My Desultory Blog

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.

Category: Mercedes, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: 300d, dadc, diesel, family, mercedes

Posted By RichC on June 27, 2014

Category: Nature, Video | No Comments »
Tags: diving, gfycat.com, gif, ocean, octopus, scuba

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

Category: Environment, Technology, Weather | No Comments »
Tags: big data, lightning, storms, techfriday

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.

Planning the county’s future – Williston Herald – (PDF)

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.

Category: Misc, Personal | 2 Comments »
Tags: governement, north dakota, planning, post office, taylor

Posted By RichC on June 25, 2014

click for short OneDrive slideshow or a video interview below

As someone who loves the ocean and has enjoyed photography since I set up my first darkroom in 7th grade, Surf Photographer Clark Little has the greatest job in the world … or maybe the "surf is just bluer on the other side of the continent?"

Category: Environment, Nature, Photography, Photos, Video | No Comments »
Tags: hawaii, ocean, photography, surf, surfing, waves

Posted By RichC on June 24, 2014

Our dog Tootsie is content to sleep most of her day away on the cement floor rather than patrolling the property as she did years ago. I suppose having failing eyes, being deaf and nearly 16 earns her the perquisite of  spending hot summer days lazing on the cool garage floor? (she didn’t even wake when I put a dog treat on her!)

Category: Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: australian, blue heeler, dog, home, pets, tootsie

Posted By RichC on June 23, 2014

Chris (my “hard working” sister-in-law) and I spent a few more days in Jamestown, New York and stretched out a weekend to work on my in-law’s beloved “Farmhouse.” It looks like we are finally making headway in getting it ready to show … ready or not it will be on the market. I hope whoever is the new owner loves it as much as Mom and Dad Howard.

Besides the ongoing clearing out process, we worked on general cleanup inside and out. Another priority though was to meet and sign the contract with a realtor “if we felt comfortable” … we did … so it is for sale (contact us first if you are interested).

Click map for proposed 5-acre lot (red) – dozer house is nearly centered

One of the items on the  agenda was to walk a bit of the property line in order to section off a 5-acres parcel to sell with the farmhouse. The goal was to subdivide a parcel that would not negatively impact the Farmhouse or the rear acreage and gas well right-of-way. It looks like we have a plan.

  
Wellcap reminder-to-self and inside the barn/garage – upstairs is heated workshop and storage

The weather was great and Chris and I had a good time working to get things ready to go. I spent most of my time in the barn clearing out all the equipment and tools so I could powerwash years of dirt on both the floors, block walls and equipment. We took a load to the dump burned an EPA-friendly bonfire in memory of DadH (he loved to burn … as do his daughters!)

  
The two photos – above right – are of the “shed” called the “Dozer-house” (note map)

Click any photo for larger view versions.

A couple of older “archived” aerial photos of the Horton Road Hill properties:

1. Map from 1994
2. Map from 2004 – image=>
3. Map from 2011
4. Map from 2013

Category: Archive, For Sale, Personal, Photos | 2 Comments »
Tags: dadh, family, farmhouse, jamestown, maps, momh, ny, real estate

Posted By RichC on June 20, 2014

Tinkering with GIF Grabber and gfycat.com in posting a TechFriday filler post since I’m busy today. Record ride in Portugal riding a 78 foot record wave … that’s big!

Category: Misc | No Comments »
Tags: billabong xxl, gif, surfing

Posted By RichC on June 19, 2014

My old Mercedes Benz will never be a show car, but it never fails to attract looks or comments whether I’m traveling the interstates, filling up at the diesel pump or just running errands around town. It still has a couple scratches, a few bubbling rust spots and several minor leftover hail dimples on the hood … but today a noticeable door ding is no-more.

Click for a larger view

The repaire was my first experience in using a “dent repair guy” on a vehicle … and I must say Ryan did a pretty nice job ($125 “friend of a friend” discount). He mentioned that he was not entirely satisfied with the horizontal crease removal and that working the heavier Mercedes steel a bit more difficult, but to me the repair makes a world of a difference; I doubt it will be noticed by the casual observer. I would promote his mobile dent repair service, but I’m not sure he would want me to give out his phone number since he works primarily for car dealers. If you are considering a “dent-repair, beware because it sounds as if there are plenty of “hacks” in his trade.

Category: Automotive, Biodiesel, Diesel, Mercedes | No Comments »
Tags: 300d, dent, mercedes, repair, turbodiesel

Posted By RichC on June 18, 2014

Lots of odds and ends in the news this Wednesday afternoon.

First the Fed is not talking inflation and will be continuing with the expected $10 billion taper. Second, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezo introduced Amazon’s newest device called the Fire Phone … looks nice, but time will tell. It’s a 4.7” screen device with a rubberized case protecting the bezel and a 5-element 13-megapixel camera. Third, the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office has gone politically active in “canceling the Washington Redskins” trademark registration. The argument is not whether or not the name is “disparaging,” but if the federal agency should have changed their mind after a private organization received protection and invested heavily in building their “name based” franchise.

But what brought a bigger smile today was a filler post from 6 years ago while vacationing in Florida with the family. Those taking a family vacation this summer, be sure to appreciate the “family time” kids grow up fast.

Taylor and Katelyn in Delray Beach, Florida, June 18, 2008

Category: Cellphone, Financial, Personal, Photos, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: amazon, Cellphone, federal reserve, fire, katelyn, redskins, taylor