Hump Day Sports

Well this past weekend wasn't the best for as far as sports goes. The Pittsburgh Steelers lost last Thursday, the Mohigans lost on Friday the Mountaineers got embarrassed Saturday. This week let's hope is not a repeat of last week.

One nice thing is my picture, in case you don't recognize this big behemoth devouring a John Marshall ball carrier, it's Arron Hill-Rosiak #78 from University High. I've been lucky enought o watch him grow up since he was 4 years old. This is our friend Trish's son for those of you who don't recognize the name. Arron has been tearing it up so far this season for the 7-1 University High Hawks. Hopefully some college can get a little interest in him and give a scholarship offer so he can have a free ride to the next level.

The Mountaineers will play host to #3 and #4 Kansas State this weekend here in Morgantown. After last weeks thrashing by Texas tech, we need to come out on fire and try to just light up the scoreboard. Two straight weeks of traveling to Texas seemed to have taken it's toll on our guys last week, as they just were not ready to play it seemed like. Let's see if we can turn that around this week.

There was one funny little video I saw done by a Kansas State fan calling himself the K-State Mask. He's done a video for every opponent that they have played this year and does a little mockery of each of their opponents. I thought it was pretty well done, and actually a little bit funny.

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is once again behind us, and what a long one it was, I can't think of a better reason that that to do a tidbits.

* Talk about a long day. I woke up yesterday morning around 3:00 AM and stayed up until it was time to go work out at 6:00 and then go to work. 7:00 last night I finally walked in the door for the last time. Talk about a long day, most of it was spent at the hospital with Michelle.

* BTW, we had Michelle at the Emergency Room yesterday. Initial diagnosis was kidney stones, it appears just to be a deep infection in her kidneys.

* Speaking of my lovely wife, it was 1,677 days ago that we went out on our first date.

* An even 900 days ago we were engaged.

* We have been married for 437 wonderful days.

* There are only 70 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* On my workouts I've decided to move my cardio back inside to the treadmills for the winter. I loved the spring and summer mornings of just getting out and spending some time on our trail before I started work, now I'll spend the next few months staring at a screen that monitors everything.

* If she's healthy, Michelle is going back home this weekend and Chad and Laiah will be in Texas. I'll be watching a lot of sports and eating a lot of pizza this weekend.

* Speaking of Pizza, I better start working it off now.

* Hi ho hi ho

Happy Birthday Brittany Dae Cummings

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my Niece Brittany a very Happy Birthday today. If my math is correct, and it is not always correct should I say, this should put her at 22 years of age (I think).

She is enrolled at West Virginia University and I rarely if ever get to see her anymore, I did see her this spring once when she was with her Grandparents when Michelle and I went to Oliverios for dinner.

If you see Brittany today, make sure that you take a little bit of time out and wish her a very Happy Birthday. She is one little girl who is making me very proud by not being too far away from graduating from my alma mater at WVU.

Happy Birthday Brittany.

Back to Work

All good things must come to an end, and that even includes extended weekends. My three day filled, lots of football sadness three day weekend has been completed and it's back to work for me today.

I will be on my own this coming weekend, Michelle is going back home to visit her grandmother for her birthday. Chad and Laiah will be leaving Thursday to head to Texas for a wedding. They'll be flying out Thursday afternoon and won't be back until Sunday.

After this week of work, this might be a football filled weekend for me. =)

Hi ho hi ho

Sunday Morning Thoughts

Watched the football game yesterday, all I have to say in Texas Tech absolutely schooled us in about every aspect of the game in their 49-14 hammering of us.

The Defense looked confused, unprepared and having no idea what was going on, but that has been par for the course so far this year for them. The Offense tried for waaaay too many home run balls that just were not there.

I thought the offensive play calling was atrocious as we would try one home run throw about every set of downs it seemed like. All you have to do is move the chains and they didn't do that. Texas Tech was giving us the underneath stuff, but we didn't want that. We were trying to go down field too much too often. To the point that they seemed to be getting desperate as if they had something to prove.

Next week we have a top 5 Kansas State coming to town, might even be as high as #3 with us and South Carolina both losing, we better be a whole lot more prepared than this.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Once again so much for my only one up spiel, Michelle hasn't been feeling well the past couple of days and was actually up way before I was. We did our Sam's Club thing last night and have the freezer pretty much stocked up on pork and chick for a while. She bought a big container of Hot Sausage last week that she orders from work, so maybe next week I'll get a nice big sirloin tip and have it cut up into a couple of steaks and some roasts.

It's gameday today as the #5 Mountaineers travel to Texas once again, this time to one of Dana Holgorsen's old schools that he worked as an Offensive Coordinator as they invade Texas Tech. Hopefully our team will come out ready today and if today's game is anything like the last two, this should be a very exciting matchup.

Heading out this morning to give Abdul and Farida a ride to a function that they want to got to. Nick has to work and he doesn't want them to have to take a cab, so I agreed to go and pick them up and take them wherever they want to go today. Nick told me what it was they wanted to go to, but I seemed to have forgotten.

With absolutely no hoopla this year, unlike in years past, WVU Basketball season has started. Usually they do a Mountaineer Madness or something along those lines, the past couple have went down hill and there was none this year for some reason.

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 and MY three day Holiday weekend since I was in training Monday.

You looking for some High School Football? Morgantown High is at home to play Ohio Powerhouse Steubenville. The Hawks travel to Moundsville to take on John Marshall and Clay Battelle tries to make it 8 in a row as they play host to Cameron this evening in Blacksville.

The Mountaineers play tomorrow afternoon in Texas against the #1 Pass Defense in the country when we play the Texas Tech Red Riders. Something tells me they won't be the #1 pass defense after this game is over as Geno Smith and the Air Raid Offense will be the opponent.

I'm off today. Monday was a federal Holiday and I was in training on Monday at WVU, so I'm going to take my there day holiday weekend this weekend instead of last weekend. It helps that the Steelers were playing last night if you know what I mean.

Have a great day.

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 stored on a here. I like to select just one picture and write a little bit of a blog about that picture. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find one, and sometimes it's not that easy. It is however always a lot of fun.

This weeks picture takes us back a few years, back to when my Nephew Moke was coming home after his basic training from the Military. He was flying into Pittsburgh and Pam and Ang and I drove up to pick him up when he arrived.

I took them all out to Primanti Brothers after we picked him up, it was the first time any of them had ever been to one.

Funny thing is, after it was all said and done and Moke talked about that day, he would have just rather have had Ang pick him up and get a hotel at the airport if you know what I mean. We were all very happy to see him, but he explained to me some time later that not seeing his GF for a while, he was extremely in need of some private time with Ang so to speak.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day Sports

I'm already a couple of days into this week and still have yet to make it to my office this week. I would say that qualifies as this being the over the hump day. It also makes for a short week of work too.

I think I am still riding high on cloud nine after watching the last two Mountaineer games this season. We started Big XII play and both games have been nothing short of exciting to say the least.

In the pre-Heisman poll on ESPN, Geno Smith has garnered all 15 First place Votes and is still the clear favorite to win the Heisman Trophy this season. he has put up mind boggling numbers in leading the Mountaineers to their start and a #4 and a #5 ranking respectively.

The Mountaineers are on the road this weekend when we travel back to Texas to play Texas Tech. This will be our third straight opponent that is from Texas. If and that is a big IF, we get past Texas Tech, next week in Morgantown looks like it could be one heck of a showdown as a pair of top 5 teams will be battling and jockeying for poll position when Kansas State comes to town.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesdays Tidbits

* Well the Holiday Monday is now behind us, I still for the life of me can't think of a better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* 1,670 days ago Michelle and I had our first date. It was a lousy movie and Pizza Hut, but still a good night.

* It's been 893 days since I got down on one knee and proposed marriage.

* 430 days ago my bachelorhood ceased to exist anymore.

* There are only 77 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* Today is day two of the ArcGIS III training. There was one thing that I wanted to learn how to do and have been trying to figure out how and it was one of the exercises yesterday. It was setting up a domain within a spatial database. It's a very useful tool, and I've been trying to set one up recently, I guess this ends my search for support on this issue.

* Looks like I may be all by myself in a couple of weekends. Michelle is going back home for the weekend to spend some time with her grandmother and Chad's going to Texas for a wedding the same weekend. It'll be me, the dog and a couple cats getting into some trouble on the home front.

* I got fooled yesterday on Facebook, my niece Amy checked in in Key West Florida. I bit it hook, line and sinker. She's really in Hawaii.

* Michelle and I have been planning out a whole weeks menu at a time for the past few weeks. Makes it a lot easier to prepare for instead of trying to figure out what we want to do early in the AM so we can set what ever we need to set out out.

* Hi ho hi oh wait, I'm back at WVU again today.

Columbus Day

Today is a Federal Holiday, usually meaning that I would have the day off due to the fact that I'm a Federal Contractor. NETL where I work is closed today and everyone is enjoying the extended Holiday Weekend, providing their individual companies recognize the day which mine does.

However I will be at WVU both all day today and tomorrow at the Department of Geology and Geography getting a refresher course in the ESRI software that I use. I use the software every day and sometimes it just helps to hone skills that you may have forgotten about or been changed due to upgrades in the software. This training is in three phases as we did not need the first two phases, we're doing the final phase which is meant for seasoned users.

So I'll be down there today and Tomorrow and be back in the Office later on Wed for a meeting and Thursday, possibly taking Friday as my holiday just a little bit late.

Hi ho hi oh wait, I'm going to school today.

Sunday Morning Ramblings

here I sit early in the AM, this morning I am the only one that is not losing a battle with the sandman. I'm up and have been up for a little while.

Did you see the game last night? WOW. WVU in from of 101,851 fans at Darrell Royal Stadium, the largest crowd ever in Texas history, the Mountaineers managed to pull out a 48-45 win against the undefeated Texas Longhorns.

Geno Smith who many are considering the front runner for the Heisman trophy this season was 25 of 35 for 268 yards and 4 Touchdowns and no INT's. Andrew Buie however was the start of this show with a 207 yard rushing performance with a couple of TD's. he had 66 yards receiving to go along with it and would have had a receiving TD at the end of the first half as he caught a wide open pass and had nothing but paydirt in front of him and tripped over his feet. Tavon caught 10 passes for 102 yards and a score and Stedman Bailey caught 8 passes for 75 yards and 3 Touchdowns.

This win moves the Mountaineers and 5-0 on the season with quite possibly our biggest game on the road if not the season now behind us. It doesn't get any easier, but we play Kansas State in Morgantown in a couple of weeks and Oklahoma next month in Morgantown as well.

Excitement is an understatement this season. Hold on.

Springs Festival and Football

Well I can't say that I'm the first one up this morning, Michelle was already awake when I fighting the battle with the sandman, her and cloe the cat were both up and watching television.

This morning we'll be joining John and Steph and heading to Springs PA and the Springs Festival. I've never been to this, but enjoy when we go to Amish Country in Ohio. I've heard about the Festival and Steph loves to go up there to pick up her bulk foods and spices. John and I will probably be venturing off on our own to find some food and listen to some music.

Later this afternoon, or should I say 7:00 this evening I'll be watching the Mountaineers play the University of Texas. This will potentially be the largest live audience we will have ever played in front of as they have a 102,000 seat stadium.

If this weeks game is anything like last weeks (Texas has a better Defense) this should be a memorable one.

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!

If you are looking for a little bit of High School Football action you can travel to Bridgeport and see if the undefeated Hawks can extend their winning streak to seven games on the season. Morgantown High travels to Wheeling Park this evening, and Clay Battelle travels to Van meaning that absolutely no football team in Monongalia County will be playing at home tonight. Couple that with the fact that the Mountaineers are playing at Texas tomorrow night and there is not any live football in Morgantown this weekend. Bummer.

Tomorrow Michelle and I will be joining my old Buddy Smitty and his Wife Steph and traveling to Springs PA for the festival that they are having up there. We should be back mid to late afternoon, in plenty of time for me to watch the Mountaineers play Texas tomorrow night.

It's kind of an extended weekend for me, Monday is a Federal Holiday, but I will be at WVU taking a refresher course in ArcGIS Monday and Tuesday.

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 pictures that I have stored on an external drive to my computer. They are images I have taken or scanned through the years and have kept. I like to find one special picture to blog about and talk about. Sometimes this is pretty easy and sometimes it's not so easy to find that one special picture. It is however a lot of fun.

This weeks picture goes back a few years, back to the first time I took Michelle and Hayley to the Rosiak 4th of July Party a few years ago. I think this is the only one Hayley has been to if I am correct.

Every Rosiak party there is always a historic water battle that always seems to take place. This year was no different, we were getting ready to start the battle. As I recall, everyone got wet, actually at a Rosiak party that is pretty much a given, but as you can tell by this picture the battle has not started yet.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day Sports

 Take me home, Country Roads. I swear seeing this brings a tear to me eye, knowing that 60,000+ fans were still in the stands last Saturday, including the Baylor fans to sing the beloved John Denver Hit.

Something I pointed out last week was that there was going to be an amazing gigapixel picture taken at the game this past week. I said that I would share it on my blog when it became available. well, here it is. It's a 360° high definition image were you can zoom into about anyone who is in the stadium and see a close up of them, It's a remarkable picture. What's even more amazing is the video board behind where you start, will play the games intro video if you click it. What an amazing gift.

The Mountaineers travel this weekend to play in a match up of a couple of top 10 and undefeated teams Saturday night when the Mountaineers visit the Longhorn State and 102,000 screaming Longhorn fans. We'll show them there is only one Austin that matters, and it's not their city, it's Tavon.

Well the Pirates have officially extended the longest streak of sub .500 seasons in all professional athletics to I believe 20 years now. I thought they would break this streak earlier this year, but there is always hope and hanging on to yet another "next year". They were very exciting to watch this summer.

The Steelers fresh off of a bye week will host the Philadelphia Eagles at 1:00. This will be a battle to determine who the best team in the state of Pennsylvania is.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is once again behind us and we are staring straight down the barrel of a Tuesday, I can't think of any better reason than that to do a tidbits.

* It was 1,663 days ago my life changed forever. Michelle and I went out on our first date.

* 886 Days ago in the early AM, I got down on one knee and proposed marriage. Fortunately for me she said yes.

* 423 days ago we tied the bounds of matrimony in front of our closest friends and family.

* The countdown continues, there are only a mere 84 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* 39 years ago today, on a flag football intramural field on Van Voorhis Road where a regional Rehabilitation Hospital hospital sits, I broke my leg playing football. It was a greentree fracture to my left thigh that needed surgery to have a pin drilled through my leg, a month in the hospital in traction, 6 weeks at hoke in a body cast, a month of recovery followed by another 2 weeks in traction because I never gained full range of motion followed by two more additional weeks in a straight leg cast to learn to walk again.

* On a happy note, Happy 40th Birthday to Chris Ostien. We celebrated it this summer when you weren't expecting it.

* Congrats to mark Devault. He's left Mantech and is now working at Mylan. He'll be in the IT department I would assume, since he is one heck of a programmer.

* Michelle has been hitting the elliptical pretty hard in the mornings and evening.

* I'm back to working out every morning before work like I was. I slacked off a little due to a broken toe, but we're back at it.

* Speaking of.....hi ho hi ho

Monday

If there is one day of the week that most people in American can agree on that they like least, it has to be Mondays. Yes it's once again that time when we stop having all the fun that we have been having the last couple of days and stick our noses back on the grindstone for another week of work. It's Monday.

Looking to the week ahead, Michelle and I are planning on heading to Springs PA this weekend to attend the Springs Festival this Saturday with Smitty and Stephanie. I've never been there other than stopping in at the Springs Store, Steph asked us a few weeks ago if we would like to go when we got back from Amish Country Ohio.

Nothing planned for me and Michelle during the week. Although I want to start hitting the gym hard again as I've been half-assing it since a couple of days before we went on Vacation. I've broke a toe on my right foot somehow, so my gimpy ass hasn't been doing my full cardio workout, that changes this week.

Have a good day and let's get through this one.

WOW

The West Virginia Mountaineers played their first Big XII game yesterday and WOW is all that I can say. I've spent a lifetime watching the Mountaineers and it would be hard to find a more exciting game than we witnessed yesterday.

Two high flying offenses and they did not disappoint in what turned out to be a 70-63 Mountaineer victory in a match up of two ranked teams and two offensive Juggernauts.

Geno Smith put up numbers tat you put up playing a video game, not a real football game and at the Division 1 level. He was 45-51 in passing for an unbelievable and a school record that will probably live forever 656 passing yards. Prior to yesterday the school record for overall team yards was 655 total yards that we put up against Marshall earlier this year which eclipsed the long standing record of 654 Total team yards set in 1993. Geno passed for 656 yards as the team put up a new school record of 807 yards of Total Offense. Throw in 8 Touchdown passes he threw and his boxscore looked like this. 56-51 8 TD's O INT's 656 yards.

Geno wasn't the only one that lit it up, Stedman Bailey caught 13 passes for a new School Record 303 Yards a another new school record 5 TD receptions. All-American Tavon Austin had a modest 14 receptions for 215 yards and 2 Touchdowns. JD Woods had 13 catches for 113 yards and 1 TD. Andrew Buie carried the ball 25 times for 82 yards and 2 Touchdowns.

I could go on and on about this game, it had to be one of the most exciting football games much less a Mountaineer Football game that I have ever seen in my lifetime.

No time to relax, a top 10 matchup in front of what may be the largest live crowd we will will have ever played against is up next week when we visit Texas and their 100,000 seat stadium next Saturday Night. Hopefully I can catch my breath by then.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit once again in a quiet household, a household where everyone with the exception of me is in a land of somber and dreams. I'm up early once again with the movie Good Burger playing in the background collecting my thoughts.

We made it to the University High game last night but left at halftime, those metal bleachers were doing a number on a part of my body so without our ass cushions it was not very pleasant. The Hawks went down 13-0 but managed to pull out a big second half and win 32-13 for a Homecoming win. Arron was playing Defensive Tackle and was playing against someone just smaller than his some 6'6" 280 lb frame and was beating him on every play.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have assured the streak of non winning seasons will continue last night. They lost their 81st game of the season in less than honorable fashion. Throwing our ace he held the Reds to a 7 hit game and 1 run, however Red's pitcher Homer bailey threw a gem that we refer to as a No-Hitter against the Pirates. A no hitter is a rare piece of work, we had a couple of friends attend yesterdays game including a co-worker of Michelle's who is a big Red's fan. I think I would have only enjoyed this if Josh was up with the Reds but he's not.

Mountaineers will be playing today at noon against Baylor. There will be an added treat, during the first quarter they are going to take a Gigapixel photo of the game. This is a very high resolution picture that will basically let you zoom in to see about anyones face in the crowd. Should be quite the treat and WVU will have one. I'll share the amazing link after when it becomes available.

Let's Go Mountaineers!!!

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!

If you are looking for some good food, the Preston County Buckwheat Festival is in full gear right now. Head on up to Kingwood and grab yourself some Preston County made Buckwheat Cakes. Last year we stopped at the United Methodist Church in Masontown and there was no big lines and no big crowds if you are looking for the cakes.

High School Football, undefeated and #2 University High will play host to 2-2 Fairmont Sr. Morgantown will travel to Preston County to take on Preston and undefeated Clay Battelle travels to Wetzel County to play Valley Wetzel in tonights High School football action.

The Mountaineers start the Big XII portion of their schedule tomorrow at noon when they play host to the Baylor Bears. Hopefully Geno and the boys can win what looks to be a heck of a shootout.

Not sure what Michelle and I will be getting into, Arron is playing tonight and we want to get our Sam's Club shopping done. I would like to be able to get our shopping done and get over to see him play some time this season.

Anyone want to order some popcorn for a good cause. I know a certain little boy (Christopher Toth) who is selling popcorn to earn a badge for the cub scouts. If you're interested in buying some popcorn and having the money go to good cause, let me know.

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all of my pictures that I have stored on my computer and look for just one special picture to tell a story about. Sometimes it's easy and sometimes it's not so easy, it is however always a lot of fun.

This weeks pic takes me back to right after I had graduated but was still working at the NRAC at WVU. I had just saved up and bought my new camera that I was pretty excited about and took it into work one day. One of my co-workers grabbed this picture of me ij the office.

I didn't make a lot of money at the NRAC, but the things I learned there gave me an advantage in getting a head start on my career. I worked with some very talented people and did some very challenging projects.

I spent about four years there as an undergrad and even after I graduated.

Hump Day Sports

I have to love this ESPN Gameday commercial. The Mountaineer standing in the bushes staring down Lee Corso and loading his gun. Maybe you would have to be old enough to remember the 1993 season when WVU was undefeated and ranked #2 and #3 in the polls. Florida State was 10-1 and was ranked #3 and #2 in the polls. Nebraska was the #1 team in the country and they were trying to decide who should play Nebraska for the National Championship. Lee Corso was the biggest and loudest voice campaigning for Nebraska to play Florida State. The Mountaineer should have popped a cap in his ass.

The Mountaineers will enter Big XII play this week when we host Baylor this saturday., Last year Baylor set the record for most points scored in a Bowl game when they beat Washington 67-56. That record didn't last very long, it didn't even make it until the end of Bowl season as the Mountaineers hung 70 on Clemson just a few days later. Gone from Baylor is 2011 Heisman trophy winner Robert Griffin III, but this is still a high scoring Baylor team. Should be a whole lot of points scored in this contest.

Hats off the the WVU Womens soccer team. Earlier this year they beat #1 Stanford and on Sunday they beat #7 Oklahoma State. They are 6-3-3 on the season thus far.

And as for the Pittsburgh Pirates? What the heck, you were 18 gales above .500 after the all star break and now you're either 2 or 4 games below .500 pending last nights results. Two years in a row the Pirates have played a 19 inning game and watched their season tank after that game. AAAARRRGGGHHHH

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is once again behind us, and would you believe that yesterday was the only Monday I worked during the month of September, can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* Michelle and I enjoyed our first date 1,656 days ago.

* 879 days ago I got down on on knee and proposed marriage.

* 416 days ago in front of of our closest friends and family we exchanged our wedding vows.

* There are but 91 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* I was talking to Terri this weekend and told her if she wanted to do Christmas Eve again this year it was alright by me. It seems to be the place everyone likes to congregate to and have the most fun, and that's what it's all about.

* It's starting to feel like Summer is over with. I hit the trails yesterday morning and it was the first time that I thought to myself "I should have worn a light coat".

* BTW, yesterday was the first time since before we went on vacation that I actually made it to the gym. It was just difficult for me to get back into my routine last week, I'm back in it now though.

* Speaking of the gym, it's a cardio day so

* Hi ho hi ho

Happy Real Birthday Kaiden Dalton

Last week I had my dates mixed up when I wished Kaiden Dalton a Happy Birthday. I guess you can say that I had a bit of a brainfart and depended too much on a script that I entered the wrong date on.

TODAY, I would like to take this opportunity to wish Kaiden Dalton a very Happy Birthday. Unfortunately in an act of another brain fart, Chad had my camera in Pittsburgh for the day, so I had to take a few pics with Val and Amy's camera.

Amy and Ralph hosted a nice large gathering of family to wish Kaiden a very happy Birthday. Weather held up and we didn't have any rain and it turned out to be a nice day.

If you want to see the pictures, you may have to rely on Amy and Val's Facebook account, even though I was the photographer, it was their camera.

Happy Birthday Kaiden.

Sunday Morning Thoughts

Once again I sit here in the early AM, I'm the only one awake and everyone else is laying in the silent somber of dreamland and resting. I'm watching the Howard Stern movie Private Parts on NetFlix behind me and surfing around Facebook.

Today we will be heading up to Amy's for a birthday party for Kaiden. I think I got his birthday a little early in my blog as I wrote it for the same day as Calvin's (doesn't he look good in this picture), but I think Kaiden's is actually this Tuesday. I have it right in my calendar but wrong in one of my apps on Google.

The Mountaineers managed to beat the Maryland Terrapins 31-21 yesterday here in town. Watching the game on FX (They do a much better job than Jefferson Pilot) I was wondering if we were going to have a repeat of last years Marshall game at times with the storm clouds looming, but they never really hit. The Mountaineers moved to 3-0 on the season and get ready for our first Big XII game next week against Baylor.

The Steelers play this afternoon at 4:00. We missed last weeks game when we were coming back from vacation, so we'll try to catch as much of this one as possible.

Have a great day.

Saturday Morning Ramblings

Once again here I sit in a quiet household. I'm the only one up as everyone else is in dreamland sleeping the night away with the exception of me. I've always been an early riser so that's really nothing new.

It's game day once again here in Morgantown. The Maryland Terrapins will be here at noon today for an early kickoff for the days events. The Mountaineers are 3-0 and lead by the current Heisman Trophy favorite Geno Smith and the Air Raid passing offense. This will be the first home game in three weeks as we were off two weeks ago and played James Madison in DC last week. I'm sure the tailgaters are getting ready to line up and there will be people with "I need tickets" signs everywhere.

I did get a chance to work on Mom's computer this week. It was slowed down terribly and she loves to surf the net, so I had two options. One was to optimize it and clean it up, but that could have taken a few days and two just reformat it and make it like new again. I chose to just reformat it so I could get it back to her in the shortest amount of time. I took it back last night, I'm sure she was happy to get back on Facebook.

The new iPhone 5 released yesterday. I stopped by the local AT&T store for a co-worker to let him know how many people were in line. at 6:45 I counted 15 people at this one, David said by the time the store opened the line was around the store. He's having his shipped to him today from Chicago and he was there to get one for his brother. He asked me to get a status update of the line for him when I went to work so he knew what he was in for. He had talked about camping out at 3:00 to get one for his brother (he has a 64 GB coming in today from Chicago).

All three local High Schools won last night in High School football action.

Let's Go Mountaineers.

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!

Looking for a little bit of High School Football action? The undefeated University High Hawks at 4-0 travel to Parkersburg to take on Parkersburg South this evening. Morgantown coming off a loss last week to Martinsburg hosts Anacosta from DC and undefeated Clay Battelle is at home to take on St. Johns Ohio.

I got my IOS 6 for my iPhone. I won't be getting the iPhone 5 until next month, that's when Michelle will be eligible for hers and I'll just wait until then to get the new phones. I have to say I was NOT impressed with IOS 6. I think they took a huge step backwards with the mapping program and AT&T blocked Facetime unless you change your plan. Lot's of disappointment I have to say. Steve Jobs would never have allowed that release to go out like this, the mapping is absolute junk.

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

Once a week I like to take a little bit of time out to look back through all of my pictures that I have stored and find just one picture to write about. Sometimes it's easy to find one, and sometimes it's not so easy. It is however always a whole lot of fun.

This weeks picture is the end of an era. I have played softball at BOPARC for better than a quarter century. It was one thing that I always looked forward to and loved to play.

This weeks picture is actually from my last game that I ever played. I had singled in my last at bat and had made it to third base by the time this picture was taken. I don't remember if I scored or not, but this was the end for me. My last bat, my last game and the start of my retirement from softball.

I was lucky and was able to play on some very good teams through the years and I played on some not so good teams as well. I loved all the years, games and teams I played on and against. I was able to create a number of memories that will last me a lifetime playing a sport I loved.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day

Well the first two days of this week are over with, at least for all of you who have worked all week. Now if you look over the lunchtime hump you can see the dawn of another weekend off in the distance.

Well we finally did make it back to work yesterday, and we both seemed to have survived the return from vacation. I did learn that I am signed up for some training on Columbus Day which is a Federal Holiday. It's part of the WVAGP training session that is going on at WVU and our boss paid for our training if we were members of the WVAGP.

We tried to make our favorite dessert from the cruise last night. Carnival makes a Warm Chocolate Melting Cake  that we both really fell in love with. When we got back into town we immediately went out and purchased a nice set of ramekins to make the cake with.

Weather permitting this morning, it;s going to be a cardio day and my first lift in two weeks.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is now behind us, and so is my lengthy vacation that we have enjoyed. Now it's time for me to get back to work, for that reason alone I can't think of a better reason to do a tidbits.

* It's been 1,649 days since Michelle and I had our first date.

* It's been 872 days since our engagement.

* 409th day of wedded bliss. I take a little time out each day to reflect how lucky I am.

* There are only 98 shopping days left until Christmas, it's starting to get a little closer.

* I finally got all my pictures from Vacation up on Facebook yesterday. I also got the ones that we took under the water up after we went yesterday and had them developed.

* We have been waiting all summer at Sam's Club to drop their price on their Cuisinart Blend and Cook Soup Maker. The price dropped a few weeks ago and we bought a new one yesterday. Michelle loves soup and has had her eye on this thing for a while.

* The new iPhone IOS 6 should be released tomorrow. The new iPhone I think also is released the same day, we're going to order a couple of new ones but Michelle's contract isn't due for an upgrade until next month. So we'll wait to all the hoopla dies down and go and get them.

* cardio day

* Oh no oh no

Happy Birthday Kaiden Dalton

My how the time flies by, today is Kaiden Dalton's fourth Birthday. It was just four short years ago today that Amy and Ralph were blessed with their first little bundle of joy Kaiden.

I'm still a little out of the loop due to our vacation, but I'm pretty sure that Kaiden's birthday party will be this Sunday afternoon at Amy and Ralph's home.

This just happens to be one of my favorite pictures of Kaiden, it was taken a couple of years ago at Calvin's birthday Party.

If you happen to see Kaiden today, make sure you wish him a very happy 4th birthday today.

Happy Birthday Calvin McClain

I would like to take this opportunity out to wish a very Happy Birthday to my nephew Calvin McClain. If my math is correct, and it's not always correct, he should be turning 17 years old today.

He is a tough one to get a picture of as he tends to be one who likes to avoid being in front of the camera. So I had to look around a little for a picture of him that I had not used previously.

I think Pam had his birthday party this past weekend while we were away, but I'm not 100% positive on that.

If you happen to see or speak to calvin today, make sure that you take a little bit of time out to wish him the happiest of birthdays today.

We're Back

We are back in Morgantown, we got back yesterday afternoon after a day of traveling. I see that all of my pre-written blogs posted when they were supposed to, so that is a good thing.

The vacation? Beyond expectations. It was absolutely beautiful out on the Atlantic, especially the further south you went. The waters were crystal clear and blue and were clearer than a swimming pool.

I think our favorite stop was Half Moon Cay. This is a private island owned by Carnival and was absolute paradise. I could retire there and be happy for the rest of my life. Only problem is only 12 people live there and they work for Carnival.

The one thing we like to do was snorkel. We had a blast snorkeling in both Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay, we saw a number of fish and was something that helps you bring your own life into perspective. I did see one fish that appeared like and angel fish that was probably bigger than me, we did get some underwater photography but Michelle's camera busted on the first day.

I would strongly advise anyone if they ever get the chance to at least do this one in your lifetime. You can book it almost up to three years in advance and take all that time to pay it off. Everyone should experience this in their lifetime.

We did take a number of pictures with my camera, I have to extract them and will be uploading them sometime today.

Now the question needs to be asked, would I do it again? Already put a deposit down on a future cruise. We're going to do it again next year.

The Return Home

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

Today we will once again arrive at the point of our departure. We weeks worth of a marvelous vacation is now in our memories and that starts to close out at about 9:00 this morning when we are getting off of the Carnival Pride for the last time on this trip.

Today it's going to be repacking and exiting the ship, it's going to be a day of going back to the hotel and getting out car and starting our drive back to Morgantown. A morning that I woke up in the middle of the Atlantic and will go to bed this evening in my own bed.

It has been the memory of a lifetime for both Michelle and I. It will be the ending of the longest and most fun filled vacation of my life, let's see if we can match or top it in 2013.

Thank you for reading along this past week. We will be home this afternoon, and off of work once again tomorrow, but I imagine there are a number of chores we'll have to do.

Day at Sea the Return

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

We are once again going to be spending the entire day at seas heading back towards the port of Baltimore. We have spent the last three days visiting places that we have only dreamed of seeing. Now we are on our way back, but we can still have a whole lot of fun on our way back.

The image that you see is actually right above our stateroom. It's the water slides in the rear of the boat in that pool. Yes our room is located under all of this believe it or not.

We'll be spending our final full day on the boat today and just enjoying the scenery and reflecting upon the memorable week that we just spent in a tropical paradise. I will have probably taken a great number of pictures, hopefully have captured some nice video and have created a lot of memories.

Freeport Bahamas

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

Today we will be making our third and final port of call when we arrive in Freeport at 7:00 AM. We will once again spend most of the day here, but we will be scheduled to re-board the ship by 1:30 this afternoon.

Just take a look at this picture, and tell me you would not want to spend the day looking at this beautiful scenery. White sandy beaches and crystal clear water is always some thing that I have seen on TV and only imagined, today Michelle and I get to stick our toes inn this sand one more time.

This has always been one of the locations I have wanted to visit in my lifetime. I guess you can call this part of that dream accomplished.

Have a great day.

Half Moon Cay Bahamas

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

Today we will be spending in Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. It's actually a private island owned by the company that owns the cruise line we are on.

People have always said that they would like to have their own private island, well half Moon Cay is one you can rent believe it or not. I just thought that little tidbit of information was kind of comical.

We will be arriving here at 9:00 AM and are set to depart at 5:00 this evening. This is going to give us a good solid eight hours of a beautiful sandy beach and time in some crystal clear ocean waters. This will be a day I have always dreamed of.

I can't wait and I assure you Michelle is probably more excited about this than I am.

Grand Turk Island

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

Today we are landing on our first port Grand Turk Island. This will actually be the first time either Michelle or I ever set foot on land of a foreign country, or even outside of the United States.

One thing that we want to do today is make our first ever trip and visit to the Margaritaville Caribbean which is just outside of the port. Something tells me these two parrot heads actually will be having two cheeseburgers in paradise today. It's only appropriate since we manage to make the trip to Pittsburgh every year to go see Jimmy and the Coral Reefer Band. It was the one thing I mentioned about any of the ports that made Michelle's eyes light up.

We'll dock at 8:00 AM and are scheduled to be back on the boat at 2:00 PM. Obviously this is going to be a short day, but anytime white sandy beaches and blue oceans are involved I'm, all for it.

Another Day at Sea

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

We are once again spending another day at seas today and will be once again enjoying all the amenities of the boat. The picture that I have posted is of the Atrium of the boat, this is the center of the boat where the glass elevators are located. We're on the 8th floor and just under the top entertainment deck. Just above us is the adults only pool, but at this time of the year I'm not too worried about any kids being around.

There is a beautiful theater that has Las Vegas style shows that I know we want to take advantage of, there is on demand room service at any time of the day, there are fitness rooms, casinos, pools and all kinds of entertainment.

I found another video of the staterooms, this is also like our room but not our room. It is however on our floor.

We Are at Sea

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

It's a day at sea for us today. We've left the Port of Baltimore and we are heading way down south to the Eastern Carribean. We'll be spending both today and tomorrow out at sea, but don't fret. Remember I have an extended balcony on the top deck, so as this posts I'll be looking at a beautiful sunrise out over the ocean as everyone else enjoys getting up and going to work today.

If you are curious what our room looks like, I found this video. It's not our room, our balcony is twice the size of this one plus we are in the rear of the boat with an unobstructed view.

Enjoy, we are.

ALL ABOARD!!!!!!

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

It's here. After all of the countdowns, all of the planning and preparation the day is finally here. THIS is the day our dreams become reality and all our planning finally pays off, this is the day we actually GET ON THE BOAT!!!!!!

I have to say there were times that I thought this day would never arrive, but it's here. Our week long cruise to the Bahamas and we are doing it in comfort, we're doing it in style and it was all paid for months ago.

We are scheduled to board early this afternoon and we will be departing from the Port of Baltimore at around 4:30 this afternoon. One of the highlights that I am looking forward to day (one of many should I say) is actually going under the bay bridge for once instead of driving over top of it. I've crossed it numerous times, this will be my first time going under it.

I'll be sure to grab a few pics today and share them with everyone when we get back.

Leaving for Baltimore

Disclaimer: This week I will be on a week long vacation with my beautiful wife. These blogs were pre-written to keep a flow of my blog going and to let people know where we are that today and what we plan to be doing.

Well the day has finally arrived. We booked this vacation all the way back in February and I counted them down from around 200 days from when we actually booked it, now today is that magical day. Today we will be heading out early and heading to Baltimore, Maryland. This is where our cruise departs from and we are going to go down a day early to make sure that there are no problems getting to the cruise ship tomorrow morning.

We're staying a couple of blocks from the harbor and the hotel will be housing our car for the next week until we return from our trip.

We will be spending part opf the day traveling and part of the day just learning about the city of Baltimore. The sites and sounds of the city, neither Michelle or I have ever been to the heart of downtown Baltimore, but we plan on spending the day having some fun there and getting to know the city a little better.

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 the start of my long overdue extended vacation and cruise!!!!

Are you looking for a little bit of that High School Football action? The Undefeated and 2-0 University High Hawks will be at home this evening entertaining Brooke. The 1-0 and undefeated Morgantown High Mohigans will be playing host to another undefeated team tonight as Parkersburg South comes to Pony Lewis. Undefeated Clay Battelle will be playing host to Allegheny Valley (PA) in Blacksville.

As for me and the wife, we'll be finishing up our packing tonight as we will be heading out real early tomorrow morning for our vacation. We're going to be heading to the National Aquarium tomorrow morning in Baltimore and spend the day there. We have a hotel that will be watching our car for the week and transporting us to and from the terminal on Sunday. Sunday morning we're setting sail on our cruise and I have written a series of blog already that will post every day until we get back.

With that being said, this may be my last blog I write before the series of automated blogs kicks in. I know we're both looking forward to this as we have been for a number of months now.

One last time for a while...

Hi ho hi ho

Photo Flashback Thursday

About once a week I like to take a little bit of time out and look through all of my thousands of pictures that I have saved on my computer. I like to select just one image to tell a little story about and write a blog about for that week. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that image and sometimes it's pretty challenging to find it. However, it is always a lot of fun.

This weeks pic was one that I already knew I wanted to use. It was from Christmas 2005 when we had it at Jeans house. We all gathered there like we had many times before in our youth and were all treated to an absolute fest.

As the evening's activities were winding down I wanted to get a picture of everyone, or at least everyone who was willing to pose. We actually did three takes and believe it or not the one with me looking away was the clearest and best picture of the three so I chose it.

Speaking of Christmas, maybe we should start getting ready to do a little bit of planning. It's just three short months away and our pic nic for this summer kind of was put together at the last minute before being rained out. Maybe we can all get together here after I get back from my cruise and start talking about Christmas.

Hi ho hi ho

Hump Day Sports

Well we now have two days behind us, even though one of them was quite easy to get through. Now if you look over the noontime hump, just on the other side of a photo flashback, you can see the dawn of another weekend or a weeks vacation for me.

Well the College football polls for the second week are out and West Virginia has moved up to the #9 position in the AP Poll and we are #8 in the USAToday Coached Poll for this week. The second week of the Heisman Trophy voting is out, this is a poll among sportswriters on who they think will win the Heisman Trophy and has nothing to do with the actual Heisman voting, but Geno Smith is #2 in that poll. We have also moved to 31 in the Big XII Power ratings.

The Pittsburgh Pirates who were once as many as 18 games above .500 and looking like a playoff team, are now only 6 games above .500 and are 2 1/2 games behind in the wild card race. There are 28 games left in the season, if they win 13 of them they will break the 18 year drought of not being able to play .500 baseball. It's the longest futility streak in major sports. I'm still a Pirates fan this year, Josh did not get called up and his season in AAA is over.

Lifting and cardio day, and this may be my only day to lift this week as I'll use friday to get everything in order before we travel.

Hi ho hi ho

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is now behind us, for some of us it was a holiday Monday at that, now we are 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 1,635 days since mine and Michelle's first date a few years ago. I have been absolutely blessed every day since.

* It was 858 days ago that I got down on one knee and proposed marriage to the most wonderful person in the world.

* 395 days ago at the Marilla Center in front of our closest friends and family, we tied the bounds of matrimony and feasted like kings.

* There are only 112 more shopping days left until Christmas.

* There are only 5 more days left until Michelle and I take our cruise. This is one countdown I am very excited to see come to an end after today. It started with around 200 days and we are almost there now.

* Speaking of our cruise, despite having little or no internet accessibility in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, this blog will go on while we are away.

* Speaking of this blog continuing while I'm on vacation, I have written the 9 blogs for my vacation early yesterday morning (had to take advantage of the day off somehow). I'll take you day by day where we are and what we will be doing on that day.

* There will not be a tidbits next week nor any other of my regularly scheduled blogs next week. they will all be vacation blogs.

* I did learn this weekend that one of my credit cards was used for a number of purchases in China. This is the second time this has happened to me, the first was with my bank card, and now this one with one of my credit cards. Don't fret, I just happen to catch it Sunday evening and will have arranged to have it all taken care of this week with my credit card company. At least a bunch of kids has a lot of fun at an amusement park, but not on my dime though.

* Three day weekend over.

* Hi ho hi ho

Labor Day

Today will be the first of three straight Monday;s that I will be off of work. Today is Labor Day which traditionally signals the unofficial end of summer (and no wearing white) for most people. I guess you could call it the last hurrah of summer.

We tried to have a picnic yesterday, but the weather just was not very cooperative with us at all. That and the fact that it's a holiday weekend and all shelters were most likely taken were the reason we had to cancel it. Pam has to go back to work today, we're going to do a test run of packing for our vacation next week so it's an improbability that we will have any chance of doing one before we head south.

One thing I do want to do today is write a series of blogs for next week. We can get internet in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, but it is slow and quite costly, so we will most likely not be on the net. Because I'm committed to writing every day, and I do take advantage of having a post post at a certain time, I'll be writing a number of them today to post next week.

Have a great day.

Sunday Morning Ramblings

Here I sit in a quiet household collecting my thoughts for the day. Some movie is playing in the background and I have no idea what it even is as I'm not paying much attention to it. Everyone in the household is fighting a losing battle with the sandman and sleeping.

Did anyone see the football game yesterday? We MANHANDLED Marshall 69-34 yesterday in the last game of that interstate matchup. The Friends of Coal Bowl Trophy stays in Morgantown, heck we should give it to Marshall to hold on to for us, just to show them how much we don't care about that game.

We're having a picnic today one way or another. We've been wanting to have some kind of a get together for a while now, so as the summer winds down this is out last chance to get together this summer and we are finally going to do it.

We'll be at Marilla Park today, a site of so many picnics in the past. It's also the site of many water battles and food battles through the years as well.

Have a great day.

It's Gameday

The long wait since the game clock hit 0:00 in the Orange Bowl is now over, the 2012 Mountaineer Football Season is here. Today at Noon the Marshall Thundering Herd will arrive in Morgantown for the final butt kicking of this series.

Marshall is lead by former Mountaineer and long time former WVU assistant coach Doc Holiday. They are lead by a good young Quarterback named Cato and could be a formidable opponent this afternoon.

However the Mountaineers have Geno Smith, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey plus a slew of a supporting cast and that may be a little too much for the Thundering Herd.

Michelle was heading to work yesterday morning at 5:30 AM and noticed that there were already cars parked on the 705 bypass for the game. People leaving their cars there early to get a good parking spot to get out once the game starts.

I wonder if there is anyone walking around Morgantown with the "I Need Tickets" sign? LOL

Have a great day and Let's Go Mountaineers!

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 Three day Weekend!!!!!

It's football season, if you are looking to see a little bit of the High School gridiron action the Morgantown Mohigans kick off their 2012 season with a home game against Taylor Allderdice (PA) tonight at Pony Lewis Field. The 1-0 University High Hawks will be traveling to Buckhannon tonight to play the Buck Ups. In single A action Clay Battelle will travel to Bishop Donahue. both teams are 1-0 on the season and someone will get their second win tonight.

Tomorrow the Blundering Turds of Moo tech come to town as the Mountaineers look to score see if we can clobber Marshall worse than we clobbered Clemson in the Orange Bowl. It would be a fitting end to that series that the Mountaineers currently lead 11 games to nothing.

Michelle and I, will probably be doing a little bit of relaxing this weekend to get ready for our cruise next weekend. We've traveled or has something to do every weekend for a couple of months now, with the exception of having a little pic nic Sunday afternoon, we're taking it easy.

Let's get this long weekend 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 older pictures and find on to write a blog about. Moments in time that I have captured with a camera and re-living through my blog. Sometimes it's pretty easy to find that one special picture and sometimes it's not so easy but it is always a lot of fun.

This weeks picture goes way back to another millenium, much less another Century or decade. This goes all of the way back to August of 1999 and the time I spent with my Sister Terri, Nick, Randy, Val and Amy at Ocean City Maryland. It was the weekend before In started college, we had all went down to Ocean City for a few days to soak in the sun and atmosphere.

This is a picture I got of Val, Amy and randy down on the beach. Actually I think this is a picture taken by the beach photographer that Terri bought, I just have a digital copy of it.

It was a memorable weekend, one that actually saw me even get my ear pierced..LOL

Hi ho hi ho

It's Football Season

The 2012 College Football season will officially start this weekend for the defending Orange Bowl Champion Mountaineers as they take on the Marshall Thundering herd for the 12th and final time in this series.

The Mountaineers currently hold an 11-0 advantage in the series and the 11th ranked Mountaineers look to extend that streak to 12 games this Saturday as oddmakers establish them as a 24 point favorite to win.

The Mountaineers are lead by two possible Heisman Candidates in Geno Smith and Tavon Austin, when you throw Stedman Bailey into the mix the Mountaineers have what In would consider the best passing attack in the country.

As we start Big XII play this season, this game will probably be the last game in this series for a number of years. We have 9 Big XII conference games a season and that leaves us with just three non-conference games a year.

Pitt is not on the schedule this season, and Oliver Luck has expressed interest in renewing the backyard brawl and Maryland and us has been a long time rivalry that battles over some very hot recruiting areas.

Let's Go Mountaineers!!!!

Tuesday's Tidbits

* Well Monday is once again in our rear view mirrors and we are 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 1,628 magical days since Michelle and I went out on our first date.

* 851 days since we became engaged.

* We've been married for 388 days now, and still going strong.

* There are only 120 shopping days left until Christmas.

* We set sail in 12 more days, I am ready for a vacation too.

* I need to start writing some predated blogs some time soon, I'll have them post while we are out in the Atlantic and update people are where we are and what we will be doing at that time. I'll have no internet connection out there, or at least not one I'm willing to pay that much for.

* The pet store is still going strong, Scales & Tails Reptile and Fish Store has a facebook page now.

* Can you believe are about ready to kick of the college football season? West Virginia closes out their seven game series with Marshall this Saturday.

* We're not planning on doing any traveling this coming weekend. It might be a football weekend where we watch some football.

* Watched the movie Hunger Games on Sunday, two thumbs up. It's a trilogy and this was the first of the three movies to be released.

* Cardio day

* Hi ho hi ho

Back to Work Monday

All good things must come to an end and that includes weekends. It's time to take our noses and stick them back on the grindstone so we can continue to do the things that we like to do.

One thing I do like about today, this will be my last Monday until the 24th of September. Next weekend is a holiday weekend and the following two Mondays I will be on vacation. I'll return to work the 25th, I'm just taking an extra day of vacation after my cruise to get our chores such as shopping, and laundry done before we both return to work.

Yesterday was a relaxing day, we dropped off some habanero powder to Steph that we picked up from Amish Country. Then we returned some containers that Jean had delivered some food for us last week while Michelle was recovering from her surgery.

I watched some television as Michelle took a much needed nap to rest from the day before. So much running around after her surgery has kind of took a little bit of a toll on her. She rested up for today so she can hit the workweek strong.

Lifting and cardio day for me, although I think I re-aggravated my shoulder Friday.

Hi ho hi o

Sunday Morning Ramblings

We had a great day yesterday, headed out of town around 6:00 in the morning and spent a few hours in Amish Country. With such an early start we were able to visit and explore a few places we had never been, Michelle loved the Christmas Store but unfortunately I had to remind her the day wasn't infinite and we had other places to go yesterday. We did manage to hit a couple of the indoor flea markets and of course we tasted some wine at Breitenbach.

The reunion was nice and we found a friend right outside the entrance as you can see. It was a beautiful park, nice pond, has a swimming pool and a small amusement park for the kids to ride a few rides. We manged to get a number of pictures and videos of Michelle's Grandmother Gigi. We'll see her next at Christmas time when we head north.

On the trip home we stopped by Tappan Lake in Ohio and no trip through Wheeling is complete without a stop by Cabelas.

One of my Dad's favorite Pizzas was from a place called DiCarlo's in Wheeling. When my Aunt passed away 25 or so years ago we stayed in Wheeling and Dad went and ordered some Pizza. Long story short, every time I went to Wheeling he had me bring him back some DiCarlos pizza. I had told the story to Michelle a few times and on her suggestion, she wanted to try it. I think we'll be stopping there again next time we head to Wheeling.

We arrived home last night and Michelle was exhausted, she didn't get much sleep the night before because of my snoring this time. It was a very memorable day for both of us.

Today it will be a shopping we will go. Chad is probably headed to Pittsburgh for a reptile show (he bought himself a new iPad with his first paycheck) to gather some snakes for the store off of a breader that they know. They order the other reptiles through a company in I think Florida (He and Johnny are going to Disney World next month through them), but he buys his snakes from someone very reputable that they know.

Anyways, have a great day.

Road Trip

We're heading out this morning and going to Ohio. Michelle has a family reunion in New Philadelphia, Ohio which is the exit on I-77 that you get off of to visit Amish Country.

I know Michelle is wanting to visit the Breitenbach Winery and the Swiss Heritage Winery which are both very close the reunion.

We are also talking about heading to either Berlin Ohio or Sugar Creek before we head on over to the reunion later this morning or early this afternoon.

By the time most of you wake up, we'll already be there. =)

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.

If you are looking for a little bit of free entertainment, BOPARC is doing their final movie in the park for the summer (I think) with the movie Journey 2 The Mysterious Island!

Michelle and I will be heading out early tomorrow morning, one to get away from all the students that are now in town and two to go to her family reunion in New Philadelphia, Ohio. We're heading out early so we can hit Amish Country first and then spend some time with her family. We'll be back tomorrow night, so it's just going to be a one day trip. This will be our last trip until we head out on vacation.

Lifting and cardio

Hi ho hi ho