Category Archives: Uncategorized

Top Ten of 2023: #1— The Gaffron Family Fall Picnic

It’s October 2002. A new family tradition has begun at Laurel Hill State Park. It’s our annual Gaffron family reunion and the weather couldn’t be better or the color more beautiful in the Laurel Highlands. We had a great turnout and hoped we could continue holding this event. We did and we’d hold it inContinue reading “Top Ten of 2023: #1— The Gaffron Family Fall Picnic”

Top Ten of 2023–#2 Harry Potter and the Hogwarts Birthday Party!!!

Reading books runs in my family. My grandmother and uncles have read the classics like The Grapes of Wrath and To Kill A Mockingbird. Gram has also read the Harry Potter series up to Order of the Phoenix as have her grandchildren and great grandchildren (whom I’m sure have all read the entire series. Recently,Continue reading “Top Ten of 2023–#2 Harry Potter and the Hogwarts Birthday Party!!!”

Some Christmas Spirit and The Christmas Waltz

I’m finally feeling the Christmas Spirit a week from Christmas. My shopping is done and I started wrapping my gifts yesterday morning. I have a few presents left to wrap and I’ll do that Thursday. I’ve been playing Christmas music nonstop since the middle of November but I’m ready for a break next week onceContinue reading “Some Christmas Spirit and The Christmas Waltz”

The Tastemasters Meeting and a Christmas Shopping Wrapup

Today, I took advantage of another day off at work (I’m back tomorrow for five days leading up to Christmas Eve) to finish up Christmas shopping. Not only was it my third day off in a row, but also that of driving to Pittsburgh. I haven’t done this since I worked at WIS. Saturday, IContinue reading “The Tastemasters Meeting and a Christmas Shopping Wrapup”

A Children’s Hospital Visit and Christmas Shopping

The number three event of 2023 went up Saturday morning and it was difficult to post about it. It’s hard to think of what my aunt and Ben have gone through this year with all the time they’ve been in the hospital since 2022. Two weeks last August and a week just before Christmas can’tContinue reading “A Children’s Hospital Visit and Christmas Shopping”

Top Ten of 2023–#3 Going to Children’s Hospital

Our story begins in the summer of 2022. I was going through my crap at the time, trying to figure out Giant Eagle and questioning why I started my journey when I wasn’t getting much support. We attended the annual picnic at the farm and I enjoyed myself. My cousins showed their support for meContinue reading “Top Ten of 2023–#3 Going to Children’s Hospital”

Top Ten of 2023: #4–Dinner with Mr. Clougherty

Mr. Clougherty and I have known each other since I started high school in the mid-1990’s. He was initially my math teacher but eventually, he took me under his wing when he accepted the role of high school swimming coach at Hempfield during my sophomore year of high school. I graduated in 2000 and wasContinue reading “Top Ten of 2023: #4–Dinner with Mr. Clougherty”

Top Ten of 2023: #5–Baseball Game with Mr. Clougherty

We’re officially into the top five events that made my 2023 memorable. Looking back at the first half, it hasn’t been a bad year so far. In spite of the struggles my family has dealt with, I got a laptop gifted to me by my cousins so I could blog more and have an easierContinue reading “Top Ten of 2023: #5–Baseball Game with Mr. Clougherty”

A Stylish Holiday PSA: It’s OK to not be OK

It’s Christmastime and we are caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. We spend money like crazy and throw budgets out the window. We’re in our kitchens baking cookies and decorating our homes while listening to the classic Christmas songs. It’s a time to be festive and forget our problems but…Continue reading “A Stylish Holiday PSA: It’s OK to not be OK”