Assembling a simple (cough, cough) swing set for grandkids
RichC | September 6, 2020
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The 2020 Presidential Election through symbolism
RichC | September 5, 2020
In trying to look at our divided America in a glass half-full way, the 2020 Presidential election at least gives voters a clear contrast in a candidates or political party’s desired direction for the country. Obviously symbolism plays a part in painting a picture of political philosophy and the kind of voter each candidate seeks, […]
My memories on an obsolete automotive oil spout gadget #TBT
RichC | September 3, 2020
I shared a question to a few of my automotive friends on a Twitter a few weeks ago … prior to my WordPress post disappeared due to a mysql crash (grrr!) … A question for #Millennials: What is this automotive “thing” and how does it work? So much of what we remember from our youth […]
An updated shade sail photo and a granddaughter photo too
RichC | August 28, 2020
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A memory from 2010! What happened to my children? #TBT
RichC | August 27, 2020
Love this photo, although Katelyn and Taylor do look the same to me … well, add 10 years. I saw this photo from our Bermuda cruise in 2010 and thought, “I’m so glad we took as many trips as we did each year as a family!” The early years of traveling may have been on […]
My summer favorite Sperry Searacer boat shoes are wearing out
RichC | August 22, 2020
This is probably something I should have expected after bringing my “boat-only” non-skid Sperry SeaRacer Sneakers home from the boat in June – excessive wear. I’ve been wearing these light-weight synthetic upper Sperry shoes for the better part of the last two months and they are quickly breaking down. Perhaps I’m so accustom to the […]
Sent the Packardbaker out for some transmission work
RichC | August 21, 2020
My dad’s 1958 Packard Hawk, mine for the last 5 years, has hardly been touched since it was flatbed delivered from Sidney, Ohio. I moved it once … and then covered it up with a battery tender after I noticed a pool of transmission fluid all over the floor. So on the 5th anniversary of […]
Reminiscing and thinking about our Hudson Ohio house #TBT
RichC | August 20, 2020
Let me get this out before someone tells me I’ve lost my mind: I love our current house and property in SW Ohio … as well as the community we live in just north of Cincinnati. Brenda and I could not be more blessed with our lives, our family and all that we have worked […]
Spiders, Kadydids, iPhone7+ photos and cooling in the pool
RichC | August 19, 2020
Since I spent most of the weekend outside again doing chores and projects as the weather has been great … I spotted a couple of insects enjoying summer as well. The normal bugs don’t grab my attention, but the brightly colored and unusual ones are worthy of photos (still impressed with the camera on my […]
A weekend Brenda birthday photo and Jimmy Buffett video
RichC | August 18, 2020
We are really enjoying the time we have to stay around home this summer amidst Coronavirus concerns … although Brenda has never stopped going to work … she works in an “essential business” – pharmacy. We certainly enjoyed having Katelyn, Drew, Annalyn and Ellerie to our house for a mini-vacation for several days earlier this […]
The climate hardiness guides says “no” to Evergreen Clematis
RichC | August 16, 2020
After doing a little research on different kinds of Clematis, I thought I had the perfect pick for the rear corner of the pool house garage where I often work outside the back door. Something that stayed green a bit longer in the year like Evergreen Clematis sounded perfect … but the “Plant Hardiness Zone […]
Saving a custom Mercedes Benz W123 “LaPickup” photo
RichC | August 15, 2020
Since I’ve highlighted a couple other “functional” versions of the Mercedes Benz W123, here’s another owner conversion. (see ONE, TWO … and THREE just for the humor). I do find myself constantly needing (well “wanting” really) a pickup truck, but can usually put things in my Honda Odyssey “work vehicle” or hitch up the utility […]
A baby mourning dove is trying to blend in outside the door
RichC | August 14, 2020
Wouldn’t you know, just as I was contemplating how to get rid of our annoying pair of Mourning Doves (pretty much pigeons in my book), they go and have at least one baby. Now I can’t in good conscious shoo them away. The little guy must have jumped or fallen out of the nest and […]
Happy Birthday to my wonderful wife and a few leftover photos
RichC | August 12, 2020
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Archive: Stay around home 2020 mini-vacation family photos
RichC | August 11, 2020
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Someone’s Tesla is plugged into my 220VAC welding circuit?
RichC | August 9, 2020
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Constantly re-stitching my floating beanbag chair
RichC | August 8, 2020
Although I’m looking high and low for some material to replace the clearance foam bead filled pool floaties I bought a few years ago, I continue to re-stitch and reinforce the old product with “Brenda’s” Sailrite Ultrafeed LS-1. The new stitching holds as long as the old fabric holds up, but sooner or later I’m […]
Archive: Remembering good times with my friend Jeff #TBT
RichC | August 6, 2020
My friend Jeff has been part of my life since college and knows WAY too much about me … both good (which he conveniently forgets) and bad (which he’s remembers all too well). We’ve always have great times together, be it in Founders Hall dorm at ONU back in college or the many years after […]
Not recommended: Triangular shade sail for driveway shade
RichC | August 4, 2020
The summer sun makes it too hot to work with the 10 x 12 foot south-facing garage door on the back of the detached outbuilding which is something I’ve struggled with for years. I’ve rigged up tarps, drop clothes and the like in order to cut the harsh sun, but let some light and breeze […]
A cute beach crab GIF and an eye-opening #filler shark photo
RichC | August 2, 2020
This is when you are glad that you at least out on the water with a long board. #surfing And if that is not your cup of tea … maybe strolling down the beach and poking a crab is more your speed?
Moustaches and baseball caps – I’m thinking Oakland A’s #TBT
RichC | July 30, 2020
We are a product of our youth … and I’ll never forget The Mustache Gang. After seeing my son Taylor’s photo in his Cleveland Indians baseball cap (after shaving off his beard, but keeping his moustache), I had a flashback to the 1970s and remembered the Oakland A’s of my youth. They were the World […]
The Fitbit Versa lasted 11 months – The watchband 13 months
RichC | July 29, 2020
I can’t say that I’m surprised, but after my Fitbit Versa failed after 11 months (and was replaced under warranty “without” a new watchband), now after 13 months, the original watchband faiedl. Admittedly I’m not Mr. Gentle when wearing watches, but considering the Fitbit is designed as an athletic watch, I expected more. Besides the […]
Jumping dogs, Yoda-like pigs and Ostrich wood #filler
RichC | July 29, 2020
If you spend much time on social networks, this is the kind of stuff you start to collect. So before tossing it … why not force it on someone else? 😊
Archive: Damaged drywall and moldings in the changing room
RichC | July 28, 2020
I started long overdue “Pumpy Umpy” damage repair of the changing room in the pool house. Hopefully I’ll stay focused and get it finished up before the end of the summer? Instead of using drywall, I’ve opted to use Greenboard even though it isn’t a wet room or floor. The area needed new drywall isn’t […]
Archive: Ellerie our 2nd granddaughter is 5 months old!
RichC | July 26, 2020
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Planning ahead for a stay-at-home visit with our granddaughter
RichC | July 22, 2020
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Testing a security update on the blog: Which guy is older?
RichC | July 21, 2020
After updating a few security features on this server, there is/was a problem (?) in posting to MyDesultoryBlog.com. So as an update test, I’ll add a couple photos. The subject line question is really a trick question since the photo on the right was taken a day before the one on the left a couple […]
Love our current vehicles, but do miss my VW Jetta TDI #TBT
RichC | July 16, 2020
The publicity around Ford’s new “bucking” Bronco for 2021 had me thinking about cars this week … as well as seeing a post from 12 years ago highlighting 100,000 odometer reading on Katelyn’s first car. Bronco aside, a few of my favorite vehicles are running through my head, but have a special soft spot my […]
Wouldn’t it be nice to cool off in the pool on hot summer days?
RichC | July 10, 2020
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A happy Taylor after updating his apartment’s kitchen #TBT
RichC | July 9, 2020
While smiling and thinking about my “now domesticated son ” (HA!) after seeing a couple photos Taylor proudly sent me after updated his kitchen apartment, I realized he is now closer to middle age than living in “just out of college” bachelor pad. The pre-COVID19 days of “always going out” have adjusted to “being comfortable […]
Archive: Just a couple family photos from the 4th of July
RichC | July 7, 2020
Archiving a few leftover 4th of July weekend family photos, but really, my phone/camera was not all that handy since I spent most of the weekend in swim trunks. Still we had a great couple of days relaxing with Taylor and Megan … and Brenda did not have to work! Katelyn, Drew, Annalyn and Ellerie […]
Music Monday: “Superstar” made popular by the Carpenters, but ..
RichC | July 6, 2020
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Carpenter bee traps, a box joint finger jig and birdhouse ideas
RichC | July 5, 2020
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Winding down June 2020 with a couple granddaughter photos
RichC | June 30, 2020
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Archive: Flying down and driving back from hurricane prep
RichC | June 28, 2020
Flew on the airlines for the first time since COVID19 to Florida via Baltimore (photo BWI terminal above) last week and thankfully the flights and negotiating the airport was uneventful. Besides a computer glitch which backed up lines on check in, everything else went smoothly. It is yet to be seen if the rise in […]
Forgot to archive my 2020 Father’s Day conversation #TBT
RichC | June 25, 2020
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A new Weber grill, some assembly and Father’s Day grill brush
RichC | June 23, 2020
We replaced our rusting “hand-me-down” rebuilt grill from 2016 (thanks Jeff) this year with a new natural gas Weber Spirit S-315 stainless steel grill set up. So far it is a great grill and perfectly sized for our family. For those looking at it, be sure you know that there is some assembly involved if […]
Happy Father’s Day 2020 to a great dad and son-in-law, Drew
RichC | June 21, 2020
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Archive: Last weekend chores, yardwork photos and memories
RichC | June 18, 2020
Last weekend was great weather for working in the yard … something both Brenda and I do enjoy when it doesn’t become a rush to finish chore. I’ve been steadily working on the area under the “now” larger pines that we planted to help shade the west side of our back porch. Unfortunately one of […]
Tech Friday: Google making its clout felt even on my blog
RichC | June 12, 2020
Regular readers have likely noticed a few “hopefully” discrete ads running on My Desultory Blog. It is a way for me to experiment with ways to help my customers choose or forgo the use advertising services like Google Ads on their sites. For the most part it has been relatively painless (although nothing to retire […]
Happy Birthday to my “aging” son Taylor
RichC | June 10, 2020
Wishing my son a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY today. I know he is getting older, but I don’t think he is THIS old yet. Yikes! A couple weeks ago Taylor sent a FaceApp photo with his college friends (a post from when they were backpacking together in Kauai). It is frightening how technology can add a […]
We had a great time with the family last weekend
RichC | June 9, 2020
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The Fiat 500X and selling hot dogs from a VW bus in NYC
RichC | June 7, 2020
Just an automotive kind of filler today after sharing Erwin Wurm’s “chubby” Volkswagen Hot Dog “microbus” from NYC last week on Tom Appel’s Twitter feed. The discussion started when I commented that the Fiat 500X Sport reminded me of the “plump when you cook it” Ballpark franks commercials in the 1990s. Eventually I shared the […]
Have Americans completely lost their minds – Defunding Police?
RichC | June 6, 2020
It is hard to imagine the lawlessness and chaos we would see without a fair bit of law enforcement of some kind? Perhaps Americans aren’t really hearing each other and are unwilling to have a logical debate … but “defunding the police” make no sense to me whatsoever? If fair minded people were talking, there […]
Patio cleaning, finishing opening the pool, tree cutting and a fond Al Szuch’s Bait Shop memory … triggered by smell #TBT
RichC | June 4, 2020
The “to-do” list is slowly being chipped away at as last weekend Brenda and I enjoyed the nice weather at home to work on yard chores. She is still struggling with a back issue, but felt good enough to use the Kubota (against my advice BTW – bumpy lawn) to mow the front lawn. I […]
A moon rising iPhone 7-plus photo worthy of archiving
RichC | June 3, 2020
Every once in a while when seeing what cellphone cameras can do, I wonder why I even bother to ever grab my camera bag and relatively expensive DSLR camera anymore? Last night the weather in Cincinnati was clear and humidity low. The moon was large and rising in the sky in the southeast and looks […]
Face masks, eating out again and PPE in the age of COVID19
RichC | May 30, 2020
It has been a couple weeks of more states and localities re-opening. Brenda and I stopped at Fazoli’s to pick up something last weekend, but instead decided to try something new .. at least since restaurants shut down. We donned our face masks and ordered our meal sitting every other table. All was good. Then […]
Tech Friday: i-Device Wallpapers .. the Bompa edition
RichC | May 29, 2020
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Later and more work than usual in opening the pool this year
RichC | May 26, 2020
It is never as easy as expected? I’m accustom to opening the pool each season now that I’ve been doing it for 20+ years in Cincinnati and another 5 or so in Hudson before that. Each season it should get easier, right? Nope. There always something … and the job is MUCH more challenging to […]
Out and about, yardwork, flowers and more rain
RichC | May 24, 2020
It has been a slow start to getting our yard in shape. By now we usually have the pool open and flowers planned, but for some reason (probably rain) we are not ready for summer. Thankfully though, Saturday was nice most of the day. I waited as long as possible to add a few brown […]
Woodworking: Table Saw Clutter – a place for push sticks
RichC | May 23, 2020
The workshop runs smother when there is “a place for everything and everything is in its place” … to quote the printer and publisher Benjamin Franklin. On the other hand, perhaps the British are not fond of a “revolutionary” like Ben and prefer to credit Samuel Smiles, Mrs Isabella Beeton or John Hacket, Bishop of […]
Where’s the strangest place to find wild mallard duck eggs?
RichC | May 22, 2020
I know it seems like a strange question, but our annual pair of ducks spend a lot of time in and around our pool. It doesn’t matter if it is covered or not, these mallard ducks do enjoy the relative safety of sleeping on the pool cover in the spring. My guess it provides them […]
Happy Birthday Ron! Did you know you had a doppelgänger?
RichC | May 21, 2020
Happy Birthday to my brother today. Although it is not every year I mentioned birthdays, particularly for those of us who prefer the year count be ignored, but this year with social distancing and lack of a physically connecting, I’ll post a birthday wish to Ron. Happy Birthday! While I’m thinking about it, I came […]
Woodworking: Finished my Scrapwood Challenge project
RichC | May 20, 2020
Several posts ago I mentioned that I was participating in the Makers Mob woodworking 6-week Scrapwood Challenge as part of the stay-at-home COVID19 orders. I can’t say that this project is anything great, but it did give me something to do in the evenings besides tweet political garbage or watch more outrage and debate from […]
Nothing like a heavy and steady rain to add to our water woes
RichC | May 19, 2020
The heavy rain overnight continued to add to our COVID19 spring misery, as SW Ohio is under flood warning. The warning started last night and after double checking our Zoeller pumps (shouldn’t really expecting them to do much considering just how much rain comes down). Two of the pumps keep our basement from flooding and […]
John Deere 330 maintenance and a few photos from a friend
RichC | May 19, 2020
As mentioned on Sunday, the delayed Amazon shipment of the Kubota fuel pump set my maintenance and repair plans back a bit, but I did get around to replacing the previously substituted fuel filter in the John Deere 330. We mostly use the old John Deere diesel tractor for trailer duty (and snowblowing), but ever […]
Archive: The birth announcement for Ellerie Frances Oostra
RichC | May 17, 2020
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Replacing the blower motor and fan in the 2010 BMW X5 35d
RichC | May 15, 2020
If all goes well, my weekend project on the 2010 BMW X5 35d will be a new blower motor, just as with the old Toyota RAV 4. This past winter has been irritatingly challenging since the squeaky motor bearings have acting up, although sporadically. As the weather warmed and the wear continued, the “only on […]
Happy Birthday to a great mom and best daughter in the world
RichC | May 14, 2020
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Diesel fuel fill-up and another Scrap Wood Challenge idea
RichC | May 13, 2020
After shipping back the defective mini amplifier that I purchase a few weeks ago (grr!), I decided it was a nice evening for a drive in the old Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel. Since I was out and needed a few gallons of diesel fuel, it seemed like a good time to fill up the jugs […]
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.