My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on 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 college on hiking trips … or nowadays when just grabbing coffee or lunch. Just last week he asked, “How about a photography trip to Headlands International Dark Sky Park in northern Michigan?”

Last month while he was clearing out his desk, in order to switching to a “no-drawers” stand up desk at home and sent me a “remember this” photo. Yes … I unfortunately do and will archive it for Throwback Thursday #TBT.

I would like to have said this was before I took on the responsibility of being a dad and thought about setting a better example for my kids, but I think this was after kids. Ugh! About the only thing I could point out to him was that I at least had a climbing rope around my waist … to which he replied, “and who’s idea was that?” –> Jeff’s of course. (FYI … he didn’t always act responsibly).

Category: Friends, Memories, Nature, Personal, Photos, TBT, Travel | No Comments »
Tags: backpacking, desk, friend, hiking, jeff pitts, Memory, north carolina, photo, stand-up

Posted By RichC on August 5, 2020

Ever since reading Boys’ Life magazine as a kid and perusing the “military surplus” advertising, I’ve wanted a classic military Willys MB Jeep (or Ford GPW). I’m sure that I was not alone?

The old restored Jeeps have been staples at car shows, parades and aviation fly-ins for decades and I’m always attracted to them .. and yet only recently learned about the Hotchkiss M201 versions that were built well after WW2 and were nearly identical.

PHOTO RIGHT: Once the jeep’s design had converged, and was standardized, Ford and Willys built over 600,000 jeeps virtually identical to this 1944 MB (see Wikipedia link on the Willys MB)

Also the fact that Jeeps are made in Toledo, which is my original hometown, gives the “GeeP” (GP or GPW) soft spot in my heart. I can remember playing with the Tonka version of the little go anywhere topless “toy vehicle” the beach and ogling the Jeepster Commando (below), CJs, Wagoneer, Cherokee and pickup trucks (J-series and Comanche) when I was contemplating first and next cars.

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Category: Automotive, History, Memories | No Comments »
Tags: boys life, classic, ford gpw, hotchkiss, jeep, jeepster, m201, military surplus, overland, willys mb

Posted By RichC on 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 into the doorway. I finally decided to give one of those triangular shade sails a try and bought an inexpensive 16 x 16 x16 sail which is rigged between 2 solid points and one that I either peg with a bungee just above the ground (angular shade) or onto a temporary pole 9 foot in the air (prepping for something more permanent).  It sounded like a good idea … but it is just okay.

The cut and curve of each side make it difficult to get full shade. I’ve been moving it around and shifting side to side at the attachment points to try and get the angle a little better. This photo above is at 4 PM on Sunday afternoon with the tack point a couple feet above the ground (probably better on the 9-foot pole with summer sun overhead … verse the spring and fall sun lower in the southern sky. In the afternoon a rosebud tree (to the left out of the photo) offers better shade but its not close enough to shade the work area or back door. Unfortunately, even with the new shade sail, the sun still angles inside the door most of the time due to the curved cut; I can somewhat cut down the harshest rays by keeping the 12 door part of the way down. All in all, I would not do this again, even though I may keep tweaking things.

The weekend gave me an excuse to get the Packard a little fresh air, but it is not in drivable condition. Yes … eventually, I’ll get a little more ambitious and work to get it roadworthy, but even though the car is mine now, it is still my dad’s car and I don’t quite have that personal connection as with cars I buy and restore (I know, it is my own psychological issue … and I should just get over it!)

Category: Advice, Automotive, Ideas, Personal, Photos, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: antique, cars, classic, collectable, garage, packard, poolhouse, shade, sun sail, triangle

Posted By RichC on August 3, 2020

This content is restricted.

Category: Music, Social Media, Video | No Comments »
Tags: captain, facebook, jimmy buffett, kid, mp3, mp4, music monday, musicmonday, parrothead, video

Posted By RichC on August 2, 2020

While working on a few chores this Sunday, I checked on the path and strength of Hurricane now Tropical Storm Isais. It has moved just a bit more to the east than expected so for those who are on the east coast of Florida, take a deep breath. The storm could still pack strong winds, heavy rain and a 2-4 foot storm surge, but shouldn’t cause the damage that a stronger storm would. Thankfully with the new COVID19 outbreak in the Sunshine State, people won’t be huddling in shelters to avoid the storm (I doubt many would go anyway. Frightening thought).

Category: Weather | No Comments »
Tags: hurricane, isaias, storm, tropical, weather

Posted By RichC on 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?

Category: Nature, Photos, Recreation | No Comments »
Tags: ani gif, anigif, beach, crab, filler, hammerhead, mp4, shark, surfing, video shell

Posted By RichC on August 1, 2020

My goodness, where have the years gone!?! I know that I’m not the only one who asks that question, but when it stares me in the face from 6700 blog post ago … it is a big reminder.

I’ve noted in this post that 15 years ago Taylor and I headed up to see my friend Jeff in the Canadian Rockies. It was actually a third trip their for me, as I went once at age 16 in 1975, then again in 1989 when we took my mother and father-in-law as a family for their 40th anniversary. Thankfully I was able to take Taylor in 2005 … and he again went in the winter with a couple of his friends in 2014.

The thought has me contemplating going back with Brenda some day or maybe as a family (the discussion has come up) has me wondering if we’ll ever be able to really hike there again.

This may just been the current medical diagnosis talking as Brenda has a few hefty medical concerns … which could partially be leftover from her 2015 accident? She really did have a remarkable recovering considering the damage, but this past years has been dealing with back and leg pain. The initial treatment for this since January seemed to have her on the mend, but the last few month has reversed what we thought were gains. After recent multiple doctor visits and for a “better than X-Ray” look at things the diagnosis may not mean that there will be a quick fix. 

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Category: Blogs, Health, Memories, Nature, Personal, Recreation, Travel | No Comments »
Tags: back problem, blog, brenda, canadian rockies, epidural, hiking, mri, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, pain, Travel, treatment, xray

Posted By RichC on July 31, 2020

It has been a while since reviewing the stats of My Desultory Blog, but realized that one Tech Friday post in particular was getting quite a few looks. It is obvious that I’m not the only Apple Macintosh Magic Mouse user to have scrolling issue when using the popular Google Calendar and stopping the infuriating scrolling with a Scroll Disabler is helpful. Since this is not a new problem, I’ve been surprised that this irritation has not been addressed internally, but continues to require a Chrome browser extension to “fix” (and now one on Brave for me). Anyway, from the traffic, it is a problem for others.

In keeping the the popular Google Products theme, there is Gmail tip that might be worth passing along just in case it may have been missed. Often times when doing email housekeeping, there is a need to selection list of messages. You can of course click the select-all checkbox or use the search features, but most people just highlight one email message at a time by clicking the checkbox in front of it or delete them one at a time.

Instead, try highlighting the first email in a list, then holding the shift-key down when selecting another one further down the list. This will check all the boxes and assist in quickly deleting … or moving the messages quicker than doing it one at a time.

How to Select Multiple Messages in Gmail

1. Click the checkbox in front of the first message in the desired range.
2. Hold the Shift key.
3. Click the checkbox in front of the last message in the desired range.
4. Release Shift.
5. Click the checkbox in front of any non-adjacent messages to select them as well.

Category: Advice, Computer, How-To, Productivity, Software, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: brave, browser, delete, deleting, disabler, email, gmail, google, Productivity, scroll, selecting, tech friday, techfriday

Posted By RichC on July 30, 2020

The NASA liftoff of Perseverance (7/30/2020) was a great sight this morning as was hearing that the new new rover “phoned home” an hour later. Those who grew up with the space program are fondly remembering the race to the moon days as well as the excitement in man probing space. This trip to Mars will take a while (until February 18th of 2021) and although this trip is not manned, is still a pretty exciting stepping stone. 

While watching the launch on YouTube this morning, I couldn’t help but remember all the Apollo launches I watch as a kid and all the Space Shuttle launches a grown-up.

Perseverance has quite the trip ahead. It will reach Mars on Feb. 18, 2021, touching down on the surface of Jezero Crater. The rover will search for signs of past microbial life and help scientists better understand the geology and climate of the Red Planet.

I am healthy and on my way to Mars, but may be too loud for the antennas on Earth while I'm so close. Ground stations are working to match my signal strength so that I can communicate clearly with my team. https://t.co/vLaRxcKomR

— NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) July 30, 2020

Category: Social Media, Space, Video | No Comments »
Tags: launch, mars, nasa, perseverance, space, twitter, youtube

Posted By RichC on 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 Series dominate champs in 1972, 1973 and 1974 … and pretty much all sported a moustache (so I sent him a Reddit photo to make the point). 

It won’t likely mean anything to those a generation or more younger than me … since sporting a moustache in Major League Baseball is almost as commonas getting a tattoo? Still, it made me smile and triggered a Throwback Thursday #TBT memory of the Big Red Machine known as the Cincinnati Reds (with a facial hair ban in those days). Unfortunately, in 1972, they lost to the “underdog A’s” with sensational pitching from Catfish Hunter and Rollie Fingers and without their power hitter Reggie Jackson (out with a pulled hamstring). The surprise came from the A’s catcher Gene Tenace who stepped up by hitting FOUR homeruns which tied the ”World Series mark set by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Hank Bauer.” (LINK) Great memories!

Category: Memories, Personal, Photos, Sports, TBT | No Comments »
Tags: 1970s, baseball, cincinnati, mlb, moustache, oakland a's, reddit, reds, sports, taylor, TBT, youth