Posted By RichC on July 1, 2014
The U.S. Marine Corps has some talented pilots, including Capt William Mahoney landing his AV-8B Harrier aircraft, along with equally skilled U.S. Navy 6th Fleet support crews. What a landing. Thanks for protecting our country and keeping us safe!
Posted By RichC on July 1, 2014
Packing list for this week:
Well that last one might not be going quite like I planned. So much for scheduling my trip for Encore’s hurricane prep for the first of July. Yes, I know the season begins June 1st, but really, what were the chances?
Hopefully INVEST91L will just fizzle out or better yet … head north and east and take all the rain and wind with it.
I really need dry weather and light winds in order to strip the sails and bimini as I don’t want to store wet canvas.
Posted By RichC on June 30, 2014
It is nice to know (sarcasm) that with up-to-date inventory systems connected to customers by computer, tablet and smartphone, that companies like Newegg still find ways to remind us that ordering online is not always efficient. Here I am checking to see if my order will arrive as expected today … but instead my order from 3 days ago was just plain canceled – not even backordered (which would have been disappointing enough). Hmm, this is a good way for companies to turn their customers to Amazon.
Thank you for choosing Newegg!
We regret to inform you [3 days late] that we are unable to ship one or more of the items in the order below. While our website may have indicated an in-stock status [it did], one or more items in your order were not in stock at the time your order was to be fulfilled. [only one item in the order – what about backorder as an option?]
Posted By RichC on June 30, 2014
After blogging about my kids for years, it is difficult to stop archiving events in their lives, so I might as well mark another milestone for my daughter. Katelyn completed her pediatric residency at Columbus Ohio’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital (seems like she just matched) and is anxious to start her practice at Wayzata Children’s Clinic, as well as living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her husband Drew moved to their new place last week and will begin his fellowship a few days while Katelyn is headed that way as I type (drive safe “little” girl). I’m sure leaving Columbus was bittersweet for both as both enjoyed their 3 and 4 years in central Ohio – but I’m sure they will enjoy this next phase too.
EDIT: She sent me this with a “Bye-Bye” as she drove out of Ohio.
Posted By RichC on June 29, 2014
Drew sent me some photos from a festival in Wayzata in Minnesota after getting a few chores like expensive auto registration done ($60 in Ohio vs. $300 in MN … based on the value of a car). He said he is already enjoying himself, but looking forward to Katelyn being up there (she is leaving this afternoon for Minneapolis).
I told him to start collecting corks for my MGB! 
Posted By RichC on June 29, 2014
Aging sneaks up on most of us and before you know it your muscles have atrophied and often joints become a painful reminder that we may have abused them in our youth. Thankfully, I’m still functioning on all cylinders even if I’m regularly reminded that I can’t (and shouldn’t) try to physically work as I did in my 30’s and 40’s. Inevitably we’ll all suffer from “sarcopenia” – but maybe we can slow it down? (Did you know that we achieve peak muscle mass in our early 40’s? Hmm?)
Laura Landro’s Informed Patient column in the WSJ had a few tips on “How to Keep Your Muscles Strong as You Age” and I’ll include cheat sheet below:
Posted By RichC on June 28, 2014
Bob Evans with my dad has been almost weekly routine for over two years now – we started going when my mom moved to Dorothy Love, for what at the time was planned rehab. 
After visiting mom, I’d take dad out to eat — and and if he didn’t have other coupons, it was often to Bob Evans. After mom’s passing, we continued the routine, first on weekend visits and then early mornings during the week as I’d reroute my weekly drives to NE Ohio.
The weekly morning breakfast isn’t something we’ve added permanently on the calendar, but it has become regular enough that if I don’t call, dad checks in with me to see if I’m stopping by. I think both of us enjoy this hour or so together since rarely do we rush or not finish the pot of coffee on our table. Often our conversation is about the past (last week he brought his Korean War photos), our mutual interest in cars or just talking about family goings-on. I hope we can continue this “routine” for a long time to come.
Posted By RichC on June 27, 2014
Posted By RichC on June 27, 2014
Memorizing project that group-sources data from around the world and records lightning strikes. Incredibly ambitious it would seem until one realizes that much of the data is already being recorded and all that is needed is for “big data” to collect and create an interface on the web. Very interesting to watch the world and storms heat up and trigger energy releases.
Blitzortung.org Real-time lightning strikes
Image ==>
06-24-2014
at 8:25PM
Posted By RichC on June 26, 2014
When talking about my kids, people know what my daughter Katelyn does when I tell them she is a “pediatrician,” but most have no clue what my son Taylor does when I explain he is a “planner” for Williams County, North Dakota. The usual, “huh?” reply or just the blank look on their face tells it all … never mind the “North Dakota!?!”
But finally I have some help. This week the Williston Herald published an article explaining to residents what the Williams County Planning and Zoning department does and included quotes from the planning director (pictured below) as well as Taylor (see article).
A planning and zoning department, whether for a city, county or any other entity, is one of those small but critical components of governance that’s easy to overlook and isn’t usually covered in the average American’s primary education. That leads to misunderstandings of the department and how it works.
EDIT 6/26/2014: Taylor sent a photo from the article from the hardcopy newspaper including a couple photos that were not in the digital version . (also the reporter, Tyler Bell is a Cincinnati guy!)
On a more frustrating note, I’m ready to campaign to close down the U.S. Post Office. Don’t ask for another dime!
On June 4th I mailed Taylor’s Birthday present to “his address” expecting June 10 or thereabouts delivery. I paid an acceptable $15.07 for the service, but twenty days later, yesterday (6/24), I received the package back as undeliverable AND had to pay another $15.07 before they would give it back to me. That’s $30.14 in order to ship a package (addressed correctly) and receive it back again! Hmm … and government employees wonder why taxpayers think a private company would be more efficient or at minimum more customer service oriented? Yes, I’m fed up with our inefficient and inept bureaucracy … and don’t even get me started on the VA or IRS.
