Coming Home

All good things must come to an end, and for me that means that our wonderful Federal Users Conference is over with and I will be returning to West Virginia and will be in the office for at least part of the day.

I'm going to try to get out of here before traffic gets too heavy on I-495, I was fortunate enough to do that a few years ago, today I won't be leaving the hotel at Midnight and will be heading back at a time when more people will probably be commuting to work. Washington DC is a very busy area, and now that the Government is back open, it's just going to be that much more chaotic.

I will however be back home sometime today, and most of my time today will in fact be travel time as I'll be fighting with DC traffic. Good thing I brought a Federal Car rather than my own, I have a 5 speed and that could be a pain in the butt especially if I get stuck in traffic.

Have yourselves a good day today, I'll be cruising home and listening to some music on my road trip home.

Hi ho hi ho

Conference Day 2

Well day one of the ESRI Federal Users Conference is in the books, and now we are on day two of the conference which could be just as long as yesterday.

Today is going to be a day filled with Professional Development Workshops and visiting the Expo exhibits to see what new and innovative things companies are trying to sell to the GIS Community. Hopefully Trimble will be there as I just got a Geo7X a few months ago and would love to talk to a few people about it now that I am more familiar with it. I know Nearmap is going to be there, and it is a subscription we are considering buying, but our area is so specific, I'm not sure that they could provide anything more detailed than I pull in from WVU.

There is a get together this year after the Conference is over with at the Museum of History (Smithsonian). Three years ago I had to be back in Morgantown in the early morning hours as Michelle was going to have surgery that morning, so I went back to the hotel and got some sleep before I made it back to NETL to drop off the car and pick up mine, then come back home and pick up Michelle and have her at the hospital by 5:00 AM. Tonight I don't have to rush so much and I can go and network a little bit and learn what types of projects others are doing.

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Conference Day 1

Here is where I will be for much of this morning, I'm at the ESRI Federal Users Conference and will be in the Plenary Session all morning watching and listening to new innovations from Jack Dangermond, who is the father of GIS. He is the Bill Gates of Microsoft and the Jeff Bezos of Amazon, the self made multi-billionaire founder of ESRI and GIS.

I got to meet the man three years ago as he was getting out of his cab on the second day of the Conference a few years ago. He's very approachable, very kind and friendly and one heck of a nice guy. I can say in my profession, I have met the founder and the innovator.

After the Plenary Session this morning, we will break into training, where you can go and sharpen your skills with the new technologies that are being developed. Last time I went and picked up quite a few tips and tricks that I use to this day still.

After the Conference is over with, the Department of Energy will have their GIS Users gathering. This is mostly some people from the other national labs discussing what they are doing. I was in on the original meeting three years ago, so it will be nice to see how this has developed. I can also speak with a couple of my old bosses who are in Oregon and talk to them about how I had the software installed on a very locked down LAN and how it is working. I was the Guinea Pig, and made it happen. I should be downtown DC until later tonight.

Have yourselves a great day, I plan on it .

Hi ho hi ho

And I'm Off

It's been three years since I have attended, but I will once again be going to the ESRI Federal Users Conference again this week, woo hoo this is like Disney World for GIS Geeks like myself.

 I'll be heading out from my office later this morning to head to Arlington Virginia where I will be staying at the same hotel I stayed at last time I went down. I usually stay north on 270, but a couple years ago I stayed here and really liked the hotel. I was very close to everything, and could easily get to the National Mall with no problem.

I'm leaving later this morning to avoid the heavy traffic that goes with the Washington Beltway I-465. I'm going to be traveling at non-peak hours just after everyone gets to work and before the chaos when everyone will be trying to get home from work.

Have a great day and wish me safe travels.

Sunday

Here I once again sit on a quiet Sunday Morning, there is something playing on the TV but I have absolutely no idea what it is. I'm up collecting my thoughts for the day and contemplating the coming week.

I'm out in the field yet once again today, trying to get a few interviews or at least some screenings to work my two sections down a little bit more. I think as far as completing segments, this may have been one of my best quarters considering that this was also a couple of the largest quarters that I have worked. It's not yielding as many interviews, maybe that is why it has been worked down so quickly.

A discussion I had with my sister Kim yesterday, she had bought the movie Bohemian Rhapsody yesterday on iTunes. I explained to her you can get those movies free if you known what you are doing. I use a piece of software called uTorrent. It is where I place Torrent files into and it works like the old Napster or any file sharing software, but it's a little more secure. The torrents go out to shared folders and pick up bits and pieces of the files then assembles them for you so they can be played. My advice though, once you have a downloaded Torrent, cut and paste it out of your shared folder. This is how they catch you, it's not what you have downloaded, but what you are sharing in your shared folder. Download it and simply move it to a non-shared folder. I get my movies at a Yify Site, they usually have them available soon after the movies leave the theater. You can download them in SD or HD.

Have yourselves a great day today, I think Michelle and I are going to make a batch of Zuppa Toscana today for dinner.

Hi ho hi ho

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit in a quiet household, I'm the first one to recover from that knockout blow by the Sandman last night and I'm up collecting my thoughts for the day. On the TV behind me is the 1970's classic "Heaven Can Wait", a movie I have always loved.

I am once again out in the field today and tomorrow working for RTI. Today will be day 25 of working one job or the other, and of course that streak will stretch at least another week or so before we call it a quarter and start looking ahead. It's not that bad as my days aren't as long this far into it and I'm just basically trying to find people home that just haven't been there or simply find someone to confirm that it is vacant.

Next weeks blogs are all going to be pre-written as I am traveling for work next week. I'll be in our Nations Capital for the ESRI Federal Users Conference. We are scheduled to have a mixer at the History Museum (Smithsonian) Wednesday Night that I thought might have to have been cancelled, but it appears now that the Government has ended it's longest shutdown in our nations history that it will in fact be open when I am there next week. This will be my second time attending this particular event, I was there three years ago as well and I'm staying in the same hotel in Arlington.

Have yourselves a great day today.

Hi ho hi ho 

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 the start of a weekend.

I'll be working once again this weekend for RTI, but it shouldn't be too bad either day. Unless I start to get a number of interviews and it surprisingly takes more time than I'm anticipating.

I will be writing next weeks blogs absentee style, I'll be away on business travel in our Nations Capital. Michelle will be here holding down the Fort, I guess she is only allowed so much fun at one time and she is still in seventh heaven from the St Louis trip. I've reserved a Government vehicle and I'll be staying in Arlington once again, but that is next week.

Have yourselves a great day today.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through some of the pictures that I have either taken, scanned or stolen off of the internet through the years and find one special picture that stands out. Little lost moments in time from yesterday caught with a Cameras lens and relived right here in my blog. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that one special picture and sometimes it's not that easy, one thing it consistently is however is a whole lot of fun.

Above is a picture that I submit to prove that I did in fact once have hair. I actually had a full head of it to tell you the truth. I was also rocking the fashion world with the cut off pants, knee high socks and those old low top canvas converse which are actually back in style today.

This picture was taken probably around 1977 or 1978. It was from the very first time that I met my Sister Kim, they had arranged to meet me at Suburban Lanes and introduce her to me and this is what I looked like on that fateful day.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Well that was a quick start to the week, we are already at the midway point of the work week. I guess it helps when one of those day was a Holiday though.

I will once again be going out this evening and working for RTI, or at least I plan on it. I've really knocked down both segments and it's now just a matter of trying to find some either elusive people home or confirming that the dwelling units are vacant. It's a good feeling when you can do something and feel like you are making an impact on your community.

Michelle will also be working both jobs today (as she did yesterday and tomorrow). It's been a busy time of the year for both of us, mine however should start winding down a little after this coming weekend.

Have yourselves a great day as Michelle and I enjoy long ones.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well my non-existent three day Holiday weekend is over with, now it is time for me to put my nose back on that grindstone to start another week in the Office. Good reason to do a tidbits. 

* It has been 20,141 since I blessed this world with my existence.

* It has been 5,364 days since I graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in Geography, I'm still working in my field of study going on 15 years after I graduated.

* 3,965 days ago Michelle and I went out for dinner and a movie, it was the first day to the rest of my life.

* 3,189 days ago I got down on one knee and asked Michelle to Marry me.

* It was 2,726 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, Michelle and I with the help of a co-worker of hers, became husband and wife.

* I have now lived 352 days longer than my Dad did, he missed out on so much due to his early passing. My sister Kim has 17 days to go to reach that mark.

* I have 4,697 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, like I said I love what I do.

* The next Backyard brawl where we beat Pitt's ass in Football is only 1,334 days away.

* 343 more days to go until my Goodbye 2019 Blog is posted.

* There are 337 more shopping days left until Christmas 2019, you have plenty of time to plan. WalMart hasn't even put out their Easter stuff yet.

* My next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 313 more days, this should be about my 35th Anniversary of it.

* There are 197 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Eighth Wedding Anniversary together, seems like only yesterday.

* There are 57 days until the next start of my favorite season, SPRING!!!!!

* 11 more days until Groundhog Day, we've had our snowfall for the year, now Phil do me a favor.

* I have written 5,521 blogs in the 14 plus years I have been writing piece of personal literature. I wonder if Blogger would pay me by the word.

* No Drone flights this weekend, I'm slacking on that aspect of my flight time.

* I hate snow, not sure if I have ever mentioned that on my blog, I Hate Snow. Even just a little bit, I'm ready for Spring.

* I'll be in Washington DC this time next week attending the ESRI Federal Users Conference. This will be the second time I have attended this Conference.

* Rethinking the Friends and Family Picnic, maybe bringing it back this year. Nothing definite this year yet, but we're talking about it. Don't want it to interfere with a possible San Diego trip in July.

* I bought Michelle a pair of AirPods for her birthday last week, she absolutely loves them.

* Michelle wanted Snowmageddon and didn't get it, I'm happy about that although she's not.

* Trying to think about what I am going to get myself into next week in DC. Of course all the Federal stuff is shut down, so it might basically be nothing.

* I'm STILL converting some old VHS tapes to Digital Format for Trish. I really need to get back on this as I am such a procrastinator.

* Have yourselves a great day.

* Hi ho hi ho

Martin Luther Kind Jr Day

Today we observe a Federal Holiday to honor the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, a civil rights activist who was gun downed and killed in 1968 and we take a little bit of time out to honor his life and his teachings.

Fir me, you guessed it I'm off work from one job and will be heading out into the field to do another job. I have do get a few more weekday visits this week for my segments, as I will actually be in Washington DC next week for the ESRI Federal Users Conference, provided that since there is a Government shut down that the Conference is still going on as planned. More on that next week though as I'm concentrating on the RTI job today.

This evening will be the only day this work week that Michelle and I get to have dinner together, I'll be out one other day this week and she is working at the Vet's evenings the rest of this week. Yes we do get to see each other sometimes as we both have very busy schedules.

Have yourselves a great day and enjoy the Holiday if you are off.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit in a quiet household once again. I'm up collecting my thoughts for the day and listening to the TV behind me. Not sure what is on or what is playing, but in all reality that is pretty much par for the course. I really enjoy the early morning hours, but I'm also still waking up.

West Virginia University Basketball team, on a losing streak and a season that had been pretty much written off by everyone, upset 7th Ranked Kansas here in Morgantown 65-64. The Mountaineers were on a five game losing streak and had lost a game or two that they shouldn't have, but managed to pull out all the stops when one of the blue bloods of College Basketball comes to Morgantown. We just seem to have Kansas's number here in Morgantown.

For me, I had a good day working. Did manage to get one interview, but now have both segments down to the point where I can almost cover them all in one day if no interviews are yielded. I'm going back out into the field this afternoon and am going to try to whittle that number down some more. Since tomorrow is a Federal Holiday and I'm off at NETL, I'll be out in the field once again seeing if I can find people home on a Holiday.

Have yourselves a great day today.

Hi ho hi ho

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again in a quiet household, I'm starting to wake up ad collect my thoughts for the day. Not sure what is playing in the background on the TV, but something is on and I'm contemplating starting a movie and falling back to sleep.

I got news last night my Sister Kim was in a hit and run accident. She said she had taken a late lunch to our Sister Terri and was driving somewhere and someone ran into the back end of her car. Most of the damage was to the other guys car, but cone to find out there was a warrant out for him for something else so he took off. They ended up apprehending the suspect at Sheetz. Kim was fine, the back bumper and trailer hitch took a hit, but she is fine and the car can be driven.

Me, I'm out in the field today, tomorrow and probably Monday. So much for a three day weekend, for me it is consecutive days 18, 19 and 20 of working one job or the other. That streak is going to continue probably into February as I'm going to DC the week after next and  will be working the weekends for RTI to compensate for time I wont work during the week that week. We'll get there eventually and I'll have a day off.

Calling for snow in the region today, mainly up north, but Morgantown is supposed to get some. It shouldn't have any impact on me, providing it doesn't get too bad.

WVU is playing Kansas in Basketball this afternoon, it's not been a good year for the Mountaineers, I would love for them to pull the upset but I don;t see it happening today.

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Nick Rehmani

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my Brother in Law Nick a very Happy Birthday today.

Nick is one of those rare people that would bend over backwards to help someone. He is very career oriented and has been doing very well getting his home based business off the ground in between times when he has been doing a lot of contracting work.

I'm not sure what Terri has planned for Nick today, but I'm quite sure there will be a gathering of his closest friends and family.

If you happen to see Nick today, make sure that you take a little time out and wish him a very Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday Nick.

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 possible three day weekend.

Yeah I said possible, if you get the Federal Holiday for Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday, I do get it at my regular office job and will be out of the office until Tuesday, but I'll also be working for RTI all weekend so you know what that means. The Day Off Nazi says "NO DAYS OFF FOR YOU" which means I will most likely be working all three of my days off for RTI. 

Nothing major planned, I'm working and I'm sure Michelle probably is as well, or at least Sunday afternoon at the Vet's Office.

One thing I need to start doing is assembling my tax documents for get my Software updated. I want to have it at least ready to go, knowing I'm probably going to owe the state again this year.

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through some of the pictures that I have either taken, scanned or stolen off of the internet through the years and find one special picture that stands out. Little lost moments in time from yesterday caught with a Cameras lens and relived right here in my blog. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that one special picture and sometimes it's not that easy, one thing it consistently is however is a whole lot of fun.

Since I will be in Washington DC in a couple of Weeks for the ESRI Federal Users Conference I thought I would post a picture from the last time I visited our Nations Capital.

This picture is actually me in my hotel room on the balcony in Arlington, Virginia. I'm an early riser so I snapped a couple of pictures of me wearing ties on the days that I was there, I believe this picture was taken the second day I was there. I'm staying in the same hotel again this year, it's real close to the Metro where I can take it to the Pentagon then over to the Conference center downtown DC.

Have yourselves a great day today.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Two days down, two more ahead of us, now all we have to do is get up and over this dreaded noon time hump so we can start heading downhill to another weekend.

I know everyone is probably wondering, George, how do you find the time to write such in depth and thought provoking journal entries for all of us to share? The answer is quite simple, I write most of the ones during the week on Sundays now since my days are so long and occupied. It's one of the few free times during the week that I have to actually sit down and let the collective juices flow other than early weekend mornings. Here is the good news, there will be no price increases for reading my blog in 2019. Yes it is the same low low price as it was when it was first published.

I am working both jobs again today, I do have to say I'm not going back out for RTI again this week until Saturday. Pulling this off you need some serious time management skills and I really learned to do that in college. One semester I actually carried 18 Credit Hours, worked 40 hours a week at the NRAC and pulled a 3.83 GPA that Semester. You have to learn to prioritize and stick to a strict schedule.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is done, my beautiful wife turns 50 today, can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* It has been 20,134 the world was blessed with my birth.

* It has been 5,357 days since I graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in Geography.

* 3,958 days ago Michelle and I went out for dinner and a movie, Pizza Hut and 10,000 BC were on the agenda for the evening.

* 3,182 days ago I asked today's birthday girl to be my wife.

* It was 2,719 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, Michelle and I with the help of a co-worker of hers, became husband and wife.

* I have now lived 345 days longer than my Dad did, he missed out on so much due to his early passing.

* I have 4,704 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, like I said I love what I do.

* The next Backyard brawl where we beat Pitt's ass in Football is only 1,341 days away.

* 350 more days to go until my Goodbye 2019 Blog is posted.

* There are 344 more shopping days left until Christmas 2019, you have plenty of time to plan.

* My next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 320 more days, this should be about my 35th Anniversary of it.

* There are 204 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Eighth Wedding Anniversary together, seems like only yesterday.

* There are 64 days until the next start of my favorite season, SPRING!!!!!

* 18 more days until Groundhog Day, we've had our snowfall for the year, now Phil do me a favor.

* I have written 5,513 blogs in the 14 plus years I have been writing this.

* No Drone flights this weekend, I'm slacking on that aspect of my flight time.

* I hate snow, not sure if I have ever mentioned that on my blog, I Hate Snow. Even just a little bit, I'm ready for Spring.

* I'll be in Washington DC in two weeks attending the ESRI Federal Users Conference. This will be the second time I have attended this Confernece.

* Rethinking the Friends and Family Picnic, maybe bringing it back this year. Nothing definite this year yet, but we're talking about it. 

* I'm taking Michelle out for dinner this evening for her Birthday.

* This is day 14 straight of me working one job or the other or both.

* I'm STILL converting some old VHS tapes to Digital Format for Trish. I really need to get back on this as I am such a procrastinator.

* Have yourselves a great day.

* Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Michelle Dawn Hall

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my amazing wife Michelle a very Happy 50th Birthday today.

I wish I could have done more, but I'm not a party planner, and to tell you the truth I am insufficient at it, but I will take my wonderful wife out for dinner tonight to celebrate her 50th Birthday.

I owe Michelle much more than I could ever express, she is my heart and soul and my world, I don't think anything I could ever due would be enough to express to her how much she means to me.

In the years Michelle and I have been together we have taken a trip or two, some to different countries and we've spent days together at airports traveling across the country. We have spent numerous hours out in the woods chasing Geocaches, we have went snorkeling in the Caribbean and we have watched the water go over Niagara Falls together. This amazing women who is the center of my life has allowed me to experience things together that I would never have dreamed of.

Michelle I love you with all my heart, I don't know who I would be without you. You are my everything. Happy 50th Birthday Sweetie. 

Starting all over again

Well that non-existent weekend is now over, now it's time to head into a double duty day and another week at the office.

It's a double duty day for me today, I'll be working at NETL to start that week and I will be out in the field today working for RTI again so that I can take tomorrow evening off to take Michelle out to dinner for her Birthday.

I am going to have a busy week ahead with training, safety meetings and just general work at the office. Most of my crew will be in their training for something I don't do, so it will be me and one or two other guys this week holding the fort down to get everything taken care of that needs done.

There is some relief in sight however, next Monday is Martin Luther King Jr Day and a Federal Holiday, so I might work next week for RTI during the day that will give me a little bit of a break and help me transition into a normal work week the rest of the week. Then the following week after that I will be in Washington DC attending the ESRI Federal Users Conference.

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit on a quiet Sunday morning, I'm up early and planning on laying back down, and just attempting to catch my thoughts for the day.

Well I guess they shut my road down last night from Killarney Drive to T&S due to all the ice on the road. We do have a front row seat to see all the chaos, but I've seen it numerous times before and spent my time sleeping last night. It does look like a winter wonderland outside.

I have to head out into the field again today, had a good start for the segment yesterday, but still a long ways to go before I call it a day on that segment. There were a couple of tricky places to get to, but one of them I managed to close out and am happy about that.

Other than that no big plans for today other than shopping, laundry, working, and getting ready for another week of work. Sometimes I have to look on my life and say, man your life is boring as hell....lol

Have a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit later in the morning, Michelle went to bed after me and woke up before me so I'm a bit of a slacker today so far. We're up and she's drinking a cup of coffee and I'm trying to collect my thoughts on the day ahead.

I have to start out this blog by mentioning the passing of a long time friend and softball team mate. "Big Ed" Hetrick I found out yesterday morning had moved on to the Softball team upstairs and I'll say they got themselves a great guy. Ed and I had played on the Heiskell and King teams, the Sports Page Teams and he was even a member of the Recourse Teams. A big hearted guy who everyone seemed to gravitate to, he will be missed.

Today Michelle is going to Babysit Luke for a few hours as everyone seems to be working. I have to go out on the field for RTI both today and tomorrow and will be starting my other segment today. I've made two + passes through the segment close to here, now it's tome to start on the other one so that is will be my weekend.

Try to stay warm today as we are calling for snow later this afternoon and this evening, my wife loves snow where I on the other hand rarely express my feelings about the stuff especially on this blog.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Sandra Irene Bell

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my Mother Sandra Irene Bell a very Happy Birthday today.

This is a picture I took of her and two of her three siblings plus spouses a few years ago during Bonita's last visit to Morgantown.

Not sure what her and Gerald's plans are for today, but if you happen to see her out and about make sure that you wish her a Very Happy Birthday today.

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 possible four day weekend.

Well this is probably my oldest themes first post of 2019, my Big Ole Hairy Friday posts or my Tuesday's Tidbits are are the oldest themed posts that I make. My first BOHF post that I can find was made on August 17, 2007, that is the first time I can remember writing that and that was 11 1/2 years ago. It's amazing that that first post has developed into a recurring post to start the weekend off.

I have to credit Eric McGuire and Kevin Connolly from the old Eric and Kevin show, it is from them that I permanently borrowed the expression and gave it a life of its own. What exactly does a Big Ole Hairy Friday mean? Don't know, but it's always a great reminder that we are about to have a couple of days off and I liked that.

Unless of course you work a second job as a Field Interviewer in RTI's Data Collection Staff, then you have to accept that this is the start of a new year and a new quarter and you're going to be working weekends for a while.

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

RIP Bonita Newbraugh Larson

It is with a heavy heart that I have to write this blog. My Aunt Bonita, (on the right) I have received word has passed away. She has been fighting some heart issues and finally succumbed last night.

She was the daughter of Donald Newbraugh and Edith Newbraugh Palko. She is survived by her Sister Sandi, her Brother Robert and her Sister Sarah Ann Carmean.

I got a text message from Kim saying that she and Terri were going to go check on Mom to see how she was doing and to deliver the news that her sister has now moved on.

Bonita was my Aunt that lived in Alaska, she had started and raised her family there and did manage to make a couple of trips to West Virginia. The first one was in the early 1990's when her and Linda came in for a visit. This was my first meeting with her.

The picture above is when her and Bob came in three years ago for the last time and is of my Mom (Sandi), Robert and Bonita.

Condolences to all of family locally, on the West Coast and Alaska who have lost a wonderful woman.

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through some of the pictures that I have either taken, scanned or stolen off of the internet through the years and find one special picture that stands out. Little lost moments in time from yesterday caught with a Cameras lens and relived right here in my blog. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that one special picture and sometimes it's not that easy, one thing it consistently is however is a whole lot of fun.

This weeks pic goes back a few years, Michelle's old buddy Bob Pruett came into her office to see her. He had stopped in with Chapman Printing a few months prior, but he was in Morgantown and stopped in to see Michelle.

I guess those two really hit it off, as he gave her his personal cell phone as well and asked her to come down to Huntington to watch what he calls real football and I refer to as the tallest midget football. Bob knowing I'm a big WVU fan, had to have his picture taken with my wife...that butthead...lol

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Two days down, a couple more ahead of us, now all we have to do is get up and over this dreaded noon time hump and it will be all downhill as we work towards another fun filled weekend. Or should I say a weekend for some of you as I'm swamped...lol

Michelle is going out to dinner this evening with Kim and I think Terri. They are going to head over to Applebees for dinner. It was Kim's idea a few weeks ago, so now they are getting around to it.

I'm off this evening, but will head back out tomorrow before hitting it hard this weekend. I started with a smaller local section closest to me and will start working the larger further away section Saturday and Sunday.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Ryleigh Mae McClain

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Ryleigh Mae McClain a very Happy Third Birthday today.

It was a surprise three years ago as Michelle and I were at the hospital to visit our Brother in Law Jim, as we were getting off the elevator there was Pam, George and Calvin all sitting in the waiting room just by the elevators. We all gave each other that "what are you doing here" look, when I found out Ang was delivering this little bundle of joy.

Moke and Ang held a big Birthday Party this past Sunday for Ryleigh in Blacksville and seemed to be very well attended but we unfortunately were not able to make it.

If you happen to see Ryleigh today, make sure you take the opportunity to wish her a very Happy Third Birthday.

Tuesday's Tidbits

* First tridbits of 2019, lets get it going.

* It has been 20,127 the world was blessed with my birth.

* It has been 5,350 days since I graduated from WVU, it was a dream of mine and I accomplished it better late than never.

* 3,951 days ago Michelle and I went out for dinner and a movie, Pizza Hut and 10,000 BC were on the agenda for the evening.

* 3,175 days ago I asked my lovely wife to....be me wife/

* It was 2,712 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, Michelle and I with the help of a co-worker of hers, became husband and wife.

* I have now lived 338 days longer than my Dad did, he missed out on so much due to his early passing.

* I have 4,711 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, like I said I love what I do.

* The next Backyard brawl where we beat Pitt's ass in Football is only 1,348 days away.

* 357 more days to go until my Goodbye 2019 Blog is posted.

* There are 351 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* My next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 327 more days, I'm staying the same age this year as well as next.

* There are 211 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Eighth Wedding Anniversary together, seems like only yesterday.

* There are 71 days until the next start of my favorite season, SPRING!!!!!

* 25 more days until Groundhog Day, I'm hoping Phil is having a nice Christmas.

* I have written 5,502 blogs in the 14 plus years I have been writing this.

* No Drone flights this weekend, I'm slacking on that aspect of my flight time.

* I hate snow, not sure if I have ever mentioned that on my blog, but I will allow an inch today since Santa needs it to fly around.

* St Louis is now behind me, now it's time to start concentrating on going to Washington DC later this month for the ESRI Federal Users Conference.

* As Neal Brown assembles his coaching staff, it will be interesting to see who if anyone is retained from the previous staff.

* I'm going out working once again for RTI this evening. I did get an interview my first day out this year. Yeah Me.

* It felt good to get back into the office yesterday after a little break.

* I'm STILL converting some old VHS tapes to Digital Format for Trish. I really need to get back on this as I am such a procrastinator.

* Have yourselves a great day.

* Hi ho hi ho

Back to the Office

Well my little "Vacation" from NETL is over with, a new year has started and I head back into the office today for the first time in 2019. Now it's time to take our collective noses and stick them back onto the grindstone for another fun filled week of doing what it is we do for a living.

A new year brings new challenges obviously and now that everyone is back in the office after the Holiday season, I'm getting excited about getting busy again. It had been kind of a slow period during the past month or so as so many people were away on Holiday Break and I had to go for re-certification for RTI.

One of the things I have to do for my insurance is obtain a number of "Wellness" points for my insurance. You don't have to do it, but it lowers the cost of your insurance if you do do it. You have to obtain 100 points throughout the year (from October 1 - September 30), I have a meeting with one of my coaches this evening and the points from this meeting qualifies me for points, and it will be points that will push me up and over that 100 point barrier giving me a discount on my Premiums next year.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit on a quiet Sunday Morning, we got back from St Louis last night and I'm up a little early collecting my thoughts for the day. Something is playing on the TV behind me, no idea as to what though as I'm still waking up.

Training went pretty good, Michelle did something amazing as illustrated in my picture, she straddled the mighty Mississippi River and had one foot in Missouri and one foot in Illinois. She did it while standing on a bridge leading across the river, but it's something that she did that most people have not....lol

On the local front since I last posted, former WVU Football Coach Dana Holgorsen left WVU and is the new coach at the University of Houston. He is no longer our football coach. What did WVU Athletic Director Shane Lyons do? He stepped it up and got a great young coach who I am proud to call my new coach. Former Troy coach Neal Brown is now officially WVU's new Head Football Coach. For the first time since probably 2007, I think we have a unified and motivated fan base. I am really excited to see where he takes this program, he should meet the players who are returning from Winter Break later today or tomorrow for the first time. I think Coach Brown is a man of great integrity, something that was sadly lacking from our previous coach.

I'm starting to work a new quarter today, I'm now officially an RTI employee rather than the subcontractor to the contracts prime, I am now employed by the Prime. My life just got very busy to say the least and that starts today as I head out into the field for the first time in 2019, newly certified to work 2019.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

We're Coming Home

See you St Louis it has been fun. Yes Michelle and I are getting ready to blow this pop sickle stand and get on a couple airplanes and head back to Pittsburgh.

We leave St Louis this morning on Delta Flight 6180 to Detroit once again, have about an hour and a half layover in Detroit once again and then hop on Delta Airlines Flight 3577 and get back into Pittsburgh a little after 5:00 this evening.

Then of course it's getting our luggage, jumping in the car and heading back to good ole Morgantown WV a new employee and re-certified to work in 2019 for RTI.

I'll be out in the field tomorrow and my life just got so much busier that it is not even going to be funny. At least this year I don't have to go up any mountains or travel anywhere where the terrain is horrible. Both of my sections are in Morgantown and there shouldn't be much travel time.

Have yourselves a great day today.

We'll be home this evening.

Training Day 2

Well we are still here in St Louis, many people from my group will be heading home this evening, but Michelle and I are not leaving until tomorrow morning. I don't particularly want to get home at 2:00 in the morning so we are staying here until tomorrow and flying during the daylight hours.

For me however, this is day two of two for my training. We have probably already went over everything and this will be doing nothing other than going over things and playing out a few scenarios. We'll have to go through a couple training sessions on things like "How to Deal with Stress" and "How to Deal with Refusals" and a few others to choose from.

We should be done by early afternoon and Michelle and I will have the evening to ourselves here before we head out to the airport tomorrow morning.

Have yourselves a great day.

Training Day 1

We are still here in St Louis, obviously we made the trip and Michelle is now an expert flyer with a total of 5 flights under her belt now.

Today is going to be my long day, I will be basically sitting in a classroom all day and may have to do my certification this evening.

We'll be going over all of the changes that will take place the coming year, transition from our old company that was a third party employer over to RTI itself. It's just usually a long day of going over scenarios and making sure that we read the scripts verbatim when we are doing our screenings and interviews.

I know we might be going to Sugarfire for dinner this evening. Our group usually goes out to dinner one of the evenings that we are there.

Have yourselves a great day.

St Louis Bound

Well today is a travel day, Michelle and I will be heading to Pittsburgh this morning to start our Journey to St Louis.

We leave Pittsburgh International Airport at 10:19 on Delta Airlines Flight 5379 en route to Detroit Michigan. We will have an hour layover in Detroit at Detroit Metro before jumping on Delta Airlines Flight 3587.

We should arrive in St Louis this afternoon and are once again staying at the Marriott Grand Hotel in St Louis.

This will be my third trip to St Louis and Michelle's second. I know I will be in training tomorrow and Thursday and she'll be out running around the city. I think she is planning on going to the Budweiser factory once again, I know she really liked that.

Have yourselves a great day.

Happy New Year!!!!!!

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and old lang syne?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!

and surely I’ll buy mine!

And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,

and picked the daisies fine;

But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,

since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,

from morning sun till dine†;

But seas between us broad have roared

since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!

And give me a hand o’ thine!

And we’ll take a right good-will draught,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS