Goodbye 2012

January

*  2012 started out great, the Mountaineers walloped Clemson in the Orange Bowl 70-33. WVU set the record for the most points scored in a bowl game, much less a BCS Bowl Game.

* Michelle spent the New Year sporting a pink cast on her foot which she had broken.

* Long time Penn State Football Coach Joe Paterno passed away

February

* Punxatawny Phil saw his shadow promising siz more weeks of winter, but that had to be the mildest winter that I have ever witnessed in my lifetime.

* We officially booked our vacation for 2012 in February.

* We bought a new food processor and a bread maker as our dual Valentines Day gifts to each other.

March

* In March Michelle and I officially obtained our passports. We needed them for our cruise, if something goes wrong and you have to fly back, you had to have them. They are both good for ten years.

* Steve Judy bowled back to back 300 perfect games.

* Just for the heck of it, Michelle and I ran to Parkersburg, WV to do a little bit og Geocaching.

* Michelle's friend Holly released her book, "My Daughter, My Hero".

April

* My 2012 April Fools joke was that I was being transferred to Albany Oregon. Always a possibility, not much of a probability.

* We had our family easter Egg Hunt at Amy's.

* Michelle and I visited the Flight 93 memorial.

May

* Michelle's dad finally entered the 21st Century, he bought a cell phone. An iPhone specifically.

* Michelle and I took a nice day trip to Wheeling to visit Wheeling Downs.

* We attended the WVU Graduation where Michelle's niece Amanda graduated.

* My brother and sister in law, Jim and Chris Paugh, went to Hawaii so all of the kids got together and re-organized their thrift store downtown.

* We took a day trip to Ohiopyle for a cookout.

* We attended Danielle's graduation party. She had finished up her college career at Wheeling Jesuit.

June

* Michelle's Dad Dave came in to play golf at Lakeview, we hosted a nice cookout in the back yard. We made some great steaks.

* An Atlas I had previously worked on won a very prestigious award.

* My niece Amy had a baby shower.

* Chad was hospitalized and had to have surgery.

* With Jean and Gary, Michelle and I attended our our fifth Jimmy Buffet concert together. It was my sixth and Jean and Gary's first.

July

* West Virginia University "Officially" entered the Big XII.

* We took a hot summer day day trip to Idlewild Park and the Soak Zone.

* The Pittsburgh Pirates were actually playing very good baseball.

* I found out that I tore my Labrum.

* The family welcomed the birth of Kylea Rae Dalton.

* We took a trip to the burgh to celebrate a couple of Birthdays. Chris O was surprised with his 40th birthday party and we stopped in on Michelle's niece Abby's party.

* We had a big Pamperd Chef Party.

August

* Michelle and I celebrated our first Wedding Anniversary. I guess we got promoted from rookies to veterans.

* We traveled to Cleveland Ohio for Michelle's cousins wedding. It was the first time I had ever seen any of the great lakes.

* I attended my 30th High School Reunion. It was a two day event starting Friday Night and ending up Saturday night.

* Michelle had surgery.

* Chad and Johnny took over Scales and Tails in Westover.

* We took a trip to Amish Country in Ohio and attended a Family reunion in the same area.

September

* At the start of our vacation, we visited the national Aquarium in Baltimore.

* We set sail on our week long cruise to Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay and Freeport Bahamas. It was the first time either of us had ever left the country.

* The Mountaineers started off the 2012 College Football season with a real bang,

October

* We took a day trip with my old buddy Smitty and his wife Steph to Springs PA for the Springs Festival.

* Arron Hill played his Senior Homecoming game for University High School.  I were there to cheer him on and grab a few pictures.

* Michelle and I both upgraded our iPhones to the iPhone 5. She was not eligible when they first came out, so I waited until she was eligible before we bought the new ones.

* Hayley took over as manager of the Transit Center BFS/Gloria Jeans store.

* I celebrated my 3,000th blog post.

* Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast. Dumping a significant amount of snow in the area and causing many to be without power for an extended period of time.

November 

* East Gate Manor finally had their Trick or Treating, I told everyone it would be hit or miss and it was an absolute hit. We had nearly 1,000 pieces of candy and were out of candy within the first hour.

* We celebrated Thanksgiving with Michelle's family as we have done every year at the Cassville Fire Hall.

* Michelle headed out for some Black Friday shopping as I stayed at home and avoided that mess.

* We attended Michelle's 25th High School class reunion

* We got an early start and put up our 2012 Christmas Tree.

December

* We took out a weekend and did all of our Christmas baking. I love Cookie day =)

* A Gas Pipeline exploded in Southern West Virginia.

* We attended my Company Christmas party at Oliverios and received our fourth Make A Wish Christmas ornament.

* We traveled to East Liverpool, Ohio to spend Christmas with Michelle's family.

* We did outlast the Mayan Calender and survived the Apocalypse.

* We spent Christmas Eve with my family at My sister Terri's home. I did my first Christmas Eve video in a few years.

* I have posted including this one, 421 Blog posts for 2012.

* See you on the other side of New Years. 

Last regular Blog of 2012

This will be my last regular blog post for the 2012 posting season, later this morning my Goodbye 2012 blog, where I go back through the year month by month according to my blog and relive the year as was told by my blog. This is one of the funnest Blogs that I do every year, it makes me take a little bit of time out and reflect upon the previous year in my blog.

I think I will extend my vacation another day, tomorrow is a Holiday and no need to go back for just a day to take another day off. This will be the longest break of my professional life and it feels pretty good, even though it did occur in the middle of the cold season.

No plans for Michelle and I tonight, Smitty invited us over but we are probably going to stay home. Too many crazy drivers out on the road and I would rather stay safe and sound in my home.

Speaking of moronic drivers, I saw a guy yesterday morning traveling across the star city bridge and tailgating another driver try to pass him and lose control of his car. He almost hit us, but I was prepared and the moron spun the car around just missing the guy he was tailgating and hit into the bank on the other side of the Star city bridge. Slow down moron.

Be safe tonight, don't dink and drive and remember that you might be alright, but the other morons on the road that you need to pay attention to. Have a safe and Happy new years.

Enjoy my final blog of the year later this morning.

Late Blog

Michelle just asked if if I wrote a blog today, I then just realized no I did not. So, here I sit writing this blog.

Did anyone watch the WVU Bowl game yesterday against Syracuse? That had to have been the most unprepared, uninspired, cocky and arrogant but no idea what you are doing team I have ever seen the Mountaineers field. The defense looked much better, but couldn't manage to get off the field. The offense was 0-10 on third down conversions. Really? Don't we have a multi-million $$$ a year offensive Guru for a head coach? O for 10 on third down. If you don;t understand this simple basic of football you are not going to win. "Move the sticks". This team was too worried about the big play or their statistics, running east and west rather than north and south and they embarrassed this University on National television. Coach Holgorsen, the honeymoon is over, you better figure something out quick or your time in Morgantown is going to be very limited.

Let's turn our focus to basketball when the Bob Huggins lead Mountaineers will be battling a team that is lead by my old softball left-center fielder. No Joke, Jeff Neubauer was our left center fielder and was a great guy, he was unexpectedly had his last season with us shortened when he was offered the Eastern Kentucky job.

Have a great day.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again in a quiet household, only I have recovered from a losing battle with the despicable sandman who attacks us all on a daily basis. I have just got done watching the Perfect Game on Netflix and I'm sitting on Facebook playing a crime drama game that everyone is starting to play.

It's time for the Pinstripe Bowl today at 3:30 as the Mountaineers and long time former conference rival Syracuse battle for the Pinstripe Trophy in Yankee Stadium in New York. I have to say this is one team Head Coach Dana Holgorsen and Sr QB Geno Smith has struggled with over the course of their careers here in Morgantown. We actually took a very bad butt kicking last season in Syracuse.

I have to say that I am a little pessimistic about this game. Doug Marrone has basically schooled Dana Holgorsen the last two seasons and we just do not match up well against them at all. Although we are the favorite, I look for us to struggle as we have the past two times against the Orange, and that kills me to admit that, but I just have a bad feeling about his game. I hope I am wrong

Have a great day

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.

Actually its the last day of my weeks vacation, I've been off all week this week and haven't went in to work. Michelle has had to work, but I have been lazy taking naps and just watching movies the past couple of days.

Not sure if anything is up this weekend, the Mountaineers play their bowl game tomorrow against Syracuse and the basketball team plays Sunday afternoon. Ironically the basketball team we are playing is coached by my former softball teams left fielder. Jeff Neubauer who is EKU's coach was out left fielder until they offered him the job there. He was one of John Beilein's assistants here and a heck of a coach.

Have a great day.

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all of my pictures, seeking that one lost moment in time to post up and write a blog about. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that picture and sometimes it's not so easy. Then there is times like this week when you pull your hair out trying to find one specific picture and can't. However it is always a lot of fun.

This weeks picture is one that I thought I had done before, but could not find. I thought I had it on my computer, and spent about an hour looking through about every folder imaginable to find this one particular picture.

My sister Terri has it at her home, and me and Pam were talking about this picture last night. I told her I would make it today's Photo Flashback.

I remember my Grandmother telling me the story of this picture. The man behind them was their long time friend Emmitt Lynch, the picture was taken at Forbes Field. I can even put a date on this picture of May 25, 1935. It was the day Babe Ruth played his only time at Forbes Field and they went up to watch the game.

Have a great day.

The Day After

I just love my sister in law's tree topper, she uses it every year and it's just the one you look forward to seeing every year.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, I am pretty sure everyone here did. Hayley came over yesterday morning and we all opened up our gifts and Michelle fixed a big breakfast for everyone. It was a Christmas morning feast to say the least and yes I did have a traditional Hot Sausage Hoagie early in the AM. I talked to Pam yesterday and she didn't make it Christmas Eve because she had to work, but she said she went out and made sure that she could have one Christmas morning.

The Hot Sausage on Christmas I think all started when we were all kids. If you knew my dad, he would always cook in overabundance and he always seemed to have Hot Sausage every Christmas Eve. There was always some left over the next morning so we all used to eat a Hot Sausage Hoagie as we were opening our gifts and that tradition just carried over for decades. I know for me it would not be Christmas without one.

I'm on vacation the rest of the week and Michelle just got up as she has to work today. They are calling for a winter snow advisory today, I'm just thankful we have an awesome all wheel drive Forester named Pearl and not very far for her to travel.

I think I will start setting up the formatting for my year end blog today.

Christmas Video 2012

Merry Christmas

It's that special time of the year, a time when families get together and spend time together creating memories and, having a feast and just enjoying being around the people that you love and that love you the most.

It's the one time when this world shuts down and all the hatred is forgotten for one short day. It's why people tale vacation and travel home and it is a time for family.

Last night we went to my Sister Terri's house and I have to say that was one of the better Christmas Eve's that I have had outside of the monstrous extravaganza my dad used to put on and Jean kept it going for a few years after he passed.

The evening included a Chinese Gift Exchange that turned out to be a lot of fun, a visit from Santa Claus himself and plenty of great food including out Hot Sausage and Nick's remarkable Prime Rib. A very big thank you to Terri for not only hosting, but making this an exciting Christmas Eve. I want to do another video of the pictures I have taken, I'm still debating on the music to use.

I'm sitting here watching 24 hours of a Christmas Story, hoping Ralphie doesn't shoot his eye out. I love this Christmas classic, I DVR'd it once again since our last DVR went kaput so I can have it all year. I'll probably end up watching it 3-4 times today.

Today the individual family units come into play for everyone. Michelle and I as well as the kids will be heading over to Michelle's sisters for the Morgantown version of the family Christmas. Chris and Jim, Michelle's sister and Brother in Law, are great hosts and it is always very memorable. Her Mom makes the trip down from Pittsburgh and we once again are fortunate to spend Christmas with a house full of people that we love so much.

As I noted, I want to do another Christmas video for last night, it's been a number of years since I have done one. I used to use the default Windows Movie maker, but since I've done my last one there has been all kinds of better software to do them with, but I'm not familiar with them and I don't care to try to assemble something on Chad's iPad.

From my family to yours, have a safe and Merry Christmas.

Christmas Eve 2012

This video is from 2005 and I have not done any videos for a few years, so it has me thinking tonight if there is any way I could get enough pictures and put together another one of these videos.



One I did from 2004.



I debated putting this one up, but since it was the last one that I did I'll still stick it it up.



One I did for my Dad's last Christmas in 1999.



Here is a quick video from Christmas eve 2009 from mine and Michelle's home.

I also have the 2007 Christmas which was one of my favorite, with the 2005 video, however Youtube didn't like the song I used.

I would like to do another video this season.

Sunday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again in a quiet household, everyone has fought a losing battle with the sandman except me where I have recovered from his attack. I just put on the movie Step Brothers on Crackle.

We got a lot of napping in yesterday, as we really didn't do anything. This morning we're going to have to do our shopping and the rest of our Christmas wrapping. The kids all requested Gift cards to certain places, so they were actually pretty easy.

Thanks to President Obama I'm not on vacation tomorrow, but will enjoy a holiday. Tuesday is Christmas so I'll only use three days of vacation for the week.

Watched the Mountaineer Basketball team yesterday afternoon. We won, but we are going to be in a long season it appears. Coach Huggins has his work cut out for him to say the least.

Have a great day and stay warm and safe.

Worst Apocalypse Ever

Well We're still here, the end of all the earth as we know it failed to happen and I guess the Mayans were wrong. Not that anyone was taking them seriously, but it was a lot of fun to play up to. There were no zombies, no fire and brimstone and no end to anything other than the Fall season and the welcome to winter.

We did in fact welcome winter with a nice little bit of snowfall. Nothing too much here but the roads were hazardous last night and as we were coming home, Van Voorhis Road was shut down. We noticed as we were coming this way that there were multiple cars in the road with their 4 way hazards on coming up the front side of the hill, so we came home the back way coming down eastern avenue and out West Run.

Nothing planned today, except maybe some wrapping of some gifts to get ready for Christmas. We have the Hot Sausage in hand and about 99% of the Christmas shopping done, so since I have been a little under the weather the past couple of days, this is probably going to be a do nothing type of day.

Big Ole Hairy End of the World

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 the end of all existence according to the Mayans.

Well we have made it, it is probably reining down fire and brimstone as you are reading this, so don't forget to duck if one comes directly at you. It's the apocalypse so make sure you have a little fun today before we are all blown into non-existence.

Ok I was having a little fun with the moronic people who actually believe this crap. I'm on vacation next week, so I anticipate the world being here after I get off work later today.

With that being said, there will be a blog tomorrow morning.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all of my pictures that I have stored on my computer. I like to find one picture and relive that moment in time on my blog. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find it, sometimes it's not so easy, it is however always a lot of fun.

This weeks pic I think I will call "Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow". I appeared to have a little bit of hair at this time, as well as the old mustache that I supported for a number of years. My brother Gary was also sporting a lot of hair back in those days, although I think he is letting it grow out again.

I'm thinking this picture was taken many years ago and taken at the Little Village in Star City. A group of us were going to see Lynard Skynard and Bad Company at the WVU Coliseum.

I'm thinking the year was 1992. I remember when we left the bar that night that Gary peeled his tires going out of the bar JUST as a Star City cop was getting into his car across the street. Knowing he was going to chase Gary I got in front of him to run block, but Gary was waiting for me at the bottom of the Star City hill with the cop trying to get around me.

Long story short, because we were all going to the concert and we were all together, he let Gary go or else he was going to be a little more stern.

It was a great night and a great concert.

Hump Day

That's two days down, now if you look up over that noon time hump, off in the distance you'll see the dawn of another weekend on the other side of a Photo Flashback. Hopefully the Mayan Forecast is off and it's a little cooler than 1250°. That could be a little bit uncomfortable and would cause me to have to turn my Air Conditioning on all day.

WVU Wide Receiver Stedman Bailey made it official earlier this week. The First Team All-American checked his draft status and he is predicted to be a third round pick, so he has officially announced that he will forgo his final season and declare for the NFL draft. I think he will have a nice NFL Career, he's ready to join team mates Tavon Austin and Geno Smith in grabbing sizable paychecks to play the game they love so much.

At work we officially pushed out the NATCARB Atlas IV earlier this week. This will be my thirs completed Atlas that I have worked on in the last three years. Two have been NATCARB ans one has been NACAP Hopefully the NACAP effort picks up again for 2013.

It's a lifting and a cardio day.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is once again behind us, as dreary as it was and now we are staring straight down the barrel of a Tuesday. Can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1,740 days since mine and Michelle's first date.

* 963 days ago I got down on one knee at 4:00 in the morning and asked her to marry me.

* 500 days now we have enjoyed marital bliss. That's a nice round number.

* There are only 7 more days left until Christmas, it's crunch time if you haven't done your shopping yet.

* If the Mayans are right, the world will end after I post my blog on Friday.

* If they are not right, and I can strongly say they are wrong then...

* There are 186 days left until the Kenny Chesney No Shoes nation tour, this summer.

* There are 372 days until NEXT Christmas, I know, too early for that yet.

* Hayley's boyfriend Manny is flying to Puerto Rico either last night or today. His parents live in DC, but they are all from Puerto Rico and he is going home for the Christmas break. He is in his Junior Year of Engineering at WVU and they have been together around a year now.

* We are almost at the point where the days will start getting longer, the Winter Solstice is Friday and that is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. Let's get New Years over with and start looking forward to days getting longer, me cussing Phil and anticipating Spring time.

* Cardio day

* Hi ho hi ho

Dreary Monday

Well our weekend of travel is now over with, now we're getting ready for the home stretch leading up to Christmas. However that is all next week and this is this week.

Time to stick our noses back on the grindstone for the week, and get back to doing what we do that allows us to live like we live. It's time to get back to work for the week.

We should be having our new Atlas being released today, so it may be a little bit busy around the office as there will probably be a few requests for information. Usually after we release an Atlas, we get an increased number of requests for information and maps.

Hi ho hi ho

Good Job Phil

You have to love it when someone from your old softball team makes the front page of the paper. Phil Caskey, brother Phil as many of us refer to him, was someone was the Assistant SID for WVU Athletics. he had a very nice cushy job but wanted something different.

Not many people at mid life and even being accomplished as he was, he was has a published text book that he authored, decide to go back to school and completely change their direction in life.

On the front page of todays Dominion Post, is a very nice article about Phil's teaching in a history class at South Middle School. When your students are excited about going to your history class, you know you're doing something right and changing influencing a few young lives.

Great Job Phil.

Off to East Liverpool Ohio

Today is going to be another long day, we'll be heading out of here this morning in route to East Liverpool Ohio to Michelle's Grandmothers to enjoy their Christmas.

Gigi as she is called, is one of the two ladies who walked Michelle down the isle when we got married. We go up every year around this time and enjoy a nice dinner, watch her hand out presents, and we play a game of Prize Bingo. Everyone brings a little novelty prize and we play bingo. You win at Bingo and you get to choose a prize.

After that we'll be heading to her Dad's to spend a little Christmas time when them in Calcutta Ohio, which is just a few miles up the road. Her dad lives there and that is where he used to have his Golf Pro Shop, but he has re-located to a country club rent free because of his name and craftsmanship.

It should be a good day, we have about 99% of of Christmas shopping done now thanks to yesterday. I still have to pick a few things up for Michelle, but we have even gotten our Chinese Gift Exchange gifts for Christmas Eve already. When it comes down to the final play, I have a strong feeling that both of these gifts will be given strong consideration.

Have a great day.

Shopping Day

Here I sit once again in a quiet household, collecting my thoughts as everyone is fighting a losing battle with the sandman. I have some unnamed movie on in the background and starting to plan out my day.

We had a our Company Christmas party last night at Oliverios. I was actually quite impressed this year as last years steak was kind of subpar for my taste. We received our fourth ornament from my Boss (we have all four in the series) and we once again have added it to the tree.

Today we are going to try to knock out pretty much the rest of our Christmas shopping. There will be a trip to Wal-Mart I'm suire as well as a trip up north to the Tanger Outlets and a trip to Wheeling this evening to grab a DeCarlos Pizza. It has changed since my father first found it some years ago, I think it's actually much better.

It's going to be a long day, but we're just preparing for out traveling tomorrow when we go to East Liverpool Ohio to visit Michelle's family and spend some Christmas Time with them. The Steelers play the Cowboys and I have a brother in law who is a Dallas fan. To say he will be outnumbered is an understatement.

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.

Well yesterday was actually Michelle's Friday as she started her three day weekend last night. She is off today and will be doing a little bit of Christmas shopping. I'm up in the air about what I'm going to do, I may take the day off and have my own extended weekend or I may go in and work a few hours.

My company Christmas Dinner is this evening at Oliverios. We've had it there every year since I have been at Sextant. Dale treats us to a nice dinner and every year we all get the things remembered Make a Wish Christmas Ornament. They have been doing them for three years and this year we'll get our fourth. We have all of them and they are a nice addition to the tree every year, especially since we're starting to personalize our tree more and more now.

Tomorrow will be a shopping day. We'll probably head up to Tanger Outlets, as we both really like the place. I know we're both craving some DeCarlos Pizza, so a run to Wheeling may even be in the works before we head to Ohio Sunday for Miche;;e's Grandmother's yearly Christmas Dinner.

It's going to be a busy weekend that's for sure.

Tear Jerker

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all of my pictures. I like to find just one captured moment in time to reflect upon and relive briefly in my blog. Sometimes it's a pretty easy task, sometimes it's not so easy. It is however always a lot of fun.

The gentleman you see in this picture is a man who I never had the pleasure of meeting. He was my Great-Great-Grandfather on my Mother's side. He was Westover's one man police force for a number of years, "Chiefy" Newbraugh as he was known was the police chief, or should I say the entire police force for the City of Westover years ago.

He's a man I never met, but have heard and read numerous stories about him on Facebook in the Growing up in Morgantown Page. There is even a picture or two of him over there other than this one.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

If you look over that noon time hump, on the other side of a photo flashback, you can start to see the dawn of another weekend. I guess it's all downhill from here.

The picture that you see is from a story that happened in West Virginia yesterday. A Gas Pipeline Exploded down around Sissonville yesterday afternoon. early reports were that the flames were so hot that it melted the asphalt on I-77 causing it to be shut down yesterday. I imagineit would have been something to see, I grabbed this picture off of Facebook yesterday as it was happening.

Early indications are that no one was hurt, although that could always change between the time of me writing this and the time of this posting.

Anyone ready for the weekend yet? I know that I am and it'll be a busy one for me. Christmas shopping and traveling are on our agenda this weekend. Michelle is going to be off on Friday, I was going to take off but that is up in the air right now. There'll be some Christmas shopping and traveling to east Liverpool Ohio for her Grandmothers Christmas.

Lifting and cardio day

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Once again we have monday in our rear view mirrors and we are staring straight down the barrel of a Tuesday. I can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1,733 days since Michelle and I had our first date. Movie was lousy, the company was keepable.

* 956 days ago we got engaged.

* We have enjoyed a wonderful wedded bliss for 493 days now.

* There are only a mere 14 shopping days left until Christmas. It's starting to get down to the wire, we'll do much of our shopping this weekend.

* I am really thankful to Google for keeping track of these numbers for me, makes my job much easier.

* According to the Mayans, we have 10 days left. I think they were wrong.

* Talked to Pam briefly this weekend. She informed me that Calvin was sick last week. They determined by accident that he has an allergic reaction to Aleve.

* I have to say, butterscotch cookies assist in writing a blog. They don;t do much for creativity, but they do tickle the taste buds.

* I bought tickets last week for the June 22, 2013 Kenny Chesney tour when it stops off at Heinz Field this summer. Now we just have to see when Jimmy tickets go on sale. * Cardio day, I did lift yesterday.

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday Dreary Monday

There is one day of the week that I really don't care for, it's the day that our weend ends and the workweek begins on. It's the least popular day of the week, it's Monday.

Michelle managed to get all of our baking done this weekend. She was suffering for it last night, she pushed herself to a point that she was in pain all over. I advised her to take a nice hot bath with some relaxing bath salts, they always seem to relax her and make her feel better. Hopefully today she'll be feeling better and will be ready for the week.

We did get a visit from Arron yesterday, we bribed him with some Christmas cookies and some banana bread. If there is one person who respects Michelle's butterscotch cookies other than me, it's Arron.

I might change up my workouts, it's a normal lifting and cardio day.

Hi ho hi ho

Cookie Day Part II

Yes back by popular demand, the sequel to Cookie day will take place today. I lost count on how many Christmas Cookies Michelle made yesterday, but now we're going to get into our chocolate chip and our banana nut breads today.

To say our oven got a good workout yesterday would be an understatement, I think we went a little overboard on the butterscotch cookies that I love so much. I had to run out yesterday to get more flour and butter.

We have a tray of butterscotch for Arron who also loves them, but he was busy in Fairmont yesterday as University High beat Fairmont Senior 82-67. I would imagine he'll find his way over here today.

Time to finish up our Christmas baking today. Next weekend we have traveling, Company dinner and shopping on the agenda so we'll be pretty busy.

It's a Cookie Day

I love this time of the year, I think it is a day that I actually look forwards to once the last Christmas cookie from the previous year is eaten. Today is Christmas Cookie Day 2012.

I remember our first one that we had here, we went wild and bought all kinds of stuff to make them. Hayley was still here, and she will be coming today to assist, and we had a huge snowstorm in Morgantown that day. That was the year we had not one but two pretty bad storms, and cookie day was the first one.

There will be no gingerbread houses this year, unless the kids want to do one, I did one that first year and it really wan't that appealing to look at. My decoration skills are a little bit to be desired, I just lack a whole lot of creativity that some people have. It's a gift, either you have it or you do not and I am one of those people wjho do not have it.

I do get a little treat for breakfast this morning, a co-worker brought me in a little bit of deer hot sausage, I'll be frying it up this morning for breakfast with my eggs. Michelle hates deer meat, that just means there is more of it for me.

Have a great day, and stand by with the insulin. =)

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.

Well plans changed last weekend and we will be doing our Christmas baking this weekend. We're all ready for it with the exception of buying some bulk eggs and butter, which we will purchase this evening. My favorites are the butterscotch cookies that we tried a couple of years ago, Michelle substituted Butterscotch for chocolate chips and everyone fell in love with them.

Next weekend we are going to be very busy with my company Christmas party, our Christmas shopping and traveling to Ohio for Michelle's family Christmas. That means that the baking needs to get done this weekend as the weekend after next will be final couple of days before Christmas, and I'm sure there will be a lot of running around that weekend as well.

Lifting (if my shoulder holds out) and cardio today.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all of my pictures that I have stored on my computer. It's a way to reflect on moments in time captured in a still image that we can keep forever. I like to select one photo each week and just write a little blog about it. Sometimes it's a pretty easy task, sometimes it's not so easy. It is however, always a lot of fun.

This weeks picture goes back a few years, back to when the KDKA Pittsburgh Steelers Trivia Challenge. We were not supposed to tell anyone about the results as the show was taped in June and aired later on, but we did get the trophy about the time the show started to air.

This was my opportunity to possess the trophy for a while, I think Chris still has it, but those were the two that earned it, I was just the fill in and scorekeeper.

Watch our winning run below.

Hi ho hi hO

Hump Day

Well we're looking at that midweek hump, get over that noon time hump and we'll be able to see another weekend on the other side of a photo flashback.

For the past couple of weeks, my brother in law Nick has been asking about Blogging. he's getting ready to start another business venture, or should I say resume one from a few years ago, and he was asking me about doing a web site or a blog to promote his product.

Both Nick and I, him with much more success than I ever had at it, used to sell a product called Melaluca. It's a multi level marketing business that if you apply yourself, you can honestly make money doing this.

I'm probably going to head down to his house tonight to give him a once around with Blogger. Show him how to set up his account, how to name it, play with the templates and add widgets to his blog.

Lifting and cardio day for me so

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is once again in our rear view mirrors and we are staring straight down the barrel of a Tuesday. I can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* 1,726 days ago I had the pleasure of going out on my first date with a woman I would later marry.

* 949 days ago I asked that special woman to marry me.

* We have enjoyed 486 days of wedded bliss and we enjoyed a big feast in front of our friends and family.

* Only 21 more shopping days left until Santa Claus makes his yearly journey around the world. NORAD will once again be tracking Jolly old St Nick as he makes his way around the world visiting all the boys and girls who were on the nice list.

* The West Virginia Mountaineer Football team accepted their bowl bid yesterday, it will be in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium and the opponent will be the all so familiar Syracuse Orangemen. the game will be played on December 29th against a long time foe. Should be a good as this is one team Geno Smith has struggled against the past two years.

* It's a cardio day today. I have to admit I wasn't up to working out yesterday morning, I got ready and went in, I was just very blah and didn't hit the gym. Both Michelle and I have been fighting off a touch of the flu. * Good night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are! * Hi ho hi ho

I Hate Mondays

All good things must come to an end, unfortunately that includes the weekends as well. Yes it's time to stop the enjoyment and time to stick our noses back to the grindstone for another five days so we can continue to enjoy the lives we live.

Both Michelle and I fought through a little bit of illness yesterday, neither one of us were actually sick, but on the verge of getting the flu is how we both felt pretty much all day long.

As the days are getting shorter, it seems like I am going to bed earlier and earlier. We're still about three weeks away from the shortest day of the year, and we're at the time of the tear when I think more people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I'm starting to long for the days of spring and cookouts and longer days.

Reality is it is not the spring time, the days are getting shorter and I did not win the lottery last week, meaning I do have to go to work today.

Lifting and cardio day

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again up earlier than everyone else, this is a normal occurring thing in this household with the exception of a few work days. I'm sitting here with the movie the change up playing in the background and collecting my thoughts for the day.

I would like to thank everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday yesterday and put the blanket Thank You out there in case I missed anyone. I was really active yesterday on Facebook with a whole lot of Thank You's to everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday. 130 was my last count of people I had to respond to and that does not even cover the automated ones. I guess you could say that I am pretty lucky in the cyber world. I even got an unexpected Thank You on the scoreboard at Mountaineer Field yesterday even though I was not at the game. I guess it helps to be good friends with the right people, thank you Chris.

Michelle made me a home made pizza, I love her pizzas and a special birthday bread that may not be the healthiest thing in the world to eat, but OMG it's awesome.

Have a great day.

Ed's Birthday

Today I would like to wish my hubby a very Happy 28th Anniversary of his 21st Birthday. He is wanting pizza for his Birthday dinner, so I will make my homemade dough and get his favorite topping and if he is lucky maybe I will put a candle on it. Make sure that if you see or talk to Ed today wish him a very Happy Birthday. I love you honey

EDIT By Ed. Thank You Michelle, I love you very much. Next time you write a blog, schedule it and publish it, this one was in draft form...lol

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I am up early once again collecting my thoughts for the day. Everyone else has fought a losing battle with the sandman and I'm the first to recover for the day. In the background the movie Major League II is on, one of my favorites, and it does bring back a lot of memories for me that I used to spend with my boys of summer.

We had planned on this being our Christmas Cookie day, but Michelle said she would just rather wait until next week to do anything. I think we're just going to relax at home and watch the Mountaineers today.

Today is Sr Day, this will be the last time that this group of Seniors will ever play a game at home. The Kansas Jayhawks are in town, hopefully Geno and Tavon can give us all something to remember them by. Rumblings are the Stedman Bailey who is only a Junior, will be declaring for the NFL draft after this season but that is just a rumor and only speculation at this point.

Have a great day and Let's Go Mountaineers.

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.

All of the local High School Football teams have been eliminated this year from the playoffs. This weekend is the Super Six Weekend in Wheeling, meaning the top teams from all three divisions will be going to head with each other to claim the State Championship. These are the finals and all Mon county teams have been eliminated.

There is some college football tomorrow as the Mountaineers will say goodbye to the Seniors in their final game of the regular season against Kansas at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon. This will be the last time Geno Smith and Tavon Austin suite up in the gold and blue and play in front of the home crowd. We will most likely play a bowl game, but which one has yet to be determined.

I'm ready to get this weekend started.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all of my digital pictures that I have on my computer. I like to find one lost moment in time and reflect upon it. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that picture, sometimes it's not. It is however always a lot of fun.

 This weeks pic goes way back, way back to right after my Niece Any was born. Mom and her then Husband Don had made the trip up from Georgia for a visit. They had stopped at Terri's and all decided to come and pay me a visit when I lived at Barrington North.

I had not yet seen Amy at this time, and this was probably the first time I had ever held or even seen her.

The exact time when this happened slips me, but it had to be sometime around mid March of I believe 1986. I still had a full head of hair and was much thinner back on those days.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

There are some days that are better than others, yesterday for Michelle and those around her was not a very good day.

She woke up yesterday morning and I had noticed a lot of people were giving condolences to Michelle's niece Samantha. It seems Samantha's brother had died in a car wreck that night in Waynesburg. Our thoughts and prayers are out to both the Deleon family and the Paugh family for this time of loss. Michelle told me that they life flighted him to Morgantown and many people in his immediate family got the chance to say goodbye.

If that wasn't bad enough, Chad and Laiah wrecked their car in Westover. It was a little Toyota Yarris and it did not stand much of a chance against a Jeep. From what I have seen of it, I would say that the car is totalled, but the adjuster will have to look at it to make that decision. They are both OK, just a little bit shaken up. Laiah's insurance covers rental cars and I think they are going later today to get the rental.

Hopefully today can be a little bit better for everyone. I am playing the $500 Million Powerball, I'm planning on winning it all.

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is once again behind us and we are staring straight down the barrel of a Tuesday, I can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It was 1,719 days ago that Michelle and I went out on our first date.

* It was 942 days ago that I got down on one knee and proposed marriage.

* 479 days ago in front of our closest friends and family we got married.

* There are 28 more shopping days left until Christmas. Game on.

* Today my company is hiring my old Boss from IMC. Chad joins us at Sextant officially today after spending much of the year working for another company that lost their contract at NETL.

* I woke up yesterday morning and I was feeling a little bit under the weather. I was going to go in early and work out, but went in at my normal starting time. I had to report for a little blood work and was doing a fasting, so it was productive in some ways.

* Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Valarie Nicholson

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my very beautiful niece Valarie Nicholson a very happy birthday today.

If my calculations are correct and I'm I think 20 years older than her, that makes her at about the age where everyone starts to lie about their age. So I'm 21, so that would make her a very mature looking and grown up one year old.

Actually if my math is correct, she will be turning 29 today and I'm one year closer to being old.

If you see Val today, make sure that you wish her a very Happy Birthday today.

Happy Birthday Val.

Back to Work

After a nice weeks vacation it's back to work for me this week. So much for the morning and afternoon naps this week as it's time to stick our noses back on the grindstone and get to it for another week.

We did manage to finally get our tree up yesterday afternoon after we returned from Pittsburgh. The tree had had a couple of days to set up and expand as much as it was going to, so we loaded the lights and decorations to it and called it the 2012 tree. It was a lot of fun to do, I actually went out and bought some new lights rather than try to mess with the lights from last year and the troubles we were having with them.

It's back to the gym again for me today, plus I am going to do some fasting bloodwork at 8:00 this morning. I'm allowed water, but no food. They give free physicals at work, so I decided to take advantage of this as well as seeing my regular doctor. I'll start off with some cardio and lifting before I head over there however.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Ramblings from the Burgh

I sit here in the hotel room up for the day as Michelle is still sawing logs from last night. I'm sitting in a quiet hotel room here in Moon Township collecting my thoughts.

I think Michelle had a great time last night, we sat with her friend Holly who just had her book published earlier this year. Michelle brought her copy of it to the reunion and Holly personalized it for her. She told Michelle not to read it until she got back to the hotel so she didn't cry. Both of them are widows and I think that has brought them closer as friends as it is something very few their age can relate to.

Our agenda for the day is to simply go home and all we have to do is some laundry and actually decorate the Christmas Tree. We set it up a couple of days ago and have everything ready, it's just a matter of putting the decorations on the tree.

It's back to work tomorrow after being off most of last week. We have four more weekends until Christmas, one will be spent for our annual trip to Ohio for Michelle's family Christmas, one will be spent baking cookies, and one will be spent baking cookies. Killing two birds with one stone this weekend really helped.

Have a great day.

Michelle's 25th Class Reunion

Michelle and I will be traveling to and staying in Pittsburgh tonight for her 25th High School Reunion. Just like me who made it to my first one earlier this year, this will also be her first reunion that she will be attending.

We're probably going to be heading up earlier this afternoon or later this morning and check into our hotel before we head over to where the reunion is this evening.

She went out yesterday during the game to get a new outfit for this and get her toes and eyebrows done. I have to say I really like the outfit she purchased, I'll try to get a few pictures today and see if I can share them.

We did manage to get our Christmas tree yesterday. We went to Southern States and picked out a nice one. We brought it back home, trimmed it up and put it in the tree holder so it can sit for a little while to let all the branches settle. We'll probably decorate it tomorrow afternoon after we get back.

Have a great day.

Black Friday

That madness that is known as Black Friday Shopping is in full swing. Michelle went last night to some of the earlier sales and made it home before midnight. I did get a chance to speak to my niece Amy and she was out shopping all by herself. I told her Michelle was at the same location as she was last night.

I'm sure as I write this blog the madness is continuing, but I am safe at home and not a part of that madness in any way, size, shape and or form. I came home from a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday with the in laws and started to watch movies. I think I fell asleep during Roadhouse, but I recorded it. Classic movie.

Michelle did find a few bargain items for around the house. I asked her how bad it was last night a couple of minutes ago when she awoke for a middle of the night bathroom run, she said it was a madhouse as I'm sure it is as well right now.

Today's agenda includes us going and getting our Christmas Tree and probably some Sam's Club grocery shopping. It's earlier than we will have ever put up a tree, but we became pretty good at keeping them alive for a month or better inside the house. I think the last two trees we have taken out could have probably been planted into to the ground again and probably would have lived.

Have a great day and stay safe,

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a special time of year, it's a time for families to get together and feat upon a meal of turkey and suffer the mythical effects of the tryptophan, although I always that it was a good reason to take a nap.

This year for the fifth year on a row Michelle and I will be heading to the Cassville Firehall to celebrate with my in-laws. We both went over last night and set up tables, peeled potatoes, made homemade noodles, made the stuffing and the pumpkin pies in preparation for today. We stopped by Texas Roadhouse to pick up seven dozen rolls with cinnamon butter for the day.

Both Michelle and I are off tomorrow, so she'll be going black Friday shopping and I'll be avoiding that mayhem and letting her have the fun.

If I don't get the chance to see you this year, have a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all my pictures that I have on my computer. It's a time to reflect upon days gone by that were magically captured moments in time that I can always cherish and share with others. It's one of my favorite blogs of the week to write because it lets me take a little time out and look at my pictures. Sometimes finding that one special picture is pretty easy, sometimes it's not so easy, it's always a lot of fun.

This weeks picture goes back to the very first Thanksgiving that Michelle and I spent together. That year and every year since we gather together with her side of the family at the Cassville Firehall and have a very large Thanksgiving Dinner.

As I even recall, I was driving my Rodeo back then and my wind shield wipers broke as we were leaving the Firehall. That coupled with the fact that it started to snow as we were leaving did not help matters.

That was our first, one that will always be memorable.

Off the Rest of the Week

I've been on vacation this week, but had a couple of meetings I had to go to so I really wouldn't call it a a complete vacation. Now that those meetings are over with it's clear sailing through till Monday for me. This will be Michelle's last day this week and she will be off until Monday as well.

It's been a lazy week of movie watching for me for the most part this week. Taking nice long naps on the couch and finding a movie on to watch or just fall asleep watching.

I get to repeat this once again today but with no interruptions of heading to work, as they are getting a three hour early dismissal today and Friday the place is usually like a ghost town.

Now, what to do with my day =)

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is now behind us, even though I am on vacation I still can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1,712 days since Michelle and I went out on our first date. It's going on five years this spring and I have been a very lucky man since then. My life was changed for the good forever.

* It's been 935 days since I proposed marriage and asked the love of my life to spend the rest of our lives together.

* 472 Days ago in front of our closest friends and family we exchanged our vows and chowed down at the Marilla Center.

* There are 35 more shopping days left until Christmas. Black Friday starts this Friday and we enter the time that I call the Official Christmas Shopping season, although we have a start.

* I'm off again today with the exception of an hour long meeting this afternoon, this will be the second of my two meetings this week and I should be off the rest of the week.

* The twinkies may have been saved, a judge has requested that Hostess and the Union enter to a mediator to settle their dispute. Hostess may still end up selling it off, but I think the snack cakes and their product line is too valuable to just let die.

* Yesterday was the first day of rifle hunting season in West Virginia. I know my boss was helping someone he knows clean one up, but that's the only person I've heard of getting one yesterday. I'm sure I know a number of others who have, just haven't paid attention.

* I do have to say with the students being out of town this week, traffic was not that bad or hard to navigate through.

* Have a great day.

Off All Week

I'll be on vacation all this week, minus a couple of hours or if I am needed to do anything at work. The task numbers are not in place yet, and we can'y bill to anything until they are in place, so I'll have a nice relaxing week this week barring anything unexpected.

I went yesterday morning and got new tires put on the Taurus, I had a flat tire Friday when I got off of work and couldn't get it repaired so I had a couple of new tires put on the front of the car. I went to Wal-Mart yesterday morning and they had me in and out pretty quickly.

Something tells me this will be a relaxing week for me. We're doing Thanksgiving Dinner at the Cassville Firehall like we do with Michelle's family every year. Jim and Chris go all out with it and make it a very special day for everyone.

Have a great day.

Sunday Morning Thoughts

Well we managed to get the carpets scrubbed yesterday, we both worked on different parts of the house and went to town. The kids helped move stuff around and re-organize things so we have a place to put our Christmas tree this year. We had placed some shelves in the place we always put it, so we had to make a lot of cookware and some furniture and now we're ready for a tree.

Speaking of the tree, I think we are going to go and get ours later this week. I'm off all week and Michelle is off on Thursday and Friday. We'll be traveling Saturday for her High School Reunion, so we can knock it out on Friday and that should free up one of our weekends before Christmas.

Anyone watch the Mountaineer Game last night. Talk about an exciting game, the Mountaineers fought back late in the game to grab a lead, only to lose in the final minute on a 4th down pass play by Oklahoma 50-49. Tavon Austin was moved from WR to Running back and Oklahoma had absolutely no solution to him as he rushed for a new school record 344 yards on on 21 carries for an unheard of 16.1 YPC average. He also had 82 yards receiving and another 146 yards on Kickoff returns. That shattered the single game rushing record and the All Purpose Yards record for one game with a mind boggling 572 All-Purpose Yards.

The game should have been a blowout for Oklahoma, but the Mountaineers matured last night and found some of that early season magic. Tavon Austin, the most consistent player this season, stepped it up another notch even above what he has been playing at and made it a close game. I honestly thought we were going to pull this game out, and I think this team grew up last night. They will not lose another game this season.

Have a great day.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again in a quiet household, everyone is fighting a losing battle with the sandman other than me who is up early watching Horrible Bosses in the background.

I had a couple of unexpected events yesterday at work. Our contract is not in place, so my boss wants us to take this week as a weeks vacation. No tasks are in place so there is nothing to bill to, so I'll be burning vacation next week with the exception of two meetings that I have. I was going to take Friday off anyways and even contemplated Wed, but now it appears that with the exception of a couple meetings nest week that I will bill to overhead, I'll be off next week.

As I was leaving work yesterday, I came out and discovered a flat time. Drivers side front tire was completely flat and there must be a hole in it. Michelle brought me a couple of cans of fix-a-flat and it went flat again before I got halfway home. So with Michelle'e assistance, she's a trooper, we changed the tire pretty quickly in the middle of the street to be able to get the car home last night. It wasn't a very good day to say the least. I have 4 1/2 weeks of vacation built up, so no worries there.

Today we are going to start getting ready for Christmas. We have two weekends we will be traveling, one weekend dedicated to the Christmas Tree and one weekend baking Christmas cookies. Today and this weekend, it's time for the bi-annual carpet shampooing. I'll go out here in a little while and get a carpet scrubber and Michelle will run one and I'll run the other one that we have.

Traffic was ridiculous around town last night. We play Oklahoma this afternoon, that and the students had to be out of the dorms yesterday evening created a lot of havoc around town to travel around.

I did learn yesterday what is being built in the Suncrest Plaza. The big stand alone building is going to be Pro Performance Suncrest, I think they are still keeping the facility at Mylan Park open.

Have 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.

Looking for a little bit of High School Football action? Morgantown High at 9-2 travels to play Huntington tonight in their second round action. Clay Battelle travels to #1 ranked Tucker County to play their second round playoff game. If either of these schools win, they will advance to the State Semi-Finals next weekend.

I think Michelle may have broken her hand yesterday at work. It's black and blue after she bumped into a door frame walking down the hallway. Hopefully it's better today, she's hoping she just stoved it rather than have fractured it.

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all of my pictures and find just one special picture to tell a little story about. A lost moment in time I can partially relive on my blog. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that picture, sometimes it's not so easy, but it is always a lot of fun.

This weeks picture does and does not go back a lot of years. The picture itself is from 2005, but the image in the picture is the actual story.

This is the house my Grandparents used to live in in Van Voorhis. It was the house I lived in until I was about 5 years old and thye sold it and we moved beside Drummond Chapel Church.

The window that you see up top here is mine and my grandfathers bedroom window if memory serves me correct, but I won't swear to it. All I remember was it was the last bedroom you came too once you went to the top of the stairs. My Dad's was the first, then my Grandmothers and then ours. 

Hump Day Sports

Well that's two down, now if you look up over that noon time hump, just on the other side of a Photo Flashback you'll see the dawn of another weekend off in the distance.

Well I have to say this is not the school year to get your hopes up as a Mountaineer fan. The football team has been horrible over the past four games with Oklahoma on the bill next. On top of that we have had three players who have started this season quit the team this week. That's not a good sign, especially after being nine games into a season.

There is always basketball, but the Mountaineers started their season yesterday morning with the worst loss in a number of years to the team that took us out of the NCAA Tournament in Gonzaga. It was a dismal 34 point loss where everything that could go wrong, went wrong.

Is it baseball season yet?

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is now behind everyone, it was easier for some of than others, with that being said I still can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* It has been 1,705 days since Michelle and my first date together.

* 928 days ago I got down on one knee and proposed marriage.

* We have been happily married for 465 days and counting now.

* There are 42 more shopping days left until Christmas. Wow is Christmas really only six weeks away? I know people who have already put up their Christmas trees.

* Ran to Comcast yesterday. Had to exchange a DVR receiver and exchanged my modem to grab a faster one. Everything seemed to be a little outdated, so I exchanged them and even got a better package and more features for a cheaper price believe it or not.

* This is only going to be a four day workweek due to yesterdays holiday, next week we are both taking off Friday after Thanksgiving to make it a four day weekend for us.

* Michelle's High School Reunion is that weekend.

* Over the next coming weeks there are some things we are going to be doing including our bi-annual carpet steaming, putting up a Christmas Tree, baking cookies, heading back home for Michelle's reunion, heading back for her family Christmas, Christmas shopping and probably a few other unexpected things.

* Hi ho hi ho

Veterans Day

Yesterday was actually November 11, but today as a nation we officially celebrate Veterans Day as the Federal Holiday. If you have not already thanked a veteran or anyone who serves in the Military, take this time out today to just say thank you for all you have done or all that you are doing by ensuring our Nation remains Independent and self Governing.

I'm fortunate, I'm a Federal Contractor and I get all Federal Holidays so I'm off of work today thanks to these brave young men and women. Whether our opinions are different or similar, it has been their sacrifice that has allowed us to have those differences.

From my Grandfather to served in WWI, to my father who served to my Nephew who is currently serving and is an Iraqi War Veteran I would like to thank them for their service.

Sunday

I think I have always loved early Sunday Mornings, it always seems to be the most quietest and peaceful time of the week. I've loved Sunday mornings for years, I used to work 60-70 hours a week and Sundays was my day off to get things done around the house. I guess that has carried on some years later to today.

With that peaceful thought being said, What in the world has happened to the WVU football team. We've lost the last four games with Oklahoma on the horizon and this defense has let up more points this year so far, with three games to play mind you, than any Mountaineer Football team ever fielded.

Oliver Luck may have made a huge mistake by going and getting a young Offensive Coordinator with no Head Coaching experience and then turns around earlier this year and gives him a bigger contract. Coach Holgorson in turns turns around after the rest of the previous staff leaves and hires his drinking buddies.

Oliver Luck has started whoring out this program to the almighty dollar since he's been here. From the surprise $20.00 to park at the Coliseum on game days, to destroying the Big East and putting us in a conference that we have no natural rivals, to killing the Pitt Series, to alcohol sales at the Stadium to doing about anything he can to whore this once Proud University out.

I blame Oliver Luck and Oliver Luck only on this mess. This alumnus is not happy with what has happened to my Alma Mater.

I never thought I would ever say this, but bring back Rick Rodriguez.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again in a quiet household, everyone here is fighting a losing battle with the sandman except yours truly. I'm up watching something or another on HBO and warming the house up by fighting with the furnace.

Yesterday turned out to be a long day. After work, dinner and shopping, we ended up going to Arrons last game for University High. The hawks dropped a 24-23 heart breaker last night about Clarksburg Liberty. A team they had beaten 35-7 earlier in the season. The loss finishes the Hawks season at 8-3 on the year.

I think we are going to get a load of firewood this year. We haven't used the fireplace the last couple of years and have had it sealed up due to how inefficient it really is. We discussed it and I think if nothing else we like the aesthetics that a nice warm fireplace delivers. As a matter of a fact, I'm getting one started right now to remove some of the chill that is down here while the furnace tries to warm the place up.

Nothing planned for us today other than maybe watching a football game or a movie. We have a few weeks before things start to get real busy for us again until the first of the year. With the Holidays and traveling and shopping coming up, we're going to be busy until the first of the year.

Have 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 and a three day holiday weekend for me.

Looking for a little bit of High School Football playoff action this weekend? The #6 University High Hawks lead will play host to the #11 ranked Lewis County Minutemen at their field. Both teams come in 8-2 on the season and look to extend the year one more week. Tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 the #5 Morgantown High Mohigans will play host to #12 Pt. Pleasant whatevertheyarecalled's at Pony Lewis Field. The #8 ranked and 9-1 Clay Battelle Cee Bees will play at 7:30 tomorrow night and will host # 9 Valley Fayette. I would assume the game will be at their field, but I seem to recall they started to tear it up for construction after the last home game.

Arron Hill-Rosiak will be most likely be playing his last home game unless there is a bog upset down south.

Looking for some college Football? Well the Mountaineers will travel to play the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Oklahoma. After seeing the last three weeks, and knowing we are 9 point underdogs in this game, something tells me this might not be pretty. We will be playing at I think 3:00 or 3:30 on FX or Fox.

Lifting and Cardio

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback ThursdayO

It's my photo flashback Thursday, but I ran across this picture today and just had to share it as my blog today.

Hump Day

That's two days down, now if you just look over the noon time horizon, off in the distance and on the other side of a flashback, you'll see the dawn of another weekend. Today it's up and over that hump.

I really can't speak about the Presidential election, as of the time of me writing this all of the polls are still open and no on has won any state. However if you don;t know who has won yet, you can always go HERE and get the results from yesterday.

I did however go and do my civic duty early yesterday morning and Michelle did so after work. Polls were crowded early on when I went. Michelle said they were just as crowded when she went in the afternoon, so I'm going to guess that there was a very good voter turnout overall just based on that quick personal assessment. We'll have to see if I was right when this posts, you should know the answer.

The WVU Men's basketball team played an exhibition game last night against Glenville State. Just like the election, I can't talk about what hasn't happened yet at the time of me writing this.

Lifting and cardio day

Hi ho hi ho