My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on May 18, 2011

Brenda and I made a multipurpose trip to Florida to enjoy a little sailing with our soon graduate from medical school daughter Katelyn and two of her graduating friends Laura and Ashley; we also planned to do a little work on our boat Encore (projects and maintenance will never end). Besides the personal recreation, we prepared and packed up Brenda’s Mom and Dad for the drive home from their winter condo in Delray Beach (photo before leaving below). I do not envy the health concerns that come with getting older, either for myself or those burdened with caring for me.

For the most part all went well although it felt like a whirlwind few days … of course that wasn’t helped by my not feeling too well last week (a sorted story and history for another time).

The girls enjoyed their time aboard and their prior week vacationing on the beach together. Reflecting back on my time in college and the trips taken with my friends, they were some of the greatest memories.

Unfortunately this time of year also has one dealing with the non-biting (from what we can tell) but extremely annoying Plecia nearctica – aka: Love Bugs. Katelyn seemed to attract them the most … I’ve surmised she is the sweetest … which she is to which many will attest.

Besides their habit of swarming around and plastering themselves to the windshields and grills of cars, they pretty much prevent achieving any kind of respectable finish on the brightwork of our boat. About all I could accomplish was to get a couple coats of Cetol on my handrails and the cleaning and sanding only of our toe rails (credit where credit is due … primarily Brenda’s labor!)

All in all, a day sailing or by the water, even with the “love bugs,” is better than a day at work!

 
Dr. Ashley, Dr. Katelyn and Dr. Laura | Mom and Dad Howard in Delray Beach FL

Category: Personal, Photos, Sailing, Travel | 3 Comments »
Tags: encore, family, florida, friends, love bugs, sailing

Posted By RichC on May 17, 2011

Spending a quiet night aboard Encore under a full moon during a still evening and high tide.

Category: Photos, Sailing | 2 Comments »
Tags: encore, photography

Posted By RichC on May 17, 2011

I’m trying to work through my checklist this afternoon on the boat since Brenda is off on her way driving her parent north for the summer. They will soon find out how well my son has been managing the house, feeding pets and knocking off the short chores list we have given him after his spring semester and finals ended. I’m not expecting perfection, but I am hoping the homestead is in a condition that won’t embarrass Brenda when she arrives with her parents.

With the afternoon sun baking down on me, it is time to take a quick break to check on emails and the few things from work which might need tending … besides, my body needs a little hydration and has not adapted to the heat just yet!

I also promise a catch up post tonight and will add a few personal photos from the week … more for my personal archive than anything worth reading by those other than close friends and family. I suppose that’s the advantage of having a “desultory” blog.

Category: Personal, Sailing, Weather | No Comments »
Tags: boat, temperature, thermostat, weather

Posted By RichC on May 16, 2011

In keeping with short blog posts, I’m picking up a few bugs over the miles and know I’m going to be griping when it’s time to get the WD-40 out and start my cleaning. The windshield isn’t much better!

EDIT: On my return trip I added bugs to bugs!

Category: Misc, Photos, Travel | 2 Comments »
Tags: bugs, encore, florida, love bugs, lovebugs

Posted By RichC on May 15, 2011

Category: Misc | No Comments »
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Posted By RichC on May 14, 2011

Thankfully I’m feeling much better and was able to spend the day working on the boat. The sun has been hot so attempted to set up a Shadetree branded awning with many broken parts. I was at least successful enough to have weathered the first wave of wind and rain squalls Saturday night.

Besides taking Katelyn and a couple of her graduating girlfriends (Ashley and Laura) out sailing before they returned to Ohio, Brenda and I also stopped in Delray Beach to begin packing her parents for their return to New York. 

A few photos to come, bu I am posting tonight from my Palm Pre via Posterous … and without my reading glasses (it is becoming more and more an issue!)

Category: Misc, Sailing | No Comments »
Tags: encore, marina, sailboat

Posted By RichC on May 14, 2011

As with everybody I know, there are times we all put a little to much on our plates and have too little time in order to get everything done. I believe … no, I know … that I’ve been pinching my schedule a little too tight and didn’t allow for any disruptions in schedule. Of course that’s when an annoying illness raises it evil head. Treading water as I write, but probably will miss a few posts over the next week. Maybe I’ll do some catch-up when it is all over. Later.

Category: Misc, Personal | 2 Comments »
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Posted By RichC on May 12, 2011

Been
sick
the
last
couple
of
days.
(old TootsieTootsie photo)

Posted via email from RichC’s posterous

Category: Misc, Personal, Photos | 1 Comment »
Tags: dog, filler, sick, tootsie

Posted By RichC on May 9, 2011

With the amount of rain we have been having this spring, we’ve had constant grass growth without hardly a day of dry weather in order to mow. I finally had to cut the soggy backyard for fear of never being able to cut it without a brush hog. After making the decision to cut it, I’m now wondering if it was a mistake?

 
Mississippi River before and after as observed from space

Engineers blow a Mississippi levee on May 2nd flooding farms in Missouri

Thankfully though here in southwest Ohio we’ve been spared the devastating tornadoes that hit states to the south this April, and despite the rains we haven’t had the flooding those receiving our water downstream are experiencing. My heart and prayers go out to all who have experience loss of life and property this spring.

Tuscaloosa Alabama hit hard by tornados

Category: Weather | No Comments »
Tags: 2011, flooding, rain, tornado, weather

Posted By RichC on May 8, 2011

It was nice to have my son home and finished with finals … and to have him think about me on my birthday. Thanks for the Miami Alum license plate surround, Taylor.

My aging first generation Palm Pre is still taking some pretty decent photos (above)

Of course he wasn’t the only one to wish me a Happy Birthday on Saturday, but the two of us spent the day together working on his car and reviewing his summer schedule – summer classes, hopefully a few hours a week of work, and moving into an house in Oxford with two of his college friends. It seems like just the other day that I was moving from dorm to apartment in Ada, Ohio with 3 of my college buddies, Jerry, Don and Bill. Although I don’t stay in touch with them all that much, I did get a Facebook birthday greeting from Bill’s wife Julie (so sweet offering a home cooked meal if my daughter needs one when in Columbus). It is always nice to hear from friends from college. Although I’m somewhat caught up on Jerry and Bill (and see Jeff every week), I did miss receiving the Blinn annual Christmas newspaper – it is usually long and entertaining? I hope Don and his family are ok?

Speaking of Facebook, this was the first year that I’ve paid much attention to the greetings passed along by my nieces and nephews … thanks guys, although I’m at the age where I really don’t want to be counting them each year.

Category: Misc, Personal, Photos | 2 Comments »
Tags: birthday