Tuesdays' Tidbits

* Well it's Tuesday once again, so I can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* Hayley is going to be doing a play in October at the Met with the Morgantown Theater Group. She is rehearsing for the play Sweeney Todd. I'll update as I find out.

* Speaking of Hayley, she is selling Morgantown High Choir discount cards if anyone is interested. They are $10.00 each and offer a wide variety of discounts in the Morgantown area over the next 12 months. The 20% off you bill at iHop is worth the price of the card.

* Our cats are getting spayed today, no more litters and it couldn't come soon enough. They are both once again in heat (Michelle called and it is not a problem), but they will be fixed today.

* It's day 900 since mine and my sweeties first date!!!! 123 Days since the engagement too!!!

* And only 116 shopping days left until Christmas.

* Proctor and Gamble are running a special, you show $50.00 in store receipts of their products between Aug 20 and December 31, and they will send you $110.00 worth of coupons. We already have our $50.00 spent (Tide, TP< Toothpaste, Shampoo, Bounce) and are sending for our coupons.

* One more fantasy football team for me to draft and that will be tonight.

* Hi ho hi ho

Three Down, One to go

No, I'm not talking about days in the week we are working this week. I'm talking about spending yesterday afternoon and drafting not one, not two but three Fantasy Football Leagues including my long time money league that carries the trophy with it.

It started off in the afternoon with drafting two for fun leagues with Michelle's family and culminated with the guys at MiHaley's.

I still have one more to go that will take place Tuesday night with Smitty and a few of his friends. I'm happy with all three drafts.

Fantasy Football Drafts

I have not done the first bit of research, but it is now crunch time in my world of Fantasy Football.

I draft a for fun league this afternoon with Michelle's family. We did it last year, but there is only a small handful of us participating. Michelle's Nephew won the league last year.

This evening I draft in my regular league with the guys I play softball with. We draft this league every year and we actually have a traveling trophy that the winners name is engraved on and the league winner gets to keep the piece of hardware for the year and all of the bragging rights associated with it. I've came close a couple of times, but I have failed to ever win the trophy.

Tuesday night I'm going to draft with Smitty and a few of his online buddies in my third and final league of the year.

It should be an interesting football filled day. Oh, the Steelers play this evening.

Road Trip

The entire clan will be heading north this morning to head to East Liverpool Ohio for a surprise 89th birthday party for Michelle's Grandmother GiGi. She has spent the last two weeks in Myrtle Beach visiting her brother and will return home today but there is going to be a little surprise waiting on her when she gets there.

Michelle and I are going to go up early and Chad, Laiah and Hayley will be coming up right behind us. I think they want to stop by the Hot Dog Shop before they get there.

The party kicks off at 1:00 and Michelle and I are going to try to help decorate a little bit. She has had her broccoli casserole cooking all night in the crock pot and we'll also be taking that up with us.

Should be 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.

Are you ready for some High School Football? High school football started last night, The Morgantown High Mohigans traveledg to Wheeling to take on Wheeling Park and try to stop on four year opening game losing streak. The Mohigans rolled 41-7 and stopped the streak. The North Marion Huskies will be coming to Morgantown to take on the University High Hawks and Clay Battelle travels to AA Petersburg to start their season. I have to say good luck to all three area schools this upcoming season.

Michelle and I will be traveling once again tomorrow as we head up to Ohio to surprise her Grandmother for her 89th birthday. I'll make sure I take the camera and get as many pictures as possible.

Hi ho hi ho

Touchtable Presentation

Good News

I read in the paper yesterday that there is going to be a great deal of development on Beechurst Ave over the next year. The old Chico Dairy building will be demolished making way for a large student housing complex that will house 425 students and off a number of specialty shops in the building.

One that really got me attention was the talk of bringing Chico Dairy back after a 20 year hiatus. I legendary confectionery around Morgantown that still has people talking about menu items. Such as the Hot Rod or the Jumping Jerry named after former WVU Athletes. It offered the Chico challenge where if you ate the entire 12 scoops and fixens you got to keep the bowl for free.

The article said that all of the original equipment, bowls and menus is just sitting there in storage.

I can't wait ill they open their doors. YUUUUUMMM

Back at it

I was feeling a bit under the weather yesterday morning when I woke up, so I took a days vacation and laid around and rested. I checked my work schedule and nothing was really going on until today, so I took full advantage of being able to relax and power nap.

My kidney's were sore for some reason and I just wasn't feeling the best, so I took a little personal time off. Watched a couple of movies, solved Mom's computer problem and connected Michelle up to my Google Sharing Calendar.

Anyways, I'm feeling much better today and ready to get at it.

hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is finally in our rear view mirrors and we are on to Tuesday so I can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* Day 893 on the Ed and Michelle Counter. It has been 893 of the best days of my life that I have been able to share with my baby. We became engaged 116 days ago.

* If you are counting, 124 shopping days left until Christmas.

* Traffic coming home from work last night was horrific to say the least. It seemed like nothing but gridlock on our way home last night. A co-worker commented that it took him an hour to get home from work in what should be a maybe a 10-15 minute drive if conditions are right.

* For someone who was never really a wine drinker, I have made a winery that I really do like. Breitenbach Winery in Amish Country (you can find some here local)I have found that I have really enjoy. Like I said, I'm not really a wine person, but I really do enjoy wine from this winery. I have found one place where it is in fact available locally, but only a few of their wines are available.

* We will once again be traveling this weekend, Michelle's Grandmother's birthday is this weekend (her 89th) and we are going to have a surprise birthday party for her in east Liverpool.

* Michelle's sister and her family returned from a week long vacation at Myrtle Beach.

* And finally, all of the kittens are officially gone as Michelle found a great home for the last two. A co-worker whose mother took one from the previous batch took two brothers to finish the litter.

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

Yet another weekend has come and gone, so it is time to cease from all of the enjoyment and get ready to stick our noses back to the grindstones.

Today is also the first day of school in Morgantown. Both for West Virginia University and for Monongalia County Schools, so give yourself a little extra time when planning on traveling anywhere around the University City today and use a little extra caution driving around today.

WVU will host their annual Fall Fest this evening, with the going back to school bash with Ludacris, Maroon 5, Kris Allen, VV Brown all on the lineup card for this evening.

Good luck to all students continuing or working on completing their acdemic ventures over the next school year.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday George "Moke" McClain

I would like to wish my nephew Moke a very Happy Birthday today. A man who has spent most of the past twelve months serving his country in the hot desert of Iraq is home and celebrating his birthday today.

Moke will be walking down the isle of matrimony in a few weeks (October 10), but as for today, if you happen to see him (and make an effort to go out of your way to do it) and wish him the very Happiest of Birthdays today.

Great Day

Yesterday was one of those days that you hope you always have. Started out with a trip top the Chicken Wing Cookoff with friends and family and ended up with watching a Steelers game with one of my oldest friends.

The chicken wing cookoff went very well. Michelle and I tried a number of wings from different places, but ultimately both of our votes went to the Sports Page. I have not heard any voting results as of yet either for the judges or the fans choice.

The evening rolled around and we went to Smitty and Steph's for dinner, some wine, football and some great conversation. It was the Steelers second pre-season game and they did look pretty good handing the Giants a loss at their new stadium.

Chicken Wing Cookofff

It comes around once a year and today is it, the 2010 Chicken Wing Cookoff is once again being held today. This year however it is moving from its traditional location from behind the old Mountaineer Mall to the events center at Mylan Park.

Michelle and I will be heading over this morning and will be meeting my old buddy Smitty and his wife Steph as well as I will be making my yearly tract with yesterdays birthday girl Jean.

Last night Michelle and I went to our first WVU Soccer game. The Mountaineers lost 2-1 in overtime to Penn State.

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.

For those of you looking for a little cheap or free entertainment, tonight is the last movie of the summer on the Mon (sadness). The Movie Up will be playing tonight and will culminate BOPARC's Season for movies. Grab you a seat cushion, your favorite beverage and some snacks and enjoy the last freebie of the summer.

If you are looking for a little bit of sporting action, head on over to the WVU Soccer stadium to see the women take on Penn State in Women's soccer. The price of admission is a single dollar and many concessions also share that single dollar price tag for this evening.

Tomorrow will be the WVAQ/WAJR/Ronald McDonald House Charities Chicken Wing Cook-Off at Mylan Park. It's changing from its previous location and going to Mylan Park this season.

Hi ho hi ho, let's get ready to enjoy the weekend.

Happy Birthday Jean Hall

I would like to take this opportunity to wish a very special person a very Happy Birthday. The woman we all refer to as anmal is celebrating her birthday today.

She is a very special person who has touched so many people's lives, so if you happen to see her today, and if you weren't planning to go see her and wish her the very Happiest of Birthdays.

Michelle to Emergency Room

I took Michelle to the Emergency Room this afternoon. She was complaining of severe stomach pains since yesterday morning and we wanted to play it on the safe side and make sure that everything is alright.

Her bloodwork came back normal, and everything else seemed to check out fine. They just can't seem to determine what was causing her pain.

We went out to Eat N Park for dinner afterwards and she is recovering nicely.

Speeding on By

Wow has this week going pretty fast for me. It seems like it was just the weekend and we're getting ready to look down the barrel of another weekend very soon.

Michelle was under the weather yesterday and ended up coming home sick from work. We actually took a short trip to Krogers last night and maybe she should have stayed home and rested. I hate it when my baby is sick, but if she doesn't start feeling better soon (bad stomach pains) I'm going to be taking a side trip to a hospital. Hopefully she feels better this morning.

Anyone notice traffic is really starting to pick up? I guess the rumor is true, the students are going to be coming back and a lot of them are here and the rest will be arriving in the next couple of days. Ho hum.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Monday...Check. Tuesday...Check. We have already reached hump day, this week is just flying by and it should be the weekend again before we know it. If we get today in, it'll be all downhill until we get to another fun filled weekend.

I can tell the students are coming back into town, my cell phone holder that I wear on my hip broke yesterday and I had to go to AT&T to get another one. Michelle and I stopped after work and needless to say, stay away from cell phone company offices in Morgantown for the next few weeks, unless you are going to want to sit and wait in line. Man were they packed.

Oh well, hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is now behind us and it is now Tuesday, I can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* For those of you keeping track, it's been 886 days since me and my sweetheart had our first date.

* It's also been 109 days since I proposed and she said yes.

* It's been a while since I wrote about it, but Christmas is only 130 short shopping days away.

* Traffic you may notice is starting to increase around the University City. Slowly but surely students are returning to Morgantown for yet another year of academia to start next Monday. Traffic was bad, and it is just about to get worse.

* Weather has been nice, but something tells me we are going to have a break in the weather in the near future. Is it just me, or does anyone else think we are due for a couple days of rain?

* Going back to work after four days off wasn't that bad, I was pretty busy and the day just flew by. Today may be another story however.

* Hi ho hi ho

Extended Weekend is Over

Wow did that extended weekend go by fast. I feel like the Zebra and the Lion is Monday Morning here. It was a nice four days off, but now it is time to put the weekend in our memory bank and put our noses back on the grindstones for another five days.

Not quite sure what I will find when I get back into the office today, but I'm relaxed, rested and ready to go as far as that goes. Yesterday afternoon was a relaxing from a busy weekend kind of time for me and my sweetie.

Can't get to another weekend until we get Monday completed, so I guess it is hi ho hi ho

Sunday Afternoon Blog

I kind of forgot to do my early morning blog today, we had a very long weekend of running around and we were just trying to finish everything up.

It all Started Thursday with the Jimmy Buffett Concert, which I created an album for and then turning right around after getting to bed at 2:00 AM to get packed and on the road by 8:00 Friday Morning to see the NFL Hall of Fame and Amish Country. I've added all of those pics to my General Pics 2010 Album on my site.

Today it's been a matter of running around getting done what we need to get done for the weekend before returning to work tomorrow.

Overall for the weekend, 587 miles driven in three states. It has been a very busy weekend to say the least.

Hall of Fame, Now Amish Country

Michelle and I spent yesterday traveling to Canton Ohio and spending the day at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. For you Facebook people, I uploaded the pictures to there last night.

Today will be a trip to Amish Country in Ohio (we're still in Canton) today before we return to Morgantown tonight to watch the Steelers play their first pre-season game of the year.

We're having a great weekend and it's just Saturday.

On a side note, I hate laptop keyboards. Argghhh

Big Ole Hairy Friday

This is the time that I start to say: 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.

However, my weekend has already started with a trip to see Jimmy Buffett last night.

That was yesterday and this is today. We're once again hitting the road, destination this time will be the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton Ohio. We tossed around a few things to do today, and we wanted to do something neither one us has ever done. So, we are off to canton today where we will probably stay this evening and head to Amish Country on Saturday before returning home Saturday evening.

Have a great day, I plan on it.

Margaritaville Bound

Today is the day that we have been anticipating for a number of months, it is the start of a four day weekend for me and Michelle first of all, but we will be heading to Pittsburgh tonight to see Jimmy Buffett. We will be taking Michelle's faithful office companion Fin (decorative parrot) and heading off to to join the parrot head nation this evening for our third year in a row.

This will be my fourth time seeing Jimmy and Michelle's third and we are eagerly anticipating sitting in the parking lot, putting some shrimp on the BBQ and just having a very relaxing type of day.

I'll be taking my camera and taking a number of pictures.

Fins Up!!!

Softball has come to a close for 2010

It's the one season that I look forward to all year, when the boys of summer assemble and we take a few months out of our lives and group together with a common purpose, to play the game of softball.

This year has been I believe my 26th or 27th playing the game that I love so much. I came into the game and we were playing with snow fences at BOPARC at 270' for a Home Run and today play at 300' elevated fences, flight resistant core balls and a lot more distinct rules than when I first started playing as a Fun Quad (use your imagination, we never could figure out what a Fun Quad was).

The 2010 season ended last night for me on Whiston Field. There is always fall league, but I'm too old and don't care to play into the month of November when snow is on the ground.

We say Good Bye to Ryne Barrall as he has played his last game with us and has graduated and will be moving back home. I look back at former team mates past and see Josh Judy is less than a month away from AAA Columbus's season being over and him moving up to the Major League Indians. I see former team mates from a few years ago winning regular season titles in two leagues and I see a new crop of players coming around to fall in love with the game.

This season's final notes I have to give a shout out to Paul and Laura Gunter for picking my glove up Monday night after I left it.

We won last night and the season came to an end in the 6th inning with us up 10-9 and playing one of the top ranked teams who were just frustrated. It ended with a bench clearing brawl and where the umpire called the game. What an end to a season.

The game that I love so much is over with for the summer, so the countdown starts to the 2011 season.

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Hey it's Tuesday, hump day for me, and I can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits than that.

* 879 Days since mine and Michelle's first date and 102 Since our engagement.

* Softball game last night and another one tonight, tonight's game will be the last one of the 2010 season. I hate to see the season pass, but it only means that it will soon be the start of football season.

* I meet my new Doctor today, my old one finished his residency up this year and moved on to bigger and better things. I have been assigned another new doctor and will meet with him for the first time this morning.

* This is going to be a short blog, so Hi ho hi ho

Monday Again????

Here we are once again, the weekend has passed us by and we are stuck at the beginning of yet another week of sticking our noses to the grindstone.

Tonight we have a softball game, at 9:00 and this will be our next to last game of the season and the season will culminate tomorrow evening at the same time. I guess it's the last few days with my boys of summer and it's time to move on from playing softball to watching football.

I am fortunate that this will be a short week for both me and Michelle as we will be going to see Jimmy Buffett this Thursday and are going to make next weekend a long four day weekend.

Oh well, hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Ramblings

I've always been an early riser. One of those types of people who wake the roosters up from their deep sleep and remind them that it is their job to wake the rest of the world up. It doesn't seem to matter what day of the week it is for me, being raised by my grandparents and working so many years of EARLY shifts has conditioned my body to be like it is, seven days a week.

We had a really good sweat filled workout yesterday on the trails at Cheat Lake. It's absolutely beautiful at the end of Morgan's Run Road, scenic to the point where it may be one of the most aesthetically relaxing places in Monongalia County. Michelle brought her bike and rode a majority of it, of course I got a turn riding too. I haven't been on a bike since my Senior Year of College and to say that my derrière is a little sore is an understatement. (Note to self, adjust the seat).

With our annual trip to see Jimmy Buffett coming up this week, we stopped by the party store and bought some parrot head gear to help us blend into the crowd. I got a couple of really nice beads, ones with Parrots on them and a Parrot tie to wear. Michelle got some beads and a few lei's and we are almost ready to go head to Margaritaville this Thursday.

Typical day planned for today, grocery shopping etc. Nothing too exciting, but you have yourself a great day.

Happy Birthday Randy Lee Hamrick

Today is my Nephew Randy's birthday. If my calculations are correct, and the older I get the more the years tend to run together, this should be his 22nd birthday. There is another way to call it that I like, and that is by calling it the 1st anniversary of his 21st birthday.

If you happen to see Randy today, make sure that you wish him the happiest of birthdays.

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.

Looking for a little bit of that free and cheap entertainment, try grabbing yourself a chair, your favorite drinks and some snacks and head on down to the Hazel Ruby McQuain Amphitheater for a free showing of The Spy Next Door. A cute little spy movie starring long time martial arts star Jackie Chan. Might be worth a view if you are wanting to get out and have a little fun.

For those of you looking for a little more adult type entertainment, Morgantown is having its second annual Brew ha ha tomorrow. Admission costs are $15.00 at the door.

For those of you wishing to make a difference, Daniel J Baker Jr died in an auto accident earlier this year. At 9:00 tonight at 123 Pleasant Street Von Dane will perform a benefit. Cost is $5.00 at the door and proceeds go to the Daniel Baker memorial Fund. There will also be a golf tournament tomorrow at 1:00 at Paradise Lake Golf Course, if interested contact Larry Giles at devonian1984@yahoo.com. Cost is $50.00 per player or $200.00 for a team of four. There will also be a poker run set for August 28th. Registration is $20.00 per Bike at 10:00 at Tumbleweeds on the Grafton Road.

Not sure what is on tap for me and Michelle, she just bought a bike and I think doing a little bit of biking or walking will be on the agenda.

Have a great day. Hi ho hi ho

Relaxing Evening

Yesterday was a relaxing evening, one when the weather was less than cooperative, so we stayed in and watched a movie at home. We got the movie Kick Ass from Netflix because the previews looked really good, but it could very well have been a movie that the best part of the movie is in the trailer. This wasn't the case and we were both pleasantry surprised with the movie.

Other than that it was an uneventful evening after an eventful day at work.

Hump Day

It's Wednesday so let's top that hump and start the downward countdown to yet another fun filled weekend. I know my first part of the week has been very busy, now I'm ready to start gearing up for some relaxation.

I did get called into work last night after hours, there were some map adjustments that needed to be done and needed to be done ASAP for an early presentation this morning by one of the Fed's in Pittsburgh. I guess living less than an aeronautical mile from my office has its advantages sometimes.

On the "NEWSFLASH" front, Brett Farve has said he is going to retire....again. I think this is the third or fourth time, but something tells me he will be back again in 2010. ESPN has to have something to talk about. Maybe Lebron can have another Press Conference too.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Hey it's no longer Monday, we;re actually at Tuesday and I can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* My niece Brittany had surgery yesterday. I spoke to Kim right as she was going in and seen on Facebook that she was home and doing well.

* Day 872 since mine and my special lady's first date. 96 days since the engagement.

* We currently have four weened kittens if anyone is needing a lovable furball for around their house. They are at that age when they are the most fun.

* We played softball again last night and once again down to defeat. I hit OK, I was a little disappointed in my last at bat though. Ended the night 2 for 3 and drove in our first run. We finish up the season next week.

* Michelle is down 28 pounds so far since she quit smoking. She went for a jog before my game last night out at Boparc.

* Hopefully today will not be as hectic as yesterday, I had an "Urgent" request from a high ranking official the minute I walked into my office yesterday.

* Oh well, hi ho hi ho

Weekend's Over

Well another fun filled weekend has went from reality to memory and history. I can say that it was a very good weekend for both myself and Michelle. However it is now times to wake up and get ready to put the nose back to the grindstone for yet another week work.

You can't get to the weekend until you gt Monday done and over with, I'm rested and relaxed and ready to go for another day at work.

We have a softball game tonight at 7:00. The season is starting to wind down for us and we have todays game and two next week and another season will have once again come and gone.

I'm going to try something new tonight, Michelle bought a pair of compression shorts last week and just loved them. So I went out yesterday and bought a pair of them. We do a lot of walking and are planning to do a little biking now that the rails to trails has reopened and these will help your legs breath with no restriction in movement. Michelle loves hers, so we'll break mine out tonight and see how they do.

Hi ho hi ho.

Sunday Routine

Typical Sunday for us planned out, I'm up early once again watching the movie the Rocker as the house is nice and quiet. We did watch one heck of a movie yesterday, The Blindside, one that I will recommend to everyone to see. It's true story of Michael Oherand his life.

That was yesterday however and we are on to today. If you know us, you know that our Sunday Morning routine is to get up and go get a little bit of breakfast and then we do our weekly grocery shopping. I think it is something that we both enjoy doing together.

This afternoon may involve a nap, but we'll have to see.