My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on November 26, 2025

The cost to live comfortably in Ohio varies by household size, but it remains among the more affordable states nationwide (see UpgradedPoints). The new study using cost-of-living data and the 50/30/20 budgeting rule shows what families and individuals need to earn to maintain a comfortable yet sustainable lifestyle across Ohio in 2025.

What Does “Living Comfortably” Mean?

The study defines living comfortably as allocating income using the 50/30/20 rule: 50% to necessities (housing, groceries, transportation, healthcare), 30% to discretionary spending, and 20% to savings or debt repayment. This structure helps guide households to a balanced approach for both daily needs and future financial security.

Income Needed to Live Comfortably in Ohio

Here’s how much pretax annual income is required for varying household sizes in Ohio:

• Single adult: $85,137
• Two adults: $116,452
• Two adults, one child: $169,078
• Family of four: $204,062

Costs in Ohio are notably lower than national averages and those of coastal states. For comparison, a single adult nationally needs about $106,745, highlighting Ohio’s affordability.

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Category: Financial, Human Interest | No Comments »
Tags: 2025, cost of living, housing, living, ohio, study, upgradedpoints.com

Posted By RichC on November 25, 2025

This could have been the last nice weekend to finish up yard work such as raking and hauling leaves – and my rake is about to be retired, as am I!  Who knows as a few trees are still fulling loaded with leaves; perhaps the wind will blow them elsewhere???

Anyway if felt good to be nearly done with the yard before winter and getting things looking halfway decent before family arrives for Thanksgiving. Brenda has been working hard too as there have been multiple Tesla trips to the stores, meal prep and getting the house ready. We are actually enjoying the chores and looking forward to getting together (tends to be once a year with my brother and his family). 

I made second batch of Portuguese Sausage Soup as both Brenda and I grew to like it. It is one of those “packed with veggies that we don’t necessarily like (kale)” kind of foods that are supposed to be better for your health — missing vitamins. Who knows, but we’re going to “try” to serve it to family if they get tired of Thanksgiving leftovers. 😊 

Taylor was getting over a stomach flu and also busy with Megan taking her mom to Urgent Care for her knee. She was climbing the stairs in her house and her knee (that has needed a knee replacement for years) could not get her up the stairs. Hopefully a steroid shot will help until she can decide what she wants to do? Frustrating for all to say the least — especially for those of us who just want it a “fix” (speaking selfishly for myself as my foot problem continues).

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Category: Archive, Personal, Photos, Tesla | No Comments »
Tags: autumn, battery, brake pedal, family, granddaughters, john deere, leaves, megan, oostras, pdf, recipe, soup, taylor, tesla, yardwork

Posted By RichC on November 24, 2025

It is odd just how the human mind works when connecting a couple of entirely different names?

Last week, in a discussion on X.com, an automotive journalist, CarGuyTom, toss out the celebrity name, Ema Thompson, after a poll he was running. Knowing Tom was a fan of jazz music, the name for some strange reason triggered a line from a Jimmy Buffett song from back in the 1970s: “Sweet Irma Thomas and Frogman Henry ..” from his song.
 

So for this Music Monday, the Jimmy Buffett song is “Saxophones” from his 1974 album, Living and Dying in 3/4 Time.

Saxophones
By: Jimmy Buffett

I cut my teeth on Gumbo rock, Benny Stillman and Dr. John
Sweet Erma Thomas and Frogman Henry
Used to boogie woogie all night long
Though I love rock n′ roll the acoustic guitar
Was the only way I had of becomin’ a star
I′m doin’ really nice and travellin’ around
But they won′t play my record in my old home town

Chorus:
But if I had saxophones
Yeah, big baritone cleanin′ up the muddy breaks
If I had saxophones
I could get some recognition from that Mobile, Alabama D.J.

Livin’ by the ocean, sometimes I get the notion
To take my Janey downtown
We hang out in a funky little bar
They call it the “Shipwreck Lounge”
Well we get kind of drunk and we play rock n′ roll
Grabbin’ everybody right down in his soul
When we get to cookin′ somethin’s still wrong
There′s still somethin’ missin’ from them good ole songs

Chorus:
But if we had saxophones
Big baritone cleanin′ up the muddy breaks
If we had saxophones
I could make that joint shimmy like a big California earthquake

Yeah if we had saxophones
Yeah, big baritone cleanin′ up the muddy breaks
If we had saxophones
I could get some recognition from that Mobile, Alabama D.J.

Category: Music, Social Media | No Comments »
Tags: frogman henry, irma thomas, jazz, jimmy buffett, music monday, musicmonday, saxophones, wikipedia, x.com

Posted By RichC on November 23, 2025

There was article regarding The Joy of Doing Nothing in the WSJ’s Lifestyle section on retirement last week … which forces the question “when to actually retire” and “how to actually retire?” One of the comments triggered a mental debate on slogan that get reversed, depending on who you are talking to: “It is better to wear out than to rust out” or “It is better to rust out than wear out.”

Although I do love my down time (doing nothing, sitting by the fire, sailing or “staring into space”) … I also believe that a lack of purpose and excessive idleness isn’t healthy. Too many people in retirement go downhill as soon as they stop working or no longer are actively busy. 

On the other hand, having a nagging foot injury that impacts my mood and ability to do what I want … does have been questioning the “wear out” part of the above. But just because I can’t actively and comfortably do what I want to do, shouldn’t prevent me from mentally being stimulated … or even continue to keep learning new things (albeit slower than when I was younger). 

Category: Advice, Human Interest, Idioms, Retirement | No Comments »
Tags: doing nothing, lifestyle, quote, retirement, rust out, wear out, wsj

Posted By RichC on November 22, 2025

Once again this year, we’re having problem with young buck deer damaging our young trees and breaking branches on decorative plantings. I should have shrouded them with corrugated pipes as in the past, but didn’t get a jump on it until it was too late. ☹️ 

Here’s some AI-powered assisted information I worked up for those who might stumble on this post:

Buck rub occurs when male deer (bucks) scrape their antlers against tree trunks to remove velvet or mark territory, often stripping bark and exposing the cambium layer on young trees with thin trunks.

Protecting Young Trees from Buck Rub

The most effective protection involves physical barriers to prevent deer access, as repellents alone are less reliable. Install these in early fall before rutting season peaks.

• Tree guards or tubes: Use corrugated plastic drainage tubing (about 4 inches in diameter) slit lengthwise and slipped around the trunk, extending at least 4-5 feet high to cover the rub zone. This is a cheap, DIY option that allows air circulation while blocking antlers.

Protect Trees From Deer Rut Damage | Trunk Shields | joe gardener®

• Wire or mesh fencing: Surround the trunk with chicken wire, welded wire, or heavy plastic mesh, secured with stakes and leaving 1-2 inches of space from the bark to avoid girdling as the tree grows. Make it at least 5-6 feet tall for better deterrence.

• Full enclosure fencing: For multiple trees or high deer pressure, erect a 6-8 foot tall deer fence around the area using posts and wire. This is more costly but provides broad protection.

Remove guards in spring to prevent moisture buildup, and monitor for any constriction as the tree expands.

Helping Trees After Buck Rub Damage

If damage has occurred, focus on cleaning the wound to promote natural healing—trees can recover from significant bark loss if the cambium isn’t completely girdled.

• Clean the wound: Use a sharp, sterilized knife (like a box cutter or grafting knife) to trim away loose, shredded, or jagged bark edges, creating a smooth, oval-shaped wound that tapers at the top and bottom. This helps the tree form callus tissue more efficiently.

Repair Tree Bark from Buck Rub Damage

• Avoid sealants or dressings: Do not apply wound paint, tar, tape, sprays, or any coverings—these can trap moisture and encourage rot or infection. Let the exposed area dry and heal on its own.
• Support recovery: Water deeply during dry spells, mulch around the base (but not touching the trunk), and fertilize lightly in spring if needed to boost vigor. Monitor for a year; if the tree shows new growth and the wound starts closing, it’s likely to survive. Severe girdling (over 50% circumference damaged) may require professional assessment or removal.

If the tree is very young or the damage extensive, protect it immediately after repair to prevent further rubbing.

Category: AI, Nature, Photos, Video | No Comments »
Tags: backyard, buck rub, damage, deer, plants, prevention, trees

Posted By RichC on November 21, 2025

I’ve been using an Apple iPad the same way for nearly the past decade or so (yikes, 2011); using it has been pretty much a habitual rut for me. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy using every iPad for reading, browsing, note taking (typing as I don’t have an Apple Pencil) and answering emails … but when it comes to “computing” … it is always back to my computer. For me that means a desktop set up, even when using the MacBook Air M2 from a few years ago or my modified but aging iMac from 2012 (has it been that long)? 

Recently I updated the iPadOS to 26 and then 26.1 and started wondering just what new tools could be available that I might want to use. Sizable windows could be helpful; even on a small screen … which brings me back to using windows on a tiny blue mono-color screen on a Mac SE (mid-1980s). The current trick for me is to size and position them so that I can touch any corner and bring a window and therefore, an app, to the forefront. For me the screen is still a little to small on my 11” iPad to work side-by-side .. or often even in a downsized window (side-by-side has been available for a while but I’ve never used it), 

Another helpful feature besides “windows” is the SlideOver feature which pins a small app to either side and with a flick of the finger can be brought to the front and then flipped back off to the side and hidden — see the calculator in the above example.

Now I’m sure true iPad aficionados would cringe at how I use an iPad, but for me it is handy enough for reading, researching, note taking (typing) or just answering messages and emails when away from the desk. As they say … YMMV. 😉  

Category: Apple, Gadget, How-To, Personal, Productivity, Tablet, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: 26.1, apple, ipad, ipados, Productivity, slideover, tech friday, techfriday, windows

Posted By RichC on November 20, 2025

Wednesday evening was a big “hold your breath” moment for nearly every investor who still has Nvidia stock in their savings or retirement portfolios (nearly all mutual funds, ETFs, index funds, etc). I suspect all portfolio managers were concerned that $NDVA’s quarterly earnings and guidance might show some sort of chip order and AI buildout slowing and that they should be scaling back just how invested in technology they are? 

While tuning into Bloomberg after hours knowing they would have the latests and that that the trading would be either up … or way down (WSJ news). I personally didn’t go out of my way to sell, but having been closely paying attention since the CNN FEAR-GREED Index has nearly every investor worried that we are near bubble territory.

The answer from $NVDA, not yet. 

Category: AI, Financial, Productivity, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: $NVDA, artificial intelligence, bloomberg, investing, Nvidia, trading

Posted By RichC on November 19, 2025

In keeping with last week’s smart home fixes, the Wyze Palm Lock was one of those spontaneous purchases (a discount offered) that I really should have added to my Christmas list, but with a recent theft event in our neighborhood, it seemed “wyze”to add it sooner rather than later (it’s ok if you rolled your eyes at that one).

With Brenda now using the poolhouse garage (my car workshop garage) for her 2019 Tesla Model 3, since it is charged using my 40 amp 220 volt welding circuit. She doesn’t carry keys around much these days and the convenience of opening up the door with your palm .. and automatically relocating is nice. But … since the Tesla isn’t in the attached garage, she will need to start carrying a key to the house! 

An aside, from what I’ve been reading, there’s no benefit for the older Teslas to upgrade home charging or purchase a $450 Tesla Wall Connector since the current Mobile Charger maxes out at 32A (the current circuit can deliver 40A). If we upgrade to a newer EV, or something with dual chargers etc, or something that accepts a 50 amp 220 volt circuit, it will then be time to revisit this. For now, with limited daily driving, the current setup easily tops off whatever she uses during the day with an overnight charge; stats say our home charging offers approximately 30 miles per hour (for a charge between 20% – 80% and it is the charge range recommended for the NCA 2170 cell battery pack for daily use — we’ll still do 100% if we take it on a trip). 

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Category: Gadget, Innovation, Personal, Photos, Technology, Tesla, Video | No Comments »
Tags: batteries, charging, garage, lock, model 3, palm lock, poolhouse, security, smart home, tesla, wyze

Posted By RichC on November 18, 2025

It is looking as if Taylor is caught in a challenging spot professionally — WCPO story. The voters who elected the trustees for his Batavia Township obviously do not want more developments with small lots and more tightly packed homes and the traffic that comes with it. Yet those who want to build developments are pushing forward anyway.

From my perspective, Batavia Township either moves ahead with the “planned developments” (maybe slowing it down???) or they face expensive lawsuits from the developers who are already invested and moving forward. I sounds to me as if they received the “go ahead” and now the voters want it to stop? It’s a tough spot to keep everyone happy for those hired to responsibly grow the community. 

Category: Archive, Local, News, Social Media | No Comments »
Tags: batavia township, development, News, ohio, planning, taylor, wcpo

Posted By RichC on November 18, 2025

This content is restricted.

Category: Archive, Music, Personal, Photos, Video | No Comments »
Tags: annalyn, family, granddaughter, ohio, performing, piano, recital, robert bell studio, toledo