Archives for the ‘Blog Entries.Local’ Category

Sunday Dreary Sunday

Author: From https://chrisod.org • Apr 26th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

Sunday Dreary Sunday

After some much needed rain last night, the temps barely hit 50°F (10°C) today, with the wind making it feel much cooler. I have not left the house today. I haven't really left the computer. I had some much needed vacation research to do. I've booked a campsite for the Little World Series in August. 44 years after my playing days ended, I'm finally making it to the LLWS. We actually visited the museum and the ballpark a few years ago when passing through Williamsport, PA, on the way home from a camping trip. There are pictures, if you are into that sort of thing.

I also have our Florida birding trip this fall mostly sorted. One campground doesn't allow reservations earlier than 179 days before arrival, so I've got a note to do that on the appropriate day. It's a very popular campground on the water in Florida, so I figure it's 50/50 at best that I'll even get a site. The other three places we will be camping are all reserved. I really should buy a spotting scope before that trip. More research to do. More money to spend. If you have opinions on spotting scopes, feel free to share. The contact link is at the bottom of the page.

Yesterday I attended training to become qualified to do bird-friendly yard certifications for the Richmond Audubon Society. In doing the training, I learned I have some work to do with my tiny patch of yard before I can get it certified.

I picked up the new Drivin N Cryin album this week. It's a classic DnC album, mixing rock, country, folk, and punk into a sound that is uniquely theirs. Peter Buck of REM contributes on a couple of songs too, which not surprisingly, feature 80s college rock jangly guitars.

Speaking of music, I finished my review of the 1986 albums that I owned. Stay tuned for 1987, next year!

Only a couple of links this week, but I have finally fixed my link collecting workflow, so hopefully I'll save them more often in the future.

As a Purdue Boilermaker, it pains me to share anything positive about Notre Dame. But 100 years ago Notre Dame students literally beat the KKK out of town.

The average new car payment in the US is $806 a month. That is freaking insane. It also makes me feel a lot better about dropping $10K on repairs on our vehicle last year.

If you are a baseball nerd, this tabletop game looks fun. I'm going to download it and keep a copy in the camper for rainy afternoons.



Sunday Dreary Sunday

Author: From https://blog.odonnellweb.com • Apr 26th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

After some much needed rain last night, the temps barely hit 50°F (10°C) today, with the wind making it feel much cooler. I have not left the house today. I haven’t really left the computer. I had some much needed vacation research to do. I’ve booked a campsite for the Little World Series in August. 44 years after my playing days ended, I’m finally making it to the LLWS. We actually visited the museum and the ballpark a few years ago when passing through Williamsport, PA, on the way home from a camping trip. There are pictures, if you are into that sort of thing.

I also have our Florida birding trip this fall mostly sorted. One campground doesn’t allow reservations earlier than 179 days before arrival, so I’ve got a note to do that on the appropriate day. It’s a very popular campground on the water in Florida, so I figure it’s 50/50 at best that I’ll even get a site. The other three places we will be camping are all reserved. I really should buy a spotting scope before that trip. More research to do. More money to spend. If you have opinions on spotting scopes, feel free to share. The contact link is at the bottom of the page.

Yesterday I attended training to become qualified to do bird-friendly yard certifications for the Richmond Audubon Society. In doing the training, I learned I have some work to do with my tiny patch of yard before I can get it certified.

I picked up the new Drivin N Cryin album this week. It’s a classic DnC album, mixing rock, country, folk, and punk into a sound that is uniquely theirs. Peter Buck of REM contributes on a couple of songs too, which not surprisingly, feature 80s college rock jangly guitars.

Speaking of music, I finished my review of the 1986 albums that I owned. Stay tuned for 1987, next year!

Only a couple of links this week, but I have finally fixed my link collecting workflow, so hopefully I’ll save them more often in the future.

As a Purdue Boilermaker, it pains me to share anything positive about Notre Dame. But 100 years ago Notre Dame students literally beat the KKK out of town.

The average new car payment in the US is $806 a month. That is freaking insane. It also makes me feel a lot better about dropping $10K on repairs on our vehicle last year.

If you are a baseball nerd, this tabletop game looks fun. I’m going to download it and keep a copy in the camper for rainy afternoons.



Sunday Dreary Sunday

Author: From https://blog.odonnellweb.com • Apr 26th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

Sunday Dreary Sunday

After some much needed rain last night, the temps barely hit 50°F (10°C) today, with the wind making it feel much cooler. I have not left the house today. I haven't really left the computer. I had some much needed vacation research to do. I've booked a campsite for the Little World Series in August. 44 years after my playing days ended, I'm finally making it to the LLWS. We actually visited the museum and the ballpark a few years ago when passing through Williamsport, PA, on the way home from a camping trip. There are pictures, if you are into that sort of thing.

I also have our Florida birding trip this fall mostly sorted. One campground doesn't allow reservations earlier than 179 days before arrival, so I've got a note to do that on the appropriate day. It's a very popular campground on the water in Florida, so I figure it's 50/50 at best that I'll even get a site. The other three places we will be camping are all reserved. I really should buy a spotting scope before that trip. More research to do. More money to spend. If you have opinions on spotting scopes, feel free to share. The contact link is at the bottom of the page.

Yesterday I attended training to become qualified to do bird-friendly yard certifications for the Richmond Audubon Society. In doing the training, I learned I have some work to do with my tiny patch of yard before I can get it certified.

I picked up the new Drivin N Cryin album this week. It's a classic DnC album, mixing rock, country, folk, and punk into a sound that is uniquely theirs. Peter Buck of REM contributes on a couple of songs too, which not surprisingly, feature 80s college rock jangly guitars.

Speaking of music, I finished my review of the 1986 albums that I owned. Stay tuned for 1987, next year!

Only a couple of links this week, but I have finally fixed my link collecting workflow, so hopefully I'll save them more often in the future.

As a Purdue Boilermaker, it pains me to share anything positive about Notre Dame. But 100 years ago Notre Dame students literally beat the KKK out of town.

The average new car payment in the US is $806 a month. That is freaking insane. It also makes me feel a lot better about dropping $10K on repairs on our vehicle last year.

If you are a baseball nerd, this tabletop game looks fun. I'm going to download it and keep a copy in the camper for rainy afternoons.



Sunday Dreary Sunday

Author: From https://chrisod.weblog.lol • Apr 26th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

Sunday Dreary Sunday

After some much needed rain last night, the temps barely hit 50°F (10°C) today, with the wind making it feel much cooler. I have not left the house today. I haven't really left the computer. I had some much needed vacation research to do. I've booked a campsite for the Little World Series in August. 44 years after my playing days ended, I'm finally making it to the LLWS. We actually visited the museum and the ballpark a few years ago when passing through Williamsport, PA, on the way home from a camping trip. There are pictures, if you are into that sort of thing.

I also have our Florida birding trip this fall mostly sorted. One campground doesn't allow reservations earlier than 179 days before arrival, so I've got a note to do that on the appropriate day. It's a very popular campground on the water in Florida, so I figure it's 50/50 at best that I'll even get a site. The other three places we will be camping are all reserved. I really should buy a spotting scope before that trip. More research to do. More money to spend. If you have opinions on spotting scopes, feel free to share. The contact link is at the bottom of the page.

Yesterday I attended training to become qualified to do bird-friendly yard certifications for the Richmond Audubon Society. In doing the training, I learned I have some work to do with my tiny patch of yard before I can get it certified.

I picked up the new Drivin N Cryin album this week. It's a classic DnC album, mixing rock, country, folk, and punk into a sound that is uniquely theirs. Peter Buck of REM contributes on a couple of songs too, which not surprisingly, feature 80s college rock jangly guitars.

Speaking of music, I finished my review of the 1986 albums that I owned. Stay tuned for 1987, next year!

Only a couple of links this week, but I have finally fixed my link collecting workflow, so hopefully I'll save them more often in the future.

As a Purdue Boilermaker, it pains me to share anything positive about Notre Dame. But 100 years ago Notre Dame students literally beat the KKK out of town.

The average new car payment in the US is $806 a month. That is freaking insane. It also makes me feel a lot better about dropping $10K on repairs on our vehicle last year.

If you are a baseball nerd, this tabletop game looks fun. I'm going to download it and keep a copy in the camper for rainy afternoons.



I’ve been tweaking the CSS for the site

Author: From https://chrisod.org • Apr 24th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

I've been tweaking the CSS for the site

I've spent the morning tweaking CSS for the site. Please let me know if anything is off for you. It all appears to be fine on my desktop and phone.



I’ve been tweaking the CSS for the site

Author: From https://blog.odonnellweb.com • Apr 24th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

I've been tweaking the CSS for the site

I've spent the morning tweaking CSS for the site. Please let me know if anything is off for you. It all appears to be fine on my desktop and phone.



I’ve been tweaking the CSS for the site

Author: From https://chrisod.weblog.lol • Apr 24th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

I've been tweaking the CSS for the site

I've spent the morning tweaking CSS for the site. Please let me know if anything is off for you. It all appears to be fine on my desktop and phone.



Porchside Pairing: Crowned Heads Broadway and New Riff Single Barrel

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Apr 24th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
The end of the week brought delightful weather for sitting outside. On Thursday, I took advantage of it and enjoyed a couple of fine cigars in pleasant outdoor settings.

In the afternoon, I spent a few hours at Slow Burn Cigar Company, a new-to-me shop in Remington. (More on that in a future post.) It was such a nice day that I joined others on the outside porch rather than smoke in the lounge.

After dinner at home, I retired outside to the screened porch to enjoy a Crowned Heads Broadway. 



The Crowned Heads Broadway is a relatively new release from Crowned Heads. Coincidentally, it is the first cigar introduced under the company’s updated branding, with the logo displayed prominently on the primary band and a supplemental band identifying the specific line. I’ve had several of the 4 3/4 x 50 Robusto Extra vitola resting in the humidor for about four months.

The cigar features a dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. The remainder of the blend is Nicaraguan tobacco, incorporating leaf from the Estelí, Jalapa, and Ometepe regions in the filler. That combination creates a rich, savory smoke that opens with notes of espresso, dark cocoa, and black pepper. Occasional but fleeting hints of sweetness emerge throughout.

As the cigar progressed, the pepper intensified and the profile grew bolder. Medium-full bodied at the start, it moved solidly into full-bodied territory during the second half. The final puffs delivered a concentrated wave of black pepper and dark richness.

My original intention was to pour some New Riff Distilling Bottled in Bond with the cigar. When I set the bottle down after pouring, I realized I had grabbed the New Riff Single Barrel by mistake. That worked out just fine — perhaps even better.



New Riff Single Barrel is a high-rye bourbon, offering a pleasant rye-driven kick. This bottle is labeled at 110.3 proof — assertive, but not overwhelming. Rye spice dominates the nose, accompanied by cinnamon, brown sugar, and sweet fruit notes. There is a touch of proof-driven warmth on the palate, though not enough to warrant adding water. Caramel sweetness and dark fruit balance the spice, creating a robust sipping experience.

The pairing, though unintended, turned out to be especially fitting. The bold and spicy New Riff stood up well to the richness of the Broadway, particularly as the cigar’s pepper and espresso notes intensified toward the finish.

As I smoked and sipped, I put on music from the 1960s and ’70s rock band Traffic in honor of the recent passing of founding member Dave Mason. The music stirred a wave of nostalgia and reflection.

The cigar and bourbon, combined with the spring weather and good music, created a serene and relaxing atmosphere — just the right way to get an early start on the weekend.

Cheers!


Porchside Pairing: Crowned Heads Broadway and New Riff Single Barrel

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Apr 24th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
The end of the week brought delightful weather for sitting outside. On Thursday, I took advantage of it and enjoyed a couple of fine cigars in pleasant outdoor settings.

In the afternoon, I spent a few hours at Slow Burn Cigar Company, a new-to-me shop in Remington. (More on that in a future post.) It was such a nice day that I joined others on the outside porch rather than smoke in the lounge.

After dinner at home, I retired outside to the screened porch to enjoy a Crowned Heads Broadway. 



The Crowned Heads Broadway is a relatively new release from Crowned Heads. Coincidentally, it is the first cigar introduced under the company’s updated branding, with the logo displayed prominently on the primary band and a supplemental band identifying the specific line. I’ve had several of the 4 3/4 x 50 Robusto Extra vitola resting in the humidor for about four months.

The cigar features a dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. The remainder of the blend is Nicaraguan tobacco, incorporating leaf from the Estelí, Jalapa, and Ometepe regions in the filler. That combination creates a rich, savory smoke that opens with notes of espresso, dark cocoa, and black pepper. Occasional but fleeting hints of sweetness emerge throughout.

As the cigar progressed, the pepper intensified and the profile grew bolder. Medium-full bodied at the start, it moved solidly into full-bodied territory during the second half. The final puffs delivered a concentrated wave of black pepper and dark richness.

My original intention was to pour some New Riff Distilling Bottled in Bond with the cigar. When I set the bottle down after pouring, I realized I had grabbed the New Riff Single Barrel by mistake. That worked out just fine — perhaps even better.



New Riff Single Barrel is a high-rye bourbon, offering a pleasant rye-driven kick. This bottle is labeled at 110.3 proof — assertive, but not overwhelming. Rye spice dominates the nose, accompanied by cinnamon, brown sugar, and sweet fruit notes. There is a touch of proof-driven warmth on the palate, though not enough to warrant adding water. Caramel sweetness and dark fruit balance the spice, creating a robust sipping experience.

The pairing, though unintended, turned out to be especially fitting. The bold and spicy New Riff stood up well to the richness of the Broadway, particularly as the cigar’s pepper and espresso notes intensified toward the finish.

As I smoked and sipped, I put on music from the 1960s and ’70s rock band Traffic in honor of the recent passing of founding member Dave Mason. The music stirred a wave of nostalgia and reflection.

The cigar and bourbon, combined with the spring weather and good music, created a serene and relaxing atmosphere — just the right way to get an early start on the weekend.

Cheers!


Q1 Books

Author: From https://chrisod.org • Apr 23rd, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

Q1 Books

I keep the list of books I read at the books link above. Here are the highlights from the first quarter of 2026.

The Society of Unknowable Objects: This follow up to The Book of Doors mostly delivers.

Life After Cars: A depressing look at all the ways cars ruin everything, with some hopeful examples of places getting it right.

Automatic Noodle: This story of robots running a bakery in late, late stage capitalism is just delightful.

Dungeon Crawler Carl: Answers the question, what if aliens destroyed humanity to turn the planet into a D&D version of The Running Man that is broadcast to a universe-wide audience? And there is a talking cat. #TeamPrincessDonut

Carl's Doomsday Scenario: Book two in the series is even better. They are on level three of the earth dungeon, and shit is getting real.