My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on August 21, 2024

After spring gave way to summer, I put down a hardback book I started called “Red Nile — A Biography of the World’s Greatest River” by Robert Twigger, but after seeing this photo of a 22 feet, 2500 pound Crocodile in Niger, Africa, decided I wanted to pick it up again (it sits next to my reading chair in my home office).

The book is interesting in that those of us who see sizes through the eyes of our home countries (Europeans even more that Americans), have to rethink just how large the Nile River is (and Nile crocs too!) … or for that matter the immensity of Africa. 

Category: Books, Nature | No Comments »
Tags: africa, book, crocodile, niger, reading, red nile

Posted By RichC on August 20, 2024

It is becoming the norm for me, but Tuesdays are often the day that I end up saving leftover weekend family photos to the MyDesultoryBlog.com.

Last weekend was a wedding in Maine for Taylor’s lifetime best friend Mike Agler. So Taylor (Mike’s best man) and Megan flew up to a beautiful and historic Inn to participate and celebrate with Mike, his now wife Addie and their families. They shared a few photos and video of just how much they enjoyed the settings and area. I could see them easily moving there IF the opportunity would arise. 😉 

I’ll leave room below in case there is a better photo of the bride and groom. 

Category: Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: addie, family, maine, megan, michael agler, summer, taylor, wedding

Posted By RichC on August 19, 2024

After a mention of the phrase “time is on my side,” by an unmentioned Fox Business personality who thought it was a Rolling Stones title … it quickly lent itself to my Music Monday research list. It was “semi-correct” … but the song was actually “Time On My Side” and it was released first by a couple of other artists. 

The song was written by Jerry Ragovoy (using the pseudonym “Norman Meade”) and  first recorded by Kai Winding, according to a Wikipedia page. Then in 1964 it was first recored by “The Soul Queen of New Orleans,” Irma Thomas (that I remember from the Jimmy Buffett song, “Saxophone”). 😉 
 

The Rolling Stones version release in 1964 peaked at #6 in the US and had an interesting “come to be” moment. It was “first recorded the song in June 1964, within days of hearing it, at London’s Regent Sound studios. They used a briefer organ-only intro and guitars in place of horns to create a rock anthem song, with vocalist Mick Jagger imitating Thomas’ ad-libs. This looser arrangement was released as a single in the US, on September 25, 1964, and was included the following month on their US album 12 X 5.”  

— LINK

Category: Music | No Comments »
Tags: 1964, mono, music monday, musicmonday, rolling stones, time on my side

Posted By RichC on August 18, 2024

Ridgid cordless tools have been my “go to” home power tool choice for some time now. If I were a contractor or tradesman, perhaps I’d pick a different brand, but for me having the Lifetime Service Agreement (LSA), mentioned previously, is the primary reason (although it is not perfect). Also, having them sold at the local Home Depot (like Craftsman Tools at Sears years ago) is another reason. 

A few years ago, I purchased Ridgid’s largest spare battery (9Ah at the time) to pair with a 175 Watt Power Inverter and emergency iPhone or USB device charger. It has works just fine for a “short term” 110 volt backup power supply. I usually pair it with a “center of the room” lamp that uses and LED bulb … and works for at least 12 hours on a 9Ah battery. 

Recently, I noticed that the Home Depot is now offering a larger Ridgid 12Ah battery in a two pack. Nice!  If they weren’t $379.00 I would be interested and might double for an eBike conversion project?

Category: Ideas, Misc, Shopping, Tools | No Comments »
Tags: 12Ah, batteries, battery, home depot, ridgid, tools

Posted By RichC on August 17, 2024

Back in October of 2015, I was helping Taylor look for a “used” new car (he bought a BMW 528i) …  and for me, the “wanting a diesel again bug” bit again, so I bought a 2010 BMW X5 35d that needed a little TLC (ie. a good deal).

So started a long process in getting it just the way I wanted it. Many modifications later and now well into the high odometer mileage life of a car (lots of road trips), it is still a beautiful SUV to me. It has definitely become a favorite do everything vehicle. 

The driveway Wyze Cam had me admiring it again.

Category: Automotive, BMW, Diesel, Video | No Comments »
Tags: BMW, Cam, diesel, driveway, mp4, security, wyze, x5 35d

Posted By RichC on August 16, 2024

It is about time that our questionable Cincinnati Bell router is being updated by the aquiring company AltaFiber to an Eero device (similar to at the condo). It will hopefully improve and keep our home Internet connections a bit more stable. I’ve really never complained much since adding the Mesh system to the “cheap” Zytel in 2019 … but can tell by the number of hardware restarts on our TVs that something wasn’t right. A little complaining after yet another price increase has at least resulted in a new Eero Pro 6E router.

Since it doesn’t make sense to continue with our older “cheaper” mesh router system, I’m replacing the 4 clustered pod with a single Eero Extender and used the existing Echo Hub in the exercise room in the center of our basement  (it was in my office).

So far, so good as these three access point gives me about the same coverage as before … but with more stability (fingers crossed).

Next to Eero Pro 6E in office (left) and at Eero Extender in rear of PoolHouse (right)

Category: Business, Gadget, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: altafiber, eero, hardware, home, internet, router, speedtest, tech friday, techfriday

Posted By RichC on August 15, 2024

I’ve done my own foundation barrier and yard insect and weed spraying by using the 1 and 2 gallon pump up and pull behind yard sprayers for my entire life. Really they have worked fine and with a little cleaning have been an easy way to control bugs and weeds … but tools are tools and the temptation for me is too much. 😊  

I’ve contemplated replacing the older and larger of the two pump up sprayers I use with a backpack sprayer that uses the 18 volt rechargeable batteries after buying some insecticide and vegetation killer from DoMyOwn.com.  

So earlier this month I purchased the Ridgid Sprayer (hanging on wall photo) and so far it is working incredibly well for spraying the insect barrier. Next will probably be to control the inch worms that are showing up; I’ll hit  hit a few areas of sod with Permethrin SFR to since I’m seeing some white moths fluttering around when I’m mowing the backyard. Stay tuned.

Noticed that the Ridgid batteries are getting larger too (see tomorrow’s post) … unfortunately they aren’t getting much cheaper. 

Category: Tools | No Comments »
Tags: backpack, rechargable, ridgid, sprayer, tools

Posted By RichC on August 14, 2024

With my granddaughters coming this weekend to help celebrate Brenda’s birthday (it is an excuse to get together), one of our granddaughter had a request: “Could Bompa make a Fairy Door for me to paint in his workshop?”

How could a request like that be passed up? So Katelyn sent a photo of what the girls were talking about … since I was clueless. It looked like a fun project … so I’m starting to get it ready and even requested that Brenda check her odds and ends for craft paints (she is going to buy some new paint). 😊 

Here’s want Brave AI told me about them: 

Fairy doors are miniature doors, typically set into the base of a tree or a structure, which serve as a gateway to a magical world. They can be found in various forms, from commercial products to public art installations and even DIY creations.

(more…)

Category: Misc, Woodworking | No Comments »
Tags: fairy doors, granddaughters, project, woodworking

Posted By RichC on August 13, 2024

Since today’s post was a personal family updated, here’s a lunchtime Wyze Cam filler regarding trying to treat a couple of our Red Fox regulars with mange. So far I’ve fed ivermectin to a black cat, a opossum, possibly a squirrel and two evil raccoons from a couple of cam locations. (see post). 

It’s a few clips assembled into one 2-1/2 minute video.

Category: Nature, Technology, Video | No Comments »
Tags: feeding, ivermectin, mange, mp4, red fox, treating, update, wyze

Posted By RichC on August 13, 2024

This content is restricted.

Category: Archive, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: annalyn, ellerie, family, fort, haircut, inch worm, school