This was the species of bird that visited us yesterday.

Julie found this cool pic of one on-line.  We hope to see our little red-headed woodpecker friend again soon! It’s the first one we’ve seen around here. We see several other species frequently, so…🤞🏻

Ok, so I think I found the place I wanna get a clone from…

This is a sample of one of their QC pics.  These copies are so good these days that you have to open the watch, take the movement apart, and examine it under a microscope to tell the differences.  The parts are even interchangeable both directions down to the tiniest gears and springs. It’s created an odd Frankenstein mess in the market which is at once good for the consumer and bad for the brand…

Julie treated Andy to Omakase too…

Since John and I had tried it a while ago, I encouraged them to give it a shot.  Andy’s enjoying the tempura scallop in the top pic.  Their favorites were their fatty tuna (otoro) and the gold flake wagyu beef (lower left). Julie really liked the crème brûlée too.  It was the first time she’d ever had one.   

Get your Lakeside plate❣️

Ohio just released these and of course Lakeside had a cool unveiling party announcing it.  Pretty cool. I like that they incorporated the wright brothers too.  I might have to pick one up next time around…

I’ve always like the facets of my college ring!

My mom and dad bought this for me as a graduation gift.  The stone is cut smooth on the top with facets on the bottom and it’s always caught the light in a cool way!

Johnny and I enjoy reading the old news.

So did Steve.  He saved a couple stacks worth of them over the years.  It’s a good thing, because they stopped publishing them in 2024.  So John and I have some to read through.  It’s a fun collection of storied from centuries ago…

Holding $10,000 in my hand…

…that would cost you $20,000 to actually buy!

On the way back from the dump the other day I randomly decided to swing by the local Rolex dealer (ironic I know) to see if they’d let me in.  They did.  They were quite nice and accommodating in explaining to me the range of brands and models they carried.  This is the model I like.  The price tag is $11K.  But you can’t actually get one.  If you wanted one, you go on a wait list and play a game with them for a couple years to see if one comes up with your name it.  So you can really only buy them on the used market at twice the price of new…

It was fun to look around in such a nice place.  I got to see some Tudor (sister company to Rolex) in the $5K range and a Breitling Navitimer too.  Next time I may take a look at the Omega Speedmaster.  All nice watches but WAY outside of my price range.  

I do really like the GMT Master look, and function. The 24 hour hand and bezel are useful and intriguing to a nerd like me.  I’m currently going down wormholes in the super-clone sub-culture.  I think I will have to satisfy myself with one of those in the couple hundred dollar range.  Plus you can get them in some of the discontinued cool color combinations.  Stay tuned…

When you need a little extra heat!

Andy was brazing again came up with this duct tape duo idea to give him the extra heat be needed to make it go will.  Brilliant and silly all at the same time.  He said it worked like champ!

More 250th pics…?

This one reminded me a lot of my favorite little antique town that I’m happy to call home❣️

Julie’s “Onion” bird feeder is popular with the critters!

We found this vintage feeder in her mom’s stuff.  Julie put it to use outside our living room window and it is attracting quite a variety.  We had a red-headed woodpecker and a red-wing blackbird this morning.  

Johnny’s startled view on the way to work…

I guess the time has come… I’d been thinking I’ve kind of conquered everything I want to with my Jeep and camper, and kind of even did everything a second time around the second year.  My last trip was a good test if I would miss it, or want to keep going.  I’ve always enjoyed getting into a hobby, learning it, doing well at it, then taking the money and moving on to something else.  I can take the time and money and spend it on other things with my wife, our boys, and their girls so to the street it goes.  They enjoy off-roading with the ATVs more than the Jeep anyhow, so we at least have that still.  

It didn’t help that I’ve been taking it easier and still have something to repair each trip. This one was no exception.  I had to fix the rear end.  Pinion gear I guesss.  Good think I have a spare…

Julie snuck into my Jeep…

She put this (top pic) cute little black cat sticker on my mirror.  With my black interior, it took me a while to notice, but when I did - I loved it.  I had to move it to my Crosstrek (lower left).  Then Johnny finally got a good picture of the eyes.  It’s just like a real black cat, hard to get a good picture of it since they suck all the light out of the room, haha! 

Andy adding to his pipe cutter collection…

Happy Fourth of July. 850,000 fireworks to celebrate our 250th❣️🎆

Mother/Daughter time

Fun moment I noticed while we were cooking hotdogs on the Fourth of July.  Julie and Savannah just standing there chatting about kitchen stuff and Julie’s mom’s designs, cooking, etc.❣️

We ended the evening with hotdogs and s’mores

Then we watched the various neighborhood firework displays.  Andy’s ghosting in the bottom pic 🤪

Savannah’s progress on her latest stained glass

AND the yummy latte she made me!!

Celebrating the Fourth with the kids ❤️

We started with puzzles, games, and music in John & Savannah’s “new” basement.  

More fun with Julie’s family memories.

Top pic her great grandparents on her Dad’s side. Gregory and Amelia Kubina.  Nanny (Faunda) then Bob, Steve and Roz.

Middle pic, my cute little girl as king of the hill.  She loved having a dirt pile to play on which is just another indication she’s the perfect “girl” for me.  

Lastly Steve and Janice with their new bundle of chaos, Julie❣️ I mean, a tornado did hit their house the day they found out they were expecting her.  That tracks pretty well!

Julie is fish sitting

Stef made this cool ferry shrimp tank that she was watching while they were recently on vacation. 

I even got my 250th anniversary badge

Since I was up early, the severs weren’t too busy.  I got in to request my free, commemorative badge first try.  Pretty cool. A lot of other folks had to try all weekend before they got in.

I guess I was well rested

I woke up early the morning I was heading back home.  I got to enjoy the moonlight and fog rolling through the hills.  A great way to start the day of celebrating our freedoms!

Finished our ride just in time…

We got back to camp and the skies opened up for an hour or two.  Fortunately, it stopped and turned into a nice evening as we enjoyed hamburgers for dinner.

The next day was just two rigs

After I fixed my u-joint on the fly, we took it easy and enjoyed the scenery along the way.

Beauty in the hills

The new trail and lookout on trail 22 at Windrock was worth climbing!  It was a beautiful day to enjoy the view with friends.

Windrock is a really cool park.

I just wish it was a little closer.

Zac’s Batman duck found a place of honor :)

Cute pups!

My buddy brought his 8 week old puppy Carl.  Carl would carry his leash over, grab Zoe’s too, and take her for a walk (top).  So cute!

Once we were done riding each day, Zoe would find a shady spot and cool down (bottom). Also really cute ❤️ 

Off-roading for the Fourth

I hung out with some friends for the first few days of July.  Here, we’re all setup in our various modes of camping, ready for what the day’s trails bring.  

Cool drone stuff rom the 4th of July!

Zoe shredder 9000

It was time to clean the air conditioner. I Finally thought of a way to keep that stable and out of the way during AC cleaning. 🤪 Bogen arm too the rescue. 

Funny thing, though, the stupid little dog that’s scared of her shadow sometimes just walked right through the doggie door right through the Fan out to hang with me. Of course she couldn’t work up the nerve to go back in either…

Don’t worry, Its power is disconnected twice. 

I like the various ways my dad’s ring catches the light

Inset shows how just one of the facets underneath was shining.  Top pic shows full sun when most of them have lit up. I like seeing the reflection of the sun in that one too.

Mom bringing back memories

I remember going to this Red’s game at riverfront and coming home with that pennant.  It hung in my room for a while.  I’m 90% sure I have it in a memory box from high school days still.  

Still fun to use my dad’s old stuff

And to stumble on his handwriting since he labeled everything. Haha.

A few fun memories from over the decades

The original map of how to get to Julie’s house for our first date, milk bottles from my great grandpa’s bee and dairy farm, Scruffy! Andy’s advernture book volume two, my dad’s tractor, a note from Johnny, and a business card holder from my Invotec days including several fun little, appropriate Lego mini-figures.  That pretty well covers life.  Good times!

Really cool to see our business cards together…

It’s even better to see Steve’s handwritten notes like my mobile number.  His Rolodex reads like a who’s who of all the same important customers I called on so many years later.  Interesting to think of he and I traipsing through the same plants years apart from each other. 

If Andy had a family crest, THIS would be it!

This was the logo on the cigar box that we adapted for one of his early balisong displays. It was fitting that his box is adorned with his initials.  There was a spare panel we didn’t use.  It bore the same logo so I saved it and now added it to one of my memory shelves.  It was fun to do little projects with the boys when they were younger and smaller.  Now that they’re older and bigger, the projects have gotten bigger too. It’s still fun to help them with life’s projects whether that’s around the house or navigating life decisions and logistics.  It’s nice to have the time, and also that they’re willing to ask for and take advice.  That will serve them well and I’m blessed with the family we’ve grown together ❤️

We saved this mug that Julie got for her mom

And now Julie and can enjoy it as a mother too.  Julie has been such a great mom to the boys and I love seeing her relationship with them over the years.  You can tell it was her calling and she stepped up❣️❣️❣️❣️

This will make a nice nightlight for my office

Janice took these glass blocks and decorated them with ribbons and lights.  It reminds me of her love for us all in May office now and fills it with a nice warm, homey glow.

We found Mr. and Mrs. Claus!

Janice hand painted many ceramics in the early years of her marriage and Julie’s youth.  This little set is a great example of the detail she put into it!  The needle and thread in Mrs. Claus’ hand, and the gradients colors in Mr. Claus’ paint brush and skateboard are intricate.  Check out the shading in the bag and presents and the detail in each little package and toy inside including the detail in the wrapping paper!  We’d packed these away years ago for safe keeping.  It’s nice to have them out to see again.  

Fun USA 250th graphics for the Fourth of July

City Barbecue on the left and Graeter’s on the right. Two stores right next to each other twice (Centerville and Beavercreek), a good combo too!

The fun and beauty of Julie’s fish tank

 

Zoe thinks Chloe should put more effort into playing with her!

Devolving into feats of strength

Andy and Zac tried out figure jousting… hahahaha.

Cheyenne and Chris had a good idea for a birthday party

A blind taste test from our various favorite pizza places.  It was fun to pull out the Kmart Lille Caesar’s bags from 20 years ago.  Andy got the most of them right and won a prize.  They all took it seriously. It was  fun listening to their commentary and ratings along the way. 

More memories!

We came across these pics of Janice with her dad Vernon (Julie’s granddaddy who went by Duff) and her mother Faye(Julie’s grandma).  Also pictured is Janice’s brother Larry who died around the age of nine from brain tumors.

Julie’s dad had a great view of Dayton growing up.

They used to ride their soap box style go-karts down the big hill!

Visiting Steve’s childhood home

Going through Julie’s parent’s memories made us want to go see the house that her dad helped his dad build in East Dayton.  She found a slide (lower left inset) that showed the house and the intersection off Fourth Street.  We headed over and enjoyed seeing what it looked like these days.  She pointed out all the features, where all the rooms were and her rough memory of the layout.  It’s nice to see it well cared for.  It’s solid as a rock too.  Her grandpa built things SOILD.  Why use two screws when nine will do…?!  That was always her dad’s philosophy, now I realize where he got it!

Interestingly, Zac and Chloe are renting a house only a couple blocks away from this same intersection since they recently moved back to town. Small world!

Jeep tinkering…

I was hearing a noise in the passenger rear wheel and getting a wheel sensor error code after my last GOAT trip with John. When I took the wheel, caliper, and rotor off, I these parts rolling around in there.  At some point the parking brake adjuster spring had come loose.  It was replaced, but apparently the original one was still bouncing around inside the rotor.  It eventually took out the new adjuster spring, one of the parking brake springs, and the wheel speed sensor as well.  Good news, it was a cheap, east fix, and I already had all the parts.  

I was also getting a cruise control error that suggested my clock spring might be bad… The error codes and suspicions we confirmed when I removed the steering wheel (lower left pic) and the clock spring fell apart in a mess of plastic parts and cables (center pic), lol!

To get it apart, I had to grind down one of the spare extensions for my impact driver to get it deep enough into the holes in the steering wheel trim (top right pic).  

You better believe I was treating the airbag removal like a ticking bomb… I had just finished removing it in the lower right pic.

It’s always something, but the good news is I got it all back in working order and got my cruise control back just in time for my Windrock trip a few days later just before July 4th week.

Can you run your chronograph watch as a GMT…?

First, the pic on the left shows the nice detail in my retirement watch. I really like the colors, detail, hand design, and the clean look!  I thought you’d want to take a moment to appreciate it haha.

Second, I figured out a way to make it work kind of like a GMT watch that’s designed to show two time zones.  If you start the chronograph (stop watch) at such a time that it is noon or midnight in the second time zone you want to track, then you get the advantage of having the hour counter hand (right pic) showing you the time in another zone.  In this example the watch is showing it’s quarter to ten in my home zone, and that it’s almost 2p in the second time zone (lower left circle, singe hand just above the 6 o’clock position).  That happens to be universal coordinated time (UTC) or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) which is four hours ahead of us currently.  So I started the chronograph at 8:00:00.  You get the added benefit of the chronograph second’s hand acting like a sweep second hand for either time zone too instead of it being stopped at 12 o’clock when you’re not running the chronograph (like it’s shown on the left pic). 

Just a fun little hack I figured out. 

I kept this perfect little tea cup

We had so many Sunday lunches at China Cottage with Steve and Janice so I kept this little cup to use and remind me of those fun memories.  The lid keeps your tea warm while it’s steeping and doubles as a coaster or place to rest your used tea bag while you’re drinking.