Followup Visit and Moving Day

Well my surgery went well yesterday, I have a followup visit with Dr. Kenneth Mitchell (HIGHLY recommended if you can get him) at the WVU Eye Institute. He did my first surgery three years ago and wouldn't want to have had anyone else do this procedure.

I go in today to get this protective patch removed from my eye and to see what followup instructions that he has for me. I'll meet with him once again next week and he's going to scrape the other eye at that time I believe. Minimally invasive procedure, just clears up the buildup on the other lens.

After that, we're going to UHAUL and getting one for Chad and Laiah as they are moving to their new place in Fairmont today. I'll try to assist as much as possible, but I'm not allowed to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk yet.

We're losing two, but we gained Hayley and Jared Tuesday night as she cleared out of her apartment and will be moving into Chad's bedroom. They are looking to find a place of their own, so they aren't even unpacking the boxes. They are liking Brunswick Apartments up where I used to live. I loved the place and highly recommend it.

Have a good one.

Photo Flashback Thursday

Trying something a little different this week for the Photo Flashback. We did this video log last year and I forgot about it.

Here is our video log that we did after our first stop in Garnd Turk.

Update

Surgery went fine, I'm now back home and resting. It was a little more difficult to get this one out than the previous, but that is because it was softer and smaller than the previous one.

The surgery itself took about 20 minutes and I would say everything went well, I was awake during the entire procedure and even  saw some of the tools working on my eye and them placing the lens in place.

I have an eyepatch on until tomorrow when I have a followup appointment scheduled in the morning with my Surgeon.

I am home resting.

Surgery

Well I am scheduled for my cataract surgery today. AS of the time of me writing this blog, I still do not know what time my surgery is scheduled for because the schedule still has yet to come out yet.  Hopefully Ruby Memorial can give me a fair amount of notice so that we can plan accordingly. It was scheduled for this day weeks ago, I think they are a little inefficient in getting their schedules out.

I'm not a hospital administrator, so I have no idea what all pertains to the surgery, but you would think that they would have most of the details worked out before this.

Like I stated,  this is my second cataract surgery, my first one a few years ago was so bad it was like taking a piece of wax paper and putting it over your eye, that is how bad my vision was affected by it in my right eye three years ago. With my left eye today, I have about 20/40 vision in it (as opposed to the worse than 20/400 I had in the other eye) and this should increase my vision back closer to normal so to speak.

The procedure is to remove the cataract and replace it with an intra-ocular lens, and this will be my second. I anticipate a few days of headaches as my eye adjusts to the lens like it did the other eye, but this is probably the easiest surgery you could ever have to be honest with you and my Doctor is great.

Have a great day.

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well I made it through Monday without dying and feeling a little better when I went to bed than I did when I initially woke up for the day. I made it to work, met with Secretary Moniz and Congressman McKinley and made it home. I definitely can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It has been 1,964 days since I met the love of my life and took her out on our first date. The movie was horrible, the company was awesome.

* 1,187 days ago I got down on one knee after 777 days of dating and proposed marriage.

* We were married 724 days ago (she wouldn't wait another 777 days lol), and I'm glad she didn't.

* 154 more days to go until New Years Eve.

* 148 more shopping days left for Christmas shopping, now is the time to start planning.

* In 124 more days I celebrate the 29th anniversary of my 21st Birthday.

* 40 days and counting until we set sail once again on our cruise. Woo Hoo

* 32 more days to go until the Mountaineer Football team takes the field for the first game of the 2013 season. We lost Geno, Tavon and Stedman but we have Florida States former starting QB (Trickett) Houston's top Running Back who was thought to be one of the highest rated running backs in the coming NFL Draft and as of Friday we have the Nations top running back from 2012 and Hopewell High School Rushel Shell who would have been Pitts (snicker snicker) starter this season.

* We are 7 days away from our second wedding anniversary.

* In 4 days we will be VIP's of the Pittsburgh Steelers at their training camp in Latrobe. We're on the field and get to eat with the team. Chris swears this should be the top prize since the seats they give away for winning Steelers trivia really aren't that good.

* I'm one day away from having the third surgery in my lifetime. I am having my second cataract surgery tomorrow, I had my right eye done three years ago and now they are going to remove a cataract and install another intraocular lens. I'll be off work tomorrow and Thursday for a post surgery followup appointment, but I wrote all my reports yesterday so I'm good to go for a few days.

* I told our dog Sadie I needed a tidbit or two and told her to communicate to me in Dogeeze. Something about ham. neighbor dogs and you forgot my treat.

* Sadie said thanks Daddy since I gave her double treats and tore them up so she could eat them, she communicated these things telepathically in dogeeze.

* I speak Dogeeze.

* WVU got a commitment from Tyree Owens last night, I've watched his highlight films and this kid is a big time player.

* With one down, we have one more baby to go in Michelle's family. We're still waiting on Jon and Laura's first baby.

* Well our household is going to be changing, Chad and Laiah are moving to Fairmont this week in anticipation of Chad attending Fairmont State. They have a townhouse close to campus. Hayley and Jared will be moving in temporarily until they find a place. Hayley sublet her apartment at the Ridge because of one of her room mates, another room mate also left this week for the same reason.

* Wings Ole still sucks and I swear I'll never eat there again.

* Stopped over and saw Chris and Jenny last night to pick up our Steeler VIP passes and our gift card to the Steeler store.

* Our first of three Steelers Trivia shows will appear not this weekend, but the next. (we won but don't tell anyone)

* Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Joshua Nicholson

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my great nephew Josh a very Happy 7th Birthday today.

It's hard to believe that is has been seven years since this little bundle of joy entered the world for all of us to see. Val and Bobby had a combined birthday party for him and his sister last month, but today is his actual birthday so to speak.

If you happen to see Joshua Robert Nicholson today, make sure that youtake the time out to wish him a very Happy Birthday today.

One thing I can claim with Josh, I made the very first movie of him and published it to the internet.




Happy Birthday Josh

Update

Well last night was a rough one, I probably lost ten pounds in sweat as my shirt, shorts, blanket and pillow were absolutely drenched in sweat. I even slept in the air conditioning with a fan a few inches from my head blowing a cool breeze by it to cool it down. Believe it or not, this is still the best I have felt in a few days. Hopefully that is just what was in me making its way the rest of the way out of my body.

I was 50/50 last night about going to work today, but I seemed to have forgot that the new Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz will be in Morgantown and I have a meeting with him scheduled for later this morning. Hopefully I can stay healthy for that long. I'll always like former Secretary Chu due to the fact that he used quite a few things that I created on his powerpoint slides. Hopefully Secretary Moniz likes what we are doing as well.

I guess it's hi ho hi ho

Waiting to See

I have been down all weekend, thinking it was caused from food poisoning from Wings Ole on Chestnut Ridge Road. I had to have Michelle come home to take me to Med Express and yesterday was a hit or miss kind of day.

As to the time of my authoring this blog, I have taken 5 extremely hot showers so far today because in between sweating and burning up, I go through a series of cold chills that just leaves me shivering, the only way to alleviate that is to taker a hot shower.

I'm having surgery on Wednesday, so I'm limited to what kind of meds that I am allowed to take until the surgery is completed.

I guess this is a wait and see kind of thing to see if I can make it to work today, I ate my first meal since Friday evening last night, but it was just a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches. The good news is I am now able to fart with confidence, where Friday and Saturday night you had better be on the commode if you even had an inclination of passing gas. To say that it made for an awful weekend is an understatement.

I would say Hi ho hi ho but it all depends on how I feel.

Mountainfest tragedy

http://ee.dominionpost.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=RFBvc3QvMjAxMy8wNy8yOCNBcjAwMTA0&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Welcome Isaac David Paugh

Michelle has two nieces who were both pregnant. There was Laura up in Monaca who Michelle was going to stay with this weekend and Drema who lives locally.

The running joke was for her Sister Chris and could she be in two places at the same time if the need arose. Michelle was going to fill in for her if Drema went into labor the same time as Laura.

Last night Drema delivered her and Jimmy's third child. Meet Issac David Paugh.

Congratulations to both Drema and Jimmy.

Sunday Morning Ramblings

Well I wouldn't exactly call this the best of my weekends. Michelle was going to go home for the weekend, but I actually called her around noon yesterday and asked her to come home. I don't know what it was, but they are possibly thinking food poisoning and I think I can subscriber to that diagnosis. I went to Wings Ole Friday night and that is when it all started.

I've been burning up and having cold chills, nauseous, diarrhea like I think I have never had. When I thought I was well enough to call Michelle yesterday, she was worried that I was lethargic and to be honest I had actually came out of it when I called her.

I have to thank my wife for yesterday, she is my life. She came home and took men to med express, they gave me to bags of an IV because I was so dehydrated and they gave me something for the nausea, but whatever was bothering my stomach was out already.

I swear every muscle in my body hurts.

Under the Weather BLOG.

I kissed Michelle good bye last night as she headed home for the weekend. I had a hankering for Wings Ole so I stopped down there for dinner.

After I ate I started to bloat and passed out on the couch, sleeping soundly until 3:00 AM when I had to get up and use the rest room. I didn't feel quite right and no more than got that thought out of my head and next thing I know I was running to the bathroom regurgitating the previous nights meal.

I laid back down after that with cold chills.

Talk about irony I got chills typed and was running to the restroom yet again. I'm, sweating profusely and have already taken a red hot shower.

This is not going to be a productive day. I start the night sleeping in the AC, hours later I am curled up in two comforters trying to stay warm from the chills.

I think I am going to lay down again and head to Sam's Club when I wake up. Might even do a few loads of laundry in between naps.

Have a great day.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Mountainfest 2013

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

Well in case you have not noticed, we have some increased traffic here in Morgantown the past couple of days and I would safely assume it's going to get a little heavier today and tomorrow before people start to pull out and head back home on Sunday or Monday.

Once again please use a little more caution than normal with all the bikers around town the next few days. Don't want to see any unnecessary and avoidable accidents, share the road and plan to take a few extra minutes to get where ever it is you are going around town.

I'll be at home this weekend as Michelle is heading home tonight to spend some time with her friend Holly and then going to her niece Abby's Sweet 16 Birthday Party and Bonfire tomorrow night before returning home Sunday. I'll be home holding down the fort.

Hi ho hi hoi

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all the pictures that I have either taken, scanned or saved through the years that are stored on my drive at home. Tens of thousands of pictures scanning from my youth until just last weekend when Michelle and I attended her nephews wedding. I like to look through them all and select just one special picture to write a little blog about and briefly reflect on that lost moment in time. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find it and sometimes it's not that easy, it is however always a whole lot of fun.

For this weeks picture I have to go way back, back to when the Pirates and Steelers were both world Champions and I was just starting my Sophomore year at Morgantown High School. This is my 10th grade school pic, the one that was used in my Sophomore year yearbook.

I don't remember too much about this day or this picture other than I was one hell of a good looking young man at this time. If you look real close on the top of my head, I had this thing that they call hair back then.

Long time ago.

Hi ho hi ho

Mountainfest

All right all you motor cycle enthusiasts around Morgantown, now is the start of the 2013 WV Mountainfest and that means that there will be a whole lot of visitors here this weekend.

If you are out in a car, once again please use a little nit of extra caution this week, give yourself  couple of extra minutes to get to where you are going and drive safely. We don't want to see anyone injured due to someone not paying any attention.

There is going to be a lot of good music coming to town, highlighted by Joan Jett. With her will be Foghat, The Guess Who, Three Dog Night and Jackyl at the main stage at Mylan Park.

Michelle's Company BFS is sponsoring the (gratuitous plug) BFS Poker Run. During the run bikers will pay visit to five area stores to grab their card from each store. The best hand wins $1,500 and the worst hand (see you do get something for being the worst) wins $500.00. Not too bad for having the worst hand and driving around the area on your motorcycle. It all starts today at 1:00 when they open up Camp Mountainfest and allow bikers to set up their camps.

The coal bucket saloon starts off the music today with the following schedule

July 24	5:00 – 8:30pm	DJ – Baltimore Sound
	8:30 to 11:30	Bad Mother Trucker – Sponsored by Jack Daniels
	12 to 12:30 am	Bag Lady Sue – Sponsored By RG Honda – Yamaha
	12:30 to Close	DJ – Baltimore Sound
Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well we are once again looking at Monday in our rear view mirrors, looking ahead at yet another fun filled Tuesday. Other than if there was a Zombie Apocalypse I can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* Well we have done all three of our planned concerts for the year. I have to say that I had fun at all three events this season. Maybe we'll find another one along the line to attend before this year is over with. Michelle and I have done a total of 8 concerts together, none of them in Morgantown.

* Speaking of Michelle, we have been together since our first date 1,957 days ago.

* It has been 1,180 days since I proposed marriage.

* and it has been a total of 717 days of wedded bliss for us so far.

* We're 161 days from my final blog of 2013.

* You have 155 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* In 131 more days I turn the big 5-0, or the 29th anniversary of my 21st birthday as I would prefer to have it referenced.

* 47 days until we set sail on the high seas. We're already discussing possibilities for next year (2014).

* 39 days until the 2013 Mountaineer Football team, plays their first game of the year against William and Mary.

* 14 days until my second wedding anniversary.

* I started walking again yesterday morning before work. I had worked out every day for about a year and a half, and two torn labrums finally caught up to me. I had to take a few months off so I could function semi-normally. I've started my cardio back from day one and will re-assess my lifting here in the near future. The main question is how much more and I willing to injure myself before I would have to have both shoulders operated on.

* Amy is going to have a duel birthday party for Kaiden and Kynlea in August. It's going to be on the 9th which is a Friday because of the Jamboree being on Saturday.

* Not this weekend coming but the following weekend we will be VIP's in attendance at Steelers Training camp. We get the VIP treatment and get to eat dinner with the team. What's this mean? We won our first two round of Steelers trivia and then finished third in the finals because that's basically the prize package we really wanted this time.

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday Morning

All good things must come to an end and that even includes nice long four day weekends where there was a whole lot of fun to have been had. Now it's time to put the shrimp kabobs away and stick our noses back on the grindstone for another fun filled week of work.

It was such a good and relaxing weekend, I decided to put a nice picture up from our weekend. Every weekend should be this fun filled.

Looking at the week ahead, Morgantown is preparing for their yearly motorcycle invasion as we are a few days away from MountainFest. Morgantown will see thousands of Harley Davidson enthusiasts coming to town starting Wednesday.  Please be extra careful and pay a little closer attention to the bikers this weekend, we don't need anyone getting injured because someone wasn't paying attention.

Time to get this workweek started.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Ramblings

I have no idea why I slept so long, but I just got up but I'm still the first one to win the battle with that dreaded Sandman from last night.

The wedding went pretty well, it was nice to be a part of it and I like how they did it. Corey wore a camouflage tuxedo but it was done very nice and was very appropriate. The wedding was held at a lodge it went off without a hitch and became a memorable day for the both of them.

On our way home we were listening to Jimmy Buffett's live concert from Detroit last night. Michelle was even doing "Fins" for me as we were driving down the interstate. They broadcast all of his concerts live on Sirrus XM which we have in the Subaru.

Today is the last of our four day weekend, it'a going to be filled with grocery shopping, laundry and chores around the house. Might even try to work a nap into the mix today.

Have a great day.

Traveling

Michelle and I will be hitting the road this morning and heading back to where she is from. Her Nephew is getting married this afternoon up in Beaver and we'll be heading up there for the ceremony and reception this evening.

Of course it is calling for rain here all afternoon, which means it'll probably be raining up there as well, but that's OK, we'll be listening to Jimmy Buffett's concert in Detroit tonight on our way home on Sirrus. That makes for really good traveling music  so it should be a blast traveling.

Speaking of traveling, Smitty kept sending me text messages last night, he was at the Bad Company /Lynard Skynard concert at Burgettstown. When he lived in Florida he worked as a security guard for the housing development that Gary Rossington lived in and Smitty had the chance to meet him and drink a few beers with him. Rossington is the only original member of the band left and Smitty reminded me that he was the only person in the crowd that had drank a beer with him.

In did make the viewing last night for Linda Pinkney, it was a sad day to see a friend lying there. I recalled probably the last time we spoke was probably when we were both in college together and we saw each other during some class exchanges. My heart goes out to Kenny, you could see that this was going to be hard on him.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

I'm actually off again today and so is Michelle. I'm writing this blog this morning, which is pretty rare for a week day blog for me because I usually author it the evening before. We were gone all day yesterday and with the long day, the heat and rain and mugginess, I was beat by the time we got home earlier this morning. I still have the Subaru packed with everything from the concert last night. I have all the pictures up on Facebook.

The only bad thing about yesterday was my brother Gary decided to come up later and somehow got lost on his Harley and could not make it to the show. I kept trying to call him, but to no avail and when I finally did get a hold of him he was lost somewhere. One time he tells me he's on 50 the other time he tells me he's on the Steubenville Pike, how do you get on both of those roads without passing the concert pavilion I don't know. I told him to use the GPS on his iPhone but that got him lost. He missed the show which kind of put a damper on it for us.

Today I've got a funeral to attend and a car to unpack. I probably drank more yesterday than I have in a lot of years, but it was hot and I drank responsibly enough to know when to slow down and start drinking water. We did have a great time however.

Have a great day.

A little love for Nadirah Shakoo

The voice of an angel.

Parrot Heads Unite!!!!!!!!

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all the pictures that I have accumulated through the years and find one special picture to right a blog about. One lost moment in time that was captured with a camera and brought back to life here on my blog. Sometimes it's a pretty easy task and sometimes it's not so easy, it is however always a whole lot of fun.

This weeks picture goes back to the first time Michelle and I attended a Jimmy Buffett Concert together. It was during the first year that we dated and we sat under the Pavilion for that concert. Ever since this year we have purchased the cheaper lawn seats that you see behind us, but if you ask me the lawn is the place to be.

This picture is of no one in particular, it's just a picture that I took of the lawn crowd that was seated behind us. Jimmy had not made it out yet but the crowd was starting to really get warmed up. It was a great time and I think we should do it again....like TODAY!!!!!!!

Happy First Birthday Kynlea Rae Dalton

I would like to take this opportunity to wish the very beautiful Kynlea Rae Dalton a very Happy First Birthday today.

It was just one short, but very magical year ago today that Amy and Ralphie added a sister for Kaiden as they welcomed a very beautiful daughter.

Michelle and I did manage to make it to the hospital to me her one year ago.

I'm not sure what Amy's plans are for a birthday party yet, I sent her a text at the time I was writing this blog last night to try to get an update of any information, but there was no answer as of yet.

I would like to take this opportunity to Wish Kynlea Rae a very Happy First Birthday today.

Hump Daaaaaay

Hump Day

What day is it? Hey reader, what day is it? It's Hump Daaaaaayyyy. Yeah that never seems to get old. I love that commercial.

Not only is today Hump day, it is the dawn of a four day weekend for Michelle and I as we will be partying down in Burgettestown tomorrow with the rest of the Parrot Heads as we all assemble to do our yearly "Fins" dance (woah woah).

Talked to Pam last night, she told me she has a slow leak on one of her tires. I know Michael as a boatload of old tires in the big garage so I'm going to see if we can hook her up with at least a good used tire until it comes time that she needs new ones.

I did get a chance to talk to Pam, Gary and Terri as well as my mother about the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Linda.

Pam reminded me that I missed the memorial dinner for Frank Slavinski who had just recently passed away. There was a memorial dinner for him last night.

Hi ho ...er woah woah

RIP Linda Pinkney

It is a pretty sad thing that when someone who was so involved with this families life for so many years, that I had to struggle to find a single picture of one of my Sisters closest friends, the babysitter of her children and someone who was always at our family functions but somehow always managed to avoid the camera.

Linda, the woman in the back left of the picture passed away Monday morning. I'm not sure what the cause was, but Terri said that she had a leg amputated so I would imagine it had something to do with diabetes.

Linda was as honest as the day was long and I will consider myself a better person knowing that I had the opportunity to share so many memories with her and my family. Picnics, holidays, weekends, or just any day of the week that ended in day, Linda always seemed to be there to lend a hand.

My thoughts go out to her husband and cousin of mine Kenny. To her son Ryan, his wife Brittany and their daughter Madyson my heart goes out to all of you in this time of mourning.

Rest in Peace Old Friend.

Tuesday's Tidbits

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

*  It's been 1,950 wonderful days since I took Michelle out on our first date.

*  1,173 days ago I got down on one knee and proposed marriage.

*  We're on day 710 of marital bliss.

* 168 more days until my year end reflection blog.

*  You only have 162 more shopping days until Christmas.

*  138 days from now yours truly turns the big half century age of 50.

*  54 days away from hitting the high seas on our cruise to the Caribbean again.

*  46 more days until WVU starts their 2013 Football season off with a game here in Morgantown against William and Mary.

*  21 days away from our second Wedding Anniversary.

* And for the last time in 2013, we are only 2 days away from seeing Jimmy Buffett in Pittsburgh for our third Concert of the Summer.

*  I have a Pre-Op doctors visit this morning. My surgery will be at the end of the month, but to have surgery I have to have my Doctor fill out paperwork and fax it back.

* I think Summer has finally arrived.

* Hi ho hi ho

Weekend is Over

Well we had a wonderful weekend, going to my reunion and just staying around the house yesterday.

Today however it's time to stick the noses back on the grindstone for another fun filled week of work. This will be a short week for the two of us as we have the Buffett concert on Thursday and we're traveling for a wedding on Saturday.

It appears as thought Summertime has finally arrived weather wise, just in time for the yearly assembly of the Parrot Heads in Pittsburgh. It's calling for a high of 97° of Thursday, sounds like good weather for a Concert.

Ready for Zombie Apocolypse

We did get a little bit of a surprise yesterday when we were grocery shopping, I see Hostess Twinkies have made a return to the shelves. I'm completely ready now for the Zombie Apocalypse if and or when the Zombies decide they are going to attack.

Hostess shut down their company last fall due to some labor related issues and sold off their product lines. They were sold out of bankruptcy earlier this year and are actually scheduled to be back on store shelves nationwide starting today.  Walmart had some special deal with Hostess and you were able to get them at Walmart (where we purchased this box) earlier than anyplace else.

To be honest, I never really was a big twinkie fan. There were other products that Hostess made that I liked much better, but twinkies are one of the highest profile products in their line. Michelle likes Ho Hos wrapped in that silver covering and I kind of preferred the Ding Dongs for some reason. Cupcakes, Twinkies and Donettes are the only products that I have seen out on the shelves however at this time.

Have a great day and stay cool.

Sunday

Well the reunion went pretty well yesterday, we managed to get 30-40 people there and spend a few hours together with some old classmates. That's two reunions we've had in two years and all thanks for this one goes to my buddy Smitty who did all the work and all the cooking for it. I know I want to make it down to the Purple Fiddle as Johnny Bright gave me free passes for the second year in a row. I told Smitty we all need to plan on making a trip down. 

Not much planned for today other than shopping, I know we are going to have a busy week coming up with Buffett on Thursday and we'll be traveling on the weekend for Michelle's nephews wedding. I can't say we have had a boring summer and it's not ever with yet.

Have a great day

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Well here I am again, up before everyone else except Chad who just went to the Fridge and one of the cats who is here behind me. I'm watching the movie Volcano with Tommy Lee Jones and collecting my thoughts for the day.

Well my eye appointment yesterday went as expected, I am going to have a second cataract surgery later this month on the other eye. I had my first surgery a little over three years ago and now the other eye is starting get worse, although it is no where near as bad as the other one when we figured that one one. I go in next week for the pre-op physical and surgery the last day of the month. Funny little story they were checking my left eye and I swore that the lens was dirty, there was no lens in it. I think I first noticed my eye was going bad at Steelers Trivia in the studio. Easiest surgery one could ever have and I have a great Doctor. Here's a pic of me with my eyes dilated.

Today Morgantown High School Class of 1982 will be having our 31st class reunion. Since last years was so successful, we decided to do it again this year. Simple pic nic at Coopers Rock. Hopefully the weather holds up. I talked to Smitty and he said we're expecting around 40 people. Not as big as last year, but still a nice little turnout.

I think Chad is going to start working with my brother Gary for  awhile, Gary needs the help and Chad is getting ready to move to Fairmont (going to Fairmont State this Semester) and they need some extra money to get their apartment set up. They found a nice townhouse, but we have not seen it as of yet.

Have a great day.

Happy Birthday Angela McClain

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my beautiful niece Angela a very Happy Birthday today.

I'm not sure what she is doing today, my guess is working and going to school because she is someone who just has that much drive to get to where she wants to be in life.

I usually see her every time either I or Michelle have surgery some some kind of procedure done in the operating room. Ang is always there to lend an encouraging word or make sure that Michelle has enough pillows.

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

Big OIe Hairy Friday

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

I have an eye appointment this afternoon at the WVU Eye Clinic. They dilate my pupils to look at them, I was there a few months ago but I have another cataract forming in my right eye, so we are wanting to make sure it doesn't get too intrusive like the last one did. That one basically caused me to be blind in one eye, and by blind I just mean could not make out the top line of the eye chart. I see fine out of that eye now and will probably require another surgery on the right eye in the near future. If not this year maybe next.

We finally booked our Hotel for our cruise last night. Last year we booked at a hotel that allowed us to park our car there all week, this year we are going to a very nice hotel a couple of blocks away from the inner harbor and will drive to the terminal. People who drive and locals are the first ones who are allowed to disembark from the cruise liner when you return home. This alone will get us 2-3 hours ahead of last years pace when returning home.

I do have my 31st High School Reunion this afternoon at Coopers Rocks. It went so well last year that a group of the locals wanted to get together again this year, although we do have people traveling for this this year. Unlike last year when it was multiple events on multiple days, this is a one time thing for a few hours tomorrow afternoon.

Have a great day.

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 either have on my website or that is on Facebook and select it and tell a little story about it. Little lost moments in time that I can briefly relive and bring a little life back to them. Sometimes it's pretty easy finding that picture and sometimes it's not so easy. It is however a whole lot of fun to write and one of my favorite blogs to do for the most part.

This weeks picture takes us back a few years. It is October but it is not Halloween. Hayley is dressed up in character for her part in the production Sweeney Todd that she took part in. Michelle Chad and I went to see her perform one night during the run and this was a picture that we had taken outside after the production  was completed at the autograph session.

It doesn't seem like this is going on three years ago but it most certainly is going on three years this fall. Hayley put a whole lot of rehearsal time after school to play this role and she really had a lot of fun doing it. It was her Senior year of High School (not an MHS Production, but a professional production) and she really enjoyed doing it. I'm surprised that she never did another play, but you never know, she may surprise us all once again and partake in another production of some other play some day.

Have a great day.

What Day is it??? Go ahead go ahead

It's HUMP DAAAAAAYY

Yeah that commercial is really starting to be permanently embedded into my memory. I think this is one of those Geico Commercials that you never seem to forget and will always remember.

Anyways, take a peek over that noon time hump, you know what I see? There just on the other side of a photo flashback, do you see it? It's the dawn of another fun filled weekend that we can now start to see.

It't time for a Josh Judy update. Josh is currently pitching in the AAA level for the California Angel's AAA affiliate Salt Lake Bees. He started the season in the International League with York and then was the first player from that league to get picked up by a Major League team when the Angels came calling. So far he has yet to let up an earned run, but lost in his last appearance. A 0.00 Record and an 0-1 record is not something you see every day. I did have a nice conversation with his Dad Steve on Sunday to catch up on him. Hopefully he can get back up into the Majors this season.

Funny story, when Josh was in AA he bought a plane ticket to go home to Akron where his wife lives and he got called up to AAA. He had to eat the price of that plane ticket. He's bought another plane ticket to fly into Akron during the MLB All-Star break and said he may have to eat that ticket if he gets called up. Steve and I both agreed, so what, I hope he has to eat that ticket because that just means he's back in the Majors and making the big bucks.

Have a great day.

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well once again that dreaded Monday is behind us and we are staring straight down the barrel of a Tuesday. I have searched high and low, near and far and have yet to come up with a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* 1,943 Days ago I was blessed, I had the opportunity to go out on a date with someone very special in my life who would become a permanent fixture in my life.

* 1,166 days ago I got down on one knee and proposed marriage to this wonderful lady.

* 703 days ago in front of our closest friends and family at the Marilla Center, we exchanged our vows and became man and wife.

* 175 more days until my year end BLOG.

* 169 more shopping days left until Christmas. Never too early to start and something tells me you are going to see stores start decorating for it in the near future.

* 145 days until I hit the big 5-0.

* 61 more days left until we set sail on the high seas once again on our cruise.

* In 53 more days the William and Mary Football team will invade Morgantown as the start of the 2013 Mountaineer Football season starts.

* 28 days until mine and Michelle's second Wedding Anniversary.

* 9 more days until we assemble with the rest of the Parrot Heads in Pittsburgh to see Jimmy Buffett once again.

* I think I mentioned last week in one of my BLOGS that Amy and Ralph get to keep Ralph's Dad's land after all the legal mumbo jumbo was completed. It was really good news for them and Any was quite happy.

* I've been riding in with and home with Michelle for a few days, at least until my car is back up and ready to roll again.

* Michael finally had someone come out and look at the AC last night, being that there were no windows and no air flow through it tends to get a might bit warm in our little home, especially with all the hotter weather we have had.

*  I actually had to get a new badge yesterday at work, mine was cracked and would not work on the automated gates.

* Hi ho hi ho

Weekend is Over

Well that wonderful thing that we refer to as the weekend, a four day one in my case, is now behind us. Now it's time to stop all the enjoying and put our noses back on the grindstone for yet another fun filled week of work.

Our big Air Conditioner is still down, the guy never came over the weekend to replace the blower motor so it was a little warmer than usual in the apartment. I know it has Michelle some discomfort, but hopefully Michael's guy can get here pretty soon and we can get it taken care of.

I've been having car troubles, but I think we have the car past that right now. New spark plugs, fuel filter and banging on the catalytic converter has seemed to make one heck of a difference. Thanks to Michael for helping me with the fuel filter and Gary for help with the catalytic converter.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning

Well here I sit this time in the early AM and no one else is awake. I'm up all alone collecting my thoughts on the day. The AC still hasn't been fixed, but it is semi bearable so hopefully the temps don;t go into the 90's today.

Had a great day yesterday, went to the gun range yesterday and quickly found out that my wife is a much better shot than I am. She was more consistent and was kicking my butt on a pretty consistent basis. We purchased a home protection firearm and this was the first time we actually fired it. We stayed close to home waiting on the AC repair guy to come and he never did.

Yesterday we ran across something kind of surreal. Yesterday was the one year anniversary of the disappearance of Skylar Neese who was found to have been murdered. Her body was found somewhere around the location indicated at the end of this post. Michelle and I decided that since it was the one year anniversary of her disappearance, we wanted to find the memorial and we did. As we arrived the Neeses were about 2 minutes behind us and arrived at the same time. When the body was first recovered, I had heard three names that were named with this incident. Two of them were listed here and a third one that I haven't heard in any press but from pretty close resources. The third girl shall rename nameless, but I got a first hand account yesterday that she had nothing to do with it as she was sitting on the memorial bench when we got there helping to paint rocks and beautify the location with who I would assume was her parents and a friend. They were all working with the Neeses. It was a humbling experience to say the least. I have a geocache all set up that I would like to do a memorial cache for her and tell the story of what happened, but I would get Dave and Mary's permission before I would ever do anything like that. I know she liked butterflies as Michelle took note of that. It is a beautiful memorial, a very nicely done grass roots memorial.

Today, it's back to grocery shopping and getting ready to head back to work tomorrow. Ugh.

Have a great day.

Late Saturday Morning Blog

I know, I'm slacking this morning in getting a blog out. Michelle is up and already drinking her coffee and I just haven't written anything yet this morning.

My niece Amy ended up with some very food news yesterday. After all the turmoil they have went through the last year about Ralphies Dad's place and not thinking that they would be able to keep it, it turns out that they do in fact get to keep it after all. She was quite happy yesterday and she called me and gave me the 411 on the situation. I'm so happy for them that that portion of land gets to stay not only with their family but with them.

I think we diagnosed the problem with my car as the Catalytic Converter being clogged up. We changed the fuel filter and spark plugs and Gary got under there yesterday and banged on it to a point where it could get up the hill. Wednesday coming home it lost all power and could not get up over the hump on Van Voorhis, I had to call Summers towing to pull it up over the hill for me.

We also should have someone replacing the fan motor on the central air today. Even though we are under ground here, it becomes an oven at times and downright uncomfortable due to absolutely no air circulation.

We're going to try to pay a visit to Pam and George sometime today, we purchased a home protection device a couple of weeks ago and want to test it out away from everyone and everything.

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.

Well we had a small cookout yesterday, did about 15 pounds of ribs on the grill, they turned out to be a pretty big hit with everyone. Trish and Joe came to visit and Gary stopped down as well.

Well I guess when it rains it pours, I think I have blown the head of my engine up. We're going to try to do a compression test on it to be sure, but I think Gary's analysis may be pretty accurate.

Air Conditioner motor threw a bearing as well yesterday, can't say that these last 48 hours has been a run of good luck for me. The place is hot as heck and no air flow with the AC down. Someone is coming to look at it.

I'm off today, seeing what I can do about these problems.

Happy 4th of July

On our wonderful nations birthday, I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Holiday. Happy Birthday America.

We're just cooking out at the house nothing too special for us. Planning on doing some ribs on the grill and just staying home.

Have a safe and Happy 4th.

Hump Day

Well that's two days down, tomorrow is the 4th of July Holiday as well as a Photo Flashback, so I guess you can still refer to this as hump day.

Not a whole lot on my mind today, it's kind of one of those blah kind of days when your brain is struggling more and more for something creative to write about. The creative juices are just not flowing as I am writing this, I think I used to call these types of blogs brain farts. When you really have nothing to write about, but you want to make sure that there is in fact something fresh to read.

I have been using this one iPhone ap the last couple of months that I have absolutely fell in love with. It's called evernote. It allows me to sync notes from my home computer, my work computer and my iPhone all at the same time. If I have a note from a meeting, I can sync that, if I need to remember something, I can sync that as well. Pretty handy little ap that I have grown quite fond of.

I'm off tomorrow for the 4th, so let's get this party started.

Hi ho hi ho

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 still can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1,936 days since my first date with my wife, that's a little over five years together and still counting.

* 1,159 days ago I got down on one knee and proposed marriage.

* 696 days ago in front of our closest friends and family we tied the knot.

* 182 days left until my final blog of the year.

* 176 shopping days left until Christmas. Plenty of shopping time left until that magical day.

* In 152 days I celebrate the 29th anniversary of my 21st birthday. Yeah, I'll be turning the big 50 later this year. I guess my teen aged years are officially behind me.

* 68 days until we set sail once again on the high seas on our cruise.

* 60 days until the Mountaineers start the 2013 Football season.

* 35 days until my second wedding anniversary. As bad as I am at remembering dates and days, I had better make sure I count those days down so Michelle doesn't my butt.

* 16 days until our third planned concert of the year when we head up north to see Jimmy Buffett.

* If you like to talk on your cell phone while driving, stop it. It's now illegal in West Virginia. If you like to text while driving, do everyone who loves you a favor and never do it again.

* Everything went well with Michelle's procedure yesterday, I took her out to the Chinese Buffet (She loves Chinese) after we left the hospital.

* Our green beans we planted in the garden from seeds are kicking butt. I used a mushroom compost a few years ago to build the patio garden and it has done a remarkable job.

* I've been talking a few times recently about a place I used to go swimming years ago. Fortney's Mills in Preston County. It's illegal to be there now, but I have many fond memories of the place. Too many people screwed it up for everyone else.

* I swear the person at the left at the end of this blog is not me, or at least I don't think it is me, but I'm having a tough time convincing myself that it is not.

* Hi ho hi ho

Weekend is Over

All good things must come to an end, and that includes those fun filled weekends that we enjoy so much.

Now it's time to stick our noises back on the grindstone once again and get back to doing what we do that allows us to do the things we like to do. It's time to get back to work.

This will be a short day for me as I'll be with Michelle at the hospital this afternoon. She stayed home and relaxed yesterday getting her body ready for today, there is some more preparation she needs to do today, but she'll be ready by early this afternoon when it is scheduled.

I had a great time yesterday at the Birthday Party. The kids got rich and Josh wanted to make it rain, but wiser heads prevailed and the money was put in a good safe place. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed being around the family, I guess as we all age this happens less and less for us and you really learn to appreciate the times that you do have with everyone.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Chad Collins

I would like to take this opportunity to with my step son Chad Collins a very Happy 25th Birthday today.

As Michelle is at home preparing for tomorrow she will also be pulling double duty and making up for one of her home made cheesecakes that she has promised him the last two or three years for his birthday. We actually bought the ingredients this morning and she is going to start making one here real soon.

Chad is still in his bedroom sleeping, I never heard a word from either him or Laiah last night, so I'm guessing they were out celebrating his birthday.

If you see Chad today, make sure you wish him a very Happy 25th Birthday today.

Happy Birthday Chad.

Birthday Party

Today is picnic number two of the weekend for me, have I ever said how much I love Summertime, when I will be going to my nieces to celebrate a couple of birthdays.

Erica Jean and Josh will once again have a duel birthday party today as Val does every year. One bigger party is so much easier on everyone, but it is also one of the highlights of my summer.

Unfortunately Michelle will be at home today, she is having a procedure done tomorrow and she has to prepare her body for it and it may put her in some uncomfortable moments so she will be staying close to where she may need to be. She is preparing what she needs to do all day today as we speak.

I have been told Josh wants some kind of truck and Erica wants something called a pillow pet. I think this can be pretty easily arranged sometime today. I first have to go and do a little bit of grocery shopping and then I'll be heading up to Val's in the early afternoon.

Have a great day, camera will be in tow.

Rosiak Party

Well so much for my normal Saturday Morning Spiel, Michelle got up the same time that I did this morning, she's already drinking her first cup of coffee probably waiting on my to make my world famous "How U Do" breakfast sandwich for her. She's going to go to Southern States this morning to get a propane tank filled for Val's party tomorrow.

This afternoon, we will once again be bringing out the big squirt gun for its annual bit of fun as we attend the Rosiak Family 4th of July Party.

The picture you see is the board they keep adding to every year, but this picture was probably taken ten years ago and is much larger right now. As you can see yours truly is very well represented on these boards. I look forward to going to this every Summer, I think the last one I did not go to was in 1997.

I've watched Arron grown up from a young one to a 6'7" pretty large individual. I've watched the makeup of almost the entire party change, and kids grow up. I've seen new people come and go and have always felt more than welcomed there.

I think this is my 16th one, but my math may be off.

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.

Surprisingly BOPARC isn't doing a whole lot of movies this summer for some reason. They are playing some, but not as many as they have in years past. Not that I really ever went too many times or that the weather has been very cooperative at all so far this summer.

Tomorrow I will be going to I think my sixteenth (I've lost count) consecutive Rosiak Family 4th of July Pic Nic. Pat, Frank and Trish have made me feel more than welcome through the years, it's been one of the highlights of my summers for years and I will be once again breaking out my Super Soaker for the big water battle that takes place each and every year. Pat decided to do it the weekend before the 4th this year.

Sunday Val is having Erica and Josh's birthday party at her house. This is one cookout where most of the family does make it to one location at least once during the Summer. We need ti all get together and plan a cookout someplace so we can all get together for something other than someone's birthday or a special event.

Hi hi oh wait, I'm off today =)

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all of the images that I have stored on my computers. Thousands and thousands of little lost moments in time that I have managed to capture with a camera that I can share and write a little blog about. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that picture and sometimes it's not so easy, it is however always a whole lot of fun.

Yes this picture confirms it, I was such a stylish dresser 40 years ago. Look at that stylish shirt, a fashion statement that has yet to reach its time. The hair, yes that is me with hair and lots of it. This was back in my long haired hippy days of the 1970's.

This picture is actually from Christmas Day in 1973. I was not too far removed from being in a body cast and was just starting to get around a little bit. I was up and opening my Christmas Day presents from my Grandparents. I can't remember what I specifically got that year, but I remember suing that puff basketball ball and hoop for years in the living room. I used to play a lot, especially after grandma went to bed and you can't play nerf basketball without dunking and jumping. Grandma lost a few hours of sleep because of me and that hoop.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Well that's two days down, now if you just look up over that noon time hump, just on the other side of a photo flashback, you can start to see the dawn of another fun filled weekend.

I decided to change up the blog a little bit, I saw this commercial last Wednesday morning and absolutely loved it. I thought it was one of my favorite Geico commercials and they have done a number of them that I have liked, this is just the first one I decided to use in a blog.

Well my Monday meeting at WVU was cancelled because of licensing issues, but it has been rescheduled for this afternoon so I'll be on campus this afternoon. It'll be nice to actually get out and away from the office for a few hours, I think you need that occasionally. Staring at the same four walls and no window kind of gets boring after a while and it's good to get out.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

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

* 1,929 days ago my life changed forever, Michelle and I went out on our first date.

* 1,152 days ago I got down on a knee and proposed marriage to my wonderful wife.

* We've now been married for 689 days and going strong.

* There are only 189 more days left in this year, or until I do my goodbye 2013 Blog.

* 183 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* I have a mere 159 days left in my first half century. I'll turn the big 5-0 this year.

* 75 days and counting until we set sail on the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean again. I swear I could retire there.

* 67 days until the start of the 2013 Mountaineer Football season when we take on William and Mary.

*  I've got 42 more days until until my second wedding anniversary.

* 23 more days to go before we hit our third and supposed final concert of the Summer when we will once again assemble with the rest of the Parrot Head Nation at First Niagra (Star Lake to you older people) Pavilion.

* Well it's going to be more than two months ahead of schedule, but the Mileground Roundabout will open to traffic tomorrow. These guys really kicked butt and this thing was not scheduled to be completed for tow more months. Wow is all I can say.

* For anyone who knew Frank Slavensky, he passed away last month and they are going to have a benefit dinner for him on Tuesday July 16th from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Point Marion Firehall. It is $10 per person, and $5 for children under ten. Dinner includes pasta, salad, rolls, drinks, and dessert. There will be door prizes, give-aways, and raffle baskets. For an additional $10.00 you can enter to win 2 tickets to a Pirates vs New York Mets game. Frank was a great guy, he managed Giant Eagle for years and was a former softball team mate. I always thought pretty highly of Frank.

* The Neeses cancelled a protest in Greene County Pa yesterday, it was an attempt for the Greene County Coroner to release the body but it was cancelled with "No reason to reschedule". Hopefully the Neese's can finally get some closure on this.

* We tied up our green beans last night, they were planted as seeds and they are taking off now. My wife has a green thumb.

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday Morning

I Hate Monday

All good things must come to an end, and that includes the weekend as Monday's always seem to follow a good weekend. Now it's time to stop all the singing, dancing and enjoyment that we look  forward to on the weekends and time to stick our noses back on those grindstones for another week of work.

This was a pretty awesome weekend for me that we are now leaving, got a few things we wanted to get accomplished, accomplished and got to see the second and biggest of our Concerts for the 2013 season. Next up is our yearly Jimmy Buffett Concert next month.

Now it's time to get back to work. I'll actually be at WVU this afternoon for a geological model demonstration in Petra, a software that we don't have but the Department of Geology and Geography does. We're going to see a specific model that pertains to a project we are working on.

Looking at the week ahead on my personal calendar I see nothing coming up, but that's not my work calendar. I do have a couple parties to go to this weekend, one being the annual Rosiak 4th of July party and the other being Erica and Josh's birthday party.

Have a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again in a quiet household, being the first sand only one here here who has recovered from a losing battle with the sandman from last night. I'm thinking today might even have a nap associated with it.

We got home a little earlier this morning than we did last week, which was a little bit of s surprise considering the crowd size and the fact that there were four acts performing last night.

We had a great time, we parked at Station Square and rode the Gateway Clipper over and back. We were able to jump on the Parkway pretty easily and we enjoyed a nice, non invasive tailgate.

We missed the first act, and saw most of the Eli Young Band. We were there for the entire Eric Church and Kenny Chesney performances. When Chesney hit the stage it electricity was in the air and they crowd was already pretty pumped up. I think my wife had a great time last night, I think I created a memorable moment for her with this concert.

I did manage to get a few pictures last night from my iPhone and they are all located in my Facebook Album.  I heard a rumor that our traveling gnome was was it last night and was drinking some beer in the Burgh.

Chesney has been in Pittsburgh seven consecutive years, so I asked Michelle situation permitting would she like to see him again next year.

I think we're also going to try to hit a few more concerts at Stage AE next year.

Have a great day,

Summertime

Well I bought tickets fro todays concert clear back in early December when they went on sale. That has to be the earliest I have ever purchased tickets for a concert, seven months in advance.

Today is the day and we will be going to see concert #2 of the year when we once again head north to Pittsburgh and Heinz Field to see Kenny Chesney, arguably this summers hottest concert tour this evening.

He will be joined by Eric Church, Eli Young Band, and Kacey Musgraves for what should be one mega show in a 70,000 seat arena, not including seating on the stadium field.

We'll be heading up earlier this afternoon than we did last week and plan on tailgating since this is such a large concert. Instead of parking on the North Shore I think we're going to park across the river and take the Gateway Clipper  over to the North Shore. It docks right at the edge of Heinz Field and will bring us back so we can jump right on the Parkway after the concert with little trouble.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

Well today is the first day of Summer for 2013, it's official today. Now we go from my favorite season of the year to my second favorite season of the year.

I did find out some bad news a couple of days ago. My Mom's long time dog Gabbie tool ill and passed away. Mom had her cremated and has a paw print of her.

Well we are one day away from seeing our second of three concerts this summer. Kenny Chesney at Heinz Field is up next for us on our concert schedule. We;ll have one more scheduled after this one, but this will be the biggest one of the year.

Have a great day