Sunday Morning Rumblings

Here I am on a later Sunday Morning, I just woke up and I'm trying to collect my thoughts for the day. I feel like I am behind, but I am not rushing against the clock today as I usually would be.

I did manage to get a couple of weeks worth of blogs written yesterday. Being that I start another quarter for RTI tomorrow, my week is about to get very busy so I wrote all of this weeks blogs ahead of time. Scan ahead to next Saturday and I have to work in the morning before we head up north for the evening. Meaning the following week when I am away on travel, I had to pre-write all those blogs as well. They will cover things like my flights and where we are staying and what is going on that day. Feels good having all of that taken care of already.

WE still have to do our Grocery shopping today. A little story about that, about six weeks or so ago, about the time WalMart wanted to scan my receipt and scan a few things in my buggy, we switched Grocery stores to Krogers, the Gucci Krogers as it is referred to. I figure shopping at a grocery store 52 weeks a year, spending about $150 per week, or about roughly $8,000 a year give me the right to at least be respected at an establishment. When they started to want to treat me like a common criminal, is when they lost my business. I'm not a thief, am an honest and I tend to be a creature of habit and dedicated to the same places, until they insult me and that little act insulted me to the point where I no longer shop there. I'm just one frustrated consumer. imagine if every honest shopper who does not like to be insulted took their patronage elsewhere.

Have yourselves a great day. BTW, Krogers has a Starbucks and a Much much larger selection.

Saturday

Here I sit, still early but later than usual on a beautiful Saturday Morning. I'm up collecting my thoughts for the day and getting ready to enjoy my last weekend off for a while. The Boob tube behind me is silent as I'm not watching anything at the moment.

This is my last weekend off for a while, Monday we start a new quarter with RTI and the madness begins all over again for me. New places to see, new people to meet and a really good chance at doing some interviews. Woo Hoo

Recap from the last week, we got Ice back on Tuesday. They basically replaced the passenger side of the car to the tune of about $6,700 in damages. She is looking good and Michelle is happy to have her back. She was all smiles when we picked it up.

I'm going to have a semi-busy weekend, gotta do laundry and chores around the house, I've also got to make sure my writers block isn't here this weekend as I'm going to have to put a few coherent sentences and thoughts down on this blog. I'll not only have to write this weeks blogs, but we are leaving next Saturday afternoon for Pittsburgh so we don't have to be at the airport at the butt crack of dawn to head to San Diego, so I will write all my San Diego Blogs as well plus maybe a live blog from the left coast.

Have yourselves 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.

Here we are, this will be my last weekend off for a while as Monday my life starts to get a little more hectic. We're starting a new Quarter with RTI and between that and traveling to San Diego my time to relax is now and it's growing shorter and shorter.

No plans this weekend other than to get ready for Monday and especially the following week when I head to the left coast, you know where the ocean is on the other side of the land...lol

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.

Who is this lovely couple, why it is my lovely wife Michelle and her Husband Shrek out of makeup...lol Actually this is a a picture from our 2016 cruise. I'm thinking this was from the first formal night and we were screwing around with the camera prior to going down for dinner.

We have been on a total of 6 cruises and are taking this year off from cruising due to a few circumstances beyond our control, but we are looking into taking one next year and will be counting down the days as soon as we determine which one we are going on.

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

That is two days down, we have two more ahead of us after today, so I guess that means once we poke our collective heads up over the noon time lunch hour we can see the dawn of another weekend off in the distance.

Oh what to talk about, my creative juices just are not flowing as my life has really become so routine and regimented that there is never really anything for me to talk about in the middle of a week of work.

I hate to say this, but my blogs are just stale anymore and I honestly don't put much though in them anymore. I've been blogging for 15 years and pretty much every day for the last 12 of them. It has served it's purpose and saw me through my courtship and marriage, five different job searches, traveling to different countries and to cities I never dreamed I would ever go to. It has seen a lot through all of these years, it has helped me document a number of events and times in my life. Sometimes you look ahead and wonder if it is still worth writing, then you reflect on what you have done and realize how much it does mean to you.

That is how you fill content, have a new revitalization of purpose and fill blog space all at once. =)

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is once again behind us and I actually enjoyed a traditional two day weekend, I did get to see and speak to the Sloth and he says to make sure I mention that he gave me permission to do a tidbits today.

* It has been 20,295 days since my birth, that fateful morning 21 years ago (by my calendar) when I first entered this world.

* It has been 5,518 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography, a field I have come to really love and appreciate.

* 4,119 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together, it was truly the start of the rest of my life that night.

* 3,343 days ago I proposed to Michelle, she knew it was coming so it was no big surprise, but I had to make sure she was going to say yes.

* It was 2,874 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, Michelle and I were married at the Marilla Center. We were married by a co-worker of hers that had this on his bucket list of things to do, so we honored his request.

* I have now lived 506 days longer than my Dad did, makes you realize how short his life was.

* I have 4,557 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 1,164 days away. I'm ready to hear the altered version of Sweet Caroline.

* There are only 270 days until the start Spring 2020

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

* 206 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 180 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 160 more days, this should be about my 35th Anniversary of it, or would it be the 14th Anniversary of the 21st Anniversary of my 21st Birthday?

* There are 49 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Eighth Wedding Anniversary together, seems like only yesterday.

* 12 Days until Michelle and I jump on an Airplane and head to San Diego for a week.

* I have written 5,679 blogs in the 14 1/2 years since I first tested this thing called blogging out.

* No drone flights this weekend, do you believe that? Even had nice weather and time off.

* Ice is in the second week of being at the repair shop. They estimated that it would take at least two weeks so hopefully we will be hearing something soon.

* I'm looking for a cheap riding lawn mower, if anyone knows of any, let me know.

* I am enjoying my downtime for the time being, I know life is going to get pretty busy for me once again in just a few short weeks.

* They STILL have not found Mountie Python, the 15' snake that escaped in Sabraton last week. He even has his own twitter account.

* 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

Monday

Another fun filled and relaxing weekend is now behind us, it was a good one where I actually got to take a little bit of time to relax. Now it is time once again to take our collective noses and stick them back on the Grindstone yet once again and begin another fun filled week of doing what it is we do for a living.

We have been rained out of 6 of our 7 scheduled games this year for Softball. We have managed to hit the field a grand total of once this year so far and guess what, we aren't playing this week or next because we have back to back bye weeks. Our next scheduled game is when I will be in San Diego so I'll miss that one too. I am hoping to hit the field on the July 15th game which is quite a while away for me still.

Hopefully we will hear something about Ice in the very near future. We dropped her off two weeks ago and figured it would take at least two weeks to get it repaired, so now we are playing the waiting game and hoping it is done before we head out west.

Have yourselves a great day and let's get a great start to the new work week.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

I'm up once again in the early AM, I do this every day of the week and even though today is a day off it is no exception. No idea what is playing on the TV behind me and I'm still rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

To prepare for our San Diego Trip, I went out and bought a new portable charger pack for the trip. Not knowing if we are going to have access to charger ports, I just decided to bring my own. Bought a MyCharge Plus  as it is made with Apple products in mind. Reviews for the most part are positive, but we'll have to wait and see how it works. It can charge multiple devices at once, so that is a good thing as there will be two of us traveling.

Michelle went out last evening and watched Luke until Tyler got off work. He's referring to her as Mamaw Hall which is what I used to call my own Grandmother growing up. She is going to repeat that task this evening as both Tyler and Hayley work this evening and they will once again need her assistance. Mamaw Hall, gotta love it.

Not much planned for the day, grass is cut, laundry is done, so today may just be a kick back and relax kind of day. Michelle is talking about grilling some chicken on the grill this afternoon, so it could be a lazy back yard kind of day for the most part.

Enjoy your day

Saturday Morning

Here I one again sit on a quiet Saturday Morning, I'm just starting to wake up from a good nights sleep and have the move Heaven Can Wait on in the background as I collect my thoughts for the day.

A little recap of what has happened this past week, since I pre-write blogs and really don't get to discuss what is going on. Ice is still in the shop being repaired, should get her back in the near future. Michelle had a little bit of a health scare this past week, she is fine now and has a couple follow up appointments in the next couple of weeks. She got back from Charleston last night from the Art walk, which she really enjoys.

Now on today, it's a laundry/curt the grass/Michelle to attend a Baby Shower kind of day. No big plans other than a few chores and relaxing a little bit. This is my next to last weekend that I will have off until the next quarter begins with RTI.  Other than that the day is ours..lol

I think when Michelle and I leave for San Diego we are going to head north the evening before and stay the night rather than drive up in the early morning. We have a free night with my IHG Rewards and it has to be used or I lose it before my anniversary date in September. I'll get another free night in September, but I'll lose the one we have now if I don't use it.

Have yourselves a great Saturday.

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 what do you know about that, I had last weekend off and guess what, I'm going to enjoy another two days off from both jobs. I can get used to these two day weekends, so much so that I'm going to do it again next weekend for a third one in a row. That is where it will all end however as life gets busy once again after that weekend.

Michelle has a Baby Shower that she is planning on attending tomorrow. Hayley's friend Dusty is pregnant again with her second child and a younger sibling for Declan to watch over. I'm not sure of any of the specifics or details at this time.

I don't have any real plans at this time, but that can always change at the drop of a hat. Plans can be made and changed pretty easily when you have a weekend off and time to relax.

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 11 years, back to Easter of 2008 and my Brother Gary chowing down on some grub and Val and Bobby's house. We had all went up there to watch the kids open their Easter baskets and have a little bit of dinner together.

Gary otherwise known as the man with the infinite appetite who could never gain a pound was enjoying his feast for the day. It was a much happier time, he actually had a full head of hair back then...lol

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Erica Jean Nicholson

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my great niece Erica Jean Nicholson a very Happy Birthday today.

It's hard to believe that this young lady has grown up in the blink of an eye and became a teenager, but that was last year, if my math is correct she should be turning 15 years old today. I know she has been wanting Val and Bobby to teach her to drive as she can now legally get her Learners Permit. Where have all the years gone and why did they go by so quickly, seems like it was only yesterday.

Erica is turning into a beautiful and intelligent young woman and it is a pleasure to be around. She likes fishing and riding dirt bikes.

If you happen to see Erica Jean today, make sure that you take a little bit of time out and wish her a very Happy Birthday today.

Happy Birthday Erica, I hope you have a wonderful Birthday.

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is once again behind us and I actually enjoyed a traditional two day weekend, I did get to see and speak to the Sloth and he says to make sure I mention that he gave me permission to do a tidbits today.

* It has been 20,288 days since my birth, that fateful morning 21 years ago (by my calendar) when I first entered this world.

* It has been 5,511 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography and a couple minors, in History and Communication Studies. I got the history minor because I had an interest in temporal spatial data and in Communications because I knew someday I was going to have to speak in front of people and I was not prepared going into college.

* 4,112 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together, it was truly the start of the rest of my life that night.

* 3,336 days ago I proposed to Michelle, I made her wait until I was ready and that didn't scare her off at all. I got lucky that she did because my life has been fulfilled ever since.

* It was 2,867 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, Michelle and I were married at the Marilla Center. We were married by a co-worker of hers that had this on his bucket list of things to do, so we honored his request.

* I have now lived 499 days longer than my Dad did, makes you realize how short his life was.

* I have 4,564 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 1,171 days away. I'm ready to hear the altered version of Sweet Caroline.

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

* 213 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 187 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 167 more days, this should be about my 35th Anniversary of it, or would it be the 14th Anniversary of the 21st Anniversary of my 21st Birthday?

* There are 56 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Eighth Wedding Anniversary together, seems like only yesterday.

* 19 Days until Michelle and I jump on an Airplane and head to San Diego for a week. I will be attending the ESRI Users Conference and she is planning out her trip and with the trip to Hovatters this past weekend, she is ready to visit the San Diego Zoo, which has been voted as the #1 Zoo in the World.

* There are only 4 days until the start of my Second favorite season. SUMMERTIME!!!!!

* I have written 5,672 blogs in the 14 1/2 years since I first tested this thing called blogging out.

* No drone flights this weekend, do you believe that? Even had nice weather and time off.

* Ice is in the second week of being at the repair shop. They estimated that it would take at least two weeks so we are a little over halfway through that. She has a Ford Focus as a rental that she is loving.

* I do have another Softball Game this evening after work, maybe tomorrow night I can go straight home after work, it will be the one night this week Michelle and I are both home after work.

* Michelle's Dad is a pretty good golfer, he owns a Pro Shop and builds customized clubs for anyone who wants to fork out the money to do so. This past Saturday he had a hell of an accomplishment. I big honor is to shoot your age in a round of golf, it's a bigger honor to shoot below your age which he did on Saturday. He's 69 years old (will turn 70 this year) and he shot a 4 under par 68 on Saturday. He was happy to win a $3.00 bet off his buddy Quinny.

* They STILL have not found Mountie Python, the 15' snake that escaped in Sabraton last week. He even has his own twitter account.

* 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

Monday

My relaxing weekend is now over with, now it is time to take our collective noses and stick them back onto the grindstone to start another fun filled week of doing what it is we do for a living.

First a little weekend recall. Michelle and I spent our Saturday going to Hovatters Zoo in Kingwood. I put some of the pictures up on Facebook, as I'm still learning how to use my new DSLR camera.

Looking at the week ahead, I have a couple of Mandatory Meetings I have to attend, one on Safety and the other on the Morale Subcommittee that I am a member of at work. We are starting to plan our site wide parties at work, this is when I get to meet with the top brass at NETL and help plan things like Christmas Parties and Halloween events. I've been on this committee a little over a year and I do enjoy being a part of this small group of diverse representatives.

Michelle is traveling to Charleston on Thursday to Head Up the Art Walk, where they raise money and gather specifically shoes for the people in need. It gives her a chance once a month for overnight travel for her Job and do something worthwhile. This will be her third month in a row organizing this for her company.

I am scheduled to play Softball tonight and tomorrow night, weather permitting. These will be the last games that I play until I actually return from San Diego due to a couple of Bye weeks and me traveling.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Fathers Day

Here I sit on a quiet Sunday Fathers Day Morning, recalling the two men who have earned that role in my lifetime. First and Foremost was my Grandfather Ellis Hall. It is he who both raised me and played the biggest role as in determining my upbringing and determining who I became. The other was my Dad George Hall (In uniform) who took his place in that role after my Grandparents had passed away. Two very special men who are no longer with us.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every Father, Daddy, Step Father, Guardian or anyone else who inspires the generation that follows them by example.

My Grandfather has been gone for 42 years, but I still think of him every day as I have some of his pictures hanging in my home.

For my Dad, we are about a month away from it being 20 years since his passing. I know he has been gone for a while, I'm actually older than he was when he passed away, but it seems like that 20 years was only yesterday.

Both men are greatly missed.

Have yourselves a great day.

YES, A Weekend

Here I sit in a quiet household, I'm up a little early watching Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter Dead and collecting my semi-awake thoughts for the day. I'm happy as heck that I don't have to rush out of the house this morning and can actually relax.

Do you believe it, I am going to have my first Saturday off since March 30 and I'm going to have the whole weekend off. RTI took my entire caseload, both the Morgantown area and the Harrison County area that I was working and have submitted them for clean up. What does this mean for me? Simple, I don't have any more work to do until the next Quarter kicks off July 1st.

Not too sure if Michelle or I are getting into much today, I know she has been under the weather the past couple of days and hasn't been feeling all too well. Might just be a good time to relax for both of us.It's not like we both haven't earned it.

Some odds and ends, Ice is still in the shop and may be there another week or two. Michelle got side swiped a couple of weeks ago going into the roundabout on the mileground, so Ice is back at Center Service to be repaired for the second time this year. They have to basically replace the entire passengers side including the front.

Michelle will be traveling for Work this Thursday, she goes to Charleston once a month to head up some community service for her company. Speaking of her company, she just had her one year anniversary last week, the owner of the company took the office out to Rambling Root in Fairmont for lunch.

I'm losing my Doctor at the POC, he has finished his three year Residency and is moving on to San Antonio. I was one of his last three patients yesterday and he was driving for San Antonio after he finished his shift. Probably one of the most thorough Residents that I have ever had and maybe the second most thorough Physician I have ever had, second only to Dr Ghosal.

We have played a grand total of 1 softball game so far this year. We do however have a total of four (4) rainouts to make up already. We do have two games scheduled this week though, our traditional Monday and one of our rainouts will be made up on Tuesday.

Have yourselves 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.

Do you want to know why I am so looking forward to this weekend? This will be my first Saturday and Sunday (traditional Weekend) off since the end of March. I have worked for RTI each and every weekend since then, took a day off for Easter, took a couple days off for Memorial Day, but that has been the extent of my time off since April Fools Day.

No idea what I am going to get into this weekend, I'm just tickled pink to not have to work and actually have a little bit of time off and to myself. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the weekend presents us before we make any plans.

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. Sometimes my posts even feel a little Deja Vu if you know what I'm saying.

This weeks pic is a picture of my and my sister Pam with one of my all time favorite Comedians, the man who hates Watermelons more than anyone, Gallagher. This was the first and only time that I actually got a chance to see Gallagher in concert, although he had been here numerous times before.

The Picture goes all the way back to the year 2007, a time before Michelle and I even started dating. Gallagher had played Morgantown numerous times previously, but I never had the opportunity to see him live for one reason or another. I did get to not only see him but to meet him on this fateful night.

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Midweek Ramblings

Here we are again, I'm at a point in the middle of the week where I need to come up with something worth writing about, and not just fumbling through like I seem to be doing a lot of lately.

It is the middle of the week, this blog is in between two theme blogs and is not a weekend nor a beginning or ending of the week type blog. There are things I would love to talk about, but am legally obligated to not say a word.

Sometimes you come across situations that you will remember the rest of your life, whether it be a good situation, a bad situation or one that just makes you think. The worst thing about it all, is that due to CIPSEA and the repercussions that I could suffer. Not much different than say HIPAA,  it's just that we cover statistical information and protect respondents information by law.

What else can I talk about that doesn't get me into trouble. Hmmm, loving my Geo 7X Sub Centimeter GNSS. I got all the bells and whistles on this one and it set us back a little over $15,000, but I have to say that this thing is truley amazing.

Have yourselves a great day

HI ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

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

* It has been 20,281 since I first showed up on this rock, using my new math that makes me still 21 years old.

* It has been 5,504 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.

* 4,105 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together, she is still with me despite the bad movie that I picked.

* 3,329 days ago I proposed to a very special lady in our backyard at 4:00 in the morning.

* It was 2,860 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 492 days longer than my Dad did, makes you realize how short his life was.

* I have 4,571 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 1,178 days away. I miss playing Pitt, I honestly do.

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

* 220 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 194 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 173 more days, this should be about my 35th Anniversary of it.

* There are 63 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Eighth Wedding Anniversary together, seems like only yesterday.

* 26 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 11 days until the start of my Second favorite season. SUMMERTIME!!!!!

* I have written 5,665 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.

* Can you tell I am just going through the motions once again this week as a blogger. I just need a little more time on my hands to let the creative juices flow and I just don't have that right now.

* I went into the repair shop once again yesterday, $6,000 worth of damage from a hit and run driver and we'll need a rental for two weeks. Got to love my insurance agent John Christie, IMHO best in town.

* They still have not found Mountie Python, the 15' snake that escaped in Sabraton last week. He even has his own twitter account.

* Jim and Chris have bought a new property that they are going to use to open up a store and hold their auctions. It's in Osage and it is now theirs.

* 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

Monday

Monday is once again upon is, it's time to stick our collective noses back onto the grindstone for another fun filled week of doing what it is we do for a living.

Work wise I'm busy establishing spatial integrity of some marker balls that we have buried around the site for utilities. These are the same marker balls and technology that I went to Las Vegas for last year do do a presentation at the Nuclear Lab out there. They will help me establish the spatial integrity of where things like gas lines are, son that when we did, we'll know where they are located.

For RTI, I'm pretty sure that I am done for the quarter. Now it's time to relax a little and start gearing up for the 3rd quarter of work. Something tells me there will be some travel for me this coming quarter as well, but that remains to be seen. Last year they gave me one segment then when the person who was supposed to work it didn't touch it for a month, they transferred it back to me. I listed it a couple of years ago, so I know the segment pretty well and enjoy traveling there.

Softball team hits the field tonight to try to run our record to 2-0 on the season. The team we are playing tonight is the other undefeated team, so only one of us will hold that title after this evening.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit on a quiet Sunday morning, I'm up gathering my thoughts for the day and still trying to wake up fully. The TV behind me is silent as I just streamed a movie and didn't switch the TV back over to cable just yet.

I am back out in the field today doing field work for RTI, that seems to be a recurring theme here during the past couple of months. This should and I do say should, be my last time out this quarter doing field work as my Morgantown segments and the one I travel to every weekend are both being submitted to a traveling for cleanup. I could almost get away with not going today, but no stress and easy money today so I'll make my last run of the quarter...hopefully.

This has been a very busy quarter for me to say the least, we lost a field interviewer in another part of the state and me and another FI have been filling in for that person who left the company. No fears, I have found the replacement and they should be heading to Raleigh within the next week or so for formal training and certification.

Michelle puts Ice in the garage tomorrow morning to be repaired from the hit and run she suffered last week. Tore up the whole side of our car and it's going to take a couple weeks to be repaired, fortunately it is covered under uninsured motorists as they never caught the guy. That just means my out of pocket expense is much lower (I have a $500 Collision Deductible) and this will only cost us $300 instead of the $500 because they were not caught. No passenger side doors can be opened because of this and that whole side of the car just simply needs replaced. $6,000 in damage believe it or not.

Have yourselves a great day/

Hi ho hi ho

Saturday Morning Rambling

Well here I sit once again in a quiet household, I'm up a little early but will be laying back down very soon. I'm sitting here watching the Son In  Law and collecting my thoughts for the day.

My consecutive days streak will continue this weekend as I once again head out of town to work. I'll be down at the segment I have been at for the last month this weekend, but then after that they are taking all my segments away for clean up. What's that mean for me? Weekends off and a little bit of a break for a few weeks, or at least until next month when the next quarter starts.

One month from now Michelle and I will both be in San Diego. I will be out there for the ESRI Users Conference and she will be, what is the best way to put it, on vacation. She already has a San Diego travel guide in her possession.

Peaking of traveling, in the last 9 months I traveled to the Caribbean for Vacation, Michelle obviously went with me. I went to Las Vegas for work to give a Presentation for NETL. I went to St Louis for re-certification for my job with RTI, Michelle flew out with me here as well. . I went to Washington DC for the ESRI Federal Users Conference. Now I'm going to San Diego (with Michelle) for the ESRI Users Conference. It's been a busy year of traveling for me to say the least.

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 weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday.

The end of one work week and the continuance of another one, it just seems to be what my life consists of the last few months. I'm probably working through yet another weekend as we are trying to finish up this quarter for RTI. I do feel like it is about time to shut it down for the quarter and send someone in for cleanup, I need to start getting ready for a new set of challenges that is less than a month away.

No other plans this weekend, sometimes I feel like my life is just one big continuous workday. Even when I have downtime I have things that need to be done.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Hayley Dawn Collins

I would like to take this opportunity to wish this lovely young lady a very Happy Birthday today.

I am proud to call this young lady my Daughter, she is a hard worker who is not afraid to work, tackle any task and just take on the world.

It was just a couple summer's ago that she wanted to clean her car seats, so she decided she was going to take them completely out of the car and steam clean them. As I was talking to Michael as to the best plan of action to remove them, she was already pulling one out of the car.

Not sure what her plans are for the Day, she does work a lot and has to make for Tyler and Luke, but if you happen to see or talk to her today, make sure you wish her the happiest of Birthdays today.

Happy Birthday Hayley.

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 over ten years, when Michelle and I took today's Birthday Girl to Ohiopyle and we did a little bit of Geocaching out in the middle of the woods. We went and tried to find the Cascade Cache, but neither Michelle or I had much luck in finding it. Hayley on the other hand managed to find it hidden under a rock near the Cascade Falls.

As you can tell it was raining that day, we hiked down some big hill to find this cache and got a little bit soaked.

A very memorable day for me with two very special ladies.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Gary Hall

I would like to take this opportunity to wish the best brother any man could ever hope for a very Happy Birthday today.

It's Gary Allen Hall's birthday today, I've lost count as to how many years he is old, but I'm 21 so that should make him about....

Gary is currently living in the Moundsville area and getting his business back up and running. He's really got the right mindset this time and he is more than capable of making it all happen and cornering the construction market in the area. He is an amazing Carpenter and all around carpenter.

Not sure what he has planned for today, I wouldn't be afraid to wager that he is probably working today, but that is just my guess.

If you happen to see or talk to Gary today, make sure that you take a minute or two to wish him a very Happy Birthday today.

Happy Birthday Gary.

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is over with, it's Tuesday and you know what that means.

* It has been 20,274 since I first showed up on this rock, using my new math that makes me still 21 years old.

* It has been 5,497 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.

* 4,098 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together, she is still with me despite the bad movie that I picked.

* 3,322 days ago I proposed to a very special lady in our backyard at 4:00 in the morning.

* It was 2,853 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 485 days longer than my Dad did, I guess once you reach that milestone it brings it all into perspective.

* I have 4,578 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 1,185 days away. I miss playing Pitt, I honestly do.

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

* 227 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 201 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 180 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.

* 33 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 18 days until the start of my Second favorite season. SUMMERTIME!!!!!

* I have written 5,658 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.

* Can you tell I am just going through the motions this week as a blogger. Sometimes it just gets a little tedious.

* In case I haven't mentioned it yet, Michelle got into another wreck with Ice this past weekend. We have to wait on the adjuster before we schedule it to be repaired. I'll be pocketing the cost of a rental car this time as I dropped rental insurance from my policy years ago.

* I wonder if they ever found the 15' python that escaped from a gas station is Sabraton Friday yet?

* Do you ever feel like your days run together?

* 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

Monday

Well my short non-existent weekend is now over with, now it is time to once again put our collective noses back onto the grindstone for another fun filled week of doing what it is we do for a living.

We are scheduled to finally get a start to the Senior League Softball season this evening, weather permitting. We were originally scheduled to hit the field over a month ago, but two rain outs, an off week and a schedule change and we have yet to hit the field for the 2019 season, but hopefully that all changes tonight.

Looking at my week ahead doesn't look too busy other than Softball and working for RTI. I have to once again do my yearly certification for my Fire Marshall position at work. I've held that position as well as being in the Emergency Operations Center, kind of pulling a dual role, which means all kinds of training's and such.

Not too much to say other than that, just going through the motions.

Sunday

Here I sit once again early on a Sunday Morning, I'm up a little later than normal and getting ready to once again start a busy day. I'm streaming Bohemian Rhapsody as the Comcast box failed once again to reset.

Ice is having a tough time, she was once again in a fender bender yesterday. Michelle was driving to enter the Mileground at the Roundabout when someone came on her right side to head towards downtown before the road turned to three lanes and clipped the length of the passenger side. The person was driving a white car and took off, Michelle filed a police report and they are looking for the driver in the hit and run incident. She was pretty shook up from the incident.

WVU lost their first game of the NCAA Tournament last night to Duke 4-0, this moves us into the losers bracket to face Texas A&M today and the winner of that game will face Duke later today. If Duke wins that game they win the regional and move on, if they lose they go to the rubber game that will be played on Monday.

Me, I'm traveling once again this morning to work for RTI. I would have taken the day off, but another field interviewer came up a couple weeks ago to work the segment and scheduled an interview for this afternoon. This should all slow down next quarter as we are hiring a few new field agents including one for the area I am covering.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit on a quiet Saturday Morning, my TV once again did not reset on a weekend so nothing is on the boob tube. I'm sitting here smiling from last nights baseball game and enjoying my morning.

I'm working all weekend again for RTI which means I'm traveling once again to the segment I have been going to the last 4 or 5 weekends. I managed to take a couple of days off last weekend during the Holiday break, now we are hitting it hard again trying to wrap this up before the next quarter starts. This is usually my down time, but that is non-existent at this time.

The WVU Mountaineer Baseball team won their first round NCAA Baseball game last night against Fordham. A record crowd of 4,355 people jammed into Monongalia County Ballpark to watch the Mountaineers, a record that could very well fall tonight with our second round game against Duke. WVU will be pitching 1st Team All-American Alek Manoah against the Blue Devils. A win tonight could put us in the divers seat to Advance the the Super Regional for the first time in school history.

Now if you are not going to the game today, my Brother in Law Jim is going to have his Summer Auction this evening at the Woodland United Methodist Church. The Auction will get underway at 6:00 PM and my lovely wife Michelle will be on hand to assist Jim and Chris with this auction. So if you are not at the Ballpark or have your eyes peeled to the TV watching the Mountaineers this evening, swing on buy and find yourself a deal.

Have a great day

Hi ho hi ho