Archive: The 2025 Oostra Christmas tree was cut and is perfect
RichC | December 9, 2025
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Archive: Merry Christmas 2025 and a Volkswagen memory
RichC | December 6, 2025
On Thanksgiving weekend, our family walked around the shops in Liberty Center before going to the movie Zootopia 2 as a family; it was very nice. Besides the granddaughters enjoying the candy store, I particularly enjoyed a shop with an old Volkswagen Microbus. Of course I couldn’t help but reminisce about my old friend Charlie […]
The weekend after Thanksgiving 2025 is wintery in the Midwest
RichC | November 30, 2025
Thanksgiving “return home” weekend travel look dicey in some parts of the midwest and could snarl air travel for those who might be flying. Thankfully for us, KDAE are traveling home on Saturday and not Sunday, but will likely face a little weather (since I’m writing this after they left our house on Saturday). It […]
Archive: A last November weekend to finish yard chores
RichC | November 25, 2025
This could have been the last nice weekend to finish up yard work such as raking and hauling leaves – and my rake is about to be retired, as am I! Who knows as a few trees are still fulling loaded with leaves; perhaps the wind will blow them elsewhere??? Anyway if felt good to […]
A superb performance on the piano by our oldest granddaughter
RichC | November 18, 2025
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Archive: Wanted to save a few more family “goings-on”
RichC | November 9, 2025
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Leftover Halloween photo and the Rear Fence Fiasco
RichC | November 5, 2025
Let’s start with the leftover “fun” photo since I archived a little about the granddaughters this week, but not Megan and Taylor. So this week I’ll include an “off to a Halloween party around a bonfire with some friends” for the archive. I did look like they had fun. For us, no trick or treaters […]
Archive: Personal home projects and talented granddaughters
RichC | November 4, 2025
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Archive: An enjoyable couple of days with our granddaughters
RichC | October 22, 2025
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Beach Erosion, Postseason Baseball and Family in Western NY
RichC | October 16, 2025
Eventually I’ll get around to updating a back and forth trip to Florida to check on the Delray Beach condo’s lanai repairs (and the missing beach – erosion video above) … maybe more over the weekend (???) … but for now a little updating on our lack of excitement with MLB post-season baseball. Brenda and […]
Happy Birthday wishes to “middle aged” Megan (family joke)
RichC | October 15, 2025
What, another “middle age” birthday for Megan? The “middle age” joke has taken on a life of its own when it comes to our adult children. It is kind of fun when “we” are young and in our early 30s (Megan’s 30th Birthday), but I’m starting to think that it could be both an insult […]
Archive: A few leftover family photos from early October 2025
RichC | October 11, 2025
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Archive: The Utah trip photos from yesterday were not enough
RichC | October 10, 2025
After posting our “trip to Utah” photos yesterday, Brenda commented that I left out her favorite from the top of Angels Landing in Zion National Park. Obviously navigating the chains was truly an accomplishment for “senior citizens” … so a few more photos and video seems justified. 😉
Our Utah trip photos with Ann and Gary are coming … but first a couple pre-trip photos with our nieces
RichC | October 8, 2025
Our Utah trip is still fresh and the photos TOO many to sift through at the moment … so I’ll start by archiving a single photo of Zion National Park; the three peaks known as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (photo above). This might at least start the ball rolling in getting the photos and my […]
Obituary: Daniel Phillip Glassman – 11/23/1949 – 9/28/2025
RichC | October 7, 2025
The news of our sister-in-law Lynda Howard Glassman losing her husband Daniel Phillip Glassman shocked us all last week while we were in Utah. Dan was always a “young” semi-retired kind of busy guy and someone that I never even gave a second thought about when he was working or playing hard. He seemed the […]
Archiving a couple leftover September 2025 family photos
RichC | September 30, 2025
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Just a leftover photo from Katelyn to her Mom #TBT
RichC | September 25, 2025
The year escapes me at the moment … although with a little searching on the blog I found it: October 2008 at Letchworth State Park, NY. This photo has been in my miscellaneous folder since August and while clearing it out wanted to archive a photo that made me smile for a ThrowBack Thursday #TBT. […]
Archive: Labor Day photos with Megan, Taylor and Gigi
RichC | September 3, 2025
It has become an enjoyable habit – posting family photos from the previous weekend. This past Labor Day, Megan, Taylor and their dog Gigi were over for the afternoon … and perhaps the last of the pool days (it has been cool for August and early September). We did the quintessential American hot dogs and […]
Closing out the month of August 2025 with signs of Autumn
RichC | August 31, 2025
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As a tinkerer, I’ve save parts and pieces my entire life
RichC | August 24, 2025
The older I get, the more clutter I collect … yet I still can’t stop the habits that have stayed with me my entire life. After clearing out our parents homes a decade ago, it was obvious that genetically the depression era “can’t throw away” trait was passed down to me. I still find myself […]
It has been 10 years, but a father’s impact lasts a lifetime
RichC | August 17, 2025
The Little Critter book title reads … “Just Me and My Dad” (the photo above just a few years ago) … but as I mentioned a decade ago after DadC’s memorial service … he planted the wisdom of Proverb 22:6 in the way he lived his life. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and […]
Happy Birthday Brenda! Are we still counting the years?
RichC | August 12, 2025
As the saying goes, “better to have a birthday then not to have one.” Yet most of us watching the years tick by wonder, why do the years seem to tick by so much faster the older we get? So, Happy Birthday, Brenda – here’s a George Meredith quote to ponder. It has been a wonderful […]
The family is vacationing, I’m reading and saving a project idea
RichC | August 10, 2025
Today’s post is part photo archive, a project idea and a little on “what I’m reading this summer” — but I do miss the World War II history books of previous years. KDAE were off to Colorado on a family vacation this past week and were enjoying there time hiking and outdoors. They were with […]
Archive: Summer activities are great so long as the sun shines
RichC | July 15, 2025
Let’s start the archive of weekend photos with our immediate family selfies. Taylor, Megan and Gigi were over to cool off in the pool (before the strong storms hit on Saturday afternoon) while KDAE were up in Michigan for a extended weekend having summer vacation-ish fun. It would be difficult to find a much more […]
Archive: Summer has been warm, but wet, so far in July 2025
RichC | July 10, 2025
It has been a “wonderfully” warm summer so far … at least in Cincinnati. I good with it since I like the heat, even if I could do without the humidity. So far though, even with the regular thunderstorms, the humidity has been okay. Our granddaughters are up north with the Barb and Randy … […]
Archive: What did we do over the 4th of July weekend in 2025?
RichC | July 6, 2025
If you want to know what Brenda and I did to celebrate the 249th birthday of our country, my answer would be … not all that much. I ended up spraying our lawn for those sod webworms that has become a recent problem (the last 5 years) and then relaxed in the pool with my […]
Book: “Kent State: An American Tragedy” by Brian VanDeMark
RichC | July 2, 2025
A Kindle book on hold at the library arrived just as I finished the last book (checked out twice), so the timing for a summer read was perfect. Likely I’ll be slow in reading “Kent State: An American Tragedy” published in 2024 and written by Brian VanDeMark, but I will do my best. First off […]
Reading: Enjoyed the “Gas Station” Father’s Day book from KDAE
RichC | June 25, 2025
As a Father’s Day present, I received a very nice coffee table book about Gas Stations. Since I worked at a Sidney, Ohio I-75 gas station as a “pump jockey” when I turned 16 years old, it brought back some great memories of wearing the Shell uniform. I’ve commented a couple times before and still […]
Archive: Summer week with our granddaughters was a success!
RichC | June 22, 2025
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Our are granddaughters prepped for American Girl Doll camp
RichC | June 11, 2025
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Archive: A family visit and dance recital for our granddaughters
RichC | June 3, 2025
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Highlighting some of what Taylor is doing in Batavia Twp. Ohio
RichC | May 31, 2025
Some of what I attempt to archive on MDB are the goings-on in our family for posterity. Taylor has definitely found his career niche and excels at socially interacting with coworkers and the citizens he serves in Batavia Township, Ohio. In April it was putting on the Easter Bunny suit to the smile of children […]
Archive: Memorial Day early pool time with our granddaughters
RichC | May 28, 2025
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Hm, 2011 both does and doesn’t seem all that long ago? #TBT
RichC | May 22, 2025
A “Year(s) Ago On This Day” highlight (column right) had me looking at a May 2011 photo of our family. Katelyn’s NEOUCOM medical school graduation in 2011 made for a great memory for sure … but leaves me a little bit sad. Still, I’m so thankful all four parents were able to attend her graduation, […]
BirdBuddy app, birds and Katelyn’s birdfeeder birthday present
RichC | May 21, 2025
My daughter shared some photos from her new bird feeder birthday present, from Drew and the girls, and access last weekend through the BirdBuddy app. BTW, today is my brother’s birthday, Happy Birthday Ron! (poem below) The WiFi camera connected birdfeeder (see previous non-smar homemade birdfeeder) for the Oostra backyard which is full of “everything […]
Wishing my daughter Katelyn a very Happy 39th Birthday
RichC | May 14, 2025
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Archive: Enjoyed beach time with the Oostra family last week
RichC | April 22, 2025
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Palm Sunday afternoon, taxes and KDAE at Legoland in Florida
RichC | April 14, 2025
Let’s start with yesterday’s Palm Sunday word of the day … or at least one that I learned from today’s TFL devotional “God’s Plan All Along” and the Hebrew word: “Tetelestai!” The Hebrew word that Τετέλεσται (it is finished) best translates is שָׁלֵם, which is how the Syriac Peshitta* and modern Hebrew** translations translate […]
Archive: What’s going on with our family?
RichC | April 3, 2025
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Thinking the same thing already this year … #TBT
RichC | March 13, 2025
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Taylor will be the Easter Bunny this year in his township
RichC | March 5, 2025
We received a fun message last week as Taylor announced that he was invited to be the Easter bunny for the families in Batavia Township. We saw a photo of him trying on the head from the costume and our family had a good laugh. He will be a great bunny and has the perfect […]
Enjoying life and leftover President’s Day weekend family photos
RichC | February 19, 2025
My reading from a week ago has stalled … and I have no idea why? “Area 51” by Annie Jacobsen is an interesting book, and beside walking, neither Brenda or I are doing much more than pretending we are on a long vacation. One of our pleasures is seeing the same people each morning […]
Competitive Super Bowl LIX? Nope, the Eagles crushed the Chiefs
RichC | February 11, 2025
Brenda and I enjoyed watching Super Bowl LIX on Sunday February 9, 2025 in Florida this year (summary below) after a enjoyable sunny day and walk on the beach. It sure is a great way to escape the winter (see Oostras skating below the break)! One of the lowlights of our beach walk (my antonym for […]
Archive: Our family had a busy extended MLKJr Day weekend
RichC | January 22, 2025
We saw way too many family photos being exchanged over the long MLK Jr. weekend, but I’m including a couple for the blog archive. First I’ll start with an interesting and as Katelyn called it, “blogworthy” techie kind of space selfie project photo. Both Katelyn and Drew are on top of today’s technology oriented projects. […]
Generations and inflation graphic … and a cute family drawing
RichC | January 12, 2025
Depending on which generation you were born often factors into how you remember inflation. Those born in the 1930 thru1970s likely saw decades of relatively high inflation; they lived through years of 5-6% and higher inflation. Until recently, those born later … 1980 to today … saw a more moderate annual inflation number to begin […]
Our recent snowstorm reminds me of the old days in Ohio
RichC | January 6, 2025
Winter has arrived in much of the heartland to the east coast for January 2025 … and here in Cincinnati too. It is a storm that is impacting travel on roads, by air and even the power lines since there was ice and freezing rain included with a significant snow. Taylor was out with Megan […]
A clean and very funny Silent Letter Day comedy #video
RichC | January 5, 2025
Before I add the humor (video below), I wanted to include a photo of the girls ice skating on their last day of Christmas break. It was so nice to have the extra time with “Mommy Katelyn” on Friday and doing something special (great smile and photo)! Spotted this on X.com and it made me […]
Goodbye 2024. Have a Happy and Healthy New Year 2025!
RichC | January 1, 2025
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The Oostra’s new house has their first Christmas tree … and a little baseball podcast for ThrowBack Thursday #TBT
RichC | December 12, 2024
Today’s archive post will be quite the Throwback Thursday #TBT stretch … as the photos and Christmas tree subject matter are from last weekend … even though “The Longest Game” podcast forwarded by my daughter Katelyn is a baseball story from years ago (she knows I enjoy baseball). Let’s start with the baseball story from 1981 […]
With Katelyn and Megan the figure skaters in our family, who knew Taylor would learn through osmosis?
RichC | December 10, 2024
With early November and December winter weather showing up somewhat early, there’s no better time for Megan’s employer to have a holiday gathering at Kings Island. For their business, it is time to promote WinterFest with 7-million lights and some ice skating. Both Megan and Katelyn learned, and then taught, figure skating for the Queen […]
Archive: Merry Christmas 2024 and a Google “add me” photo test
RichC | December 6, 2024
The annual Corbett Christmas Letter has been reduced to the ubiquitous Christmas card printed by one of the many card producers (below). This year’s card was ordered before our Thanksgiving famly get-together and unique Google “Add Me” AI feature used in the photo above on Drew’s new Pixel 9. Very impressive — hey, Apple, get […]
Archive: Thanksgiving 2024 photos with our family
RichC | December 3, 2024
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Late night post just to fill a missing December 1, 2024
RichC | December 1, 2024
Who doesn’t enjoy watching a Sunday Night Football game from Buffalo, NY during a “lake effect” snow. It brings back memories of our years both living in NE Ohio and in driving to and from Western NY (Jamestown) to be with Brenda’s family and playing football — we called it “the Howard Bowl.” A quick […]
A beautiful photo of my granddaughters and their neighborhood
RichC | November 30, 2024
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Archive: Megan, Taylor and Gigi out for a walk and Venus rising
RichC | November 26, 2024
Nothing earth shattering, but looked up to see Venus rising on Sunday evening as I was taking out the garbage. It was beautiful in the SSW sky and far more than the iPhone photo … but it was worth posting anyway. Megan, Taylor and Gigi were out for walks on Sunday and shared a couple […]
Archive: More Autumn 2024 family photos and video
RichC | November 12, 2024
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Archive: Bananas and our granddaughter broke her little toe
RichC | November 5, 2024
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Archive: Our family is enjoying the 2024 autumn weather
RichC | October 29, 2024
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Cat 5 Hurricane Milton sets sight on Florida’s west coast
RichC | October 8, 2024
Once again, the second half of the hurricane season is brewing up what looks to be another monster storm in the Gulf of Mexico (post after Hurricane Helene). This one is named Hurricane Milton and has quickly spun up to a category 5 storm as it starts moving from west to east across the gulf. […]
Thanks Mom for everything. It’s your birthday and I miss you.
RichC | September 29, 2024
It isn’t as if I think about missing my mom everyday, but when her birthday approaches, I definitely do. In that way we are a lot alike — remembering her missing her mom. Brenda and I often comment, “oh how my mother would love this or that” … usually when talking about preparing the table […]
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.