Archive video: Oh how he enjoyed the garden!

| June 12, 2013

My sister-in-law shared some of her cellphone video with me last week at the funeral and I enjoy remembering Brenda’s dad working in the garden at the farmhouse. This one is a few year old, but he was doing what he enjoyed. Great clip Chris! *Video: dad h tilling up the garden at the farmhouse [...]

A happy birthday to Taylor and my new diver certification card

| June 10, 2013

My son Taylor and I celebrated his 24th birthday today since we were both at home. We went to Chili’s, a favorite spot of his (well mine too) and they treated him to a birthday desert … on top of ribs and of course chips and salsa. Mail call was also interesting today as my [...]

Well done, good and faithful servant – Matthew 25:23

| June 7, 2013

Life returning to “normal” doesn’t feel right after being with family and friends for the funeral and burial of Dr. Frederick Howard, Brenda’s father – I’m not sure when I will realize that he is gone. We remembered dad’s life through stories and humor this past week and as Christians, knowing he is now truly [...]

In need of a smile?

| June 3, 2013

With funeral preparations underway for my father-in-law, it has each in the family working to celebrate the extraordinary life of Frederick Howard (obiturary). I’ve been search through some old photos and video … and getting plenty distracted. I came across a short segment of my daughter Katelyn in 1989 and couldn’t help but smile. *Video: [...]

Quite the legacy my father-in-law left behind

| June 2, 2013

Some of us are fortunate to have wise men in our lives … someone that mentors and shapes us … someone who is an example for patterning our day to day lives. I was fortunate to have one of these wise men, that being my wife’s father, Dr. Frederick A. Howard – August 24, 1925 [...]

Archive: A video project for a Planning class by Taylor

| May 16, 2013

As Taylor wrapped up his senior year in college and reviewed his posted grades for the last time, he read me his 20-some page capstone paper and showed me a video he did for another class. I enjoyed the history lesson …

A Miami University graduation milestone for Taylor

| May 12, 2013

We proudly celebrated my son Taylor’s Miami University’s college graduation this weekend at Yager Stadium in Oxford Ohio and later with more family downtown Cincinnati for dinner. Brenda and I enjoyed seeing our son and his fellow college graduates in their caps and gowns enter the stadium, even if the weather was on the cooler [...]

Archive: Great tips on getting the most meat out of a lobster

| April 30, 2013

I appreciated a video from America’s Test Kitchen on Lifehacker and thought it was worth archiving and sharing … not that I fix lobster everyday.    Twist off the tail, split the shell on the back, pull legs apart, push meat out with small tools, use a rolling pin to squeeze meat from legs.   [...]

Simple carburetor for Volkswagen aircraft conversions

| April 25, 2013

This is really just an archive of a message to the guy who purchase my project. He indicated that the parts have successfully been permitted into China and inquired on what carburetor he should put on the engine. The Aerovee kit was tested with an Ellison but it was my intent to use an AeroInjector [...]

Aerial slideshow from Katelyn and Drew’s Wedding day

| April 23, 2013

After the big wedding weekend (4/13/2013), my daughter Katelyn and husband Drew, no longer fiancé Drew, left the Savannah Center in a helicopter for a short flight looping counter-clockwise from West Chester, Ohio. They circles south over downtown Cincinnati, the Ohio River and then looped back north over Kings Island, Mason, our house in Liberty [...]

Photo booth image, although the subjects are questionable

| April 21, 2013

The photo booth at Katelyn and Drew’s wedding was a lot of fun … and very well done.

The Big Wedding: Introducing Katelyn and Drew Oostra

| April 14, 2013

The day was perfect for Katelyn and Drew’s wedding and the evening before was equally as nice for the rehearsal … and the most appreciated rehearsal dinner, hosted by the Oostra’s at Jags. I can’t speak highly enough of Barb and Randy … and Drew’s two brother’s Carson and Tyler (right); Katelyn is very blessed [...]

Archive: Reminiscing with Katelyn before her wedding

| April 6, 2013

It is a busy spring weekend around our house trying to get a few thing in order before the big day next Saturday … 4.13.13 – Katelyn and Drew’s wedding. Lots to get done before I put on the tux (picked it up already) and walk my daughter down the aisle; it is hard to [...]

Archive: Whipping a line from Mike and Yachtpals

| March 7, 2013

Archiving content (link below). Whipping is the traditional method for seizing the end of ropes against fray, and it has become a rather generic term in that respect.  It looks salty, permanent, and difficult, but it’s actually only the first two.  Proper whipping isn’t much more difficult than lacing a shoe, and if done right [...]

They don’t make them like they used to: Electric clothes dryers

| February 18, 2013

When we were first married, we had an old hand-me-down clothes dryer from my in-laws … along with an electric “Maytag ringer washer” that came with our first house. The dryer was about 20 years old when we first started using it and lasted another 15 years or so and could be easily self-repaired. When [...]

Archive: 40 year old photos of our house and dog Skippy

| February 13, 2013

I’m on a roll in posting a few old photos and still in the reminiscing mood, so figured I’d archive a couple more black and whites. These are from my home darkroom when I started photography as a hobby in junior high school. We’re starting to pack things back in boxes again so the boring [...]

Finding a few photos of an old friend, his canoe and VW Bug

| February 12, 2013

It’s not fun drying out our basement, but I am enjoying finding long lost photos. Here’s one of a canoe trip (one of many) taken during a 1977 spring trip to the Whitewater River in Indiana with Charlie “Kamakaze” Matthews. We spent our free time both canoeing and sailing when we were in high school [...]

A subdued Christmas for 2012, but it is not over yet

| December 26, 2012

We drove up to Columbus and enjoyed “catering” a Christmas dinner at Katelyn’s fiancé Drew’s house. The two of them (both in their residency) were working the night rotations … Katelyn just off a 24 hour stint at Nationwide and Drew his week of 13 hour nights at OSU.  We have postponed our family gift [...]

Planted and marked a few flower bulbs using the Notability app

| December 2, 2012

I finally finished planting all the new bulbs Brenda purchase a few weeks ago as the weather on Saturday was in the high 50s and dry. I also decided to mark the locations using a few photos then marking it up on my iPad using Notablity … an excellent PDF app, by the way. Marking [...]

Engagement proofs for Drew and Katelyn are ready

| November 15, 2012

In keeping with the last couple days of family and personal posts, my daughter and future son-in-law shared their engagement photo proof pages (slide show) from their recent photo session with Shuey Mill Photography. The weather on Sunday afternoon was perfect for the shoot and it helps that the two of them are photogenic. Katelyn [...]

Bringing Mom and Dad Howard back from New York

| November 14, 2012

I tuned out for a couple days since wifi is scarce at my in-laws farmhouse in western New York. Brenda and I made our annual pilgrimage to pack up her mom and dad and are bringing them to Cincinnati for Thanksgiving and then on their way to Florida for winter. They take the a slow [...]

Archive: Hurricane Sandy: a collection of photos

| October 30, 2012

A missed high school reunion and scanning old negatives

| October 7, 2012

Vintage Converse All-Stars from 1977 – note the untied shoelace before it became the style! I was a “geek” before there were “geeks” … if being a  photographer for my hometown newspaper and for my high school yearbook counts? Friday nights were spent shooting games and then zipping to the darkroom to “soup” the film [...]

Is the U.S. the best place for small business?

| October 4, 2012

I started a post on the Presidential Debate last night, but figured if I’m tired of tweeting, reading and hearing about it, others may be too … so will pass on opining. I will say that  Mitt Romney looked well prepared and was able to comfortably manhandle President Obama on the subject of the economy, [...]

A few thoughts on the senseless killing in Aurora Colorado

| July 21, 2012

As I contemplated the senseless killing early Friday morning at a theatre in Aurora Colorado, I wondered just what I should focus on. I thought maybe the much maligned second amendment right of a citizen to own a firearm or perhaps the possible influence of movies … but neither more restrictive gun control or a [...]

The music of Buffalo Springfield and triggered memories

| July 12, 2012

Hot summer evenings and old music seem to go together, at least for me. This evening, while listening to my Jackson Browne Pandora station, I thought about Buffalo Springfield, a group which started careers for several talented artists and groups in the late 60s and has a few memorable songs as well (Stephen Stills, Dewey [...]

Archiving for “thinkering” and insurance purposes

| June 25, 2012

Archiving a few Encore “thinkering” photos so as to begin searching for upgrades. The four smaller reading lights are currently halogen and draw too many amps and create too much heat for the boat. I’m hoping to be able to replace them with warm-white LED bulbs as they improve and come down in price. ( [...]

Happy 30th Anniversary Brenda–Great Memories

| June 5, 2012

I’m “archiving” a few old photos and want to thank my wife Brenda for 30 wonderful years (our 30th anniversary is today June 5); I’m looking forward to another 30 years with her and watching our children build their lives and memories. As many family and friends will agree, 30 years goes by pretty fast [...]

Memorial Day respect, Patriotism 101 and archived posts

| May 28, 2012

I would be remise not to mention Memorial Day and our nation’s honoring and remembering those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. It is a day that many of our citizens tend to blend with honoring all veterans … not a bad thing … but in some respect causes confusion over the purpose [...]

Personal: An update on my mom …

| May 27, 2012

My mom would not like this personal post talking about her, but since I’m archiving partially for my own journaling I wanted to write down what was buzzing around in my head this past year. Between my dad, who is with mom almost all the time, my brother Ron (thankfully able get to Sidney regularly—he [...]

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.