Sunday Morning Rumblings

Twice this year I have written in a BLOG about how WVU was going to beat their opponents this year in football. One was the Syracuse BLOG which we managed to lose that game 23-49 and then this past Friday I did it again when referring to Louisville and we lost yesterday 35-38.

Dear Dana Holgorsen, how am I supposed to trash talk inferior opponents that we have been favored to beat by two scores when you can't seem to beat them? Come on coach, if you were better prepared (and didn't make a statement that you invite the pressure) maybe we could win one of these games. Something tells me you're about to lose an already fickle but over expecting fan base. Bob Huggins is from Morgantown, an Alumnus, lead us to the Final 4 and has been named the Coach of the Year before. He has the history and fan support to allow for games like Friday night, you on the other hand are a first year cocky coach who can't say "you know" enough in interviews and do not enjoy the leeway that Coach Huggins has earned.

Here is my advice to you:

1.) It's a simple game. All you have to do is move the sticks. When you are playing sisters of the poor that home run ball works more often, but as the weather gets colder (you didn't have that element in Texas) you have to understand this simple concept. Move the sticks, get a fresh set of downs.

2.) Special teams. They have cost you in all three losses this year, especially yesterdays game. That blocked Field Goal for a Touchdown alone was a 10 point swing. This was the fourth opponent this year we have given a special teams touchdown to (Marshall Punt Return, LSU Kickoff Return, Syracuse Kickoff Return and Louisville Blocked Field goal for a Touchdown) this season. We have lost 3 out of those four games. We had a punter that had an 11 and 12 yard punt. This is after we benched the first punter who had two in a row like this. You should be able to go to any Jr High school and find the average kid in any Phys Ed class that can consistently beat this. Why can't a Div 1 Football school with a well paid coach find one that can do this? Let's not forget the missed chip shot field goal either because Geno rushed third down at the end of the third quarter to throw an uncatchable fade pass.

3.) Defense. I understand they have lost a lot of players, however when they give the offense a gift and they can't capitalize on it, that is the problem. If someone would teach these guys there very simple principals of tackling instead of trying to blow someone up, we may very well be undefeated right now.

4.) Energy. It's your job as the head Coach, you're the one making the big salary, to have these guys ready. What are you doing in the locker room if anything? What ever it is, it's not working. Find a solution.

Have a great day.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

A little later this morning than I usually post, Michelle and I are both already up and have made breakfast and are planning on what we are going to do for the day. The Mountaineers play at noon and I think we're going to make a trip to Sam's club this morning when they open up to do some of our weekly shopping.

I had to come home from work yesterday early, I thought I had the start of kidney stones or something along those lines. I was actually in a lot of pain, I had went in with all intentions of working out but never made it to the gym. I took a trip to the OHU (Occupational health Unit) and they checked my urine and it came back fine, so I went to WVU urgent care to get looked at and I have to say I left that place less than impressed. Dr wrote a couple prescriptions for a muscle relaxer and a narcotic for pain, and never even looked at my back. I'm not a junkie looking for a quick fix so needless to say I wasn't looking for nor do I have any intentions in getting either of those prescriptions filled. I can deal with the pain, I just wanted to make sure there is not an underlying medical issue causing this.

I have to say that I find it ironic that Urgent care has a sign out front that says they do not prescribe pain killers or refills for pain killers and the quack that saw me did not even look at me and wrote out two prescriptions. His diagnosis without even looking was generalized back pain. No shit Sherlock, please tell me you did not graduate from West Virginia University Medical School, there was no one else there and you seemed to be more preoccupied with the sports page than your The Hippocratic Oath. At least the Nurse at OHU did a urine test ton test for blood (everything came out normal). What a quack.

Anyways, good news is Chad has got a job now with Xerox. He'll be starting not this Monday but the following Monday in Cleveland on a job working with his cousin Jonny for a month or so on that job, then they will get him something local. Michelle and I went out last night and bought him some business causal attire to work in. It's actually a VERY good job, it's the chance off a lifetime for him, I just hope he makes the best out of it and builds on this opportunity.

Have a great Saturday and Let's Go Mountaineers.

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 some High School Football? The Morgantown High Mohigans close out their regular season tonight when they travel Brooke to play the Brooke Bruins. Out in Blacksville Clay Battelle tries to register their ninth win of the season when they play host to Madonna.

The Mountaineers play host to the Looneyville (yes I spelled that correctly judging on how their fans have been acting this week) Cardinals tomorrow at noon on ESPN 3. I hope Geno and company light up the scoreboard and send the couple whiny Looneyville fans that are going to show up for the game home disappointed.

Some of you might want to note that you will get an extra hour of sleep this weekend as we will set the clocks back Saturday Night/Sunday Morning. So the weekend will be an extra hour longer that normal.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all of the digital images that I have. Some have been scanned and some have came from digital photos. I like to select just one, and recall the picture a little bit in my BLOG.

Today's picture is of my sister Terri's three kids Val, Amy and Bub. This is the earliest picture that I know of of the three of them, and Terri used (may still) have a pig picture that hung in her home of this image. As I recall it was embedded on a frame to look something like a block of wood from a tree.

My guess is that this picture was taken not too long after Bub aka RJ was born, hence my assumption that this may be the first picture taken of the three of them.

They were (and still are) some cute and lovable kids.

Hi ho hi ho

Cured Foundation

Cured Foundation

My niece Amy has really taken to this cause, mainly because her Sister in Law's son (her and Ralph's nephew) suffers from this.

In a Repost of her facebook:


‎**PLEASE READ..Reposted from Sara Dalton**
**This is not a chain letter of any type, PLEASE take a minute to read!!**
Dear Friends,

As many of you know, my child Hunter age:2 , suffers
from a rare autoimmune disease called Eosinophilic Esophagitis ("EE"). Kids
with EE are quite literally allergic to food. The proteins in food cause a build up in the digestive tract and blood of a white blood cell called an
eosinophil.Eosinophils are meant to attack parasites, but the body of a child with EE
mistakes food for a parasite. As a result, the build up of eosinophils
cause numerous and very serious health problems, including, failure to grow
and thrive, uncontrollable vomiting, severe stomach and throat pain,
inability to sleep, joint pain, just to name a few. Many kids with EE can only eat
1 or 2 foods and have a feeding tube to survive. CURED is a charity that I
am actively involved with that raises money to find a cure for EE. CURED has
donated over $2 million to research over the past 6 years. CURED has begun
a $1 challenge. We are looking to find 500,000 people to each donate $1 or
more to CURED, since that is something that almost everyone can do in
these hard economic times. If you are interested in donating, please write
Hunter Friend on your donation and mail it to CURED at P.O. Box 32,
Lincolnshire, IL 60069. or go to www.curedfoundation.org and make a donation
via pay pal. Furthermore, if you wish to go even a step further, please forward this email to your family and friends. The more we get the word out there, the more
likely it will be that we will reach our goal. Thanks for your help!!! Happy Holidays!!




She has mentioned about trying to organize a benefit for this this spring. OK Readers, any suggestions?

Hump Day

Well that's two down, now if you just look over this hump beyond the horizon you can see the dawn of another weekend just on the other side of Thursday.

I was sitting around and thinking last night, we're already in the month of November. I mean Summer is long gone, we've already seen the first snow of the season and I've started warming the car up in the mornings. The trees have lost most of their leaves and days are getting shorter and shorter. heck we are just a few days from setting our clocks back an hour and getting an extra hour of sleep this coming weekend.

I miss the spring time, the time of a dawn of summer and warm weather. I guess this is just the weather I am going to have to get used to over the course of the next six or so months. Yuck.

With the days getting shorter and the weather getting colder, I guess I could start to get ready for the Holiday Season and Michelle's Christmas cookies that are probably a month or so away.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

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

* It's been 1,327 days since mine and Michelle's first date.

* 550 Days since our engagement.

* 87th day of marital bliss.

* 54 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* Unfortunately we did not make it to Jean's yesterday for Trick or Treat, Michelle who has been sick for the last week came home sick yesterday and we didn't want to infect anyone she may come into contact with.

* West Virginia University is suing the Big East to avoid the 27 month exit time frame in a legal attempt to allow us to join the Big 12 for the 2012 season.

* I'm waiting to see some family pictures from last night, I can't remember the last time I was not at East Gate Manor for Halloween.

* Hi ho hi ho

Happy Halloween

Once a year east gate gets invaded, invaded with hundreds of ghosts and goblins all seeking a sweet treat in exchange for leaving you alone and not tricking you later in the evening. Jean of course has managed to avoid being tricked throughout the years by providing such delicious candied treats.

It's time for Trick or Treating again, and once again we will be going to Jean's to be handing out candy to usually between 3-400 trick or treaters on an average year. I will once again be on hand and try to get as many photos as I can of the evening.

On a side note, Michelle is finally starting to feel better, I guess seeing the Steelers beat the heck out of New England yesterday was a good cure for the cold.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Rumblings

I am sitting here in a quiet house once again, in the early AM and not a creature stirring in the house. Just watched Love and Other Drugs on HBO (Great Movie) and am now watching Jerry Maguire on Encore.

A special thank you to the my brother Gary, the best brother in the world for coming over yesterday and changing the rear brakes on the Taurus for me. I can do front brakes, but I have only watched the rear brakes get done once and that was the best brother in law in the World 20 years ago. There is always Youtube, but I would prefer to have someone who knows what they are doing rather than me guessing.

Michelle is starting to feel a little better, but broken foot and all she is still under the weather. She has been pounding the vitamin C over the weekend and getting plenty of rest.

Todays agenda is grocery shopping and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers play this afternoon.

Have I ever mentioned I hate snow?

Saturday Morning Tidbits

* I usually do this on Tuesday, but I have a few things that I wan to touch on this morning.

* First of congratulations to the Morgantown High Mohigans for winning the MoHawk Bowl yesterday evening 49-27. Way to go Mphigans.

* The Big news of yesterday however broke yesterday morning and was actually almost news earlier in the week.West Virginia University would be leaving the Big East and Officially joining the Big 12 on July 1, 2012. It ended a few months of speculation by the Mountaineer nation. After Pitt and Syracuse announced they would be leaving the Big East for the ACC, the Mountaineers flirted with the SEC initially and later with the Big 12 where we were finally given an official invitation yesterday.

* Speaking of the Mountaineers, who will be leaving for the Big 12 next season, we will be losing many of our traditional rivalries. Today at 3:30, may be the last game between WVU and Rutgers in a Nationally broadcast game at 3:30 on ABC.

* OK, I'm already tired of the cold weather, the snow and the shorter days. Cam we do a repeat starting at about Spring? Not a big fan of the snow.

* Have a Great day and Go Mountaineers.

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 bit of High School Football? Well tonight is the night, the night when the Morgantown High Mohigans travel across town to their rival University High Hawks to take part in the yearly MoHawk Bowl. I'm picking my alma mater to once again extend their series win streak in this rivalry, it should be a very good game. It was just a few short years ago this game was #1 vs #2 in at Mountaineer Field in front of 20,000 people. Those days however are long gone by, but it is still going to be a very good game tonight.

University High needs to win this one tonight to extend their season into the playoffs, a loss could mean the end of the season for UHS. Morgantown will be trying to gain and secure a first round playoff game at home.

Both teams will be playing for something tonight, should be an interesting game.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out to select one of my tens of thousands of digital photo's (not all porn believe it or not ...LOL) and select just one photo to just tell a little story about. It is one of my favorite BLOG's of the week.

This week, the honor goes to one of my oldest and dearest friends that goes all the way back to my High School days. It's on none other than Smitty "aka BIG DADDY (or silly daddy depending on how many beers he had has that night)).

This picture was taken five years ago, when John and his daughters Emily and Brittany (Not sure where Meg was that night) were attending a Morgantown High School Football game. Something John and I used to do together on a regular basis. This night was one however that we both showed up on the same night to watch the Mohigans, who by coincidence will be beating the University High Hawks tomorrow night in the MoHawk Bowl.

Hi ho hi ho

Like Sands in the Hourglass

As a die hard WVU fan, this season and our conference association has been nothing short of roller coaster ride. The season starts off with the Big East talking about adding Villanova and adding TCU. Pitt and Syracuse decide they have had enough and boot scoot to the ACC. TCU then spurns the Big East and accepts a Big 12 invite.

There were rumors a few weeks ago that West Virginia would be heading to the SEC, but that would all hinge on what Missouri was going to do. If they were going to stay in the Big 12, we were possibly the 14th team to go to the SEC. Missouri on the other hand is rumored to be first in line for the SEC over WVU, so things started to look bleak and that was before Syracuse schooled us last Friday Night.

Yesterday the rumors shifted to West Virginia going to the Big 12 to replace Missouri. Big East football as we have once known it, is quickly dying. If we leave, their BCS affiliation will be out the door. Stay tuned for any official announcements.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is once again in our rear view mirrors and we are looking down the barrel of a Tuesday, I can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1,320 days since mine and Michelle's first date.

* 543 days since I proposed.

* 80 days of marital bliss.

* 61 more shopping days until Christmas.

* Michelle is feeling under the weather once again, hopefully the 2000 MG of Vitamin C and the hot shower last night plus the electric blanket and hot tea will solve that problem today.

* A very Happy Birthday wish to Michelle's nephew Jon Paugh. He is 31 on this day.

* Hi ho hi ho

Back To Work

Weekend is over and it's time to put our noses back on the grindstone and get back to doing what we do so we can enjoy our weekends.

It was almost a good football weekend, only the Mountaineer game on Friday evening was the only blemish, the Pittsburgh Steelers kicked the Arizona cardinals butts yesterday afternoon. You have to love Mike Wallace's 95 yard Touchdown reception.

Now it's back to the office, and back to work.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Rumblings

Here I sit, early in the AM on a Sunday morning in a quiet house that has every other living creature sleeping. It is only I that is awake at this early hour. Rightfully so, because I was dead tired yesterday and kind of called it a day while the sun was still up in the air and the days daylight had yet to expire.

Michelle and I feeling a little bit of cabin fever yesterday afternoon took a drive just to get out of the house. Nothing major, I took her to Bruceton and through Rowlesburg and to Kingwood and back, as she had never been in the area. We tied stopping at Coopers Rock to see the changing of the leaves, but I guess we were not the only ones who had that idea on a nice Saturday afternoon because they were parking clear back by the pond, all the parking lots were full.

Today is going back to being a normal day, shopping this morning followed by a Steelers game later this afternoon. The weather has been cooling and the crock pot has been crying for us to make a batch of Chilli, so I just may answer that call today.

Have a great day.

Ouch

Wow talk about getting schooled, last night was one of the worst game that I can remember in some time. Syracuse beat our asses in every aspect of the game while rolling up a hard to watch 49-23 victory against us. It was probably the worst game I have seen this team play in a few years. Syracuse controlled the game clock and prevented us from getting off the field on 3rd down, absolutely atrocious special teams play and an offense that even though Syracuse was doing the same thing they did last year defensively, really made no adjustments to the blitzes.

Dana Holgorsen, welcome to smash mouth football and showing me last night that you really didn't have much experience with this type of game. When a team is blitzing like they were last night, you want to hang your QB in the pocket and let him get hit time after time.

Hands down to Syracuse, they won every aspect of the game and won all 4 quarters last night.

Big Ole Hairy Beat Syracuse 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 beat the hell out of Syracuse and get revenge for last year gameday Friday!!!!

Looking for some football? Mountaineers will put an ass whipping on the Syracuse Orangemen for revenge for our in last years game tonight at 8:00 on ESPN. This isn't last years teams and we are going to light it up tonight.

High school football on your mind? The Morgantown Mohigans are going to host John Marshall tonight at Pony Lewis, the Monarchs have not won yet this year and it's not going to happen tonight either. University High played at Preston last night and Clay Battelle travels to Tygarts Valley this evening.

I'll put a bold prediction and say by the time the clock strikes midnight tonight, the Hawks, Mohigans, Bee's and Mountaineers will all put one in the W column and none of them will be close. I am confident.

Hi ho hi ho....Orange Juice.

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I take a little bit of time out and look through all of my tens of thousands digital images that I have stored and just select one image to write a blog about. This week is no different and I actually saw this picture earlier in the week and knew that this was the one I wanted to use.

This week's picture comes from the Spring of 2004. I was getting ready to graduate College and I was playing softball for Recourse. We had one heck of a team that year, but that is another story. I had a high school kid playing Right Field for me, he also played baseball locally at the High School level.

Today's picture is from a game he was pitching all those years ago. A high school kid pitching a High School game, ironically against my Alma Mater who I was actually cheering against that day. The pitcher was pretty good that day, I think he even managed to make a living playing the game and has been the subject of quite a few of my BLOGS.

Seven years from High School to the Major Leagues.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Hopefully this day is much better than what I experienced yesterday. Don't EVER use FedEx, the assholes claim no one was home and didn't leave my package at the door even thought Chad was home all day. I called FedEx and it has to be a live signature for them to leave my replacement iPhone, and the bitch on the phone was not helpful at all. SCREW FEDEX.

I called Apple to see if we can change the shipping plans. After being on hold for an hour and a half, they could not get through to who they needed to get through to to email me the form to sign and stick on the door so FedEx would leave the package and content that I have paid for, not only the product, but the shipping included. After 2 1/2 hours on the phone with Apple after being initially told that they could e-mail me a form and I could sign it and stick it on the door, I was then told that they don't.

I even went in early at work yesterday to get a good workout, long story short I was at the office for 12 hours yesterday, 4 hours of it taking care of personal business because Hayley's printer is out of ink.

This better be a better day.

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Once again Monday is in our rear view mirror and we are staring straight down the barrel of a Tuesday, I can't think of a better reason that that to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1,313 days since mine and Michelle's first date.

* 536 days since our engagement.

* 73 days since we entered into marital bliss this past August.

* ONLY 68 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* My new iPhone is scheduled to be delivered today, it was supposed to be over night shipped last Friday, but it hasn't made it here yet. I have everything backed up and am ready to install my new Otterbox once the new phone arrives.

* Erica Jean Nicholson has made student of the week this week at her school.

* I had a co-worker get interviewed about the cost of season tickets for WVU Football. We share the same opinion on the cost of Season tickets, they are starting to price themselves out to the local fans.

* Michelle and I gave our Dog Sadie a nice haircut and trim yesterday, she was starting to get uncomfortable and needed a trim real bad. We have our own equipment and do it a couple of times a year.

* Hi ho hi ho

Back To Work

All good things must come to an end, and unfortunately that includes weekends and it's time to return back to the grindstone. I have no idea what I'm going to run into today, as I had to leave to take care of my iPhone (Which still isn't here yet) and it's cracked screen.

The Steelers managed to be at the Jacksonville Jaguars yesterday, so that made it a nice and relaxing day. Michelle made spaghetti for dinner, and I was good as I'm really trying to get back in shape with a lifestyle change.

Not much to say this morning other than hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Rumblings

Here I sit, up in the early AM in a quiet house where everyone but me is in slumber land. Not even the dog is stirring around and the only thing on TV is the movie The Wild Life playing in the background. I'm just thinking it's been five years since Chris Penn, the start of the movie, had passed away. I'll always best remember him for his roles in Footloose which is now at the theaters in a remake and All the Right Moves.

Agenda for the day, I'm working on an old HP laptop that Michelle used to have when we first started dating. I'm going to try to get it up and running properly with the keyboard working, as it's been retired for a couple of years now. Chad may have a job for a month or so in Cleveland working, so we're going to try to get something mobile for him to take up. Like me, his computer is a PC that he built (I bought mine) and it would be a pain to take it up and set it up up there. So we're going to try to get him the old HP laptop up and running. The operating system is fine, it's just the peripherals (Keyboard ad Mouse) that are the problem. Shouldn't be a hard, or even a costly fix.

I think I spoke too soon, Hayley just walked out here. Speaking of Hayley, she has been working at Bed Bath and Beyond and really seems to enjoy working there. A big thank you to JD Lewis for giving her a chance, she wasn't happy at Target but she really seems to like working there. We used her Discount after she first started and bought a Smart Stick that we use every day and just love it.

Back to the agenda, grocery shopping and Pittsburgh Steelers football are also on today's agenda. It is Sunday you know.

Happy Birthday Brittany Dae Cummings

Wow could really have been 21 years ago today that I was sitting in the hospital waiting room watching a Who's the Boss rerun as Ed walked in and said it was a girl. I walked out in the hallway and saw them wheeling you around, and that was the first glimpse that I had had of Brittany 21 years ago today.

If you happen to see my beautiful niece today, make sure that you take a little bit of time out to wish her not only a Happy Birthday, but a very Happy 21st Birthday today.

Happy Birthday Brittany.

Terri to New York City

I have no idea why, but I just checked Facebook, but it appears that my sister Terri is on her way to New York City. She just posted a status of being in New Jersey. I guess she left late last night, I hope she has a lot of fun in the city that never sleeps.

Saturday Morning Ouch

Yesterday wasn't the best of days, and it wasn't the worse of days. It started out with me going to the gym and getting a great workout, followed by me having to go to the restroom and having my iPhone drop out of its holster and smashing the glass in the front.

I called Apple and was going to do whatever it took to have it repaired or replaced, however that is not covered under the warranty. They will give you what they call an "Out of Warranty Replacement" for $199.00 However when I tried to make an appointment yesterday, it was then that I realized the iPhone 4s was being released and I had no chance of getting into an Apple Store.

Long story short, they cut the price to $149.99 and $29.99 for overnight shipping and my new iPhone should be either here today, or I'll get it Monday. Being this is Saturday, my guess is I'll get it Monday.

I did buy an Otter Box Defender yesterday to protect the new Phone when it arrives. I bought one for Hayley and for Michelle previously, but it was me who did not buy one for himself that dropped his and smashed it.

A little over a week ago water got onto and into Michelle's old laptop. As a quick fix I bought her a new one and tried to fix the old one. Yesterday the new keyboard arrived and the old laptop, which we will now refer to my new laptop, so I changed it and problem was fixed. It's as good as new.

We did manage to attend Mountaineer Madness yesterday evening, and we had a great time. I went alone last year because Michelle was under the weather. This year with walking cast on, she managed to get around much better and is starting to adapt to that big cast. Gotta love her, and I do, she is a trooper.

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!!!!

Are you looking for a little bit of local football, well you better get it tonight because the Mountaineers are off tomorrow. The Morgantown Mohigans will play host to Westinghouse, PA, a team I know absolutely nothing about. This will be the first meeting between these two schools and it happens here in Morgantown this evening.University High plays host to John Marshall also tonight in Morgantown and Clay Battelle travels to Cameron this evening.

If you are looking for a little different kind of excitement tonight, the 2011-12 Mountaineer basketball season officially starts tonight with the first practice of the year during Mountaineer Madness. It will be introductions of both the Men's and Women's teams, a scrimmage by the men and the always fan favorite of a Slam Dunk competition followed by an autograph session to close out the evening's festivities.

I received my first ever Josh Judy "Major League" Baseball card in the mail yesterday. I had a few of his minor league cards, but this was the first Major League card and it was issued by Topps. It's going into the safe until Josh can get here and sign it for me.

Have a great day, hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to look back at all my pictures that I have collected through the years and just select one photo, one moment in time and try to relive that one moment gone by on my blog.

This weeks image is a place some of you have seen, but many of you in Morgantown drive by ever day without a clue as to what is there.

In White park there exists a huge reservoir. I large body of water that is actually Morgantown's water supply. It sits back in the woods, out of the view of the casual observer. On the back end of this reservoir, the water takes a significant drop in elevation and actually goes to the level of the river. This happens right behind the Toyota Garage on University Avenue.

A few years ago when I got my first camera, I ventured out to where this beautiful piece of lost beauty in Morgantown was and took a few pictures. Today's picture is of one of those pictures I took of the cascading waterfall.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Two down, let's get today in and look over the horizon, I can see another weekend just off in the distance.

Well Michelle went to the Orthopedic Dr yesterday, her foot is definitely broken and she has a walking boot that they have given her that she's not liking too much. It's a different one than the one they originally gave her, this one is designed more to correct the problem. They told her no rails to trails for a couple of months, so maybe we;ll have to look for an alternative way for her to get a little bit of cardio exercise.

She can still drive, but since the Subaru is a five speed it makes it a little bit trickier. She'll be fine though, she hasn't had much trouble driving with the other boot on.

Speaking of the trails, hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well so much for my three day weekend. It's Tuesday and back to work, so I guess I should do a tidbits.

* We received Michelle's new laptop a little early, it actually came yesterday. She came home sick from work yesterday, so maybe she'll get a chance to try it out today since she really couldn't yesterday.

* I've ordered a new keyboard off of Amazon for her old one and I'll switch it out once I get it to see if that makes any difference.

* I ordered a Josh Judy Rookie card last night from Ebay. Josh said that Topps now has them and they were available on EBay, so I bought one. Not sure when he'll get back to Morgantown so I'll probably give it to his dad and have him sign it for me. I

* I just texted him and told him to sign it and a few others when he gets to town.

* It's been 1,306 days since mine and Michelle's first date.

* 529 days since we became engaged.

* 66th day of matrimony for us.

* 75 shopping days left until Christmas.

* Hi ho hi ho

Columbus Day

I consider myself lucky today, for me it is Columbus Day which also means that it is a Federal Holiday and I am fortunate enough to have a paid holiday today. Michelle still has to work today, so my holiday may even contain a day when I actually go to the office to work out for a while. Go in, get my walking and lifting done and then I can just turn right around and come home.

I honestly don't have any plans other than that and running Hayley to work later this evening. If the post office was working I would get Michelle's new laptop, but they aren't so it won't be here until tomorrow. I think I'll try fixing her old one and use it myself, I have a PC and actually prefer a PC, however it would be nice just to be able to sit on the couch and surf the World Wide Web.

On a side note, I would like to wish a very happy First Anniversary to Moke and Ang, it was one year ago today that they were bound in matrimony.

Have a Good day, maybe I should say Hi ho hi ho it's off to the gym I go.

Sunday Morning Rumblings

Here I sit in a quiet house, everyone else is in a state of slumber and once again I am up early like I am every day.

This has been a strange weekend so far, AI think we have all been sick at one time or another, but the sickness has lasted a few hours and the recovery time has been rather quick. Michelle was feeling under the weather early yesterday afternoon and I got it in the early evening. Later that evening she went out and visited her Mom at the Auction and I feel good this morning.

Early this afternoon we are going to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Tennessee Titans, and this one will be in the friendly confines on Heinz Field. Three of the first four Steelers games have been on the road, now they get to return home for the second time this season.

The Mountaineers beat UCONN 43-16 yesterday here in Morgantown. Geno Smith passed for what would have been a school record 450 yards a few weeks ago, but it was short of his 466 yards he threw for against LSU.

Have a great day.

RIP Mike Puskar

I saw some very bad news over the night, Mike Puskar a man whose name is all over this town including the Football Stadium and the facilities building for the Football team, passed away last night.

If you know anything about Morgantown, West Virginia, or West Virginia University, you will know the name Milan "Mike" Puskar.He started a pharmaceutical company in 1961 that is now one of Morgantown's largest and best employers. His tailgates were the biggest at Mylan Puskar Stadium where the Mountaineers play this afternoon and I honestly have never heard anyone ever say a bad word about the man.

Thank you Mike for all you have done, you have changed this town, this community and this University for the better.

Big Ole Hairy Friday and three day Weekend

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 three day weekend for me and a Big Ole Hairy Friday!!!!

Looking for a little bit of Football Action? The Morgantown Mohigans host the always troublesome Wheeling Park at Pony Lewis Field. The University High Hawks play host to #2 ranked Bridgeport at their stadium. Out in Blacksville, Clay Battelle will host Van which may be the counties best High School Football game this weekend.

At home tomorrow also will be the Mountaineers hosting the Connecticut Huskies and we will out to seek revenge for last years debacle where they managed to beat us up in Storrs. We'll see if the Offense can let the rest of the Big east know who's going to represent the conference in a BCS game this season.

We'll probably not get into too much this weekend, Michelle has a stress fracture on her foot, I told her to quit kicking my butt so much, and we will probably take it easy this weekend.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I look to look back through all of my old pictures and select one to tell a little story about.

This weeks picture is one that I actually can't tell you much of a story about, other than who is in the picture.

To the left is Mick Toth Sr, my sister Pam and she is holding my nephew Moke, Jean and her Mother Helen.

It's amazing how quick time goes by some times, this was a summer of me still working at Sterling Faucet, both of the jean's parents were still alive and Moke was a youngun. This just seems like yesterday and makes me realize that time and life goes by us very fast. I would even believe the premise that the older that you get, the quicker the time goes to make up for how slow time went when you were waiting to turn 16 to get your drivers license.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

two down so far, now it's up overt his hump and down hill to not only the weekend, but a three day weekend for me.

As a heads up, my brother in law Jim is going to have an auction this Saturday at the Cassville firehall starting at 6:00. He's going to be auctioning off some Halloween items if you are looking for those types of things.

The kids bought a bunch of pumpkins last night and have started to carve their pumpkins for this year. I have a couple books with a lot of designs and a pumpkin carving saw plus the dremmel tool. I'm sure we will see some very creative pumpkins.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is once again behind us and we are looking straight down the barrel of a Tuesday, if you know me that means that I am one person who can not think of a better reason that that to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1,299 days since mine and Michelle's first date, I must be one heck of a unique individual to even be still tracking this, and I am.

* 522 days ago I proposed marriage.

* 59 Days ago we all gathered at the Marilla Center for a party and to make it official.

* There are still only 82 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* We had a little accident here Sunday evening, water got into Michelle's laptop and pretty much ruined it. I've ordered her another one and am trying to make hers do until that one arrives.

* I had a nice little pleasant surprise today, I figured out that I am going to have a three day weekend coming up. Next Monday is Columbus Day, a Federal Holiday!!!!

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

Here we go again, noses back on the grindstones ready to face yet another week of work ahead of making that stuff that allows us to enjoy our weekends. It's once again time to see those bright smiley faces at the office that we have come to know so well.

I'll be pretty busy the first part of this week as we are trying to finalize the first draft of a three country atlas for sequestration. It's going pretty smooth so far, just finalizing a few things and making sure they are kosher with previously reported publications and come up with a reason why if they are not.

Did anyone see that there was snow this weekend in Snowshoe West Virginia? Let me start the season off right by stating that I hate snow and I am already tired of seeing the white stuff and I haven;t seen the first snowflake yet. I'm ready for Springtime!!!!

First Afternoon Steelers Game of the Year for us

Finally after two weeks of Birthday parties and a Sunday Night game last week, we finally get a chance to sit and watch an afternoon game with the Pittsburgh Steelers playing. They take on the Houston Texans this afternoon at 1:00 in Houston.

We have already done our Sunday Morning Grocery shopping, we actually did it at 1:00 this morning as we both fell asleep and took naps after the Mountaineer Game and were both wide awake, so we beat the rush and made the most of it in the early AM.

Have a great day and Go Stillers.

Saturday Morning Rumblings

You know when you work a full time job, and are leaving for work an hour earlier so you can get a good workout in before you start work and sometimes are there a little later because of some approaching deadlines for a three country Atlas that will see the highest executive office, time tends to run a little bit short of free time. Couple that with trying to get Michelle out on the trails as well and your days just got longer.

Couple that with things we do around the house like grocery shopping and making sure all of the bills are not only paid, but paid early so there is nothing to worry about. You have a full week and there really is not much downtime.

Last night I wanted to spend some quality time with my wife so we headed out to the Buckwheat Festival, but stopped at the Methodist Church in Masontown to get my fill of Buckwheat Cakes. I was going to be good and only eat one plate, but Michelle doesn't care for them and offered me hers. AS we were eating I witnessed raining running down on the edge of the church, so I knew that the Buckwheat Festival would be a mud pit and we opted to just take a drive and enjoy the evening.

This morning with weather permitting we are going to make breakfast and try to head out to the trails with Sadie, then it will most likely be our weekly Sams Club shopping trip to gather a few items that we get from there ie bulk lunch meats, soda, almonds, meats or spices etc.

This afternoon at 3:30, I would like to take a little time out and watch the Mountaineers play Bowling Green. That and probably a movie or some pawn stars this evening and that will pretty much be our day until tomorrow morning when we do our regular grocery shopping followed by our first Steelers game of the year (its week 4) that we can actually be able to sit down in the early afternoon and watch.

Our days are long and our free enjoyment time is short, you have to be able to budget your time efficiently to be able to do everything you want to do and not miss anything.

Big Ole Hairy Buckwheat Festival 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 have never heard of a buckwheat cake, take a look at my picture and that is going to be my dinner for this evening. I'm still negotiating on how many plates I am going to be allowed to eat, Michelle is still holding steady at one is all I am allowed to eat, I'm still bargaining for three. Something tells me she is going to win however. Damn diabetes.

Looking for a little bit of football this weekend? The Morgantown High Mohigans are hosting the Preston Knights. This game is usually at the Buckwheat festival, but my indications are that it is at Morgantown. University travels to Fairmont to play Fairmont Sr High School. The Fighting CB's are hosting Valley Whetzel in Blacksville.

Looking for College Football? The Mountaineers are at home this weekend and will be hosting Bowling Green at 3:30 on Saturday afternoon. The game will be broadcast on ESPN 3.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little time out and look through all of the pictures I have either taken or scanned through the years and take a little bit of time out to reflect on that photo. This weeks photo is no different even though it just looks like a picture taken at Coopers Rock.

This was taken a few months after I graduated from college. My salary had just went from poor struggling college student to "OK you can actually survive meagerly". I had managed to save a few dollars from ever paycheck for a few months and purchased a new Digital Camera that at the time was pretty high end. I managed to save $300.00 and did my research and purchased my first "real" camera. I had a few others that I had had in college, but this was a very good Kodak that I still have today (until my sweetie bought me a newer and better camera). I BLOGGED about it, when I purchased it. Funny thing is, that blog was my third blog post ever after the first two of testing and playing around with Blogger. You could say this was my forst "serious" blog that I had ever wrote.

Anyways, I was still working at the NRAC and the leaves were changing so I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to get some good photos. If you have never been to North Central West Virginia, it is the heart of Appalachia and is filled with hardwood forests that their leaves change colors before they fall off. It is as if someone painted the forest and I was not going miss this opportunity.

On this picture I was standing on top of the overlook at Coopers Rock State Forest when I noticed this bird was flying high above the Cheat River. I had a great vantage point and looking down on the bird, so I could not let this opportunity pass. Hence this photo.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Two down, two ahead and today. We're starting to get to where we can enjoy the fruits of our labors for a few.

I went to my final diabetes education class yesterday, it's been a refresher from the one I went to a few years ago where I got my initial education about being diabetic. It had been a few years, and Michelle needed to be educated a little but about it as well although she could not get off work yesterday. She made the important one about diet.

Speaking of diet, I'm not on one. I have done a lifestyle change however. I'm walking in the mornings before work and have even started to life weights before I start work. We have a state of the art gym and it is right across the hall from my office, so I really needed to start taking advantage of what was available to me. We have a 1.5 Mile fitness trail with a lot of elevation changes that works you pretty well. My blood sugars have been solid good.

Speaking of, hi ho hi ho off to the gym I go.

Tuesday's Tidbit's

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

* It's been 1,292 days since mine and Michelle's first date. How many people would still be counting this? I am.

* 515 Days since our engagement.

* 52 days since we were married.

* 89 shopping days left until Christmas.

* The official Josh Judy Major League strikeout count still stands at 10, he had 2 last night. The season is winding down and they are playing their last couple of games of the year in Detroit.

* Sugar Free chocolate jello pudding is awesome inspiration while writing a blog.

* I have a diabetes education class this afternoon, so I'll only be working half of the day.

* Hi ho hi ho

I Hate Mondays

Weekends are awesome, they meant to relax, have fun and enjoy the fruits of our labors and spoil and enjoy ourselves a little bit. This was a big football weekend in Morgantown and the town is still standing, so I guess that means it didn't go as well as we all wanted it to, but it was still a great weekend.

Now it's back to the grindstone of that thing we call our jobs. Hopefully we are all rested and relaxed and ready for another week at the office.

Hi ho hi ho

Wow what a game

Well, we gave it all we had and came up on the short end of a 21-47 loss to LSU last night here in Morgantown. Geno Smith lit it up for a school record 463 passing yards against what may arguably be the best Defense in college football as I mentioned yesterday.

LSU kept winning the battle of field position all night, their punter continually pinned us inside the 10 yard line and it seemed like LSU started every drive at mid field.

There was a point when we pulled to within 21-27 and the crowd was fired up, then LSU responded with a 99 yard kickoff return for a touchdown where the runner should have been tackled and just never quit.

I actually seen a lot of positives for the Mountaineers last night. The Offensive line, one that I have refereed to as a continuation of the worst line in WVU history played like one of the best lines in WVU history last night. I can see this team winning the rest of the games with the next challenge coming on December 1 against South Florida that will probably be for the leagues BCS spot.

We were blown out, but I saw a lot of positives last night. Watch LSU win it all this year.

Happy Birthday Kaiden Dalton

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Kaiden Dalton a very happy third birthday today. Amy and Ralph hosted his birthday party a couple of weeks ago to avoid all the excitement around Morgantown today and any conflicts with Calvin's birthday last week.

The family assembled and had fun with a cookout, games for the kids, cake and even a little old fashioned chicken chasing.

If you see Kaiden today, make sure that you tell him lets go mountain...er Happy Birthday.

Calm before the potential storm

Here I sit, early on a quiet Saturday Morning in a quiet household on a day when Morgantown will be the center of the College Football world. If all goes well this evening tomorrow morning's story will be how Morgantown is still standing after the defeat of the #2 team in the Country here in Morgantown last night (tonight).

It promises to be a very good game. The Mountaineers went to Baton Rouge last year and lost by six points, 20-14 in a game where star running back Noel Devine was injured and never was himself again after that game. LSU has arguably one of the toughest defenses in College Football, they pretty much dismantled a high flying Oregon team that played for the National Championship last year earlier this season. This will be Offensive Guru and WVU's first year Head Coach Dana Holgorsen's trial by fire. We will not see another team of this caliber the rest of the season and it will be a true test to our newly revamped Offense.

Should be a good one, stay tuned to ESPN all day as Gameday is set up at the Mountainlair. Maybe we can watch a lot of excitement in this town tonight.

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!!!!

Are you looking for a little football? Well this weekend should be very exciting especially here in Morgantown. The University High Hawks will be playing at home tonight and hosting Parkersburg South High School. The 2-2 Hawks will be trying to improve their record with a good showing tonight.

Talk about football, College GameDay will be broadcasting from the Mountainlair all day tomorrow as the college football world will be centered here in Morgantown tomorrow culminating with the 16th Ranked Mountaineers will take on the 2nd ranked LSU Tigers on prime time network Television Saturday night. 8:00 on ABC and hopefully a few hours later this city will see a few some chaos as a victory celebration.

Let's get this party started, hi ho hi ho

Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary

I would like to take this opportunity to wish both Abdul and Farida Rehmani a very Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary from both me and my wife Michelle.

This is my brother in law Nick's parents and it's not really that often than you see someone celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.

Farida and Abdul were family long before Nick and Terri ever took their wedding vows, they have always seemed to have been a special part of our family ever since they first arrived to the US from Zaire a number of years ago.

Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary, may you see another 50 more Happy years.

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through my pictures. I sort through them all and see if I can find one that may interest me that just hasn't really been posted and tell a little story about it.

With September winding down and looking at early October that means one thing, the Preston County Buckwheat Festival is right around the bend. I LOVE Buckwheat cakes and want enjoy them this year, me and Michelle are debating if I can have one plate of three or my bid of three plates of nine. This may take some begging and pleading and negotiating, but I'm working towards it.

I've been hit or miss on the Buckwheat festival through the years, I missed it last year and am planning on making it up this year for the celebration and my three plates of Buckwheat cakes....LOL

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Well we got the first two days down and now once we get passed today we can concentrate on the down ward part of the week as we work towards another weekend.

Does anyone else feel that once they get to the workweek that their days all seem to run together. Maybe I am in need of another extended weekend when I can sit and relax a little bit and break the monotony. I sure could use a couple of days at a nice tropical beach on a warm summer day with the sounds of the waves just crashing against the seashore. Feel a nice crisp wind blowing as the seagulls are flying over head looking for scraps of food. Days long gone by and it will be a while before I can enjoy that comfort again.

It's getting cooler in the evenings and I am starting to notice the days are starting to shorten a little bit, could be that we are in the last couple days of summer and the Autumn Equinox (Fall) starts this Friday. I'll miss you summer, it was a great time.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

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

* 1,285 days since mine and Michelle's first date.

* 508 days since our engagement.

* 45 days since our wedding.

* 96 shopping days left until Christmas.

* The Big East was shocked this past weekend with the announcement of Pittsburgh and Syracuse moving over to the ACC. West Virginia will be exploring its options on what to do on Conference affiliation. Three possible options are probably on the table.

* Merge with the remaining members of the Big 12.
* In invitation to the SEC.
* An invitation to the ACC (Not likely)

* In case anyone has missed it, Gameday will be in Morgantown for the WVU-LSU game this weekend.

* I got a text message from my sister Terri yesterday, she had lost her iPhone over the weekend but she had managed to find it behind the couch. I had an older one I was going to loan her, no need now as she found her 3GS.

* The Official Josh Judy Major League strikeout count stands at 8. I was speaking with both his Mom and dad over the weekend and it appears that he will be up for the remainder of the season.

* Hi ho hi ho

Weekend Recall

before I put my nose back on the grindstone for the day, let's reflect back to yesterday and avoid that the thinking about work until I actually get to work.

It was a good day yesterday, we all converged on Pam and George's to help Calvin celebrate his birthday. I grabbed quite a few photos yesterday as did my niece Amy, we have both placed all of our photo's on Facebook for friends to share.

I think Calvin had a good time, he had a few friends over and the younguns as you can see by this picture took a moment of time for a photo opportunity that makes us think back to our own youth and days of worry free innocence.

That being said, hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Calvin Michael McClain

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

Later this afternoon Michelle and I will join the rest of my family at Pam and George's for a little bit of celebration to help Calvin ring in his birthday. If my math is correct, and don't hold me to this, I think this is Calvin's 16th birthday.

I have to say I have really watched Calvin grow up in the past couple of years, not so much physically because he is about 6'6" or 6'7" now, but as a young man. It really is an honor to have him as a Nephew.

Happy Birthday Calvin.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Once again I am sitting here in a quiet household in the early AM collecting my thoughts. The People Vs Larry Flynt is playing in the background and I'm the only one up right now.

Last night was not very good to the local High School Football Teams, let's just hope that when the Mountaineers take the field at noon today that they do not continue that trend. I think this will be the first test during the Dana Holgorsen era and next week will be the BIG test if we pass this one when #3 LSU comes to town. We'll see how today plays out before we worry about next week though, I am concerned with our lack of a running game so far this season.

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!!!!

Looking for a little football? Both Morgantown and University are on the road again for the second straight week. The Mohigans will be traveling to Martinsburg to take on the defending State Champion Martinsburg Bulldogs and the hawks will be traveling to play Wheeling park.

West Virginia is also on the road this wee as they travel to Maryland to take on the Maryland Terrapins in College Park Maryland.

If you are looking for something local to do, the Wine and Jazz Festival will be held both Saturday and Sunday at Camp Muffly.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little time out and go back through all of my pictures that I have digitally stored on my computer and select one and reflect a little bit about the picture.

Today's picture takes me back a few years, back to the year 1988 and a great group of guys and a great softball team that was the Sports Page. If there was ever a season that we should have walked away with a Championship, this was one of them that should have. We were the #1 ranked team going into the playoffs and we had more talent than anyone we faced.

However that doesn't always translate into playoff series wins. I recall we bowed out in the semi-finals that year as did the team seaded #2 in the tournament.

It was a summer of change for me, I left a team that I played for the year before to go back and play with a group I started with and we had an absolute blast that year.

There were two others on that team that I played with until I retired this year, this was also the first year I played with Chris and Paul.

Good times, we may have even had noodle salad that day.

Hump Day

Two own, this hump and then two to go. That's a nice way to look at things. Weekend isn't that far away and I'm about ready for another one.

This is a brain fart kind of a day, nothing really to say today. As I am writing this (I write them the evening before), I'm actually in an empty house as Chad and Laiah are at a cookout and Michelle has taken Hayley to work. Sadie is camped out on the pillow sleeping and the cats, who knows what those two little hellions are getting into. Actually one is sleeping atop the staircase, so one must be plotting the mischief.

With that being said....hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

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

* It's been 1,278 days since mine and Michelle's first date a few years ago.

* 501 magical days since our engagement.

* 38 days ago we met stood in front of all our friends and family and exchanged our vows of marriage.

* 103 more shopping days left until Christmas. It'll start to close in on you faster than you think.

* I guess Sams Club and Target in Morgantown were evacuated due to a Carbon Monoxide leak, this was done just as a precaution.

* hi ho hi ho

Kaiden's Party

Yesterday afternoon Michelle and I went to Amy's to help Kaiden celebrate his third birthday with a group of friends and family.

Amy and Ralph did a great job playing the part of the party hosts and making everyone feel welcome. They had a little BBQ and fed everyone before setting up a pinata for the kids to whack on a few times to see if they could release all of the candy treats.

I managed to capture a few picture of the day and have them on Facebook and hosted on my site.

It was a nice relaxing end to a almost perfect weekend (way to go Steelers, screw it all up).

Hi ho hi ho

9-11-01

It was ten years ago today that the lives of all Americans changed. A day when we saw a domestic terrorist attack on our own soil to a magnitude that we have never before seen.

A group of crazed terrorists Hijacked four planes, the first two were ran into the world trade centers in New York, the third one was ran into the Pentagon in Washington DC and the fourth was brought down by a brave group of American Heroes that were on the flight in Shanksville PA.

It was a day I never have forgotten, it was a day that I was in college and had one class that day in the evening and was not working that day at the NRAC. It was a day that I sat glued to my television all day to watch the days events as they unfolded.

It's been ten years, Osama Bin Laden is now dead, but the memories of that day lives on in all Americans.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Once again I sit here in a quiet household in the early AM collecting my thoughts. I think the only ones who are awake are me and the dog Sadie as she just came out of the bedroom and plopped down in the living room. I just got finished watching the great movie "Bob the Butler" on TV. Such great television on in the early AM.

Anyways, it's game day here in Morgantown once again. This is also the day Michelle wanted to initially get married, but it was quickly shot down when we realized that the Mountaineers play today. Hopefully the Mountaineers will be able to get a full game in today without any Thunderstorms interrupting the game like last weeks blowout of Moo Tech after only three quarters.

We did our Saturday shopping last night in preparation for today so we can watch the game and not have to deal with the heavy traffic that seems to accompany game days in Morgantown.

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!!!!

Looking for some Football? The Morgantown High Mohigans will be traveling to Parkersburg WV to take on Parkersburg South High School. The University High Hawks will be putting their undefeated and unscored upon record on the line as they travel to defending State Champion Brooke.

College Football what you are wanting to see, well the West Virginia Mountaineers are at home Saturday against Norfolk State.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I take a little bit of time out to look through my tens of thousands of pictures that I have managed to take through the years and pick just one and talk a little about that lost moment in time that was captured with a camera.

This weeks pic is from May 16, 2004. When I graduated from WVU there was the College Graduation where I received my Degree (actually grabbed it off a table upstairs at the Coliseum). There was the University wide one that was in the Coliseum where the featured speaker, David Selby spoke to us and was the bug one.

First of all though that day was my Departmental one, the one where I actually made my graduation walk. This weeks picture is with one of my first digital cameras and is of that walk. When my name was announced and I walked and shook the Department heads hand.

It was a very special day and a very special moment in my life, it was the completion of a lifelong dream that I finally completed.

Hump Day

Well that was quick, I like these weeks with Holidays in them because you get through the week much faster. Today we are already at Hump Day and are starting to look towards another weekend just over this horizon.

With this crappy weather however, it may be an inside kind of weekend with the weather that is on the horizon. It's calling for rain all the way up until next Tuesday, but that is not set in stone and I'm sure things could change before then.

It's not that often that I get addicted to a TV program, but Michelle and I have been watching an awful lot of Pawn Stars on Netflix. Arron got us started a few weeks ago and we are about done with the second season right now.

Speaking of working, hi ho hi ho

Tuesdays Tidbits

* Well a Holiday Monday is now behind us, and we are looking to start our workweek on a Tuesday, still can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1,271 days since Michelle and I had our first date a few years ago. I actually tried to buy the movie 10,000 BC that we went and saw yesterday afternoon and she still told me no. yes, it was that bad.

* 494 days since our engagement.

* 31 days ago we partied down at the Marilla Center and exchanged our vows.

* There are 110 shopping days left until Christmas 2011.

* Only 4 more days left until the Mountaineer Football team plays again this season.

* the Official Josh Judy Major League Strikeout count has been bumped during the past week and is currently at 4 as Billy Butler became victim number four on the season.

* Hi ho hi ho

Happy Labor Day

It was a day of firsts yesterday. It was the first game on a Sunday for the Mountaineer Football Team, it was the first time beer was ever sold at Mountaineer Field, it was the first time I can ever remember a game being delayed because of weather (see pics) and it was the first time I can ever recall that a game was not played to it's completion with WVU.

The Dana Holgorsen era kicks off with a real bang as WVU beat Marshall 34-13 with the game halted in the 4th quarter. There was a 3 hour and 3 minute rain delay midway through the 3rd quarter, and an additional 4 minutes or so was played where WVU scored again, but late last night the Athletic Directors met and for the welfare of the Student Athletes deemed the game final as is.

I think we are calling for extended rain today, so it may be a relaxing movie day at home for our holiday and the culmination of our three day weekend.

It's Game Day

There are about 6-7 Saturdays a year when Morgantown transform into the states largest city, it's on six or seven days a year when the Mountaineer Football team plays a home game.

The 2011 College Football season has started this season, and today for the first time ever on a Sunday the Mountaineers will host the Blundering Turds from Huntington. Dana Holgorsen will lead the 2011 edition of the Mountaineers to the field with the schools new tradition of the Man walk, which will debut today.

Ironically even though the game is on a Sunday, this will be the first time beer will be allowed to be sold at the Stadium. It's kind of funny that it's on a day of the week that the Mountaineers have never played, that alcohol will be sold.

I love this time of the year, I love this school and this team almost to the point where it has a large affect on my blood pressure and Michelle's sanity. Although I am a level headed fan 99.9% of the time, I feel my team should dominate every game and ever snap.

Standards are high for not only being a Mountaineer fan, but a Steelers fan too.

A Pittsburgh Day

I know, we buy a new car and we are off an running, but Hayley's iPhone has been acting up to the point they may need to replace it, we are heading to South Hills Village today and the Apple Store to see about getting her phone looked at or replaced.

Normally I am up early and writing my BLOG, but this morning Michelle actually woke up before me and is cooking my breakfast (Turkey bacon, Eggs and toast) while I am writing this, I am so lucky to have such a loving wife. We have both decided to get healthy again and make a lifestyle change, knowing that this is the time of year when I put on weight (Football season).

Should be a good day.

Big Ole Hairy Friday and three day Weekend

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 a three day weekend!!!

Are you ready for some football? My Alma Mater, the great Morgantown High Mohigans will be playing at home against Annacostia, a team from DC who is looking to come down and try to lay the smack down on the Mohigans. The University High Hawks are at home and will be hosting the East Fairmont Bees in what could be a very good game.

Then the biggie, on Sunday the Marshall Blundering Turds will come into Morgantown and leave a residue of pure stink at Mountaineer Field as the Dana Holgorsen era officially begins in Morgantown with the first game of the season.

Should be a good weekend of football, but first I have to get this party started,

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little time out and look back through all of my older pictures and select one to make a blog about. I've been doing this for a couple of months now and it is one of my favorite blogs of the week to write, mainly because it makes me take a little time out and reflect upon my own life a little bit that I have captured in pictures.

This weeks picture is from a few years ago with what I used to refer as my "boys of summer" with Chewy, Phil and Chris. We had taken that afternoon off and traveled to Pittsburgh to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the San Diego Padres at PNC Park.

Believe it or not, this was only my second Pirates game that I had ever attended in my life (Willie Stargell's last game was my first) and the first one I had ever attended at PNC Park, although this was not my first event at PNC.

You'll notice we are all chowing down on beer and Primanti Brothers sandwiches, and enjoying a great summer afternoon. It was a good day and a very memorable day with some great guys.

Hi ho hi ho