Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes, it is once again that time of the week that we all look forward 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 again the dawn of another weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday!!!

Another week down, and I think my pets are trying really hard to try and tell me something. 

So what is on the agenda for the day and weekend? It's just a lather, rinse, repeat weekend to be honest with you. I guess the older you get, the less you think about running around and doing fun and exciting things, and try to concentrate on some of the most important things in life. Naps. I, at that point, where I enjoy waking up and knowing it was sjust a nap and I don't have to get ready to go into the office. 

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+ photos that I have stored on my computer. Little lost moments in time that I either captured with a lens, scanned, or just stole from somewhere on the internet. I like to find just one and post it up, recalling or reliving the picture to the best of my ability. Sometimes this is a pretty easy task, and sometimes it's not that easy, but one thing it has always been a lot of fun.

This weeks pic is our trip to the Hovatters Zoo last year, a number of people from both sides of the family went up last year and enjoyed a zoo day. 

Speaking of the Zoo Day, Michelle and her sisters have been talking about planning another big get together if anyone is interested in going. If you are interested in going and making some memories that day, let us know. Last year we took up a bunch of food and sat out at the picnic tables and feasted. 

It was and will be a fun time. 

Have yoursleves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Lucy's Journal

Lucy’s Journal – April 15, 2026

Dear Journal,

This morning started with what Kiwi dramatically called “The Great Human Panic of Tax Day.” Everywhere we looked, people were rushing around like squirrels that just remembered they buried their nuts… but couldn’t remember where.

Peanut sat in the window, flicking his tail, watching cars zoom by like they were in some kind of race. “You’d think the government was handing out free tuna the way they’re acting,” he said.

Kiwi puffed up and chimed in, “Maybe they forgot to do their paperwork! Imagine waiting ALL YEAR and then—BOOM—last minute panic!” He flapped around like a tiny green accountant having a meltdown.

The Quackers were less concerned and more entertained. They lined up like little judges on the porch, quacking every time someone sped past. “Late! Late! Definitely late!” they declared, as if handing out penalties.

I’ll admit… we all laughed a lot this morning.

By afternoon, things had settled down, and that’s when Peanut got that look—you know the one. The “I have a terrible idea and I’m proud of it” look.

Next thing I know, we’re all down at the downtown parking garage.

“Alright,” Peanut whispered, like we were in some kind of heist movie, “keep your eyes open.”

“For what?” I asked.

“For opportunity,” he said.

Kiwi landed on a railing, looking suspiciously official. “We are conducting… inspections,” he announced.

Turns out, Peanut’s “plan” was to check for unlocked cars. And, well… you can probably guess the rest.

Let’s just say the Quackers thought this was the funniest mission of all time. They waddled around like a coordinated squad, giggling (yes, giggling) and keeping lookout.

Kiwi kept shouting things like, “Target acquired!” and “Abort! Windows up!” which made it feel way more serious than it was.

I tried to be the responsible one. I really did. But somewhere between Peanut’s sneaky tiptoeing and Kiwi’s dramatic commentary, I lost it and started laughing so hard I had to sit down.

We didn’t cause too much trouble (Peanut insists it was “just light mischief”), but we definitely left our mark on the day.

On the walk home, Peanut looked very satisfied with himself.

“Best. Tax Day. Ever,” he said.

Kiwi nodded. “Way better than paperwork.”

The Quackers just quacked in agreement.

And honestly? I can’t argue with that.

—Lucy 🐾

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is over, now we are staring straight down at a Tuesday. 

* It has been 22,754 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, new, and improved 1,069-day Calendar. Mom is at 30,410, which would make her 28 according to my new and improved calendar. 

* It has been 8,008 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography. I love what I do and am thankful to still be working in my field. Has it really been 8,000 days? 

* 6,602 days ago, Michelle and I had our first date together. Life has been much better since then. 

* 5,806 days ago, I proposed to Michelle in the backyard at 4:00 in the morning. I've been the luckiest guy since that fateful day. 

* It was 5,843 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, for the most part, Michelle and I became husband and wife at the Marilla Center, it was a great day with friends and family. 

* I have now lived 2,981 days longer than my Dad did and I'm still going strong, slowing down but still going. 

* Michelle has been living a clean and productive life and beat that alcohol demon 1,635 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,280 days, I've now outlived him by 1,491 days, making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* Old roommate Gregg proposed to his fiancée 213 days ago, I'm happy for those two. I asked him a couple weeks ago if they set a date yet, he said we would be the first to know. 

* I have 2,136 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, but I love doing what I do. Who knows, though, doing what I do I may never retire.

* 294 more days until Phil steps to center stage once again for Groundhog Day. I'm still mad at the damn rat

* 261 more days to go until my Goodbye 2026 Blog is posted. 

* There are 254 more shopping days left until Christmas 2026. 

* There are 239 days until I hit the age of 63. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* There are only 122 more days to go until Michelle and I will celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary......maybe

* There are 69 days until my second favorite season begins, Summertime!!!!!!

* It has been ∞ (infinity symbol) days since I have hated both Pitt and Penn State.

* I have written 8,317 blogs in what is now 21 1/2 years of Blogging. 

* Progress on my Selfie in Space, right here. We are ready for liftoff and holding. 

* Looking for Girl Scout Cookies? Ryleigh's Page

* Looking for Girl Scout Cookies still? Arabellas Page

* This is my favorite TicTok of the week. Reminds me of Peanut and Kiwi. 

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

All good things must come to an end—but if you’ve got to wrap up the weekend, today’s a pretty exciting way to do it. Now it’s time to take our collective noses and press them firmly back onto the grindstone of life. Back to work, back to the hustle, back to doing our part to make this spinning rock a better place.

Kiwi and Peanut decided to take a break from taking a break and are going into the office with me. They think they are the GIS Gurus. They have been playing with Open Source QGIS; little do they know I used to use it a great deal, but I prefer the commercial ESRI software. I always tried to stay ahead of the curve with the Open Source game, but Jack is my buddy, so I tend to lean towards the Commercial Stuff. Can't knock my pets for expanding their skillsets. 

So what is up with the week ahead? Still chugging along, same stuff, different day, so to speak. Still working on a tedious long-term project while wrapping up a couple of smaller ones. It is a new week, and I'm sure there will be new challenges. 

Have yourself a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit in a somewhat disappointed household, Kiwi and Peanut were all excited yesterday ad they thought that they were going to get a chance to ride around on the lawn tractor and have fun, they had their day all planned out and they got a double whammy. It was wet from raining the night before and I even tried to start the tractor up for the second time this season, did so a couple weeks ago, and this time the battery was dead. It would not turnover. Fortunately I do have a batter charger and have it hooked up to the charger. I was able to get it started but I let it charge the rest of the day to get a full charge before I start the mowing season. Maybe I'll get a chance today to cut it. 

Michelle is going to head up to Elwood City with Chris, Amanda and a few others for Maddie's Birthday Party. They are going to head north after church for the day. If the weather permits, I might ride around in the yard and put Kiwi and Peanut in a better mood. I'm just hesitant to do that when I'm the only human here, especially after giving myself a concussion a couple years ago holding back a tree branch that about knocked me out and caused me to be lethargic the next morning. Better safe than sorry, but the weather is supposed to be nice. 

I waas talking to Mom yesterday, she said she had been de-hydrated and I suggested Pedialyte Pops that are always really helpful for me when I am under the weather. I know I really like them and like them so much it is an unguilty pleasure I can have year round. 

Have yourselves a great day

Saturday

Here I sit on a quiet Saturday Morning. Kiwi and Peanut have been up all night watching the RADAR and hoping that it's nice weather. They said they want to help me cut the grass today, and they want to drive the tractor around the yard. I heard them secretly discussing doing figure 8's in the grass. I don't know what I am going to do with these two. 

Michelle will be doing the grocery shopping today and I'll be handling things on the home front. I wish I could say I am just going to supervise as Kiwi and Peanut drive around the yard, but you know how that goes. I was going to cut the grass last Saturday, but Val said that it is bad luck to cut your grass before Easter, and Michelle said it was going to rain, so I never got it cut. This is on my agenda today, weather permitting. 

Nothing much more planned for us today, although Michelle is going back home to Ohio for a few hours on Sunday. It's Maddies Birthday and she is going to go up with Chris, so I will be home holding down the fort for the day. Kiwi has been reading go-kart manuals, so he might want my help building a Go-Kart in the garage. 

Have yourselfs a great day. Make some memories.