Monday or in my Case Day 15.

It's time to take your collective noses and stick them onto the grindstone yet once again to begin a week of doing what it is that we all do for a living. Let's pull up those bootstraps, and do whatever we have to do to make this a better world to live in. 

Looking at my week ahead, Michelle is going to make a trip to Pittsburgh at least once this week, they are all taking turns and are trying to get someone there each day. There are a number of changes that the family will have to make in the next few weeks, but Michelle and her sisters met yesterday in Pittsburgh to go over the details and make final decisions, and put forth a plan of action. 

Nothing really on my agenda for the week other than working. That and figuring out how many days there are until July 18th when Michelle and I will go and see Jimmy Buffett once again. I've lost track as to how many times we have seen him, I think Michelle is at 10 or 11 times and I am one more than her as to times seeing him. The last time we saw him we took a limo up with some friends, who that was their 38th Jimmy Concert, but I think we are going up on our own this year and tailgating. Much funner that way and it is a blast. If anyone wants to go, Tickets are still on sale. He doesn't sell out like he used to, but you'll not find a better group of musicians anywhere. 

Have yourselves a great day, let's make this place a little better place to be. 

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit on a quiet Sunday morning, me and Peanut are trying to come up with a plan to clip Kiwi's wings, but I just want to dull his beak. We're up watching Youtube videos and BSing. 

It is with a heavy heart that I have to report that my Brother Jonathan's Girlfriend Barbara passed away yesterday afternoon. I am very thankful to her for buying him the DNA kit that he submitted and allowing me to find my long-lost brother. I am forever grateful for all that she did for Jonathan and the efforts she made to help him find us before he passed. Rest In Peace Barbara. 

Michelle met with her Sisters yesterday to make a plan of action as to what they are going to do with her situation which I think they do. They just have to make arrangements for some animals, and my Mom has been wanting a dog and we found her a very loving and house-trained full-blooded Shih Tzu that she will give her a good furrever home. 

I am probably out in the field once again today working for RTI, I still have not completed my first interview in 2022 yet. I've screened quite a few in, but no one wants the free money that I try to give them.

Oh, and I almost forgot, Michelle and I will be heading to Pittsburgh this summer to see non other than Jimmy Buffett once again. Fins Up!!!!

Have yourselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again in a quiet Household, well semi-quiet as I think Kiwi is in there watching a movie or something. He keeps laughing and saying my human does that. Not sure what he is watching but he sure seems to be entertained. 

I will be out on the field working for RTI today. Going back to where I have been the past couple of weekends and going to try to get my first interview of the year. I had a number of them screened in last weekend, but none of them have completed it so I'm going to try to get one today. It's just a little tough getting people willing to participate with the way things are in the country currently. 

I did get to go to a retirement party this past week for a former NETL co-worker. Yesterday was his last day and he has decided that it is time for him to hang it up and go onto the next phase of his life. It was nice having a large luncheon with my old crew I worked the last three years with at NETL. We all had a good time. 

For those of you around town today, the WVU Men's Basketball team plays Texas today at 2:00 at the Coliseum, so traffic may be a little heavy this afternoon around that area. 

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

Michelle will once again be heading north this morning as planned. She's taking a turn at Allegheny General today as they rotate family members in and out. Things up until this point seem to have leveled off a little bit, so hopefully they will know something either by now or by the end of the weekend. 

I will be at home working and holding the fort down with Kiwi, Peanut and Sophie, the three Amigo of the household. This evening I'll run a few errands that we run on Friday's and then I'll be out in the field once again this weekend working for RTI. My time off that I enjoyed is a thing of the past as Mon counties COVID numbers are dropping and we go full steam ahead into the quarter. 

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+ photos that I have stored on my computer. Little lost moments in time that I either captured with a lens, scanned, or just stole from someplace on the internet. I like to find just one and post it up and recall or relive the picture to the best of my ability. Sometimes this is a pretty easy task and sometimes it's not that easy, one thing it has always been a whole lot of fun.

For this weeks post, let's go back to my Helmick days when I did it all in the melting room. From pouring molten metal (Ladles in front), to operating and melting as much as 4400 lbs of metal at a time (Machine to left) to leading this small group of a well-organized group that would roughly load, melt and pour roughly 8 tons of metal a day.

We melted three types of metals, Cast Iron, NiHard which we were the original proprietors of and pure chrome or a 20% and 28% Hi-Chrome alloy iron. I used to say I've poured more NiHard metal than anyone on earth as it was a metal that Helmick and invented before others started using it in producing what were once our products. 

I think Helmick's business interests have changed through the years, this is our old product line and now I think they do metal roofing. They are the oldest manufacturing operation in the state of West Virginia as they used to produce canonballs during the Civil War. This was 6 years of my life. 

Have a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

 * Monday is once again in our rearview mirrors and we are full steam ahead working on a Tuesday, personally I'm on day 9 in a row of my current streak. 

* It has been 21,263 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, and improved 1,000 day Calender. It's better than the 991-day calendar as it gives you a nice round number to work with. 

* It has been 6,503 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography. Still love what I do and I guess that makes a big difference. 

* 5,088 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together, the pizza hut is gone, the movie was horrible, but we're still together. 

* 4,310 days ago I proposed to Michelle, she was expecting it as we had already bought the engagement ring and it was sitting in the safe. 

* It was 3,853 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, for the most part, Michelle and I became husband and wife at the Marilla Center, we poured sand into a vase said our I do's and we were hitched. 

* I have now lived 1,475 days longer than my Dad did and I'm still going strong. 

* I have 3,669 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, but I love doing what I do. 

* 345 more days until Phil steps to center stage again for Groundhogs Day, if I don't have him assassinated for seeing his damn shadow this year. He has been seen back in the backyard again. 

* 313 more days to go until my Goodbye 2022 Blog is posted, it's been eventful. I have it started. 

* There are 307 more shopping days left until Christmas 2022.

* The next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 289 more days. 

* The next Backyard Brawl where we beat Pitt's ass in Football is only 181 days away. Bring it on Kitty Cats. 

* There are 165 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Eleventh Wedding Anniversary together. =)

* There are only 27 days until the start of Spring 2022. My favorite season of the year rolls around again. I love that time of the year, mainly because we say goodbye to my least favorite season. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lives 21,266 days, meaning in 3 more days I will be the exact same age he was when he met his demise and make the claim to be the longest living Hall sibling. So Friday I will be Jonathan's age. 

* I have written 6,699 blogs in the now 17 1/4 years since I started blogging. Seems like it was just yesterday that I started all of this. 

* Drone still needs to be sent out for repairs, not a big priority at this time. 

* Back yard is dug up. 

* Anyone been playing Wordle? I'm getting to the point where I play it every day. 

* Another one I have become fond of is Globle, just for us Geography Geeks.

* I'm Not sure if I have ever mentioned to anyone ever before, or if I have even said anything on this blog about it, but I Hate Snow. I ran into a squall Saturday morning, but it all melted off in a matter on an hour. 

* Have yourselves a great day.  

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

All good things must come to an end, and that does include our fun-filled things that we refer to as weekends. Now it's time to take our collective noses and stick them back onto the grindstone for another fun-filled week of doing what it is we do for a living.

For some of you out there in bloggerland, this is just an extension of your weekend as today is also President's Day, which is a Federal Holiday. I kind of get that with RTI since we are Federal Contractors, I get like a half a day's pay since we are only considered part-time work. No complaints though, that's free money for me while I work for Duquense Light. 

I'm back to work for ConsultUSA today, but I work from home and Kiwi and Peanut keep me company. Peanut likes to get right up in my face and Kiwi, Kiwi likes to sing every time I get on a conference call with anyone. Needless to say between these two they definitely keep me entertained throughout the day. 

Michelle is scheduled to go back to work today after a long and troublesome weekend. She took most of yesterday and relaxed while I was out in the field working, she really needed it in my opinion. It'll be nice for her to get back to her daily routine. 

Roto rooter should be here today to dig up the back yard to replace a sewage pipe, but that should not affect either one of us really. 

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here Kiwi and I sit once again, I think Peanut has pretty much abandoned her job as my Co-author and has changed her role to attention whore when I am working or at my computer. The TV is playing in the background, pretty much for noise as I really don't watch anything outside of sporting events or movies that I stream. 

Morning routine will be the same, do our grocery shopping, chores, etc and then I for the first time this year will actually head out into the field on a Sunday. I've avoided them all so far with either Monongalia County's numbers being too high and it's shut down or something else was going on. Conditions are perfect for me to head out and get some work done today. Weather is actually calling for it to be in the 60's today which makes it nice/ 

After spending 2 of the last 3 days in Pittsburgh at the hospital, I would imagine that Michelle is going to need a little bit of rest as I go out to work. It has been a troubling few days for her, Chris and Danni, and the rest of the family. They are an amazing group of people who all bond together when needed. 

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit yet once again in a quiet household, Kiwi is in his hut watching Sesame Street and wondering how did can grow to Big Birds size. His ego was inflated last weekend when he called the Super Bowl winner and I called the loser, so he's talking a lot of trash. I see the Sloth was sandbagging it last year in his race with the turtle, did you see how quick he climbed that tree in the Doritos Commercial? 

Michelle will be heading out early this morning and heading to Allegheny General Hospital for the day. She spent Thursday there for an immediate family member and will be there again today and will be there all day. She hates that facility as do her two sisters, but they have to be there at this time. 

I'll be holding down the fort at home, as well as spending the day working for RTI. I'll be working in the Hagans area, so I'll be close but it'll still take some time to get there. I'll be working tomorrow as well as Monongalia County's numbers have dropped below the threshold of where they would have shut us down for COVID cases. Let's see if I can manage to get my first interview or two for 2022 today. 

We have had some sewage backup the past couple of weeks. Roto-Rooter was scheduled to tear up the backyard on Thursday, but with heavy rain, they rescheduled until Monday. They did manage to bust the clog wide open though and our problems are solved for the most part. I think they are just going to reroute the sewer lines. 

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 forward 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.

We were planning on going to the Reba Concert last night, we purchased tickets 26 months ago and it had been canceled a couple three times. Last night was the show, however a medical emergency back home lead Michelle and Chris to leave yesterday morning early to head to Allegheny General. Needless to other things took higher priority. 

We have had sewage back up here the past couple of weeks, Roto-Rooter was supposed to be here yesterday to dig it up, but because of the rain they rescheduled till Monday. They did come out and run a snake up the opposite end outside and whatever was holding it broke loose and shot out the pipe clearing the way. They are still digging it up Monday to the best of my knowledge, but at least that problem was solved. 

Michelle on the other hand has the day off to recover from a long trying and exhausting day yesterday. She worked last Saturday and was planning to relax and recover from what we were supposed to go to last night. She is just mentally drained and needs some downtime. 

Have yourselves a great and awake 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+ photos that I have stored on my computer. Little lost moments in time that I either captured with a lens, scanned, or just stole from someplace on the internet. I like to find just one and post it up and recall or relive the picture to the best of my ability. Sometimes this is a pretty easy task and sometimes it's not that easy, one thing it has always been a whole lot of fun.

Since Michelle and I will be heading to Pittsburgh this evening with Jim and Chris to see Reba in concert, I thought I would share a picture from a concert Michelle and I had attended going on 12 years ago. 

It was Fins up in this picture. An artist that Michelle was not a rookie at seeing, but one that we would attend pretty much on a yearly basis when he used to come to Pittsburgh. Jimmy hasn't been back since that last fiasco a few years ago where most people were not able to even get in the facility and they had to refund a lot of money. 

Tonight's not going to be that crazy, but it will be the first concert that we have attended since then, so I'm all for a good time tonight. 

Hi ho hi ho

Trading $0.01 Into a House in 1 Week

Tuesday's Tidbits

 * Monday is once again in our rearview mirrors and we are full steam ahead working on a Tuesday, I hope everyone had a great Valentine's day. Time for a tidbits

* It has been 21,256 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, and improved 1,000 day Calender. It's better than the 991-day calendar as it gives you a nice round number to work with. 

* It has been 6,497 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography. Still love what I do and I guess that makes a big difference. 

* 5,081 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together, the pizza hut is gone, the movie was horrible, but we're still together. 

* 4,303 days ago I proposed to Michelle, she was expecting it as we had already bought the engagement ring and it was sitting in the safe. 

* It was 3,846 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, for the most part, Michelle and I became husband and wife at the Marilla Center, we poured sand into a vase said our I do's and we were hitched. 

* I have now lived 1,468 days longer than my Dad did and I'm still going strong. 

* I have 3,676 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, but I love doing what I do. 

* 352 more days until Phil steps to center stage again for Groundhogs Day, if I don't have him assassinated for seeing his damn shadow this year. 

* 320 more days to go until my Goodbye 2022 Blog is posted, it's been eventful. I have it started. 

* There are 314 more shopping days left until Christmas 2022.

* The next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 296 more days. 

* The next Backyard Brawl where we beat Pitt's ass in Football is only 188 days away. Bring it on Kitty Cats. 

* There are 172 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Eleventh Wedding Anniversary together. =)

* There are only 34 days until the start of Spring 2022. My favorite season of the year rolls around again. I love that time of the year, mainly because we say goodbye to my least favorite season. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lives 21,266 days, meaning in 10 more days I will be the exact same age he was when he met his demise and make the claim to be the longest living Hall sibling. 

* There are 2 days until Michelle and I head to Pittsburgh to see Reba in concert. The Concert was supposed to be this August (actually it was supposed to be in March of last year) and they have moved it until the middle of February next year. So basically I bought tickets for a concert in 2022 in 2019. 

* I have written 6,692 blogs in the now 17 1/4 years since I started blogging. Seems like it was just yesterday that I started all of this. 

* Drone still needs to be sent out for repairs, not a big priority at this time. 

* Is anyone other than me ready for all this snow to be gone and done with? I'm ready for shorts weather. 

* Do you believe Reba will be dropping off my tidbits Next week? She has been on this countdown for over two years. 

* We have been having sewage problems the last couple of weeks. Roto-Rooter came out a couple weeks ago and ran a camera down through the lines, then some 4,000psi waterjet that didn't open them up, and now Thursday they are going to start digging up the back yard. Fortunately, the blockage is away from the house where everything feeds down to the creek. 

* I'm Not sure if I have ever mentioned to anyone ever before, or if I have even said anything on this blog about it, but I Hate Snow. 

* Did I ever mention that Phil the Groundhog is still a butthead? 

* Have yourselves a great day.  

* Hi ho hi ho

Valentines Day Monday

All the fun, relaxing, Superbowl Celebrations, and everything else associated with this past weekend is now in our rearview mirrors. Time to get back at it and make this rock a better place to live on. Let's stick our collective noses back onto the grindstone. 

It's going to be a busy week for us. I'm starting consecutive days worked streak, today is day #1 and now that the Superbowl is over with and the weather is starting to warm up, I'll be working every Saturday and Sunday up until April and this RTI quarter is over with. I'm ready to hit it hard for the rest of the quarter. 

Thursday Michelle and I with her Sister Chris and Jim will be going to an event that we bought tickets for in December of 2019. Reba McEntire will be at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. I bought tickets for Michelle for Christmas in 2019, so this is her better late than never 2019 Christmas Present. I'm glad that she will finally get a chance to see her. 

There will be a series of Free Concerts this summer with some pretty big names on the bill. It's all going to be held at the Hazel Ruby McQuain Amphitheater starting on June 10th with Don McClean and the price is very reasonable. It's all free throughout the summer and there are some pretty big acts coming, so it should be a pretty exciting summer downtown on Friday Nights. 

Have yourselves a great day, and Happy Valentines Day to the love of my life. We have a dinner planned at home. 

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit once again in the early AM Kiwi and I are still going back and forth about who will win tonight's Superbowl. I'm sayi8ng Bengals he's saying Rams. Let's see who is better at picking the Superbowl Winner. 

Other than doing our shopping today, Michelle is going to have herself a nice day off to relax before beginning another week of work.

Me, I may go out and work for RTI today if the weather is accomodating. I started working another segment out where Uncle Junior's church and the Newbraugh family reunion used to be held. I like working that segment much more than the one in town that is just a complete mess. No parking anywhere, too much restricted access to get into most of these places and there is no established path of travel, a big tool that we use to make sure we are at the right residence. 

I did try calling Gary again yesterday afternoon, still to absolutely no avail and it keeps going to voicemail. Val has been in touch with him so we at least know that he's alive and didn't run off and join the circus. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Working Saturday

Here I sit once again on a quiet Saturday morning, it's Superbowl eve, and Kiwi and I are trying to come up with some kind of a menu for tomorrow. That and we're discussing if the National League should implement the Designated hitter rule, I say no and he insists that they should. 

Well, it is a day when both Michelle and I will be working. She's going into FD Kitchens to work today. The owners are traveling and will be away for a while since they both just became Grandparents and Michelle will be holding the fort down today. 

As for me, it's out into the field for me. There is no home game this weekend so it shouldn't be too hard finding anyone home however, Monongalia County's numbers are still too high for us to have previously worked, but that was then and this is now. If we were still under last years protocols we would not be going out into the field, but I'm heading out today to try to get something done. 

Did have a little bit of a scare a couple nights ago, a group of us use Life360  which is a way to track where we all are and send notifications out. For example, when I get home, Michelle gets a popup saying I have arrived home. It also has an SOS feature on the ap. My mom hit it a couple of nights ago and I got a call, Michelle got a call I think Kim and Terri got calls that my mom needed assistance and where she was at. She was fine, she just accidentally hit the wrong button, nice to know how quick they are with the response. 

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 forward 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.

It looks like both Michelle and I will both be working this weekend, I'll be out for RTI doing Fieldwork again and Michelle is working this weekend to make up for a long weekend next weekend when we go and see Reba on Thursday Night. Me, I'll be working that day but she'll have it off without having to use any PTO time by working tomorrow. WVU will be playing on the road, maybe I can have some luck with finding people home tomorrow. 

Other than that not too much is going on, it's just another day for us and a busy one at that. I'll try to run out after work to get a few things done as to stay ahead of things we normally do, simply because we have no availability on Saturday. 

There is a big football game this weekend, Super Bowl LVI will pit the Cincinnati Bengals against the LA Rams in what will be for the second year in a row, a home game for one of the teams participating. Last year Tampa Bay hosted the game, this year Los Angeles is hosting it making the Rams literally the home team. If I had to make a prediction, I like Joe Burrow and the Bengals to finally win one, but that's why they play the game. 

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+ photos that I have stored on my computer. Little lost moments in time that I either captured with a lens, scanned, or just stole from someplace on the internet. I like to find just one and post it up and recall or relive the picture to the best of my ability. Sometimes this is a pretty easy task and sometimes it's not that easy, one thing it has always been a whole lot of fun.

When I was a kid Grandma allowed me to finally get a dog. I always really wanted my own pet and after Grandpa Hall passed away she realized that a boy needs a dog. This was my first dog, his name was Rocky and he really was a good dog, he just like to run when he got loose from his tie up, but he always seemed to make it home eventually. 

I had him for a few years, even after Grandma Hall passed I took him with me when I moved into Dad and Jeans. He lived with us for about a year, then he mysteriously kind of disappeared. I don't know if something happened to him or if he got hit by a car, or even found a new family. He just was never around anymore. 

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

 * Monday is once again in our rearview mirrors and we are full steam ahead working on a Tuesday. Tidbits time. 

* It has been 21,249 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, and improved 1,000 day Calender. It's better than the 991-day calendar as it gives you a nice round number to work with. 

* It has been 6,490 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography. Still love what I do and I guess that makes a big difference. 

* 5,074 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together, the pizza hut is gone, the movie was horrible, but we're still together. 

* 4,296 days ago I proposed to Michelle, she was expecting it as we had already bought the engagement ring and it was sitting in the safe. 

* It was 3,839 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, for the most part, Michelle and I became husband and wife at the Marilla Center, we poured sand into a vase said our I do's and we were hitched. 

* I have now lived 1,461 days longer than my Dad did and I'm still going strong. 

* I have 3,683 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, but I love doing what I do. 

* 359 more days until Phil steps to center stage again for Groundhogs Day, if I don't have him assassinated for seeing his damn shadow this year. 

* 327 more days to go until my Goodbye 2022 Blog is posted, it's been eventful. I have it started. 

* There are 321 more shopping days left until Christmas 2022.

* The next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 303 more days. 

* The next Backyard Brawl where we beat Pitt's ass in Football is only 195 days away. Bring it on Kitty Cats. 

* There are 179 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Eleventh Wedding Anniversary together. =)

* There are only 41 days until the start of Spring 2022. My favorite season of the year rolls around again. I love that time of the year, mainly because we say goodbye to my least favorite season. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lives 21,266 days, meaning in 17 more days I will be the exact same age he was when he met his demise. 

* There are 9 days until Michelle and I head to Pittsburgh to see Reba in concert. The Concert was supposed to be this August (actually it was supposed to be in March of last year) and they have moved it until the middle of February next year. So basically I bought tickets for a concert in 2022 in 2019. 

* I have written 6,685 blogs in the now 17 1/4 years since I started blogging. Seems like it was just yesterday that I started all of this. 

* Drone still needs to be sent out for repairs, not a big priority at this time. 

* Is anyone other than me ready for all this snow to be gone and done with? I'm ready for shorts weather. 

* Michelle and I did a COVID test this past Friday, we both tested negative. Yeah us.

* The Superbowl is this coming Sunday. The Pro Bowl was this past Sunday, and like every other year I did not watch it. 

* I'm Not sure if I have ever mentioned to anyone ever before, or if I have even said anything on this blog about it, but I Hate Snow. 

* Did I ever mention that Phil the Groundhog is a butthead? 

* Have yourselves a great day.  

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

All good things must come to an end, and yes that does include the fun-filled days off that we refer to as weekends. Now it is time to take our relaxed and rejuvenated butts back to doing what it is that we do to make this world a better place. 

I didn't work yesterday for RTI. our numbers are still high and I'm still a little gunshy about doing any interviews yet, so I stayed home and watched TV and relaxed. I did get a chance to watch a movie that I have wanted to see and relax. 

We did take our very first trip to Menards here in Morgantown, I have to say it was a very large store and I was really impressed with it. Of course, like any new store you have to buy something, so Michelle picked a nice new showerhead that I have absolutely have fallen in love with. It's hard to realize how much of a difference a really good showerhead. I do have to say that I was impressed with the facility. I noticed PetSmart is built and has their name on the sign above the door, but it's not open as of yet as they is still construction going on in that portion of the plaza. I think it is the Homegoods is in a similar situation. 

I tried calling Gary yesterday, but once again to no avail. I know Val said Joyce had recently talked to him and he has been under the weather as of late. I called to check and see how he was doing, but he must be deaf to his phone's ringtone, either that or he was kidnapped by a band of Sloths and silenced. These sloths are like that you know. 

Have yourselves a great day and let's make this a better rock to live on. 

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit yet once again on a quiet Sunday morning. Kiwi and I are discussing what came first the chicken or the egg and he insists that the Green Cheek Conure came first as his species of bird is superior to all others. Me I said the egg came first but he thinks I'm an idiot. 

I worked my first day this year doing fieldwork for RTI. I was basically identifying dwelling units that had controlled access. I'm working here in Morgantown for one segment and a little bit outside of town for the other segment this quarter. Something tells me these will be the only two segments I complete this year as they are both quite sizable and I'm only working part-time due to the Duquense Light contract that keeps getting extended. I'll jump in with both feet once the weather warms up and the days get a little longer. Daylight Savings Time starts March 13th. 

I'm not working today, taking the day off, and doing some shopping with my lovely and awesome wife. We have our menu planned out for the week, now it's a matter of doing the Sunday thing and relaxing before we start another fun-filled week of work. 

I did get a chance to stop and visit Mom and Gerald yesterday. Gerald is doing really well and has made an absolutely miraculous recivery. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Saturday

Here I sit in a quiet household, even Kiwi is still sleeping. I'm up collecting my thoughts for the day and still trying to wake up and plan my day out.

Today is actually going to be my first day doing any fieldwork for RTI. If this were last week we would not be in the field and we are going out with numbers higher than they have ever been to do fieldwork. They have sat us down with numbers half this high, but they are sending us out at what I would consider the most dangerous time. I'm even hesitant at going out and that should say something. 

Michelle and I both took COVID tests yesterday morning, I wasn't going to start any fieldwork with any detectable trace of COVID still in my body. Both of our tests came back negative and neither one of us have it. I had a feeling I was clear, but there really is no way of knowing unless you actually administer the test. I am quite happy, to say the least. 

Michelle will have to step up and take my place and perform a few chores today to make up for me having to work, she is quite awesome 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 forward 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.

It looks as if my nice little vacation from RTI is over with, they have decided to go ahead with field interviews regardless of what any counties may or may not look like, I'm not real fond of this as they are putting Field Interviewers and the general public at risk for these decisions. I don't mind doing field work, when it is safe and right now with Monongalia County's numbers I am a little bit hesitant especially when I am recently recovered from this virus. Not sure if I am working both days or just one this weekend, it all depends on how I feel to be honest. 

Other than that, not too much going on this weekend. I think the temps are supposed to once again drop which could make it a little bit uncomfortable for me out doing any fieldwork. 

Michelle is off this weekend, not sure what she may or may not be getting into. Probably staying home and relaxing for the most part, which is what we have both been doing for quite some time. 

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+ photos that I have stored on my computer. Little lost moments in time that I either captured with a lens, scanned, or just stole from someplace on the internet. I like to find just one and post it up and recall or relive the picture to the best of my ability. Sometimes this is a pretty easy task and sometimes it's not that easy, one thing it has always been a whole lot of fun.

Of all the softball teams that I played on through the years, I think this one was my favorite of all of them. This was the Pryme Thyme team that I was a part of. Most of us were with a team a couple years prior and a couple of them went off to form this team, and I stayed with the base team and went up a level in competition. 

This year, I dropped two levels to go back to having fun with my friends, the boys of summer as I used to refer to the, and this was one of the most successful teams I was ever on, on the field. Notice I have one sponsor on my shirt rather than two, as this team minus me played together the year before. It was a group of brothers that we all still pretty much talk and communicate. It was more than a team, it was a family. 

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Damn Rat

Phil, the great Groundhog from Punxutawney who is the seer of seers, the prognosticators of prognosticators has spoken to his handler. The language is known as Grounhogeze, a language only a few of us speak has informed his master handler of his prediction for 2022.

The little SOB saw his shadow. 

Groundhog Stew, with Bacon and Natural Wild Rice

Marinate the woodchuck, brown it, braise in stock, remove meat from the bones, then sweat some diced vegetables, add back the meat and cooking liquid, along with some rice, season it up, and voila. Have some good bread around, you're going to want to wipe the bowl clean.

Prep Time12 hrs

Cook Time30 mins

Course: Main Course, Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Groundhog, Small game, Stew, Woodchuck

 

Servings: 2

Ingredients

• One roughly 2-3 lb groundhog skinned, gutted, rinsed and quartered (see photo above)

Marinade

• 3 cups dry white wine
• 1 bulb of garlic cloves lightly crushed with the back of a knife
• 1 large sprig rosemary leaves torn off the branch
• a small handful of fresh thyme sprigs roughly 6-7
• 2 fresh bay leaves optional
• Kosher salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup blended olive oil or neutral vegetable oil

For the Groundhog Stew

• 3 cups mixed vegetables diced 1/4 inch (I used a mix of carrots, potatoes, onion, celery and fennel)
• 1 large tomato
• 3 qts chicken stock preferably homemade
• 4 ounces smoked pork belly or slab bacon diced 1/4 inch
• 1/4 cup wild rice flour for dredging the woodchuck, optional
• 1/2 tablespoon garlic minced
• 1/4 cup dry sherry
• 1/2 cup wood parched / natural wild rice or 1 cup cooked wild rice
• 1 ear of sweet corn
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Tobasco to taste, optional
• Sliced scallions 1/4 inch, tender white and green parts only, optional

Instructions

Marinating

• The night before hand, trim the groundhog pieces of as much visible fat as possible, then season liberally with salt and pepper, toss with the garlic cl0ves, oil, thyme, bay leaves, and rosemary. Put the seasoned groundhog pieces in a wide dish or casserole and pour over the wine. Allow the woodchuck to sit overnight or at least for 4-5 hours, turn it around in the juices now and then if you have time.
• Cut the corn from the cob, then cut the cobb into 2 inch slices and reserve both separately.
• To prepare the stew, render out the fat from the bacon in a wide 10 inch braising pan, remove the bacon and reserve, leave the fat in the pan.

Browning and Building the Stew

• Remove the groundhog pieces from their marinade, pat dry and remove any rogue herbs or pieces of garlic. Toss with the wild rice flour, then brown on medium high heat in the bacon fat. Pour off the spent fat from the pan, deglaze the pan with the sherry, reduce by half, then add the stock, corn cob, cover the pan and reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. If you have time, skim the albumen and fat that rise to the surface of the pan occasionally as it makes a cleaner tasting stew. Simmer the groundhog gently for 1.5 hours, or until the meat can be picked from the bones.
• Meanwhile, cook the wild rice in the chicken stock until just done, then strain out the rice and lay out on a plate or cookie sheet to cool. Reserve the wild rice liquid to add to the stew. It adds really good flavor, and that's why you're cooking the rice in chicken stock in the first place.
• Remove the woodchuck pieces and cool, then pick the meat from the bones, give it a rough chop, and reserve. You should have about 2.5 cups of meat.
• Remove the stock from the pan and reserve then strain it. You should have about 1 qts of liquid.
• Wipe the pan, then melt the butter and add the diced vegetables and the garlic. Sweat the mixture until it's well cooked, and the vegetables are soft, about 15 minutes, then add the reserved woodchuck liquid, wild rice liquid and simmer for 15 minutes more.
• Finally, add the woodchuck meat, corn kernels, and wild rice. Season the stew with salt to taste, then serve immediately with some Tobasco on the side. If not serving, chill immediately, transfer to a labeled, dated container and reserve until needed.

Phils Day

Today is a special day, it is the day that King of all Groundhogs takes center stage today, yes even over that thing they call the Superbowl, and tells us whether Spring is right around the corner or that we can expect six more weeks of winter. Phil, who has been eating my apples all summer will let us know on this day.

You can follow all of the action on the Punxsutawney Website that shows all of the mornings proceedings including the gathering on Gobblers Knob this morning.

Come on Phil, my old buddy and King of the Groundhogs, allow me to have a favorable prediction this year as you did last year.

All Hail Phil

Tuesday's Tidbits

 * It's February and one day before my favorite weather-predicting Groundhog tells us Spring is right around the corner. Good reason for tidbits. 

* It has been 21,249 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new and improved 991 day Calender. I prefer my calendar as it is the best calendar and it is variable. 

* It has been 6,483 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography. Is it really going on 18 years ago this spring? 

* 5,067 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together, the pizza hut is gone, the move was horrble, but we're still together.

* 4,289 days ago I proposed to Michelle, she was expecting it as we had already bought the engagement ring and it was sitting in the safe. 

* It was 3,832 days ago in front of our closest friends and family, Michelle and I became husband and wife at the Marilla Center, seems like it was just yesterday. 

* I have now lived 1,454 days longer than my Dad did and I'm still going strong. It really brings into the perception of just how young he was. 

* I have 3,690 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, but I love doing what I do. 

* 334 more days to go until my Goodbye 2022 Blog is posted, it's been eventful. I have it started. 

* There are 328 more shopping days left until Christmas 2022.

* The next Anniversary of my 21st Birthday will be in 303 more days. 

* The next Backyard Brawl where we beat Pitt's ass in Football is only 202 days away. 

* There are 186 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Eleventh Wedding Anniversary together. =)

* There are only 48 days until the start of Spring 2022. My favorite season of the year rolls around again. 

* There are 8 days until Michelle and I head to Pittsburgh to see Reba in concert. The Concert was supposed to be this August (actually it was supposed to be in March of last year) and they have moved it until the middle of February next year. So basically I bought tickets for a concert in 2022 in 2019. 

* 1 more days until Phil steps to center stage again for Groundhogs Day, he has ended his winter vacation and can once again be seen in the back yard eating the Corn Michelle puts out. 

* I have written 6,678 blogs in the now 17 1/4 years since I started blogging. Seems like it was just yesterday that I started all of this. 

* Michelle's fitbit that she has had for years finally died, she got a newer version of whatever it's called now. 

* Drone still needs to be sent out for repairs, not a big priority at this time. 

* Still haven't received our COVID kits we ordered last week but should be here this week. 

* I'm hoping the case of chocolates sits well with my friend Phil. 

* I'm Not sure if I have ever mentioned to anyone ever before, or if I have even said anything on this blog about it, but I Hate Snow. 

* Have yourselves a great day.  

* Hi ho hi ho