A VW TDI GTG on Saturday and stopped to see Katelyn and Drew

| June 30, 2013

Click for larger panarama at Aaron’s (Growler) VW TDIClub GTG on Saturday Owning a diesel car again after a couple year hiatus (Katelyn’s doesn’t count) was a weak excuse to go to a TDIClub GTG in Millersport, Ohio on Saturday, but took the Mercedes Benz 300D to the Volkswagen diesel gathering just the same – […]

My eyes are now drawn to other old Mercedes Benz cars

| June 29, 2013

Is that the way it is … once you own a certain make and model of car and then your eyes are automatically attracted to others that are of a similar nameplate? In the case of my recent Mercedes 300D project, its other Mercedes Benz cars … and the one below is a beauty (the […]

Tech Friday: Cloud and sync storage called Cubby from Logmein

| June 28, 2013

You’re invited to Cubby by LogMeIn. Give is a free try. After eliminating Sugarsync, filling up my preferred but pricey Dropbox, and keeping Microsoft’s Skydrive and GoogleDrive for mostly shared online docs, spreadsheets and PDF files, I’ve been trying out a few other backup and synchronizing services. This week I added a couple MyCubby folders […]

Obit: Gary Collins memorial gathering 1-2PM July 1, 2013

| June 28, 2013

My condolences to the Collins family on the passing of Gary Collins after his accident last week. Gary’s love of aviation (EAA Chapter 174) and his passion for Corvair conversions was an inspiration to all of us who loved antique and grass roots experimental aviation. He was enjoyable to be around and our EAA284 chapter […]

A couple bolts and a couple volts

| June 27, 2013

Impressive super cell photo from Nebraska (www.tonightssky.com) about a week ago. The photo is a sandwich of 2 shots about 9 seconds apart at f/22, 2.5 sec and ISO 100 according to the tech info shared on G+.

Hypermilers set world record for fuel economy in Passat TDI

| June 26, 2013

Drivers Wayne Gerdes and Bob Winger set a new Guinness World Record for lowest fuel consumption by a non-hybrid during their 8,000-mile trek across 48 states in a 2013 Volkswagen Passat TDI Clean Diesel. Gerdes, a practiced “hypermiler” who runs the online community CleanMPG, and his co-pilot Winger averaged nearly 78 miles per gallon during […]

Tandem surfing in Australia

| June 26, 2013

It has been a while since I’ve posted anything on surfing … so here’s a feel good story from down-under.

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 […]

How will you use NeverWet?

| June 24, 2013

Too lazy to post any original content today … besides thinking about posting more from this weekends car repairing marathon, but I’ll resist!

Continued maintenance and repairs on the Mercedes 300D

| June 23, 2013

Since I’m on a car repair roll at the moment, I’ll continue to update the condition of my 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel. It has come apart this weekend primarily to set the clearances for the valves, something that has to be done regularly and manual as this is a pre-hydraulic valve adjusting kind of […]

Replaced the crazed and cracked headlight doors

| June 22, 2013

Besides spending the day at home catching up on pool cleaning and some minor yard work, I spent the day in the garage working on the Mercedes 300D’s valve adjustment and glow plugs (more on this tomorrow). The more obvious update was installing new Bosch headlight doors I found on Ebay. They look just like […]

MB 300D high speed testing and minor jury-rigged repair

| June 22, 2013

While traveling this week I decided to give the old 1982 Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel a workout. Even though it kept up with interstate traffic and pegged the speedo, I found that it did a little shake from 73 to 80 mph. Maybe an alignment and suspension adjustment when I decide new tires are in her […]

Updating WordPress to 3.5.2 as well as misc plugins

| June 21, 2013

Doing a little late Friday afternoon updating for several of the WordPress blogs that I maintain as the new 3.5.2 is now the current version. Along with that, plugins are next to follow, of which I’ve updated a couple installed on my server. Thankfully the blog has been running without a hitch recently a testament to this […]

Tech Friday: Frustrated with WordPress search options?

| June 21, 2013

Are you frustrated with the basic search feature available in WordPress? If so, join the club. I’ve been back and forth with several different search plugins and have even tried customizing my own using a Google API. Unfortunately none of them worked well for me when I was searching my own site for items that […]

Testing the Avast VPN wifi option while traveling

| June 20, 2013

Looking at using the paid Avast VPN option while connecting to unsecured wifi connections. So far it works just fine and seems transparent … except LastPass does not like the overseas routing. Speeds are good, at least at McDonald’s; not so sure about busy hotels or the marinas?

An Oahu, Hawaii photo that was too beautiful not to share

| June 20, 2013

Karen Hutton of KarenHuttonPhotography posted a gorgeous photo from Makapu’u Lookout in Oahu, Hawaii yesterday that makes me want to return to Hawaii. (our 2006 trip) Her description was nice too: I could almost see the curvature of the earth on the horizon… it was dizzying! And wonderful, and blue, green, gorgeous and stunning. I […]

Video: The Bamboo Train of Cambodia

| June 19, 2013

A travel oriented video clip for today’s post from a guy in the Peace Corp. The Bamboo Train of Cambodia iis built on narrow gauge French tracks in a region called Battambang. According to the videographer, “it goes crazy fast, its crazy rickety, its held together by momentum and weight, and its just plain crazy.”

Lexington Lab Band playing the music of my generation

| June 18, 2013

Lexington Lab Band for more

Should plan a trip home to Sidney for the movie Jimmy

| June 17, 2013

The movie Jimmy made its début in early June and will be screened in my hometown with a high school classmate of mine introducing the movie and answers a few questions (it shows at 3PM and 9PM at the Historic Sidney Theatre for those interested or in the area). It would have been great to […]

What does an old car tell the world about you?

| June 16, 2013

Eddie Alterman of Car and Driver talks about his 1983 Mercedes Benz 300D and closes with, “it’s solid, reliable, robust, well made, it’s got a lot of integrity … and I hope that I represent those values.”

How fiscally responsible are the charities you support?

| June 15, 2013

Every year we see and hear of charities wasting money and the generous gifts given by their donors and unfortunately some charities and their hired solicitors are just out and out crooks (and unfortunately able to get away with it year after year). If you intend to give to organizations that you are not intimately […]

A couple crazy ladies are coming our way

| June 14, 2013

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1982 Mercedes 300D AC diagnosis

| June 14, 2013

Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated (video/audio below). I’ve installed a new AC system (compressor, r/d & expansion valve) in my 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel after a thorough cleaning and proper charge, but occasionally there is a clatter-rattle when at idle. The AC seems to be cooling just fine and I think the […]

Privacy vs security when it comes to digital data collection

| June 13, 2013

I’ve delayed opining on the latest NSA and whistleblower story over the last couple of days because I can see both sides and like most Americans , value the liberty our constitution protects, yet expect our government to protect us. It is a frustratingly difficult conundrum we face … or I should say, those we […]

New specialty wrenches came in today

| June 12, 2013

Oh new tools toys came in today. My lowball ebay bid on a set of Hazet wrenches paid off … and now I can set the valves on the old diesel.

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!

Audi prices the 2014 TDI diesel line up in the U.S.

| June 11, 2013

So you really would like a Audi TDI diesel? (I nod my head yes) Well it’s not going to be cheap. Here are the 2014 prices for their A6 TDI, A7 TDI, and Q5 TDI as shared by Motor Authority. 2014 Audi A6 TDI starts at $57,500 — 24 mpg city/38 mpg highway for 29 […]

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 […]

Yes, I still dream about extended cruising on our sailboat

| June 10, 2013

Encore’s sailing projects have taken a back seat to illness, funerals and wedding this past year, but I’m doing my best to do some project planning and research for next year. I received a reply from the Rich Boren, the CEO of CruiseROWater after I made a comment about his infatuation with fish tacos. In […]

The 1982 Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel – brutally tested

| June 9, 2013

I can’t believe Brenda wanted to drive the new old Benz on a 1000 mile road trip before I even test drove it on the highway, but she did. When I checked in last week and asked how it handled, she said, “well, it wouldn’t go much over 85?” Huh!?!? You’re driving the 1982 MB […]

Repost: The Passat TDI: all 48 states, but how many MPG?

| June 8, 2013

Some road trips are more epic than others, and I’m excited to announce that we have a pretty epic one planned. Today, two drivers, Wayne Gerdes and Bob Winger, depart from Volkswagen of America’s Herndon, Virginia headquarters in a 2013 Passat TDI® Clean Diesel. They’ll drive it 8,000 miles and pass through all 48 contiguous […]

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 […]

Can the stock market continue to rise this summer?

| June 4, 2013

There sure seems to be a disconnect between what my gut tells me about the economy and what the financial markets have been doing … and I know I’m not the only one growing concerned as evident by the growing number of articles. Europe is clearly in recession, China is slowing, U.S. consumer spending and […]

In need of a smile? #video

| 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 searching 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.  

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 […]

Another component to replace on the Mercedes Benz 300D

| June 1, 2013

If it isn’t one thing, it is another when it comes to an old car in an unknown condition. Thankfully I’m getting to know my new beast and am thoroughly enjoying learning about and repairing some of those “unknowns.” The latest item in the multiple air conditioning components that I’m replacing is the auxiliary fan […]

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