Off to East Liverpool

It's that time of the year again, the time when we head north to East Liverpool, Ohio and Calcutta, Ohio to spend Christmas with first Michelle's Materrnal Grandmother (Gigi as we call her) and then we will venture over to Michelle's Dad's place to visit him before we head back here later this evening.

It'll be the first time that I have been up that way in a while, however Michelle has been home a couple of times for other reasons. It's always nice to get out of town for a while, take the camera and get a few pictures. You never know, one of them may just end up in a Thursday Blog some time soon...LOL

Should be a good day, the kids will somehow manage to make it to the Hot Dog Shoppe, a place they all seem to love. It;s like a local place that the entire community goes to and is unique to them. Sort of like a Cappalentti's that used to be in Morgantown or a Yann's in Fairmont. They make manage to make it there every time they are up that way.

Should be a good one.

Busy Saturday

It's going to be a busy day today, we'll be cramming all of our weekend chores into one day so we can travel to Ohio tomorrow. We'll do all of our weekly grocery shopping and try to finish up any Christmas shopping that remains to be done.

Last night we had my company Christmas party at Oliverios. That went pretty well and was an entertaining evening. In years past I didn't know everyone there, even though we have a small company when people bring their spouses and children into the equation it gets hard to initially keep track of everyone, but this year my third with Sextant, it was pretty easy to keep track of everyone.

Michele got some more of the Hot Sausage we had at the wedding for next weekend. Christmas Eve at my sister Terri's this year, I'm looking forward to it.

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 no Football for me once again this weekend as the Pittsburgh Steelers don't play until Monday night and the Mountaineers are in a down period before the Orange Bowl.

Fret not though, we will be busy. This evening is my companies Christmas Party which is always nice. This will be my third year and all three years we have had our party at Oliverios Restaurant in the Wharf District. Dale usually treats us to a feast and I'm sure this year will be the same, I'm waiting for the Calamari, it's really good and something I look forward to every year.

Sunday we will be traveling to east Liverpool Ohio for Michelle's family Christmas at her grandmother's. It's an all day event with us leaving early in the morning and usually getting back later in the evening. We will be visiting with both sides of Michelle's family this weekend.

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

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out to look through all my pictures and select just one to tell a little story about, sometimes it's easy and the story tells itself and sometimes you just need to pick one. This week, I just picked one.

This was taken at my nephew Moke's birthday party a little over seven years ago. My brother in law George was just starting the addition on his house and my sister Pam actually had a pet goat. I saw the goat walking around to the front of the house and snapped this picture.

Nothing exciting, just a goat...LOL

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

That's two days down, over this hump and it's all downhill after that!!!!!!!

I swear there are times when my days just seem to run together. My days are long and repetitive and sometimes just seems to run together. Maybe it's just the time of the year, when days are short and cold and there really is no daylight and you don't really get out much in this weather. Maybe that has something to do with the reason why I love spring and summer so much and really don't like winter, being cold, short days or snow. The one good thing about this time of year thought is snacking on Michelle's Christmas Cookies while I am writing this. Butterscotch....yummm

Hats off to my niece Val, she is quitting smoking and is going through the first part of breaking the routine and habit that is formed when you are a smoker. I'm very proud of her, I know she can do it.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

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

* 1,369 days ago my life changed forever, I had my first date with the love of my life and my life has been for the better ever since then.

* 592 Days ago, remember when I had her wait till day 777, I got down on one knee in the back yard and proposed marriage to the girl that I love.

* 129 days ago at the Marilla Center, we entered into Marital bliss.

* You have 12 days left to do your Christmas shopping. You procrastinators are still on the clock.

* Well some good news that I have learned in the past week, my niece Amy is pregnant with her second child. She let the word out on Facebook this week.

* Hi ho hi ho

*

Monday

All good things must come to an end, and that includes the weekend. This past weekend was very productive, Christmas Shopping and making the seasons cookies.

Now it is time to stick our noses back on the grindstone and get back to work for yet another week. Too bad we couldn't just bypass Monday's and go straight to Friday...LOL

I have to say that we are more prepared for Christmas than we were before the weekend started, but we are not 100% ready for it as of yet. Still have a little bit of shopping to do and a couple Christmas Parties this coming week. Hence another reason I want to get this week over, my company Christmas party is Friday evening.

Hi ho hi ho

Cookie Day

Well we got a good start on our Christmas shopping yesterday, unfortunately we did not complete it and still have a bit of it to do. We did find some really nice deals at Tanger and later on the way home had a late lunch at Red Robin.

Today I'm going to do a little Grocery/Christmas shopping this morning and hopefully this afternoon, Michelle's health is the variable in this, we are going to start baking our Christmas Cookies for 2011. There are no distractions for today like a football game, so I'll do my best to assist and see if we can get a few cookies made today.

As cold as it is right now 19°F outside, making warm cookies may be the best activity for today.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit in the early AM in a very quiet house, it's only me rattling around and the television playing in the background. Chad is back from Cleveland, the contract he was working on is now basically complete, meaning he'll be home now. They may have to go back to the contract when an issue gets resolved, but for now this job is completed.

Today will be a Tanger Outlet Christmas shopping kind of day. We'll be heading up north in a little while, once everyone else gets up and when Tanger actually opens and doing our Christmas Shopping. Hopefully the weather holds up, Michelle has been fighting being under the weather.

We tried a new Morgantown Restaurant yesterday, actually I had been there once this week for lunch, but this was the first Time Michelle had been there. Tazikis in the Suncrest Towne Plaza just opened up, I give it a two thumbs up. It was very good, Michelle liked it and actually liked the lamb I had, I think we'll make a return trip there some time in the future.

Back to the couch, let's see if I can find something good on the boob tube.

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.

AHHHHHH. No Football for me this weekend. The Steelers played and won 14-3 last night, West Virginia doesn't play until the Orange Bowl and High School is finished for the season. Maybe it is time that I start to transition myself into watching basketball, I guess it is basketball season here in Morgantown now, the boys did travel to K-State and beat Hugg's old team last night in double overtime 85-80.

Our agenda this weekend will consist of Christmas shopping and making our Christmas Cookies for the year. Next weekend is my company Christmas Party and we'll be traveling to East Liverpool Ohio for Michelle's family Christmas, so the rest of the vital things need to get done this weekend because the following weekend is Christmas.

I think we'll be heading to Tanger Outlets tomorrow to do our yearly Christmas shopping. I'm sure there will be another stop or two throughout the day, but that is one place we are planning on going.

Can't get this weekend started until I get today in, 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, find one and just tell a little story about it. Sometimes it is a pleasurable experience, and sometimes I am reminded of the things that I hate the most.

This week is one of those weeks that I am reminded why it is that I hate winter. This picture is from about six years ago when we got that big heavy snowfall in October, the one that downed all the powerlines around Mon County and I was without power for a few days as a result of this.

Yesterday's snow, reminded me just how much it is that I do not this seasons weather. Give me 80°, shorts and sandal type weather and I am happy, none of this sub 32° white crap that is trashing the ground.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

It's Wednesday and we are getting closer to another weekend, it's just over this hump and on the other side of Thursday and you will see the dawn of another weekend.

As we are starting to get closer and closer to the shortest day of the year and starting to head into winter, it is really starting to show as it stays darker later in the morning and is dark earlier during the day. I'm just thankful the temperatures have been nice and we have not seen much of that white powdery stuff that I hate so much. Although this year we have a 4 wheel drive back on the road as our primary vehicle, so it shouldn't be that bad. I just hate being stranded and not being able to go where we want.

Hi ho ho ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well that dreadful Monday is once again now 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 has been 1,362 days since Michelle and I went on our first date. We'll be looking at four years together this spring.

* It has been 585 days since Michelle's wait of 777 days (my lucky number) was over and I got down on one knee and proposed marriage to the love of my life.

* We have been married for 122 wonderful days. 122 days since we got together and dripped sand into a bottle as William Filcheck helped us exchange our vows and make it legal.

* In case you have not heard, the Mountaineer Football team has been offered the Orange Bowl that we will play January 4th, 2012 at 8:30 PM against Clemson.

* Yesterday was an unseasonably warm day, temperatures were actually in the 60's. I did get a little surprise at work as my boss had bought me a Red Velvet Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory to share with my employees and bring some home for Michelle and Hayley.

* Chad is in Cleveland, he was in for the weekend and may be returning back home soon ans the project is nearing completion.

* We did stop by this weekend and see my sister Terri. She has been in a great deal of pain the last week or so, they have ruled out anything cardiac related. We're hoping for a pinched nerve. She is a trooper and has been working despite the pain.

* I'm ready for a few Christmas movies.

* Hi ho hi ho

Back to Work

All good things must come to an end and that includes weekends. One that was very busy on our part and one that we got quite a bit accomplished over the course of. Now it's time to stick our noses back on the grindstone.

Next weekend appears to be very busy as well as we will be baking cookies and performing the majority of our Christmas shopping. The following weekend we will be traveling to Ohio for Michelle's family Christmas and the weekend after that is Christmas.

It's going to be a busy few weeks to say the least.

BCS

Well over the past few weeks everything has worked in the West Virginia University Football Team's favor as far as what has needed to happen. We have had three fourth quarter comebacks to win all three games, Cincinnati lost the one additional game we needed them to lose and Louisville has lost the one additional game that we needed them to lose to create a three way tie for the Big East Championship. The one scenario that we needed to happen, as the tie breaker resorts to the highest BCS Ranking to determine what school will be issued a BCS Bowl birth. Going into this weeks games we were ranked 22nd, Cincinnati was ranked 28th and Louisville was ranked 40th.

All we have to do is remain the highest BCS ranked Big East Team and tonight at 8:00 on the BCS show we will be announced as the Big East Champion representative to the BCS. This will mean any one of a number of scenarios. Most likely would be us going to the Orange Bowl to take on our former Quarterback Commitment in Tajh Boyd and Clemson or we will be heading to New Orleans to possibly play against Michigan. Boyd was one of Bill Stewart's first recruits who later changed his mind to and decided on Tennessee before finally making a commitment to Clemson.

Geno vs Tahj would be a heck of a game, ironic however is the fact that this years most likely Heisman Trophy winner and the first pick in the NFL Draft will be neither of these Quarterbacks, but a Quarterback whose father played here and is the current Athletic Director for WVU in Stanford's Oliver Luck.

Congrats to this years team, let's see how this turns out today.

Christmas Tree Done

Our 2011 version of the Hall Christmas tree is now up and running in our household. Michelle and I went to Southern States yesterday morning and picked out a tree, and unlike any previous versions was the very first tree that we actually came across. It was laying down in the way and when I stood it up, we realized it was the right height, the right kind and a nice shaped tree that was full of branches and no void areas in its makeup.

We picked this tree and brought it home. Trimmed it up, set it up in the stand and last night we put the lights and decorations on to give us our 2011 version of the tree.

We did find a couple little additions yesterday that we have added to the tree this year. One is a remote control that controls the tree turning on and off. No need to crawl in behind and turn any switches or plug anything in anymore, just use the remote. The second thing that we found was a little funnel that is about three foot long and can be hidden and camouflage'd to hide it's spout to make watering the tree a simple ans easy task.

It was a very productive day.

Christmas Tree Day

Michelle shampooed the living room carpet last night where the Christmas tree for 2011 will be placed this year. Later this morning, we will be heading over to Southern States to pick up our tree for this season.

Once again we are doing a live tree, this will be my third live tree in a row and I'm starting to get a little excited about it.

It's about ready to start looking like Christmas in this household.

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 Black Friday.

Well this enters the time of the year that makes it hard to write my Friday BLOG. High School football is done for the local schools, with the State Championship games this weekend. West Virginia played last night in their final regular season game and that leaves only the Steelers who are playing a lot of Prime Time games that I usually don't stay awake for.

Now I have to find something else to talk about for the next six months or so or until the Summer outdoor movie season starts at BOPARC.

As most of you know, I write my weekday BLOGS the night before so as they post early in the morning and I can concentrate on getting ready for work and waking up so I can't comment on last night's WVU game because at the time I am writing this, it has to be played even though this is posting well after the game.

I would like to extend a heart felt thank you to all the birthday wishes I received yesterday, it was almost overwhelming responding to them all. I guess that mean's that I am lucky.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Ed

I would like to take a moment to wish my wonderful husband a very Happy Birthday, now I will not say how old he is today, but this is the 27th anniversary of his 21st Birthday. I am so thankful to have this man in my life. If you happen to see him today make sure you send the warmest of Birthday wishes. I love you honey and I hope you have a great day…

Photo Flashback Thursday

About once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all my digital pictures and take a little bit of time out and tell a story about just one of those pictures.

This week I took a picture of the original underwear model, eat your heart out Marky Mark I was first, in all my glory.

I couldn't decide whether I wanted to be a baseball player or am underwear model, so I chose the only other choice that I could logically make. A Geographer...LOL

Actually this picture was taken mid to late 60's in Van Voorhis where I lived with my Grandparents. If you take a look in the background you can see one of my Grandfathers's great pride and joys, other than the sexy underwear model, and that was his garden. A plot of ground we worked every spring, summer and harvested every fall.

A time long gone by and surely missed.

Hi ho hi ho