My 2010 BMW X5 35d is still a great looking and driving SUV

| September 26, 2025

We’ve been talking about new cars or NEW USED cars lately while Brenda’s 2010 Acura RDX sat with a FOR SALE sign out by the rear fence. It was a great car for her and she loved the sporty performance and smaller size (like her RAV4). Currently she is driving the 2010 BMW X5 35d […]

SOLD: Our 2010 Acura RDX would make a great first car

| September 14, 2025

Posting the update: SOLD this past weekend 9/20/2025 to a local family with a new driver … who is a local high school band drummer and needed a first car that could haul his drums! Well the road behind our house is open again and before we start getting too busy this fall, it seemed […]

Friday Filler: A social media shared “feel good” #video

| July 25, 2025

Really … there’s no comment or commentary needed. Just watching this baby (and mom) laugh is enough to brighten even the dreariest day. Have a great weekend!

Archive: What did we do over the 4th of July weekend in 2025?

| 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 […]

A few natural tips to keep bugs from bothering you #video

| June 29, 2025

Here a few natural tips to try if you want to keep pests away — it is worth trying! 

Summer is almost here. Maybe try some mother-daughter surfing?

| June 18, 2025

Pulled this off of social media earlier this month and it made me smile. What a great way for a mom to introduce her daughter to a love of the ocean and surfing. 

Did I mention it was raining today? (testing Linux server update)

| June 9, 2025

A server test over the lunch hour to see if the Linux server is a bit more stable?  Yes … it may have been mentioned for Music Monday in the Luke Combs song … “When It Rains, It Pours.” 😉

Testing MarsEdit blogging feature and interesting aviation trivia

| May 29, 2025

This is a blogging test of a MarsEdit feature to include content that is on a different server — a Memorial Day 8-plane backyard formation flyover (it didn’t work). ☹️   Also, an interesting bit of Area-51 “Skunk Works” Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk development trivia:  The stealth bomber prototype secretly developed at Area 51 in the […]

A busy week, but after seeing this, I’m not complaining

| May 7, 2025

Hm, remind me not to complain about driving a few miles in a heated or air conditioned car … on paved American roads that might have a couple rough patches. 😉

Music Monday: Jimmy Buffett – “That’s What Living Is To Me”

| May 5, 2025

I downloaded a memory song social media from 1988 that brought back fond memories and calming thoughts. Jimmy Buffett was my “go-to” music back in the late 1970s and 1980s while daydreaming of sailing the islands and clear waters of the Caribbean — yes, a fantasy or a dream. 😉 “That’s What Living Is to […]

Tidbit: A tip to wire-tie clamp instead of a hose clamp

| May 3, 2025

Just a helpful filler tidbit that might be helpful someday. I spotted this one on social media and am adding it to my blog.  

A few handy workshop tips I’ll forget when they are needed

| April 18, 2025

When scanning my X.com social media feed, the handy short video tips often catch my eye. Most I’ll never need, but there are a few I wish I could remember when I need them. Saving them here likely won’t help, but who knows? 

Tech Friday: Computer development from 1940 to 2100 #TikTok

| February 14, 2025

I’m not much of a TikTok person (actually anti-TikTok) and you might want to take this with a grain of salt, but it is interesting to contemplate where computer development is going in the next 75 years? 

Collision between AA commuter jet and Black Hawk Helicopter

| January 31, 2025

Each time I hear about an aviation accident I think back to the years I was flying small planes. The conversations by news people regarding the state of safe aviation in the United States … be it DEI hires, technology or congested air traffic control space … has me struggling to know what level of […]

Music Monday: Steely Dan and “Reelin’ In The Years” #video

| January 27, 2025

“Reelin’ In the Years,” a song by American rock band Steely Dan was written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The song features Fagen on vocals and is an early example of their easily recognized sound. I found it interesting to read that Fagen thought it “dumb but effective,” and Becker said it was “no […]

Our recent snowstorm reminds me of the old days in Ohio

| 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 […]

Music Monday: “One Particular Harbor” by Jimmy Buffett (1983)

| January 6, 2025

A newly married friend recently returned from his honeymoon in a beautiful and tropical location. He sent a photo overlooking the turquoise water of a harbor filled with anchored boats. It definitely pulled at my “dream” strings and has me missing boats and the sailing life. As the cold weather continues to make me think […]

A clean and very funny Silent Letter Day comedy #video

| 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 […]

Weather: What is Winter 2024-25 going to be like?

| December 18, 2024

I do enjoy checking the Farmer’s Almanac (above) and the Old Farmer’s Almanac for seasonal forecasts (below), but rarely go back to see how accurate they are (although have shared here before). That’s probably their assumption, although they claim to be 80% accurate?  As has been true in every year since 1792, the newest edition features […]

With Katelyn and Megan the figure skaters in our family, who knew Taylor would learn through osmosis?

| 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 […]

Left over post-election Biden vs The Press humorous #video

| November 30, 2024

Perhaps it is just me, but this leftover video of a press corp reporter begging for President Biden to make a comment on a recent trip to South America had me laughing. Rarely do I feel sorry for the media, but in this reporter’s case, I do. 😊 

Interesting and handy tips from a social media #video

| November 27, 2024

Here’s a quick video for a holiday shortened week, but picked up a few good ideas as this video flashed by on the social media site X.com.  

While playing with NotebookLM’s podcasting feature, I decide to create a couple more AI “Deep Dive” discussions

| October 7, 2024

So let’s just say that I’m impressed with the ability to use Google’s “experimental” AI NotebookLM to not only summarize articles, but also to create fake podcasts (“fake” in search of a better word?) So after preparing a post for Sunday, I mentioned the AI software experiment to my daughter and ask for an article […]

The November 2024 election is ONE month away. Vote wisely.

| October 5, 2024

In case you are looking for guidance when it comes to who you elect to run your city, county, state or country … put this thought in the back of your mind when it comes to who has been putting their thumb on the scale (think lawfare) and which political party “might” … no guarantee […]

Our regular Red Fox is looking much healther on the Fox Cam

| September 12, 2024

Back in July, the Red Fox who regularly is spotted on my Wyze Cams was looking unhealthy. I  did some research and diagnosed that the fox likely needed to be treated for mange. The treatment was to inject a small amount of ivermectin into meatballs and see if I could get him or her to […]

Feel good snippet from X.com — The plus side of Social Media

| September 9, 2024

My 2010 BMW X5 35d is still a “looker” even as it ages #diesel

| August 17, 2024

Back in October of 2015, I was helping Taylor look for a “used” new car (he bought a BMW 528i) …  and for me, the “wanting a diesel again bug” bit again, so I bought a 2010 BMW X5 35d that needed a little TLC (ie. a good deal). So started a long process in […]

Wyze Cam filler: I’m failing in my helping our mangy red foxes

| August 13, 2024

Since today’s post was a personal family updated, here’s a lunchtime Wyze Cam filler regarding trying to treat a couple of our Red Fox regulars with mange. So far I’ve fed ivermectin to a black cat, a opossum, possibly a squirrel and two evil raccoons from a couple of cam locations. (see post).  It’s a […]

Disappointed with Wyze as a company lately. Could be a fluke?

| August 3, 2024

As a provider of fair priced gadgets for the last decade, the company Wyze  has impressed me … that is until recently. As their product mix expanded, their quality control and hodgepodge marketing has started to slip a bit. After the “socket cam” on a garage lamp failed in June, I called to check on […]

Archive: Today is for highlighting my granddaughter Ellerie

| July 27, 2024

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Music Monday: Heart and their hit “Dreamboat Annie” from 1977

| July 22, 2024

The music from the 1970s never fails to catch my ear when I’m listening to the segment music to the Fox Business programming that I listen to during the weekdays. A song by Heart was used on Varney & Co segment change and then again played on SiriusXM’s The Bridge over the weekend. So for […]

Archive: Summertime with Oma and Bompa – 2024 edition

| June 25, 2024

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Surprisingly bold Red Fox lounging in our front yard last week

| June 8, 2024

As rural turns to even more suburban, the bolder some of our wildlife is getting. Last week a slender fox appeared on our security Wyze Cam and instead of just passing by as usual, opted to lounge for a few moments ‘midday’ in the front yard. Very strange behavior for the coyotes and foxes that […]

A different kind of Memorial Day remembrance

| May 27, 2024

Each year Memorial Day holiday often brings out the best in Americans. Those I know, at least give “thought” to the service men and women who fought and died to protect and preserve our country, our freedom and way of life. It is of course, will never be enough appreciation from those of us who […]

A Cardinal keeps triggering the Wyze Cam and Panera Inflation

| May 25, 2024

No matter how I set the trigger, our friendly cardinal regularly triggers a warning on our Wyze Cam. He is enjoyable to watch and so I really don’t mind it.  On the other hand, I DO MIND the price increases hitting Americans at the gas pump, grocery store and restaurants … not to mention nearly […]

Transplanted buttercups and DadH’s workshop in 2013 #TBT

| May 23, 2024

Upstairs in the Western NY Farmhouse Barn’s workshop in 2013 In keeping with the occasional ThrowBack Thursday #TBT, the above was a pano photo of DadH’s workshop after he passed away. I mentioned to Brenda that I wondered how he was able to climb the stairs of the barn and work on such a large […]

Saved May 2024 Thunderstorm over the house video for a filler

| May 21, 2024

See below … 😉 While we were under a Tornado warning earlier this month, I was outside in the backyard watching the storms to the north of our house (over the roof). There was A LOT of lightning, but surprisingly not all that much thunder?   AND since today is my brother’s birthday, Happy Birthday […]

Music Monday: Gordon Lightfoot Live on The Midnight Special

| May 13, 2024

On the NBC television music program “The Midnight Special” on December 13th 1974, Gordon Lightfoot performed a live version of his hit “Sundown.” The late Gordon Lightfoot has been highlighted several times before and even included “Sundown” in a post 7 years ago for Music Monday … but I enjoyed this live video version as […]

Being a great parent really isn’t that difficult #video

| May 9, 2024

Being a great parent isn’t always expensive … it just takes a little time and attention to your children. Here’s someone spotted on social media being a great mom … and a pretty cute little girl enjoying the ride! 

Music Monday: Fleetwood Mac and “Rhiannon” from 1976

| April 29, 2024

Earlier this year, someone on my X.com feed included a Fleetwood Mac video from 1976. I saved it remembering how nearly all of us in Founders Hall at ONU who were listening to albums on our turntables, reel to reels, 8-tracks or cassette decks enjoyed their music. One of the favorite songs … of many […]

Remembering the visual learning of Morse Code #TBT

| April 25, 2024

It has been a while since I’ve posted anything amateur radio related, so this is a blast from the ThrowBack Thursday #TBT past … and it reminded me of my teenage years and learning Morse Code visually (chart below the break).   

Great tip for those wanting to draw things better

| April 23, 2024

As a “non-artist,” I’ve always admired (or had someone on the CPP payroll) who have had the ability and training to create art. Here’s a social media video tip for those of us who would just like to draw a car. 😊 

An analogy of Republicans in Congress #DarkHumor

| April 2, 2024

The humor may be dark, but each time I think the Republican controlled Congress (although barely the majority) might be trying to curtail the excessive spending or the heavy-handed policies enacted by President Biden or progressive Democrats, they fail due to infighting amongst themselves. It is ridiculous just how dysfunctional these “roaring” Republicans are as […]

Trying to keep up with my “Where’s Waldo” traveling friend Jeff

| March 27, 2024

My friend Jeff has been busy traveling for business for the first half of 2024 and I “think” is scheduled to be in some 20 countries doing cybersecurity audits. I’m having a challenging time keeping up with his whereabouts, but do know after some time in Southeast Asia and New Zealand (video below) that he […]

Music Monday: Steve Miller Band – “Jet Airliner” LIVE in 2007

| March 25, 2024

A Twitter/X.com social media contact from FoxBusiness, Brian Brenburg,  is a “DollarVinyl” shopper. He is always posting album covers that he finds for “a buck.” In January 2024 he posted one from The Steve Miller Band … that I once owned (college days and pre-basement-flood). It triggered a response from me and a 2007 live […]

Music Monday: “Cowboy in the Jungle” by Jimmy Buffett (1978)

| March 11, 2024

A couple of weeks ago, someone mention Jimmy Buffett and an old memory song … from back when I was really just starting to listen to music, buy albums (or often dubbed to cassette) …  AND to Jimmy Buffett — it was 1978. One of the first albums that sold me on Jimmy Buffett was […]

Archive: KDAE February 2024 vacation to Florida Wrap-Up Part 1

| March 3, 2024

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My Favorite Commercial from Super Bowl LVIII was by Volkswagen: “An American Love Story” #video

| February 13, 2024

  As a long time Volkswagen guy … I enjoyed the “An American Love Story” commercial (YouTube) in Super Bowl LVIII. Of course there were a lot of creative advertisements, but the VW one tugged at my heart-strings. Those who know me, know that I’ve had a memorable history with VW vehicles, from my high […]

Who doesn’t enjoy looking up and seeing the Goodyear Blimp?

| February 4, 2024

Years ago while regularly making my weekly drive to and from NE Ohio and through Akron, I often saw Goodyear blimps like the “Spirit of Akron” hanging over the interstate and city. Most of us know the blimp either for their aerial coverage of sporting events or watching them leisurely pass along beachfronts — often […]

Beware of dogs … when disposing of Christmas trees #humor

| January 7, 2024

Just a bit of Christmas and New Year’s Day holiday cleaning up humor found on X.com.

Archive: “The Sea Was Angry That Day My Friends …”

| November 18, 2023

Just saving a couple photos after walking the debris covered walkway at Atlantic Dunes in Delray Beach, Florida after the “monsoon” of a November 2023 storm. The heavy surf wash away A LOT of sand beach and left a mess of branches and leaves on the trails we normally walk on. Thankfully the heavy wind, […]

Those TV commercials that trigger emulation #video

| November 4, 2023

Occasionally a television commercial tickles my funny bone and makes me smile every time it comes on the TV. My wife knows that I’ll be emulating the “sometimes all it takes is a piece of pie to bring a little sunshine in their life again” (with a very flawed southern accent). Unfortunately for Fox News […]

What a life! A beautiful October morning in 2011 #TBT

| November 2, 2023

An older video popped up on on of the cloud archive sites for one reason or another last month (don’t recall), and after quickly glancing at it, decided it was worth including for a Throwback Thursday #TBT.  The short clip was Brenda driving to work in her 1998 Toyota Rav4 and was from 2011. It […]

Archiving a weekend wedding photo of Taylor and his college buds and an impressively engineered antique candle snuffer

| October 24, 2023

The title of this post is a little disjointed, but since I don’t have all that much to say about either topic, I’m putting them in one post. First, Taylor stretched out a long weekend with Megan in Key Largo Florida with his fraternity buddies at a wedding … and second, I’m just impress with […]

Take a peaceful walk on the beach with me …

| October 15, 2023

Who doesn’t need a little peace in their lives after this past week of unrest in the Middle East? Thankfully Brenda and I had a chance to escape reality, unwind a little bit, have a banana (photo right) … and walk along a sandy beach. We came across a Stand up Paddler #SUP enjoying a […]

The ablity to memorize passes to the next generation #TBT

| September 28, 2023

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A how to hang a picture on a nail with a fork #video tip

| September 25, 2023

How to hang a picture on a nail with a fork social media household tip (short video below).

Music Monday: Jimmy Buffett passed away peacefully at age 76

| September 4, 2023

Depressing for those of us who grew up in the Jimmy Buffett mindset and have enjoyed his music, concerts, ambitious lifestyle and attitude for our college and adult lives, but his passing on September 1, 2023 hit home. Unfortunately it is starting to feel like the norm (but 76 is way, WAY, too young)? I […]

Tech Friday: The Wyze Cam struggles with person-detection

| August 25, 2023

Our Wyze security cam detection continues to struggle with determining if birds are people. One would think that with artificial intelligence improving that software would be much better at detecting the difference between birds and people? But for years now (one, two, three), our friendly and curious cardinal regularly enjoys getting his photo uploaded to […]

Would you feel comfortable flying on this plane?

| August 2, 2023

Not my photo, but I’m not sure how comfortable the average passenger flying this “budget” airline (???) are when seeing the tape on the wing? Also while sitting on the back porch a little Praying Mantis came to visit (video below).

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