We're coming home.

We will be leaving St Louis today and heading back home. All the training and re-certification has been completed and we're ready to come home.

We'll be flying out of St Louis on Southwest Airlines 1548 and should be arriving back in Pittsburgh sometime this evening around 5:30 before getting in our car and returning home.

As always St Louis was fun (for Michelle) as I was in class for a couple of days. I'm sure she has grabbed a few memorable pictures that we either have or will share with everyone.

We will be home this evening, and we will both be on Vacation tomorrow from our normal jobs, I will be going out tomorrow afternoon to start my quarter off for RTI.

Have a great day.

The second day of training

It's day two of our training, we'll be dismissed sometime this afternoon after we finish the days festivities. Training is always two days and the second day is usually things like managing stress and a couple of other workshops. If I certified last night then I'll have a big hole in my schedule today, if not then I'll have that to do today.

Luckily I don't have to rush out to the airport and this evening like some of my co-workers and Michelle and I will be free to explore St Louis on our own tonight. We don't even leave until later tomorrow and will won't even have to leave the hotel until later in the morning so it could be a fun night in St Louis for the both of us.

We'll be enjoying this evening, might even do a Facebook live for everyone this evening.

Have a great day today, make it memorable.

A Day of Traning

Here I sit in St Louis and ready to go to my first day of training today. I'll be issued all new equipment today as I retire my computer and tablet that I have used the last 3 1/2 years doing this job.

My day will pretty much start off with me eating breakfast in the place in the picture. This is where are served our breakfast and lunches, we are on our own for dinner.

Today is a full day of training and I volunteered to go for my re-certification tonight like I did last year. So there is a possibility this could be a long day for me, if not then Michelle and I will probably go out to dinner with everyone from my crew.

This is the first of two days of training and re-certification for me.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Off to St Louis

Today Michelle and I will be traveling north to Pittsburgh and then hopping on a airplane and heading to the middle of the country and to St Louis Missouri. This will be my 4th trip and Michelle's 3rd trip to see the city with the arch.

We'll be flying out today on Southwest Airlines flight 224 on a direct flight to St. Louis. Of all the airlines I fly, Southwest in my opinion is above and beyond all other airlines so I'm happy that is who we are flying with.

We'll arrive in St Louis early this afternoon, and we will have most of the day to ourselves as all I have to do is simply check in with RTI and that is my only obligation today. Weather permitting this year and it should be, we're going to buy tickets for the Tram to ride to the top of the Arch.

Have yourselves a great day.

Happy New Years!!!!

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and old lang syne?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!

and surely I’ll buy mine!

And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,

and picked the daisies fine;

But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,

since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,

from morning sun till dine†;

But seas between us broad have roared

since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!

And give me a hand o’ thine!

And we’ll take a right good-will draught,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Goodbye 2010's

2010

* Jean's boyfriend Rich had passed away.

* I had my first Cataract surgery. It was the first surgery I had had in over 30 years.

* My Mother ended up having Open Heart Surgery. That lead to a series of events and a long stay, she recovered and is doing nicely.

* Hayley appeared in the Morgantown Play of Sweeney Todd. Michelle, Chad and I all attended one of the nights to watch and support her.

* WVU Football hired a new Coach in Waiting, Dana Holgerson. 

2011

* The Pittsburgh Steelers played in the Super Bowl, losing to the Green Bay Packers.

* I started doing Photo Flashback Thursdays as a theme day on my Blogs. I think I got the idea from Facebook and just made it my own.

* Osama Bin Laden was killed.

* Josh Judy was called up to the Major Leagues.

* Michelle and I were married at the Marilla Center, we honeymooned at Ocean City Maryland. 

2012

* WVU Walloped Clemson in the Orange Bowl 70-33.

* Michelle and I obtained our passports so that we could travel outside of the country,

* Jim and Chris went to Hawaii, it was a Christmas Gift from the kids.

* WVU entered the Big XII

* Michelle and I went on our first of many cruises.

* We survived the Mayan Calendar running out. 

2013

* Michelle spent a weekend in our Nations Capital to see the Cherry Blossom Festival.

* We finished in 3rd  place for the Steelers triva Challenge. It won us a trip to training camp. We won it in 2008.

* We saw Peter Frampton in Concert at Stage AE. The Kenny Chesney then we say Jimmy Buffett. It was a summer of concerts.

* Michelle and I went out on our second cruise together.

* I turned 50. 

2014

* Michelle and I traveled to DC for the Cherry Blossom festival and caught it perfectly.

* WVU Baseball said Goodbye to Hawley Field as they played their last game against the University of Texas.

* We did our first of a few family Picnics at Krepps Park. It was kind of a Christmas in July theme.

* We won the Steelers Trivia Challenge, this was our second win in winning it all.

* In the worst Christmas Eve ever, we lost both Jean and her Brother Mick all within a few hours of each other. Both were due to Cancer. 

2015

* We started a search to find my long lost brother. It was after Jean's passing that I swore I would wait to start the search, and the search began.

* Michelle and I traveled to Latart Falls to visit her Grandfathers grave site, we also stopped in to see the Mothman just down the road.

* The Monongalia County Ballpark officially opened.

* We won the Steelers Trvia show for the third time, and in back to back years.

* We cruised to the Carribean

2016

* I started working a part time job with a Company called RTI, a job that required a little bit of travel and I'm still working to this day.

* I officially ended my 5 season softball retirement and came out to play in the Senior League.

* We lost our pet Phin and immediately found a new friend (and co-author) Peanut.

* We held the third annual Friends and Family picnic at Krepps Park.

* Michelle and I took our fifth cruise to the Caribbean together. 

2017

* Michelle left her job at BFS and received three offers from Express Scripts, Mylan and MEPCO. She accepted the MEPCO offer.

* Michelle and I traveled to Virginia for Calvin and Jeanetta's wedding.

* Michelle and I attended my 35th year class reunion.

* I left Sextant Technical after 8 years and joined AECOM on a different Contract at NETL.

* Abdul Rehmani, my brother in law Nick's father had passed away.

2018

* My January started out with me making a trip to St Louis for RTI for re-certification.

* MEPCO had stopped production which eventually lead to Michelle being laid off. They paid her a sizable retention bonus to stay until a certain time.

* Michelle started a new job as the Office Manager at Xtreme Labor Solutions. A company that is absolutely taken off and grown since she joined.

* My brother search that started in 2015, finally found the answers we were looking for when we found my Brother Jonathan.

* Michelle and I took our sixth cruise to the Carribean.

2019

* Michelle and I started out the year with a trip to St Louis for re-certification for RTI.

* I also the ESRI Federal Users Conference in Washington DC.

* I participated in my first Mock Disaster at work as part of the Emergency Operations Center team.

* Michelle got into a couple of fender benders during the year, neither one was her fault.

* Michelle and I traveled to and spent a week in San Diego for the ESRI User's Conference, to me in my career it is the ultimate experience

* I wrote a total of 4,050 Blogs during the decade.

* See you in 2020

Goodbye 2019

January

* The year started out with Michelle and I taking a trip to St. Louis for re-certification for RTI.

* WVU got a new Football Coach.

* Kim, Terri and Michelle all met up one evening for dinner at Applebees.

* My Aunt Bonita had passed away, she lived in Alaska and did manage to make it to Morgantown a few times, the last one was just a couple of years ago.

* My lovely wife turned 50.

* I attended the ESRI Federal Users Conference in Washington DC. 

February

* Phil did not see his Shadow, got to love my favorite Groundhog.

* Longview announced that they were going to make a $1.2 Billion investment into their facility.

* I noticed that I worked a lot for RTI. 

March

* March started off with Jim and Chris having an Auction at the Church.

* The WVU Rifle team hosted the NCAA Championship here in Morgantown, you would figure the 19 time Champions would win it all at home. They didn't.

* The Pittsburgh Steelers traded Antonio Brown to the Raiders. Buy what a year he has had and how much money he has cost himself, but this was just the departure from Pittsburgh.

* Michelle watched April the Giraffe on the Giraffe Cam and kept watching until she actually did give birth. 

April

* I got to participate in my first Mock disaster at work, and I got to do so from the Command Center so I got to see and know everything as the events were happening. I'm a technical specialist for geospatial activity.

* We had a Birthday Get together for my sister Terri at Whitetail Crossing, who just happens to be my Softball Sponsor.

* Amy raised money for the MS walk. She did manage to meet her goal and raised $510.

* Michelle made her first of many trips to Charleston for the Art Walk, she is her company's organizer and would travel once a month this these events.

* I owed Taxes. A whole lot of them at that for the first time in my life. Both the state and Federal nailed us for a large chunk of change to about the equivalent of some of our biggest returns we have ever had.  

May

* Ice spent a little time at the Body Shop after Michelle got hot by a tire bouncing across the Interstate.

* I started playing yet another season of BOPARC Softball. I've played the Senior League the past few years and have loved it.

* Michelle once again traveled to Charleston for her Charity work.

* Hayley and Tyler traveled to Louisiana for the Hangout Festival, we cat sat for the week.

* I bought my first DSLR camera. I've always wanted one, but could never justify it. 

June

* The WVU Mountaineers qualified and hosted an NCAA Baseball Regional Playoff. It was a great season to be a Mountaineer.

* Michelle and Ice once again got into a fender bender, a hit and run driver at the Mileground Roundabout. Once again Ice went to the body shop for the second time this year.

* A 15' Python got loose from it's owner at Sheetz in Sabraton. The legend of the Sabraton snake was born.

* Michelle and I stopped shopping at WalMart and switched our Sunday Grocery shopping to Krogers. We both love Krogers, better quality, better prices and I'm respected and get fuel perks.

July

* Michelle and I jumped on an airplane and spent a week in San Diego. I was there for work and the ESRI Conference (my second this year) and Michelle was taking in the sights including the San Diego Zoo.

* Michelle once again traveled to Charleston for the Art Walk that she has been heading up for her company.

* My old Company Sextant Technical Services officially closed up shop. We have all moved on.

* Gerald had knee Surgery. 

August

* Michelle and I celebrated our eighth Wedding Anniversary, we went out for dinner to Puglioni's.

* Kim and Chris had a big Coca Cola Auction that Michelle worked.

* Michelle traveled to Charleston for a Ladies night, where her company was doing some special event for all the ladies.

* My High School Wrestling Coach, Robert DeAntonis had passed away.

* We attended then Johnny Koon Light Up Night and Butterfly release. 

September

* Hurricane Dorian had come through and devastated the Bahama's, one of the ports we usually visit got hit very hard.

* Michelle and I traveled to Terra Alta for a day and we stopped in and had lunch at Shorthorns.

* I celebrated my 15 year Anniversary as a Blogger.

* My Nephew Ralph had lost his step dad, he had a long hard fought battle with cancer.

* Michelle attended Amanda's Baby shower at the Pines Country Club. 

October

* One thing I did notice was that I worked a lot during the month of October. Every day of the month as a matter of a fact.
7
* Kim, Terri, Val, Amy, Brittany and Erica took a girls trip to New York City. Kim and Brittany have been there numerous times, Terri I think this was her third trip and everyone else it was their first trip to the Big Apple.

* Michelle took a trip up to Harry't to stock up our freezer for Winter.

* I had my diabetic eye exam where they dilate my pupils. 

November

* November started out with Jim and Chris have a Tool Auction as they do every month and Peanut started co-authoring blog posts with me.

* My Cousin Debbie Koon was honored during Mountaineer week with a Most Loyal Mountaineer award at halftime at the game.

* Murph Tinsely had passed away. Murph was a camera man for WVU and someone I had gotten to know with all my Radio and Television connections through the years.

* My Cousin and long time neighbor Sherri Toth had passed away, she was only 41.

* Once again spent Thanksgiving with the In Laws at the Cassville Firehall. I have been fortunate enough to have been a part of this since 2008. 

December

* December started out by me once again denying that I'm getting older and still swearing I'm 21 years old. You would think after 35 years of denying birthdays, someone is going to realize I'm older than 21...lol

* A long time co-worker and family member Ron Mares had worked his last day at NETL and retired. This made me sad as Ron was my BS partner where we would talk sports all the time...lol

* Topher, a dog we travel thousands of miles to see had passed away during December. I promise you thing dog live the perfect life and it was an honor to meet him.

* Spent Christmas Eve at my sister Terri's, it was big get together where food is a plenty.

* I have written 385 blogs in 2019 (so far with one more to follow with my Goodbye to the Decade blog. Other than that, we'll see you on the other side and in 2020.

Monday

All good things must come to an end, and that does include those fun filled things called weekends. Now it is time for us to stick our noses back onto that grindstone for another fun filled week of doing what it is we do for a living.

This is going to be my last regular blog of 2019. Tomorrow my Goodbye 2019 Blog posts and as an added attraction my Goodbye 2010's is also going to post. Both posts will reflect upon the last year and the past 10 years as my life as a blogger.

Later this week Michelle and I will be in St Louis and will be returning late next weekend. I have to once again go out for RTI and re-certification like I do every year to be able to work on the SAMHSA Project.

Today is my last full day in the office, tomorrow we have a three hour early release for New Years Eve.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Pig Roast

Here I sit on a quiet Sunday Morning, my co-author is slacking and is not at her station. I'm up watching The Long Shot on HBO and collecting my thoughts for the day.

Michelle and I did some running around yesterday morning, but the highlight of my day was going to see the movie Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the third and final movie of the third trilogy of the Star Wars saga. I have been a fan of the entire series since it first debuted 42 years ago, so it was nice to finally see some closure to that entire portion of the series.

Today Michelle and I are going over to Amanda and Joey's for their third annual Pig Roast. They started it a couple of years ago on Christmas Eve but moved it away from that night last year and have moved it back even a little more this year. It's always a good time and is beginning to be something we are looking forward to every year.

Have yourselves a great day

Saturday Morning Rambling

Here I site once again in a quiet de-dechristmasized household, Sammy has left to go back to the North Pole and it is only me and Peanut here writing this morning. We're up watching the Ringer and collecting our thoughts on the day.

This is going to be last weekend off for a while, life is about to get very busy again, so I'm going to relax and enjoy myself this weekend.

One thing I will be doing today and a lot of it is writing for my blog. I have to finish up my Goodbye 2019 Blog with November and December yet to be written, and I'm also writing a Goodbye 2010's blog for the end of the 2010 decade and going through year by year and picking up a point or two from the year based on my Goodbye that year blogs. Then I am going to have to write next weeks blogs and part of the following weeks due to the travel. If my carpel tunnel doesn't bother me now, it will be the end of the day. I think I have the last five years of the decade to do.

Reflecting back, we had a pretty good Christmas. Went to my sister Terri's, met Hayley's future in-laws, let off some lanterns on Christmas Eve and that was majestic, opened gifts Christmas Morning, went my Sister in Law Chris's and then visited my Sister Pam's. Managed to briefly talk to Gary and Jonathan this weekend through all of the chaos. It was memorable and I wouldn't change it for anything.

Have yourselves a great day, make the most of it and memorable.

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.

This will be my last Friday at the office for 2019, next week at this time Michelle and I will be in St. Louis and I'll be in the classroom and she will be running around and having a good time in beautiful downtown St Louis. This will be Michelle's third trip and my fourth to St Louis as I go to re-certify for RTI but that is next week.

This weekends plans will probably involve us de-christmasizing our home as we prepare to travel next weekend. Other than that it should be a relaxing weekend for me and my last one for probably a couple of months as we have a new quarter just about to kickoff for RTI.

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out, time to look at some of the 30,000+ images that I have either captured with a Camera, Scanned or just simply stolen off the internet. Little lost moments in time that I post up and relive tight here for everyone while I try to recall the moments around that image. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that image and sometimes it's a challenge, although one thing it always is is a whole lot of fun for me.

For this years Photo Flashback, I just simply go back to last year at Christmas Eve. Kim, Robert, Terri, Nick, Michelle and I all got together and took a series of these pictures from my Dad's first marriage to my Mom and all of our spouses.

It was a fun evening and we even had a phone conversation with my Brother Jonathan that evening. Missing was my sister Pam and my brother Gar who was in Wheeling.

Have yourselves a great day, it's back to the office for me.

Hi ho hi ho

A Christmas Song 2019

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve Videos Past

Every year I try, or should I say I attempt to try to put together a Christmas Video from our Christmas Eve. I've done a number of these through the years, enjoy some of my past work and Merry Christmas Eve.

2018




2016



2015




2014




2013

2012

2008




2007



It doesn't appear that I did one for 2006, but here is one of the first videos that I ever did to fill in a little.





2005 which is probably my all time favorite one that I have done.




2004



1999 Which was my Dad's last Christmas

Monday

It's time to head back into the office today to start another fun filled week of doing what it is we do for a living. For me however, this is going to be a short one as we have a three hour early release today thanks to the new Secretary.

In short, it's back into the office today for a short day. I still am trying to get my computer fully up and running after the fiasco last week when my hard drive went kaput. The worst thing is, the people I need to speak to at the proprietary softwares are off for a Christmas break until later in the week.

It's going to be a short and non-productive day in general, I just have a feeling as we are off tomorrow and Wednesday with paid Federal Holidays. That will give me time tomorrow morning to start the Hot Sausage and get everything ready for tomorrow evenings festivities.


Have yourselves a great day and a Great Christmas

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Rambling

Here I sit yet once again in a quiet household, I don't see any of my co-authors laying around anywhere, I'm here collecting my thoughts for the day and watching who knows what on the boob tube.

Michelle will be heading back home today to visit her family, no big get together this year as a few things have happened over the past couple of years. Gigi sold her home and moved into a nursing home and last year we reserved a local lodge due to her Aunt Charlottes boyfriend, but he passed away recently and plans are on hiatus this year. Michelle and Chris are going up to visit Gigi and then over to visit her Dad.

I'll be staying here in Morgantown and probably going to try to get a few things done. My PC is still running Windows 7 and I have an Windows 10 Upgrade to install. Microsoft support for Windows 7 ends in less than a month from now so I would rather be current with my computer.

I've also got a Goodbye 2019 and a Goodbye 2010's blogs to continue to write, so I will be busy to say the least.

Have yourselves a great day.

Saturday

Here I sit in a quiet household once again, my co-author is no where to be found and even Sammy is no where to be found on this morning.

Last evening Michelle and I attended her company Christmas Party at Tin 202 here in Morgantown. The owner of the place is someone I played Softball with for years on the Prime Thyme and MiHaley's teams Chris Evans, sadly since he has opened this place up this was my first trip there and it did not disappoint.

Today we are going to go out and get our weekend shopping done and tomorrow at least Michelle will run back home to visit her Grandmother and Dad for Christmas. We'll have all of our chores done prior to that so no one is rushed tomorrow.



Speaking of the week coming up, I get a three hour early release on Monday, the President authorized Tuesday as a Federal Holiday and Wednesday is Christmas. It's going to be a short week for me.

Have yourselves a great day today.

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.

This is it, if you haven't completed your Christmas Shopping for this year yet, now just might be the time when you need to seriously think about starting.

This is the last weekend before Christmas and my guess is the stores will be filled up, over crowded and a big pain in the rear end to navigate through. If you are one of those people like me who have completed your shopping, sit back and enjoy all of the people waiting till the last minute from your nice warm and comfortable home.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out, time to look at some of the 30,000+ images that I have either captured with a Camera, Scanned or just simply stolen off the internet. Little lost moments in time that I post up and relive tight here for everyone while I try to recall the moments around that image. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that image and sometimes it's a challenge, although one thing it always is is a whole lot of fun for me.

This weeks pic is one I came across this past week. Mickey is on the Right, Jean is in the middle I think holding Richard and on the left is the brother who was killed and my brother is named after, Gary Allen Toth.

I got a few older pics of the Toth's this past week, this one came from my sister Pam and the others from Ron Mares which I will probably be sharing at a future date.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho