Granddaughters on WTOL11 TV and Happy Father’s Day, Drew!
RichC | June 15, 2025
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Still problems with server overload, so old photos for #TBT
RichC | June 12, 2025
This past week, MDB and server uptime as a been a issue. Likely all stemmed from an attempt to keeps things upgraded … then having problems with a old modified theme and plugins in WordPress that were not compatible … and finding myself backpedaling only to reinstall the version that “was” working. Sadly … there […]
Test post: Let’s see if this is working?
RichC | June 11, 2025
Testing MarsEdit software: So far it sort of looks like it is supposed to look. 😉 Dawki suspension bridge over the Umngot River
Our are granddaughters prepped for American Girl Doll camp
RichC | June 11, 2025
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A Very Happy Birthday to our son Taylor
RichC | June 10, 2025
Although this is a photo from “my” birthday with Taylor and Megan last month, I’m using it for his birthday greeting today — we’ll see him soon (and may add the photo later below?) Nevertheless, Happy Birthday, Taylor, another year has passed. The thought that you are nearly middle age is frightening. I am very […]
More Oostra Oak and storing Ridgid Grease Gun
RichC | June 8, 2025
It does seem like a while ago now, but I’ve been slow and steady in bringing back some of the “Oostra Oak” that plan on using for future woodworking projects. So, while up in Whitehouse, Ohio last weekend for our granddaughter’s dance recital, I hauled back a bit more lumber. Well, during the evening I […]
Archive: A family visit and dance recital for our granddaughters
RichC | June 3, 2025
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Highlighting some of what Taylor is doing in Batavia Twp. Ohio
RichC | May 31, 2025
Some of what I attempt to archive on MDB are the goings-on in our family for posterity. Taylor has definitely found his career niche and excels at socially interacting with coworkers and the citizens he serves in Batavia Township, Ohio. In April it was putting on the Easter Bunny suit to the smile of children […]
Archive: Memorial Day early pool time with our granddaughters
RichC | May 28, 2025
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Hm, 2011 both does and doesn’t seem all that long ago? #TBT
RichC | May 22, 2025
A “Year(s) Ago On This Day” highlight (column right) had me looking at a May 2011 photo of our family. Katelyn’s NEOUCOM medical school graduation in 2011 made for a great memory for sure … but leaves me a little bit sad. Still, I’m so thankful all four parents were able to attend her graduation, […]
BirdBuddy app, birds and Katelyn’s birdfeeder birthday present
RichC | May 21, 2025
My daughter shared some photos from her new bird feeder birthday present, from Drew and the girls, and access last weekend through the BirdBuddy app. BTW, today is my brother’s birthday, Happy Birthday Ron! (poem below) The WiFi camera connected birdfeeder (see previous non-smar homemade birdfeeder) for the Oostra backyard which is full of “everything […]
Woke the “Old Girl” from her winter slumber last weekend
RichC | May 15, 2025
Although I recall posting a “winter slumber” video of my 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel a decade ago, it has been a while — don’t look at the dust! So … after noticing the battery had lost some of its charge while “sleeping,” I decided to put the solar charger to work my W123 after […]
Wishing my daughter Katelyn a very Happy 39th Birthday
RichC | May 14, 2025
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Happy Mother’s Day to all moms … with a cardinal selfie
RichC | May 11, 2025
Because my mom loved birds and Brenda loves the beauty in nature, for Mother’s Day this year it is not flowers or a card, but a technology assisted Happy Mother’s Day with a beautiful cardinal. Of course this isn’t the first time he or his friends appeared on our Wyze Cam (they come every year) […]
A belated thank you to the Gerbers for an enjoyable stopover
RichC | May 8, 2025
While Brenda and I were visiting her sister Ann in Alpharetta, Georgia, we started talking about dogs. There’s is getting older but is a meandering member of their family — and this post is an excuse to include one of our late Tootsie as a puppy (unfortunately I didn’t take any of the Gerbers or […]
Archive: Birthday wishes and fun family singing audio
RichC | May 8, 2025
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What do you know about Rogue Planets in our Milky Way?
RichC | May 4, 2025
Rogue planets, also known as free-floating planets, are planetary bodies that drift through the Milky Way without orbiting a star. Unlike typical planets bound to a stellar system, these objects roam interstellar space, untethered by a parent star’s gravity. They’re intriguing because they challenge our understanding of planetary formation and survival in the harsh environment […]
Archiving a few leftover photos from our Spring in Florida
RichC | April 30, 2025
While walking the Atlantic shoreline, Brenda and I often watched ships and tugs towing barges offshore pass by. We took note of the unique ones like the SS United States and more recently a specialized Express Marine hybrid barge with its companion tug. It was interesting enough to dig a little deeper. Express Marine, Inc., […]
Archive: Enjoyed beach time with the Oostra family last week
RichC | April 22, 2025
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Palm Sunday afternoon, taxes and KDAE at Legoland in Florida
RichC | April 14, 2025
Let’s start with yesterday’s Palm Sunday word of the day … or at least one that I learned from today’s TFL devotional “God’s Plan All Along” and the Hebrew word: “Tetelestai!” The Hebrew word that Τετέλεσται (it is finished) best translates is שָׁלֵם, which is how the Syriac Peshitta* and modern Hebrew** translations translate […]
Word of the day: Marginalia and rocking chairs for KDAE’s porch
RichC | April 8, 2025
A new word for me: Marginalia — it is also a word that reminded me of Mom Howard’s books, especially her well marked up Bible! MarginaliaNotes written in the margin • The professor’s marginalia provided valuable insights into the text Also a shopping trip for the Oostra’s had them finding a couple of nice looking rocking […]
Archive: What’s going on with our family?
RichC | April 3, 2025
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AI has replaced basic search for most of my research these days
RichC | April 2, 2025
During one of our many longish 9-1/2 mile winter beach walks this year, Brenda and I came across a couple orange objects. The orange ball that washed up during a heavy surf was pretty obvious … since they are used along the shore to mark life guard protected zones and swimming areas. There was a […]
Archive: We never tire of seeing this Atlantic Ocean view
RichC | March 22, 2025
Seeing this view each morning as we head to the beach never gets old. To be sure, I’ve posted similar photos a few times before, but even as the wallpaper on my iPhone, I can’t get enough of it. As our time in Florida for 2025 inches closer to a close, Brenda and I are […]
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 […]
Taylor will be the Easter Bunny this year in his township
RichC | March 5, 2025
We received a fun message last week as Taylor announced that he was invited to be the Easter bunny for the families in Batavia Township. We saw a photo of him trying on the head from the costume and our family had a good laugh. He will be a great bunny and has the perfect […]
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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Filler Friday: Is this “waves in the sky” photo real or AI?
RichC | December 27, 2024
It will likely be busy in our household this weekend (as we’re having a belated family Christmas) … but saw this Friday Filler photo on social media and thought it was interesting enough to share (I’m not sure it is real or AI — click for larger)?
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 […]
Archiving (clearing out) a few older leftover photos for #TBT
RichC | December 5, 2024
It is the time of year to clean up my blog’s photo folder — a place where I save photos that I might want to archive on the blog. Usually there’s a reason they don’t get used, but before tossing them due to a new year, it is time to do some housecleaning. First up […]
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 […]
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.