What’s next and where do you want to retire? #TBT

| May 18, 2023

Most people spend their lives going to school, focused on work and career, raising their family and after 6 decades or so can plan for the day they shift gears and retire. The question arises, what do you want to do and where do you want to live when you aren’t restricted by school and […]

A new area code is coming to Southwestern Ohio: 283

| March 4, 2023

With area code 513 phone numbers in shortened supply in our Southwest Ohio area, “the Public Service Commission of Ohio has approved an all-services area code overlay for the 513 area code, which serves southwest Ohio including the communities of Cincinnati, Cleves, Forest Park, Hamilton, Lebanon, Maineville, Mason, Miamitown, Middletown, Norwood, Oxford, Trenton and West […]

Motorheads are slowly showing interest in EVs #automotive

| August 20, 2022

My social participation in automotive groups and forums that were common for me decades ago (CinciTDI, TDIClub, etc) have shifted to social media friends on Facebook groups (not so much anymore) and Twitter (daily). Those contacts include a bunch of automotive journalist as well as people just interested in cars and trucks. The conversations has […]

It is semi-officially spring when our lilacs bud

| March 18, 2022

Each year I think I take a photo of either our flowers or trees coming back to life in the spring. I know from a quick search that there are at least ten posts similar to this one over the years … here is one from February 2017.  Since this particular lilac plant can’t be […]

The Red Stewart Airshow and EAA284 Fly-in/Pancake Breakfast

| September 2, 2021

Since I post the flyer and announcement over at my local EAA284 (Experimental Aircraft Association) website, I’ll double up and add it to my blog as usual too. Join us for the Red Stewart Airfield 24th Annual Airshow September 4, 2021 starting at 5pm and the EAA Chapter 284 Taildragger Fly-In/Pancake Breakfast Sunday September 5, 2021 […]

The proposed Liberty Township, Ohio I-75 and Millikin Road Interchange Study posts a virtual open house

| August 29, 2021

Local politics, issues and selecting/electing those who make decisions that impact where we live should be a much higher priority than most of us give them. Unfortunately I’m guilty of lacking attention to what is going on locally and was pretty much oblivious when my kids were growing up; we should all be more focused […]

Busy early voting and ballot drop-off at the Butler County Board of Election office for the Nov 3, 2020 presidential election

| October 31, 2020

Brenda and I were unsure about our travel and work schedule for in-person voting, so over a month ago I requested absentee ballots. Since we were out of town in October when our ballots arrived, I decided not to tempt fate or the USPS in getting them back to the Butler County Board of Elections. […]

A pair of large healthy howling coyotes are hanging around

| November 13, 2019

For years in our increasingly populated (with people) Liberty Township, Ohio community has had a fair amount of wildlife roaming our neighborhoods. I’ve commented several times before and have never really been concerned when the critters are of the fox and smaller variety. Raccoons are still my least favorite, but those pesky chipmunks have recently […]

Wow, 10 years in a growing community really makes a difference

| October 20, 2019

A photo from August 22, 2009 of a field that is now completely developed Saw this post from 10 years ago on my blog in August of 2009 as I was playing with the camera on my Palm Pre smartphone. At the time, I was impressed with the dramatic sky and quality of photo from […]

Amazon delivery may be taking a page from Santa Claus?

| July 3, 2019

Our front door security camera picks up the strangest visitors #deer.

Our favorite Spinning Fork restaurant is now re-opening as The Spinning Forchetta Italian Eatery, now closer to home

| June 5, 2019

We were obviously not alone in sheading tears over the lost of our favorite local restaurant Spinning Fork in Fairfiled, Ohio(we’ve eaten there since 1995)… but thankfully the family, recipes and history looks like it will be around a while longer, just not at the same location. They have moved to a Hamilton Elks Golf […]

A wide swath of Western Ohio was hit by storms and tornadoes

| May 28, 2019

Thankfully the tornado(es) and severe storms that blasted through Indiana and Ohio last night were all to our north. I checked in with my brother Ron in Tipp City and he was fine, although his home and my nephew Jaben’s (Huber Heights) were in the path of this nighttime storm. The photo of a massive […]

American exceptionalism and competition on local display

| April 14, 2019

It is hard to believe our local El Rancho Nuevo Mexican Restaurant has been around for 9 years now (photo from opening in 2010) … but as the competition has increase, entrepreneurs have had to step up their game. This restaurant is one of the greatest small business example of why capitalism works: with increased […]

Archiving a house for sale and testing OneDrive photo embed

| April 11, 2019

If you are looking for a grand home with too many features to mention and a lot of room both inside and out, look no further; 8000 Green Lake Drive in Liberty Township, Ohio is featured in the Pulse Journal this week and listed by Keller Williams Advisor’s Realty. (archiving photos in OneDrive – see […]

Liberty Township Ohio is planning for a new closer fire station

| August 23, 2018

Brenda and I had a back and forth text messaging conversation with our son Taylor, who is the Clermont County planner, regarding a new fire station in and around a developed residential area not too far from us. Although this improvement will be great for us, it does get us concerned over the impact to […]

When THIS is our Butler County sheriff on the 4th of July …

| July 7, 2018

When this is our Butler County sheriff on the 4th of July … … I know that I am living in the correct Ohio county! Sheriff Richard K. Jones

Law, court and a little bit about the role of the Grand Jury

| May 10, 2018

Brenda was subpoenaed to be a witness in a "drug diversion" case and appeared before a Grand Jury in our today. For someone not all that familiar with law and legal proceeding this just sounded ominous. Since I’ve been summoned to jury duty this summer, I figured it was a good time to tag along […]

A beautiful sunset looking west towards downtown Cincinnati

| January 17, 2018

Taylor continues to impress me with his enjoying photography. Above is a recent photo (click for larger) he sent me overlooking Cincinnati along the Ohio River – another beautiful sunset photo. I told him that I was going to start encoding them with a digital watermark they are so nice. I’d like to think of […]

Sadly our local ice cream shop The Cone is closing this weekend

| September 30, 2017

This is the final weekend of summer for The Cone ice cream stop which use to be a regular treat when the kids were home. It is hard to believe but we have not even been there this summer so it didn’t take much for my buddy Jeff to entice me to go before it […]

Seattle-based Amazon creating 1000 new jobs with a fulfillment center in Monroe, Ohio (between Dayton and Cincinnati)

| August 30, 2017

Good news for our neck of the woods … Amazon will open a new fulfillment center in a Monroe industrial park near Interstate 75, bringing 1,000 new jobs to the region, the state announced Wednesday. The specific location of Amazon’s latest investment in Ohio was not disclosed, but it will be the closest location for […]

Music Monday: Out of the box adding a Brenda song – Freebird

| July 10, 2017

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Tim Ellison, a Christian entrepreneur that Walks the Talk

| September 24, 2016

We are humbled to call Tim Ellison of Mr. Godwrench our friend. A few years ago when he started his automotive repair business I knew his unabashed and outspoken Christian "modus vivendi" was attractive to me, so I quickly promoted his automotive services and did as much business with him as I could. Due to […]

Who are these Minion characters?

| August 19, 2016

I really don’t know who these Minion characters are, but admire the phenomenon and their “cuteness.” Frankly I’ve haven’t actually seen the movie … or is it movies plural by now? Anyway, seeing them creatively showing up on a corner at our local Delhi Garden Center puts me in a good mood — and that […]

It might be time to get some blue paint – #ThinBlueLine

| September 30, 2015

Although government is too big, there is a place and a need for it … especially outside of Washington DC.  I’m thinking particularly those elected and hired to keep us safe in the military, law enforcement, as rescue workers and the fire department. When they are under attack, as some in law enforcement have been […]

Preparations for the EAA Chapter 284 TailDragger FlyIn

| August 13, 2015

This year’s September 5th and 6th Red Stewart Airshow and our  EAA284 TalilDragger FlyIn not until Labor Day weekend in September, but with my full plate I want to get my part done early. I’ve been up most every morning this week with Brenda (pain issues), and so while the PT/OT persona was at the […]

Athens Ohio bakery continues effort to move off-the-grid

| August 5, 2015

If you are in Ohio and are looking for an interesting weekend drive now that gasoline prices are down (diesel too), take a drive to the Village Bakery and Café in Athens, Ohio. (of course that seems as counterproductive as Al Gore flying in a private plane if you are really thinking “green”?) They are […]

Appreciating the time we have to spend together

| May 23, 2015

Being sentimental or overly reflecting on each day really is not in my nature, but because my prayer list growing for those who have health issues, I’ve spent a little more time “trying” to appreciate “the moments.”  The focus this winter/spring has primarily been on my dad (and my mother-in-law), and I’ve made a priority […]

Bridge being dismantled collapses in Cincinnati blocking SB I-75

| January 20, 2015

The Twitter updates last night kept me up late than usual as I contemplated how this would impact traffic on I-75. The heavy construction north of Cincinnati has been challenging the last year or so and having the old Hopple Street overpass pancake collapse on the southbound heavily traveled interstate highway is going to be […]

More Honda dollars headed for Anna Ohio Engine Plant

| January 17, 2015

While visiting my dad in Sidney, Ohio this week I could help but catch the headlines in the local paper – Honda invests $340M in AEP (Anna Engine Plant). The area has certainly changed since I was in high school … and Honda’s manufacturing investment and jobs starting in 1985 has been a real boost […]

Fuel prices – What is wrong with this picture?

| December 23, 2014

A local convenient store today in Liberty Township, Ohio … December 23, 2014. As a Volkswagen TDI and Mercedes diesel car guy … there is something wrong when the spread between regular unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel is this much – over $1.50 difference! Ugh … back to driving the Honda Pilot, at least for the […]

Acro Sport II airplane crashes in Liberty Twp neighborhood

| September 20, 2014

   A aerobatic bi plane, an Acro Sport II, crashed in a friend’s neighborhood a few mile to my north towards Monroe, OH but still in Liberty Township (thanks Tim). There were two people on board and there was an immediate fire on impact.  Damage can be seen to a house and yard (click for […]

Praise for Duke Energy’s use of information technology

| April 29, 2014

Rarely do we talk about near monopolies, government agencies or utility companies in a positive way when it comes to servicing their captive market or hostage customer … where else can we go? We shouldn’t be surprised since where there is little competition, there isn’t the same motivation to excel with customer service as when […]

Sprint LTE testing in and around Cincinnati Ohio

| August 9, 2013

A friend of mine (thanks Tim) mentioned that it looked like Sprint was testing their LTE setup along I-75 in and around Cincinnati. I’ve been trying to remember to check it when in West Chester after hearing it was on north of the I-275 outer belt. so, while in town this we I remembered as […]

A rare W12 Volkswagen Phaeton

| July 14, 2013

Taylor and I were discussing that Volkswagen might bring the VW Phaeton back to the US and how rare they are (maybe 2500 of them between 2004-2006?) … and then the next day I roll up behind one close to home. I sat at the light behind him but once the signal turned green the […]

Weed Man does an obvious upsell or perhaps bait-and-switch

| June 25, 2013

When a deal seems a bit too good, there is probably a reason to be skeptical. Now to be fair, I knew that for $25 I was not going to get my yard completely treated, but was expecting this Cincinnati area Groupon deal to be a way for Weed Man to demonstrate their professionalism and […]

Spina Bifida lip dub effort at Lakota East #wewantellen

| May 20, 2013

My son mentioned a video produced by his alma mater, Lakota East High School, and after first thinking it was just another goofy video, I realized that the community and student body effort was a lot of work – I even watched it to the end as the music gets more appealing to those of […]

A local connection in Discovery – The Big Brain Theory

| May 2, 2013

The Discovery Channel’s Big Brain Theory included one of our Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA284) chapter members as a competitor – Tom Johnson (@flyboytomj). The engineering reality show debuted with both teams failing in their challenge of protecting a box of explosives in a head-on collision. Even worse, the project management demonstrated by both teams left […]

Close accident call for me today – Liberty Township, Ohio

| April 20, 2013

While stopping at our local Tractor Supply today I felt I had a somewhat close call to an accident at the corner of Liberty-Fairfield and Hamilton-Middletown (Rt 4) today in Liberty Township – a few minutes sooner. I said a prayer for those being helped by the paramedics they were extracted from their upside down […]

Using retired police officers as substitute teachers

| January 28, 2013

Butler County Ohio’s high profile local Sheriff Richard Jones is addressing the recent hot button topic school security with a “two for one” idea by putting trained retired police officers in school buildings as substitute teachers. Many of our local schools once had resource officers in the schools, but budget constraints due to the slow […]

Domestica and Rachel Kirkwood highlighted on WVXU

| January 26, 2013

It is great to see the entrepreneurial spirit alive and well in the niche publishing of local “paper-based” magazine, Domestica (Domestica Magazine). This venture is somewhat close to home seeing that it is local … and edited by Rachel Kirkwood, a friend of our family. She started the community oriented publication using Kickstarter last year […]

Retail fuel prices are down a bit from last January

| January 18, 2013

Although retail unleaded gasoline is down 25 cent per gallon since last year at this time in SW Ohio, we remain just above $3.00/gallon in most areas. (I paid $3.09 and $3.07 this week while traveling in north east Ohio) Since I’m thinking about a new diesel car this year, it is be frustrating to […]

Will politicians Rise Above or send us over the financial cliff?

| November 17, 2012

There is a Rise Above movement afoot and it is being promoted by business news network CNBC. Supporters and business leaders from both political parties agree that politicians must work together to focus on the financial health of our country and rise above partisan politics. We have yet to see progress and the stock market […]

Romney surrogates fan out across the US after rally in Ohio

| November 3, 2012

Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and supporters gathered in West Chester, Ohio last night (my home town) and warmed the large crowd of 30,000 on a cold night north of Cincinnati. He gave a critique of President Obama for the lack of leadership over the past 4 years, as well as for running a campaign that […]

Tech Friday: iOS Passbook, Eventbrite & RomneyRyan Rally

| November 2, 2012

I found an excuse to use the Apple iOS Passbook app on the iPhone 5 yesterday while adding tickets to a Romney Ryan Real Recovery Road Rally being held tonight just north of Cincinnati in my hometown of West Chester Ohio. The ticket distribution site EventBrite makes easy checkout and automatically adds the QR coded […]

Liberty Township Ohio lightning takes another home

| July 18, 2012

Yikes … another lightning strike and fire too close to home (below is an out the window Palm Pre video on my way home tonight). This make the second house fire due to lightning in the last couple months in an area within walking distance from our home (May 2nd: LINK–amateur video). The surrounding area […]

Kudos to a well run Cincinnati area airport taxi service

| June 27, 2012

A change in schedules had me flying into CVG (Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Airport) on Tuesday and stuck without a way home. I didn’t park my car this trip and expected that “someone” would be available to pick me up and drive me home – NOPE! Anyway this gave me an excuse to look for another way […]

Butler County has worst foreclosure rate in Ohio

| January 13, 2012

Although I know the employment and housing market has been bad in Ohio, I didn’t realize it was as bad as it was in our county until noticing the foreclosure numbers for 2011. Butler County had 3,330 foreclosure filings in 2011, which was about the same as 2010. Only 2009 saw higher filings with 4,000, […]

Congestion on I-75 some of worst in U.S.

| November 28, 2011

No wonder I instinctively avoid I-75 downtown Cincinnati during rush hour. Two stretches of I-75 in the Cincinnati area have been identified as being among the 328 most seriously congested in the country in a recent report by the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University. The single most congested stretch of highway in the […]

The Ides of March opens in theaters this weekend

| October 7, 2011

Southwestern Ohio movie goers are anxious for the opening of George Cloney’s “The Ides of March” since the Cincinnati and the small college town of Oxford Ohio are notable in the film. The political drama starring Ryan Gosling used Miami University’s Hall Auditorium and the Farmer School of Business in the film, particularly in the […]

Couldn’t be happening to a nicer guy (sarcasm)

| June 14, 2011

A story that might make more than a couple people I know smile when they go to bed tonight. (I’m thinking of my hard working brother-in-law). The hearing to determine if Cincinnati attorney Stan Chesley will be able to keep his law license to practice in Kentucky and possibly in Ohio ended in Lexington Tuesday […]

Ryan Riddell is 2/3s through is ‘30 days homeless’ project

| January 22, 2011

The husband of a close friend of ours is in the middle of a community awareness and missions project that has been both eye opening for him and a chance to bring community attention to the homeless. Ryan Riddell, a pastor and real estate agent , is spending the month of January ‘homeless’ rather than […]

A slew of negative news dominates the headlines

| November 30, 2010

“The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 88 points, or 0.8% to 10964 in early trading.” A glance at the headlines of the Wall Street Journal this morning leaves me even more sour than does the gloomy and rainy day … although the at least the rain we need. It seems no matter where one looks […]

Polling locations, private property, free speech and lawsuits

| October 19, 2010

I’ve often wondered what is and isn’t permitted at local polling locations since many are private properties except for opening their doors on election day. In our suburban township we use schools, churches and building such as union halls, the later generating a lawsuit from a local community group of the Cincinnati Tea Party. Some […]

Superstreets are a growing trend as Ohio roadways expand

| September 28, 2010

So far I’m not convinced drivers are big fans of the new complex intersections being constructed on many of today roads and highways – referred to as Superstreets. The handful of completed projects that I’ve traveled on recently seem overly complex and tailored to create accidents. A couple of examples that come to mind would […]

Another Walgreens: Liberty Township continues to grow

| September 25, 2010

We live in a changing area, not as much in 2009 or 2010 as a few years ago, pre-recession, but growth is still happening. I’ve been pondering the idea of including an occasional archived photo or two from the West Chester/Liberty Township Ohio area. The thinking is that it might be nice to have a […]

Beware of funny money showing up in Butler County Ohio

| September 22, 2010

Having worked with ink and paper for most of my working life, I pay attention to counterfeiting with a bit more interest than most. An article in the local Pulse Journal reported on businesses finding “washed” small denomination bills being counterfeited and passed as larger bills. These fake bills are often used in drug deals […]

Police chase: Will the judge go easy on this driver?

| July 30, 2010

There is a part of me feeling sorry for this driver and for her regard for safety in stopping at lights, but since we once had our car hit by an uninsured driver with a suspended license and had to pay 100% of the repairs, I don’t want them getting off easy either; the judge […]

A semi-pet peeve: Restaurant cleanliness

| July 25, 2010

Although I’m not a germ-a-phobe or a neat-nik by any stretch of the imagination, I’m often repulsed by the cleanliness of some local area restaurants. Being the one who is responsible for the health certificate for my EAA chapters annual Fly-in and Pancake Breakfast, I know how challenging it is to pass health inspections (Warren […]

West Chester Ohio recognized Money Magazine as #32

| July 23, 2010

Nice to know the area we live in is recognized nationally in the “Best Places to Live” section of Money Magazine. Top 100 rank: 32 Population: 60,000 Compare West Chester to Top 10 Best Places What do dogs, kites, and beer have in common? West Chester holds festivals celebrating all three. It has an active […]

Replaced Goodyear Integrity with Michelin LTX MX2 tires

| July 20, 2010

The stock OEM Goodyear Integrity tires on my Honda Pilot have giving me a good 109,000 miles of wear and I replaced them today since an ugly split started to show up. They have always driven well on everything but wet roads, especially heavy rain. Their flaw is that they seem to be unable to […]

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.
My Desultory Blog