Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit in a quiet household, everyone here is sleeping except the dog Sadie who is doing a her dog thing over on the pillow. I'm watching a great movie in the background about West Virginia, Matewan, but it is a movie that I have had the pleasure of seeing numerous times. I've always really liked that movie and it was the best thing on the boob tune at this time in the morning.

When I was a kid my Saturday Mornings used to be filled with all kinds of entertainment, like HR Puffinstuff, Buggs Bunny or the Wacky Racers. It was a time when all the channels showed cartoons and kids stuff. Somewhere along the way Looney Tunes was replaced by long Saturday morning news casts.

Anyways on to the present day. Michelle is feeling better, but I still have my chest cold lingering a bit. It's not going to be enough to inhibit either of us from doing anything today. Too bad the weather is not going to be as warm as it was this past week when I was home sick or working.

The good news is I am starting to see some plants coming out of the ground at work. Daffodils are starting to push up through the ground and my favorite time of the year is just right around the corner. I'm anticipating the day when I can pull out my butt cushions and head on over ton Hawley Field and watch the Mountaineer Baseball team take on somebody as the sun beats down on me. Come on sunburn...LOL

Have a great day

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

Well I actually did make it back to work yesterday after two days off fighting the flu bug, now I think Michelle might be coming down with it as she is not feeling at the top of her game and may need a little rest. I didn't go to the gym yesterday other than to see if I am still maxing out at the same weight or if I added any strength by adding 6.25 lbs. I couldn't quite get that weight up, but I am still bench pressing the entire stack on maxout even after being sick. I'll wait to see how I feel this morning before I give a thumbs up or a thumbs down as to todays workout.

I am probably guessing Michelle and I will get into nothing this weekend unless something comes up unexpectedly. It's sad especially with the weather being so nice this week and both of us battling a little bit of a cold.

So hi ho hi ho

Groundhog Stew

* Cut off the head, tail, and feet of the damn rat who saw his shadow this morning. Skin and remove the insides very pianfully. Make sure you remove the scent glands as he is screaming for mercy. You'll find them around the top of the groundhog's front legs and the lower back, in the small of it.


* Rinse the inside of the groundhog thoroughly with water and then the outside, and then cure groundhog three to four days or just nuke his ass alive.

* Cut the groundhog into sections. You decide how many, just keep remembering six more weeks with every chop.

* Fill a pot with enough cold water to cover the varmit, usually two quarts. Add ½ cup vinegar and 1 to 1½ tbs. salt. Add a slice of onion, if you'd like. Place the varmit in the vinegar and salt brine and cover. Leave it in the pot for 8 to 12 hours. Decide what recipe you'll use after the groundhog has soaked in the brine. I've decided for groundhog stew. Pour off brine, thoroughly rinse, and beat dry or until spring comes.

* Boil the groundhog in 2 quarts of water for 20 minutes. If foamy water rises to the top, skim it away. Afterwards slice into 1 to 1½ inch pieces.

* Chop 1 onion, 1 celery stalk, 2 garlic cloves, 6 to 8 carrots, and 4 to 6 potatoes. Lower the heat and simmer for 45 minutes or until fork tender and don't forget to add lots and lots of garlic.

* Mix ½ cup of cool water with 1 tbs. flour. Mix until the flour blends without lumps. Add to stew to thicken the broth. Once it's done, salt and pepper to taste, if desired.

If anyone is looking for fresh groundhog...

Groundhogs Day

OK my little buddy from Punxsutawney, Phil I am talking to you once again this year and even though this has to be the mildest winter that I think I can ever remember on record, I'm hoping that all the partying you did last night has you blinded and no shadows shall be seen on this day. It's time for Punxsutawney Phil to step up to center stage and tell us what the next six weeks worth of weather will consist of.

You can keep track of all of the days events HERE. One of these years I am going to have to go up for this event, I hear it is an all night party on Gobblers Knob.

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all of my thousands of pictures that are either digital or that I have scanned through the years and select just one to write a blog about and tell a little story about. Sometimes it's pretty easy, and sometimes you have to take a while to find that one picture you want to talk about.

This weeks picture has two very important people in it. First of all the bald Troy Polamalu jersey wearing fat guy is none other than yours truly a few years ago at Steelers trivia. If you norice the center team, they were from Punxsutawney and had a furry little buddy/rat (depending on whether he sees his shadow today) along with them for the ride as good luck.

In case anyone forgot, this was the finals of the KDKA Trivia Challenge and we kind of smoked everyone that year and won the whole thing. I didn't have to do much as I was a replacement for Chris's Dad and they should have won it the year before after setting the single round record for points.

If anyone needs any highlights of that tournament:

Signing Day

This is a big day in all of college football, no no games are being played unless you try to keep some kind of a mythical score. Today is Letter of Intent Day in College Football. This is the day when the High School players who have verbally committed to schools sign the binding Letter of Intent.

I will be keeping an eye on it through Blue and Gold News to see if there are any signing day flips or if any of our recruits have changed their mind at the last minute. We have a number of kids from this class who graduated High School a Semester early and have already enrolled at WVU this January. They are: Karl Joseph, Sean Walters, Jordan Thompson, Ford Childress and Imarjaye Albury. All five of these players have already enrolled at WVU and taking classes this semester meaning we will be seeing them in the Spring Game this year.

Some of the players expected to ink with the Mountaineers today include son of former WVU running back Eugene Napolean in Brandon Napolean. It is the day that the payoff of all of our recruiting efforts start to pay off and come to fruition.

Hump Day

Well part of yesterdays BLOG was inaccurate. When I rite my BLOG, because I am to do so on a daily basis I like to get it out early in the AM. That way it posts usually at about 5:00 AM our time. Yesterday however I was a bit under the weather and did NOT make it to work or the gym. I've had a bit of a chest cold for a few days and it had me down yesterday.

Hopefully this morning when I actually do get up I am feeling better. In all likelihood I will still have this in my chest (I am writing this Tuesday Evening) and will try going to work today, but may take the rest of the week off from working out to allow this to clear my chest. We'll have to see though.

Michelle finally got her cast off of her foot yesterday, the top of her foot is still a little tender and she is still taking caltrate plus the bone simulator she is wearing for ten hours a day. She is happy to have that inhibiting thing off of her leg and being able to start to fuction normally again.

Hopefully it's hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is once again in our rear view mirrors and we are staring straight down the barrel of another Tuesday, I can't for the life of me think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* 1,418 days ago I went on my first date with a woman who would later be my wife.

* 641 days ago I got down one one knee in the back yard and popped out the engagement ring and asked her if she would Marry me.

* 178 days ago, we tied the bonds of matrimony in front of our closest friends and family.

* 329 Days left to get your Christmas shopping done for 2012.

* In two short days I determine of I am going to have Groundhog for dinner or take a groundhog out for dinner. Yeah Phil I'm talking to you ole buddy.

* I do have to say that when I woke up yesterday morning I was not feeling very well. I did manage to make it to the gym and work all day, as I'm sure I'll manage to do today.

* Speaking of the gym it's a 100% cardio day for me. I usually do 3.25-3.35 miles on the treadmill on Tuesday's and Thursdays with a small but significant incline. That's twice a week when I do better than the equivalent of a 5K run walk. The other days I only do 30 Minutes of cardio, I go the full 60 minutes today.

* We had fried cabbage and kielbasa for dinner last night. Ironically I ran across an article that talked about all the benefits of cabbage and sauerkraut. Me? I just love the taste and we do it about once a week.

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday Again????

If there is one day of the week that there is a general consensus on as to everyone's LEAST favorite day of the week, I think Monday would win with an overwhelming majority. It's the day we stick our noses back on the grindstone and get back to doing what it is we do so we can enjoy the weekend.

We did upgrade our bedroom humidifier yesterday, we had one for the past couple of years, but both of our sinuses have been killing us this winter, so we got a better one that puts out significantly more mist and is well worth it.

So much for the procrastinating, the gym is calling my name and needs to see me there ASAP. It is a lifting and cardio day, so rest assured I'll get a very good workout in today. I have been going to the gym pretty much every day since we got back from our honeymoon last August. I'm feeling great, feeling strong and fit at a level that I haven't felt in a number of years.

Not sure what my work schedule has in line for me, there is a meeting in Mexico for the Atlas that I have been working on for the past year this week. I would have loved to have had the opportunity to go down, it was initially offered last year, but never came to full fruition. All the people who are actually working on it, are not the ones going. Ironic isn't it? LOL. Now if we can just arrange for the Next NatCarb Atlas to have the official kickoff meeting in Hawaii....(yeah, don't we all wish)

Hi ho hi ho

Weekend Windown

Well we took a little road trip to JC Penney's and Tanger Outlets yesterday, to see if Penney's was running any sales and Michelle wanted to pick up a few things at Tanger.

JC Penney's has me wondering, I love their Van Heusen collection but I was under the impression they are either transitioning the store for a big sale in a few days or they are eliminating that collection which would really....well kinda suck since basically all my shirts are Van Heusen's. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

I missed it, but the Mountaineers were royally screwed while playing at 4th ranked Syracuse yesterday. It was a very controversial ending as the game tying basket was goal tended by Syracuse and the Big East refs did not make the call and we lost 63-61. When commentators are calling for the three refs to be suspended, and not our commentators but ESPN's Digger Phelps then you know something is wrong.

We did watch the Womens team put a 53-22 beating on Marquette last night on TV.

Normal chores and shopping today for Michelle and I.

Have a good one.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

I once again sit in a quiet household with everyone sleeping except me and the TV in the background. Lewis Black is doing a standup routine behind me on HBO and I'm sitting here trying to collect my thoughts for the new day.

Michelle finally got her bone stimulator yesterday. She broke her foot this past October, they finally put it into a cast earlier this year and they finally processed all the proper paperwork with my insurance that allows her to have one. We were told last month that many insurance companies will not allow for them, mine covers it at 100%. She has to wear it for ten hours a day until her cast comes off and then a few months after the cast comes off as well for ten hours a day. I'm just thankful she's on my insurance now, which I have to say is top of the line. I am very lucky in that regard.

Hayley is going to try to get a job at the Valley Mart, she had been working at Bed Bath and Beyond but was getting next to no hours there, so she is going to get something where getting there isn't an issue and she can get a few more hours under her belt. It's just right across the street, so that will be much easier for her for the time being as all she has to do is walk.

Yesterday was a hared day for Michelle and the kids, it was six years ago yesterday that her Husband and the kids father passed away in the middle of the night. It was an emotional time of remembered for all of them, I never had the opportunity to really meet the man other than seeing him once, so all I could do is offer my support and comfort in their time of remembering him.

Hi ho hi ho

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

I have to say this was a pretty quick week for me, maybe it was just the nice spring time like weather for most of the week but this week did seem to fly on by. I'm hoping that this is a good thing and not the calm before the storm.

I don't know what the Mrs. and myself will be getting into this weekend, obviously we'll be doing our weekly shopping, laundry and weekend chores before Monday. Maybe we'll find something fun and entertaining to do this weekend.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to spend a little bit of precious to go through my tens of thousand of digital pictures that I have and take a little time out to tell a little story about it. Some times it's an easy task, sometimes you have to look for a while to get that picture.

Today's picture takes us back to a time of of nations Bicentennial celebration year of 1976. A time when I actually not only had hair, but probably even had more hair than my sister Terri does here in this picture.

The more I look at this picture, I see her Granddaughter Erica Jean's eyes looking back at me. I never really noticed that until now, but wow is there a resemblance.

Anyways this was Terri's 1976 school picture that I had picked for this weeks flashback.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Yesterday was another beautiful day weather wise, I can't believe we have been blessed with such nice weather at the end of January. We're usually cold and snowy at this time of the year so I can't complain.

Unless Punxsutawney Phil and Mother Nature are conspiring to just tease me a little before he get blasted with winter. I have to remember to send Phil a bottle or two of Scotch and Mother nature a nice bottle of perfume or some some really good chocolates, maybe they are just going to be nice this winter. Phil is my buddy though, he wouldn't plan a Pearl Harbor attack on me....would he????

On another note, last month I set myself a goal to try to achieve in the weight room by the end of 2012 as far as bench press. I thought it would be a nice way to keep working on a goal that I could be proud of, well I made a lot of progress in the Month of December and planned on hitting a certain benchmark by mid-February and had hoped to reach my goal six month ahead of schedule by July.

Well hard work in the gym and I reached that benchmark today, about a month ahead of schedule. The rate things are going I'm going to be able to reach a goal that I would be very proud of by now maybe April. Even much more ahead of my goal I set for 2012. Maybe it's time to re-evaluate and set that goal much higher than I planned on doing for this entire year. It gives you a great feeling knowing that you are really achieving goals that I could be proud of at a much earlier time than I anticipated.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well that dreadful Monday is now behind us and we are looking at it in our rear view mirror and staring straight down the barrel of a Tuesday, I can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1,411 days since Michelle and I went on our first date a few years ago.

* 634 days ago I got down on one knee in the backyard and proposed marriage.

* We are entering our 171st day of wedded bliss.

* There are only 336 more shopping days left until Christmas, unless the Mayans were right and we have experienced our last Christmas. Plan accordingly.

* How do you like these uncharacteristically warm January days? It was actually in the 65° yesterday afternoon, I have to love this kind of Winter.

* I'll be in meetings half a day today running a WebX session with a couple other countries today concerning our Atlas that is due out in April.

* Michelle just informed me it's supposed to snow later this week, so much for my happy Springtime mood...LOL

* Hi ho hi ho

Back to Work

All good things must come to an end and that includes our fun filled weekends. Yes it is time for those of us who work every day to stick our noses back on the grindstone and get back to doing what it is that we do that allows us to enjoy the weekends.

A lot of sadness this weekend as I learned about the passing of long time Penn State football coach Joe Paterno early yesterday morning. JoePa as he was referred to by Penn State fans and fans of all fan bases alike, was a coach that despite the recent scandals in Happy Valley that I still had a great deal of respect for. He used to make his bi-annual trip to Morgantown with his Nittany Lions and of all the times he did, we only beat him twice and he showed an extreme level of class in both of those occasions. Eastern Football is now a thing of the past.

I hope everyone has a great Monday, it's off to the gym for me so...

Hi ho hi ho

Sterogram on Every Mans Mind

A little fun with a sterogram for those of us who can read them =)

Click on image for larger view

Optical Illusion

Shake Your Head

Sunday Morning

I guess it's never dull around here in the middle of the night. Yesterday they had the gunman downtown and just a few hours ago there were a couple of drunks fighting in the middle of the street up the road from our house. Chad was out there to break it up and I guess one of the guys actually was run over by a car. Chad said they were two brothers and of course the police were called. I was sleeping so I missed that b it of early morning excitement.

Nothing major on our agenda for today other than our grocery shopping that we do every Sunday morning. This weather I have to say is horrible and I feel like a hibernating bear on weekends. I guess Spring is on its way back as we have passed through the first third of winter already.

Maybe this would be a good time to start planning our back patio garden for 2012 as well as some of the projects we have been doing around here. Last year was our first go around with the backyard patio garden. We kind of entered into it not really knowing what we wanted to do with it. Our Mint is STILL going strong even today of you can believe that.

I don't think we are going try broccoli this year, they all flowered before they hit maturity. We did have a great deal of luck with our peppers and tomatoes and next to no luck with our Onions. Lettuce came in strong, but kind of over shadowed and screwed a few other things up. It was a leaf lettuce rather than a head lettuce and our cabbage never really grew to a point where we could harvest it. Something tells me this year will be more fresh spices, peppers and a tomato plant.

Stay warm and have a great day.

Auction Today

As many of you know my Brother in Law Jim is an Auctioneer. He is holding an auction today at Woodland United Methodist Church on the Mileground at 1:00 if anyone is interested.

There are a number of items they are Auctioning off today, if anyone is looking for furniture they have a nice amount of furniture. I know a couple of years ago my Brother in Law George was able to purchase a lot of old office furniture that he was able to use outside during the summer.

If you are looking to bargain hunt today and want to someplace centrally located as to avoid any bad roads, this might be for you.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Once again it is the weekend and I am up early, I'm not the only one up, Chad and Laiah are doing laundry and watching a movie in his room. I've got National Lampoon's Vacation playing in the background as Clark Griswald is trying to get his family to WallyWorld (or me every time I try to get to Idlewild Park LOL.

I guess there was a level of concern last night at WVU, the downtown area was put on lock-down as a gunman had been spotted. I guess this went on for a period of time until the gunman was subdued without any shots being fired (gotta love twitter). Turns out it was a kid who had a BB Gun. The Mountainlair went on lock-down, the dorms went on lock-down and I guess there was a lot of chaos. I'm glad it was something minor and did not turn out to be something like the Virginia tech incident a few years ago.

It was supposed to be cold with freezing rain and snow out this morning, so if you have to go anywhere be safe as travel may be a concern.

I did get a nice little iPhone Ap this week and the hardware to go with it. I installed and bought a couple card readers for SquareUp which allows me to accept credit cards with my iPhone. Not that I will ever need it, but you never know and it's always best to be prepared. I bought one reader, which Apple gave me my money back as a credit and then I ordered another free one from SquareUp.

Have a great day, stay warm and stay safe.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

First off a couple of Happy Birthdays. First to my Sister and Law Danni who is celebrating her birthday today. And to Chad's girlfiend Laiah who is also celebrating her birthday today. This has been the month of birthdays that's for sure. After eleven birthdays this month so far between family and friends, I think I am in the clear until March.

I think Michelle and I are going to just sit back and relax this weekend other than what we normally do with our shopping. I think we both fighting back against being sick and the rest will do us some good.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all of my thousands of digital pictures that I have either taken or scanned through the years and select one to reflect upon.

This weeks picture is comes from not only a time long ago but a place a long way away. This was a picture of today's Birthday boy when he was growing up as a child with his family in Zaire (or Tanzania depending on where the picture was take).

I know Farida and Abdul, I can use a little deductive reasoning and see that the little boy is Nick. Now we have three girls, Nasrin, Samira and someone else and someone else. My best guess is that Nas and Samira are wearing matching dresses and my next guess is Nasrin is in between Abdul and Farida with Samira on Abdul's right.

This is my best guess, I would need someone else to confirm if I am guessing correctly.

Enjoy the flashback of the birthday boy.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Nihat "Nick" Rehmani

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my Brother in Law Nick a very Happy Birthday today. I'm lucky to have some of the best Brother in Law's a man could ask for, and Nick is one of the best.

He's always a man who would give you the shirt off his back in times of need and always wants to help others and put a smile on everyones face who ever meets him.

If you see Nick today, make sure you wish him a very Happy Birthday.

Hump Day

Well the first part of the week is now behind us, now it's just a matter of getting up over this hump and coasting to another fun filled weekend.

It's this time of the year that I really don't like. The days are still kind of short, but they are getting longer by the day, and the weather is still a little cold for my taste. I think this is the time when I start to suffer a little bit from SAD, I leave for work and it's dark, I get home and it's starting to get dark and even though I have been working my butt off the past five months in the gym, I feel like I could use an energy drink to revitalize me and get me past being tired in the afternoon. I have a few Five Hour Energy's in my office, that I can always use in the afternoon if I have an important meeting, but I tend to avoid taking them.

Note to self, remember to send a couple female groundhogs and a case of Aftershock to Phil before Groundhogs Day. Hopefully I can get him celebrating too much and he'll be too verschnockered to see his shadow in a few weeks.

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Layla Marie Rosiak

I would like to take this opportunity to wish a very special little girl a very Happy Birthday today. Layla Marie Rosiak entered the world four years ago today, and if you use my logic of taking 27 years away from her to make me 21, she is now 31 years old. =) OK She's only four, but I like my logic and you can't blame me for trying.

Anyways if you see Layla Marie today, make sure that you take a little bit of time out and wish her a very Happy Birthday today.

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is once again behind us, much easier for some of us with the day off, but it's still now in the past. I can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It was 1,404 days ago that I had the pleasure of having my first date with Michelle.

* 627 days ago we became engaged to be married.

* We're on day 164 of marital bliss and still going strong.

* You only have 343 more shopping days this year, unless the Mayans were right and the world will end in 339 days. My advice would be to plan for the contingency plan that the world will not end this year.

* I did have a nice relaxing day yesterday, watched a few movies and did a few chores around the house, but mainly just relaxed. Michelle had to work, so it would not have been any fun getting into anything without her.

* Spoke with Amy briefly over the weekend, she's working at H&R Block but working up front instead of doing taxes this season. She called it less stressful.

* I see my brother Gary bought himself a nice truck, a Dodge Ram 4 Wheel Drive with a lift kit appearing to already have been installed. The truck does sit rather high off of the ground.

* Is it springtime yet?

* Hi ho hi ho

One More Day

Today we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday and is a Federal Holiday, allowing for me to stretch my weekend out one more day and make it three days. Michelle has to work, so I'm probably not going to get into too much of anything, except maybe going over finances and paying bills. Yes, that's a lot of fun =)

For Michelle's birthday yesterday we went and did a late lunch/early dinner at the Olive Garden. Talk about a busy place on a Sunday afternoon, this was definitely one of those types of places. We had about a 20 minute wait by the door that kept opening and closing and letting all the cold air before we even had the chance to be seated. Food was awesome however, so no complaints. Dinner was awesome with some awesome company.

Have a great day.

Sunday Morning Ramblings

Well first of all Happy Birthday to my wife Michelle, but I also need to extend a very heart felt Happy Birthday to Michelle's Sister Chris. It's not that often when siblings share a birthday, especially when they are not twins.

Just got up and caught pieces of the Movie Black Swan on HBO we recorded it last night because we want to see it sometime today. Natalie Portman won an Oscar for best actress for this role that she played. It was kind of a dark movie from the little bit of it I did see.

It's a cold one out there, stay warm today.

Happy Birthday to my Wife

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my Wife Michelle the very happiest of Birthdays. I am a very lucky man to have such a woman be not only the love of my life, but my wife.

To my wife Michelle, may this be the happiest of birthdays today, I Love You with all of my heart and soul. I treasure the every minute we spend together and all that we do together. I don't think my life would be complete if I didn't make you that first cup of coffee in the morning so just simply annoy you asking you "How U Do?" multiple times a day.

We busted our butts yesterday, so this day is yours.

Happy Birthday

Saturday Morning Ramblings

I would say I am the only one up at this hour, but I am not for my Wife Michelle is also up at this hour so we can get a few things done today. We have the ability to get into Sam's before everyone else with the Advantage Plus Membership we bought a few weeks ago, we did the math and if we can save $5.00 a month (or $1.25 a week) with some of the advantage plus deals, then that alone covers the extra cost of the membership.

I think we are going to do all of our shopping today, so that Michelle can have tomorrow all to herself as it is her birthday.

Is it me or has it been too damn cold out? Forget the fact that I hate snow, it;s freaking cold outside and I'm ready for springtime.

Have a great day and stay warm.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

Well if the weather man was right, and I have no looked outside yet, we should have 3"-5" of that crappy white stuff that I tend to hate laying all over the ground. I know we had a winter weather advisory, but I did not look outside yet. If there is any of that thing we call snow on the ground, I don't know if I have ever mentioned this before to anyone or in any of my blogs previously but I HATE SNOW!!!!

Let's get this three day weekend party started, hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all of my digital pictures that I have on my computer and select one to tell a little story about.

This weeks picture is actually one that I scanned from my Sister Terri's box of pictures a few years ago, it's one of my Uncle Junior, Aunt Lottie and my Maternal Grandfather Don.

Not sure of the year of the picture, but my Grandfather passed away around 1986 or 1987, so that could be some kind of an indicator as to the year this was taken.

Like I said, this is one of Terri's pictures that Mom and I scanned a few years ago, so my knowledge of this day is pretty limited.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Let's see, it is work for three days and then I will be off for three days. Today however, is my hump day as I work towards another fun filled weekend.

I think Moke is really liking his new iPhone, his has Sirri on it and mine doesn't, he is really starting to like the new feature that was introduced with the last release. He had to buy a Sociology Book, wow have the prices of textbooks when increased since I was last in school.

Just started working out again after a couple week holiday layoff when they were redoing our gym. I've blown the cob webs off and am back to where I was when I stopped, just a few pounds heavier due to the Holidays. =)

Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Sandra Irene Bell aka Mom

I would like to take this opportunity to wish someone very important in my life a very Happy Birthday. Today is my Mom's Birthday, the woman who carried me for nine months and endured the pain of my breach birth is celebrating her Birthday today.

So if you see Sandra Irene today, make sure you take a little bit of time out and wish her a very Happy Birthday.

Mom from the bottom of my heart, I am thankful for all that you have done for me and I want to wish you the very happiest of Birthday's today.

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is once again in our rear view mirrors and we are looking straight down the barrel of a Tuesday, I can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1,397 days since mine and Michelle's first date a few years back.

* 620 days since our engagement.

* 157 days ago we entered into marital bliss.

* There are only 350 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* Moke bought a new iPhone, he got the 4S and I gave him a call last night and showed him how to do a little bit of Facetime on it. I also got to speak to Ang for a few minutes.

* Moke has informed me he is enrolled in another semester at WVU. I have to say I am very proud of him.

* Speaking of college, Brittany started again at WVU (I would assume), Danielle is in the home stretch for the final semester at Wheeling Jesuit, Amanda (Michelle's neice) is finishing up at WVU this semester too. Kyle and Kayla Brown are also enrolled at WVU.

* It really is nice to see so many enrolled and finishing up college this semester.

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

It's time to stop all that enjoyment and start to stick our noses back on the grindstone for a few days until we get to another weekend. I could use another weekend because I was sick all weekend, took numerous HOT showers to combat the cold chills that I get. I couldn't ever recall Michelle getting to a point where she has gotten sick and shivers like I do, when I get real sick I get the absolute shivers and I have been like that ever since I worked at Sterling. I remember a lot of the old timers talking about the brass chills.

I am feeling better today. Well as well as one can feel after seeing the Steeler's beaten at Denver last night in the playoffs, that was painful. The Steelers are hurt and beaten up and have been for a number of weeks.

Anyways back to the grindstone today after spending much of yesterday reorganizing our kitchen. Things were just getting too cluttered so we bought a couple sets of shelves and cleared out our big cabinets where we store all of our pans and cookware. It's actually neat and organized and very easy to find what you are looking for now. The bar in the kitchen where we used to stick everything, is all nice and cleaned off now and there is elbow room in the kitchen.

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday

Well I am still a little bit under the weather, but last night was much better than the night before, I only had to wake up one time and take a hot shower as opposed top the three times the night before due to cold chills.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) will be traveling to Denver today to play the wildcard playoff game against the Denver Broncos (8-8) and Tim Tebow. This will be the Steelers first chance in playing against Tebow, but I fully expect the Steelers to win this game quite easily.

Have a good day.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again in a quiet house with everyone sleeping but me. On the TV behind me is that Oscar winning movie "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter is Dead" playing.

It was a rough night for me, the Gym finally re-opened at work yesterday and I jumped right on it so I can pick up where I was a few weeks ago. Usually with our Gym, you sanitize your equipment after you are done with it to prevent any flus or viruses that may be floating around. About a half hour after my workout I noticed my temperature raising and I was coming down with being sick.

Last night was horrible, I slept with two large comforters on me and was still shivering from being cold. I'm feeling alright at the moment, but I'll probably be back on the couch covered up and watching TV here in a couple of minutes.

Nothing planned outside of our normal routine today. Michelle is getting around much better in her cast, she was so uncomfortable last week I really felt sorry for her. She does have a pretty pink cast however.

Have a great day.

Happy Birthday Arron Hill

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Arron Jill a very Happy Birthday today. I Have had the pleasure of watching him grow up from being in diapers to the 6'whatever he is now, and that's been an awful lot of growing that I have had the pleasure of watching.

If you see Arron today, make sure that you take a little time out and wish him a very happy Birthday.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

Now that Mountaineer Football is over for the season and we are not quite yet at spring or summertime, I'm going to need to find something new to talk about on Fridays, other than waiting for Punxsutawney Phil to do me a heck of a favor again and party it up until he is drunk and blind from the evening before that he can't see his shadow again.

I'm still on cloud nine from the Orange Bowl, talk about the absolute perfect storm when anything and everything was working just right. It still hasn't set in that we not only won the Orange Bowl, but did so by putting 70 points on the ACC Champions.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and go through all of my pictures and find just one picture that I can select and tell a little story about.

This weeks picture takes us back about 25 or so years at Christmas time. I'm not sure if this picture is my niece Amy or Val, but this is a picture of them and a Christmas gift that my Dad and Jean had bought of a toy car.

As I look back at this picture, I look back to a time when the house was before all of the remodeling took place and the family room was added on, just on the other side of those white curtains.

Hi ho hi ho

WOW

I didn't want to jinx our Orange Bowl hopes, but never did I imagine us routing Clemson 70-33.

Congratulations to Coach Holgorson and the West Virginia Mountaineers. MAN Y Bowl records set in this game.

Orange Bowl

Tonight is the night, the West Virginia University Mountaineers will play the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl. This will be our third BCS Bowl game since the inception of the BCS, but it is the first ever appearance in the Orange Bowl.

The Mountaineers will be facing a very tough Clemson team lead by a former WVU QB Commit in Tajh Boyd. Both Geno and Tajh are two of the nations best Quaterbacks, so hopefully we show up tonight ready to play. Otherwise, it could be a long night for the Mountaineers.

On a sad note, it is rumored our Defensive Coordinator Jeff Casteel will leave to take a position on Rich Rodrigeuz's staff at Arizona after the game. I hate to see him go, but he has big aspirations of being a Head Coach someday and word has it he has been passed over because they felt he would not leave West Virginia, we'll have to see how it all plays out. I would love to keep him, but I understand the man has goals in mind and I can respect that and would wish him the best.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well our Monday is behind us now, it was very productive as we got our Christmas Tree down and I bought some large shelves to help us organize a mess of a countertop. With all that considered and I have to return to work today, can't think of a better reason than that to do the first tidbits of 2012.

* 1,390 days since mine and Michelle's first date going on four years ago.

* It's been 613 days since we became engaged..at 4:00 in the morning in our backyard.

* 150 wonderful days of wedded bliss for us.

* 357 shopping days left until Christmas. Yeah I know I just got my tree down from 2011, but can't start counting too early.

* Michelle and I have been talking about our vacation plans for this year already, actually we have started pre-planning for about a month or so and we are going to make a cruise the the Bahamas a reality this year. Baltimore has a port and offer numerous cruises, and the Bahamas is some place we would both like to go.

* We tested Michelle's ability to drive with a cast on her left foot yesterday. It wouldn't matter, except that pearl is a 5 Speed and she is going to need to use the clutch. We rigged up one of her original walking shoes to be non slip and be able to put on over the cast to prevent any slipping of her foot, and it works fine.

* Have I ever mentioned that I hate snow?

* Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday to my Mother in Law Susie

I would like to take this opportunity out and wish my Mother in law Susie a very happy Birthday today.

She lives up in PA and we're down here, so we probably will not have the opportunity to see her today, but I would like to take this opportunity to wish her the very happiest of Birthday's today.

First Regular Blog of 2012

I hope everyone had a very Happy New Years, both Michelle and I slept through it and spent the day yesterday day hangover free.

Michelle spent the day yesterday getting used to the pretty purple cast on her leg, she broke it in October and it's been a very slow healing process so they casted it Friday. She had a tough time getting used to using crutches, so I got her a couple of high stools and a computer chair with wheels to get around the house. We need to try driving today, before we return to work tomorrow.

We'll probably break down the 2011 Christmas Tree as today's project. It was a good tree and we have yet to lose the first needle from it in over a month of putting a little color to our home.

For those of you working today, stay warm. Michelle and I have the day off.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012

SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT,
AND NEVER BROUGHT TO MIND?
SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT,
AND AULD LANG SYNE!

CHORUS.-FOR AULD LANG SYNE, MY DEAR,
FOR AULD LANG SYNE.
WE'LL TAKE A CUP O' KINDNESS YET,
FOR AULD LANG SYNE.



HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goodbye 2011

January

* Former West Virginia University Football Coach Rich Rodriguez was fired as the head Football Coach at Michigan.

* My Nephew Moke joined my Niece Brittany as a student at my Alma Mater, West Virginia University.

* In a busy month for Birthdays, my wife Michelle had one during the month of January. As did her Mother Susie, My Mother Sandi, and Arron according to my Blog.

* I came down with influenza and was out for almost a week at work.



February

* Phil did NOT see his shadow!!!!!

* The Pittsburgh Steelers played in the Super Bowl.

* WVAQ Radio Morning personality Eric McGuire left his position due to an upcoming surgery. Good news is he has made a few spot guest appearances this year.

* We secured the Marilla Center for our August wedding later in the year.

* Michelle got her first iPhone.



March

* I introduced a new feature to the BLOG. Thursdays were a little bit dry for me, so I started doing Photo Flashbacks on Thursdays.

* Our friends Chewy and Courtney Stavar had a little minion (daughter) and named her Edith.

* Michelle and I learned to make butter.



April

* Our yearly April Fools Joke this year was us saying that Michelle was Pregnant.

* We did some of our only Geocaches of the year.

* Amy was gracious enough to host an east Egg Hunt at her home.

* Michelle and I attended the Spring WVU Football game.



May

* Osama Bin Laden became fish food!!!!!!

* We set up a raised garden on the back patio to try to grow vegetables this season.

* I once again switched web hosts from Just Host back to GoDaddy.

* Josh Judy made his Major League Baseball debut.



June

* We bought Hayley an iPhone and an Otter Box for her Birthday.

* Bill Stewart was replaced as WVU's Head Football Coach.

* Jimmy Buffett Concert in Pittsburgh.

* We applied for our Marriage License.



July

* Michelle and I once again attended the Rosiak family 4th of July Water battle. This was my 14th year of going.

* Josh Judy was once again called up the the Majors.

* I chose the high road decided not to air out dirty laundry on the internet even though I very well could have let someone have it.

* Michelle had her bridal shower, thanks to Jes for stepping it up and her Sister Chris, it was a huge success.



August

* August saw me take the longest paid vacation of my working life when I took a ten day vacation.

* Michelle and I tied the bonds of matrimony a the Marilla Center in front of our closest friends and family. My days of bachelorhood became a thing of the past.

* For our honeymoon, we traveled to Ocean City, Maryland. Michelle had never been there and I had been there a couple of times in my life, so we made this our Honeymoon destination.

* In a month of firsts, Michelle and I both bought our very first ever new car that either one of us had ever purchased. We named her Pearl.

* I received and gave to Michelle the Flag that was flying over the US Capital on August 6th as we were getting married.

* My Sister Pam had Gall Bladder surgery.

* We made a trip to FallingWaters.



September

* The Mountaineer Football team started the Dana Holgorsen era with a lightning delayed game in Morgantown. Lightning actually struck the stadium during the game.

* We saw the Tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9-11-01.

* Farida and Abdul Rehmani celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

* I did manage to get some Buckwheat Cales this year, but we didn't make it to the actual Buckwheat festival due to the rain.



October

* Milan Puskar, owner of Mylan Pharmaceuticals and large donor to West Virginia University passed away. We lost a great Mountaineer.

* Michelle and I attended Mountaineer Madness.

* Terri made a weekend trip to New York City.

* I dropped and broke my iPhone, followed by a FedEx Nightmare.

* West Virginia University announced that they would join the Big 12 Conference starting in 2012.



November

* Michelle has a tough time period when she lost two family members on the same day. Her Uncle Terry from back home in East Liverpool and my brother in law Jim's brother Uncle Ernie also passed away later that day.

* Chad got a job working for a contractor for Xerox in Cleveland, it was Contract work that paid very well and lasted quite a few weeks.



December

* The greatest BLOGGER in the world celebrated another birthday.

* WVU earned a BCS Orange Bowl Bid for football.

* We spent a weekend Christmas Shopping at Tanger Outlets.

* We had my companies annual Christmas party at Oilverio's Restaurant.

* We traveled to East Liverpool, Ohio for Michelle's family Christmas.

* We spent Christmas Eve with my family at my Sister Terri's house, it was nice to get everyone back together again.

* I posted 405 BLOG Posts in 2011 for a grand total of 2,655 BLOG Posts as a BLOGGER.



See you on the other side.

Last Regular Blog Post of 2011

Today is my 404th BLOG post of the year, and will be my last regular BLOG post of the 2011 calendar year. I will still follow this one up with the still to come and my traditional Goodbye 2011, which traditionally has been my most favorite BLOG of the year to write. It allows me the time to sit back and really reflect on my year as we get ready to enter into 2012.

Michelle has a Dr's appointment yesterday for her foot that she broke last August, they have put her into a regular cast (A Pink one) and she will now be walking around on crutches for the next month. She is going to be semi incapacitated until after Ground Hogs Day.

Terri called me last night and said Mom was having some complications, but called back later to say that everything is fine and they are just kept her last night for observation purposes.

Well 2011 was a a very memorable year for me, so this may have been one of my funnest year end blogs to ever write just because of a few special events that took place in my life.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

Yes, three days of holiday fun with a New Years Celebration tomorrow night. I'm planning on staying home to avoid all of the drunks that will be out and about the town, I think I was sleeping last year as the ball was dropping.

I need to finish up my end of the year Blog that I have started writing this week, one that basically recaps the year in review by according to the things that happened in my BLOG. It's been a special year, so be sure to stop by and read the final 2011 BLOG sometime tomorrow.

Short day at work for me, plus I have to go to the Doctors with Michelle this afternoon, so let's get this party started.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to look back through my thousands of pictures that I have taken through the years and just select one special one to post and tell a story about. This weeks is one that is special to me.

The time was a couple of months after Michelle and I had started dating. We grabbed the GPS and headed East to seek a few geocaches. Hayley and her boyfriend at the time (my favorite one so far) Wyatt rode along with us as we headed to Deep Creek Lake.

This picture was taken at the Lake and is one that I have always liked. It wasn't our first picture together, but is one of my favorites as I thought we took a great picture together that day.

Nearly four years later we are still going strong.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day...Woo Hoo

That was quick, one day off one day in and we are already at hump day!!!!! I do have to say, I'm not the only one at work, but there are very few there. I have plenty of time to take off if I chose to, but Michelle's working so I'm going in. No sense in sitting at home when it's cold rainy and snowy.

They are redoing the gym where I work, and it is right beside my office in the same building, so we get the smell of glue radiating throughout the building. Makes you a little happier or should I say mellow while you are working...LOL

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is now behind us, even though both Michelle and I were off with an extended three day weekend, still can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1,383 days since mine and Michelle's first date going on four years ago.

* It's been 606 days since our engagement.

* And this is our 143rd day of marriage. That's a special number one letter word, four letter word, three letter word. I Love You. =)

* You have 364 more shopping days left until Christmas 2012, provided the Myans were wrong (they were) and the world doesn't end on December 21, 2012. For those conspiracy theorists who believe this, I have Ocean Front property in Nebraska I'll sell you pretty cheap, I'll even throw in the Country of Chile in the deal.

* We took our day off yesterday and saw an awesome movie. We went and saw the movie We Bought a Zoo. It's a great movie, probably one of the best that I have seen in the theaters in a number of years.



* A note for all, the Dartmoor Zoo that the above movie is about, is real. I picked up on a couple strange things during the movie, then found out at the end that it is a true story.

* I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and can ring in a safe and Happy New Year.

* Hi ho hi ho

Post Christmas

We survived yet another Christmas, the number of shopping days until Christmas has been reset and starting to count down to another year.

Yesterday we went to Michelle's sisters house, and saw that they received one of the best Christmas Gifts ever from their kids. They are looking at their 25th wedding anniversary this upcoming year so the kids got together and did something very special for them.

They presented it to them in a 23 minute long DVD showing numerous pictures of their children and grandchildren through the years. Then the DVD got a little confusing to them. Images of a girl in a Hula Skirt and pictures downloaded off the internet from Hawaii.

The gift from their kids, they are sending them to Hawaii this spring for a week. Jon cashed in all his air miles and Marriot points and managed to get them a trip to Hawaii and a nice luxury hotel for a week. Needless to say, they were very surprised.

Have a great day, both Michelle and I are off today.

Merry Christmas

It's Christmas morning, I'm the the first and only one up so far. I've got some Hot Sausage that we had set aside for my traditional Christmas morning breakfast, a tradition we started as kids and have maintained over the last 35-40 years. It was one thing we always remember my father making on Christmas eve, and he made enough that we always ate that for breakfast the next morning as leftovers.

Had a great time at Terri's last night. There was plenty of food and great times with my family. I installed NORAD's Santa Tracker on my phone and the kids were asking me every three minutes where Santa was at. It was one of those unplanned special memories that you'll never forget.

We have to open gifts here this morning and then we'll be off to Michelle's Sister's house for Christmas dinner with that side of the family. We have a red velvet cheesecake that we will be taking with us today. My Boss bought me one for my birthday and everyone seemed to love it, so we got one from the Cheesecake factory to take with us today.

Merry Christmas to All!!!!!!!!!

It's Christmas Eve

The one day of winter that I actually do like, a time when families are together and worries are out the window for at least one day.

For my family, it's Christmas Eve when we all get together. Christmas Day has traditionally been for the individual units. Tonight at my sister Terri's are are going to once again attempt to assemble the whole clan and have a little Christmas cheer with the people who have meant the most to me in my life, my family.

I'm super excited.

For the kiddies, be sure to track Santa with Norad's Santa Tracker.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

For Michelle and myself it is the start of a three day Holiday weekend with Monday being the Christmas Holiday for both of us.

Our agenda should be pretty busy tomorrow with our grocery shopping and having Christmas Eve at my sister Terri's house. After being as ill and bedridden as I was last year for both Christmas and Christmas Eve, I am really looking forward to this years Christmas eve. It's been a couple of years since I have been around my family on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day will consist of us taking a trip to Michelle's sisters for their Christmas and their Christmas dinner.

It looks to be a great weekend.

Ho ho ho ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to sit back and take a little bit of time out and look through all my digital pictures that I have, find one and reflect a little bit upon that picture. Sometimes I rack my brain, sometimes it comes easy. This week, it came pretty easy.

With Christmas coming up I decided that would be a good theme to find this weeks pic and there it was.

My Father passed away in the summer of 1999. At his funeral we had a picture of him how many people would remember him. You see, my father lived to be a coal miner and we though that may be the best way top represent him. People loved the picture, especially his co-workers who attended. Many of which worked for him and he pretty much fed on a daily basis. I remember seeing him pick up 15 pizzas one day on his way to work, no joke.

Well my sister Terri has that picture, and in 2004 her an Nick opened up the Country Inn in Fairmont. As a family, we decided to have our Christmas party at the bar that year, with my father hanging in his place of honor.

We miss you Dad.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Monday, check. Tuesday, Check. It's up over this hump today and on the other side of Thursday I can see another weekend peeking through. This time it will be an extended Holiday weekend, so that makes it a little better.

Had a Doctor's appointment yesterday, everything went well however I am still waiting to see the results from my A1C. They are usually pretty quick about posting those results, not this time however.

Did speak with Terri briefly yesterday. She is still in a lot of pain, but wants to still do Christmas at her home this year. I told her we have another box of the sausage we had for the wedding that we are going to make for Christmas Eve. Did briefly speak with Nick too, just confirming that we would be there on Christmas Eve this year.

I have been working on removing some very vicious malware from Hayley's computer, I think I am just about to the point where it is clean and I should be able to return it to her. I have the malware cleaned up, I just wanted to clean it all up before something else rears its ugly head.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is once again in our rear view mirrors, that was the last working one of 2011 for me, so I can't for the life of me think of a better reason than that to do yet another tidbits.

* It's been 1,376 days since mine and Michelle's first date. How many people do you honestly know that are still keeping track of something like that?

* 599 Days ago we became engaged.

* 136 Days ago we were married.

* And now for the real important one, you only have five shopping days left until Christmas, it has slowly snuck up on us and we are almost there.

* We are two days away from the official start of winter and the end of fall, it will also be the shortest day of the year and the winter Solstice. We're at the far end of the turning point, days are about to start getting longer.

* I'm contemplating starting my year end BLOG soon. That will be my Goodbye 2011 BLOG where I go through my blog from the preceding twelve months and write one blog about what has happened.

* It was a slow day at work yesterday, we got back into town late Sunday evening and yesterday was "Go" from the time I woke up until the time I went to bed. It just seemed like a very long day, but it's now past us and we are moving towards an upcoming three day holiday weekend.

* I spoke with Mom and Amy yesterday, I was informed Terri is missing cervical disc C-4 and disc C-5 in her neck, and they are going to try to schedule an MRI for further observation in the near future. She has been hurting for a period of time and she finally made it to the Doctors. Surgery may be an option, but that is a preliminary assumption.

* Hi ho hi ho

Monday

Well all good things must come to an end, no matter how much we want them to continue, and that includes fun filled weekends.

We had a great time yesterday visiting Michelle's family. Got a few pictures that I would say are keepable and got a chance to spend some quality time with some very nice people.

Now however, it's back to the grindstone. This will be the last Monday that I will be working for a few weeks, next Monday is when we celebrate the Federal Christmas Holiday and the following Monday is when we will Celebrate the Federal Holiday for New Years. So, this will be my last full week of work until the second week in 2012.

Hi ho hi ho

Off to East Liverpool

It's that time of the year again, the time when we head north to East Liverpool, Ohio and Calcutta, Ohio to spend Christmas with first Michelle's Materrnal Grandmother (Gigi as we call her) and then we will venture over to Michelle's Dad's place to visit him before we head back here later this evening.

It'll be the first time that I have been up that way in a while, however Michelle has been home a couple of times for other reasons. It's always nice to get out of town for a while, take the camera and get a few pictures. You never know, one of them may just end up in a Thursday Blog some time soon...LOL

Should be a good day, the kids will somehow manage to make it to the Hot Dog Shoppe, a place they all seem to love. It;s like a local place that the entire community goes to and is unique to them. Sort of like a Cappalentti's that used to be in Morgantown or a Yann's in Fairmont. They make manage to make it there every time they are up that way.

Should be a good one.

Busy Saturday

It's going to be a busy day today, we'll be cramming all of our weekend chores into one day so we can travel to Ohio tomorrow. We'll do all of our weekly grocery shopping and try to finish up any Christmas shopping that remains to be done.

Last night we had my company Christmas party at Oliverios. That went pretty well and was an entertaining evening. In years past I didn't know everyone there, even though we have a small company when people bring their spouses and children into the equation it gets hard to initially keep track of everyone, but this year my third with Sextant, it was pretty easy to keep track of everyone.

Michele got some more of the Hot Sausage we had at the wedding for next weekend. Christmas Eve at my sister Terri's this year, I'm looking forward to it.

Have a great day.

Big Ole Hairy Friday

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

Well no Football for me once again this weekend as the Pittsburgh Steelers don't play until Monday night and the Mountaineers are in a down period before the Orange Bowl.

Fret not though, we will be busy. This evening is my companies Christmas Party which is always nice. This will be my third year and all three years we have had our party at Oliverios Restaurant in the Wharf District. Dale usually treats us to a feast and I'm sure this year will be the same, I'm waiting for the Calamari, it's really good and something I look forward to every year.

Sunday we will be traveling to east Liverpool Ohio for Michelle's family Christmas at her grandmother's. It's an all day event with us leaving early in the morning and usually getting back later in the evening. We will be visiting with both sides of Michelle's family this weekend.

Let's get this party started, hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out to look through all my pictures and select just one to tell a little story about, sometimes it's easy and the story tells itself and sometimes you just need to pick one. This week, I just picked one.

This was taken at my nephew Moke's birthday party a little over seven years ago. My brother in law George was just starting the addition on his house and my sister Pam actually had a pet goat. I saw the goat walking around to the front of the house and snapped this picture.

Nothing exciting, just a goat...LOL

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

That's two days down, over this hump and it's all downhill after that!!!!!!!

I swear there are times when my days just seem to run together. My days are long and repetitive and sometimes just seems to run together. Maybe it's just the time of the year, when days are short and cold and there really is no daylight and you don't really get out much in this weather. Maybe that has something to do with the reason why I love spring and summer so much and really don't like winter, being cold, short days or snow. The one good thing about this time of year thought is snacking on Michelle's Christmas Cookies while I am writing this. Butterscotch....yummm

Hats off to my niece Val, she is quitting smoking and is going through the first part of breaking the routine and habit that is formed when you are a smoker. I'm very proud of her, I know she can do it.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is now once again in our rear view mirror and we are staring straight down the barrel of a Tuesday, can't think of a better reason that that to do a tidbits.

* 1,369 days ago my life changed forever, I had my first date with the love of my life and my life has been for the better ever since then.

* 592 Days ago, remember when I had her wait till day 777, I got down on one knee in the back yard and proposed marriage to the girl that I love.

* 129 days ago at the Marilla Center, we entered into Marital bliss.

* You have 12 days left to do your Christmas shopping. You procrastinators are still on the clock.

* Well some good news that I have learned in the past week, my niece Amy is pregnant with her second child. She let the word out on Facebook this week.

* Hi ho hi ho

*

Monday

All good things must come to an end, and that includes the weekend. This past weekend was very productive, Christmas Shopping and making the seasons cookies.

Now it is time to stick our noses back on the grindstone and get back to work for yet another week. Too bad we couldn't just bypass Monday's and go straight to Friday...LOL

I have to say that we are more prepared for Christmas than we were before the weekend started, but we are not 100% ready for it as of yet. Still have a little bit of shopping to do and a couple Christmas Parties this coming week. Hence another reason I want to get this week over, my company Christmas party is Friday evening.

Hi ho hi ho

Cookie Day

Well we got a good start on our Christmas shopping yesterday, unfortunately we did not complete it and still have a bit of it to do. We did find some really nice deals at Tanger and later on the way home had a late lunch at Red Robin.

Today I'm going to do a little Grocery/Christmas shopping this morning and hopefully this afternoon, Michelle's health is the variable in this, we are going to start baking our Christmas Cookies for 2011. There are no distractions for today like a football game, so I'll do my best to assist and see if we can get a few cookies made today.

As cold as it is right now 19°F outside, making warm cookies may be the best activity for today.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit in the early AM in a very quiet house, it's only me rattling around and the television playing in the background. Chad is back from Cleveland, the contract he was working on is now basically complete, meaning he'll be home now. They may have to go back to the contract when an issue gets resolved, but for now this job is completed.

Today will be a Tanger Outlet Christmas shopping kind of day. We'll be heading up north in a little while, once everyone else gets up and when Tanger actually opens and doing our Christmas Shopping. Hopefully the weather holds up, Michelle has been fighting being under the weather.

We tried a new Morgantown Restaurant yesterday, actually I had been there once this week for lunch, but this was the first Time Michelle had been there. Tazikis in the Suncrest Towne Plaza just opened up, I give it a two thumbs up. It was very good, Michelle liked it and actually liked the lamb I had, I think we'll make a return trip there some time in the future.

Back to the couch, let's see if I can find something good on the boob tube.