spring. Thanks again Phil.

Since this was a boring Blog, let me leave you with a little entertainment to brighten up your hump day.



Hi ho hi ho

Tuesdays Tidbits

* Well Monday is now behind us an has entered into our memories meaning it is now Tuesday, I can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* 1,082 days since mine and Michelle's first date.

* It's been 305 days since our engagement last year meaning...

* ...we have 158 days until we are married.

* Today is the first day of March, a month that offers us the official start of my favorite time of the year, Spring time!!!!!!

* We're doing our weekly crock pot dinner tonight, it's been a while and the temps are dropping so it is going to be home made chilli and corn bread for our after work feast.

* Hayley found a beautiful chocolate lab a couple of nights ago that followed her home. Michele called the pound yesterday and the dog was returned to its rightful owners. Seems like they had just moved to the area and it was storming and he got scared. Chad and Hayley fed him a can of alpo and some soft food and gave him a nice place to get some rest before returning him to his rightful owners yesterday.

* We watched the Movie "The God's Must be Crazy" last night from Netflix. Michelle has never seen it.

* Hi ho hi ho

Back At It

Well all good things come to an end, and that includes weekends. It is now time to stop enjoying the fruits of our labors and stick our noses back to the grindstone and start another week of work.

I had a very productive weekend, Michelle and I got a lot done and even managed to get on the rails to trails yesterday evening for a nice little weekend ending walk with Sadie. It was nice yesterday evening and we just couldn't pass up on the opportunity to go out and enjoy ourselves.

We spent part of yesterday setting up Michelle's iPhone and making personal to her and unique to her. She still has a lot of contacts to do and synchronize, but we have her voice mail, e-mail and calender syncing and her e-mail set up. Now she just need to create a new contact list to is compatible with her new phone.

Hi ho hi ho

New Phones

After nearly three years using my old iPhone 3G, and being a couple versions behind the times, I finally decided to update my phone and add Michelle to my plan.

My choice was easy, I got the new iPhone 4G and Michelle stayed back a model and chose the iPhone 3GS as her phone. This is her first smart phone, I think it is going to have to grow on her as she starts to get acclimated to it.

My upgrade was simple, just had to plug my phone in and ht restore from backup and walla, my old Phone's settings, aps and contacts were all transfered to my new iPhone.

It was time to upgrade, I thought I was going to lose my unlimited data package, but I did not and was able to retain it.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

I went to bed early last night, which mean I am up waaaay too early this morning, so the house is quiet I might as well write my daily BLOG.

Not really much on our agenda today, most of the things we wanted to get done we actually managed to get done last night after work, so this is an "us" day to do whatever we want. The weather looks to be a little less than cooperative, so that may have some limits on what we actually do manage to do.

We talked about possibly going to go and see a movie. I thought the movie Hall Pass looked like it may be an entertaining movie. It was made by the same people who made Something About Mary, so it looks to be a good light hearted comedy.

Have a great Saturday.

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 the weather is not going to be quite as nice as it was last weekend, but I'll take it. I'll take this kind of weather over cold and snow any day of the week.

No weekend plans yet for me and Michelle other than our typical weekend plans. Milanos later tonight for dinner and we are going to have to make a stop at Comcast for a digital converter box for Chad's room.

Let's get this weekend party started. Hi ho hi ho

OK It's Official

In the past week Mine and Michelle's wedding plans have started to take shape. Rented and no longer available to us were a couple venues that we were debating with since last fall.

Wouldn't you know everything seems to have a way to work out. We secured a venue on Monday that we both felt the most comfortable with among the four we considered. I said I didn't want to post anything about it until it was paid for with receipt and permit in hand. Considering it was all done by phone, I had to wait for the mail. Well, it is now official.

Our wedding reception venue will officially be the Marilla Center on August 6th. We held Valarie's wedding there back in 2003, the facility has been completely redone since then. New floors, Air Conditioning has been installed, a sound system is already in place with two flat screen TV's, new tables and new chairs.

Now with a date set, a venue for the reception, the person actually marrying us and a first draft of the guest list in place, it is time to start making this happen.

In the coming months we will be organizing menus, recruiting many family members and a few close friends to lend a hand doing various things. If anyone would like to help, we would appreciate it and tell us what you would like to do.

Hump Day

Ok, what is with this cold weather? Lat week we were looking at 60°F and now it's below freezing, cold and just not the most desirable of of weather conditions for someone like me.

Well we are at midweek for some of you people working the full week this week. I was off Monday, so it really doesn't feel like midweek just yet. Maybe tomorrow and by that time it'll be Thursday and I'll be ready for the weekend.

Anyone notice Comcast switched completely away from Analog yesterday early in the morning. If you don't have a Digital TV or a converter box, you are going to be out of luck until you get one. Chad's TV is currently useless and I need to pick up a couple of converter boxes to be able to bring his back online plus any additional ones we want.

Oh well, Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* After a nice relaxing Monday off, we are looking down the barrel of a Tuesday, can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits other than that.

* It has been 1,075 days since mine and Michelle's first date.

* It has been 298 days since our engagement.

* There are 165 days until the wedding.

* Speaking of the wedding, as I mentioned last week our first two venues were not available for the date we needed, HOWEVER a venue we both liked much more than is available. More to come once we sign the contract and secure the facility which should be very soon. UPDATE since I initially wrote this: venue has been reserved and paid for in full. It is ours for August 6th, 2011. I'll announce on BLOG when we have paperwork in hand, this was done by phone. Michelle and I looked at it from the outside Friday afternoon. I think at least people in my family will be very impressed with the upgrades made at this location since the last time we used it.

* Wedding planning is starting to get a head of steam. We spent last fall putting our initial guest list together and speaking to a few key people who we would like to be involved with the wedding. Now the budget money is in place, we'll secure the facility and then it will be full steam ahead.

* We have our theme in place for the wedding and reception. We want to do a small ceremony and concentrate most of our resources on the party/celebration/reception afterwards. Nothing has been finalized, just discussed to this point.

* Hi ho hi ho

Presidents Day

It used to be George Washington's Birthday, but now it is called President's Day. Either way it is a Federal Holiday for me so I'll just say thank you to our founding father for the three day weekend.

Michelle has to work, but I'm off for the day so I won't be getting into to much.

Have a great day.

Relaxing Day

After a nice and productive day yesterday, maybe we'll take the day and relax being that the weather is going to be a little less than cooperative today.

It could be a movie kind of a day as after our weekly shopping trip, there is nothing else really planned unless the weather all of a sudden gets nicer.

Morgantown was a little nicer yesterday thanks to Bob Huggins and the Mountaineer Men's Basketball team beating 7th ranked Notre Dame 72-58 in front of a national audience and over 12,298 screaming fans. It's been a tough years for the Mountaineers after advancing to the Final 4 last season, but anytime you can beat Notre Dame it makes the Mountaineer nation smile just a little bit more.

Have a good day.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Once again I sit in a quiet house in the early AM. I am the first one up and Michelle is in the bedroom sleeping like a log. I've got her coffee set up for her this morning contemplating on what the days plans will hold.

I think we are going to try to get to the trails this morning, weather permitting and let Sadie have a little walk. We did our first trip to the trails this year a couple days ago, and I think we are both ready to get out more now that the weather seems to be looking spring like.

We did have a little setback on the wedding plans this week. The Venue we wanted to use has already been reserved, or at least a portion of it, and it was the main portion we wanted. So, we have been looking into other venues and spinning our brains. The 4 H Camp is reserved and Dorsey's knob has been reserved for our planned weekend.

Weather will not be as nice as it has been the past couple of days, but is manageable.

Have a great day.

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.

I also have to point out that it is a three day weekend for me as Monday is a Federal Holiday and I have the day off. Michelle unfortunately has to work.

Enjoy the nice weather that we have today and have had, because today will be the weekends best weather day. It'll be in the 60's today and will drop into the 40's over the weekend including on Monday.

Hopefully we'll get out and do something this weekend. We're talking about possibly making our first trip to the trails for the year, maybe that could be on our weekend agenda. I know I need to get out and start moving around, I hate this winter crap.

Isabella's Journey

It's been a few weeks since I updated everyone on the Isabella's Journey weight loss challenge.This is a challenge that both Michelle and I accepted and are looking to lose 15 pounds by the end of March.

Isabella has had a little bit of bad luck, as they just found six tumors on her brain and she has been hospitalized.



Here is Mikes weekly advice to everyone.

Don’t eat any food in front of the TV. It’s what I call mindless eating. It’s when you’re mind wanders and you just keep eating whatever is in front of you. Next thing you know the bag is empty, the container is gone, and you really question yourself as to whether or not you really just ate everything that was in front of you. Your meals should be planned and focused. If you are making a conscious effort about your food portions and choices you are much less likely to overeat and make bad decisions.


Spend time outside. Since the weather has given us a little break with warmer temperatures we should be looking to get some activity outside in nature. Go for a hike, find a local trail, climb some hills, do a few pushups. It can really ignite your primal instincts and bring enjoyment to your physical activity. So your home work until next Wednesday is to spend at least 1 hour on 2 separate days in nature performing any type of physical activity.


Please let me know if you have any questions.


Now, on to the BIG Announcement!
In addition to running the 50 miles in support of Isabella I have been working on organizing a fitness event, and I plan on donating a portion of the proceeds to Isabella and her family. The event is titled the Primal Fitness Bash and will be held on June 4, 2011 at the Adamstown Rod & Gun Club. You can see all of the details at www.primalfitnessbash.com. In addition, I have organized a Facebook fan page and a Twitter page to promote the event. Please pass this along to everyone you know. All of the promotional links are at the end of this page.


The idea behind the event is to promote health and fitness, to raise funds for Isabella and her family, and to remember what life is all about, FUN! The day will consist of basic fitness components such as pushups, pull-ups, a rock toss, and a 5K run/walk that will be done in bare feet. Some of you may not have done some of these things since you were in high school, and when is the last time you ran in barefeet? I’m guessing not since you were a kid! Even if you don’t want to participate in any of the events I encourage you to grab a spectator ticket that includes a pig roast and beer. That’s right beer! There’s no reason you can’t be healthy and indulge every once and awhile! Thank you in advance to everyone that helps and registers for the event. Also, if you know of any businesses that would like to sponsor the event please let me know and I can send them the sponsorship form. I already have one sponsor that contributes material to Mens Health and Mens Fitness magazines, which is awesome! But we still need more. Please let me know if you have any questions about the event and I hope to see many of you participate.


-Mike

Mom is having Surgery

I got a call yesterday that my Mother was going to have surgery done today. It should be a same day procedure where she will be able to go home this evening.

They will be operating on her Thyroid Gland and removing it this morning. SEE GOOGLE BODY. Like I said it should be a same day procedure and she should be going home tonight barring any problems such as bleeding.

I guess Kim is going to pick her up and take her today for her 9:30 surgery. I'll try to update everyone as I get updates from Kim.

Tuesdays Tidbits

* Well Monday is once again behind us and we are looking right down the barrel of a Tuesday, I can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* 1,068 Days since Michelle made me sit through that awful movie on our first date. Nearly three years later I am pushing the blame onto her. =)

* 291 Days since I proposed, even though she chose 10,000 BC as the movie of our first date.

* 172 Days until Dr Filcheck will tie mine and Michelle's lives together as man and wife.

* I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day. I took Michelle out to Puglioni's after work for dinner. Living in this city and on this side of traffic hell, we were lucky enough to get a table right off. We had a few restaurants we were planning on trying to get into, Applebees was probably next on the list. We lucked out.

* We received our latest DVD from Netflix last night. Valkyrie is our latest DVD that we have. We had Kickass for a couple of months until we finally sent it back for our next movie.

* I'm liking this warmer weather and seeing more and more daylight. We're a little less than a month away until Daylight Savings Time.

* Hi ho hi ho

Happy Valentines Day

It's Valentines Day, and I am one lucky guy. Could it be that that I have a great family? Sure could be, but it gets better. Is it because I have a very special group of friends? Absolutely, but it gets even better. Why am I one lucky guy? Her name is Michelle. A woman who came into my life a few years ago and rocked my world. She saved this lost soul and breathed life back into mine.

I am also very lucky because today, that special woman is my Valentine.

Happy Valentines Day Michelle.

Change of Plans.

Well yesterday I said Michelle and I were talking about buying each other a TV for the bedroom for Valentines Day, we however ended up buying a more practical gift. We were walking around and stopped by an item that we have been talking about purchasing for about three years now but just have never done it.

WE were both in agreement that a nice Foodsaver Smartseal was something we could really use as opposed to have something sit and not really use it. We have a freezer and we buy most of our meats and stuff in bulk, this way we can vacuum seal it and store it longer and more efficiently.

Yesterday evening we went to see a movie at the theater. We're still trying to remember the last movie we saw in a theater and we honestly can't remember. We ended up deciding on going to see No Strings Attached with Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher. It was a cute Romantic Comedy that we both enjoyed.

Todays plans after shopping, Co-Ed Baby shower this afternoon at Coaches with many of the people from the softball team. Gonna be a great day.

Quiet Saturday Morning BLOG

I once again sit in a quiet house, I'm pretty sure that everyone is sound asleep and counting sheep jumping over a fence in their dreams. I've been up a little while, already watched the Karate Kid II and The Golden Child on HBO in the early AM.

Today could be a day of shopping for us, we're going to buy a baby shower gift for a couple of our friends tomorrow and we usually go in together and buy each other a large item Valentines Day gift. Two years ago it was a nice Stainless Steel Charbroil Grill, last year it was the entertainment surround sound system and we are contemplating on a new TV for the bedroom this year, but we are still open on that one. The one we put the Wii Remote through a couple years ago is starting to have problems, and we have been using it as a Bedroom TV for a couple of years.

The WVU Men's Basketball team is playing at home today at 4:00. They will be taking on DePaul.

Have a Great Day.

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.

I think this is the first time in a good long while that we have reached a Friday and neither Me, Michelle, Chad or Hayley are sick. I know this streak goes back to believe it or not before Christmas. It's nice to have us both healthy.

We don't have too much planned for this evening other than our weekly date night pizza at Milanos. We've been going there for a few years and all we have to do is walk in the door and they know what we are there for. If you have never had it, I suggest trying them.

If you are one of those people who really like the Boston Beanery, then you might want to turn into the Q Morning show tomorrow morning before 9:00 and get ready for the 50% Friday deal that they are going to offer. For $25.00 you get 5 $10.00 Boston Beanery Coupons. An awesome deal if you like the Beanery.

About the only thing Michelle and I have planned for this week is a baby shower Sunday afternoon at coaches. This one is for both men and women and our friends Chewy and Courtney will be having a baby in the near future. It'll be nice to get together with the guys.

Enjoy your weekend, Hi ho hi ho

Brain Fart Thursday

Every once in a while, even the great writers suffer a brain fart. Well, I'm hardly in that group, but I am suffering from a brainfart and really have nothing to blog about other than writing about not having anything to write about.

I will do better tomorrow.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Monday, Check. Tuesday, Check. hey we are at the over the hump day and on the downhill looking to the weekend.

Office will be a little empty tomorrow, as one of my office mates will be running to Pittsburgh for the day to demonstrate a Silverlight application he has developed. He's found someone interested in pushing it outside of our firewall and publishing a service, which will be good news for us. Being able to publish and serve out would open up a world of opportunities for us.

It is crockpot night in the household. Over the past couple of months we take at least one night out a week and prepare a meal in the crockpot. We set it up the night before and start it when we leave for work. By the time we get home, we have an awesome meal already ready for us. Tonight we bought a sirloin tip and cut it into steaks and a couple of roasts. Today we are preparing one of the roasts for dinner. I love crockpot night and I think Michelle does too. It's a nice little break from cooking and a night to relax in front of her computer and the TV.

Oh well, hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is now behind us and we are looking at Tuesday, I can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* For those of you counting, and if you are not who cares because I am, it is day 1,061 since mine and Michelle's first date.

* It has been 294 days since our engagement.

* Which means, we are counting down the last 179 days until our wedding later this summer.

* Yesterday was a sad day for me, I was peeled to the radio listening to the final broadcast on WVAQ of the Eric and Kevin show. Thank you once again Eric, my eyes even got a little damp at the end of the show (had to be the humidity).

* How about the Super Bowl. The Steelers gave it all they had and they just came up a little short. They just seemed flat all game, but I still believed they were going to win going into the last drive of the game.

* Have I ever told anyone I hate snow? Let's get the temps up into the 70's and 80's and put this winter behind us. Phil didn't see his shadow.

* Big basketball game in Morgantown last night as the Mountaineers played Pitt, tonight the women take on two time defending National Champion UCONN Huskies. The women have dropped a few games lately, but a win tonight will make everyone forget about all of them. Let's go ladies, bring it home.

* Hi ho hi ho

Thank You Eric McGuire

Today will be the final broadcast from Eric McGuire of the Eric and Kevin Show on WVAQ.

The Story came as a complete surprise to me on Saturday, it seemed like it just came completely out of the blue. I was reading on a post Kevin made and originally thought it was a joke, but sadly it is not.

I want to thank Eric McGuire for his dedicated fifteen years of service of bringing the Morgantown community together each and every day. The show format pretty much turned into a caller dictated format as each and every day the topic of the day was enough entertainment and garnered enough attention to keep everyone calling in.

Eric has touched many of our lives, through his dry sarcastic humor or through his cast of characters like the unforgettable George Frick, my personal favorite. We have celebrated his triumphs and mourned portions of his life with him. He has touched many of our lives, and he has made the city of Morgantown and the community just a friendlier place to be.

Thank you Eric, I will be tuned in today to listen to the final show. You have touched many people and we all hope the very best for you.

I know I am one guy who hopes for the best for the surgery and that you once again return to our airwaves to continue to touch our lives.

Just know that you have entertained so many of us and made our days just a little it better. You will not be forgotten.

Stairway to Seven

It is Super Bowl Sunday!!! The Pittsburgh Steelers will be playing against the Green Bay Packers today in Super Bowl XLV for a chance on winning their unprecedented seventh Lombardi Trophy. This will be the eighth Super Bowl appearance for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the second in Mike Tomlin's young coaching career.

Trish, Arron and Laylas are planning on coming over this afternoon and we will all be watching the game together. It'll be nice, Arron was here a couple of years ago, the last time that Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl against the Arizona Cardinals.

Here is to another Pittsburgh Steeler Super Bowl Victory!!!!




How about a tribute to all the Steelers who have made them who they are.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

I once again sit in a quiet house on a peaceful Saturday morning with nothing but my computer in from of me and not a peep coming from anywhere in the house. I can hear Michelle's fan running in the bedroom and the Television on some insignificant program in the background as I write this.

Big Basketball game in Morgantown today at 4:00. Today is the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Pink Zone game. It's when the women on both teams wear pink and we try to pack the coliseum to support the Lady Mountaineers.

What we do today depends on Michelle's health. She has had to come home from work for the past two days with the stomach flu. It's been hard for her to keep anything down, so I guess we will just have to wait and see how she is doing before we determine what we are going to do today.

She ordered a cake from Nonna's Bakery here in Morgantown to take to work. She saved me a piece and all I can say is WOW is that one heck of a good cake. A little pricey, but well worth 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.

Well the excite for this weekend is going to be Sunday evening when the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have already won more Super Bowls than any other team will attempt to add one more to their total of six. Lombardi Trophy number Seven (ironic we are playing the Packers) will be up for grabs Sunday evening in Dallas (How ironic is that).

I think everyone in Pittsburgh is ready for the game and I do mean everyone!

Football Letter of Intents are In

Yesterday to college football recruiting buffs was Letter of Intent Day. This is the day that verbals are now signed and delivered and a recruits and schools make a binding agreement to each other.

The Mountaineers signed a number of recruits yesterday that I would like to Welcome to the Mountaineer Family. There are five that had already graduated High School Early and enrolled in January and are already working out with the team, the other 17 will be here this fall.

The thing about recruiting classes is you never know how they will turn out until their careers are over with. High rankings really mean nothing if the recruit doesn't qualify or just doesn't live up to the hype put on them by sports writers.

I guess with College Letters of Intents signed and the NFL Pro Bowl already played, the last football of the season will be played Sunday as the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl.

I LOVE YOU PHIL!!!!!!!!

Phil, King of all groundhogs. On your 125th Birthday from Gobblers Knob you declared two great things. One, that the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the Super Bowl. Great news but that is not the reason everyone made the trek to Gobblers Knob.

And two, he saw NO SHADOW!!!!!!! This means Spring is right around the corner. Come on over tonight for some of that good home made meat loaf tonight Phil, you will be the king of the household. We will celebrate by swinging Terrible Towels and drinking wine and feasting.

I was walking into my office this morning and noticed the buds on the trees and felt like Spring was right around the corner. Phil has supported this!!!


It is your day oh KING OF ALL GROUNDHOGS!!

OK Phil, it's your day

OK Phil, king of all that he sees, today is your day. Today is the day when thousands of people will come to see you on Gobbler's Knob and will celebrate you.

It is you that controls our weather future, and Phil. yesterday at work I saw a bush outside of my office that actually has tiny little baby green leaves starting to grow on it. This has to be a good sign, I think you could ignore that shadow thing if you see it today and let us end this dreadful weather that we have experienced all winter long. Let those little green leaves turn into fully developed green leaves. Talk to Mother Nature, if you can bring spring around a little early I would be very appreciative of you.

Oh Phil, we are planning on having meatloaf for dinner tonight. Stop by this evening and we will either feed you with some great beef meatloaf or you can feed us with Michelle's Special Groundhog Meatloaf. I don't want the free Phil meat for my meatloaf, I am more than willing to buy some fresh beef and share it with you my Rhodent buddy.

Do the right thing old pal.

Tuesdays Tidbits

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

* It's been 1,054 days since Mine and Michelle's first date. We're going on three magical years together.

* It's been 277 days since the engagement.

* 186 days until the wedding.

* Michelle showed me a neat link yesterday. It's called Eagle Cam and is based out of Shepardstown, West Virginia. It's a couple of Eagles that have built a nest and the female should be laying her eggs here in the next week. It's an interesting watch for anyone with a little time on their hands.

* It's getting closer to the Super Bowl. You know it's gotta kill Dallas fans to see Pittsburgh and Green Bay playing for it in Dallas. Winning the Super Bowl in Dallas would be sweet though.

* Hi ho hi ho