Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is once against completed, you know what that means. 

* It has been 22,321 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, and improved 1,045-day Calendar. 

* It has been 7,574 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography. I love what I do and am thankful to still be working on my field. 

* 6,161 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together. Ironically the theatre we went to see the movie in just closed for business this past weekend. 

* 5,372 days ago I proposed to Michelle in the backyard at 4:00 in the morning. I've been the luckiest guy since that fateful day. 

* It was 5,410 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, it was a great day with friends and family. 

* I have now lived 2,547 days longer than my Dad did and I'm still going strong, slowing down but still going. 

* Michelle has been living a clean and productive life and beat that alcohol demon 1,205 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,273 days, I've now outlived him by 1,064 days making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* I have 2,555 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, but I love doing what I do. Who knows though, doing what I do I may never retire.

* 363 more days until Phil steps to center stage once again for Groundhog Day.    

* 330 more days to go until my Goodbye 2025 Blog is posted. Hopefully, I can put some better content together this year.

* There are 323 more shopping days left until Christmas 2025.

* There are 301 days until I hit the age of 62. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* Pitt comes back to Morgantown in 222 more days. I can't wait. Revenge time for Rich Rod!!!!

* There are 183 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Fourteenth Wedding Anniversary together. 

* There are only 34 days to go until Spring 2025, my favorite season of the year.  

* It has been ∞ (infinity symbol) days that I have hated both Pitt and Penn State.

* I have written 7,835 blogs in what is now 20 years since I started blogging. Two decades ago.   

* Older Drone still needs to be sent out for repairs, not a big priority at this time. My little drone is awesome and I really like it....when I take time out to fly it.   

* Yes the Air conditioner is still in the bedroom window, now we are thinking about leaving it in for the winter. Michelle did buy a cover for it finally.

* Life is much better when you eat Girl Scout Cookies, just saying. 

* Still playing Monopoly Go. I'm still in 4th place among friends and family. It's been a back and forth and I currently sit at 4th place again. 

* This is my favorite Tiktok for this week. I've really started watching this ladies content over the past few weeks, she is hilarious. 

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

All good things must come to an end, but this is an exciting day to end the weekend on. Now we have to take our collective noses and stick them back onto that grindstone known as life and get back to doing what it is that we do for a living to make this a better rock to live on.

I did get some good news on Friday Morning, a day I thought would be my last one working for a while after a week of putting in Overtime. It may take two weeks to get our next contract in place and we were going to be sitting idle for the next two weeks, not anymore as we have money left over that we are allowed to charge to until the next contract is in place in a couple of weeks. I do have a few things I need to do to set up today, like even more security settings believe it or not. I'll have a virtual desktop on my VPN system that will give me access to the servers that I need to be on. 

Michelle's office should have everyone brought on and be up and fully up and running today after they made a few more hires in the past few weeks. A Project manager and a Properties manager as well as landing a few contracts with a large developer, things are looking real good where she is at now. 

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 2025.

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.

Groundhog Day

Here I sit on a quiet Sunday Morning, the Household is all full of anticipation. Kiwi and Peanut are up watching all the festivities on Groundhog.org so that they can see Phil the one day of the year he doesn't live in our backyard by the old bridge and is the spotlight of the world. Kiwi wants to have a Green Cheek Conure Day where he can fly around and if he poops in flight it means something. I don't think Phil wants to share the spotlight with them on his day, however. He's just like that I guess, but they are enjoying watching him on TV. 

I guess the big question needs to be what my next post is going to say, do I put up a Groundhog Stew Recipe or do I praise the great prognosticator for predicting and early Spring. I know Peanut and Kiwi are both voting for an early Spring as they have had enough of this wintery crap and I have to 100% agree with them on this. 

Has everyone gotten all their forms for their taxes yet? I think we have all of ours and I have even purchased the HR Block Software that I use from Amazon (it's cheaper there) and we are all set up and ready to start inputting information when we get everything organized. I think Michelle had 3 forms and I have 7 I think off the top of my head. I miss the days of simple returns..lol

Have yourselves a great day and hope Phil does not end up in a stew. 

Saturday Morning Rambling

Here I sit in a quiet household, scratch that Kiwi is talking all kinds of crap as he is beating his sister Peanut in a round of Texas Hold Em while they are watching Basketball on the TV. He's super excited that he is finally beating her at something, although I'm not sure what he is going to do with the catnip that she put up as an entry fee nor do I know what she would do with his seeds. I think it is just the thrill of competition between these two. 

I'm surprised they haven't stolen any of the car keeps in an attempt to make it up to Punxatawney tomorrow for Phil's big day. I know that they are both getting a little tired of the cold weather and all of he snow that they have seen in the past month or so. They, just like their Daddy is ready for some spring time weather and is ready to put this winter crap behind us until next fall. I can't really complain though, it has been much warmer the last few days and the Ten Day Forecast actually looks a little encouraging. 

So plans for the weekend? Nothing really, I'm still feeling a little under the weather but am feeling much better than I have in the last month or so. I mean if you are going to be under the weather, I guess the optimal time is when the weather outside is less than favorable, hows that for a positive spin on being sick. 

I guess it is official now, my great niece Erica and her Boyfriend Caleb are expecting their first child together this September. It's on Facebook, so that makes it official. lol

Have yourselves a great day. 

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 again the dawn of another weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday.

Today is my last day on this task with Parsons, our funding ends today, but before any more funding can be provided on the contract, this one needs to be completed first. So it looks like I may have a week or so of some free time as the next task gets put into place. 

So what is on our agenda for the weekend? No idea yet. Sunday is Phil's day and I may need to run to Punxatawney to throw salt in his eyes so he can't see his shadow. I'm already done with winter and am ready for Spring and Springtime weather. 

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 lot of fun.

This weeks pic goes back to the summer of 1978, back to the time when I was tall and lanky and my brother Gary was much shorter and pudgier than me. I think I was like 14 at the time, it was the year after Elvis had died (see my T-shirt). There is the infamous picture of the five us together for the first time, but this picture was also taken that day as well. 

The building in the background is Grandma and Grandpa Hall's garage, today that garage is next door to what is a Starbucks on Van Voorhis. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is once against completed, you know what that means. 

* It has been 22,314 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, and improved 1,045-day Calendar. 

* It has been 7,567 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography. I love what I do and am thankful to still be working on my field. 

* 6,154 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together. Ironically the theatre we went to see the movie in just closed for business this past weekend. 

* 5,365 days ago I proposed to Michelle in the backyard at 4:00 in the morning. I've been the luckiest guy since that fateful day. 

* It was 5,403 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, it was a great day with friends and family. 

* I have now lived 2,540 days longer than my Dad did and I'm still going strong, slowing down but still going. 

* Michelle has been living a clean and productive life and beat that alcohol demon 1,198 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,273 days, I've now outlived him by 1,057 days making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* I have 2,562 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, but I love doing what I do. Who knows though, doing what I do I may never retire.

* 337 more days to go until my Goodbye 2025 Blog is posted. Hopefully, I can put some better content together this year.

* There are 330 more shopping days left until Christmas 2025.

* There are 308 days until I hit the age of 62. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* Pitt comes back to Morgantown in 229 more days. I can't wait. Revenge time for Rich Rod!!!!

* There are 190 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Fourteenth Wedding Anniversary together. 

* There are only 41 days to go until Spring 2025, my favorite season of the year.  

* 6 more days until Phil steps to center stage once again for Groundhog Day. He and French Creek Freddie agreed on their predictions this year,  now let's just wait to see if they come true.   

* It has been ∞ (infinity symbol) days that I have hated both Pitt and Penn State.

* I have written 7,827 blogs in what is now 20 years since I started blogging. Two decades ago.   

* Older Drone still needs to be sent out for repairs, not a big priority at this time. My little drone is awesome and I really like it....when I take time out to fly it.   

* Yes the Air conditioner is still in the bedroom window, now we are thinking about leaving it in for the winter. 

* Life is much better when you eat Girl Scout Cookies, just saying. 

* Still playing Monopoly Go. I'm still in 5th place among friends and family. It's been a back and forth and I currently sit at 4th place again. 

* This is my favorite Tiktok for this week. With a lot of misinformation out there especially about Oil and Gas, this guy is more than worth a follow. 

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

All good things must come to an end, but this is an exciting day to end the weekend on. Now we have to take our collective noses and stick them back onto that grindstone known as life and get back to doing what it is that we do for a living to make this a better rock to live on.

This is my last week of work on this project, I have a few other things in the hopper so it's just a matter of waiting to see what happens after his week work wise for me. The good news is Michelle is secure in her career this time unlike us both being unemployed in early October at the same time. Time to wait and see. 

Other than that no plans for the week other than working. I'm sure Peanut and Kiwi will keep me busy taking care of them and occupying my time. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit once again in a quiet household, of course except a couple of rowdy pets that live here and are in constant need of attention. I think their plans are to watch some Football to see who the two teams are who will be vying for the Super Bowl Championship in a couple of weeks. They love watching football as does their daddy. 

I worked yesterday, so I am taking my one day off this weekend today. I'm going to be relaxing today (and trying to stay warm) and watching the NFL playoffs. Do I have a prediction who the two teams that will be playing in the Superbowl this year? Kansas City vs Philadelphia would be my guess as to the two participants. Nothing against Buffalo or Washington, but KC and Philadelphia are just a little better. 

I know Amy and Terri are talking about a family game night this spring up at her place. They are talking about doing it wither out in their garage or under their back pavilion. I have a Magnetic Chess game I could bring if we are looking for suggestions for games. 

Have yourselves a great day. Make it memorable. 

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit in a quiet household, if that is what you call it because Kiwi is up singing show tunes. Does he care what time of the morning it is? He says no his singing voice is much better during the wee hours of the morning and everyone should be paying him extra seeds to be entertained by him. 

I'm probably working today, our project is pretty much done but we have the go-ahead to work overtime this week as we might be down a couple of weeks as the next contract is put in place with our client, so I'll turn in some hours this coming week as we are waiting for the next phase to be approved.

Did get about half a dozen calls from head hunters yesterday, all of which for different jobs, all paying pretty well and all of them could turn into the next contract for me. I'm remaining with Parsons as I am a Parsons employee, but I have the ability to seek other contracts on the side. 

I think Michelle and I will be going out to dinner with her Sisters this evening. Roy wants to take Dani to Fusion and wants everyone to come. All three of them celebrate birthdays this month. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Got this from my sister Kim, wanting to warn people especially with AI getting better and better. \=

I typically don't post stuff like this, but I wanted to share. Today I missed a phone call from a WV 681 number, assuming it was someone from work, I called it back, no one answered. I figured they'd call back. They did. The woman on the phone sounded like my sister so much so that you would have a hard time convincing me otherwise. She was sobbing, saying "Sissy, please come get me. Please help me." Only one person in the world calls me that, and it's my sister. Then a man gets on the phone, and says he's with the Los Angeles County Sherriff Department and needs me to come get my sister. When I say I'm in WV, he tells me "I know, we brought her to WV." He tells me my sister is fine but needs me to pick her up, and if I will just text the number he's calling from he will drop me a pin with the location to meet him. The whole time I can hear the woman that sounds like my sister begging me to help her. So I hung up and called my sister. She is perfectly fine. So I called Beckley PD to report the scam. They said this is an on-going investigation, they are aware, and it is a trafficking/ransom scam. They said the scammers are using AI and accessing people's Facebook, Instagram, and other social media to make it sound like a family member. The number they called from was WV number 681-358-2991. Be safe out there people.

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 again the dawn of another weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday.

Not too much going on other than it's Friday. I'm getting ready for all of these cold and frigid temperatures to be over with and for Spring to be upon us, I am not a cold weather kind of person and I am so ready for Springtime and warm weather. A time when snow is just a memory. 

Just hoping to get through the day and enjoy another relaxing weekend. No big plans, nut that's just how it is for us this time of the year. 

Have yourselves a great day

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out, 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 lot of fun.

For this weeks pic let's go back over half a century, back to the Summer of 1974 when I was playing Little League Baseball. I was in my last year of B Ball before getting promoted to A ball. This was back in a time when the A and B teams were associated with each other and had the same sponsor. We were Citizens Savings and Loans and that is yours truly in the front row and center. I was the lead off hitter and the second baseman for this group of misfits. 

This was the first season after I had broken my leg and was in a body cast and debilitated for about 7 months as I had surgery, was hospitalized twice, was in traction with a pin through my leg and was just getting back to a normal life. We had a great coach whom I maintained a friendship with until his passing a few years ago. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is once against completed, you know what that means. 

* It has been 22,307 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, and improved 1,045-day Calendar. 

* It has been 7,560 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography. I love what I do and am thankful to still be working on my field. 

* 6,147 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together. Ironically the theatre we went to see the movie in just closed for business this past weekend. 

* 5,358 days ago I proposed to Michelle in the backyard at 4:00 in the morning. I've been the luckiest guy since that fateful day. 

* It was 5,396 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, it was a great day with friends and family. 

* I have now lived 2,533 days longer than my Dad did and I'm still going strong, slowing down but still going. 

* Michelle has been living a clean and productive life and beat that alcohol demon 1,191 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,273 days, I've now outlived him by 1,050 days making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* I have 2,569 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, but I love doing what I do. Who knows though, doing what I do I may never retire.

* 344 more days to go until my Goodbye 2025 Blog is posted. Hopefully, I can put some better content together this year.

* There are 337 more shopping days left until Christmas 2025.

* There are 315 days until I hit the age of 62. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* Pitt comes back to Morgantown in 236 more days. I can't wait. Revenge time for Rich Rod!!!!

* There are 197 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Fourteenth Wedding Anniversary together. 

* There are only 48 days to go until Spring 2025, my favorite season of the year.  

* 13 more days until Phil steps to center stage once again for Groundhog Day. He and French Creek Freddie agreed on their predictions this year,  now let's just wait to see if they come true.   

* It has been ∞ (infinity symbol) days that I have hated both Pitt and Penn State.

* I have written 7,819 blogs in what is now 20 years since I started blogging. Two decades ago.   

* Older Drone still needs to be sent out for repairs, not a big priority at this time. My little drone is awesome and I really like it....when I take time out to fly it.   

* Yes the Air conditioner is still in the bedroom window, now we are thinking about leaving it in for the winter. 

* Life is much better when you eat Girl Scout Cookies, just saying. 

* Still playing Monopoly Go. I'm still in 5th place among friends and family. It's been a back and forth and I currently sit at 5th place. 

* This is my favorite Tiktok for this week. It's not too often I agree with Rand Paul. this is one of those time I agree with him 100%.  

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

All good things must come to an end, but this is an exciting day to end the weekend on. Now we have to take our collective noses and stick them back onto that grindstone known as life and get back to doing what it is that we do for a living to make this a better rock to live on.

For many of you, you get to extend your weekend another day as today is Martin Luther King Jr Day, a Federal Holiday for many of the working stiffs, for me however a Contractor it's just another day that I am working. Banks and other things such as mail will not be available today, so keep that in mind. 

One thing that does come to an end today is the College Football Season, when Ohio State and Notre Dame are the last two teams standing in the 12-team playoff and it's winner-take-all all tonight for the National Championship. Do I have any predictions for the game? I think the Ohio State Buckeyes are going to be the last team standing when the game is completed. I could be wrong, but I think the Buckeyes will win this one. 

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit in the remains of camp Kiwi and Peanut as their fort just didn't uphold from them playing all day together on it yesterday. They seemed to have a good time fighting some imaginary enemy together, team work is always good but now they are just waiting for us to burn the remains as they lay around and be animals for the day. It was interesting in here yesterday, especially when they somehow had their canon fire my rolled up socks as they were yelling die winter die. I don't think they like the snow and cold weather either. 

So what are our plans for the day? Not too much, Michelle managed to get all of the shopping done between Friday evening and yesterday Morning, which means I just have some chores around the house (like cleaning up cat and bird poop) and disposing of it, sorting my weeks worth of prescriptions, and just the general things we do around the house for the start of the week. Dinner is going to be a good one today, Michelle is making some home made beef stew in the crock pot and may even do a homemade loaf of bread. Just some relaxing things at the house, kind of a lazy day as I would refer to them. 

I am waiting to see what is going to happen to Tiktok. I know most of you don't use it, but I am always streaming lives when I'm working listening to people like you and me discuss a wide array of topics (I mostly pay attention to the political discussions) where there are some very educational debates taking place. Now you can find the whackadoodle nutjob discussions where it is one viewpoint and all they want to do is belittle people, but I tend to scroll post those looking for the better ones that I want to listen to. I personally think Congress and the Supreme Court have not upheld their oaths and are violating my constitutionally protected first amendment rights. I think of people like my Brother in Law Nick who has really put forth a lot of effort and expenses to build his platform for his product lines of what he is selling. I feel sorry for the people who have built a following and established themselves for financial security on the platform and how our Government and Courts are violating the Constitution, the First Amendment specifically, to pass an unconstitutional law. I guess we'll have to wait and see how this all plays out, if it goes away I will miss it. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Saturday Morning Rambling

Here I sit in a semi-quiet household, Kiwi and Peanut have been up all night constructing their fort as they call it. It's good to see that these two are working well together rather than arguing who the better chess player is. I'm not sure who they think is going to invade their castle of the pets, I'm kind of worried about what they have put into that canon as a projectile, if it fires and why is it pointed in my direction. 

Is anyone ready for a break from all this snow and cold weather? It's supposed to get colder next week believe it or not. Maybe I need to order a nice gift basket and send to Phil for Groundhogs Day. A nice selection of his favorite flavored corns, seeds and nut and a bottle of liquor to impair his eye site for a brief period of time. 

No plans for the day other than what we would normally do on a weekend at home other than trying to stay warm. Have I ever mentioned that I am not a big fan of the snow and winter weather? What I am probably going to do today is let the creative juices flowing to write a few blogs and create some AI Imagery with my cast of characters as seen in this post. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

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 again the dawn of another weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday.

Hopefully the weather will be better this weekend than it has the past couple. Snowfall and more snowfall is not how I like to spend my weekends, but if you know anything about me you would know I don't like snow. Not even a little bit.

No plans for the weekend as of press time, but I guess I shouldn't be complaining. Weather permitting we might try to get out and get some things done this weekend that we normally wouldn't do because of the bad weather. 

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 lot of fun.

One of the most special times of the year around here is usually mid October, that is when the leaves all change colors and the view at some scenic places is absolutely breathtaking. Notice the time frame I started/

At the end of October Michelle and I went to Coopers Rock to see of we could witness any of the fall colors even though we were on the very back end if not past time time when it would have been optimal. 

I grabbed this picture of my wonderful wife as we were walking towards the overlook, they put a few of these types of setting around the state and now Coopers Rock has at least one (or at least that I saw) heading to the big rock. 

Have yourselves a great day.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Michelle Dawn Hall

I would like to take this opportunity to wish what I truly believe as the best wife in the Universe a Very Happy Birthday today. This is my soulmate and the absolute love of my life. I do not know what I would do without her, she is an absolutely amazing woman.

 
Mother, Wife, Daughter, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Cat Mom, and Bird Mom are things she does and does very well. I have to say that I am very lucky to be able to witness all that she does on a daily basis.

 
She is lucky to share this Birthday with her Sister Chris who is also celebrating a birthday today. So if you see either of these lovely ladies, make sure you take a little bit of time out and wish each of them a very Happy Birthday today.

 
Michelle, I Love You with all my heart and I truly appreciate everything that you do. 

Happy Birthday.

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is once against completed, you know what that means. 

* It has been 22,300 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, and improved 1,045-day Calendar. 

* It has been 7,553 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography. I love what I do and am thankful to still be working on my field. 

* 6,140 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together. Ironically the theatre we went to see the movie in just closed for business this past weekend. 

* 5,351 days ago I proposed to Michelle in the backyard at 4:00 in the morning. I've been the luckiest guy since that fateful day. 

* It was 5,389 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, it was a great day with friends and family. 

* I have now lived 2,526 days longer than my Dad did and I'm still going strong, slowing down but still going. 

* Michelle has been living a clean and productive life and beat that alcohol demon 1,184 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,273 days, I've now outlived him by 1,043 days making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* I have 2,576 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, but I love doing what I do. Who knows though, doing what I do I may never retire.

* 351 more days to go until my Goodbye 2025 Blog is posted. Hopefully, I can put some better content together this year.

* There are 344 more shopping days left until Christmas 2025.

* There are 322 days until I hit the age of 62. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* Pitt comes back to Morgantown in 243 more days. I can't wait. Revenge time for Rich Rod!!!!

* There are 204 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Fourteenth Wedding Anniversary together. 

* There are only 55 days to go until Spring 2025, my favorite season of the year.  

* 20 more days until Phil steps to center stage once again for Groundhog Day. He and French Creek Freddie agreed on their predictions this year,  now let's just wait to see if they come true.   

* It has been ∞ (infinity symbol) days that I have hated both Pitt and Penn State.

* I have written 7,819 blogs in what is now 20 years since I started blogging. Two decades ago.   

* Older Drone still needs to be sent out for repairs, not a big priority at this time. My little drone is awesome and I really like it....when I take time out to fly it.   

* Yes the Air conditioner is still in the bedroom window, now we are thinking about leaving it in for the winter. Now Michelle wants to take it out. 

* Life is much better when you eat Girl Scout Cookies, just saying. 

* Still playing Monopoly Go. I'm still in 4th place among friends and family. 

* This is my favorite Tiktok for this week. Might be something to try. 

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

All good things must come to an end, but this is an exciting day to end the weekend on. Now we have to take our collective noses and stick them back onto that grindstone known as life and get back to doing what it is that we do for a living to make this a better rock to live on.

If you want my opinion, weekends move by way too quickly. I did have a little bit of entertainment this past weekend as I watched people try to navigate the roads who are unfamiliar with driving in wintery conditions and are also unfamiliar in terrain driving (meaning you have hills as obstacles). It was cheap and fun entertainment to say the least. 

So what is on the week ahead? There is not much coming up this week as far as work related things. Still chugging along as is Michelle. Just your typical week. 

Have yourselves a great day.

Hui ho hi ho

Sunday

Here I sit in a semi-quiet household, Kiwi and Peanut have decided to pull the blackstone out of the garage and bring it downstairs, they want to do some kind of a seed/catnip type of dish that they can make for a nice healthy snack today. Kiwi was researching recipes all day yesterday and Peanut thinks she is the Galloping Cat Gourmet. Michelle and I will be making poor man's stuffed peppers while those two work on their animal-favorite contraption. 

Still feeling a little under the weather this morning, I've had this about a week and a half and it started out as a stomach bug that is also a head cold, it's like a lot of little sicknesses all rolled into one. I'm not planning on going to Ryleigh's Birthday Party today, so to make it up to her I'll post that she is selling Girl Scout Cookies once again if anyone would like to order from her. 

Yesterday was a fun one down in the valley, cars were stuck in the turn and getting stuck in the ditches all morning long due to the snowfall. It was an utter mess all morning and afternoon where there was even a car stuck at the beginning of our driveway for a few hours. 

Have yourselves a great day, make it memorable. 

Happy Birthday Sandra Irene Bell

On this cold and snowy Saturday Morning, both Peanut and Kiwi said that they would be good and play a few friendly hands of Poker on their Grandmother Sandi's Birthday. Kiwi was going to fly over an make her and Gerald Breakfast, but he is too caught up in a game of poker with Peanut. 

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my wonderful Mother, Sandra Irene, a very Happy 82nd birthday (which rounds down to 29 years old) today. I know she really enjoys reading what my two rambunctious animals do every weekend, but I told them to play nice for Grandma today but their competitive nature took over. 

Not too sure what Mom has planned for the day, not that I would advise them on going anywhere with the additional impending snow that we are scheduled to get, but whatever it is she gets into today I'm sure it will be special. 

Happy Birthday Mom from Michelle, Peanut, Kiwi and myself. 

 

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 again the dawn of another weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday.

Kiwi is celebrating, Peanut on the other hand is not so excited as it's just another day to her. I guess that is the difference between a feline and a birds life. Kiwi is animated and happy about everything, except him not being able to beat his sister in Chess. 

So what are our plans for this weekend? Probably just some chores and relaxing, it's this middle of winter thing and I've been battling being sick once again so there is that.I seem to battle this every January the past few years, could be a sign that I am getting older. 

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 lot of fun.

This weeks pic was an opportunistic one that we took on Thanksgiving at the Firehall. Hayley, Tyler and Luke had come down for the days festivities and Michelle had the backdrop set up and I had my camera in tow, so I didn't let this little lost moment in time slip away. 

It's not too often that me, being the man behind the lens, gets to get in the picture. My niece Amy can attest to that as she has taken so many pictures through the years, but from the view of the photographer. Every once in a while it is just nice to be on the other side of the camera. 

Have yourselves a great day. 

Hi ho hi ho

Wednesday

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Monday is once against completed, you know what that means. 

* It has been 22,293 days since I was born, that is 21 years using my new,  new, and improved 1,045-day Calendar. 

* It has been 7,546 days since I graduated from WVU with a Degree in Geography. I love what I do and am thankful to still be working on my field. 

* 6,133 days ago Michelle and I had our first date together. Ironically the theatre we went to see the movie in just closed for business this past weekend. 

* 5,344 days ago I proposed to Michelle in the backyard at 4:00 in the morning. I've been the luckiest guy since that fateful day. 

* It was 5,382 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, it was a great day with friends and family. 

* I have now lived 2,519 days longer than my Dad did and I'm still going strong, slowing down but still going. 

* Michelle has been living a clean and productive life and beat that alcohol demon 1,177 days ago today. 

* My older Brother Jonathan lived 21,273 days, I've now outlived him by 1,036 days making me Senior Supreme Sibling once again! 

* I have 2,583 days to go until I retire, give or take a few hundred days here or there, but I love doing what I do. Who knows though, doing what I do I may never retire.

* 358 more days to go until my Goodbye 2025 Blog is posted. Hopefully, I can put some better content together this year.

* There are 351 more shopping days left until Christmas 2025.

* There are 329 days until I hit the age of 62. Yeah I know, I'm really older than 21. 

* Pitt comes back to Morgantown in 250 more days. I can't wait. Revenge time for Rich Rod!!!!

* There are 211 more days to go until Michelle and I celebrate our Fourteenth Wedding Anniversary together. 

* There are only 62 days to go until Spring 2025, my favorite season of the year.  

* 27 more days until Phil steps to center stage once again for Groundhog Day. He and French Creek Freddie agreed on their predictions this year,  now let's just wait to see if they come true.   

* It has been ∞ (infinity symbol) days that I have hated both Pitt and Penn State.

* I have written 7,812 blogs in what is now 20 years since I started blogging. Two decades ago.   

* Older Drone still needs to be sent out for repairs, not a big priority at this time. My little drone is awesome and I really like it....when I take time out to fly it.   

* Yes the Air conditioner is still in the bedroom window, now we are thinking about leaving it in for the winter. Now Michelle wants to take it out. 

* Still playing Monopoly Go. I'm still in 5th place among friends and family. 

* This is my favorite TikTok for this week. Sad but true. 

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

All good things must come to an end, but this is an exciting day to end the weekend on. Now we have to take our collective noses and stick them back onto that grindstone known as life and get back to doing what it is that we do for a living to make this a better rock to live on.

There’s something magical about a fresh week. My mind feels like a blank slate—clean, clear, and ready to tackle whatever comes my way. Whether it’s the chirp of the alarm or that first sip of coffee, Mondays always seem to whisper, “Let’s do this.”

I spent the weekend resetting—long walks, good books, and maybe a little too much time with Peanut and Kiwi. (Peanut seems to think Monday means extra cuddle time, and Kiwi? Well, he’s probably plotting his next great escape.)

But now it’s time to refocus. Work goals? Set. To-do list? Ready to conquer. Energy? Fully charged. Mondays aren’t just a day to get back to the grind; they’re a chance to realign and reignite the passion for whatever I’m working on.

Here’s to productivity, positivity, and a week full of wins. Let’s make it a good one!

How does Monday feel for you? Are you ready to dive in, or do you need a little nudge? Let me know in the comments—let’s motivate each other!

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Here we all sit in a quiet household, Kiwi and Peanut have decided to do a change of pace and try their hand at a game of Monopoly instead of another game of chess. Peanut is up 4 games to none in chess and Kiwi just wants a chance to even the score up a little bit with his own unique set of rules. They know Michelle and I play Monopoly Go on our phones, so they wanted to try their hand at the board game. Some of the rules they come up with, like if you have feathers free parking pays you $1,000 and if you can scratch your own ear you get free houses on your properties. Some of the rules that they manage to come up with are amazing. 

So what is on today's agenda? Nothing, Michelle managed to get all of the shopping done yesterday due to the inclement weather that we are supposed to get this morning, so she got everything down yesterday. I still have a few things to do around the house (like trash, kitty litter, sort pills for the week) but I should be able to manage most of that before Michelle even gets out of bed. 

I do have to say, this is my least favorite time of the year. The weather is cold, the roads are dangerous to travel on and you are pretty much stuck inside with no where to go. Maybe it is time I start ordering some bribes for my old buddy Phil the Groundhog and French Creek Freddy in case Phil doesn't come through for me this year. 

Have yourselves a great day and try to stay warm. I'll update you if there are any unique monopoly rules that come out of this game. 

Saturday Morning Rambling

Here I sit on this cold and wintery Saturday Morning, this is actually the first blog post that I will have written in 2025 as I usually write them ahead of time. Kiwi and Peanut have expressed to me that neither one of them like this cold weather or this crap that falls on the ground called snow. I can't blame them and I agree with them 100% because it may have been said on this blog that I am not a fan of snow. 

Michelle worked over yesterday, so we are going to do our Friday chores this morning, meaning Sam's club and Aldi's shopping today. I have a weeks worth of blogs to write sometime today and it just might be a movie and a nap kind of day. 

I'm actually going to enjoy a nice two day weekend, no holidays coming up this upcoming week so no need to work an altered schedule of a contractor to make up for those lost hours. I think it has actually been the last three weekends that I have worked, had a Doctors appointment and an interview the first week so I worked on Sunday to make up the hours. 

Have yourselves a great day, make it memorable. 

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 again the dawn of another weekend and a Big Ole Hairy Friday.

Kiwi and Peanut are still celebrating the New Year, I don't think they grab the concept that there is a time limit on it and eventually the days move on. They are animals, every day is the same for them, so they don't care. 

Nothing really on our agenda for the weekend, things start to slow down a little bit post Holiday. I think Michelle may change our Christmas Tree to a Valentines Day Tree for something a little different. It started out as a Halloween Tree, then it became a Christmas Tree, now next up is Valentines Day and St Patricks Day, all while ignoring Phil's day. 

Have yourselves a great day and a great weekend.