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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Books: “Killing the Rising Sun” by Bill O’Reilly (2016)
RichC | February 1, 2025
When it comes to reading downloaded books on my Kindle, sometimes I need to pick up where I left off. Last year I started to reading Bill O’Reilly’s 2016 book “Killing the Rising Sun” and put it down to read something else. So this year, I’ve picked it back up again while spending some extended […]
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 […]
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: 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 […]
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. 
Books: Planning to read “Accidental Super Power 10 Years On”
RichC | October 16, 2024
Two years ago I read Peter Zeihan’s book, “The End Of The World Is Just The Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization,” on my friend Jeff’s recommendation. We discussed a few thoughts over lunch (as usual) … but instead of a Kindle book for an upcoming trip, I opted to buy the used paperback book, […]
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 […]
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 […]
Archive: Labor Day Weekend photos in Toledo with KDAE
RichC | September 4, 2024
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Music Monday: “Tin Cup Chalice” by Jimmy Buffett and memories
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 […]
Archive: Summertime with Oma and Bompa – 2024 edition
RichC | June 25, 2024
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Tech Friday: Trying Perplexity.AI for better assistance
RichC | June 14, 2024
After chatting with Brenda’s sisters and brother-in-laws about booking flights for a trip together, I mentioned that I was partial to Southwest Airlines. My brother-in-laws are both Delta fliers … and have a long history of booking business travel with the major airlines — I did feel as if I were ruffling feathers (text updates […]
All states with weather and big cities have stressful commutes
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 […]
A leftover Spring 2024 Vacation photo from Delray Beach, FL
RichC | May 7, 2024
The sunsets across rural Ohio never really get old. I’ve driven home to Cincinnati this time of evening more times than I care to remember while coming home from NE Ohio … but those days are now behind me. This time it was returning from a spring vacation in April and I realized that there […]
How far in advance should you book air travel? #tidbit
RichC | April 16, 2024
Last week when reading and posting about Berkshire Hathaway investments and Warren Buffett from Kiplinger, I also snipped a “Best Time to Book a Flight” sidebar.
Archive: Taylor and his MU fraternity brothers in Vegas
RichC | April 5, 2024
After posting the “Bald Eagle and 100K post,” I was feeling guilty in not including Taylor on the “goings-on” archive of my blog. So … to keep up, here’s photo from a bachelor trip to Las Vegas with his Miami University fraternity brothers last weekend. It sure looked and sounds as if they had a […]
Trying to keep up with my “Where’s Waldo” traveling friend Jeff
RichC | March 27, 2024
My friend Jeff has been busy traveling for business for the first half of 2024 and I “think” is scheduled to be in some 20 countries doing cybersecurity audits. I’m having a challenging time keeping up with his whereabouts, but do know after some time in Southeast Asia and New Zealand (video below) that he […]
Contemplating and already missing our winter beach days
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 […]
Archive: KDAE February 2024 vacation to Florida Wrap-Up Part 2
RichC | March 6, 2024
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Music Monday: “It’s going to be a bright, bright sunshiny day!”
RichC | March 4, 2024
A vacation duplicate (realized after the fact) of the 1972 song “I Can See Clearly Now” recorded by the late Johnny Nash (1940-2020). As I mentioned before, “it was enjoyed by my parents as well as my generation … and likely is still appreciated by today’s current generation?” Personally I never gave much thought to the […]
Archive: KDAE February 2024 vacation to Florida Wrap-Up Part 1
RichC | March 3, 2024
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Sloothing a college friend, a shoe throwing incident and a seagull
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 […]
What doesn’t belong here? Very Waldo-ellian! #DDJ #humor
RichC | February 10, 2024
Ok … so the title of this post is questionable. The twisting of the “Where’s Waldo” picture game with the Orwellian like doublespeak obviously shows that I was too tired in preparing to add this photo to the blog. My plan in putting this “snail shell” in a palm tree was to See if it […]
Who doesn’t enjoy looking up and seeing the Goodyear Blimp?
RichC | February 4, 2024
Years ago while regularly making my weekly drive to and from NE Ohio and through Akron, I often saw Goodyear blimps like the “Spirit of Akron” hanging over the interstate and city. Most of us know the blimp either for their aerial coverage of sporting events or watching them leisurely pass along beachfronts — often […]
Better weather, eating less and more walking last month
RichC | February 3, 2024
While Brenda and I apprecated the warmer weather while in Florida last month, we really focused on walking more each day after working half days from the condo. Our steady daily beach walks and healthier eating will hopefully pay-off with the shedding of a few pounds and improving our long term health (Brenda’s hip replacement […]
And then there were 4: The NFL Playoffs continue this weekend
RichC | January 27, 2024
Brenda and I have been enjoying the NFL playoffs in late January from Florida this year and are looking forward to watching the final two games before Super Bowl LVIII on February 11, 2024. This weekend America will be watching the Detriot Lions vs the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC and the Kansas City […]
Walking the beach in Florida and a “Big Eye” #TBT moment
RichC | January 25, 2024
A post from over a decade ago highlighted a beach find that was rather unique for the east coast of Florida … a BIG eye … so figure for this ThrowBack Thursday #TBT it would be a way to then comment on a Portuguese Man O’ War spawn this week along Delray Beach. Although there […]
Living vicariously thru a friend’s international business travel
RichC | January 24, 2024
Although the time difference makes instant text communication a little more challenging than usual in staying in touch with my buddy Jeff, I’m still enjoying the interesting business travel he is starting early in 2024. I lost track of the number of countries will be in while making cybersecurity audits of client plants, but it […]
An away from home work-table and a long overdue desk chair
RichC | January 21, 2024
Really this is to archive a few project ideas (below the break) for Taylor. He is a Mid-Century Modern lover and has consistently focused his decorating with this kind of taste. If dollars didn’t limit his shopping, I think he would be living in a Frank Lloyd Wright home and have it decorated with a […]
Archive: “The Sea Was Angry That Day My Friends …”
RichC | November 18, 2023
Just saving a couple photos after walking the debris covered walkway at Atlantic Dunes in Delray Beach, Florida after the “monsoon” of a November 2023 storm. The heavy surf wash away A LOT of sand beach and left a mess of branches and leaves on the trails we normally walk on. Thankfully the heavy wind, […]
Archive: Memories from our October 2023 beachy vacation
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 […]
Music Monday: Neil Diamond – Jonathan Livingston Seagull
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 […]
The US financial markets finally take (start?) their October slide
RichC | October 19, 2023
Those who are elected (or strong-armed their way to power) are failing miserably at keeping peace in our world as we teeter on the edge of yet another war. No matter how advance we think we are, human beings are unable to get along with each other. Stock Market Indices market close 10/18/2023 Stock market […]
Beach vacations are restful and a necessary recharge for me
RichC | October 18, 2023
Although a new iPhone14 or 15 would make the quality of photos a little better, my old iPhone7plus is still chugging along. I haven’t taken a panoramic for a while, so rather than go the selfie route (Brenda veto-ed the photo we took) for today’s vacation blog post. So I’ll post a Delray Beach pano […]
Take a peaceful walk on the beach with me …
RichC | October 15, 2023
Who doesn’t need a little peace in their lives after this past week of unrest in the Middle East? Thankfully Brenda and I had a chance to escape reality, unwind a little bit, have a banana (photo right) … and walk along a sandy beach. We came across a Stand up Paddler #SUP enjoying a […]
Archive: Our family together for Labor Day while Taylor was backpacking in Glacier National Park with a friend
RichC | September 6, 2023
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Nothing to see: Sewing my cap and Beach Bub umbrella bag
RichC | September 2, 2023
Really, there’s isn’t anything to see … just a little sewing. Last weekend I got out the Sailrite Ultrafeed in order to salvage a pair of shorts that had frayed … but I failed, so they are now in the trash (I miss my mom). But since I hauled home the BeachBub.com beach umbrella bag […]
An ebook and two photos from my friend Jeff for #TBT
RichC | August 17, 2023
My friend Jeff and I regularly talk about the books we are reading over lunch or on the back porch (too infrequent though) and he sent me one to read last week. I told him I would start as soon as I finished Pappy Boyington’s “Baa Baa Black Sheep” that I’m thoroughly enjoying. “Conservatism, A […]
Archive: Celebration of Life for Uncle Sonny and a stop on the way home in Perrysburg to sing Happy Birthday to Brenda
RichC | August 14, 2023
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Florida homeowners hit hard by insurance premiums
RichC | August 8, 2023
Archiving an article from last week’s Barron Magazine which highlighted what I’ve been noticing with homeowner insurance rates on our condo in Florida. When I called the agent about the increase last year, she commented that I should be thankful for the increase as it was on the lower side compared to most. Yikes .. […]
Archive: Summer vacation and hiking in Zion National Park
RichC | August 8, 2023
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Archive: The Oostras short summer 2023 vacation to Michigan
RichC | July 19, 2023
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Just how long is the South American country of Chile?
RichC | June 24, 2023
Most of us know from Geography class that the country of Chile in South America is a narrrow but l-o-n-g country … but may not have a perspective as to it’s entire length. A “map website,” BrilliantMaps, that I follow on Twitter posted a couple photos illustrating just how long (or tall) it is. It […]
Music Monday: “Imagine” by Music Travel Love and Friends
RichC | June 12, 2023
One cannot watch ANY of the videos by Music Travel Love and not be enamored by the beauty in the travel videography of their productions. The scenery aside, their singing of favorite hits throughout time is excellent and have me wanting to buy more of their music and hope for more beautiful travel. Most of […]
A ‘distance planning’ tip for hiking or backpacking to pass along
RichC | May 23, 2023
My son Taylor has another semi-repeat backpacking trip planned with a friend from North Dakota (he is now in Montana) for the end of the summer in Glacier National Park (different area). The permits were obtained for the “loop” that they wanted … so now the packing and getting in shape begins (it was fun […]
Airtravel in the US: The skies aren’t getting much friendlier
RichC | May 13, 2023
Which airline do you fly most often? We had a bad experience last summer on AirCanada and probably won’t ever flight with them again … on the other hand, we fly Southwest all the time and thankfully didn’t fly during their “meltdown (click charts for larger).” Even after the December 2022 flightmare by Southwest Airlines, […]
Hopefully Peak Design will still repair my aging messenger bag?
RichC | May 4, 2023
Several years ago Drew and Katelyn gave me a premium everyday carry messenger bag for Christmas (2016). It has been a fantastic bag or briefcase like bag for my notebook computer, iPad, books, etc and a lot of tech gear (originally used for my Lumix camera). Unfortunately after years of travel and admitted overloading, it […]
Archive: A brief overnight stay from KDAE as they head home
RichC | May 1, 2023
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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.