The Return Home

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

Today we will once again arrive at the point of our departure. We weeks worth of a marvelous vacation is now in our memories and that starts to close out at about 9:00 this morning when we are getting off of the Carnival Pride for the last time on this trip.

Today it's going to be repacking and exiting the ship, it's going to be a day of going back to the hotel and getting out car and starting our drive back to Morgantown. A morning that I woke up in the middle of the Atlantic and will go to bed this evening in my own bed.

It has been the memory of a lifetime for both Michelle and I. It will be the ending of the longest and most fun filled vacation of my life, let's see if we can match or top it in 2013.

Thank you for reading along this past week. We will be home this afternoon, and off of work once again tomorrow, but I imagine there are a number of chores we'll have to do.

Day at Sea the Return

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

We are once again going to be spending the entire day at seas heading back towards the port of Baltimore. We have spent the last three days visiting places that we have only dreamed of seeing. Now we are on our way back, but we can still have a whole lot of fun on our way back.

The image that you see is actually right above our stateroom. It's the water slides in the rear of the boat in that pool. Yes our room is located under all of this believe it or not.

We'll be spending our final full day on the boat today and just enjoying the scenery and reflecting upon the memorable week that we just spent in a tropical paradise. I will have probably taken a great number of pictures, hopefully have captured some nice video and have created a lot of memories.

Freeport Bahamas

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

Today we will be making our third and final port of call when we arrive in Freeport at 7:00 AM. We will once again spend most of the day here, but we will be scheduled to re-board the ship by 1:30 this afternoon.

Just take a look at this picture, and tell me you would not want to spend the day looking at this beautiful scenery. White sandy beaches and crystal clear water is always some thing that I have seen on TV and only imagined, today Michelle and I get to stick our toes inn this sand one more time.

This has always been one of the locations I have wanted to visit in my lifetime. I guess you can call this part of that dream accomplished.

Have a great day.

Half Moon Cay Bahamas

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

Today we will be spending in Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. It's actually a private island owned by the company that owns the cruise line we are on.

People have always said that they would like to have their own private island, well half Moon Cay is one you can rent believe it or not. I just thought that little tidbit of information was kind of comical.

We will be arriving here at 9:00 AM and are set to depart at 5:00 this evening. This is going to give us a good solid eight hours of a beautiful sandy beach and time in some crystal clear ocean waters. This will be a day I have always dreamed of.

I can't wait and I assure you Michelle is probably more excited about this than I am.

Grand Turk Island

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

Today we are landing on our first port Grand Turk Island. This will actually be the first time either Michelle or I ever set foot on land of a foreign country, or even outside of the United States.

One thing that we want to do today is make our first ever trip and visit to the Margaritaville Caribbean which is just outside of the port. Something tells me these two parrot heads actually will be having two cheeseburgers in paradise today. It's only appropriate since we manage to make the trip to Pittsburgh every year to go see Jimmy and the Coral Reefer Band. It was the one thing I mentioned about any of the ports that made Michelle's eyes light up.

We'll dock at 8:00 AM and are scheduled to be back on the boat at 2:00 PM. Obviously this is going to be a short day, but anytime white sandy beaches and blue oceans are involved I'm, all for it.

Another Day at Sea

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

We are once again spending another day at seas today and will be once again enjoying all the amenities of the boat. The picture that I have posted is of the Atrium of the boat, this is the center of the boat where the glass elevators are located. We're on the 8th floor and just under the top entertainment deck. Just above us is the adults only pool, but at this time of the year I'm not too worried about any kids being around.

There is a beautiful theater that has Las Vegas style shows that I know we want to take advantage of, there is on demand room service at any time of the day, there are fitness rooms, casinos, pools and all kinds of entertainment.

I found another video of the staterooms, this is also like our room but not our room. It is however on our floor.

We Are at Sea

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

It's a day at sea for us today. We've left the Port of Baltimore and we are heading way down south to the Eastern Carribean. We'll be spending both today and tomorrow out at sea, but don't fret. Remember I have an extended balcony on the top deck, so as this posts I'll be looking at a beautiful sunrise out over the ocean as everyone else enjoys getting up and going to work today.

If you are curious what our room looks like, I found this video. It's not our room, our balcony is twice the size of this one plus we are in the rear of the boat with an unobstructed view.

Enjoy, we are.

ALL ABOARD!!!!!!

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

It's here. After all of the countdowns, all of the planning and preparation the day is finally here. THIS is the day our dreams become reality and all our planning finally pays off, this is the day we actually GET ON THE BOAT!!!!!!

I have to say there were times that I thought this day would never arrive, but it's here. Our week long cruise to the Bahamas and we are doing it in comfort, we're doing it in style and it was all paid for months ago.

We are scheduled to board early this afternoon and we will be departing from the Port of Baltimore at around 4:30 this afternoon. One of the highlights that I am looking forward to day (one of many should I say) is actually going under the bay bridge for once instead of driving over top of it. I've crossed it numerous times, this will be my first time going under it.

I'll be sure to grab a few pics today and share them with everyone when we get back.

Leaving for Baltimore

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

Well the day has finally arrived. We booked this vacation all the way back in February and I counted them down from around 200 days from when we actually booked it, now today is that magical day. Today we will be heading out early and heading to Baltimore, Maryland. This is where our cruise departs from and we are going to go down a day early to make sure that there are no problems getting to the cruise ship tomorrow morning.

We're staying a couple of blocks from the harbor and the hotel will be housing our car for the next week until we return from our trip.

We will be spending part opf the day traveling and part of the day just learning about the city of Baltimore. The sites and sounds of the city, neither Michelle or I have ever been to the heart of downtown Baltimore, but we plan on spending the day having some fun there and getting to know the city a little better.

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 the start of my long overdue extended vacation and cruise!!!!

Are you looking for a little bit of that High School Football action? The Undefeated and 2-0 University High Hawks will be at home this evening entertaining Brooke. The 1-0 and undefeated Morgantown High Mohigans will be playing host to another undefeated team tonight as Parkersburg South comes to Pony Lewis. Undefeated Clay Battelle will be playing host to Allegheny Valley (PA) in Blacksville.

As for me and the wife, we'll be finishing up our packing tonight as we will be heading out real early tomorrow morning for our vacation. We're going to be heading to the National Aquarium tomorrow morning in Baltimore and spend the day there. We have a hotel that will be watching our car for the week and transporting us to and from the terminal on Sunday. Sunday morning we're setting sail on our cruise and I have written a series of blog already that will post every day until we get back.

With that being said, this may be my last blog I write before the series of automated blogs kicks in. I know we're both looking forward to this as we have been for a number of months now.

One last time for a while...

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

About once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all of my thousands of pictures that I have saved on my computer. I like to select just one image to tell a little story about and write a blog about for that week. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that image and sometimes it's pretty challenging to find it. However, it is always a lot of fun.

This weeks pic was one that I already knew I wanted to use. It was from Christmas 2005 when we had it at Jeans house. We all gathered there like we had many times before in our youth and were all treated to an absolute fest.

As the evening's activities were winding down I wanted to get a picture of everyone, or at least everyone who was willing to pose. We actually did three takes and believe it or not the one with me looking away was the clearest and best picture of the three so I chose it.

Speaking of Christmas, maybe we should start getting ready to do a little bit of planning. It's just three short months away and our pic nic for this summer kind of was put together at the last minute before being rained out. Maybe we can all get together here after I get back from my cruise and start talking about Christmas.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day Sports

Well we now have two days behind us, even though one of them was quite easy to get through. Now if you look over the noontime hump, just on the other side of a photo flashback, you can see the dawn of another weekend or a weeks vacation for me.

Well the College football polls for the second week are out and West Virginia has moved up to the #9 position in the AP Poll and we are #8 in the USAToday Coached Poll for this week. The second week of the Heisman Trophy voting is out, this is a poll among sportswriters on who they think will win the Heisman Trophy and has nothing to do with the actual Heisman voting, but Geno Smith is #2 in that poll. We have also moved to 31 in the Big XII Power ratings.

The Pittsburgh Pirates who were once as many as 18 games above .500 and looking like a playoff team, are now only 6 games above .500 and are 2 1/2 games behind in the wild card race. There are 28 games left in the season, if they win 13 of them they will break the 18 year drought of not being able to play .500 baseball. It's the longest futility streak in major sports. I'm still a Pirates fan this year, Josh did not get called up and his season in AAA is over.

Lifting and cardio day, and this may be my only day to lift this week as I'll use friday to get everything in order before we travel.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is now behind us, for some of us it was a holiday Monday at that, now we are staring Straight down the barrel of a Tuesday. I can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1,635 days since mine and Michelle's first date a few years ago. I have been absolutely blessed every day since.

* It was 858 days ago that I got down on one knee and proposed marriage to the most wonderful person in the world.

* 395 days ago at the Marilla Center in front of our closest friends and family, we tied the bounds of matrimony and feasted like kings.

* There are only 112 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* There are only 5 more days left until Michelle and I take our cruise. This is one countdown I am very excited to see come to an end after today. It started with around 200 days and we are almost there now.

* Speaking of our cruise, despite having little or no internet accessibility in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, this blog will go on while we are away.

* Speaking of this blog continuing while I'm on vacation, I have written the 9 blogs for my vacation early yesterday morning (had to take advantage of the day off somehow). I'll take you day by day where we are and what we will be doing on that day.

* There will not be a tidbits next week nor any other of my regularly scheduled blogs next week. they will all be vacation blogs.

* I did learn this weekend that one of my credit cards was used for a number of purchases in China. This is the second time this has happened to me, the first was with my bank card, and now this one with one of my credit cards. Don't fret, I just happen to catch it Sunday evening and will have arranged to have it all taken care of this week with my credit card company. At least a bunch of kids has a lot of fun at an amusement park, but not on my dime though.

* Three day weekend over.

* Hi ho hi ho

Labor Day

Today will be the first of three straight Monday;s that I will be off of work. Today is Labor Day which traditionally signals the unofficial end of summer (and no wearing white) for most people. I guess you could call it the last hurrah of summer.

We tried to have a picnic yesterday, but the weather just was not very cooperative with us at all. That and the fact that it's a holiday weekend and all shelters were most likely taken were the reason we had to cancel it. Pam has to go back to work today, we're going to do a test run of packing for our vacation next week so it's an improbability that we will have any chance of doing one before we head south.

One thing I do want to do today is write a series of blogs for next week. We can get internet in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, but it is slow and quite costly, so we will most likely not be on the net. Because I'm committed to writing every day, and I do take advantage of having a post post at a certain time, I'll be writing a number of them today to post next week.

Have a great day.

Sunday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit in a quiet household collecting my thoughts for the day. Some movie is playing in the background and I have no idea what it even is as I'm not paying much attention to it. Everyone in the household is fighting a losing battle with the sandman and sleeping.

Did anyone see the football game yesterday? We MANHANDLED Marshall 69-34 yesterday in the last game of that interstate matchup. The Friends of Coal Bowl Trophy stays in Morgantown, heck we should give it to Marshall to hold on to for us, just to show them how much we don't care about that game.

We're having a picnic today one way or another. We've been wanting to have some kind of a get together for a while now, so as the summer winds down this is out last chance to get together this summer and we are finally going to do it.

We'll be at Marilla Park today, a site of so many picnics in the past. It's also the site of many water battles and food battles through the years as well.

Have a great day.

It's Gameday

The long wait since the game clock hit 0:00 in the Orange Bowl is now over, the 2012 Mountaineer Football Season is here. Today at Noon the Marshall Thundering Herd will arrive in Morgantown for the final butt kicking of this series.

Marshall is lead by former Mountaineer and long time former WVU assistant coach Doc Holiday. They are lead by a good young Quarterback named Cato and could be a formidable opponent this afternoon.

However the Mountaineers have Geno Smith, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey plus a slew of a supporting cast and that may be a little too much for the Thundering Herd.

Michelle was heading to work yesterday morning at 5:30 AM and noticed that there were already cars parked on the 705 bypass for the game. People leaving their cars there early to get a good parking spot to get out once the game starts.

I wonder if there is anyone walking around Morgantown with the "I Need Tickets" sign? LOL

Have a great day 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 and a Three day Weekend!!!!!

It's football season, if you are looking to see a little bit of the High School gridiron action the Morgantown Mohigans kick off their 2012 season with a home game against Taylor Allderdice (PA) tonight at Pony Lewis Field. The 1-0 University High Hawks will be traveling to Buckhannon tonight to play the Buck Ups. In single A action Clay Battelle will travel to Bishop Donahue. both teams are 1-0 on the season and someone will get their second win tonight.

Tomorrow the Blundering Turds of Moo tech come to town as the Mountaineers look to score see if we can clobber Marshall worse than we clobbered Clemson in the Orange Bowl. It would be a fitting end to that series that the Mountaineers currently lead 11 games to nothing.

Michelle and I, will probably be doing a little bit of relaxing this weekend to get ready for our cruise next weekend. We've traveled or has something to do every weekend for a couple of months now, with the exception of having a little pic nic Sunday afternoon, we're taking it easy.

Let's get this long weekend started

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 my older pictures and find on to write a blog about. Moments in time that I have captured with a camera and re-living through my blog. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that one special picture and sometimes it's not so easy but it is always a lot of fun.

This weeks picture goes way back to another millenium, much less another Century or decade. This goes all of the way back to August of 1999 and the time I spent with my Sister Terri, Nick, Randy, Val and Amy at Ocean City Maryland. It was the weekend before In started college, we had all went down to Ocean City for a few days to soak in the sun and atmosphere.

This is a picture I got of Val, Amy and randy down on the beach. Actually I think this is a picture taken by the beach photographer that Terri bought, I just have a digital copy of it.

It was a memorable weekend, one that actually saw me even get my ear pierced..LOL

Hi ho hi ho

It's Football Season

The 2012 College Football season will officially start this weekend for the defending Orange Bowl Champion Mountaineers as they take on the Marshall Thundering herd for the 12th and final time in this series.

The Mountaineers currently hold an 11-0 advantage in the series and the 11th ranked Mountaineers look to extend that streak to 12 games this Saturday as oddmakers establish them as a 24 point favorite to win.

The Mountaineers are lead by two possible Heisman Candidates in Geno Smith and Tavon Austin, when you throw Stedman Bailey into the mix the Mountaineers have what In would consider the best passing attack in the country.

As we start Big XII play this season, this game will probably be the last game in this series for a number of years. We have 9 Big XII conference games a season and that leaves us with just three non-conference games a year.

Pitt is not on the schedule this season, and Oliver Luck has expressed interest in renewing the backyard brawl and Maryland and us has been a long time rivalry that battles over some very hot recruiting areas.

Let's Go Mountaineers!!!!

Tuesday's Tidbits

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

* It's been 1,628 magical days since Michelle and I went out on our first date.

* 851 days since we became engaged.

* We've been married for 388 days now, and still going strong.

* There are only 120 shopping days left until Christmas.

* We set sail in 12 more days, I am ready for a vacation too.

* I need to start writing some predated blogs some time soon, I'll have them post while we are out in the Atlantic and update people are where we are and what we will be doing at that time. I'll have no internet connection out there, or at least not one I'm willing to pay that much for.

* The pet store is still going strong, Scales & Tails Reptile and Fish Store has a facebook page now.

* Can you believe are about ready to kick of the college football season? West Virginia closes out their seven game series with Marshall this Saturday.

* We're not planning on doing any traveling this coming weekend. It might be a football weekend where we watch some football.

* Watched the movie Hunger Games on Sunday, two thumbs up. It's a trilogy and this was the first of the three movies to be released.

* Cardio day

* Hi ho hi ho

Back to Work Monday

All good things must come to an end and that includes weekends. It's time to take our noses and stick them back on the grindstone so we can continue to do the things that we like to do.

One thing I do like about today, this will be my last Monday until the 24th of September. Next weekend is a holiday weekend and the following two Mondays I will be on vacation. I'll return to work the 25th, I'm just taking an extra day of vacation after my cruise to get our chores such as shopping, and laundry done before we both return to work.

Yesterday was a relaxing day, we dropped off some habanero powder to Steph that we picked up from Amish Country. Then we returned some containers that Jean had delivered some food for us last week while Michelle was recovering from her surgery.

I watched some television as Michelle took a much needed nap to rest from the day before. So much running around after her surgery has kind of took a little bit of a toll on her. She rested up for today so she can hit the workweek strong.

Lifting and cardio day for me, although I think I re-aggravated my shoulder Friday.

Hi ho hi o

Sunday Morning Ramblings

We had a great day yesterday, headed out of town around 6:00 in the morning and spent a few hours in Amish Country. With such an early start we were able to visit and explore a few places we had never been, Michelle loved the Christmas Store but unfortunately I had to remind her the day wasn't infinite and we had other places to go yesterday. We did manage to hit a couple of the indoor flea markets and of course we tasted some wine at Breitenbach.

The reunion was nice and we found a friend right outside the entrance as you can see. It was a beautiful park, nice pond, has a swimming pool and a small amusement park for the kids to ride a few rides. We manged to get a number of pictures and videos of Michelle's Grandmother Gigi. We'll see her next at Christmas time when we head north.

On the trip home we stopped by Tappan Lake in Ohio and no trip through Wheeling is complete without a stop by Cabelas.

One of my Dad's favorite Pizzas was from a place called DiCarlo's in Wheeling. When my Aunt passed away 25 or so years ago we stayed in Wheeling and Dad went and ordered some Pizza. Long story short, every time I went to Wheeling he had me bring him back some DiCarlos pizza. I had told the story to Michelle a few times and on her suggestion, she wanted to try it. I think we'll be stopping there again next time we head to Wheeling.

We arrived home last night and Michelle was exhausted, she didn't get much sleep the night before because of my snoring this time. It was a very memorable day for both of us.

Today it will be a shopping we will go. Chad is probably headed to Pittsburgh for a reptile show (he bought himself a new iPad with his first paycheck) to gather some snakes for the store off of a breader that they know. They order the other reptiles through a company in I think Florida (He and Johnny are going to Disney World next month through them), but he buys his snakes from someone very reputable that they know.

Anyways, have a great day.

Road Trip

We're heading out this morning and going to Ohio. Michelle has a family reunion in New Philadelphia, Ohio which is the exit on I-77 that you get off of to visit Amish Country.

I know Michelle is wanting to visit the Breitenbach Winery and the Swiss Heritage Winery which are both very close the reunion.

We are also talking about heading to either Berlin Ohio or Sugar Creek before we head on over to the reunion later this morning or early this afternoon.

By the time most of you wake up, we'll already be there. =)

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.

If you are looking for a little bit of free entertainment, BOPARC is doing their final movie in the park for the summer (I think) with the movie Journey 2 The Mysterious Island!

Michelle and I will be heading out early tomorrow morning, one to get away from all the students that are now in town and two to go to her family reunion in New Philadelphia, Ohio. We're heading out early so we can hit Amish Country first and then spend some time with her family. We'll be back tomorrow night, so it's just going to be a one day trip. This will be our last trip until we head out on vacation.

Lifting and cardio

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and reflect upon all of my pictures that I have stored on my computer. Little moments in time that I have captured through the years that I can write a blog about and reflect upon. Sometimes it's easy to find that pic and sometimes it's not so easy. It is never dull or boring ans always a lot of fun to reflect.

This weeks picture goes back to 2005 and Halloween at Jean's place. This is a picture of Rich, I had the opportunity to post a few pictures of him wearing his bonnet, but I chose one from later in the evening.

It's a picture of him holding Bunky, it's a picture taken after everyone had already left for the evening and I caught this very nice picture of Rich and Bunk.

If anyone remembers, this is also the year that we had gotten a foot of snow three weeks earlier while the leaves were still on the trees. If anyone remembers, this caused a lot of power outages around the area.

Happy Birthday Moke

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my nephew Moke a very Happy Birthday today. If my memory serves me correct, that should make him about 24 years old today.

Moke is one that has made everyone in this family proud, he has served his country and he did so in as many as six other foreign lands including the war zone in Iraq.

I'm not sure if he is attending classes this semester or not, he has been attending WVU but has not been going every Semester. I know he has been working at the UPS store on Patterson Drive for a while now.

If you happen to see Moke today, make sure you wish him the Happiest of Birthdays.

Back to Work

I know it's the middle of the week, but I've been off the last two days due to Michelle's surgery and recovering from it. I was under Doctor's advice to not leave her alone for 24 hours and since Chad has the pet store now I stretched it into a four day weekend.

Today however, it's back to the grindstone for a few days. It is going to make for a nice short week, but we're traveling Saturday so that will be a long day.

We stopped over at Scales and tails yesterday, just to give Michelle a chance to get and around a little bit. I wanted to get her up and out of the house, she is supposed to return to work today if she feels up to it. We also stopped down at P and P Auctions Warehouse for a little while to see my Brother in Law Jim.

On a side note if you are looking for a cheap tank, Chad has these on sale for $5.00 each while they last, They are some of the old tanks from the store. There is nothing wrong with the tanks, they are just trying to clear out the store while they remodel.

Back to lifting today so

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is done for most of you, it's still a Tuesday and I can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* Michelle's surgery went well, we got her home last night and fed her some soup and chicken. That day is now behind us and today will be a recovery day. I'll be off today as well taking care of her.

* It's been 1,621 magical days since Michelle and I went on our first date.

* It's been 844 days since I proposed.

* 381 days of wedded bliss.

* 126 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* We set sail in 19 more days. It's getting closer and closer!!!!!!

* This weekend it is probably going to be another weekend of travel to Amish Country. This will be our last weekend we have anything scheduled until we set sail on our cruise. The following weekend is a Holiday weekend and the start of football season, we're staying put.

* A thank you to everyone who checked on Michelle yesterday, a special thanks to Ang for showing my lost butt how to get back to the recovery room after I got lost and was wandering around.

* I'm participating in a couple of for fun fantasy football leagues again this year. Michelle's family does a couple of leagues.

* Have a great day.

Surgery Today

I love an extended weekend, but only for the fun things we do to enjoy life. Michelle will be having surgery this morning and hopefully she will be able to come home today or tomorrow.

Note to her Mom and dad and Sisters, I will keep you updated via phone and/or text message today.

Happy Birthday Gloria Jean Hall

I would like to take this opportunity and wish the one everyone refers to an anmaw a very Happy Birthday Today.

jean is someone that Michelle and I still owe a huge debt of gratitude to because she did all of the cooking for our wedding last year. I actually had a friend of mine tell me yesterday he wished Michelle and I would renew our vows so he can get some more of those perogies.

If you happen to see jean today, make sure that you wish her the Happiest of Birthdays today. I know she is someone who has touched and influenced everyone's life in a positive manner, make sure she enjoys the day.

Sunday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit in a quiet household where everyone except me and one of the cats is fighting a losing battle with the sandman. It's been a long few days for everyone with the reunion, the opening of scales and tales and watching my Mother in Laws four dogs for the entire week.

With WVU starting tomorrow I would like to get an early start this morning, but that all depends on how Michelle is feeling. She was a little bit under the weather yesterday evening, so I'll have to see how she feels in a little bit.

Later today I think we are going to go to scales and tails and help them get their inventory into to a database using a the new Point of Sale system they just purchased and installed. That and continue to do a little bit of cleaning at the store, they have made tremendous strides in reorganizing it since they have taken over. Chad and Laiah have been getting home long after I have went to bed.

Pearl, our car, finally hit the 10,000 mile mark. It's been a year since we purchased it so I guess we are doing good on mileage. She has seen a few more miles during the warm summer months. We plan on doing a day trip next weekend to Amish Country and Michelle's family reunion and heading to Baltimore in a couple of weeks after that to set sail.

Enjoy your day.

Reunion Day

With a kickoff last night at Madeline's and "Drinking with Smitty" that turned out to be a big success, today is the day of the pic nic and this evening is the official get together at Archie's this evening.

We missed dinner trying to run around this newly student infested town and get a few things done. We did make it to Gene's and I was actually surprised that we had a very good turn out last night. Jeff Grable provided the evenings entertainment and Smitty was the guy greeting anyone and everyone who walked through the door.

Many people I was able to recognize due to Facebook, some never changed much, and I was siting talking to John Rice and for the life of me could not figure out who he was.

Maybe today I can get around a little better, it was crowded last night, and meet a greet a few of my old classmates.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes it is once again that time of the week that we all look foreword to, when we can take time to cease the labors for the week and take a little bit of needed time out to enjoy the fruits of those labors. It is once again the dawn of another weekend, and a Big Ole Hairy Friday.

If you are looking for a little cheap, and in cheap I mean free entertainment tonight, BOPARC is having what I would assume to be their last movies in the park of the summer with a showing of the Movie Spy Kids 4 tonight at 9:00. They will have the bouncy house this evening starting at 7:00. I'm not sure where the movie is being played specifically, they did not list it.

This weekend is my 30th Reunion for my Class at Morgantown High. There was an informal get together last night at Archies, but I didn't go. There will be dinner this evening at 7:00 at Madelines followed by "Drinking with Smitty" at Genes at 9:00. Tomorrow there will be a tour of Morgantown High for all who are interested and a Pic Nic at Coopers Rock tomorrow afternoon followed by a get together at Archies tomorrow night.

Scales and Tails is now open in Westover. They took it over Wednesday officially, they are going to do some remodeling, but they are now open. So if you in the market for a new snake, yes they make great pets, head on over to Scales and Tails in Westover for all your reptile needs. It's just across from the Dairy Mart and up the hill a little, it's not hard to find.

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 my pictures that I have stored on my computer and select just one picture to tell a little story about. I have to be honest, this weeks picture is not my picture and is just simply one I googled off of the internet.

Why did I google a picture of Elvis? Well today is the 35th Anniversary of his death. It was 35 years ago today that I was out in the back yard playing baseball, something I loved to do, and my Grandmother walked outside crying. I had no idea what was wrong, so I asked her. Wiping away her tears and stuttering she said Elvis died.

It had come across the networks as a special announcement that did nothing short of start a media storm of Elvis and his life. I've never seen anything like it before, and never really seen anything like it since with two notable exceptions. When the Iraq War started about 20 years ago and we bombed Baghdad and 9-11-01. Other than those two events I've never seen such a media storm over an event in my life.

I had another picture I was going to use, one of my own, but when I realized this was the 35th anniversary of Elvis's death I decided to change it up a little bit.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Well that's two days down, get over that lunchtime hump today and we'll be able to look off in the distance and see another weekend off in the horizon.

Michelle worked late last night to try to get some things done before she has her surgery next week. Her and her partner in crime Lydia are getting some of the taxes done so that Lydia can concentrate on the other things. She's not going to leave her high and dry, so she's making sure everything is good to go before next week.

I'm thinking either today or tomorrow is when Chad and Johnny take over the pet store officially. He was having some complications from his surgery last week, but appears to be feeling much better now.

Is it football season yet? I'm about ready to watch the Mountaineers put a serious hurting on Marshall to close out that lopsided series. A win and that will move the series to 12-0 in our favor before it is shelved after the most recent seven year run.

Lifting and a cardio day so

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is once again behind us and we are staring straight down the barrel of a Tuesday, I for the life of me can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* 1,614 days ago was when me and my sweetie went on our first date. The movie stunk, but it was a great date.

* 837 days ago I played the romantic and got down on one knee and proposed marriage to my best friend.

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

* There are still 133 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* There are only 26 more days remaining until we set sail for our tropical vacation.

* The Olympics are now over with. The United States won the overall medal count and had more Gold's and Silver's than any other country. U-S-A U-S-A U-S-A

* We are dog sitting my Mother In Law's dogs this week as they are on vacation in Myrtle Beach.

* Chad takes over as manager and Streets Pet Store in Westover changes owners this Thursday. I think they want to concentrate on reptiles and fish. There are a number of saltwater tanks already set up over there.

* My 30th High School Reunion is this weekend. Michelle and I will be attending.

* Cardio day so

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

Well my weekend of travel and White Castle Hamburgers is now over with, now it's time for me to head back into the office for yet another week of putting my nose to the grindstone.

I have to say we had a great weekend, we had a great time visiting Cleveland and spending a little bit of time at Lake Erie. I would like to return some time soona dn visit a couple of attractions. One would be the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

and the other would be to visit the house from the movie A Christmas Story which is only a few blocks away. Not in the immediate plans, but something we would like to do in the next year.

Today is both a lifting and a cardio day for me. I took Friday off from lifting to give my shoulder a little bit of a rest, but I was playing around a little bit in the gym in Cleveland. I have some deadlines coming up soon for production of another Atlas, so I'm about to get busy again. I like it better like that, the days tend to go much quicker and it gives a whole lot more content into my monthly reports..lol

Hi ho hi ho

Country Roads Take me Home

Coming to you from Cleveland Ohio after enjoying last nights festivities and sightseeing. We'll be heading back to West Virginia here sometime this morning. We might be heading down towards Amish Country sometime today, it all depends on when we get started and what time we want to arrive home today.

We still have to do our grocery shopping when we get home today, we did our Sam's Club Shopping Friday evening and Michelle busted butt and got the laundry done for the week before we ever even headed up this way.

It'll be nice to get to good old West Virginia and back to our own home. We enjoyed our time here in Cleveland and spending some time with Michelle's cousin Julie, who she grew up with. We've taken a couple of cameras, so maybe we have captured a magical moment in tome or two.

Cleveland Bound

Road trip!!! We are heading out of town this morning and will be staying overnight in Cleveland this evening as we attend Michelle's cousins wedding this evening.

We'll be heading out this morning around 9:00 is and stopping by where her Mom lives, who is in Myrtle Beach, to drop off a Pampered Chef order to some people who ordered from us.

Ont thing I do plan on doing today or tomorrow is I will make my first ever in person trip to White Castle to get some of those hot off the grill hamburgers that everyone loves. I've only ever had the ones that are frozen, now I am looking forward to actually going to a White Castle and chowing down. I've heard about them for years, I've also heard a lot of mixed reviews from people. Some love them, some hate them. I like the frozen ones, but I hear they are better of the grill. We shall see.

The wedding and the reception will be at the historical Nicholson House in Lakewood this evening at 7:00 with the reception immediately following at the same location.

Have fun today, we intend to.

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.

With the Mon County Fair in full swing this week, that is where you are going to have to go for your entertainment from BOPARC. They will return next week with another movie in the park, this week they want you to enjoy the county fair.

Michelle and I will be running around trying to get most of the weekend chores done as we are heading up north to Cleveland for the weekend. Her cousin will be getting married tomorrow night and we will be heading up tomorrow morning. It'll be a nice get away for us as we count down to when we set sail.

It;s a lifting and a cardio day so.

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 my old pictures that I have stored on my computer and select just one image to tell a little story about. Each one is a captured moment in time of days gone by that we can reflect upon. Some times it's an easy thing to find that picture, sometimes it's not really that easy. It is never dull and always enjoyable.

This weeks picture goes back a few years, back to the time when I was not hair impaired and actually had something on top of my head that needed groomed. I was also a few pounds lighter way back then, when I lived at Barrington North back around 1985-6 time frame.

Mom and Don had drove up from Georgia where they were both living to pay a little visit, and they brought my sister Terri over with them. Terri was already married and I believe this was done right after Amy was born if that helps get the year a little closer. I think I actually had a little bit of a sexy mullet going on back then.

This was the time in my life when I was a partier. I worked at Sterling Faucet by day, and spent the evenings enjoying living that care free lifestyle.

It was definitely a long time ago.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Well the Mountaineers are in full swing on fall practices for the 2012 season. Expectations are high with a #11 preseason ranking this season as the Mountaineers start threir first season of Big XII play.

Everyone knows the names of Geno Smith, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. These guys are the heart of our passing attack from last season that torched anyone and everyone they played. The Offense will be fine this coming season, maybe even a little better than last years, hence the high pres-season ranking.

The big question is on the defensive side of the ball where we are replacing the majority of the staff and we graduated First Round Draft Pick Bruce Irvin who will be tearing it up this season in the NFL.

There is one newcomer on defense that I will be keeping an eye on. Karl Joseph graduated High School a semester early and enrolled at WVU this past spring. He had a nice instinct for the ball and looked like he will be a next level player. He's already won a starting job for the season.

It should be a very good year, one to get excited about.

Tuesday's Tidbits

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

* It's been 1,607 days since mine and Michelle's first date a little over four years ago.

* It's been 830 days since I got down on one knee and proposed marriage.

* It's been 367 days (One year and one day with leap year) since my best friend went from Girlfriend to wife.

* There are 140 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* There are only 33 more days until we set sail on the high seas and head down to a tropical paradise. This has been a long countdown, and we're ready to go with the exception of packing the suite cases.

* We will be heading out of town this weekend to attend Michelle's cousins wedding in Cleveland. With watching so many people take vacations as we patiently await ours, it'll be nice to get away for a night out of town.

* We'll be heading back that way in two weeks for a family reunion.

* It's a cardio day

* Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Randy Lee Hamrick Jr.

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

If my calculations are correct and he was born in about 1988, this should make Randy about 24 years old today. I've been known to miss a date or two in my life, but I am almost positive on this one.

Happy Birthday Randy, I'm not sure that I will see you today, but hopefully you get a chance to read this.

If you happen to see Randy today, make sure you take a little bit of time out and wish him a very Happy Birthday today.

First Anniversary

It was one magical year ago today that my life changed forever. It was a day that I'm sure many people in my family had wondered if they would ever see, a day that I some times even wondered if I would ever see.

One year ago today I married my best friend, my lover and my soul mate. The person who has helped me bring my life into perspective and made me realize that I had just wandered around like an empty soul for the first 47 years of my life.

It was one year ago today that our lives were forever joined as husband and wife. A day when I finally felt complete for the first time in my entire life. I have my wife to thank for allowing me to experience this feeling that had evaded me for my entire life.

It's been one magical year. We have had our ups and downs just like every married couple, mostly ups with a rare down. She is the love of my life, the one who I chose to spend the rest of my life with.

To my beautiful wife and best friend Michelle, thank you for saving me. It was you that rescued me from a life of loneliness and unfulfillment. We came a long with in the time we dated and we have come a longer way in the past year. I only look towards the future with anticipation as to the tomorrow we are building while cherishing the yesterdays we made. I love you with all of my heart.

Happy First Anniversary.

BFS Company Pic Nic

So much for my early morning spiel here, the kids are all up and ready to head to a reptile show in Pittsburgh at the Convention Center. Michelle and I however will be heading over to Mason Dixon Park this afternoon for her company pic nic this afternoon.

Of all the years we have been together, I think this is the first time BFS has actually went out and had a corporate pic nic for all of the office personnel. They will be moving out of their current location on the mileground in the near future and will be relocating to a new location to Cheat Lake. Michelle said they have rented the whole park, meaning there are three pavilions in case it rains or anything of that nature. Should be a real good day.

Yesterday we took advantage of the season ending sales at JC Penney's and bought a lot of new clothes for our cruise next month. We just happen to hit that just right as they had lowered the prices on everything and were literally getting ready to bring out their fall collection.

Yesterday evening Michelle and I met Jean at the P and P Family auction. Jim had a number of nice items including a Refrigerator, Stove and Dish washer than he was trying to let go dirt cheap as well as a lot of cabinetry, but no one was biting any anything. He had trouble moving the larger ticket items last night. Something tells me he can put those items at the store and they will move pretty quickly with the students coming back soon.

Have a great day

Saturday Morning Ramblings

To my pleasant surprise yesterday, when I arrived home and the FedEx truck was there delivering three large boxes addressed to us. And wouldn't you know that the name of the side of the boxes said Pampered Chef.

We have everyone's order who ordered and will be delivering them in the next couple of days. The nice part about it all is the picture that you see to the left is JUST OUR STUFF, the majority of it free due to having a very good show and meeting a Pampered Chef incentive for the month of July. We made a big sale a few years ago as well, plus Pampered Chef stuff Michelle had previously had and we have a kitchen stocked in high quality kitchen gadgets with lifetime warranties. It was a nice surprise.

Nothing on the schedule today except a little shopping maybe before the Fall lines come out. We will be traveling next weekend for a wedding in Cleveland. It'll be nice to get away for an evening, but that'll be next weekend.

Our Garden is starting to put out. We've already frozen some jalapeno peppers and now we are starting to harvest some nice sized cucumbers. I guess there is a special pleasure when you can grow your own food.

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.

First and foremost congratulations to my old boss at IMCWV and fellow NETL contractor Chad and his wife Ashley. They were blessed with their third child yesterday afternoon.

If you are looking for a little cheap, and as in cheap I mean free family entertainment BOPARC is having the family funfest at Hazel Ruby McQuain Park. Tonight's free movie will be Footloose. This is not the original movie that was made back in the early 1980's, but the remake of that movie that was done last year. Come out early for the family fun bounce house at 7:00 and the movie starts around 9:00.

I have been a little tired this week for some reason, I really have not been myself. Hopefully I can feel better today, I've just been feeling blah.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look back through all of my pictures that I have stored and select just one image, one captured moment in time to tell a little bit of a story about. Sometimes it's easy to find that image, and sometimes it's rather challenging, however one thing it always is a lot of fun.

This weeks picture goes back a few years, back to the last season that the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl. We had won the Steelers Trivia Show and one of our prizes was the ability to go down on the field prior to a Steelers game of our choice.

We all decide that the Indianapolis game that season was the one we wanted to attend, Peyton Manning was the man and if memory serves me correct they were the defending Super Bowl Champions and the Steelers were playing them.

If you are asking who is in this picture it's an easy answer. This was taken probably an hour before anyone else even came to the field. This was the first player out, the one who worked his butt off and is one of my favorite all time Steelers, although he is no longer a Steeler anywhere but our hearts.

The man is Hines Ward. I learned a new level of respect for him on that day.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Here we go again, the single hardest blog of the week to write. It's two days away from a Monday or a Friday and stuck right in the middle of a tidbits and a Photo Flashback. It's the one blog of the week that I am the least inspired to write, barring something major has happened.

I am starting to think that my life needs a little more excitement during the week. Something I can write about and fill this empty blog. Maybe I need a new subject to write a recurring blog about. A sports roundup maybe, I'm a big football fan and love to talk about sports or something of that nature. I'm just needing a theme for the middle of the week so I can get through the day of blah and blogging.

I would have a wide variety of things to talk about, the Mountaineers, the Steelers, the Pirates, the Penguins, recruiting, rumors that I have been hearing, or just the past weeks results from one of those sports.

I could always write a blog about my fashion sense, but I don't really seem to have any. Or maybe I could write about food since I love to eat. Review restaurants or movies?

Anyone have any ideas?

Lifting and cardio

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is once again behind us and in our rear view mirror, I can't for the life of me think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It's been an even 1,600 days since mine and Michelle's first date. I have to say these have been the best 1,600 days of my life. I have truly been blessed by meeting my soul mate and my best friend.

* 823 days ago I got down on one knee and asked Michelle to marry me.

* 36o days ago, we're coming up on that first year, we celebrated our union in front of some of closest friends and family at the Marilla Center.

* There are only 147 more shopping days left until Christmas, provided the Mayans's were completely wrong and the earth will go on past December 20th this year.

* We're getting closer, only 40 more days left until we cruise. I'm going to have to think about writing blogs to post for each day we are at seas and have them post that day. There is very limited internet access in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and we'll be on vacation.

* Josh Judy is currently on the seven day disabled list. I was talking to his Dad Sunday and he seems to think Josh is fine.

* Anyone keeping track of the 2012 Olympics? We have been watching them and really enjoying them. As of the time of this BLOG the Americans are tied with China on the Medal count.

* Got a chance to talk to Moke last week, he spent three weeks in Peru for the military and is back home now. He's bought himself a new iPad as well.

* Talked to Amy briefly last week, the baby is doing fine.

* We finally finished our Pampered Chef show. We ended up getting a number of things as well as getting a substantial amount of free product. They were running a special for July, you hit $650.00 in sales and you get an extra $100.00 in free products plus you get a couple at 60% off. Michelle did much better this time than the last time we sold it, we love their products.

* I'm hearing the new iPhones will be released September 21st. We'll be on our cruise when they make the announcement, but we're planning on upgrading both of our phones and transitioning our phones to the kids which will also be an upgrade for them.

* Cardio day

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

All good things must come to an end, and unfortunately for us 9-5 ers that includes the weekends. Now it's time to stick our noses back to the grindstone and get back to doing what it is that we do that allows us to live the life we do.

We lost our little house guest last night, the little "Rock of Love" has went home to his Mom, Dad, brother and sister. I have to say that he ruled the roost from the moment that he got here. The cats pretty much laid low and Sophie basically hid all weekend until our little house guest went home.

We finally are finishing up our Pampered Chef show today. Michelle is meeting with the representative tonight to exchange money and submit everyones orders to him. We actually did a little better this time than we did when we did our first one a couple of years ago. Of course the rewards were higher and I spent a lot more, but if you love to cook this is the stuff to have in your kitchen.

Cardio and lifting day.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Josh Nicholson

I took this picture six years ago today, it was right after Josh Nicholson was born in the hospital. We can probably argue this is the oldest picture of him.

With that being said I would like to take this opportunity to wish Josh Nicholson a very Happy Sixth Birthday today. It was six years ago, we were all there awaiting his arrival and be blessed us with his presence.

If you see Joshy today, make sure that you wish him a very Happy Birthday today.

Val had combined his and his sisters birthday last month, picking a date as in the middle of the two as she could, but today is actually that day.

Happy Birthday Josh.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again in a quiet household collecting my thoughts as everyone else is fast asleep. I'm up early as I usually am with some movie playing in the background and me sitting here trying to determine whats going on today.

We're dog sitting the yorkie that Michelle's mom gave to Ashley and "Little Rock of Love" is tucked under the covers with Michelle. That little puppy has just way too much energy, but he is a lot of fun to play with, he likes to terrorize the cats.

Michelle's Pampered Chef Party went pretty well, the online show is now completed and she did a little better than last time. She'll meet with the Representative Monday and if all goes well, we should have a couple of hundred dollars worth of free products coming our way. If you have ever owned the products, you will know they are some of the highest quality, most durable cooking supplies out there. We love everything we have.

Today there is not much on the agenda, we went to Chris and Jenny's last night to watch the opening ceremony of the Olympics. I have to say I was sitting there wondering WTF????? I think they really kind of dropped the ball on this. They were going the history of England and did the industrial revolution with a bunch of tall smoke stacks plus they pumped the smell of sulpher into the stadium. I wasn't that impressed.

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.

Mountainfest is in full swing this weekend around Morgantown. If you are out and about this weekend or if you're attending Mountainfest, take a little extra care driving and lookout for the increased number of bikers in the area for the next few days.

Tonight Michelle and I are heading over to the Ostiens house this evening and spending a little time with some very good friends and watching the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Olympics. We surprised Chris last weekend with his surprise birthday party, even though his 40th birthday is not until October this year, so tonight we're going to watch the Olympics.

Lifting and cardio day so

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 my older pictures that I have stored on my computer. I like to select just one picture and write a little blog about it. Sometimes it's easy to find that special pic, and sometimes it's not so easy. However It's always a lot of fun.

This weeks pic take us back a few years, back to when Erica jean Nicholson was celebrating her first birthday. A day that was very hot, spent at Val's and a day when a few special memories were captured.

Not too often did I get the chance to take any pictures of Rich, much less Rich just being himself and not posing. This weeks picture is exactly that, one that I captured of Rich with an unopened beer and some tomato juice in his hand to cool himself down a little with a redeye.

What I think I remember most about this day was when Rich tricked my brother Gary to stoop down for a picture by Erica's smash cake. The rest was priceless.

Hump Day

I swear the hardest blog of the week for me to write is the one I write for the middle of the work week. Nothing is really going on, nothing planned for a few days, already did a tidbits and going to do a flashback tomorrow and here I am stuck in the middle trying to come up with some kind of content.

Can I just put my arm up and wave for a fair catch of this punt? This brainfart of a day when the creative juices just aren't flowing? Sure I can, I can write a blog about absolutely nothing and pass it off as one of my witty posts. Just trick the reader first with a little bit of misdirection to make them think that I'm actually talking about something and all the while running a good smoke screen for my brainfart today.

Naaah I wouldn't do that, I would give you something to read...and I have.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well once again another Monday is in our rear view mirrors and we are looking at another Tuesday, I can;t think of any better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1,593 days since mine and Michelle's first date a few years ago. Who would ever imagine that I'm still tracking that after four years.

* 816 days ago I got down on one knee and proposed marriage.

* 353 days ago (we're coming up on our one year anniversary) we exchanged our vows at the Marilla Center in front of our closest friends and family. We partied down with a feast and even managed to get a few pictures.

* 154 more shopping days left until Christmas. It's hard to believer that we are getting closer and closer to jolly old Saint Nick again.

* We're down to 47 more days left until we cruise the open seas for a week. Everything is already done, paid for and organized, it's just a matter of packing and getting on the boat.

* It's not too late yet to place your Pampered Chef Order if there is anything you are wanting. This is some of the best kitchen gadgets on the market, make sure you order something for yourself if you enjoy cooking. You won't regret it.

* The NCAA handed down the the sanctions to Penn State today. SMU got the death penalty a number of years ago and the NCAA said they never wanted to do that again to a school. The Death Penalty might have been less severe than what Penn State received in terms of sanctions. These are pretty sever, but the punishment fits the crime.

* For those of you who like sports and pageantry, the 2012 London Olympics starts this Friday and will run into August. * For those of you who like to ride Motorcyles, Harley's specifically, WV Mountainfest is this week.

* Cardio Day.

* Hi ho hi ho

Winding down a Pampered Chef Party.

Michelle loves Pampered Chef, it is some of the best and most durable cooking tools that are on the market. We did a big book sale a couple of years ago and now Michelle is winding another one down Thursday this week.

If anyone is interested in ordering anything from Pampered Chef, now is the time to do it. All you have to do is go to her Pampered Chef Book Party Site and place your order. If you are looking for any recommendations we love the Stoneware Cookware. We have I think three of the round stones and one of the rectangle ones as well as the multi loaf pan in the stoneware. I think Chad uses the big rounds stone almost daily to make pizza.

If you are wanting to order any new cooking toys, these are the ones to have.