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 could be heard giggling as Michelle and I prepare to walk out the door, getting ready to go to work. No idea what they are up to, something about a poker game and toilet papering some of the neighbors' cars. Maybe I need to invest in an indoor camera to keep an eye on these two during the day. 

It's not official yet (no start date) but Michelle got her offer letter from Swanson Industries and will officially transition to them officially after the typical pre-employment stuff. Drug screen, background search, paperwork filled out and submitted and a sample of her world famous butterscotch cookies. She will be an Administrative Assistant, they were really impressed with her during her temporary assignment with Express Employment who she worked a contract through for Swanson. I am very proud of her I'll let everyone know when she officially transitions. She has been looking at the Swanson-branded gear the past few days that she is now eligable to buy at their price. 

Have yourselves a great day, hope the animals don't wreck the place. 

Hi ho hi ho

Superbowl Sunday

Here I sit in a less than quiet Household, Kiwi and Peanut have been up all night partying and getting ready for Super Bowl LX this evening. Chicken wings (Peanuts' idea) and Popcorn (Kiwi's idea) are what is on the menu for the day. I can't say how disappointed I am that a cat of mine is wearing Patriots gear, but Tom Brady has retired and moved on so I don't cheer against them as much. They are tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for most Super Bowl Victories at 6 each. 

Have a few weekly chores to do today, Michelle already bought the chicken wings to beat the rush on everyone rushing out to buy them. I think we have done wings every Superbowl that we have been together, it's almost like the Hot Sausage on Christmas Morning or Pork and Sourkraut on New Years. It's just the time of the year that you eat chicken wings and finger foods. 

Other than that, we have nothing planned for the day other than sitting around and relaxing and waiting for the game,  other than maybe watching the Winter Olympics. My favorite Winter Olympic Sport? I like to watch Curling. 

Have yourself a great day, make it memorable. 

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit in a semi-quiet household, Kiwi and Peanut are not liking the weather and have tried to make some extra money by making Phil available for Groundhog Rides. They had both bet a bunch of money in Vegas saying he would not see his shadow after some insider information they thought they would clean up. They lost and now they are trying to recoup their lost wagers at Phil's expense. I do have to say for a little fat guy he can scamper around pretty quickly. 

Nothing big planned today out of the ordinary, a little shopping and preparing for tomorrows Superbowl. Peanut thinks we should do chicken wings and Kiwi, he things we should do groundhog stew. I think they are both still upset that because of Phil we have six more weeks of this cold weather and snow crap. They are both tired of it all. 

It's due to be cold this weekend (like what else is new), so be sure to stay warm. If you are looking for something entertaining to do, the WVU Women's team plays at the Coliseum today at 2:00. 

Over the past few days, Raising Canes finally opened here in Morgantown. We already have a Huey Magoos and a Laynes Chicken Fingers downtown, three restaurants with basically the exact same menus with different names. So for the life of me I can't figure out why 200 people were waiting to get into a restaurant that opened up this week. 

Have yourselves a great day and stay warm

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!!!

Kiwi and Peanut are having a debate about who is going to win the Superbowl. Kiwi is staying with his bird brothers and will be cheering for the Seattle Seahawks. Last yeat he was an Eagles fan, you know the whole Bird theme and all. Peanut, she is a New England Patriot fan (or she just wants to be different than her brother) and will be cheering for the New England Patriots. Me? I'm cheering for the commercials this year. Budweiser has a really good and Patriotic one this year involving the Clydesdales and a surprise bird that I have seen and it a tear jerker. 

First though both Michelle and I have to get todays work over with so we can start our weekend. So it is one again back to the offices today and driving this work week home. 

Have yourself 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 past week I was playing around with AI and seen some remarkable restoration jobs of old photographs that had been done for people using AI. Cleaning up and changing the saturation to give a picture a different perspective and a different life. 

This weeks picture is well over 100 years old, the man in the middle would be my Great Grandfather, the young boy with the cap was Grandpa Hall. This picture was taken my guess sometime after 1900 and it was when they lived in Jeanette Pennsylvania where Grandpa Hall was originally from. 

Have yourselves a great Day

Hi ho hi ho

Lucy's Journal

Lucy’s Journal — February 4, 2026

Dear Journal,

Well. Monday was Groundhog Day, and yet somehow we did not end up in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania causing an international incident involving Phil the Groundhog. Shocking, I know.

The excuses started flying before breakfast.

Kiwi said the weather app was “lying on purpose” and that flying conditions were spiritually unsafe. Peanut claimed he had a very important nap scheduled that simply could not be moved without union approval. The Quackers said they were absolutely ready to go… until they realized Pennsylvania does not, in fact, have an indoor heated splash zone waiting specifically for them. And the Shih Tzu kept reminding everyone that road trips make him “existentially itchy.”

As for me? I pointed out that kidnapping a famous groundhog on a Monday requires planning, snacks, and bail money. None of which we had.

So instead of chaos on a national scale, we had chaos in the living room.

That’s when Phil showed up.

Yes. That Phil.

Turns out he’s been laying low, tired of being dragged out once a year to predict the weather like some kind of fuzzy meteorologist. He waddled in, adjusted his tiny posture, and announced he was joining the clan. No shadow. No ceremony. Just vibes.

And get this—Phil came prepared.

He rolled out what he called a “Spring Initiative,” which is apparently groundhog for a master plan. He says he’ll help Kiwi finally build that backyard waterfall this spring. Not just help—oversee. He talked about water flow, stone placement, and “a naturalistic aesthetic.” I don’t even know where he learned those words.

Best part? The Quackers get their own shallow pool built into the waterfall so they can swim without being yelled at for splashing everyone else. They immediately accepted Phil as their new leader and started chanting his name.

Peanut pretended not to care, but I caught him nodding along when Phil mentioned heated rocks for sunbathing.

So no kidnapping. No torture. Just a reformed groundhog with a vision, a parrot with a dream waterfall, ducks planning a grand opening, and a cat already claiming the best seat.

Honestly? Way better outcome.

If spring actually comes early this year, I’m blaming Phil.

—Lucy 🐿️🦜🦆🐱

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is over with good reason to do a tidbits. 

* It has been 22,686 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, new, and improved 1,069-day Calendar. mom is at 30,340 which would make her 28 according to my new and improved calendar. 

* It has been 7,938 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. 

* 6,532 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together. Life has been much better since then. 

* 5,736 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 5,773 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 2,911 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 1,565 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,273 days, I've now outlived him by 1,428 days, making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* Old roommate Gregg proposed to his fiancée 143 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 2,206 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.

* 364 more days until Phil steps to center stage once again for Groundhog Day.   

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

* There are 324 more shopping days left until Christmas 2026. 

* There are 301 days until I hit the age of 63. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* There are only 185 more days to go until Michelle and I will celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary......maybe

* There are 44 days until my favorite season begins, a lot of people love different seasons, I am a Spring person who loves the Springtime. 

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

* I have written 8,236 blogs in what is now 21 years of Blogging. 

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

* I need to get some new bullet points. I like to keep a certain number that are regular, I need some more count downs or count ups. 

This is my favorite Tik Tok, a little education of that one element at affects all of out lives. Oil. 

* Have yourselves a great day

* Hi ho hi ho