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 not just another weekend, but a three day holiday weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday.

We made it to the end of a short work week, it's still a big accomplishment for me. Anytime you finish a work week up it's a good thing.

My Friday afternoons lag for me, we always get together as a group and order Pizza Al's for lunch. It's kind of the unofficial ceremonial start to a weekend. Carb out at lunch and struggle to stay awake and alert the whole afternoon...lol

I'm guessing that since this is not a Holiday Weekend that I will once again be traveling to work for RTI. We're trying to get this segment worked down, and it was a big one, and we have chipped away at it and chipped away at it until it is now pretty manageable and we're trying to find people home at places we (or should I say I) have previously visited. I can say in my three years, this has been my busiest quarter. I've traveled to other segments, but that involved overnight stays and not commuting back and forth to the extent that I have this quarter. I'm at the outer bounds of where you would actually not commute and get a local room.

Have yourselves a great day and a great weekend.

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.

This weeks pic goes back less than a year, actually to just last October. I traveled to do a presentation on 3M Marker Balls and how they are used it utility locating and how I have implemented them into an ArcGIS environment. I flew out to Las Vegas for a few days to the Nuclear test facility out there to be the featured speaker, and this is a picture of me in my hotel room just before I was getting ready to head to the site.

It was a great trip, me visiting a place that I never thought I would ever visit, I'm kind of hoping they are going to ask me to go again and speak about how we are using ArcGIS in FIMS validation, something I eyed up doing as soon as I came to AECOM. I'm not the pioneer in this, but I am a self described pioneer in Geospatial PDF's not using third party software specifically designed for it which I also presented when I was in Vegas.

I had a great trip, it was fun going that far west, it was the furthest west I have ever been until.....

Have a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Midweek Thoughts

As I am still playing around with my new DSLR camera and trying to learn all the functionality to it, I thought I would post a picture that I took Sunday of Michelle in I think the painting mode. I still have a lot to learn or should I say re-learn as I re-introduce myself not only to Photography,  and all the tricks and trades I once learned when I was preparing for a DSLR camera a few years ago.

I'm not saying this will be my last Camera, but as far as a Camera Body this may very well be. Now it is a matter of purchasing specific lenses and doing what it is you want to do with them. That is when it gets rather expensive and when you have to determine when it's just a fun hobby and where the cut off point is.

My niece Amy shoots with a DSLR, but she has the knack of what it takes to be a photographer. She knows how to set up a scene and has some settings that are pretty much unique to her and her objective. Amy just has that eye and sense for setting up a shot, not only where, but the subjects, themes and props. Me, I just take pictures. I wouldn't even begin to call myself a photographer, Amy on the other hand does a phenomenal job of it. I wish I had her eye, I do not however.

Have yourselves a great day, we are not that far from another weekend.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* The three day holiday weekend is over (two days in my case), now it is time to start a new shorter work week. It is Tuesday and I still can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* It has been 20,267 since I first showed up on this rock, using my new math that makes me still 21 years old.

* It has been 5,490 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography and a couple minors. Time goes by fast as it seems like it was only yesterday I was at WVU.

* 4,091 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together, she is still with me despite the bad movie that I picked.

* 3,315 days ago I proposed to a very special lady in our backyard at 4:00 in the morning.

* It was 2,846 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, Michelle and I were married and partied and feasted. That's the important thing.

* I have now lived 478 days longer than my Dad did, I guess once you reach that milestone it brings it all into perspective.

* I have 4,585 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, like I said I love what I do and who knows when I would retire.

* The next Backyard brawl where we beat Pitt's ass in Football is only 1,192 days away. I miss playing Pitt, I honestly do.

* 250 more days until Phil steps to center stage again for Groundhogs Day. I'm loving our Spring weather that we have been having.

* 234 more days to go until my Goodbye 2019 Blog is posted, where I relive the previous year through what was posted right here in my blog. I guess I should get back to writing some kind of meaningful content.

* There are 208 more shopping days left until Christmas 2019, you have plenty of time to prepare but lets enjoy the now and not worry about December.

* My next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 187 more days, this should be about my 35th Anniversary of it.

* There are 70 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Eighth Wedding Anniversary together, seems like only yesterday.

* 40 Days until Michelle and I jump on an Airplane and head to San Diego for a week. I guess one of our featured speakers will be Jane Goodall which is going to be an interesting listen. This is the 50th year for ESRI and they are planning on making it a special one, so glad this will be my first one.

* There are 25 days until the start of my Second favorite season. SUMMERTIME!!!!!

* I have written 5,651 blogs in the 14 1/2 years since I first tested this thing called blogging out.

* No drone flights this weekend.

* I still need a new impossible project, I'm a person who likes to be working towards something that takes an effort. I found my Grandfathers Music Catalog (by chance), I found my Brother, through some work, now I just need a new challenge.

* Hayley and Tyler made it back from Alabama after vacationing there for a week. They went to the Hangout Festival again, this was their second trip to there.

* Speaking of Hayley and Tyler, they are both talking about moving to Washington PA to be closer to Tyler's son Luke, who he shares joint custody with.

* I do have to say that it was nice to have a couple of days off this weekend. Not having to run around frantically all weekend and also getting everything else we do done.

* You know Softball season started a month ago and we have yet to make it onto the field this year. Been rained out twice and they moved yesterdays game because so many people play Memorial Day Tournaments and travel that they rescheduled it.

* 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

Memorial Day

Here I sit in a quiet household, doing a very rare weekday live blog and collecting my thoughts for the day. I'm up a little early watching the Blue Lagoon and collecting my thoughts for the day.

It is Memorial Day, a day we take to remember those who served and fell protecting or establishing our freedoms. I made my annual trip to three graveyards yesterday to put flags on the graves of family members that once served our country. Started out at Arnettsville, went to East Oak Grove and ended up and Mount Union was our final stop of the day. We had brought some Gorilla Glue to fix Jean's vase, but when we got there we discovered Pam and George had already picked up the broken monument and had it at their home to clean up and repair. I make this trip annually to all three grave yards.

ON the local front, the WVU Baseball team lost the Big XII Championship yesterday, but found out last night that we are one of the 16 host locations for the NCAA regional. They will announce the other three teams that will be in Morgantown today for the four team competition for an invitation to the Super Regional and an invitation to the College World Series. This is the first time WVU has hosted a regional game since 1955, so congratulations to Coach Randy Mazey and this years squad on a very special season.

We got one hell of a hail storm last night, it was a torrential downpour with quarter sized hail falling from the sky. Not sure if it caused any damage around town, I didn't see too many Facebook posts addressing it last night.

No idea what we are going to do today, it may just be a day to relax.

Have yourselves a great day and a very Happy Memorial Day

Sunday

Here I sit once again in a quiet household, Michelle is sleeping sitting here collecting my thoughts for the day and contemplating relaxation today.

I am kind of excited about a couple things, one I'm off from both jobs today ending my 13 day streak and 53 out of the last 55 days. I'm going to enjoy the day and I'm actually going to do it again tomorrow to give myself two consecutive days off for the first time since late March. We are hiring a new Field Interviewer for the area I have to travel to to work, but they can't start until July 1st when after they travel to Raleigh, North Carolina for 7 intense days of training and a new quarter starts.

Most important thing I'm excited about today, Michelle went to Harry's yesterday and got all kinds of meat for the Freezer and she also got a big Pork Butt so the 2019 Smoking Season is about to begin today. I'll pull the smoker out in a few hours and get it started load it up for the first time this season. If you don't have a smoker, I highly recommend getting one as it is the best way to cook anything. A long slow cook and infused with a wood flavor into the meat, it's amazing.

I see where my sister Kim was in Pittsburgh yesterday, after her dog Brandi passed away a few weeks ago, she found a breeder and purchased another Yorkie. The new pet was flown in yesterday from the midwest and Kim and Robert were at the airport to meet the new arrival.

Michelle and I also went over to Trish's yesterday afternoon for a cookout. We got to meet Arron and Makayla's new addition Adalynn for the first time. She is such a cutie and you can tell is very loved by everyone as she has a big personality.

Have yourselves a great day today, I plan on it.

Saturday Morning Rambling.

Here I sit in a semi-quiet household, waking up in the middle of the night for a restroom visit and collecting my thoughts for the day. I'm not going to try to fool anyone, I'm going back to bed very soon as this could potentially be a long day.

Starting off, yes I am traveling once again today to go and work for RTI. We sent someone down during this past week, but I don't know what they really accomplished this past week other than screening one residence. With this being a Holiday weekend, I'm going to have trouble finding people home, but I was a little disappointed when the cases were transferred back to me and I got to see the entries. We'll keep chugging along but today is the last day. I'm taking the rest of the weekend off and enjoying myself.

One thing I used to love to do was take pictures. I have a lot of pictures stored, but over the last couple of years my picture taking has been at a minimum for one reason or another. I have a Nikon Coolpix Camera with a very long telephoto lens, but sometimes it seems a little too moody to work and it was just time for a new Camera. So I bought my first DSLR Camera last night with a Nikon D3500. I've wanted a DSLR for years but never bought one, now I have one to play with.

Michelle is going to make a trip to Harry's today, she's going to go up and stock up on some meat and get a pork butt to smoke tomorrow afternoon. We are firing up our smoker for the first time in 2019 tomorrow morning, so there is that little bit of excitement.

I know Trish is having a big cookout today and Michelle may stop over. I could as well if I get back to town at a decent time.

Have yourselves a great day.

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 not just another weekend, but a three day holiday weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday.

No specific plans this weekend, other than my yearly trip to visit all of the graveyards where family members are buried. It's just something that I do every weekend and place flags on graves of family members who have served our country and are no longer with us.

It's just something that I have done every Memorial Day weekend for a few years now, and it's pretty much become a tradition. I need to get some flowers and some of those styrofoam inserts for graves to hold the flowers. The ones I had stuck in previously are getting aged and they just need to be changed.

Have yourselves a great weekend

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.

With Memorial Day coming up, I thought I would share a pic from memorial Day a few years ago. Michelle and I had taken a number of road trips that weekend including one to the Temple of Gold outside of Wheeling.

This weeks picture is a pic of me standing in front of that world famous temple that resides just South of Wheeling.

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi hi

Hump Day Funny

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is over with, staring at a Tuesday.

* It has been 20,260 since my birth, it was just a mere 21 years ago if you know how to do proper math.

* It has been 5,483 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography. I am Mr Geospatial.

* 4,084 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together, she is still with me despite the bad movie that I picked.

* 3,308 days ago I got down on one knee and asked Michelle to be my wife.

* It was 2,839 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, Michelle and I were married and partied and feasted. That's the important thing.

* I have now lived 471 days longer than my Dad did, his 74th birthday was yesterday and I hope everyone enjoyed my little video of him I shared.

* I have 4,592 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, like I said I love what I do and who knows when I would retire.

* The next Backyard brawl where we beat Pitt's ass in Football is only 1,199 days away. Sounds like the two schools are negotiating as well.

* 257 more days until Phil steps to center stage again for Groundhogs Day. I'm loving our Spring weather that we have been having.

* 241 more days to go until my Goodbye 2019 Blog is posted, where I relive the previous year through what was posted right here in my blog. Would you believe over 1/4 of the year is over with already?

* There are 218 more shopping days left until Christmas 2019, you have plenty of time to prepare but lets enjoy the now and not worry about December.

* My next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 194 more days, this should be about my 35th Anniversary of it.

* There are 77 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Eighth Wedding Anniversary together, seems like only yesterday.

* 47 Days until Michelle and I jump on an Airplane and head to San Diego for a week. I'll be at the GIS Wonderland and Michelle will be exploring beautiful San Diego.

* There are 32 days until the start of my Second favorite season. SUMMERTIME!!!!!

* I have written 5,644 blogs in the 14 1/2 years since I first tested this thing called blogging out.

* No drone flights this weekend.

* I still need a new impossible project, maybe my next impossible project will be to find another impossible project.

* I tried calling Gary this past weekend, but no answer. I haven't spoken to him in a while and was wondering how he was doing.

* Something tells me that I am going to be taking some time off this coming weekend, Holiday weekend and all.

* Hayley and Tyler are still down in Alabama, they will start heading back probably tomorrow night.

* With the University gone, and locals Seniors having graduated this past weekend, it's the final week of school for the kiddies pretty much. The last day is next Tuesday, but lets see how many show up..lol

* 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 Pam and George

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my Sister Pam and an early Birthday to my Brother in Law George and wish them both a very Happy Birthday today.

Pam is a sister than any brother would be very proud to have. She is the most genuine of the genuine and it is an honor to call her my Baby Sister. She would do anything for anyone and is one of the most innocent souls anyone would ever want to meet.

George is the Brother in Law who was always there to help when I needed help, especially when it came to the piece of junk cars I used to drive...lol

I'm not sure what Pam and  George have planned for their Birthday's today and Thursday, but rest assured they will be making it special.

If you happen to see or talk to Pam today or George Thursday, take a little bit of time out of your busy day and wish this special lady or this fine young gentleman a very Happy Birthday today.

Happy Birthday Pam and George a little early.

Monday

Here we go again, buckle up and prepare for another fun filled week of doing what we do for a living. It's time to stick those noses back onto the grindstone for another fun filled week of earning a living.

My week ahead doesn't appear to be too hectic, or at least not according to my calendar, but that can always change at the drop of a hat.

I was thinking I had a Softball game this evening, but I don't, we're off until next Monday for some reason.

Short blog, so Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit in a quiet household, amazing with four cats here this morning, I'm sitting here watching some TV and collecting my thoughts for the day. My butt will be going back to bed very soon. I'm not sure if my day is quite ready to start yet. I did prevent my cable box from resetting this morning, so my TV is still on, I guess that's a good thing and an accomplishment for the day.LOL

Working once again today, I did have a bit of an incident yesterday when I dog took a chunk out of my leg yesterday afternoon. Got me pretty good on the right upper thigh, fortunately I was wearing Jean Shorts and I think that absorbed the majority of it all. Worst part was it was like six dogs that most were pretty docile, but one bulldog for some reason didn't like me being there. The property owner quickly secured them and put them all inside, I didn't know the extent of the bite until I left. I then had to drive like 10 miles out of the way to some place that actually had a cell phone signal to call my supervisor to let her know of the incident.

I would like to wish our friend Trish a very Happy Birthday today. We haven't seen her in a while and have been invited over next Saturday for a cookout. I'll be working but may try to stop over later in the day as I have yet to see Arron and Makayla's baby Adalynn.

I have pre-written the week day blogs for the week, don't expect too much. Busy schedule and you just have the time you would like to spend doing them, so you tend to rush them.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again on a quiet Saturday Morning, I kind of slept in today but I'm going to have a busy day today to say the least.

We have been invaded with Cats, not only do we have Sophie and Peanut, but we are cat sitting Hayley's Cats Figaro and Tilly as her and Tyler as they are in Alabama for the Hangout Music Festival again this year. They went last year and had such a great time they have been planning this trip for a whole year and are down there enjoying themselves. They are going to spend a few extra days and should be back in Morgantown probably Thursday. Until then, we are Cat sitting.

I'm going to head South here in a very short while to once again do some work for RTI. We lost one of our Field Interviewers this quarter and me and the girl from Elkins have been hustling to fill in and do her segments. I got the one that was untouched and was bigger than both of my local segments combined, and considering I have an hours worth of travel both ways, I'm only able to work this segment during the weekends. The good news is, I sent my boss a couple of Candidates for the area, one of which she hired and will be heading to Raleigh NC for a week of intense training next month for her certification and to begin work for us in July. What does that mean for me, lighter case load next quarter where I don't have to assist in someone else's segment and the big news? I get a $500 bonus if they last until the end of the year as an incentive for finding the candidate. Yeah Me. That should just about cover Michelle's plane ticket if we go back to St Louis for for re-certification this January. I'm hoping for a warmer location like Dallas though.

Michelle got back from Charleston last night and went to dinner with her Sister Chris at some church function, she seemed to have had a great time.

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.

Michelle is in Charleston this Morning, she stayed there last night for the Art Walk and will be returning home today after she finishes working in the Charleston Office.

For me, it's Pizza Day at work (we order Pizza Al's every Friday) and the start of the end of another NETL work week. What does that mean in my world? Nothing, just means I'm heading South tomorrow to work for RTI after taking last Sunday off.

You know years ago I used to do my Big Ole Hairy Friday blogs when I worked at home, that was the origin of them. I kind of stole it from the Eric and Kevin Show on WVAQ and when they both left radio I just kept it going. My work days have went from listening to WVAQ to listening to WAJR with Dave and Sarah in the morning followed by Hoppy Kerchival and his 11:30 Steam Release segment.

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.

This weeks pic goes back exactly 15 years ago today. It's hard to believe that it has been 15 years since I graduated from WVU, but Father time isn't slowing anything down for anyone and that was a very quick 15 years.

The Cord around my neck was my Gamma Theta Upsilon Geography Honors Cord, I was also a member of Gamma Beta Phi but I never picked up my cord for that one. Both of them academic honor societies which in my book were something I never dreamed of doing until I did it.

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday

It is once again the toughest day of the week to write a blog. It's not a live weekend blog, it's not a starting or ending of the work week kind of blog and it's not a themed kind of blog that bookends this middle of the week rants about what ever comes across my mind.

Did you ever wonder how certain days of the week got their names? You know like today is Wednesday, did you ever wonder the origin of how it became to be known as Wednesday? Well no need to google that insignificant fact, I've done it for you right HERE and yes there is significance to my picture this week. Who would have thought that I would be trying to fill some words on the blog with some insignificant fluff facts.

Have yourselves a great day, I'll spare you any more insignificant rumblings today.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is over with, we were scheduled to have our first Softball game last night, can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* It has been 20,253 since my birth, it was just a mere 21 years ago if you know how to do proper math.

* It has been 5,476 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography, WVU just graduated a number of other people this past weekend.

* 4,077 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together, she is still with me despite the bad movie that I picked.

* 3,301 days ago I got down on one knee and asked Michelle to be my wife.

* It was 2,832 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, Michelle and I were married and partied and feasted. That's the important thing.

* I have now lived 464 days longer than my Dad did, his 74th birthday was yesterday and I hope everyone enjoyed my little video of him I shared.

* I have 4,599 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, like I said I love what I do and who knows when I would retire.

* The next Backyard brawl where we beat Pitt's ass in Football is only 1,206 days away. Sounds like the two schools are negotiating as well.

* 264 more days until Phil steps to center stage again for Groundhogs Day. I'm loving our Spring weather that we have been having.

* 248 more days to go until my Goodbye 2019 Blog is posted, where I relive the previous year through what was posted right here in my blog. Would you believe over 1/4 of the year is over with already?

* There are 225 more shopping days left until Christmas 2019, you have plenty of time to prepare but lets enjoy the now and not worry about December.

* My next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 201 more days, this should be about my 35th Anniversary of it.

* There are 84 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Eighth Wedding Anniversary together, seems like only yesterday.

* 54 Days until Michelle and I jump on an Airplane and head to San Diego for a week. I'll be at the GIS Wonderland and Michelle will be exploring beautiful San Diego. 

* There are 39 days until the start of my Second favorite season. SUMMERTIME!!!!!

* I have written 5,636 blogs in the 14 1/2 years since I first tested this thing called blogging out.

* I did put my drone up in the back yard late last week, nothing major just a little flight time around the house to re-acclimate myself with the controls.

* I still need a new impossible project, maybe my next impossible project will be to find another impossible project.

* Michelle's Company is kicking butt, they have pretty much nailed the big nation wide contract that they have been trying to get. Who is the client? Not Coca Cola would be the answer.

* Ice and Pearl were both put in the shop last week to fix a couple of non-related issues. Ice from a wreck and Pearl needed her windshield replaced.

* Yes I am still pre-writng my weeks blogs on the weekend. I took off this past Sunday from working either job, but I'm still pre-writing them. Less stress during the week.

* Michelle will be traveling for work this week. Once again she will be heading down to Charleston as she heads up the Charleston Art Walk for her company.

* 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 Dad

On this day 74 years ago my Father was born right here in Morgantown, West Virginia.

There are years when his birthday comes and goes and I forget about it, but for some reason this is not one of those years.

He left us nearly 20 years ago, but thanks to the simple fact that he had a video camera, all of those lost moments of time were not only captured as an image, but in video with sound so that we can see and hear him.

One of my favorite videos of my Dad other than the ones at the picnics was the one year he and Jean went to Florida in the Winter. There is a simple video of him simply being himself and getting some ducks drunk in Florida by dipping some bread into his beer and feeding it to them.

You don't have to read about it, witness it yourself.

Sunday

Here I sit yet once again on a quiet Sunday Morning, I'm up streaming Billy Madison and collecting my thoughts for the day.

Well I talked with Michelle yesterday and have decided that since today is Mother's Day and I haven't been having too much success where I have been working to take today off and break my second 20 consecutive day streak this quarter with a well deserved day off.

We had a busy day yesterday, I worked, Michelle worked and managed to do our Spring Cleaning as well as laundry and we got the grass mowed yesterday as well. We still have our normal Sunday Chores of shopping and the weekly things we do around the house to prepare for another work week, but other than that we both deserve a little bit of rest and relaxation this afternoon.

Have yourselves a great day today, I'm intending on relaxing.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit on a quiet Saturday morning, I'm up watching the movie zookeeper and collecting my thoughts for the day. The cable box didn't reset again (always does it on weekends), this morning, so I'm streaming one of my movies I have as I write this and wake up.

My day, once again I will be traveling down south to work again, today will be my second 20 day streak of working one job or the other since this quarter began. That is 40 out of 41 days that I have worked one job or the other or both, the only day off I have taken was Easter Day. My section is pretty much worked down and I'm traveling to help fill in for a segment where we had one of our employees quit this quarter. Hopefully they have the position filled next quarter or at least bring in a traveler to work it.

How has my week been? Well we got Ice back from the shop on Tuesday after getting it repaired from the errant tire that banged into her side when Michelle was coming home a few weeks ago. Center Service did a pretty good job on it and we're happy to have it back. Pearl, the car I drive had her windshield replaced on Thursday. I formed a crack a couple of weeks ago then last Saturday that crack extended into my line of site so it needed replaced. Went to Safelite on Thursday and it was done in about an hour. They would have come to my place of business, but when I was setting up the appointment their master phone system went down and I just made it easy and scheduled it on the internet. I took half a day off and renewed Ice's plates for two more years.

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.

As of Press time, we are thinking Michelle is going to travel up north tomorrow and stay there Saturday Night so that she can attend church service with her Grandmother, Mother and Aunt on Mother's Day. Her Sister Chris may also be going up, but right now plans are pretty incomplete.

Me? I'm working once again this weekend and traveling South once again. Hopefully by this weekend I could have made my first complete pass through my segment and start a second pass through. I'm not really familiar with the area, so this first time through identifying and locating places is a little challenging. Once you have been through them all you have a mental map of the segment and then you start to approach it a little more strategically. I'll probably be working down there a few more weeks, unless she wants to reassign it to a traveler to knock it out.

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.

This weeks pic is one that I actually found on Facebook and have no real date associated with it. Obviously if you are from Morgantown, you should be able to identify the original University Hospital in the background. The area that is being cleared is what will eventually become Patteson Drive here in Morgantown.

I'm guessing that the time for this picture probably pre-dates me significantly. I think Patteson opened up around 1959 if that give you any kind of indication when this lost piece of time was captured.

Have yoursleves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Here we go again, the middle of the work week and I'm trying to come up with content for a that is not a beginning or ending to a week, not a theme and not a live weekend post. It's the day I struggle with the most....usually.

Has anyone noticed that traffic is much more bearable around town? The Majority of the undergrads have left, and with Commencement coming up this Sunday, it's all going to come to a head very soon. The dorms are already cleared out, now we're just waiting to hand out degrees and telling everyone to proceed to the next stage of your life.

What does this mean for those of us who live close to campus, less traffic, congestion and driving headaches.

You know I used to hate to see them go and loved to see them come back. I think I have now officially flip flopped as I hate to see them come and love to see them leave =). Maybe that just means I'm getting older and am more like Jeff Dunhams puppet Walter.

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday has been completed, my streak is starting the home stretch and today is a Tuesday (I think), time for a tidbits.

* It has been 20,246 since my birth, it was just a mere 21 years ago if you know how to do proper math.

* It has been 5,469 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography, I am ecstatic that I get to go to the biggest event for my discipline this year.

* 4,070 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together, she is still with me despite the bad movie that I picked.

* 3,294 days ago I got down on one knee and asked Michelle to be my wife. Michelle reminded me that it was 9 years ago LAST Tuesday.

* It was 2,825 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, Michelle and I were married and partied and feasted. That's the important thing.

* I have now lived 457 days longer than my Dad did, boy was his life way too short.

* I have 4,605 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, like I said I love what I do and who knows when I would retire.

* The next Backyard brawl where we beat Pitt's ass in Football is only 1,213 days away. Kick some Panther butt.....HARD

* 271 more days until Phil steps to center stage again for Groundhogs Day. I'm loving our Spring weather that we have been having.

* 255 more days to go until my Goodbye 2019 Blog is posted, where I relive the previous year through what was posted right here in my blog. Would you believe over 1/4 of the year is over with already?

* There are 232 more shopping days left until Christmas 2019, you have plenty of time to prepare but lets enjoy the now and not worry about December.

* My next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 208 more days, this should be about my 35th Anniversary of it.

* There are 91 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Eighth Wedding Anniversary together, seems like only yesterday.

* 61 Days until I jump on an Airplane and head to the left coast. San Diego here we come. I think Michelle is planning her festivities including swimming in the Pacific.

* There are 46 days until the start of my Second favorite season. SUMMERTIME!!!!!

* I have written 5,629 blogs in the 14 1/2 years since I first tested this thing called blogging out.

* No Drone flights this weekend as of press time, been a little bit too busy with the new segments.

* I still need a new impossible project, maybe my next impossible project will be to find another impossible project.

* Michelle's Company is kicking butt. They are really growing and nailing some big contracts. They should know soon about the big one, and it is a big one.

* Ice is still in the shop getting repaired, Pearl is going to have to have her windshield replaced soon.

* Yes I am still pre-writng my weeks blogs on the weekend. I have such a busy schedule anymore, you have to set aside time where I can write and give it the most thought.

* Michelle is thinking about traveling back home this weekend for Mother's Day. I'll be here holding down the fort and working.

* 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

Another work week or a continuance

That fun filled thing that we all refer to as the weekend is now behind us, now it is time to stick our collective noses back on the grindstone for another fun filled week of doing what it is we do for a living. It's time for me to come out of the field from working and head into the office to work.

One nice thing that happens today, weather permitting, is that it is the start of the 2019 Senior Men's Softball League. The boys of summer will assemble once again this evening at 6:00 as we take on Honest Abe's used cars, one of the funnest group of guys to compete against. It's been all the judges and lawyers in town as well as a few prominent business men that we will be taking on. I'm just happy to be hitting the field again for another summer, which will be my 35th year minus a few that I did not play, of playing softball at BOPARC.

As of press time, we have not heard anything about Ice and it is still in the shop being repaired. Michelle is driving a Chevy Equinox for the time being until the Subaru is all repaired.

Speaking of cars, I need to get my windshield replaced in Pearl. It started with a little crack on the upper drivers side and now has spread into my line of sight. I have full coverage, so my deductible on that is only $100. I'll try scheduling it today.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit late for my on a Sunday Morning, I'm up late with a billion and one things to do before I leave and head south this morning. This has completely thrown my schedule off for the day and put me behind, I'm usually up way before this.

I was up a few hours ago, but fell back asleep about 3:30 knowing I was going to have a busy day and that was just way too early for me to get up, I've overslept and this really has me screwed up royally, I'm feeling rather stressed right now to stay on schedule so this is going to be a short one.

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit yet once again in a quiet household, all is quiet as the Comcast box doesn't like to reset on weekends and I'm not streaming anything yet. I think even the cats are both still asleep, Peanut snuggled up with Michelle and Sophie on her cat tree.

It's going to be a busy day for both Michelle and Me, I'm traveling down south once again to work for RTI and Michelle is going into her office in Fairmont to help a class they are holding finish up and then she's going to the Vet's to work. It's going to be a busy day for both of us.

A few updates since I write my weekday blogs on the weekends:

* Softball Season starts Monday at 6:00 for our Senior League. Looks like we have the first game of the season and we will once again be sponsored by Whitetail Crossing. The team has transformed since its initial inception, but the core is still together and the boys of summer are back. Note to self, dig our Softball gear this weekend.

* Ice is still in the shop being repaired. A wheel flew up and took out the drivers side back door a few weeks ago, Center Service Auto Body is on the job, hopefully it shouldn't bee too much longer.

* All the approvals are in, I am now officially going to the 2019 ESRI Users Conference in San Diego. This is the big Conference that is held every year. It's the Mecca of GIS where we all converge on to San Diego for a week. This will be my first of hopefully many trips out there as this is where all the innovation is in the world of GIS. I have bought my plane ticket, was able to find Michelle tickets on the exact same flights both out and back, have my hotel booked and my car reserved for the week. It's now official.

* Heart felt condolences go out to my sister Kim, she lost her Yorkie yesterday morning as Brandi was preparing to have surgery. Kim was very close to Brandi and I called her last night to offer condolences. Losing a pet, a companion is very difficult especially when you are as attached as these two were.

* I had someone call me yesterday about a Full Time job in Tampa. It would have been a little bit of  a pay raise, but I'm happy right where I am at the moment. I like the people I work with, the familiarity with the data and the need for my services. Plus with what I make for RTI it would have been a complete Push, then you have to consider Michelle's career as well. It's nice to feel wanted though.

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.

Friday is finally upon us, hopefully we should be getting our car back from the shop either today or tomorrow. I know Michelle misses her car, the rental was nice but it's not her car.

I'll be out working once again this weekend at the same location that I worked last week. I had a good start last weekend, I'm just going to try to keep it going and see what I can get knocked off this weekend and then we'll reassess where everything is. We may need to reassign it to a traveler, but we'll have to wait and see as I am only available on weekends. It's an hour each way travel time to get to the segment, and I don't get off work at NETL until 4:30, son that limits what I can do during the week as far as traveling to other segments outside of the Morgantown area.

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.

This weeks pic was a special one, my Niece Val had a dual birthday party for her kids at Marilla Park. Probably the last event this family did at Marilla Park together, but I grabbed this pic of my Brother Gary.

If you notice the icing on his hands, he snuck up behind Josh when he was getting ready to blow his candles out and grabbed a handful of icing and rubbing it on Josh's face. It's just something Gary has always done to all the kids on their birthdays. Great times, feels like yesterday.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

It's May!!!!

Here we go again, the middle of the work week and I'm trying to come up with content for a that is not a beginning or ending to a week, not a theme and not a live weekend post. It's the day I struggle with the most....usually.

Wow did April just fly by, it's already the first day of May and the middle of Finals week for the students at WVU. That means that this town is about to get empty within the next couple of days as the students our winding up their year. Less cars on the roads, less traffic and a semi-peaceful time for the full time Morgantown residents. It's still a couple weeks to go before Commencement, but most of the undergrads will be going back home for the Summer. Yippee!!

The NFL draft allowed a few Mountaineers to find new homes at the next level. As of Press time Will Grier (3rd Round to the Panthers), Yodney Cajuste (3rd round to the Patriots), Gary Jennings (4th round to the Seahawks), Trevon Wesco (4th round to the Jets) and David Long (6th round to the Titans have all been selected in the NFL Draft. I'm sure in the coming days others will be signing as Free Agents.

Congratulations to all the Mountaineers who were selected in the NFL Draft and to those who signed NFL Contracts, it was an honor to watch each and every one of you play.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho