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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We stay on the lookout for different crabs on our beach walks
RichC | March 9, 2025
While on our walk on the beach the other day, we spotted an unusual looking crab (posted a couple crab photos last month and this month too). After a little digging on the Internet, I think this crab appears to be a Florida Rough Box Crab (Calappa gallus) or a closely related species of Box […]
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 […]
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 […]
Music Monday: Steely Dan and “Reelin’ In The Years” #video
RichC | January 27, 2025
“Reelin’ In the Years,” a song by American rock band Steely Dan was written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The song features Fagen on vocals and is an early example of their easily recognized sound. I found it interesting to read that Fagen thought it “dumb but effective,” and Becker said it was “no […]
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 […]
It is cold nearly everywhere and even snowing in Florida
RichC | January 23, 2025
Spotted in the Florida Panhandle above and airboat video in Louisiana below 
Saw the photo below on social media as a Polar Vortex powered Arctic Blast pushes across the country … and I thought, “climate change” (so long as it is warmer weather) … isn’t coming fast enough!
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 […]
On a roll with tech gadget updates: New Peak Design iPhone case
RichC | January 15, 2025
After updating on the Apple Watch Series 10 Complications yesterday, the new Peak Design iPhone case arrived in the mail. The Oostras gave me three items by PD for Christmas this year: iPhone case, three or so card wallet and a mini fold-up tripod. The case was the wrong size so Katelyn returned it and […]
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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Archiving Chrstmas photos: Gigi, Santa, the Oostra family and Mickey Mouse from Disney on Ice in Toledo, Ohio
RichC | December 17, 2024
It is that time of year … time for Christmas photos … with children and pets? Well a “dog” in the case of Megan and Taylor, but our granddaughters in the case of Katelyn and Drew. In both cases these 2024 photos belong on in the My Desultory Blog archive. Here’s one of Gigi with […]
Landscape ponds, Dawn dishwashing soap and FREE advertising
RichC | December 15, 2024
Click image of landscape pond from back in 2008 when we asphalted the rear driveway. Both have aged. 
My mistake this past month was when it came to scrubbing some of the waterfall area off and using Dawn dishwashing soap … whoops! Not a big deal, but it still has creating an offseason soapy […]
The Oostra’s new house has their first Christmas tree … and a little baseball podcast for ThrowBack Thursday #TBT
RichC | December 12, 2024
Today’s archive post will be quite the Throwback Thursday #TBT stretch … as the photos and Christmas tree subject matter are from last weekend … even though “The Longest Game” podcast forwarded by my daughter Katelyn is a baseball story from years ago (she knows I enjoy baseball). Let’s start with the baseball story from 1981 […]
Reading: Which do you prefer: Computer, iPad, Kindle or Paper?
RichC | December 11, 2024
After typing the title and looking at my photo below from Sunday afternoon, I realized that listing “smartphone” should also be added to the title/subject list … since it more than likely is read from the most these days? I personally have always been a luddite and preferred paper as the medium of choice when […]
Testing a inexpensive 12 volt solar battery maintainer for the car
RichC | December 8, 2024
Our 2002 Honda Odyssey van sits outside in Florida for a longer period than usual and a few times the battery didn’t start the car. At first I replaced the battery thinking it was just old. Then I started to disconnect the battery when leaving it covered in our condo parking lot … but it […]
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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An out of the blue post on my Fitbit Versa 2 watch face by Kamon
RichC | November 29, 2024
Since the likelyhood of me getting a new Apple watch for Christmas is growing by the day (my wife Brenda has been inquiring), I’ve started my research as to what kind of watch face will give me ALL the information I would like to see. My goal is to replace the current Kamon watch face […]
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 […]
First snow for autumn of 2024 in Cincinnati, OH
RichC | November 21, 2024
The first autumn snow of the year marks the beginning of winter in my book, but since I still would like to rake up the rest of the leaves and get a final grass cutting, it would be nice to have one more warm-up and dry sunny day. For now though, here’s the dusting of […]
Remembering Taylor and Michael’s connection to KFC #TBT
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 […]
Making a few measurements to fix our beach umbrella
RichC | November 17, 2024
On our recent trip to Florida, we saw stronger than usual winds on the beach most of the trip. Unfortunately the excellent BeachBub umbrella broke, although I’m unsure it was due to the stronger wind (but likely). I’ve written an email to the company just to see if there is a new “frame” part even […]
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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Woodworking: Improved my table saw sled for my own safety
RichC | November 9, 2024
The “yellow tape” applied to the table saw sled has bothered me since adding it in 2019 (above left). I’ve never had a problem remembering to keep my hands away from pushing the sled with my hand in the wrong place, but realized not having a guard was foolish (added above right). So a little […]
Archive: Bananas and our granddaughter broke her little toe
RichC | November 5, 2024
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My Samsung i500 SPH as a WSJTech ThrowBack Thing? #TBT
RichC | October 31, 2024
One of my regular Friday reads is the weekly technology update by Joanna Stern and her Wall Street Journal team called Tech Things. At the end of this weekly update, there is usually a “Throwback Thing.” I mentioned to them that my “still favorite” pocketable cellphone was the Samsung i500 SPH and that I posted […]
Archive: Our family is enjoying the 2024 autumn weather
RichC | October 29, 2024
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The iPhone16, US Mobile auto top-off and bigger photos and video
RichC | October 26, 2024
One of the biggest changes and needs now that our family of iPhones takes larger photos and video … and are now 5G capable … is the need for more data. I’m no longer satisfied with our “pooled” 6GB USMobile plan. I sort of knew this would be a problem, but for most of the […]
A wide brake pedal triggered memories of learning to drive #TBT
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 […]
When the ocean gets churned up, what is this sea foam?
RichC | October 22, 2024
Brenda and I have been working hard to walk the beach while on our annual October vacation to Florida. This year the ocean weather has been windy, a bit rainy … but warm. We’ve found the longer than usual walk challenging as the waves and tide has shrunk the beach and churned the water. We’ve […]
Filler: If you are having a bad day, dream about a trip to Alaska
RichC | October 18, 2024
Photo is from the internet — not mine.
We planted a couple trees 15 years ago. They have grown. #TBT
RichC | October 17, 2024
It has been 15 years since we planted the Dawn Redwood tree in our backyard (tree to the right in above photo) and it is still growing strong. I’m starting to think we may have picked a spot a little to close to the pool, although it is still 40 feet away. A year later […]
Liking the iPhone 16 Pro Max and remembering an old favorite
RichC | October 10, 2024
All of the smartphones I’ve owned since the 2000s have held a soft spot in my heart and the same could be said after seeing a Palm Treo photo in a “Year(s) Ago On This Day” link this week. It sort of makes for a worthwhile Throwback Thursday #TBT kind of subject … along with […]
Starting to learn more about the iPhone 16 Pro Max camera
RichC | October 9, 2024
It has been quite the improvement when it comes to the camera, especially in switching from the iPhone 7 Plus (a great smartphone) to the new iPhone 16 Pro Max. I’ve really yet to learn how to best use the new features, but “out of the box” it just takes excellent photos (that link means […]
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. […]
Rainy weekend garage trailer project and iPhone macro photo
RichC | October 1, 2024
Since it has been raining and because there was 1/2 cup of workbench top Zip Guard sealer left … and the Bame Utility Trailer was still in the garage … I decided to remove the cover in prep for raking leave and added the leftover sealer to the rail areas. After removing the cover, I […]
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 […]
Once again, a raccoon, I assume, has found an new entrance
RichC | September 28, 2024
It has been a few years since the last raccoon has found a way to get into the house again, but it looks like one has made an entrance again. I’ve tacked up heavy galvanized screens, screwed aluminum panels and trapped and trapped and trapped them over the years, but the raccoons that live in […]
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.