RichC | December 10, 2024
With early November and December winter weather showing up somewhat early, there’s no better time for Megan’s employer to have a holiday gathering at Kings Island. For their business, it is time to promote WinterFest with 7-million lights and some ice skating. Both Megan and Katelyn learned, and then taught, figure skating for the Queen […]
RichC | November 21, 2024
While Taylor was at his conference and staying with us the other week in Florida, we started talking about good friends … and “old friends” who are still good friends. My thoughts automatically go to my college friend Jeff and Taylor’s to his grade school friend Mike. One thing led to another and he pulled […]
RichC | October 24, 2024
It has been a long time since I remembered when stopping quick required a second foot on the brake pedal, but this photo from a 1964 (Camaro I think) reminded me of that wider pedal (think the 1973 Caddy had the two-foot pedal too?) Back when yours truly was learning to drive, our family 4-door […]
RichC | September 29, 2024
It isn’t as if I think about missing my mom everyday, but when her birthday approaches, I definitely do. In that way we are a lot alike — remembering her missing her mom. Brenda and I often comment, “oh how my mother would love this or that” … usually when talking about preparing the table […]
RichC | September 26, 2024
Once again, a social media “what is it” post (on X.com) intrigued me enough to comment on the glass insulators that were used on phone lines for years … especially along the railroad tracks when I was a kid. The antique photo triggered a Throwback Thursday #TBT memory of hanging out in an area behind […]
RichC | September 11, 2024
In trying to do something a litte different in remembering September 11, 2001, I saw the help of AI just to see what today’s tech tools can offer. Most of us have certain memories seared into our minds of where we were and what we were doing. I found it interesting to see what artificial […]
RichC | September 5, 2024
Katelyn, my now 38 year old adult daughter, read yesterday’s wedding ring and capsized Trinka dinghy sailing memory and mentioned that I should have included her 7th grade “Time In A Bottle” artwork. She reminded me that it was a “traumatic” incident in her young life (although personally, I did feel that I had everything […]
RichC | August 22, 2024
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RichC | August 8, 2024
After noticing a ThrowBack Thursday #TBT post in the “Year(s) Ago On This Date” blog column and recently stumbling across a old automotive photo that I didn’t remember of me with the 1973 Cadillac Coupe Deville … the one that was hit by a train, well pushed off the tracks by a slow moving train. […]
RichC | August 5, 2024
It would be nice “to go back to the islands” … well maybe going back in time to when we took a trip down A1A (Florida highway and Jimmy Buffett’s 1974 album title) and drove down to Key West. I sort of want to do it again, although I suspect Key West is no longer […]
RichC | July 27, 2024
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RichC | July 18, 2024
There have been several times that I wish I had photos of the cars I’ve owned and now realize that very few actually exist or have been lost. I commented to my car friends about rebuilding the 289 cubic inch V-8 engine, derusting and repainting the 4-door family car that I learned to drive on […]
RichC | July 7, 2024
Although we don’t eat out very much these days, having a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon and hash browns is still a favorite of mine — OJ is an extra treat. Back when I would make more appointments with customers, meeting at Bob Evans or even picking up a “foam box breakfast” at the Silver […]
RichC | July 4, 2024
Five or so years ago while working in the garage, I damaged the oak banding edge on my workbench. It continued to bug me until I tried some car body filler as a repair. It has been fantastic ever since and continues to remind me that there’s a simple, economical fix for nearly everything. To […]
RichC | July 2, 2024
Where have the years gone? My college friend and all 4 years roommate (the absolute best) from Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio were back from Idaho Falls, Idaho to visit with family … and this trip they decided to drive down to see us (the last time was in 1986 when we were living […]
RichC | June 30, 2024
Every once in a while my cousin Diane calls or text messages me to catch-up on our lives. She is a few of years older than me, but once you hit a certain age, those “few years” aren’t the same as when she was in high school or college and I was still in junior […]
RichC | June 25, 2024
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RichC | June 22, 2024
As the election season nears, the calls and text messages to my cellphone ramp up in earnest. My voicemail message for the past couple of years has been one that indicates that I no longer pickup calls from unknown callers — I don’t mind callers leaving me a message, but have grown tired of solicitations, […]
RichC | June 11, 2024
The map below might not be up-to-date map (2021), but it looks like most states have there share of stressful traffic. Personally speaking … after driving to and from SW Ohio to NW Ohio for the better part of 20 years, I can attest that winter driving (snow and ice) and constant road construction on […]
RichC | June 9, 2024
Taylor and Megan for Birthday golfing at Beckett Ridge (he worked there when he was in college) The weather was cooler than normal for a June birthday get-together for a few of our 35 year old sons’ friends, their spouses and now young families. It wasn’t a formal party per se, but it was a […]
RichC | June 6, 2024
My Grandpa Bluhm made this workbench and gave it to me for Christmas back in 1966. His influence early-on likely influenced my interest in tinkering and woodworking (car restoration and rebuilding was probably mostly influenced by DadC). This past weekend I cleaned it up a bit and added a homemade light strip with a roll of […]
RichC | June 3, 2024
Some “before my time” 1950’s music was triggered by this animated gif from 150 or so years ago. It’s “The Killer,” Jerry Lee Lewis (1935-2022), and his 1955 song, “Whole Lot Of Shakin’ Going On” that is today’s Music Monday song … which likely means I should mention, “Great Balls of Fire” from 1957 too […]
RichC | May 28, 2024
My son-in-law Drew sent a photo (below) of the Oostra family after spotting a Tesla Cyber Truck in Toledo, Ohio over the weekend … and knowing his consistant interest, I won’t be surprise to see one in their garage someday! He has been “ogling” them since Elon Musk first announced the new truck in 2019 […]
RichC | May 23, 2024
Upstairs in the Western NY Farmhouse Barn’s workshop in 2013 In keeping with the occasional ThrowBack Thursday #TBT, the above was a pano photo of DadH’s workshop after he passed away. I mentioned to Brenda that I wondered how he was able to climb the stairs of the barn and work on such a large […]
RichC | May 20, 2024
It has been a few years, but I can still see my “puffed-cheek tuba playing roommate” (mentioned before) practice playing the orchestrated music of Chicago in our Founders Hall dorm room at ONU. Great memories. So for this week’s Music Monday, after hearing “Old Days” on the SiriusXM 70son7 channel, here’s the #5 hit from 1975 […]
RichC | May 16, 2024
I don’t recall how the subject came up, but Brenda and I were talking about our first and then second house in NE Ohio … the one I have some of my fondest memories in — the kids were about our grandchildren’s age. It was located on “Ground Hog Hill” in Hudson Township when we […]
RichC | May 14, 2024
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RichC | May 11, 2024
As someone who has spent their career in printing and publishing, I should know this, but why do so many creative people and graphic designers make reading magazines and some newspapers so painfully difficult? The typography in some is ridiculous. I enjoy reading in the evening when my eyes are tired and the lighting is […]
RichC | April 27, 2024
Towards the end of last year, I added a post titled “Semi-Depressing reminiscing about my childhood home” for Throwback Thursday #TBT in December 2023. A Zillow For Sale listing had me remembering good times AND a not so good photo that did not make me smile (see link). My childhood home on Lake Erie in […]
RichC | April 18, 2024
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RichC | April 9, 2024
Click images for larger images Our backyard may not have been the absolute best location to view a perfectly covered sun for the solar eclipse, but it was very impressive. Taylor took an afternoon off of work and came up with Gigi in the afternoon (we are north of Cincinnati), and I suspect he […]
RichC | April 4, 2024
Katelyn’s 100K text message (above left) from her 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan reminded me of the one she sent 17 years ago (above right) … back when she was driving her 2001 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. Where have all the years and miles gone (hence #TBT)? I’m so glad we have the technology to sporadically send messages […]
RichC | March 28, 2024
As we approach another presidential election in November 2024 (it is still a long way off) … I find myself wishing we had Ronald Reagan on the ballot. I’ve yet to decide whether he put my political ideology into words, or if his political desires and presidency formed the positions I hold today? Whatever, this is […]
RichC | March 21, 2024
I started reorganizing the south wall of my basement workshop on Sunday afternoon, first, so that I could store a bit more lumber on my storage rack (the extra Oosta lumber!) … and second, so that I could clean up my old children’s workbench for my granddaughters to use when they come this summer. After […]
RichC | March 18, 2024
Five years ago for Music Monday I posted on Eric Carmen and a memory … well Brenda’s memory really, as he used her pharmacy in a NE Ohio decades ago. This past month his wife Amy Carmen shared that he passed away at the age of 74. ☹️ From MDB March 2019 (also shared an […]
RichC | March 10, 2024
I wish I could say that our winter Florida vacation was long enough, but to be honest, it flew by way too fast. Nevertheless, being “snowbirds” … as our son Taylor called us … suited us just fine. We thought our daily walks on the beach (10,000+ steps each day) and eating less were surely […]
RichC | February 13, 2024
As a long time Volkswagen guy … I enjoyed the “An American Love Story” commercial (YouTube) in Super Bowl LVIII. Of course there were a lot of creative advertisements, but the VW one tugged at my heart-strings. Those who know me, know that I’ve had a memorable history with VW vehicles, from my high […]
RichC | February 11, 2024
While on vacation and walking the beach, Brenda threatened a bird with her sandal who was boldly getting a little to close to her while we were snacking on a granola bar. I laughed at her as the thought about ONE of the Christmas break trips to Florida with my college and a memory came […]
RichC | February 1, 2024
Contemplating classic cars after seeing a good looking late 1960’s Pontiac Firebird 400 while filling up at Costco. I posted a comment on X.com and it gave me a ThrowBack Thursday #TBT excuse to repost a couple old black and while of photos of my first junkyard rebuildable … my 1974 Capri (it was pea […]
RichC | January 31, 2024
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RichC | January 22, 2024
As a “car guy” who grew up admiring the 1976 Ford Torino in the 1970’s television series Starsky and Hutch, I was saddened to hear of the passing of actor and singer David Soul. I always enjoyed his movies and TV roles … as well as his music. David Soul – […]
RichC | December 21, 2023
My childhood home on Lake Erie in 1967 It is the time of year when we reflect on the past year … or in my case … the WAY past years. Last month, my brother Ron mentioned that the property (just the land) that our childhood home was being listed for sale. We were both […]
RichC | December 7, 2023
About a month ago, I stumbled across a photo that I think was used as a header for the CinciTDI website at some point after Katelyn and I sold our VW Jetta TDIs, but I had to smile noticing the Volkswagen in the header photo was once Taylor’s GTI. Very good memories for sure (and […]
RichC | November 14, 2023
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RichC | November 2, 2023
An older video popped up on on of the cloud archive sites for one reason or another last month (don’t recall), and after quickly glancing at it, decided it was worth including for a Throwback Thursday #TBT. The short clip was Brenda driving to work in her 1998 Toyota Rav4 and was from 2011. It […]
RichC | November 1, 2023
It will not be easy for the Coral Reefer Band to keep traveling and performing without Jimmy Buffett, but all the bandmembers have talent and many of them have been together for years if not decades together … “as a family.” So, it is sounding as if they intent to give the concert tour a […]
RichC | October 29, 2023
Before the photos from our October 2023 vacation to Florida are buried too deep on my phone, I’ll use this weekend post as is an excuse to archive them. Brenda and I had great weather for most of our vacation and enjoy many days walking on Delray Beach. She has recovered from hip surgery impressively […]
RichC | October 23, 2023
While laying on the beach and watching the clouds drift over last week, Brenda stuck a granola bar in my mouth and I laughed, commenting that I was like a seagull … a Jonathan Livingston Seagull. She rolled her eyes as I headed down memory lane remembering and played the Richard Bach story (fable) from […]
RichC | September 28, 2023
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RichC | September 18, 2023
When I hear Peter Frampton, I’m transported back to high school and riding with a photographer friend Chris Carr in Sidney, Ohio … and istening to “Frampton Comes Alive!” in his first generation Chevy II Nova with an 8-track player (previous post)! So for today’s Music Monday‘s “flashback memory,” here’s “Baby I Love Your […]
RichC | September 14, 2023
A week or so ago, a tweet (or is it X?) appeared on an automotive publication’s social media account … and it caught my eye (see below). It triggered a memory of a well loved plastic 1957 Ford Ranchero that my brother and I had in our large collection of toy cars and trucks; some […]
RichC | September 4, 2023
Depressing for those of us who grew up in the Jimmy Buffett mindset and have enjoyed his music, concerts, ambitious lifestyle and attitude for our college and adult lives, but his passing on September 1, 2023 hit home. Unfortunately it is starting to feel like the norm (but 76 is way, WAY, too young)? I […]
RichC | August 28, 2023
While winding down the last of the lazy summer pool weekends (photo from 2016) this August 2023, there aren’t many better songs than those from the singer/songwriter Bertie Higgins. A few years back his “Just Another Day in Paradise” was a Music Monday selection and probably a favorite … but equally enjoyable is “Key Largo.” […]
RichC | August 24, 2023
While visiting with my extended family at my Uncle Sonny’s Celebration of Life earlier this month, a few of us exchanged phone numbers so we could better stay in touch. My cousin Dan forwarded a paper that highlighted my Grandfather Corbett’s Sinclair gas station and Earl’s Auto Service in South Toledo. It was interesting to […]
RichC | August 15, 2023
Having a customer for over 30 years is something that I should be super happy about (and for the most part, I am), but in August like clockwork it is a trigger for me that it is the end of summer and the beginning of a new printing year, at least with the Greater Akron […]
RichC | August 3, 2023
My current knife when it was new in 2012. As a previous post mentioned, my Grandpa Bluhm (photo with my Uncle Bob) gave me my first pocketknife when I was 5 years old (yes, 5). Believe it or not, I still have that “tiny” souvenir knife that my grandparents brought back from Florida. At one […]
RichC | July 27, 2023
Although I’m not positive as to the year (perhaps 1978), but this photo triggered thoughts of the 1970s and the gas station lines that happened between 1973 and 1979. The memory is fitting for Throwback Thursday #TBT, perhaps in part because I worked at a Shell station while in high school? Another interesting memory is […]
RichC | July 24, 2023
When it comes to Music Monday, there is something about hearing a one-hit wonder that grabs my attention. Perhaps it is the memory of the song or days gone by … or maybe it is just the fact that we expected the singer or band to have another hit song? In any case, the English […]
RichC | July 6, 2023
While finding links for a blog post last week, I stumbled across a couple photos of my iPhone5 while upgrading to my current, but aging, iPhone7plus. Although the bulky protective case on the iPhone7+ did not last long, it was interesting to remember it. I quickly switched to the thinnest case I could find and […]
RichC | July 3, 2023
Let’s start July 2023’s Music Monday off with an upbeat summer song by Kenny Loggins — at least that’s my interpretation? Kenny Loggins – “Keep the Fire” | 1980 Although I’ve included songs from him before, “Keep the Fire” from 1980 is a favorite of mine from my college days and listening on […]