A 70th Birthday for Chris and our first REAL snow in December


December 19, 2023

This past weekend was enjoyable for our family as we celebrated Brenda‘s sister Chris Skinner‘s 70th Birthday. It was a surprise party planned by her grown children and it was pulled off wonderfully.  Ann and Gary drove up to our house from Atlanta and we drove 30 minutes to meet up with the family and […]

Music Monday: The Leonard Skinner and Lynyrd Skynyrd story


June 6, 2022

I was tuned into a television morning news show a few weeks ago and was shocked that two of the three hosts didn’t know “the band” Lynyrd Skynyrd … in fact one commented, “but I’ve heard of ‘him.’”  Shocked, but maybe it’s an age thing? The conversation quickly shifted into the band’s eponym … Forby Leonard […]

Archive: On January 6, 2021, my nephew Ben, Emily, Liev and Ellis welcomed beautiful baby Lyra Eileen Skinner into the world


January 13, 2021

We don’t see my nephew and his family nearly enough, but a week ago, my nephew Ben, his wife Emily, and their two boys, Liev and Ellis welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. The boys baby sister, and Ben and Emily’s first daughter, Lyra Eileen Skinner was born in the morning, weighing a […]

Wedding congratulations to Emily and Benjamin Skinner


October 3, 2011

Ben, Emily, Chris and Jerry Skinner – October 2, 2011 (click for larger) We enjoyed my nephew Ben and Emily’s cool (45 degrees) but sunny Sunday morning wedding at the Darby House near Columbus, Ohio this past weekend. They were the "picture-perfect” couple and exchanged personal vows on the terrace overlooking the beautiful setting. My brother-in-law […]

Great to be with our families on Christmas–2010 recap


December 27, 2010

The 20th-ish annual ‘Howard Bowl’ football game – no injuries this year! Once again we put a few more miles on our cars this holiday, but thankfully we had excellent driving weather (for winter that is) for our trips; one to Brenda‘s’ parents and one to mine. We did a quick Thursday night family Christmas […]

An Honor Flight for my father-in-law


August 24, 2012

Brenda‘s sister, Chris Skinner, escorted her father, Fred Howard, on an Honor Flight this week and visited “his” WWII memorial in Washington DC. Having had a chance to take my dad with a group of veterans in 2010 gives me insight as to what a special trip this was for them. We are getting together […]

Archive: Our family together for Labor Day while Taylor was backpacking in Glacier National Park with a friend


September 6, 2023

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Finally … a first baby shower for Lauren and Aaron Howard


September 23, 2019

  Carolyn (Aaron’s forever babysitter and family friend), Brenda, Delores (DadH‘s office manager) and my sister-in-law Chris. Hm … the word "finally" is a sensitive one for those wanting a baby verses those delaying having a family? Thankfully for my nephew Aaron (loyal Music Monday blog commenter) and his wife Lauren, the wait is over, […]

Sidetracked into playing with my Stirling Engine model


November 17, 2018

Last week while clearing off our bookshelves I came across a ticket to The Music Man from 18 years ago when my nephew Ben played the lead in his high school musical. It occurred to me that his birthday was this month and that I should post it to his Facebook page while sending him […]

Congratulations to my niece Madison and husband Nathan


March 29, 2018

It is exciting to share the happy moment of a birth … especially when it is a member of our family who really has wanted a baby. Brenda and I are SO very happy for Madison and Nathan … as well as grandma and grandpa Skinner (Brenda’s sister Chris/Jerry). Riley Howard Kling did not arrive […]

Obituary: Frances Ann Louise Howard has graduated


January 17, 2017

My mother-in-law passed away last week … or as my good friend Pastor Keith Thomas (groupbiblestudy.com) said, "graduated." The word choice is very fitting for Mom Howard considering she has been a lifelong Christian and loved studying and memorizing the Bible. She has been looking forward to "graduating" from this temporary life on earth to […]

MH17 anniversary: Meet the man suing Vladimir Putin


July 18, 2016

Two years has passed since a missle downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, yet 298 families are still without closure. In the US we’ve heard the slogan “too big to fail” when giving a pass to big banks, companies or their decision makers. When it is the powerful like Vladimir Putin and Russia, one wonders if […]

Congratulations to Ben and Emily on the birth of Liev


May 6, 2015

Congratulations to my nephew Benjamin Skinner and his wife Emily on the birth of their son (their first child). Liev Frederick Skinner was born this morning, May 6, 2015 at 5:51AM in Cincinnati, Ohio. He’s a cute little guy at 6 lbs. 13 oz and 20.5 inches … so relays his proud grandma … my […]

Archive: Reminiscing continued


November 19, 2011

As mentioned before, I’m not an active Facebook user but I do check in on my account whenever I receive the cursory email (too many from FB BTW). After noticing an incorrectly tagged photo …twice ….yesterday I made a couple wisecracks to my nephews about it. At about the same time I was sorting through […]

We Will Always Remember – 9/11/2001 8:46 AM


September 11, 2010

List of World Trade Center Victims (not including plane crews or passengers) Gordon M. Aamoth, Jr. Edelmiro Abad Maria Rose Abad Andrew Anthony Abate Vincent Abate Laurence Christopher Abel William F. Abrahamson Richard Anthony Aceto Jesus Acevedo Rescand Heinrich Bernhard Ackermann Paul Acquaviva Donald LaRoy Adams Patrick Adams Shannon Lewis Adams Stephen George Adams Ignatius […]

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