Archive: A few leftover Florida photos and oddities
RichC | March 19, 2025
Going through my iPhone’s photos folder to see what I’ve missed posting about is becoming a habit. This past weekend I realized that the SpaceX Falcon9 rocket with the crewed Dragon capsule‘s launch contrails on Saturday evening were blogworthy as was a condo “parking lot” photo of the Blood Worm Moon on Saturday evening (click […]
The stock market gyration has me pulling out my hair this week
RichC | March 14, 2025
The manic markets and crazy movement down and up (today) are enough to have investors pulling their hair out. Thankfully there was a reprieve from the steady down movement over the tariff dispute between President Trump and many of our trading partners (more on that this weekend). Consumer sentiment is not positive and will likely […]
Thinking the same thing already this year … #TBT
RichC | March 13, 2025
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What do you know about Hermit Crabs and their stolen homes?
RichC | March 7, 2025
Brenda and I were debating crabs and shells after seeing a couple crabs on our beach walks and finding a beautifully polished Cowry/Cowrie shell (left). I suspected that the hermit crab ate the snail forming the shell and used it for protection and “a home.” Of course I was wrong … but didn’t know it […]
Commentary: The President’s Joint Session of Congress Speech
RichC | March 6, 2025
President Donald J. Trump gave a 90 minute Joint Session of Congress speech on Tuesday night and since it went a bit late, I was unable to finish my commentary for TheHustings.News “right-hand” column (a request). Being a bit late, I’m unsure the editor will now find it timely enough to include, but am adding […]
Happy Birthday Annalyn! We wish you were here!
RichC | March 4, 2025
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Semi-excessive Florida Beach Walking and the Snowy Egret
RichC | February 22, 2025
There was a north wind for our beach walk today, but we continue to add a few more steps to it each day. It is shocking to see Brenda able to comfortable walk ever day with her replacement hip — medical science is amazing. On our walks, we continue to enjoy briefly talking to others […]
Happy Birthday Ellerie … our little Lion King cub!
RichC | February 20, 2025
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Enjoying life and leftover President’s Day weekend family photos
RichC | February 19, 2025
My reading from a week ago has stalled … and I have no idea why? “Area 51” by Annie Jacobsen is an interesting book, and beside walking, neither Brenda or I are doing much more than pretending we are on a long vacation. One of our pleasures is seeing the same people each morning […]
There’s no place better for Valentine’s Day than on the beach
RichC | February 15, 2025
We have been enjoying our time together in Florida this month. The weather has been near perfect after a little “expected” cooler, damp, jacket weather that Florida received in January. Next week could be different … according to my weather and tides watcher — report courtesy of Brenda. 
Our daily walks are getting easier […]
Enjoying the Florida Sunshine and started a new book: “Area 51”
RichC | February 13, 2025
Brenda and I have been thoroughly enjoying the surprisingly nice early February weather and escape from winter up north — and we are living The Life of Riley (a previous reference that I can’t get out of my mind). I’ve finished “Killing the Rising Sun” and have picked up a Annie Jacobsen book (previous […]
Competitive Super Bowl LIX? Nope, the Eagles crushed the Chiefs
RichC | February 11, 2025
Brenda and I enjoyed watching Super Bowl LIX on Sunday February 9, 2025 in Florida this year (summary below) after a enjoyable sunny day and walk on the beach. It sure is a great way to escape the winter (see Oostras skating below the break)! One of the lowlights of our beach walk (my antonym for […]
Enjoying “The Life of Riley” … as the old phrase goes
RichC | February 5, 2025
While sitting down after our long beach walk with a warm breeze on a sunny day while in Delray Beach, Florida, I commented to Brenda that we were living “The Life of Riley.” I assumed she would be familiar with the reference and meaning that we were living a comfortable and carefree life. She surprised […]
Walking Delray Beach each day, even in questionable weather
RichC | January 25, 2025
The shoreline of the “Gulf of America” isn’t the only area impacted by cold weather this past week, as Brenda and I are feeling the cold a bit further south in Florida too. We’ve been walking daily in the cool north winds on Delray Beach and still enjoying it, despite the numb fingers and cold […]
Archive: Our family had a busy extended MLKJr Day weekend
RichC | January 22, 2025
We saw way too many family photos being exchanged over the long MLK Jr. weekend, but I’m including a couple for the blog archive. First I’ll start with an interesting and as Katelyn called it, “blogworthy” techie kind of space selfie project photo. Both Katelyn and Drew are on top of today’s technology oriented projects. […]
Too much time reading Wall Street Journal articles in 2024?
RichC | January 19, 2025
At least the Wall Street Journal’s year in review summary didn’t add up the total amount of time I likely wasted reading WSJ online … BUT obviously reading 507 articles in 2024 took a little bit of my time … and I definitely posted plenty of references on MDB. I’m not sure knowing which days […]
Generations and inflation graphic … and a cute family drawing
RichC | January 12, 2025
Depending on which generation you were born often factors into how you remember inflation. Those born in the 1930 thru1970s likely saw decades of relatively high inflation; they lived through years of 5-6% and higher inflation. Until recently, those born later … 1980 to today … saw a more moderate annual inflation number to begin […]
Our recent snowstorm reminds me of the old days in Ohio
RichC | January 6, 2025
Winter has arrived in much of the heartland to the east coast for January 2025 … and here in Cincinnati too. It is a storm that is impacting travel on roads, by air and even the power lines since there was ice and freezing rain included with a significant snow. Taylor was out with Megan […]
A clean and very funny Silent Letter Day comedy #video
RichC | January 5, 2025
Before I add the humor (video below), I wanted to include a photo of the girls ice skating on their last day of Christmas break. It was so nice to have the extra time with “Mommy Katelyn“ on Friday and doing something special (great smile and photo)! Spotted this on X.com and it made me […]
Goodbye 2024. Have a Happy and Healthy New Year 2025!
RichC | January 1, 2025
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It’s that time of year to take account of My Desultory Blog life
RichC | December 22, 2024
Part of me wonders why I continue to post “something” … “anything” … on the MDB pages everyday? Perhaps it is habit or an addictive obsession, but then again I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used it as a way to track my family life as a timeline. As the years roll by […]
With Katelyn and Megan the figure skaters in our family, who knew Taylor would learn through osmosis?
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 […]
Archive: Merry Christmas 2024 and a Google “add me” photo test
RichC | December 6, 2024
The annual Corbett Christmas Letter has been reduced to the ubiquitous Christmas card printed by one of the many card producers (below). This year’s card was ordered before our Thanksgiving famly get-together and unique Google “Add Me” AI feature used in the photo above on Drew’s new Pixel 9. Very impressive — hey, Apple, get […]
Archive: Thanksgiving 2024 photos with our family
RichC | December 3, 2024
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A beautiful photo of my granddaughters and their neighborhood
RichC | November 30, 2024
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Archive: Megan, Taylor and Gigi out for a walk and Venus rising
RichC | November 26, 2024
Nothing earth shattering, but looked up to see Venus rising on Sunday evening as I was taking out the garbage. It was beautiful in the SSW sky and far more than the iPhone photo … but it was worth posting anyway. Megan, Taylor and Gigi were out for walks on Sunday and shared a couple […]
Music Monday: “Life is A Highway” and a VW waterpump failure
RichC | November 25, 2024
Not that my daughter appreciated that her 2018 VW Tiguan left her stranded on the “highway” … but sometimes automotive breakdowns are a part of “life.” So it seemed somewhat appropriate to feature the catchy Tom Cochrane‘s “Life is A Highway” as today’s Music Monday song. Sorry about the water pump failure Katelyn! Tom Cochrane originally […]
Thoughts on owning second homes/condos and inflationary costs
RichC | November 24, 2024
With all the expenses associated with owning a Florida condo these days (HOA monthly dues, large engineering related assessments, increases in insurance and real estate taxes, not to mention normal utilities and repairs) … I’m wondering if being an owner is worth it? Nevertheless, Brenda and I do enjoy the longer escapes these days as […]
Archive: Replaced another garbage disposal, this time at the condo
RichC | November 16, 2024
Officially this is a “replaced the garbage disposal project” from a week ago, but since I’m still mentally in “vacation-mode,” I’ll archive this post for condo improvements records and include a panaramic photo above from my new phone (I’m relaxed just looking at it). The old InSinkErator Badger brand disposal was replaced in 2012 (Brenda’s sister […]
Archive: Taylor talking with WKRC regarding Batavia Township
RichC | November 14, 2024
After a great visit with Taylor in Florida last week for his planning conference, he’s right back into the hornet’s nest in trying to find the best way to navigate economic growth and housing development in his township. The battle lines are being drawn between fairly large housing developers and builders who are growth focused […]
Archive: More Autumn 2024 family photos and video
RichC | November 12, 2024
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Archive: Bananas and our granddaughter broke her little toe
RichC | November 5, 2024
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Archive: Our family is enjoying the 2024 autumn weather
RichC | October 29, 2024
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Cat 5 Hurricane Milton sets sight on Florida’s west coast
RichC | October 8, 2024
Once again, the second half of the hurricane season is brewing up what looks to be another monster storm in the Gulf of Mexico (post after Hurricane Helene). This one is named Hurricane Milton and has quickly spun up to a category 5 storm as it starts moving from west to east across the gulf. […]
Thanks Mom for everything. It’s your birthday and I miss you.
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 […]
Family health issues: We’ll take our Utah trip next year!
RichC | September 25, 2024
A change of plans is something that can cause stress … but nothing like the stress of having a child with a medical condition, no matter their age. Brenda’s younger sister Ann and her husband Gary have a grown daughter who has overcome hurdle after hurdle in living with a chiasmal optic glioma. It has […]
Keeping track of my adult children and grandkids is a challenge
RichC | September 25, 2024
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Taylor with a friend in Chicago and a cover for our utility trailer
RichC | September 24, 2024
Taylor and his newlywed longtime friend, Mike, were in Chicago for the weekend and they sent me a few photos of their time together … sort of a post-wedding bachelor get together. I’d did check the Chicago Cubs – Nationals score (they lost), but it did look beautiful at Wrigley Field. I spent the weekend […]
Setting up an iPhone 16 Pro Max this weekend will be challenging
RichC | September 21, 2024
The new iPhone 16 Pro Max has arrived and the set-up process begins. Sorry for the distraction; I’m probably going to be “trying” to get the new phone up and running this weekend. 
EDIT Add 9/21/2024:
Protecting our rear asphalt driveway by sealing it before winter and finishing the Bame Utility Trailer refresh with Oostra Oak
RichC | September 17, 2024
It has been a couple years since we added new thin layer of asphalt on top of the existing base layer and it was starting to show signs of cracking at the edges … nothing major, but weed roots are never good. So while it is dry and before winter this year, I decided it […]
The last garden tomatoes and a workshop bar clamp rack idea
RichC | September 15, 2024
The summer growing season is over and I’m eating the last of the tomatoes that KDAE brought from NW Ohio. They were a real treat and “all for me” since I’m the only one in the family who loves and eats tomatoes. They were so much better than store bought. Also, I know I sort […]
Archive: Weekend photos, including a Barbie Birthday Party
RichC | September 9, 2024
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Capsizing Trinka triggered a traumatic memory for Katelyn #TBT
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 […]
Since today’s morning post was “family” oriented, here’s a filler
RichC | September 4, 2024
While at the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo over the weekend with KDAE, I took a photo of a surprisingly comfortable leather chair that was on the SS Col. James M. Schoonmaker. The chair was “I think” original to the ship in 1911 and looked interesting enough to dig a little deeper […]
Archive: Labor Day Weekend photos in Toledo with KDAE
RichC | September 4, 2024
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A fun family weekend in the pool before school starts this week
RichC | August 22, 2024
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Maine for the weekend. Congratulations Mike and Addie Agler.
RichC | August 20, 2024
It is becoming the norm for me, but Tuesdays are often the day that I end up saving leftover weekend family photos to the MyDesultoryBlog.com. Last weekend was a wedding in Maine for Taylor’s lifetime best friend Mike Agler. So Taylor (Mike’s best man) and Megan flew up to a beautiful and historic Inn to […]
Archive: Once again, a few late summer weekend update photos
RichC | August 13, 2024
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Music Monday: “Arizona” from 1970. Where is the midwest?
RichC | August 12, 2024
First … Happy Birthday Brenda. We’ll celebrate with KDAE over the weekend in a few days. Where is the Midwest in the United States? Someone posted a map from the WSJ that mentioned it is geographically not where most people think it is — or where they call themselves Midwesterners. I outlined in yellow where […]
A 1973 Cadillac Coupe Deville photo from the summer of 1980
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. […]
Archive: KDAE vacationing in Minnesota with the Howards
RichC | July 31, 2024
The Oostras are vacationing back in Minnesota and enjoying time “stomping” around the areas near Minneapolis (and in Wayzata) where they spent a few years early of marriage. They initially spent some time with friends “in the city” then up with cousin Justin and Katie Howard and their family of five now at at their […]
Archive: Today is for highlighting my granddaughter Ellerie
RichC | July 27, 2024
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My brother and neighbor enjoying their retirement perch fishing
RichC | July 24, 2024
Since the earlier post this morning was “private” … for friends and family … it seemed like a good idea to archive another “texted to me” photo from last week. My brother Ron has been enjoyed trips up to “his” new property (our old property) and reconnecting with neighbors. He sent a photo out perch […]
Archive: A couple summer family photos from last weekend
RichC | July 24, 2024
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Hot days, rain, storm clean up and returned my iPhone 15 Pro
RichC | July 19, 2024
I don’t think I’ve ever recalled a hot summer in July or August that I’ve needed to “remove” water from the pool? I did so with a spare pump leftover from my biodiesel days and a sprinkler. This year, we’ve had the somewhat normal hot and dry weather … followed by thunderstorms, tornado warning […]
Found two photos of my “rebuildable” 1977 Honda Civic #TBT
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 […]
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.