A NOAA image of the Arctic Blast that chilled most of Florida

Posted By on February 4, 2026

If you live anywhere from the Rocky Mountains to the eastern seaboard this month, you know it has been cold and wintery. If you’re in Florida (often immune to winter) … you’re freezing too. Here’s a NOAA X.com post with a satellite view of the “Arctic Blast.”

Followed by a video of Crystal River in Florida where you can swim in warm water where the Manatees gather.

Taylor’s Volkswagen Alltrack should be in a VW commercial

Posted By on February 3, 2026

TaylorKatelynVWFamilyAgain1908
Taylor’s 2019 VW Alltrack next to Katelyn’s 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan

We had over 12 inches of snow after the January 2025 winter storm came through … and we didn’t have the driveway cleared when Taylor stopped by driving his 2019 Volkswagen Altrack. Brenda and I were both amazed as the little VW came through the snow pile at the end of our driveway and proceeded through the snow without a problem (WyzeCam video below).

Not only did it plow comfortably through, when he turned around to head back out, the little VW handled it as if it were a dusting of snow. What an amazing small, sporty and functional car … it is no wonder Taylor has no desire to replace it even as the odometer is getting up there. Let’s hope it continues to be as reliable and DEPENDABLE as it has for the last 7 years! 

Music Monday: Thomas Rhett and “Die a Happy Man” (2015)

Posted By on February 2, 2026

Thomas RhettThis week’s Music Monday song comes from my country music side of music listening. The song is Die a Happy Man and was country pop song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Thomas Rhett.  It was released on September 28, 2015, it served as the second single from his second studio album, Tangled Up.

The song was inspired by Rhett’s wife, Lauren Gregory, and written in a parking lot in Arkansas with songwriters Sean Douglas and Joe Spargur. It became Rhett’s fifth consecutive No. 1 single.

The song’s heartfelt lyrics express a deep love for Rhett’s wife, with imagery of intimate moments and simple joys, declaring that even without grand adventures, holding her hand would be enough to “die a happy man.” It was also recognized with multiple awards, including Single Record of the Year at the 2016 ACM Awards and Song of the Year at the 2016 CMA Awards.

Maps always catch my eye: What about “Life after Death?”

Posted By on February 1, 2026

The social media feed and blog BrilliantMaps.com has appeared a few times on MDB. I’m always drawn to maps as a way to visualize topics and information. Here’s one that surveys both the World and Europe and if they Believe in Life after Death.

World - Life after Death Life after Death in Europe
(beside to click on each map for a larger view — surprising low percentages IMO)

The sand pumping restoration in Delray Beach, Florida begins

Posted By on January 31, 2026

Sand and dredging equipment Pumping sand

The beach restoration in Delray Beach Florida was mentioned earlier this month as the equipment arrived. Each beach walk we see “some” progress until this past week most of the equipment just sat behind the fenced off area.

Now the huge dredging barge was “tugged” to where the pipe ends offshore and anchored in place. Immediately work began and by the time we walked behind the work area, they were pumping sand for the Delray Beach renourishment project. Darker sand is building and the water all along the shore to the south has been clouded with sand. We are curious how long it will take and how quickly the equipment move south along the shoreline? 

Milky sandy water

Once again, DEMs attempt to unite to slow the Trump agenda

Posted By on January 30, 2026

The latest attempt by the Republicans leadership in Congress to convince 60 Senators to vote to extend funding for the Federal government is once again looking grim. This time the cudgel used by Democrats is funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

Who knows if there is a compromise to be made with Democrats, but as a “smaller government” Republican, maybe there is a way to appease them by scaling back funding for Border Patrol and ICE (their current hot button “defund” law enforcement political target) … BUT by doing that, cutting Federal dollars to some of the social programs in the news that have been fraudulently costing taxpayers … perhaps as much as $9 Billion in Minneapolis alone? 

Dems Shutdown 260129

(more…)

Found in a box: Brenda’s old beat up Palm Treo 600 #TBT

Posted By on January 29, 2026

Old Palm Treo 600While digging through a box in the basement, I stumbled across Brenda’s old Palm OS phone: Sprint-based Treo 600 (I think)

Palm treo 700p on deskI had a few different models as well and recall my Palm Treo 700p (one of my favorite smartphones in the day) that I posted as a ThrowBack Thursday entry a few years ago. It was a great smart phone. 

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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