Wishing Katelyn and Drew a very Happy 5th Anniversary
RichC | April 13, 2018
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New amateur radio plates for the MB 300D Turbodiesel
RichC | April 12, 2018
Since I needed to replace the “metal” plates on the old 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel this year, I’ve opted for the amateur radio registration. It did require submitting my General Class K4RDC call license, and $20 (??) extra, but figure it was a nice way to support both ham radio and my love for […]
Congratulations to my niece Madison and husband Nathan
RichC | 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 […]
When it comes to kiddos, ours were the cutest … until now!
RichC | March 10, 2018
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Information on the collusion-Russia-Trump investigation
RichC | March 7, 2018
The long time investigative correspondent for CBS, Sharyl Attkisson did an excellent job of “fairly” building a timeline in the “Collusion against Trump” details on her website. If you really want to understand what we know so far regarding the Russian connections, it is worth at least skimming the points below. On a separate note, […]
Happy Birthday Annalyn – my granddaughter is ONE already!
RichC | March 4, 2018
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The crystal pendant lights, china and big knobs are growing on me
RichC | March 3, 2018
The new kitchen décor favored by Brenda is growing on me. Initially I fought the oversized glass crystal cabinet knobs (more expensive) and three rather than two crystal oriented pendant lights (I had already wired for two and had to add a third – $$$), as well as the excessive number of cut glass drinking […]
Archiving a famous portrait (cough, cough) and #TBT photo
RichC | March 1, 2018
I’m chuckling at the “famous portrait” subject line, but then again, how many people actually have a portrait of themselves painted by an artist? (might as well make this a ThrowBack Thursday #TBT post) My grandmother, Ruth Walker Bluhm, was an artist and painted a portrait of her first grandson in the 1960s. She was […]
Archiving a couple Red River Gorge photos from Taylor
RichC | February 27, 2018
As mentioned before, it is great to see my son Taylor enjoying a couple of my interests or hobbies like hiking and photography when I was younger (actually I still enjoy them). Ignoring the lousy weather (we had a lot of rain and flooding), he ended up hiking with "a friend" (?) at a […]
The flight of MH17 – National Geographic #video
RichC | February 22, 2018
Previously I’ve detailed a bit about the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 and some of what I have learned … here is a National Geographic channel video that summarizes what we know in 44 minutes.
Finished covering the risers while watching the Daytona 500
RichC | February 18, 2018
Sunday was the perfect day to finish up “covering” the lifts for the rear row of our new home theater seats. Now all 8 seats have a great view … even in recline mode. After building the “boxes” a week or so ago, I picked up some closeout brown polyester outdoor furniture upholstery material at […]
The week that was – Encore is back in the water
RichC | February 17, 2018
To the non-boat owner, having a sailboat sitting out of the water "on the hard" might seem like an inexpensive way to "park" a boat for a while? Well let me tell you that is not even close to being true, at least at a working yard. Several months ago I had such grand plans […]
Finished assembling seating for our home theater – almost done
RichC | February 11, 2018
iPhone panoramic of home theater from the rear Finally the correct seat came in and I was able to assemble the last of our eight home theater seats for the home archive. The sizing and spacing is near perfect and even without the riser that I am planning to add to the rear row, the […]
Trash collectors have a tough job in more ways than one
RichC | February 6, 2018
There is good money in collecting garbage, but I don’t see many high school guidance departments "guiding" students into choosing it as a career aspiration. Perhaps owning or managing the company isn’t too bad, but the hours and pitfalls facing those doing the grunt work isn’t all that appealing. Monday morning our trash collector cut […]
So much for new home theater seating for Super Bowl 52
RichC | February 4, 2018
This is what I get for procrastinating until this weekend — TWO right hand seats! The boxes containing the long delayed leather home theater seats (ie. basement flood of 2013) arrived a couple weeks ago but I waited until this weekend to unpack since I was out of town last weekend. I unboxed them and […]
Who is this revered and famous American President? #TBT
RichC | January 25, 2018
Throwback Thursday #TBT photos usually have to do with oneself or at least something from our own lifetime. I’m archiving a unique photo of this great American leader (the first known of him in 1840), as I wanted to save it to my blog. Most of us study our US Presidents in school, but usually […]
An old wooden ladder and memories good and bad
RichC | January 14, 2018
As my son Taylor said, “ladders will be our family’s downfall.” So true … The old wooden ladder I inherited from the late Harry McKee when we bought our first sailboat Brenich in the early 1980s is still in active service. It is no longer chained to the old boat cradle we kept in Huron, […]
Backpacking filtration hack for emergency water too
RichC | January 10, 2018
Bits and pieces are still arriving from my Christmas shopping. Sometimes I forget that not every company/individual doing business online is shipping with the efficiency we become accustom to with Amazon and other big online retail sites. In any case, one of the gifts I assembled was an emergency kit that included survival items we […]
Our granddaughter Annalyn is now 10 months old!
RichC | January 7, 2018
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Katelyn & Drew are rekindling my connection to Toledo, Ohio
RichC | December 28, 2017
My daughter and son-in-law, who moved back to Ohio in 2017, send me occasional updates from my "birth" city and the surrounding area. This past week the Toledo Blade reflected on 2017 in the "glass city" with its Finding Nellie illustration and included the Promedica Promenade Park revitalization … with Drew’s dad dancing in the […]
Archive: Corbetts and Oostras had a wonderful family Christmas
RichC | December 27, 2017
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Do we show enough appreciation for a well decorated home?
RichC | December 24, 2017
My wife Brenda shows a lot of attention to decorating with memories and detail to our house each December (and my mother did too). I wish I would be more thankful, but am usually a bit Grinchy when ask to do just a few things that seem to much such a waste of time … […]
Stopping to take a house photo on my way up the driveway
RichC | December 23, 2017
Just a beautiful sky (photos doesn’t do it justice) as the new LED Christmas spots and candle lights pop on as I head up the driveway. Good for the blog archive. After a cold start, having sunny but cool weather right before Christmas is welcomed … but should be thinking about getting the blower put […]
Another memory with friends of our 1st Christmas together #TBT
RichC | December 21, 2017
Although my memory is a little bit foggy, Brenda and I probably saw each other a couple of Christmas’s prior our first Christmas? We were dating in 1980 and engaged in 1981 and likely celebrated with each other close to the day, but were home with our families for Christmas Day. Anyway, when scanning the […]
Our first Christmas as husband and wife #TBT
RichC | December 14, 2017
Wow … is this really the 35th Christmas? With boxes all over the basement in search for Brenda’s "special ornaments," I ran across the old photo albums of our first year of marriage and our first Christmas. We both remember it fondly since it was a relatively minimalist Christmas. The tree came from Brenda’s dad’s […]
Merry Christmas 2017 from our family to your family
RichC | December 12, 2017
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Beautiful Supermoon this weekend – the largest of 2017
RichC | December 3, 2017
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Archive: Thanksgiving 2017 with the Corbett Family
RichC | November 26, 2017
Better late than never in posting a few photos from our Thanksgiving day dinner and family time over this extended weekend. My brother Ron and his family were all able to get together at our house this year with our two new additions: Annalyn (Katelyn and Drew) and Teagan (Keira and Ben). Thankfully all of […]
Answering an email from a reader on chainsaw sharpening
RichC | November 25, 2017
A reader wrote me a long email last week after noticing my chainsaw post and had a couple questions regarding how I sharpen the chain/blade on my chainsaws. I really had not giving it that much though since my sharpening technique is probably not expert or appropriate advice. So reader be warned. Over the years […]
Granddaughter Annalyn and I enjoyed another day together
RichC | November 18, 2017
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Painting and sharpening and changing chainsaw chains
RichC | November 16, 2017
A few of the late fall repairs to go along with splitting wood for winter is to keep my “collection” of old chainsaws running. Although I gave away my small old tiny McCulloch trimming saw from the 1980s, I still reluctantly use my bigger (translate = heavier) 20″ McCulloch Pro Mac 610 (PDF manual) with […]
Remembering and archiving an old photo of Gaskill Hall
RichC | November 9, 2017
So this looks like a nondescript photo of an older brick building (click for larger photo)… which it WAS, before being turned into Armstrong Student Center. Back in 1981-82, I was a replacement instructor at Miami University in the college town of Oxford, Ohio for a professor on sabbatical. I moved into his office in […]
Together with family – Time flies when you are having fun #TBT
RichC | November 2, 2017
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The legendary Fats Domino dies at age 89
RichC | October 25, 2017
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Racking my brain to remember names from elementary school
RichC | October 25, 2017
My daughter Katelyn and I exchanged a few messages over the past couple of days that had me reminiscing and trying to remember names of a few kids when I was in grade school. It started visiting in Perrysburg last week watching Annalyn when Katelyn mentioned that a co-worker of hers and father went to […]
A photo and another video snippet after my time with Annalyn
RichC | October 12, 2017
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Weekend catch-up post: Annalyn, chores and chalkpaint
RichC | September 28, 2017
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A couple doctors back to the hospitals that cared for me
RichC | September 12, 2017
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Remembering Summer and my childhood on Lake Erie #TBT
RichC | August 31, 2017
As I reflect on this past weekend with family and as summer comes to a close, a Throwback Thursday #TBT mental image and old photo reminds me of just how idyllic my own childhood was. Brenda and I hope we replicated that for our own children and are now doing our best to be the […]
Family weekend, a new Volkswagen and the prodigal son returns
RichC | August 29, 2017
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Making a Maple High Chair to match our New Maple Kitchen
RichC | August 24, 2017
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Quick time-lapse attempt to photograph Solar Eclipse 2017
RichC | August 22, 2017
For the good photos check in with NASA (above) or a professional photographer who travels to the optimal locations and spends more than 5 minutes taping a welding filter to his camera … for a less than perfect “time-lapse” solar eclipse attempt, check my photos below. It was at least fun to mark the occasion; […]
Chastised for not updating on grandparenthood
RichC | August 20, 2017
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Archive – How Much Do You Need to Retire?
RichC | August 20, 2017
Snipped parts and archived a TDAmeritrade educational article … Americans used to count on a pension plus Social Security to get them through those “golden years.” These days, people change jobs more often, rely on dual incomes, and manage their own retirement funds through defined contribution plans. By most estimates, you’ll need between 60% and […]
Archive: How 11 million VW TDI diesels cheated emission tests
RichC | August 18, 2017
Archiving the New York Times article that offers an explanation for those who are still wondering what Volkswagen DieselGate was all about. The software sensed when the car was being tested and then activated equipment that reduced emissions, United States officials said. But the software turned the equipment down during regular driving, increasing emissions far […]
Found a Camp Breckinridge boot camp poem – Korean War 1950s
RichC | August 15, 2017
A couple of days ago I mentioned the passing of my father two short years ago. A day later my brother reminded me that it had been two years and sense it surprised him too. The thought of my dad had me move a pile of papers I’ve had in my office; we cleared them […]
Happy Birthday to my wife Brenda (hard to resist this cute turtle)
RichC | August 12, 2017
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Thinking about my dad. Has it been two years?
RichC | August 11, 2017
Tomorrow will be two years since my dad passed away, where does the time go? His interest in cars was handed down to me and although we both approached it from different angles, we BOTH held a respect for how each enjoyed automobiles. I did not have had the same "spit and polish" love for […]
Family Fun Weekend with Annalyn in Cincinnati – part 2
RichC | August 9, 2017
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Family Fun Weekend with Annalyn in Cincinnati – part 1
RichC | August 8, 2017
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Pre-posted before our family weekend in Cincinnati
RichC | August 5, 2017
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The Kitchen Corner Cabinet is finally finished
RichC | August 4, 2017
It has been a slow process and a while in coming, but the beveled glass and shelves finally came in last week in order to finish the kitchen cabinets. These items are part of the "improved" corner cabinet for Brenda. She wanted a more attractive beveled glass door (larger window) and glass shelves so that […]
Archive: Tools and toolboxes to carry in the trunk of your car
RichC | July 27, 2017
Hagerty (the classic car company) posted an article talking about essential tools to keep in your car that I wanted to archive. I’ve always kept tools in my car along with odds and ends and even fluids like antifreeze, oil and brake fluid. The problem I face is keeping the correct tool in the right […]
A stop in Georgia with friends Mark and Dar Jones
RichC | July 19, 2017
A bit of a catch-up and thank you post to a sailing friend and loyal blog reader Mark Jones for giving me an overnight rest stop outside of Savannah, Georgia last weekend on my drive home from Florida; your hospitality and friendship is very much appreciated. Actually I have been looking forward to seeing Dar […]
A quick visit to Perrysburg Ohio to see Katelyn, Drew and Annalyn
RichC | July 6, 2017
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Pressure washing the antifouling paint on sailboats
RichC | July 5, 2017
Just wanted to archive some Practical Sailor “Waypoints” advice excerpted from Renee D. Petrillo’s A Sail of Two Idiots … good to remember about powerwashing. … we had a narrow canal to squeeze through to reach the Travelift. Then we were strapped into it and hoisted out of the water. We then made one of the most expensive […]
Music Monday: Fire and Rain. James Taylor Live in 1970 (and it triggered a personal memory and story from 1980!)
RichC | July 3, 2017
As is all to frequent … the YouTube video has been removed. When it comes to music, I’ve always been a James Taylor fan and have posted a few times about him. This past weekend I ran across a YouTube clip from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert from a year or so ago that […]
Our family settling into a new city with a house of their own
RichC | July 2, 2017
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Congratulations Drew and welcome back home to Ohio
RichC | July 1, 2017
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Extra work that makes little sense – salt and pepper shakers
RichC | June 28, 2017
Did you ever find yourself spending way too much time on something where it makes no logical sense? Well this is the case for a set of my wife Brenda’s salt and pepper shakers … of which she has many. Her grandmother had a collection that was split between her grandchildren and daughter-in-law (Brenda’s mom), […]
Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee
- lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
- digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.