Posted By RichC on May 11, 2012
A couple of Taylor’s friends were over after their college graduations and while pondering life’s next big moment, decided within and hour to hop in the car and drive 16 hours down to the boat. I hope this isn’t the happiest you’ll see them as the marine forecast is for a bit more wind and building seas. Plan is to give it a try tomorrow and hope that mal de mar isn’t with us.
Posted By RichC on May 10, 2012
Posting a personal update today as we are dealing with doctoring issues for my mom. She has been suffering with a lot of pain and various testing for several … way too many … months. On Monday, the OSU neurosurgeons reviewed my mom’s case, consulted each other over last weeks CT scans of her spine and grew concerned over a possible spinal infection – Osteomylitus (causing or adding to the deterioration of her vertebrae). They wanted her immediately admitted to the OSU Wexler Medical Center in Columbus … so I picked them up and settled them Tuesday night before my Wednesday flight. Mom is anxious, but she was glad for the private room which permits my dad to stay with her. Today was the biopsy of the tissue and bone … now we wait for the results and recommendations.
It is difficult to see my mom in so much pain and also see how challenging it is for my dad to care for her.
Posted By RichC on May 9, 2012
Thought I would post some impressive VW Passat TDI clean diesel numbers …
John and Helen Taylor – Volkswagen calls them "mileage experts" and "the world's most fuel efficient couple" – recently drove a stock 2012 Passat TDI SE all the way from Houston, TX to Sterling, VA without refueling. That's 1,626.1 miles from just 19.3 gallons. Bad with numbers? VW has done the math for you: it's 84.1 miles per gallon (we came up with 84.2, but who's counting?).
Posted By RichC on May 8, 2012
I couldn’t resist spending $3.35 on a plastic snap on slim fit back at Amazon to put on my iPad. I’ve be semi-pleased with the non-skid surface (not sticky) when holding the tablet for reading outside the case and now no long cringe when the aluminum back slides on a rough surface. For just a few bucks, it does offer a snap on and snap off (almost too easy) way to protect the backside of an iPad … and has all the proper cutouts for buttons, cameras or smart covers.
It even fits snuggly in my Kensington Keyboard/Folio and my RAMM mount in the car so those are pluses of this snap on back.
Product Description
With this compact design crystal case, you don’t need to worry about any damage to your new device, just put it in your pocket, knowing it is away from scratches. After special treatment, the edge of the case is not sharp and won’t cut your hand or do damage to your device when put in the case. Perfect fit cutout for any functional control keys for your convenience. With the case on, iPad 2 is safe from scratches and bump, you can listen to music, surf the Internet and play games without worrying about any damage to your iPad 2
Posted By RichC on May 6, 2012
Christ calls us to be “fishers of men” not just “keepers of the aquarium.”
Be bold today. Share the gospel in your deeds AND words.
Posted By RichC on May 6, 2012
I’ve spent quite a few hours/years out in our yard working around, but today was the first I’ve ever noticed a tiny green lizard zipping around the foundation of our house. I’ve seen hundreds of little skinks in Florida, but haven’t notice many around our house. At first I though one must have hitched a ride in the car coming back from Florida last week, but then realized (after reading) that they are common in Ohio too … although I don’t recall seeing many. I can’t vouch for the “blue” tail (above photo - not mine), I suspect that the one on our back patio was a younger male common fire-lined skink.
Posted By RichC on May 5, 2012
A late in the evening couple of photos to mark Cinco de Mayo. First, the warm winter and spring … and late opening of the pool for us … gave a bit more growth to the pool water than what I find inviting. Yuck. But it has already improved with a little cleaning, pumping and chemical treatment.
And tonight is another “Supermoon” … very beautiful but not quite the size of last year.
Posted By RichC on May 5, 2012
I was busy driving to and fro this week and had my usual granola bars and peanuts in the center console. Unbeknownst to me, I picked up a traveler … probably while in New York opening up my father-in-law’s barn for the season. I left the rear hatch open on my Honda Pilot while accessing my tool bag and probably frightened a few critters from their comfortable winter nests? Anyway, he/she or perhaps “they” (we’ll see tomorrow night) found my peanuts.
So I set a trap last night on my driver’s side floor and by morning it was gone??? … although only as far as under my seat. Hmm … poor little chubby fella.
Posted By RichC on May 4, 2012
I received a needed lesson in blessings and being thankful today. My sailing friends Mark and Judy Handley have been sharing their daily lives online for many years while cruising around the world. Their circumnavigation ended over a year ago, but Judy continues to document their return to a “somewhat” more normal life. Unfortunately this includes Mark dealing with chemotherapy treatments, a return to work and continuing boat (their home) maintenance. But … along with the challenges come blessings. Their daughter and her family are close … close enough for them to see everyday. Their challenges are viewed through the prism of being grandparents … something Judy documented as “blessings” in her ‘log’ entry and recent photos — below, Mark rests after a chemotherapy session as his newborn grandson sleeps in his arms.
From handleysail.com:
Mark’s not feeling great, the weather is crappy, the work on the deck is not getting done, but one photo changes all of that. This afternoon Mark went with me to pick up Sam and Jonah and then we both spent the afternoon at Heather and Jed’s. Mark slept on the sofa with Oliver and through the lens of my camera I saw just how much we have to be thankful for. Oliver’s hand with such smooth soft skin next to Mark’s hand, rough through years of use, brought tears to my eyes. How lucky we are to be here, close to grandchildren, while Mark is going through these months of chemotherapy. He is smothered in love from Sam, Jonah, and Oliver as his body is fighting this battle, and I’m certain that love will win. Then tonight we had a Skype call with Justin, Jo, and Ziggy. Ziggy was having a late afternoon nap. We watched him sleep through much of the call, but finally he came to life. He looks like he has doubled in size since we were there at Christmas. It is so hard being so far away, and soon it will be doubly hard when Ziggy’s baby sister is born. But we are conjuring up ways to get the whole family together in the fall. So tonight, instead of complaining about those things that are not perfect right now, all I can really do is count my blessings.
