Ordered our Steelers Merchandise.

Last night Michelle and I started getting ready for the 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers season by ordering a couple premiere jersey's from the Steelers. She ordered a Willie Parker jersey and I ordered a Ben Roethlisberger jersey.

Steelers games are big events at her Sisters house, and we have to dress the part. We'll be ready to cheer them on to a Super Bowl Championship this season.

Randy Pausch

This past April, I wrote a BLOG called An Interesting Human Interest Story about a man named Randy Pausch.

I had run across his last lecture after my sister Kim had pointed it out to me (thanks to Michelle for finding that previous post and updating me). I am going to repost his last lecture in it's entirety.



Randy Pausch passed away on July 25, 2008.

It's Hump Day

It's not quite Friday, but we are getting there and closer to the weekend.

Great News for the WVU basketball team (that was sarcasm). Joe Mazzulla and Cam Thoroughman got arrested Monday night at PNC Park (Pirates) on felony aggravated assault and a few minor charges. Only Mazzulla is being charged with the aggravated assault though.

Only eight more days until the 2008 Summer Olympic Games will start in Beijing, China. I have a friend there who has sent me pictures through the years of the olympic grounds as they were being built. This should be a thing of beauty and something to watch. I have always enjoyed watching the games, there are permanent memories of the games etched in my mind forever.

Have a good day.

Happy Birthday Josh

Today is Josh's second birthday, make sure you wish him a very Happy Birthday.

Tidbits

* This evening Michelle, Chris, Jenny and myself were going to venture to Pittsburgh to watch the Pirates take on the Colorado Rockies. Unfortunately Jenny has come down with a touch of the flu, so the plans are on hold and may either be moved back a day or later in the summer.

* I'll be driving to work the rest of the week, Chad is out of town the rest of the week on business for an ESRI user's conference in Baltimore. We'll hold down the ship the rest of the week.

* I managed to pay my bills and balance my books yesterday afternoon. I had a months worth of receipts in my wallet and it needed emptied. Now my butt wont be sore when I have to sit on it extended periods of time. I do everything electronically and use what I call the envelope method of book keeping, except over the years it has advanced from envelopes to spreadsheets.

* West Virginia is now going to build a coal liquidification plant . They predict it will produce 100 Million Gallons of gas a year from Coal. Good news for the West Virginia economy.

How about I leave you with a little video to get you ready for the fall.

Hey we won one

This softball season has been less than successful as previous years. We have went a long stretch when we lost quite a few games and even lost a few games during that time period. We had went from a Championship Caliber team to a very beatable team. Many of our games recently have shown our offense to be horrific and not being able to beat anyone. You basically have to score to win in a hitters game.

Last night we played as a team once again and came walked away with a long overdue win.

We're off until next Monday now.

Happy Birthday Daniel Bell

Today I would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to my Nephew Daniel all the way down in Kentucky. I do believe he is 24 years old today (he's passed me up in age LOL) if my memory serves me correct. Man am I starting to get old.

You can visit both him and his lovely wife Kamey at their myspace page.

Happy Birthday Daniel.

A Great Night of Music

Last night Michelle and I stopped down by Hazel Ruby McQuain Park for the WKKW sponsored event. It's a part of Mountainfest and we just drove down by with a curiosity last night and left very encouraged.

Opening up was what we thought was a DJ playing Music, then as we got closer we realized it was an artist named Alli Gillis and we thought she was electric. Pay close attention to this name or at least remember it. She's a 16 year old girl with a High School band behind her who will just knock your socks off. During the past five years, Alli has opened for Craig Morgan, LeeAnn Womack, Chris Cagle, John Michael Montgomery, Trick Pony, Joe Diffi, Mark Chesnutt, Miranda Lambert, Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels, Jason Aldean, Blake Sheldon, and Diamond Rio.She also had the honor of performing for the President during the 2004 election. Pretty impressive and not your average High School Student.

Monster Vocals, great stage presence, and really is just full of energy. I'll say she'll be a major headliner someday. You can catch her again today at Mountainfest. Five years from now you can say you've seen her.

The night closed with local recording artists the Davisson Brothers Band closing the show in a fashion that only they can. First time I have seen them in years and you can see why their just rising up on the national scene. A band who loves to play and perform and it shows.

Today Mountainfest will move to Mylan Park. Local favorites and occupiers of my space on my ipod The Hillbilly Gypsies and Floyd Cowger will be performing as well as future holder of space on my iPod Mahlon Kisner. Kansas will be headlining tonight.

Enjoy a great day of music if you can.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes readers it is once again that time of the week when we cease our labors of the week and take time out to enjoy the fruits of our labors. It is once again the start of the weekend!!!

No movie tonight at Hazel Ruby McQuain Amphitheater, but it will return next week with B-Movie.

The big event in Morgantown this weekend will be Mountainfest. A few regulars at Nick and Terri's will be playing this weekend including Mahlon Kisner, Floyd Cowger and the Hillbilly Gypsies top name a few. 70's rock band Kansas will also be playing as the main attraction. $10.00 gets you into the events all days and all times.

Michelle and I will be venturing to Pittsburgh again Saturday to visit her sister for her Nieces Birthday party. This will be the second of three trips we will be making up north in an eight day stretch when we will also be going to PNC Park Tuesday Night to watch the Pirates with Chris and Jenny.

We have a softball make up game Sunday night, but this hasn't exactly been our best season.

Have a great Friday and a better weekend.

A day off

I took a day off yesterday to recover from the late night from the Buffett Concert. Michelle and I went down and visited Terri for a while and then I took her to one of my old stomping grounds. We decided to take a nice comfortable drive to Fortney Mill's. Unfortunately the water levels were VERY high, I would say flood stage, to a point where you could not even identify the waterfall. needless to say water was rushing.

I did manage to find a couple Myspace sites with numerous pics of the area. One and Two.

After that it was back for an afternoon nap before I returned Michelle home for the evening.

Now, it's back to work and anticipating tomorrow's Big Ole Hairy Friday!

Jimmy Buffett Concert

Last night Michelle and I ignored weather reports and journeyed to Burgettstown PA and the Post Gazette Pavilion to see Jimmy Buffett. This was the first time that Michelle had seen the parrotthead nation and I even hyped it up for her. Even with all my hype she said it was beyond her expectations.

Jimmy did not disappoint last night, like as if he ever would. The crowd was VERY large, I can't put a number on it, but I was there 10 years ago when 25,000 saw Van Halen and this crowd was larger than even that. It was a sea of parrottheads and flying beach balls bouncing all over the place.

Edit: 23,000 were there according to Post Gazette.

Buffett World wrote a review of last night's concert already including the set list that he used.

After the concert we sat in the parking lot and drank ice cold Iced Tea's, ate some fresh fruit and vegetables as the traffic jam formed around us. We were in no rush to get out and we finally made it home around 1:30 this morning.

I wonder if I can talk her into doing it again next year?

Margaritaville

Tonight Michelle and I will be traveling to Pittsburgh so she can in officially inaugurated as a Parrotthead when we go to see Jimmy Buffett at the Post Gazette Amphitheater.

It seems like forever ago that I bought tickets to this event, I think they went onsale sometime around St. Patrick's day and was sold out in a matter of a few short minutes. I was fortunate enough to get tickets that will be under the pavilion since it is calling for rain tonight.

We're planning on leaving right after work and BBQing in the parking lot. Michelle is going to love this, if you have never been to a Buffett Concert.....it sucks to be you.




Nibblin' on sponge cake,
watchin' the sun bake;
All of those tourists covered with oil.
Strummin' my six string on my front porch swing.
Smell those shrimp
They're beginnin' to boil.

Wasted away again in Margaritaville,
Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt.
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame,
But I know it's nobody's fault.

Don't know the reason,
Stayed here all season
With nothing to show but this brand new tattoo.
But it's a real beauty,
A Mexican cutie, how it got here
I haven't a clue.

Wasted away again in Margaritaville,
Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt.
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame,
Now I think, - hell it could be my fault.

I blew out my flip flop,
Stepped on a pop top,
Cut my heel, had to cruise on back home.
But there's booze in the blender,
And soon it will render
That frozen concoction that helps me hang on.

Wasted away again in Margaritaville
Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt.
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame,
But I know, it's my own damn fault.
Yes, and some people claim that there's a woman to blame
And I know it's my own damn fault.

The most famous Dear Abby Column

Yesterday Michelle somehow ended up talking about Dear Abby. She didn't think she had ever read it before, so for Michelle here it is for you and all readers to enjoy.


PLEASE GOD, I'M ONLY 17




The day I died was an ordinary school day. How I wish I had taken the bus. But I was too cool for the bus. I remember how I wheedled the car out of Mom. "Special favor," I pleaded. "All the kids drive."

When the 2:50 bell rang, I threw all my books in the locker. I was free until 8:40 tomorrow morning! I ran to the parking lot, excited at the thought of driving a car and being my own boss. Free!

It doesn't matter how the accident happened. I was goofing off -- going too fast -- taking crazy chances. But I was enjoying my freedom and having fun. The last thing I remember was passing an old lady who seemed to be going awfully slow. I heard the deafening crash and felt a terrible jolt. Glass and steel flew everywhere. My whole body seemed to be turning inside out. I heard myself scream.

Suddenly I awakened; it was very quiet. A police officer was standing over me. Then I saw a doctor. My body was mangled. I was saturated with blood. Pieces of jagged glass were sticking out all over. Strange that I couldn't feel anything.

Hey, don't pull that sheet over my head! I can't be dead. I'm only 17. I've got a date tonight. I'm supposed to grow up and have a wonderful life. I haven't lived yet. I can't be dead!

Later I was placed in a drawer. My folks had to identify me. Why did they have to see me like this? Why did I have to look at Mom's eyes when she faced the most terrible ordeal of her life? Dad suddenly looked like an old man. He told the man in charge, "Yes, he is my son."

The funeral was a weird experience. I saw all my relatives and friends walk toward the casket. They passed by, one by one, and looked at me with the saddest eyes I've ever seen. Some of my buddies were crying. A few of the girls touched my hand and sobbed as they walked away.

Please -- somebody -- wake me up! Get me out of here! I can't bear to see my mom and dad so broken up. My grandparents are so racked with grief they can hardly walk. My brothers and sisters are like zombies. They move like robots. In a daze, everybody. No one can believe this. And I can't believe it, either.

Please don't bury me! I'm not dead! I have a lot of living to do! I want to laugh and run again. I want to sing and dance. Please don't put me in the ground. I promise if you give me one more chance, God, I'll be the most careful driver in the whole world. All I want is one more chance!

Please, God, I'm only 17!

Yesterday

Steelers Trivia wasn't the only thing going on yesterday. Michelle, Hayley and I decided to do a day of geocaching and headed down towards Black Water Falls to do so. On the way we found the smallest church in the continental US along with the smallest Post office and we decided to stop.

We found a wishing well and Michelle and Hayley decided to clown around a little to create a nice cute little pic.

After this it was on to find a few geocaches in Thomas, Davis, the Fairfax Stone and two at Black Water Falls. One was at the overlook looking over everything and the other was at a pic nic area where we decided to stop and grill a few burgers and Bistro Sausages for a little pic nic. We packed Michelle's cooler full of drinks and food, and I brought my little portable grill.

After a nice pic nic and grabbing five new geocaches, we decided to enjoy ourselves a little bit and actually walk the 216 steps down to the falls for some photo opportunities. This was the first time either Michelle or Hayley had ever been to Blackwater Falls and this was my first trip there in nearly 30 years. The last time I was there, Grandma hall was with us as that was my first time visiting the area.

After the days activities we decided to start our trip back home and maybe stop and see some interesting things. Who could have ever imagined that we would have had the chance to get a picture of none other than former WVU Football and current Michigan Head Football coach Rich Fraudriguez. He was mumbling something about $4 Million, but I did manage to get a good picture of him and from his good side too.

Just in case you missed it.

Our first show of the KDKA McDonald's Steeler's Trivia Challenge aired last night on KDKA. We managed to beat Steel City Sting and Steel City Mafia in Round one with an 80 point win against the Steel City Sting.

There was a point in the fifth and final round where Steel City Sting evened the score up, but we prevailed and had a comfortable lead as the final seconds were ticking off.

If you missed the show last night, you can view it online here and watch and see how we did.

We now advance to the semi finals in week 7 on August 23 (I'll remind everyone) against last weeks winners, Steelers Fury, and the winner of next weeks week three competition. This will make up the first semi-final bracket and then the next three weeks will be used to qualify teams into the week 8 semi-final the following week before it all culminates with the finals on September 6. Tune in and keep watching to see who else we will play in the semi-finals and make sure you tune into our semi-final round to see if we can advance past that.

Last years team Uncleated Steam set a round one record for points, which still stands, only to fall short in the semi-finals after establishing a nice lead. Let's see if Poised to Strike can advance to the final round.

It's Game Day

Today is when our first round of the McDonald's Steelers Trivia Challenge show airs. This is round two, the first six rounds (week one was last week) are the qualifying rounds for the second round that will air late this summer. I team must win their qualifying round ton advance to the semi-final rounds in weeks 7 and 8 of the 9 week tournament.

The show airs tonight at 11:35 PM on KDKA Channel 2 out of Pittsburgh. Set your DVR's, VCR's, TIVO's or what ever recording device that you use to record and remember to watch tonight.

The Dominion Post ran this article on us this past week on us.

Tune in and cheer for "Poises to Strike".

Midget Kick Boxing

It's a Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes readers, it is once again that time of the week that we all look forward to, when the labors for the week cease and we take time out to enjoy the fruits of our labors, it is once again the start of another weekend.

Tonight at Hazel Ruby McQuain Ampitheatre, there will be a free showing of Evan Almighty out under the stars. So, if you are looking for a little free entertainment, just grab a few drinks and some popcorn or your favorite snacks and a blanket or a lawn chair and enjoy this free movie under the stars.

Nick and Terri will be selling Hot Dogs and Chicken Wings Saturday afternoon at the Arden campground as the Hillbilly Gypsies will be playing the campground.

Yours truly will be on TV this weekend in our first round game of the KDKA McDonald's Pittsburgh Steelers Trivia Show at 11:35 on KDKA. Tune in to see if we can advance to the Semi-Finals by winning this week. I have a good feeling about this team from Morgantown. Maybe I can figure out which way the Terrible Towel is supposed to be held by then.

Ribfest will be held this weekend at Mylan Park just outside of Morgantown. It promises to be a time to eat some of the best ribs the Morgantown area has to offer, other than My brother in law George's of course. His would win hands down.

There is going to be a tribute to hometown legend Don Knotts this weekend here on Morgantown also. Check the Dominion Post for details.

Not too sure what Michelle and I have going yet, maybe geocache or two since the weather is going to be really nice this weekend.

Have a great Friday and great event filled weekend.

How West Virginian's See Things

Pick up the Dominion Post

First of all, sometimes when I BLOG, I write the BLOG the previous evening and just have it autopost for the next morning so it is available for those who like to start their days off by reading this. To you early morning readers, I say thank you. As I am typing this the night before, Michelle said to tell everyone Hi.

Now onto the reason for this post. Obviously it is the night before and I have not gotten a chance to read todays (Thursday's) Paper, but I have been told by a fellow member of "Poised to Strike" that there may be some reading of interest for me in the paper today.

So, remember to pick up a paper today and look for anything talking about Steeler's Trivia as our first show airs this Saturday.

Early Morning Edit. The Picture and article are on page 5-C of today's paper in the marquee section.


If anyone is an online subscriber to the Dominion Post, I would sure appreciate having the story e-mailed to me at georgex@george-hall.net