What a great wedding photo!
Posted By RichC on April 16, 2013
Monday is April 15th TAX day. I wish it wasn’t so.
Posted By RichC on April 15, 2013
I had the best of intentions to update my blog regarding the special "wedding weekend," but between clean-up, wrap-up, rest-up and spending the 
weekend with family (Brenda’s parents staying with us) … AND of all things an April 15th TAX day Monday, I’m wiped out.
I’m way behind on the pleasurable post detailing my daughter’s wedding, but I will include two photos … and a promise to create a belated post for their special April 13th day. What a great wedding.
The Big Wedding: Introducing Katelyn and Drew Oostra
Posted By RichC on April 14, 2013
The day was perfect for Katelyn and Drew’s wedding and the evening before was equally as nice for the rehearsal … and the most appreciated rehearsal dinner, hosted by the Oostra’s at Jags. I can’t speak highly enough of Barb and Randy … and Drew’s two brother’s Carson and Tyler
(right); Katelyn is very blessed to have them as family.
The women (Brenda, Barb and Katelyn) planned a wonderful wedding along with a little help from their guys. Each of us was assigned a few tasks and rose to the occasion. Katelyn and Drew were very pleased and thankful for everything and everyone.
As a father, I couldn’t have been happier to walk my precious Katelyn down the aisle and have her exchange marriage vows with Drew. Their testimony and commitment to each other in front of family and friends was everything parents could ever ask from their children.
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Since the “professional photos” are not available yet, I’ll used the technology at hand to include a few photos from family and friends with smartphones who used the Wedding Party App, Facebook or shared their cloud-based photo albums with me (thanks Nora). The collection of candid photos are indeed a treat!
Oh and the wedding day would not have been complete without the helicopter “getaway!”
Relaxing with a little music before the big wedding day
Posted By RichC on April 12, 2013
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What do you know about Social Security Disability?
Posted By RichC on April 11, 2013
If you are the average healthy American who is working or independently seeking a job, you might be as unknowledgeable as I am when it comes to knowing anything about government benefits. I’ve generally assumed that those who are “disabled” are 
not capable of functioning or were disabled on the job due injury. What I did not know was that workers are collecting Social Security Disability based on their ability to perform the job they “were” in and that there is a disincentive to take on different kinds of work or retraining.
I have also been reading that since the recession began in 2008 that the roles of those collecting Social Security Disability have ballooned. This is evidenced by the quirky reporting numbers that the United States Department of Labor regularly reports, including the unemployment numbers (currently at 7.6%) as compared to the workforce participation rate. While the employment number seems to be improving … although ever so slowly … the participation rate (percentage of Americans working) is at a 40 year low. This combination indicates that people are dropping out of the workforce and aren’t even looking for work. Welfare, food stamps, early retirement and Social Security Disability payments have all risen and are continuing to rise. (click for larger WSJ graphic)
A WSJ article hints at the problem:
Workers Stuck in Disability Stunt Economic Recovery
The unexpectedly large number of American workers who piled into the Social Security Administration’s disability program during the recession and its aftermath threatens to cost the economy tens of billions a year in lost wages and diminished tax revenues.
Signs of the problem surfaced Friday, in a dismal jobs report that showed U.S. labor force participation rates falling last month to the lowest levels since 1979, the wrong direction for an economy that instead needs new legions of working men and women to drive growth and sustain a baby boomer generation headed to retirement.
Michael Feroli, chief U.S. economist for J.P. Morgan estimates that since the recession, the worker flight to the Social Security Disability Insurance program accounts for as much as a quarter of the puzzling drop in participation rates, a labor exodus with far-reaching economic consequences.
The unemployment rate in Friday’s report fell to a four-year low of 7.6%, which most times signals job growth. This time it reflected workers leaving the workforce, a problem that could persist: Economists say relatively few people are likely to trade their disability checks for paychecks, in part because the program doesn’t give much incentive to leave.
Former truck driver James Ottesen, who began receiving monthly payments in 2009, said, "I’m not real happy" about being on disability. "It kind of reminds me of welfare." He said he would "like to get re-educated to do something" because "my body is broke but my mind is not."
But even if the 53-year-old Ohio man learned of a job he could do with herniated discs, he said, the government disability program feels like "a blanket covering you, and to walk out from it…at my age, it’s a little intimidating."
The Wedding Wagon is done
Posted By RichC on April 10, 2013
Well, the wagon was actually done last weekend but I’m short on time this week and figured that I would post this as a filler.
The Apple HDTV or the Apple iWatch – which is better?
Posted By RichC on April 9, 2013
With Apple struggling to keep its stock price from dipping any lower (although it really doesn’t look like they care), analysts and tech watchers speculate that there will be an Apple HDTV offering and a less expensive (cheaper) iPhone, but who knows what the new product(s) will be?
I’m in the camp that sees the iWatch as the best next must have gadget, primarily because of the potential sales volume and higher profit margin potential on a percentage basis. Watches have also traditionally been brand conscious, trendy and are even accepted status items when it comes to wearable style … and I suspect that Apple shareholders would be pleased with sales of a high margin watch rather than a high priced and far more complex TV. Long term, I do think an improved television interface would give Apple a product for the decade. Back to the watch though, even if the watch was priced high at $300, Apple would sell a bunch … if at $200 it would even take market share away from the new Kickstarter Pebble watch (so as long as the iWatch doesn’t fail like Apple Maps!). See Bloomberg.
I’m hoping that Apple doesn’t disappoint and will get both products right … if so, the stock which is currently trading for $430/share could hand investors a double within a very short time.
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher dies
Posted By RichC on April 8, 2013
The free world lost a great leader today — the Iron Lady; the 87 year old late 20th century UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher died after suffering complications due to a stroke according to news sources early this morning. She was the necessary right hand and closely aligned friend to U.S. leaders assisting to bring an end to the Cold War during the Reagan Revolution of the 1980s. Women Leaders of this magnitude are few and far between … countries would be well served to seek and elect leaders like her.
Originally a research chemist before becoming a barrister, Thatcher was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Finchley in 1959. Edward Heath appointed her Secretary of State for Education and Science in his 1970 government. In 1975 Thatcher defeated Heath in the Conservative Party leadership election and became Leader of the Opposition, as well as the first woman to lead a major political party in the United Kingdom. She became Prime Minister after winning the 1979 general election.
Enjoying the day and nice evening
Posted By RichC on April 7, 2013
Archive: Reminiscing with Katelyn before her wedding
Posted By RichC on April 6, 2013
It is a busy spring weekend around our house trying to get a few thing in order before the big day next Saturday … 4.13.13 – Katelyn and Drew’s wedding. Lots to get done before I put on the tux (picked it up already) and walk my daughter down the aisle; it is hard to believe my little girl is old enough to be getting married, even though she has graduated from medical school and will soon be in her final residency year. Time rushes on.
For me, I still see her as my “little” girl on the boat (Brenich in 1986 above, Tulla in the 90’s above right), smiling while playing on the beach (with a VW below), or hiking together on one of our many family vacations (Montana with Taylor below right).
As usual, click for larger photos.
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.