Thursday Tidbits: Getting a broken key out of a lock
Posted By RichC on January 20, 2022
Give this heated candle or wax stick a try if you ever break a key off in a lock.
Workshop Wednesday: Frame-making and a crown molding jig
Posted By RichC on January 19, 2022
For the lack of a better subject line, this will be called a Workshop Wednesday post … even though I’m rarely in the workshop on Wednesdays (it was last weekend).
Anyway, I was busy making a jig to help cut the “cheap” (and I mean “cheaply made”) crown molding that I purchased from Wayfair for my home office. I’ve never mastered cutting crown moldings and can still recall laughing about one situation for years with my father-in-law while we were working on his late son’s gorgeous new house overlooking Lake Chautauqua in Bemus Point, NY. This was pre-Internet website help and both of us struggled for hours to get the cuts right and still never really figured it out. Even a few years ago when updating the condo kitchen, I felt like I was doing that same thing again – a good laugh though. Crown moldings are obviously one of those skills that you lose or forget if you aren’t doing them everyday.
Back to the “frame-making” part of this post. Since I framed the penguin painting back in 2019 for one granddaughter after our trip to the Newport Aquarium, I figured with a birthday coming up in February it was time to get last summers penguin art framed using my recycled printing galley tray wood for my second granddaughter.
Once again, Christmas gifts we use everyday from the kids
Posted By RichC on January 18, 2022
Well done again Katelyn,Drew, Megan and Taylor. Thank you.
Of all the “too many” gifts this year, you guys have managed to “once again” come up with great gifts. The automated and “generous” (inside joke) liquid hand soap dispenser is perfect for our kitchen. Brenda and I use it multiple times each day 
and find ourselves (like we did the toaster oven) wondering how we ever lived without it. The soap dispenser … along with my new premium REI wool socks from Taylor … were excellent 2021 Christmas gifts.
Music Monday: Men at Work – “Down Under” from 1981
Posted By RichC on January 17, 2022
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New Alistair Begg Devotional content is now on my blog
Posted By RichC on January 16, 2022
It has been a little over a year since the syndicated Truth For Life page was added to my blog … and although I’ve not been “daily-diligent” in reading the Spurgeon Devotionals … I’m hoping having Alistair Begg’s devotionals in place of them might help? The new Truth For Life feed has recently been approved for members’ websites, so I am updating the small “Devotional” link on my “old-school” text-based menu bar on My Desultory Blog.
… we’re excited to share this new syndicated content feature: You can now also display our new Alistair Begg Devotional on your web site!
Here’s an unstyled example of that new syndicated devotional content from Alistair Begg. You’ll find that it adapts well to the styling of your particular web site, as does all the syndicated content from Truth For Life.
Quote filler: François-Marie Arouet, better known as Voltaire
Posted By RichC on January 15, 2022
The post this morning was of the “friends and family” variety … and is not viewable unless you’re logged in. So for those 
visiting My Desultory Blog this Saturday afternoon, here’s a François-Marie Arouet, better known as Voltaire, politically oriented quote as an afternoon blog filler and to encourage registering.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.”
Perhaps you are a regular reader and are okay with occasional personal “friends and family” content … if so, here’s some encouragement to register and log in.
Archive: Hardly artwork but memories with my granddaughters
Posted By RichC on January 15, 2022
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Tech Friday: On the waitlist for some new tech from Wyze
Posted By RichC on January 14, 2022
This past Christmas, my daughter Katelyn gave Drew a new Wyze Watch and, as always with all Wyze products, I was impressed with their reasonably low price for excellent products (although I’m still super happy with my Fitbit Versa – thank you K and D).
The Wyze gift reminder had me revisit one of their security cam products that I’m on the waitlist for … and that I mentioned at this weeks HOA meeting. Rather than spend hundreds of dollars for other cameras and services to monitor things, the new Wyze Cam Floodlight might be enough to monitor … or at least act as a vandalism deterrent around the neighborhood? The LED floods with a WyzeCam3 can be set to trigger (lights on) and record an event when it detects motion. With a subscription (and WiFi connection) the events could also be archived on the cloud. Since I’m on the waitlist anyway, I’d like to replace the quirky lights (suspect moisture problem) on the back of the poolhouse detached garage with this and see if it works. Come on Wyze, hurry up. HA!
Playing the vision insurance game and probably losing
Posted By RichC on January 13, 2022
“Eye” do it every year (a very Dumb Dad Joke #DDJ) … I make my eye appointment to get my updated prescription from my optometrist (OD) 
and contemplate ordering contact lenses from them or a less expensive retailer … just as I’ve been doing since the days of the “cooker” (only those of a certain age will understand that). Each time debate just how picky to be when negotiating a lower price and if it is worth even paying for our VSP insurance each month (that discount vs paying a “cash price” based on who is “in-network” or out-of-network). Once I think I have it figured out, it comes back to bite me with a surprise charge, higher price or rejected rebate form “for not ordering from the eye doctor writing the prescription.”
But … it is usually worth a $100 or more dollars each year to purchase separately even with a vision plan that negotiates rates with the “in-network” provider. This year it required way too much time, a rejected, then approved after complaining, rebate and filling out the out-of-network reimbursement forms.
What I can report is that my eye exam was in September and my final out-of-network check just arrived in January 2022 … 4 months and after 3 phone calls and 2 USPS form submissions (they only do postal mail) … and I’m still waiting on my once rejected then approved Bausch & Lomb VISA rebate card to arrive. Ugh.
It was time, but just hate having to toss my favorite cup
Posted By RichC on January 12, 2022
Truly a “desultory” post today … as I reflect on the demise of my favorite insulated plastic 16 oz cup. The screw-on lid has long ago disappeared, but I have continued to use this plastic cup to keep my ice cubes 
and Diet Mountain Dew cold (my favorite soft drink for 40 years).
I bought a couple of these cups to use in the car for coffee, but found out that they don’t sweat when holding cold drinks and decided they were better for pop or soda … if you prefer (depends on where you live). These Copco Acadia Travel Mugs seem to wash up in the dishwasher if you don’t used them for coffee … that is, until it cracked. They have been my go-to cups for the past decade.
So it is goodbye to one of my well worn out favorites. Tear!
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.