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 [...]

My daughter’s wedding approaches–where does the time go?

| February 10, 2013

While drying hundreds if not thousands of photos after our basement flooding this past week, the memories have been both great … and have pulled my heartstrings. I’ve scanned a few photos this afternoon to share (they were pre-digital) and reminded me just how many years have past … and how fast those years have [...]

Celebrating our later than usual family Christmas

| December 30, 2012

It has been a busy end of the year, but spending the last couple of days with just the family was a great way to wind down 2012. We enjoyed talking, eating (too much), opening presents and watching a movie together – Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Killer. (expand photo slideshow below). *Video: corbett family christmas 2012 [...]

It feels awkward returning to normal after mom’s death

| December 21, 2012

It has been a quick couple of days for my dad, brother and me in finalizing the desires of my mom for her funeral. She was organized and detailed right to the end and it was probably a good thing because she was leaving this planning behind to three “men.” We did our best mom [...]

Post Thankgiving reflection … thankfully there was no shopping

| November 23, 2012

It is hard to believe that I didn’t take any family photos over Thanksgiving this year … except for one disturbing photo at the dinner table. No wonder I didn’t take any more? It does have me question the sanity of the family I belong too?

Filling space with photos sure to make Brenda smile

| November 18, 2012

My wife is a dolphin lover … NOT the Mahi-mahi fish type, but the intelligent and always smiling marine mammals. Me on the other hand, I like both … and  enjoy blackened or grilled Mahi-mahi almost as much as “viewing” a pod of dolphins swimming along side a wind-driven sailboat. Nevertheless, I knew Brenda would [...]

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 [...]

Glad we are all getting a chance to visit my mom

| November 13, 2012

Adding at least one day worth of make-up postings with this past weekend photo of Taylor as we visited with his Grandma … very possible it could be his last? That said, my mom is handling the heavy antibiotics for her pneumonia pretty well and is much more comfortable than earlier in the week. She [...]

The election seems far less important after visiting my mom

| November 5, 2012

Politics and the recovery from Superstorm Sandy in the northeast have moved down a notch on my radar this past weekend as my mom is having difficulty breathing (let alone eating or drinking). She is struggling to overcome heavy congestion and fluids which are building up in her lungs. Yes, the fear of pneumonia is [...]

Another generation of Howards and the Reds & Buckeyes win

| October 7, 2012

It has been a positive weekend for our extended family as my nephew Justin Howard and his wife Keity (Katie Vogel) had their second child … a boy, Evan Mark Howard. I’d offer up the normal details – size, weight, deliver issues – but figure linking to Keity’s blog would be more appropriate – LINK.

Three of the most important women in my life

| September 30, 2012

My weekend was filled with more wedding stuff and with three of the most important women in my life. On Saturday I chauffeured Brenda and Katelyn to and from a few more wedding planning functions as well as participated in more cake tasting. This time the final cake arrangements were made. My wife and daughter [...]

We had a nice weekend with Katelyn and Drew

| September 17, 2012

I didn’t access the computer much this weekend since Katelyn and Drew were home to “cake taste” and to handle some wedding planning details … thankfully my involvement is minimal. We did have a nice time together … talking, playing cards, reading some of my mom’s “legacy box” and watching the movie “Hunger Games.” It [...]

A couple of photos … and cute ones at that

| September 10, 2012

Awww … even a Mr. Manatee baby can be cute. After being too busy to post something for today, I lazily pulled a couple photos from the weekend and figured at least one of the photos was cute enough to put on the blog (ok, both of them). The second photo (below) is of Katelyn [...]

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 [...]

Off to Columbus to settle mom into the hospital

| May 10, 2012

Posting a personal update today as we are dealing with doctoring issues for my mom. She has been suffering with a lot of pain and various testing  for several … way too many … months. On Monday, the OSU neurosurgeons reviewed my mom’s case,  consulted each other over last weeks CT scans of her spine [...]

A one knee proposal + a beautiful ring + yes = ENGAGED

| April 15, 2012

Well maybe the above math may not be as simple as it looks … but it computes in the case of Katelyn and Drew. Ready or not, it is time for this dad to let go of his daughter. Drew Oostra has asked my daughter Katelyn to marry him and she replied “yes” … although [...]

Having a last minute Magical moment before heading home

| February 12, 2012

Although we had a relaxing week “on the boat” … we opted to spend our last day in Orlando and visiting the Epcot center and dinner at the California Grill atop Walt Disney World’s Contemporary Hotel (thanks Gary!)

A few days aboard Encore with my wife and daughter

| February 6, 2012

It is great to be vacationing with Brenda and my daughter on Encore over Superbowl weekend. We’re having a good time despite a few rain showers, but we used the drizzle as an excuse to help with the deck washing. One of the highlights was a visit from “Mr. Manatee” who enjoyed the fresh water [...]

Thinking about my mom and her better days

| January 22, 2012

Our first boat “Brenich” in Huron Ohio back around 1984??? I’ve been hankering to find a reason to include another old photo from the 1980s after sifting through the pile in my desk for the archive post the other day – there isn’t a good reason so this will be a “desultory” post. About the [...]

The post Christmas blues after a great family time

| December 26, 2011

I’m really NOT depressed that Christmas is over … actually quite relieved … but the time with family did go fast, way too fast. We were fortunate that the Corbett side of the family was able to be together at our house on Christmas day. The weather held and gave all who drove excellent roads [...]

Archive: A few family photos from Thanksgiving 2011

| November 30, 2011

  Its good to archive a few photos from a family gathering … in this case Thanksgiving at my brother’s house last week. Besides enjoying the time with family, we checked out the new man-toy in Ron’s barn – a new John Deere mower. A few new markers for the 2011 Thanksgiving holiday: the “no [...]

Catch up post – Enjoying Encore, but the Love Bugs not so much

| May 18, 2011

  Brenda and I made a multipurpose trip to Florida to enjoy a little sailing with our soon graduate from medical school daughter Katelyn and two of her graduating friends Laura and Ashley; we also planned to do a little work on our boat Encore (projects and maintenance will never end). Besides the personal recreation, we [...]

Archive: Corbett history — Ynysymaengwyn in Wales

| April 23, 2011

With the upcoming royal wedding in England, I began thinking a little more about our genealogy again. A couple years ago, I used the limited free access to Ancestry.com to do a little history on my family tree. While doing it, I had a chance to connect with a few other distant family members by [...]

Father & Son both survived the first day of spring break together

| March 6, 2011

After a late night, early morning drive to pick up my son from the airport in Orlando for his Miami of Ohio spring break, we hit our ‘berths’ without planning an overly ambitious Sunday. One of the more interesting time-killing photos I ‘tweeted’ while waiting for Taylor’s plane to arrive was of some fuel price [...]

“California is the place you oughta be …” so goes the song

| January 30, 2011

My daughter headed across the country on Saturday for what should be an enjoyable month of February working in California. As part of her M4 rotations, Katelyn will be staying with her long time friend Nora in Santa Clara and will be working at a hospital in conjunction with Stanford School of Medicine. The opportunity [...]

Helping family: A long weekend in western NY

| October 11, 2010

My “greatest generation” father-in-law (Brenda’s dad) has been struggling medically for the past month and a half suffering with pain from his back and a fractured hip. After a valiant attempt at rehab and without significant success using drug and therapy, he opted for back surgery in hope to eliminating pain and to regaining functional [...]

Nobody wants to grow old and become dependent on others

| September 17, 2010

We are all getting older and inevitably our human bodies give way to age. Some are blessed with good health for 70 or 80 years, but eventually become dependent on others. Learning to adjust is not something most are quick to accept. The days of our years are three score years and ten; and if [...]

Day 7 & 8: Bermuda to NYC aboard the NCL Dawn

| August 23, 2010

I’m wrapping up a final post from a fantastic family summer vacation. The trip to Bermuda and back has me wondering where the week went? The time was both relaxing and exciting … and especially nice considering the four of us enjoyed it together – I probably should “thank” Brenda for pushing the trip even [...]

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.