Filling space with photos sure to make Brenda smile

Posted By on November 18, 2012

dolphins2012

My wife is a dolphin lover … NOT the Mahi-mahi fish type, but the intelligent and always smiling marine mammals. Me on the other hand, I like both … and  enjoy blackened or grilled Mahi-mahi almost as much as “viewing” a pod of dolphins swimming along side a wind-driven sailboat. Nevertheless, I knew Brenda would enjoy seeing this photo and decided to include it.

Of course Katelyn loves dolphins too (photo from a few years ago)!

katelyn_dolphin

Great coffee tip — Reddit/Lifehacker

Posted By on November 17, 2012

"Mix bulk creamer and your preferred sweetener in a bowl and then freeze as ice cubes."

If you take creamer and like your coffee to be warm and not boiling-magma-hot you should consider freezing non-dairy creamer—you'll cool down your coffee while adding your preferred amount of creamer.

Reddit user wadel posted this tip. Most readers already know about freezing coffee itself to cool down your cup without dilution but if you take creamer you can kill two birds with one stone. You don't need to necessarily purchase single-serve packets of creamer for this trick, you could mix a bulk creamer and your preferred sweetener in a bowl and then freeze as ice cubes for a quick way to adjust coffee to your liking. Freezing real dairy cream doesn't work out quite as well.

Am I a genius? Creamy drinkable coffee/tea in seconds, not hours! | Reddit

http://m.lifehacker.com/5961495/freezer-your-non%20dairy-creamers-to-make-coffee-drinkable-almost-immediately

Posted via email from RichC’s posterous

Will politicians Rise Above or send us over the financial cliff?

Posted By on November 17, 2012

There is a Rise Above movement afoot and it is being promoted by business news network CNBC. Supporters and business leaders from both political parties agree that politicians must work together to focus on the riseabovepinfinancial health of our country and rise above partisan politics. We have yet to see progress and the stock market has punished investors; those saving for college or retirement will certainly see this impact in their next statements. It has been a painful month for everyone invested in stocks or mutual funds, not to mention the overall economy.

Friday offered us the first glimmer of hope as both Republicans and Democrats met to discuss the possibility of a compromise with President Obama. They held a joint press conference which soothed what was starting to look like panic. The DOW responded with a rebound after traders heard polite words from Boehner, Pelosi, Reid and McConnell. Americans can only hope that cooler heads will prevail and that some kind of agreement can be reached that averts going over the financial cliff.

On this point, nearly every business leader and investor who appears on CNBC has been consistent: The status quo leads to economic stagnation or worse; solutions could release powerful forces that propel the nation out of its post-recessionary funk.

On a side note, Rise Above cheerleader and long time CNBC Squawkbox host Joe Kernen was interviewed by his hometown Cincinnati Enquirer newspaper.  It’s nice to know that even though our “jovial Joe” has lived a lifetime in NYC, he fondly and regularly references our corner of Ohio … and calls Cincinnati home.

Have you ever seen the polarization in Washington and among the population this bad?

I’m a young man, so I can’t talk about McKinley and what was going on then, but I can go all the way back to Carter, and no, I haven’t seen it at this point in terms of polarization. And I don’t think it’s just the politicians because the politicians are sent to Washington by people that are polarized as well. We’re at a crossroads in this country to decide whether we want to head down the full-on path to an entitlement state like Europe or whether we want to be more focused on the private sector. We need to decide, and we’re right down the middle.

joesquawk_riseabove_enq1211

Politics and politicians can solve this crisis but they are now in the way. For a deal to get done, we must rise above partisan bickering. For a deal to get done, they must move the public toward some form of sacrifice. That’s always been the spirit of America.

Hostess Brands Inc to close and another 18,500 go unemployed

Posted By on November 16, 2012

twinkies 

Hostess Brands Inc., an 82-year old business with household brands such as Twinkie, Ho-Hos, Ding-Dongs and Wonder Bread will close its doors and liquidate assets after a  bitter battle with unions and millions of dollars from venture capital in hopes to save the company. This morning CEO Greg Rayburn talked for 10 minutes with the CNBC Squawkbox crew about the decision.

CNBC interview with Greg Rayburn (mp3) — Hostess Brands, Inc.

No doubt the trademark brands will be relaunch under different ownership, but the 18,500 employees depending on a paycheck, a future and secure retirement can thank the bakers union (BCTGM) who represent about 30% of the workers in the company. Other unions negotiated in good faith according to turn-around CEO Rayburn, the bakers’ union chose instead to strike.

Is the GOP just venting its loss or in serious disarray?

Posted By on November 16, 2012

I have purposely not entered an “excuses” comment or worse since everyone in the conservative political realm has an opinion and I’m tired of hearing the internal bickering. I personally prefer the conclusion that neither party had a decisive mandate – the country is indeed split – but know that the Republicans will have to do more to include Hispanics and younger voters. Realistically the core principles of fiscal responsibility, individual freedom and national security DO NOT need to change, but will need to be communicated and understood better. As is repeated by pundits on the right, Hispanics are a natural fit for the GOP; the other (younger voters) may need to come to their conclusion after experiencing “more” of President Obama’s big government failed economic policies.

obamacatholicsAnother more troubling statistic is the trouble that Mitt Romney and the GOP had in attracting people of faith … or at least those “denoting a faith.” I was shocked to read that approximately 52% of Catholic voters cast their ballots for President Obama." This after his administration started a war against long standing religious principles that are taught by the Catholic Church.

Catholic adoption agencies and charities have been forced to close their doors and shutter their services in order to avoid complying with federal and state mandates to place children with same-sex couples. In 2013, Catholic employers will be forced to provide birth control and abortifacient-drugs in their health insurance offerings or pay millions of dollars in fines. Will they follow the path of the adoption agencies? The church has been told that private beliefs must remain that, private. And yet the people in the pew continue to support the man behind this assault.

Unfortunately it didn’t get much better with Protestants as a Pew study indicated that “a full 42% of all Protestants (which includes evangelical Christians) voted for Obama.” And even after President Obama stood distant from Israel and remained “nonchalance about the safety of the Israeli people, 69% of Jews voted for him.”

Conclusion? Voting for Obama may have enabled people of faith to feel good about voting for someone “who is going to make things “fair” for everyone. They didn’t have to support a man who was realistic about what it will take to get this country back on track to prosperity and liberty. That man doesn’t care about “fairness”; he cares about responsibility and liberty. And those aren’t comfortable concepts. So thousands and thousands of Catholics, Christians, and Jews cast their votes for a man who despises their worldview and is actively working to limit their liberties.”

Quotes from ClashDaily

Engagement proofs for Drew and Katelyn are ready

Posted By on November 15, 2012

kd_engagementphotos2

In keeping with the last couple days of family and personal posts, my daughter and future son-in-law shared their engagement photo proof pages (slide show) from their recent photo session with Shuey Mill Photography. The weather on Sunday afternoon was perfect for the shoot and it helps that the two of them are photogenic. Katelyn and Drew were pleased with the photos (as was Brenda) and they will have a tough time picking from all of the photos … but I know that the final album will be a great keepsake (quite the upgrade from our “self-photos” 30 years ago – although we weren’t really thinking engagement photos either). There were so many great photos, but just screen grabbed a few to archive on the blog.

kd_engagementphotos6 kd_engagementphotos7

kd_engagementphotos3

kd_engagementphotos5 kd_engagementphotos4
Click for larger images

Bringing Mom and Dad Howard back from New York

Posted By on November 14, 2012

M&DH_young

I tuned out for a couple days since wifi is scarce at my in-laws farmhouse in western New York. Brenda and I made our annual pilgrimage to pack up her mom and dad and are bringing them to Cincinnati for Thanksgiving and then on their way to Florida for winter. They take the a slow trip south with stops in Cincinnati and Atlanta in order to stay with their daughters … which makes the trip enjoyable for all.

While we were in Jamestown packing up, we made our usual and much appreciated trip to Davidson’s Family Restaurant for a fish dinner as well as to the post office, hair cut, bakery run and pickup truck load of stuff to the dump, which reminders me to get the brake fixed on the truck … I barely stopped behind an unsuspecting car. Whew!

snowonroofoffarmhouse alittlesnowinjamestown12111

We also enjoy leafing through a few old photos and collected items (shortly after WWI when her mom and dad were dating). We closed up the house and barn, but I also noticed the growing number of maintenance items … now that Brenda’s dad is unable to tackle these chores. I’m not sure how much longer we’ll be able to continue this?

Of course the weather turn sour as soon as we arrived and made the chores a little be less comfortable …we even had a little snow (thankfully just “a little”) … but the task is done for another year.

confederate100 M&DH_dating

Glad we are all getting a chance to visit my mom

Posted By on November 13, 2012

MomC_Taylor121111vAdding at least one day worth of make-up postings with this past weekend photo of Taylor as we visited with his Grandma … very possible it could be his last?

That said, my mom is handling the heavy antibiotics for her pneumonia pretty well and is much more comfortable than earlier in the week. She is still not eating or drinking much and occasionally starts coughing …  it is pretty not something I enjoy watching. We have all had time to be with her and that is something appreciated by her since family is everything to her.

Love you mom!

Honoring all who served

Posted By on November 12, 2012

vetdayhonoringallwhoservedIt would be nice to be off today, but I will be spending most of the day driving in the rain. Minus that, I should be enjoying dinner tonight with a WWII vet (my father-in-law) so that will be respecting at least the Federal holiday, Monday following Veterans Day. 

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations." – President Woodrow Wilson, November 11, 1919

Thanks to all veterans who have protected our country and continue to today.

The results of the 2012 could mean even bigger changes

Posted By on November 11, 2012

Maybe I shouldn’t have purchased six 50 star flags IF we’re going to be adding Puerto Rico as our 51st state? (still a little work to do in Washington DC though)

Photo

referendum on the political status of Puerto Rico was held in Puerto Rico on November 6, 2012. Puerto Rico has been an unincorporated territory of the United States since the Spanish-American War in 1898. In the referendum, Puerto Rican voters were asked (1) whether they agreed to continue with Puerto Rico’s territorial status and (2) asked to indicate the political status they preferred from three possibilities:statehoodindependence, or a sovereign nation in free association with theUnited States.[1] 54% of voters answered “No” to the first question, expressing themselves against maintaining the current political status. 

Posted via email from RichC’s posterous

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
My Desultory Blog