For 2020, how about less focus on self and more on others?
RichC | December 29, 2019
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When you must get a package delivered before Christmas
RichC | December 25, 2019
UPS for the win! (wait for it) Fedex and USPS better step up their game! “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”
Merry Christmas Eve: Twas the night before Christmas
RichC | December 24, 2019
For some reason, the full text of this post and photo of our 2019 family Christmas tree went missing … or maybe it didn’t post to the blog? Oh well, at least here’s the archived photo of our tree:
Merry Christmas 2019 – Wishing you success and courage
RichC | December 17, 2019
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Music Monday: James Taylor singing holiday songs
RichC | December 16, 2019
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Can stamps get you in the Christmas spirit? #random
RichC | December 8, 2019
While trying my best to get in the Christmas spirit … how about something from the philately world? Although I’m not a stamp collector, back in the day my company Consolidated Printing and Publishing did some plate work for special cancels and printing for a stamp collecting organization. Besides, my father-in-law had an impressive stamp […]
Time mellows the moment – The Great Christmas Tree Disaster
RichC | January 30, 2019
In an old spinnaker (sail) from our Thistle, I finally hauled out our larger than usual Christmas tree this past week. It was then that I realized I had neglected to archive the “Great Christmas Tree Disaster of 2018” story from December. Hm, how could I have forgotten … likely for the same embarrassing reason […]
Music Monday: Starting with a change for 2019 – Kenny Chesney
RichC | January 7, 2019
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Our Annalyn is amazing, altho I’m not surprised #video
RichC | January 3, 2019
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A limited Corbett-Oostra family Christmas photo recap for 2018
RichC | December 26, 2018
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Christmas Morning 2018 Time-lapse
RichC | December 25, 2018
Every tech-loving guy needs a subject for a new gizmo … my son-in-law Drew is no exception. He set up his new GoPro-like camera (gift from Katelyn) to time-lapse our Christmas morning. His effort was a little bit too fast for me to watch … so I stretched out the MP4 clip to last almost […]
Christmas 2018 project photos – a Maple Piggy Bank for Annalyn
RichC | December 24, 2018
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Christmas prep and my iMac is still recovering from surgery
RichC | December 15, 2018
Although Brenda and I are making steady progress in getting things ready for Christmas, the iMac surgery mentioned yesterday did not go as smoothly as planned, but at least I do have backups to rebuild things from. Currently the “way too many” cloud services that I’m using are working overtime as my Time Machine archive […]
As grandparents, what would we do without smartphones?
RichC | November 30, 2018
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An old wooden ladder and memories good and bad
RichC | January 14, 2018
As my son Taylor said, “ladders will be our family’s downfall.” So true … The old wooden ladder I inherited from the late Harry McKee when we bought our first sailboat Brenich in the early 1980s is still in active service. It is no longer chained to the old boat cradle we kept in Huron, […]
Archive: Corbetts and Oostras had a wonderful family Christmas
RichC | December 27, 2017
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Christmas Music Monday: Merry old semi-nautical carol
RichC | December 25, 2017
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Do we show enough appreciation for a well decorated home?
RichC | December 24, 2017
My wife Brenda shows a lot of attention to decorating with memories and detail to our house each December (and my mother did too). I wish I would be more thankful, but am usually a bit Grinchy when ask to do just a few things that seem to much such a waste of time … […]
Stopping to take a house photo on my way up the driveway
RichC | December 23, 2017
Just a beautiful sky (photos doesn’t do it justice) as the new LED Christmas spots and candle lights pop on as I head up the driveway. Good for the blog archive. After a cold start, having sunny but cool weather right before Christmas is welcomed … but should be thinking about getting the blower put […]
Another memory with friends of our 1st Christmas together #TBT
RichC | December 21, 2017
Although my memory is a little bit foggy, Brenda and I probably saw each other a couple of Christmas’s prior our first Christmas? We were dating in 1980 and engaged in 1981 and likely celebrated with each other close to the day, but were home with our families for Christmas Day. Anyway, when scanning the […]
Last minute gift idea AND picking the right hose clamp #humor
RichC | December 20, 2017
Just in case there are a few men looking for last minute jewelry gifts to give to their sweetheart for Christmas, here’s a ring idea that will pretty much guarantee that you’ll never need to worry again – you’ll either be alone … or dead! And since I know there is sure to be a […]
Our first Christmas as husband and wife #TBT
RichC | December 14, 2017
Wow … is this really the 35th Christmas? With boxes all over the basement in search for Brenda’s "special ornaments," I ran across the old photo albums of our first year of marriage and our first Christmas. We both remember it fondly since it was a relatively minimalist Christmas. The tree came from Brenda’s dad’s […]
Music Monday: Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Christmas Canon
RichC | December 11, 2017
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Christmas decorating and closing the pool in the same weekend
RichC | December 4, 2017
It is hard to believe, but I finally winterized the pool and in the same weekend brought home a Christmas tree, put the wreathes up and modified the lighting we use on the house in December. The first years we used 150 watt incandescent floods (also had halogens at some point), then I switched to […]
WikiBuy and a frustrating Cyber Monday of shopping
RichC | November 28, 2017
As someone who is relatively comfortable with ecommerce and shopping for the best deals online, I don’t think I’ve ever been as frustrated as I was on Monday. Brenda and I had semi-planned to do a little more shopping "online" this year and since Cyber Monday is generally a "good deal" day to shop for […]
Forgotten and leftover from Christmas 2016
RichC | March 19, 2017
My son Taylor is geography and map kind of guy so I gave him a mag-lift spinning globe for his desk for Christmas 2016. His interests and innate sense of direction is probably why he pursued “Urban Planning and now coordinates development for Clermont County Ohio as a county planner. Anyway, I had forgotten that […]
Christmas in Minnesota as a family
RichC | December 27, 2016
After a bit of a delay in maintaining daily blog posts, Brenda, Taylor and I returned from our family Christmas with Katelyn and Drew in Wayzata, MN on Monday night. It was a whirlwind trip and thankfully without incident. First thing first … our growing granddaughter is definitely noticeable as a “babybump” (an overused word). […]
Out to Christmas Eve dinner in Wayzata Minnesota
RichC | December 26, 2016
Adding a couple catch-up photos to the mix after driving the BMW X5 35d (26.1 mpg) up for a busy Christmas weekend with Katelyn, Drew and Taylor in Wayzata, Minnesota. We took Drew’s Acura RX out for a nice Christmas Eve dinner and am starting to realize Brenda and I are definitely looking older (and […]
Merry Christmas and God bless all of us on the good Earth
RichC | December 24, 2016
The Apollo 8 Christmas Eve Broadcast Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the Moon, entered lunar orbit on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1968. That evening, the astronauts; Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell, and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders did a live television broadcast from lunar orbit, in which they showed pictures […]
Project: Rustic Cedar Headboard for Taylor
RichC | December 14, 2016
I finally finished up a long overdue project for Taylor … a headboard for his bed. He had giving me a couple magazine images as to what he wanted, but I just haven’t found the time or put together the materials I needed to build it (let alone been ambitious enough to start the project). […]
It is great to work in the garage shop with the woodstove
RichC | December 12, 2016
One of the pleasures of winter and colder weather for me is hanging out and monkeying around in my garage shop with a fire in the woodstove. It has worked out perfectly for those weekends that I know it is going to be "just me" at home …or when I need a man cave (really […]
Frohe Weihnachten 2016 from Katelyn and Drew
RichC | December 8, 2016
Tis the season to be starting to think about a “Jolly Christmas” as Katelyn and Drew sent back a couple photos from Vienna, Austria this week … and from the looks of it, they are enjoying themselves. I sure hope little “Baby Oostra” likes long flights? It just so happened that Dr. Drew was invited […]
Winding down the family Christmas time together
RichC | December 27, 2015
Katelyn and Drew headed back home to Wayzata, MN this Sunday morning after monitoring the wave of nasty weather pushing north later today. It looks as if they will be in the clear by the time they get to Chicago; the ice, snow and rain should be south of Wisconsin and Minnesota … at least […]
Christmas 2015 – a family time
RichC | December 26, 2015
We had a wonderful family time on Christmas day. Taylor came after work on Christmas Eve day and Katelyn and Drew drove from Minneapolis after a half day of work (long day for them), so we were all home for Christmas morning. After our morning gift exchange, which was wonderful, although too much … we went outside and enjoyed […]
Twas the Night before Christmas … and to all a Good-Night!
RichC | December 24, 2015
Nearly 200 years ago, Clement Clarke Moore “wrote” (still debated) a Christmas poem for his children, not realizing it would later be published and become the classic we all know and love — “Twas the Night Before Christmas” (A Visit from St. Nicholas). Many still do not realize that today’s image of Santa Claus […]
The obligatory family Christmas tree photo for 2015
RichC | December 23, 2015
It is time to post the annual Christmas tree photo on the blog. I’m trying an evening pic with the iPhone … as steady as I can? The tree is full, but not quite as tall as our usual trees. I’m sure the kids will be disappointed that it isn’t bigger, but then Taylor always […]
Cincinnati is not going to see a White Christmas for 2015
RichC | December 20, 2015
Lights, wreath, candles up. Still need a tree!
RichC | December 6, 2015
Actually needed a photo to test the new server running WordPress.
Its almost Christmas and we did not decorate this year
RichC | December 24, 2014
It is shameful that Brenda and I have been too busy with “who knows what” to decorate or even put up a Christmas tree this year – the first time in our married life. We have used the excuses that our kids are not coming home, that we are not entertaining, that we have been […]
Happy Thanksgiving – Do you have your Christmas tree yet?
RichC | November 27, 2014
I couldn’t believe it, but Katelyn and Drew have picked out and set up a real Christmas tree already. I know she is probably anxious for Christmas, but before a tree before Thanksgiving seems a little crazy … but then it is Minnesota? Christmas aside, it is time to celebrate Thanksgiving … like they did […]
A small wood stool and tools belonging to Grandpa Howard
RichC | December 29, 2013
My cousin Diane and I exchanged Christmas greetings and updated each other with the goings-on of our families on Friday night. While talking about gifts, I realized that I didn’t have a photo of the “Tool Stools” that I made for Taylor and Drew. Since one of them was still at home, I took a […]
Merry Christmas 2013 and a photobomb
RichC | December 25, 2013
What a wonderful time we had over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year. We were happy to have Taylor, Katelyn and Drew home together with us for a couple days holidays (photo above) … and thankful some in the Corbett side of our family with us for dinner. It was a great to be […]
A Christmas greeting … humor!
RichC | December 21, 2013
Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas
RichC | December 15, 2013
We’re closing in on Christmas and it is beginning to look a little more festive around our house. I still have a few things to do, but at least the tree is up and decorated. It is a bit smaller this year but I didn’t have someone twisting my arm! This is the first year […]
Celebrating our later than usual family Christmas
RichC | December 30, 2012
It has been a busy end of the year, but spending the last couple of days with just the family was a great way to wind down 2012. We enjoyed talking, eating (too much), opening presents and watching a movie together – Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Killer. (expand photo slideshow below). Taylor has been home from […]
A subdued Christmas for 2012, but it is not over yet
RichC | December 26, 2012
We drove up to Columbus and enjoyed “catering” a Christmas dinner at Katelyn’s fiancé Drew’s house. The two of them (both in their residency) were working the night rotations … Katelyn just off a 24 hour stint at Nationwide and Drew his week of 13 hour nights at OSU. We have postponed our family gift […]
Merry Christmas – our slightly smaller 2012 Christmas tree
RichC | December 25, 2012
Our rapidly desquamating Christmas tree (photo) is barely holding on to its needles in hope of “A visit from St. Nicholas” on Christmas eve –although even bringing up the poem now known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” is an invitation of literary debate. No thanks, I’m tired of debates after 2012! The well known […]
The post Christmas blues after a great family time
RichC | December 26, 2011
I’m really NOT depressed that Christmas is over … actually quite relieved … but the time with family did go fast, way too fast. We were fortunate that the Corbett side of the family was able to be together at our house on Christmas day. The weather held and gave all who drove excellent roads […]
Video: One of the better Christmas stories for 2011
RichC | December 25, 2011
Since I didn’t post anything on Christmas day this year, I’ll add this short heartwarming story from CBS a few days late (video below). It is a wonderful Christmas story and might just bring a few tears to your eyes.
Best Buy turns a blunder into positive PR
RichC | December 24, 2011
Almost all companies have customer service issues and what separates the successful from the not-so-successful is how they are able to recover with the least amount of pain. One example this year is Best Buy who in the past was one of my least favorite retailers. During their pre-Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday store […]
Home for Christmas and making his parent dinner
RichC | December 18, 2011
It doesn’t get much better than this … our son Taylor is home from college for Christmas break and after living off campus decided to make dinner for his parents. What a treat to know that he can cook well enough to take care of himself and enjoys making dinner for us. In appreciation I […]
Cold weather, time to get a Christmas tree and the 2012 Election
RichC | December 10, 2011
After a few flurries and cold temperatures last night, we woke to the first ice on the small lake in front of our house this morning. Brrr … I’m not ready for winter yet. Preparing for Christmas on the other hand, is in full swing as I hauled home a tree last night finishing […]
Great to be with our families on Christmas–2010 recap
RichC | December 27, 2010
The 20th-ish annual ‘Howard Bowl’ football game – no injuries this year! Once again we put a few more miles on our cars this holiday, but thankfully we had excellent driving weather (for winter that is) for our trips; one to Brenda’s’ parents and one to mine. We did a quick Thursday night family Christmas […]
The “closing in on Christmas” weekend got away from me
RichC | December 13, 2010
This weekend got away from me partially because there were a few too many reminders that technology, computer use, business and the Internet often overtakes family and face to face time. First, my daughter was home after one of her many interviews for her residency next year. She was upbeat and positive about almost every […]
Family weekend at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio
RichC | October 2, 2010
Brenda and I enjoyed visiting our son on Saturday for Family Weekend at Miami University. Although we didn’t spend the entire day with all the planned activities, we did enjoy a brunch with his professors and department head. It was nice to be in a small group talking with them about internships and future options […]
Successful Christmas light repair using the Lightkeeper Pro
RichC | December 4, 2009
In a follow up to my post concerning defective Christmas lights, I’ve been working to salvage strings of mini lights before tossing them into the landfill. So far I’ve been pleased the Lightkeeper Pro and have been successful in being able to repair at least a dozens strands of lights. The fixes have not been […]
The History of the Advent Wreath
RichC | December 3, 2009
While doing a little research on the Advent Wreath for family devotions this past weekend, I came across an interesting article that I wanted to share and archive. Although I’m not Catholic, one would have thought I would have known a bit more about the pre-Christian and pre-Protestant history. I’ll include a couple paragraphs from […]
Defective Christmas lights and the Lightkeeper Pro
RichC | December 1, 2009
I know that I’m not the only one ‘collecting’ tangles of miniature Christmas lights which grows each season as the decorations are packed and unpacked. I’ve vowed a number of times to either fix or dispose of the faulty and half lit strings. This year, knowing my repairman patience is nearing it limit, I’m giving […]
Family football was tough on the lawn this year
RichC | December 28, 2008
Once again my Treo smart phone ’email to blog’ didn’t post correctly while visiting family in New York state. A couple posts were missed, but I’ll quickly upload at least this one family photo for posterity sake. It is from the Howard Bowl 2008 and shows the well trampled field (my father-in-laws lawn) after our […]
Christmas Cotton: PressIt test post from cellphone
RichC | December 18, 2008
Using Treo to “Press It” post a cellphone photo that only has a little personal meaning to a few of us … and my friend who sent us the cotton for our Christmas tree many years ago. EDIT: Hmm, PressIt didn’t work and will have to edit to post?
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.