Goodbye 2010's

2010

* Jean's boyfriend Rich had passed away.

* I had my first Cataract surgery. It was the first surgery I had had in over 30 years.

* My Mother ended up having Open Heart Surgery. That lead to a series of events and a long stay, she recovered and is doing nicely.

* Hayley appeared in the Morgantown Play of Sweeney Todd. Michelle, Chad and I all attended one of the nights to watch and support her.

* WVU Football hired a new Coach in Waiting, Dana Holgerson. 

2011

* The Pittsburgh Steelers played in the Super Bowl, losing to the Green Bay Packers.

* I started doing Photo Flashback Thursdays as a theme day on my Blogs. I think I got the idea from Facebook and just made it my own.

* Osama Bin Laden was killed.

* Josh Judy was called up to the Major Leagues.

* Michelle and I were married at the Marilla Center, we honeymooned at Ocean City Maryland. 

2012

* WVU Walloped Clemson in the Orange Bowl 70-33.

* Michelle and I obtained our passports so that we could travel outside of the country,

* Jim and Chris went to Hawaii, it was a Christmas Gift from the kids.

* WVU entered the Big XII

* Michelle and I went on our first of many cruises.

* We survived the Mayan Calendar running out. 

2013

* Michelle spent a weekend in our Nations Capital to see the Cherry Blossom Festival.

* We finished in 3rd  place for the Steelers triva Challenge. It won us a trip to training camp. We won it in 2008.

* We saw Peter Frampton in Concert at Stage AE. The Kenny Chesney then we say Jimmy Buffett. It was a summer of concerts.

* Michelle and I went out on our second cruise together.

* I turned 50. 

2014

* Michelle and I traveled to DC for the Cherry Blossom festival and caught it perfectly.

* WVU Baseball said Goodbye to Hawley Field as they played their last game against the University of Texas.

* We did our first of a few family Picnics at Krepps Park. It was kind of a Christmas in July theme.

* We won the Steelers Trivia Challenge, this was our second win in winning it all.

* In the worst Christmas Eve ever, we lost both Jean and her Brother Mick all within a few hours of each other. Both were due to Cancer. 

2015

* We started a search to find my long lost brother. It was after Jean's passing that I swore I would wait to start the search, and the search began.

* Michelle and I traveled to Latart Falls to visit her Grandfathers grave site, we also stopped in to see the Mothman just down the road.

* The Monongalia County Ballpark officially opened.

* We won the Steelers Trvia show for the third time, and in back to back years.

* We cruised to the Carribean

2016

* I started working a part time job with a Company called RTI, a job that required a little bit of travel and I'm still working to this day.

* I officially ended my 5 season softball retirement and came out to play in the Senior League.

* We lost our pet Phin and immediately found a new friend (and co-author) Peanut.

* We held the third annual Friends and Family picnic at Krepps Park.

* Michelle and I took our fifth cruise to the Caribbean together. 

2017

* Michelle left her job at BFS and received three offers from Express Scripts, Mylan and MEPCO. She accepted the MEPCO offer.

* Michelle and I traveled to Virginia for Calvin and Jeanetta's wedding.

* Michelle and I attended my 35th year class reunion.

* I left Sextant Technical after 8 years and joined AECOM on a different Contract at NETL.

* Abdul Rehmani, my brother in law Nick's father had passed away.

2018

* My January started out with me making a trip to St Louis for RTI for re-certification.

* MEPCO had stopped production which eventually lead to Michelle being laid off. They paid her a sizable retention bonus to stay until a certain time.

* Michelle started a new job as the Office Manager at Xtreme Labor Solutions. A company that is absolutely taken off and grown since she joined.

* My brother search that started in 2015, finally found the answers we were looking for when we found my Brother Jonathan.

* Michelle and I took our sixth cruise to the Carribean.

2019

* Michelle and I started out the year with a trip to St Louis for re-certification for RTI.

* I also the ESRI Federal Users Conference in Washington DC.

* I participated in my first Mock Disaster at work as part of the Emergency Operations Center team.

* Michelle got into a couple of fender benders during the year, neither one was her fault.

* Michelle and I traveled to and spent a week in San Diego for the ESRI User's Conference, to me in my career it is the ultimate experience

* I wrote a total of 4,050 Blogs during the decade.

* See you in 2020

Goodbye 2019

January

* The year started out with Michelle and I taking a trip to St. Louis for re-certification for RTI.

* WVU got a new Football Coach.

* Kim, Terri and Michelle all met up one evening for dinner at Applebees.

* My Aunt Bonita had passed away, she lived in Alaska and did manage to make it to Morgantown a few times, the last one was just a couple of years ago.

* My lovely wife turned 50.

* I attended the ESRI Federal Users Conference in Washington DC. 

February

* Phil did not see his Shadow, got to love my favorite Groundhog.

* Longview announced that they were going to make a $1.2 Billion investment into their facility.

* I noticed that I worked a lot for RTI. 

March

* March started off with Jim and Chris having an Auction at the Church.

* The WVU Rifle team hosted the NCAA Championship here in Morgantown, you would figure the 19 time Champions would win it all at home. They didn't.

* The Pittsburgh Steelers traded Antonio Brown to the Raiders. Buy what a year he has had and how much money he has cost himself, but this was just the departure from Pittsburgh.

* Michelle watched April the Giraffe on the Giraffe Cam and kept watching until she actually did give birth. 

April

* I got to participate in my first Mock disaster at work, and I got to do so from the Command Center so I got to see and know everything as the events were happening. I'm a technical specialist for geospatial activity.

* We had a Birthday Get together for my sister Terri at Whitetail Crossing, who just happens to be my Softball Sponsor.

* Amy raised money for the MS walk. She did manage to meet her goal and raised $510.

* Michelle made her first of many trips to Charleston for the Art Walk, she is her company's organizer and would travel once a month this these events.

* I owed Taxes. A whole lot of them at that for the first time in my life. Both the state and Federal nailed us for a large chunk of change to about the equivalent of some of our biggest returns we have ever had.  

May

* Ice spent a little time at the Body Shop after Michelle got hot by a tire bouncing across the Interstate.

* I started playing yet another season of BOPARC Softball. I've played the Senior League the past few years and have loved it.

* Michelle once again traveled to Charleston for her Charity work.

* Hayley and Tyler traveled to Louisiana for the Hangout Festival, we cat sat for the week.

* I bought my first DSLR camera. I've always wanted one, but could never justify it. 

June

* The WVU Mountaineers qualified and hosted an NCAA Baseball Regional Playoff. It was a great season to be a Mountaineer.

* Michelle and Ice once again got into a fender bender, a hit and run driver at the Mileground Roundabout. Once again Ice went to the body shop for the second time this year.

* A 15' Python got loose from it's owner at Sheetz in Sabraton. The legend of the Sabraton snake was born.

* Michelle and I stopped shopping at WalMart and switched our Sunday Grocery shopping to Krogers. We both love Krogers, better quality, better prices and I'm respected and get fuel perks.

July

* Michelle and I jumped on an airplane and spent a week in San Diego. I was there for work and the ESRI Conference (my second this year) and Michelle was taking in the sights including the San Diego Zoo.

* Michelle once again traveled to Charleston for the Art Walk that she has been heading up for her company.

* My old Company Sextant Technical Services officially closed up shop. We have all moved on.

* Gerald had knee Surgery. 

August

* Michelle and I celebrated our eighth Wedding Anniversary, we went out for dinner to Puglioni's.

* Kim and Chris had a big Coca Cola Auction that Michelle worked.

* Michelle traveled to Charleston for a Ladies night, where her company was doing some special event for all the ladies.

* My High School Wrestling Coach, Robert DeAntonis had passed away.

* We attended then Johnny Koon Light Up Night and Butterfly release. 

September

* Hurricane Dorian had come through and devastated the Bahama's, one of the ports we usually visit got hit very hard.

* Michelle and I traveled to Terra Alta for a day and we stopped in and had lunch at Shorthorns.

* I celebrated my 15 year Anniversary as a Blogger.

* My Nephew Ralph had lost his step dad, he had a long hard fought battle with cancer.

* Michelle attended Amanda's Baby shower at the Pines Country Club. 

October

* One thing I did notice was that I worked a lot during the month of October. Every day of the month as a matter of a fact.
7
* Kim, Terri, Val, Amy, Brittany and Erica took a girls trip to New York City. Kim and Brittany have been there numerous times, Terri I think this was her third trip and everyone else it was their first trip to the Big Apple.

* Michelle took a trip up to Harry't to stock up our freezer for Winter.

* I had my diabetic eye exam where they dilate my pupils. 

November

* November started out with Jim and Chris have a Tool Auction as they do every month and Peanut started co-authoring blog posts with me.

* My Cousin Debbie Koon was honored during Mountaineer week with a Most Loyal Mountaineer award at halftime at the game.

* Murph Tinsely had passed away. Murph was a camera man for WVU and someone I had gotten to know with all my Radio and Television connections through the years.

* My Cousin and long time neighbor Sherri Toth had passed away, she was only 41.

* Once again spent Thanksgiving with the In Laws at the Cassville Firehall. I have been fortunate enough to have been a part of this since 2008. 

December

* December started out by me once again denying that I'm getting older and still swearing I'm 21 years old. You would think after 35 years of denying birthdays, someone is going to realize I'm older than 21...lol

* A long time co-worker and family member Ron Mares had worked his last day at NETL and retired. This made me sad as Ron was my BS partner where we would talk sports all the time...lol

* Topher, a dog we travel thousands of miles to see had passed away during December. I promise you thing dog live the perfect life and it was an honor to meet him.

* Spent Christmas Eve at my sister Terri's, it was big get together where food is a plenty.

* I have written 385 blogs in 2019 (so far with one more to follow with my Goodbye to the Decade blog. Other than that, we'll see you on the other side and in 2020.

Monday

All good things must come to an end, and that does include those fun filled things called weekends. Now it is time for us to stick our noses back onto that grindstone for another fun filled week of doing what it is we do for a living.

This is going to be my last regular blog of 2019. Tomorrow my Goodbye 2019 Blog posts and as an added attraction my Goodbye 2010's is also going to post. Both posts will reflect upon the last year and the past 10 years as my life as a blogger.

Later this week Michelle and I will be in St Louis and will be returning late next weekend. I have to once again go out for RTI and re-certification like I do every year to be able to work on the SAMHSA Project.

Today is my last full day in the office, tomorrow we have a three hour early release for New Years Eve.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Pig Roast

Here I sit on a quiet Sunday Morning, my co-author is slacking and is not at her station. I'm up watching The Long Shot on HBO and collecting my thoughts for the day.

Michelle and I did some running around yesterday morning, but the highlight of my day was going to see the movie Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the third and final movie of the third trilogy of the Star Wars saga. I have been a fan of the entire series since it first debuted 42 years ago, so it was nice to finally see some closure to that entire portion of the series.

Today Michelle and I are going over to Amanda and Joey's for their third annual Pig Roast. They started it a couple of years ago on Christmas Eve but moved it away from that night last year and have moved it back even a little more this year. It's always a good time and is beginning to be something we are looking forward to every year.

Have yourselves a great day

Saturday Morning Rambling

Here I site once again in a quiet de-dechristmasized household, Sammy has left to go back to the North Pole and it is only me and Peanut here writing this morning. We're up watching the Ringer and collecting our thoughts on the day.

This is going to be last weekend off for a while, life is about to get very busy again, so I'm going to relax and enjoy myself this weekend.

One thing I will be doing today and a lot of it is writing for my blog. I have to finish up my Goodbye 2019 Blog with November and December yet to be written, and I'm also writing a Goodbye 2010's blog for the end of the 2010 decade and going through year by year and picking up a point or two from the year based on my Goodbye that year blogs. Then I am going to have to write next weeks blogs and part of the following weeks due to the travel. If my carpel tunnel doesn't bother me now, it will be the end of the day. I think I have the last five years of the decade to do.

Reflecting back, we had a pretty good Christmas. Went to my sister Terri's, met Hayley's future in-laws, let off some lanterns on Christmas Eve and that was majestic, opened gifts Christmas Morning, went my Sister in Law Chris's and then visited my Sister Pam's. Managed to briefly talk to Gary and Jonathan this weekend through all of the chaos. It was memorable and I wouldn't change it for anything.

Have yourselves a great day, make the most of it and memorable.

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.

This will be my last Friday at the office for 2019, next week at this time Michelle and I will be in St. Louis and I'll be in the classroom and she will be running around and having a good time in beautiful downtown St Louis. This will be Michelle's third trip and my fourth to St Louis as I go to re-certify for RTI but that is next week.

This weekends plans will probably involve us de-christmasizing our home as we prepare to travel next weekend. Other than that it should be a relaxing weekend for me and my last one for probably a couple of months as we have a new quarter just about to kickoff for RTI.

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, time to look at some of the 30,000+ images that I have either captured with a Camera, Scanned or just simply stolen off the internet. Little lost moments in time that I post up and relive tight here for everyone while I try to recall the moments around that image. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that image and sometimes it's a challenge, although one thing it always is is a whole lot of fun for me.

For this years Photo Flashback, I just simply go back to last year at Christmas Eve. Kim, Robert, Terri, Nick, Michelle and I all got together and took a series of these pictures from my Dad's first marriage to my Mom and all of our spouses.

It was a fun evening and we even had a phone conversation with my Brother Jonathan that evening. Missing was my sister Pam and my brother Gar who was in Wheeling.

Have yourselves a great day, it's back to the office for me.

Hi ho hi ho

A Christmas Song 2019

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve Videos Past

Every year I try, or should I say I attempt to try to put together a Christmas Video from our Christmas Eve. I've done a number of these through the years, enjoy some of my past work and Merry Christmas Eve.

2018




2016



2015




2014




2013

2012

2008




2007



It doesn't appear that I did one for 2006, but here is one of the first videos that I ever did to fill in a little.





2005 which is probably my all time favorite one that I have done.




2004



1999 Which was my Dad's last Christmas

Monday

It's time to head back into the office today to start another fun filled week of doing what it is we do for a living. For me however, this is going to be a short one as we have a three hour early release today thanks to the new Secretary.

In short, it's back into the office today for a short day. I still am trying to get my computer fully up and running after the fiasco last week when my hard drive went kaput. The worst thing is, the people I need to speak to at the proprietary softwares are off for a Christmas break until later in the week.

It's going to be a short and non-productive day in general, I just have a feeling as we are off tomorrow and Wednesday with paid Federal Holidays. That will give me time tomorrow morning to start the Hot Sausage and get everything ready for tomorrow evenings festivities.


Have yourselves a great day and a Great Christmas

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Rambling

Here I sit yet once again in a quiet household, I don't see any of my co-authors laying around anywhere, I'm here collecting my thoughts for the day and watching who knows what on the boob tube.

Michelle will be heading back home today to visit her family, no big get together this year as a few things have happened over the past couple of years. Gigi sold her home and moved into a nursing home and last year we reserved a local lodge due to her Aunt Charlottes boyfriend, but he passed away recently and plans are on hiatus this year. Michelle and Chris are going up to visit Gigi and then over to visit her Dad.

I'll be staying here in Morgantown and probably going to try to get a few things done. My PC is still running Windows 7 and I have an Windows 10 Upgrade to install. Microsoft support for Windows 7 ends in less than a month from now so I would rather be current with my computer.

I've also got a Goodbye 2019 and a Goodbye 2010's blogs to continue to write, so I will be busy to say the least.

Have yourselves a great day.

Saturday

Here I sit in a quiet household once again, my co-author is no where to be found and even Sammy is no where to be found on this morning.

Last evening Michelle and I attended her company Christmas Party at Tin 202 here in Morgantown. The owner of the place is someone I played Softball with for years on the Prime Thyme and MiHaley's teams Chris Evans, sadly since he has opened this place up this was my first trip there and it did not disappoint.

Today we are going to go out and get our weekend shopping done and tomorrow at least Michelle will run back home to visit her Grandmother and Dad for Christmas. We'll have all of our chores done prior to that so no one is rushed tomorrow.



Speaking of the week coming up, I get a three hour early release on Monday, the President authorized Tuesday as a Federal Holiday and Wednesday is Christmas. It's going to be a short week for me.

Have yourselves a great day today.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

Yes it is once again that time of the week that we all look foreword to, when we can take time to cease the labors for the week and take a little bit of needed time out to enjoy the fruits of those labors. It is once again the dawn of another weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday.

This is it, if you haven't completed your Christmas Shopping for this year yet, now just might be the time when you need to seriously think about starting.

This is the last weekend before Christmas and my guess is the stores will be filled up, over crowded and a big pain in the rear end to navigate through. If you are one of those people like me who have completed your shopping, sit back and enjoy all of the people waiting till the last minute from your nice warm and comfortable home.

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, time to look at some of the 30,000+ images that I have either captured with a Camera, Scanned or just simply stolen off the internet. Little lost moments in time that I post up and relive tight here for everyone while I try to recall the moments around that image. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that image and sometimes it's a challenge, although one thing it always is is a whole lot of fun for me.

This weeks pic is one I came across this past week. Mickey is on the Right, Jean is in the middle I think holding Richard and on the left is the brother who was killed and my brother is named after, Gary Allen Toth.

I got a few older pics of the Toth's this past week, this one came from my sister Pam and the others from Ron Mares which I will probably be sharing at a future date.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday Funnies

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is now behind us and we are looking at a Tuesday, time for a tidbits.

* It has been 20,467 days since my birth, each and everyone of them is very precious.

* It has been 5,693 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography, minors in History and Communications.

* 4,294 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together, she still loves me all these years later.

* 3,518 days ago I proposed to Michelle, 4:00 in the morning in the back yard. She knew it was coming, I just made her wait.

* It was 3,060 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, Michelle and I became Husband and Wife. Seems like just yesterday.

* I have now lived 681 days longer than my Dad did and I'm still going. It brings how short life is into perspective, especially with all that has been happening around us lately, that brings it all into perspective.

* I have 4,382 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 989 days away, we are under 1,000 days until we kick some Panther butt.

* My next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 350  more days. I've lost count as to how many anniversaries this is.

* There are 224 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Ninth Wedding Anniversary together.

* There are 100 days until Michelle and I head to Pittsburgh to see Reba in concert.

* There are only 94 days until the start Spring 2020, the time of the year that I love so much.

* 47 more days until Phil steps to center stage again for Groundhogs Day. Come on Phil, I'm counting on you.

* 14 more days to go until my Goodbye 2019 Blog is posted, something tells me this one is going to be difficult to write this year.

* There are 10 more shopping days left until Christmas 2019.  Our house even looks like Christmas Now.

* I have written 5,861 blogs in the now 15 years since I started blogging. I wonder if Blogger would pay me by the word...lol

* No drone flights this weekend, but that has pretty much been my recurring theme this year with that.Come to think of it, I haven't made any real drone flights this year. WTF???

* I'm still looking for a cheap riding lawn mower, something tells me prices are going to be dropping soon.

*  Contemplating doing a goodbye 2010's blog

* I have pretty much completed my Christmas Shopping.

* Michelle and I will be heading to St Louis after the first of the year, I'll be done Saturday afternoon and fly back Sunday around noonish. We'll have Saturday Night in St Louis to ourselves.

* Have I ever mentioned I hate snow? Even with all the heat, I still hate snow.

* They STILL have not found Mountie Python, the 15' snake that escaped in Sabraton this summer.. 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 long looked forward to weekend is now over with, just like my Christmas Shopping. Now 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.

Looking at my week ahead, a number of meetings are on the agenda for this week. This week will also be my last full week for the year of 2019. Next week is Christmas and the following week is New Years and then I'm off to St. Louis for a few days.

I will say I loved having a weekend off, both Michelle and I managed to get a lot done from baking to banking to going to the butchers. Productive weekend to say the least.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit, just me and Sammy as my co-author Peanut is all comfortable sitting in the recliner and watching some movie on the TV. I'm up having a deep conversation with Sammy about Giraffes farting and if that specific flatulent odor could be a replacement fuel that would save the world. Sammy really is a pretty deep thinker.

Yesterday was a very productive day. Michelle got Christmas Cookies made and I have all but finished my Christmas shopping, need to pick up a few more things for Michelle, but other than that I'm done shopping. Went to Harry's, the liquor store, the bank and did a good bit of shopping. It was so nice to have a day off yesterday (although we were both busy) that we're going to do it again today. I get a two day weekend and look forward to some more in depth conversations with Sammy.

I have formatted my Goodbye 2019 Blog and started writing it. One thing I realized is a I worked a lot for RTI this past year and I mentioned it quite often. I'm also going to do a Goobye 2010's blog looking back at the entire decade that will have seen me blog every day of it. I have it formatted, but I haven't started writing it yet. I've got some writing to do today.

Have yourselves a great day, make the most of it and do something memorable.

WEEKEND!!!!

Here I sit on a semi-quiet Sunday Morning, me and my co-author Peanut are up and collecting our thoughts for the day and trying to determine what we want to watch on the TV.

Would you believe that I have the whole weekend off? Yep I have today and tomorrow off and we are done for the year with RTI. First whole weekend off since September and I could not be happier.

No fears though, both Michelle and I will be busy today. At the home front today Michelle will be baking our Christmas Cookies. We have all the ingredients sitting out and and the butter is softening, she making some cookies today.

Me? I'm running to the Laundry Mat early this morning and then running a few errands this morning. I'll be starting off with a trip to Harry's to buy Hot Sausage for Christmas Eve. Michelle used to get it from a vendor when she worked for BFS, but some complained it was a little too hot. So I am going to my favorite butcher today and purchasing it. We buy it for the house and it's not as hot as the commercial stuff we used to buy, but it's much fresher and awesome if I do have to say so myself. After Harry's a quick trip to the bank and then my errands are done for the day.

After that however, it's time to Christmas Shop. I know I'm a slacker, but this is the time I set aside for Christmas shopping for the little ones in the family. Yes I am going to be dealing with that commercialized hell today, so please have me in your thoughts for a safe return today. There will be cookies when I get home.

Have yourselves a great day

Ho ho ho ho

Big Ole Hairy Friday the 13th

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 13th.

I'm not superstitious in the slightest, I'm just pointing out that is is Friday the 13th just to point it out.

I actually get a weekend off this weekend. I can't remember the last time I had a Saturday off, much less a Saturday and a Sunday. Yes I do, it was at the end of September, so I am going to cherish the next few weekends as it gets busy again after the first of the year for me.

As of press time, there are no real plans for the weekend, but that could be from either me not knowing or something was planned within the last week.

I know Michelle and I will be taking a trip to Harry's pretty soon to get the Hot Sausage for Christmas Eve, that might even be this weekend.

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, time to look at some of the 30,000+ images that I have either captured with a Camera, Scanned or just simply stolen off the internet. Little lost moments in time that I post up and relive tight here for everyone while I try to recall the moments around that image. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that image and sometimes it's a challenge, although one thing it always is is a whole lot of fun for me.

This weeks pic is from last October. I was invited to another national lab to speak about 3M marker Balls. This is from my hotel room in Las Vegas, I was right across the Interstate from Mandalay Bay, right before I left to go to the lab and give my presentation.

I dressed up in a tie and took my picture just before I left to go and do it. It was my first ever time in Vegas, and hopefully not my last. it was nice going out on someone elses dime the first time to learn where a lot of things are located.

Have a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday Funnies

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is now behind us and we are looking at a Tuesday, time for a tidbits.

* It has been 20,460 days since my birth, each and everyone of them is very precious.

* It has been 5,686 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography, minors in History and Communications.

* 4,287 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together, she still loves me all these years later.

* 3,511 days ago I proposed to Michelle, 4:00 in the morning in the back yard. She knew it was coming, I just made her wait.

* It was 3,053 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, Michelle and I became Husband and Wife. Seems like just yesterday.

* I have now lived 674 days longer than my Dad did and I'm still going. It brings how short life is into perspective, especially with all that has been happening around us lately, that brings it all into perspective.

* I have 4,389 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 996 days away, we are under 1,000

* My next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 357  more days. I've lost count as to how many anniversaries this is.

* There are 239 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Ninth Wedding Anniversary together.

* There are 107 days until Michelle and I head to Pittsburgh to see Reba in concert.

* There are only 101 days until the start Spring 2020, the time of the year that I love so much.

* 54 more days until Phil steps to center stage again for Groundhogs Day. Come on Phil, I'm counting on you.

* 21 more days to go until my Goodbye 2019 Blog is posted, something tells me this one is going to be difficult to write this year.

* There are 17 more shopping days left until Christmas 2019.  Our house even looks like Christmas Now.

* I have written 5,854 blogs in the now 15 years since I started blogging. I wonder if Blogger would pay me by the word...lol

* No drone flights this weekend, but that has pretty much been my recurring theme this year with that.Come to think of it, I haven't made any real drone flights this year. WTF???

* I'm still looking for a cheap riding lawn mower, something tells me prices are going to be dropping soon.

*  The Mountaineer Men's basketball team fell from the ranks of the unbeatens this past weekend. That;s 1 loss.

* I really haven't started Christmas Shopping yet.

* Michelle and I will be heading to St Louis after the first of the year, I'll be done Saturday afternoon and fly back Sunday around noonish. We'll have Saturday Night in St Louis to ourselves.

* Have I ever mentioned I hate snow? Even with all the heat, I still hate snow.

* They STILL have not found Mountie Python, the 15' snake that escaped in Sabraton this summer.. 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

I've had another weekend and it is all over, I'll have a few more coming up so I'm a little excited to say the least. Now 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.

Looking at my week ahead, I have not one but two Christmas Parties this coming week and I've already had one. One is for the prime who has our contract and the other is for the ES&H (Environmental, Safety and Health) group in which I am a part of. Then next week they are talking about having Michelle's Company Christmas Party, so that could be the 3rd in two weeks and 4th (NETL already had one) in three weeks. Party, Party, Party!!!!

Other than that, I need to start setting up and formatting for my Goodbye 2019 BLOG. I might even have to do one for the decade as well (from 2010-2019) describing my past decade by one or two points per year. Either way I'm going to have some writing and reflecting to do in the next few weeks. Good thing my quarter for RTI is complete, now I may have some time to write those...lol

Have a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit once again on a quiet Sunday Morning, and it's going to be a day off for me. I'm up early watching the movie Longshot and collecting my thoughts for the day. My co-author Peanut just woke up and doing a few cat sneezes, I'm sure she will be here to assist any time now.

Topher

We did find out some very sad news this past week. Michelle and I have taken a number of cruises in our life, planning on another one this year, and one of the places we like to go is Grand Turk. To be more specific we like to go to Jack's Shack and visit everyone's favorite dog Topher. The dog that is arguably the most famous dog in the world and lead the best life of any dog, anywhere at any time. Word got around Topher hasn't been feeling well lately and came home from the vet this week appearing fine, but was found under the deck on his way to the Rainbow Bridge. That dog lived 12 years and lived the life each and every single day. RIP Topher.

On a happier note, my year with RTI is done as far as field work, it's time to sit back and relax. I actually get a two day weekend next weekend and I'm a little bit stoked about that, although I kind of knew that it would be about this time before I got a weekend off at the start of the quarter.

Michelle worked the Auction last night and said that they had a really good turnout. I stayed home and watched football yesterday after I got back from Grafton.

College Football season has been played and the Championship games have been played, now it is time to pick the top 4 for the playoffs. My prediction? 1.) LSU takes back over the top spot. 2.) Ohio State moves back from there. 3.) Clemson should be #2, but I don't think that they will move Ohio State back 2 positions. 4.) Oklahoma gets in after winning the Big XII Championship. Those are my 4, lets see how accurate I am.

Have yourselves a great day.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Sammy the Christmas Elf

Here I sit in a quiet household, I have no Co-Author this morning as she is fast asleep on my recliner with Sophie. I'm up watching Fast Times at Ridgemont High and collecting my thoughts for the day. I just have some sneaking suspicion that I'm being watched. Has anyone seen Sammy the Christmas Elf?

Jim and Chris are holding their Christmas Action this evening at the Woodland United Methodist Church on the Mileground here in Morgantown. There are a lot of items up for sale this evening and my lovely wife will be at the Church working the Auction this evening. Stop in and say hello to her and see if you can find yourself a deal or two while you are at it. If you are feeling charitable, they take donations from the auction for toys for the Westover Santa. 

I'll be heading out into the field one last time for 2019 today to do field work for RTI. I just have to head out this morning to the same place I was last weekend and finish doing the clean up work for that segment and I'll be done for the year doing field work. All of my segments have been completed and have either been cleaned up or are set for cleanup by another Field Interviewer this weekend. I'm hoping to get at least one more interview today to close out the season. I will be heading to St Louis in a few weeks to re-certify and exchange my equipment for new the new equipment we have purchased. I'm ready for this quarter to be over with, ready for a little rest and relaxation before all the chaos begins over again in 2020.

Have yourselves a great day today. Stop by the auction and make a donation if you've got nothing to do.

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 Black Friday.

This is probably going to be my last weekend working for RTI this year. The quarter is winding down and I'm just ready to shut it down for 2019 and enjoy some time off. I know I'll be out Saturday, sunday I could either be off or head back to an area I was working before I started doing some clean up work.

Michelle will be working Jim and Chris's auction tomorrow so I won;t get much of a chance to see her until Sunday. This will probably be the last one of 2019 and if they do one after the first of the year, Michelle and I will be in St Louis from the 2nd - 5th.

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, time to look at some of the 30,000+ images that I have either captured with a Camera, Scanned or just simply stolen off the internet. Little lost moments in time that I post up and relive tight here for everyone while I try to recall the moments around that image. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that image and sometimes it's a challenge, although one thing it always is is a whole lot of fun for me.

This weeks pic goes back to the day Erica Jean Nicholson joined the family. Val had already had her, but my brother Gary and Brother in Law Nick were entertaining themselves out in the hallway. Gary was sitting in some kind of rolling chair with some kind of stuffed animal on him and Nick was obliged to push him around and up and down the hallway.

That was 15 1/2 years ago, my how time just flies by in the blink of an eye and you don't even realize it.

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Kim Sanjulian

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my Sister Kim SanJulian a very Happy Birthday today. We started out in life where I was one year older than her, but since I am only 21 years old, she has passed me up by a couple of years by now.

It was exactly 21+ the number of years she is older than me years ago at the very time that this blog is posting that Kimberly Joann braced up with her presence.

Not sure what Kim and Robert have planned for the day, but I'm sure it will either be a nice dinner or something from Menards which is her favorite restaurant.

If you see Kim today, take a little bit of time out and wish her a very Happy Birthday today.

Happy Birthday Kim

Wednesday Funnies

Tuesday's Tidbits

* We have lost a co-worker at NETL, so now it's time to do a Post Ron Tuesday's Tidbits.

* It has been 20,453 days since my birth, each and everyone of them is very precious.

* It has been 5,679 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography, minors in History and Communications.

* 4,280 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together, she still loves me all these years later.

* 3,504 days ago I proposed to Michelle, 4:00 in the morning in the back yard. She knew it was coming, I just made her wait.

* It was 3,046 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, Michelle and I became Husband and Wife. Seems like just yesterday.

* I have now lived 667 days longer than my Dad did and I'm still going. It brings how short life is into perspective, especially with all that has been happening around us lately, that brings it all into perspective.

* Ron is on Day 1 of his retirement.

* I have 4,396 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. Ron's already beat me to it as today is his first day of retirement.

* The next Backyard brawl where we beat Pitt's ass in Football is only 1,003 days away.

* My next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 364  more days. I've lost count as to how many anniversaries this is.

* There are 246 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Ninth Wedding Anniversary together.

* There are 114 days until Michelle and I head to Pittsburgh to see Reba in concert.

* There are only 108 days until the start Spring 2020, the time of the year that I love so much.

* 61 more days until Phil steps to center stage again for Groundhogs Day. Come on Phil, I'm counting on you.

* 28 more days to go until my Goodbye 2019 Blog is posted, something tells me this one is going to be difficult to write this year.

* There are 24 more shopping days left until Christmas 2019.  Our house even looks like Christmas Now.

* I have written 5,846 blogs in the now 15 years since I started blogging. I wonder if Blogger would pay me by the word...lol

* No drone flights this weekend, but that has pretty much been my recurring theme this year with that.Come to think of it, I haven't made any real drone flights this year. WTF???

* I'm still looking for a cheap riding lawn mower, something tells me prices are going to be dropping soon.

*  The Mountaineer Football team has concluded their 2019 season and they managed to do so on a high note.

* Jim and Chris will have an auction coming up this weekend. Details to follow later in the week since at Press Time they have not had a chance to set it up on auction zip.

* Have I ever mentioned I hate snow? Even with all the heat, I still hate snow.

* They STILL have not found Mountie Python, the 15' snake that escaped in Sabraton this summer.. 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

A Sad Goodbye

Today at NETL we lose one of our co-workers to the big R and I mean R as in Retirement.

Ron has been at NETL in excess of 30 years and he and his wife will be retiring to Fort Meyers Florida in a few weeks. He's ready to hang them up, and we are going to be very sad to see our friend go.

Ron is also a little more than just a co-worker, he is also family. Ron is an Evanto and is actually Jean's cousin and grew together with all of them. Jean had a brother named Gary (and eventually named her son that) that was killed at a very young age attempting to cross the road in front of what is now Texas Roadhouse. Ron and Gary were of similar age and they were also best friends.

I'm going to miss Ron, he's one of my favorite guys to discuss WVU sports with as he is as passionate as a fan that there is.

The Group from Engineering (my group) is the longest surviving group at NETL, there are some of them including Ron who have worked side by side for 30+ years together, I was just fortunate enough to be able to join and work with this great group.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday to my Hubby

I want to take this moment to wish my husband and best friend a very Happy 56th Birthday. Nothing really planned for the day just our normal Sunday routine. I love you honey and I am glad you are off today so we can spend it together.

Sunday

Here I sit yet once again on a quiet Sunday Morning, my co-author Peanut is once again snuggled up someplace warm. I've got Me myself and Irene playing in the background and I'm still waking up.

Michelle deserves all of the credit, she has done everything for our 2019 Christmas Tree. She dug out all the decorations last weekend as I was working. She went Friday while I was at the office and picked out a tree and set it up. Yesterday she put an additional three strands of lights on it (now has six strands) while I was working out of town. I have an amazing wife just in case people didn't know that.

Today is the day that I start my 57th year around our Sun. It is the 36th Anniversary of my 21st Birthday. I will take some time to celebrate it by....taking the day off and not going out and doing any field work. I'm going grocery shopping and then staying home for the evening. No big plans for the day, maybe watch the Mountaineer Basketball team or the Steelers Game.

Update, I hear Sammy the Elf is loose and making his rounds around the house. If you see an elf in a red suite named Sammy, let me know.

Have yourselves a great day.