Author: <span>Ron Charest</span>

So Much For An Experiment…2007 Eton Moped
Published September 9, 2007 by

So Much For An Experiment…

Last month Winnie and I undertook an experiment in low-tech commuting by purchasing a moped. Our thought was to use the moped for around-town transportation. It seemed ideally suited for getting me the 2.4 miles to my commuter bus stop each day. It was fuel efficient, low maintenance, and even a lot of fun driving. So, in the nearly one month we experimented with it, it did fine.

However, we ran into a snag. Friday, during the day while it was parked at the commuter lot, someone stole it. So much for our experiment.

Continue…So Much For An Experiment…

Family Stories

Commuting Dale City Eton Moped

Published September 5, 2007 by

This and That…

…the First Posting of September

This And That
This And That

Frequent readers may have noticed my news posts have been light these past few weeks.  The reason is one that may shock people who read a lot of newspaper columnists and blogs.  The shocking, heart-wrenching God’s-Honest truth as to why I haven’t written much lately is – I haven’t had much to write about.

There, you read it here first.  A writer not writing when there is nothing to write about.

Continue…This and That…

Family Stories

home improvement Moped Sea Dreams This and That

Published August 29, 2007 by

Katrina Two Years After

Satellite Photo - Hurricane Katrina
Satellite Photo – Hurricane Katrina

Today is the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It’s two years after what is now being called the greatest natural disaster to ever hit the U.S.

While Winnie and I were among the lucky ones, August 29, 2005 was still traumatic. In fact, I can honestly state it’s taken this long for me to personally sort things out and take stock of how our lives have changed these past two years.

Continue…Katrina Two Years After

Hurricane Katrina Diaries

farmingdale gautier hurricane Katrina mississippi mississippi gulf coast recovery survival

Our New Wheels2007 Eton Moped
Published August 12, 2007 by

Our New Wheels

…an Experiment in Low-Tech Commuting

Winnie and I purchased a new set of wheels yesterday. After several months of discussion we finally decided to try something different than the two-car family routine. We bought ourselves a 50cc Moped.

Continue…Our New Wheels

Family Stories

Commuting Eton Moped

Published July 18, 2007 by

The DMV Wars are Over!

Commonwealth of Virginia
Commonwealth of Virginia

Well, it’s over.  After seven trips to the local DMV office, two letters to the Governor of Virginia, one letter to the DMV Commissioner, and three phone calls to the DMV office of Identification Review Service, Winnie has a driver’s license good for five years, in her married name, and with our current address.

Once again I’m left wondering:  Why was that so difficult?

Continue…The DMV Wars are Over!

Opinions & Commentary

Dale City DMV immigration Politics

Published July 17, 2007 by

My Letter To the Editor – Published!

Letters To The Editor
Letters To The Editor

The Friday before going on vacation, June 29, I read a column in our local   “Potomac News” that irked me more than normal.  I read the Potomac News every day on my morning bus commute, and I can only state how shocked I am at the tone of local editorials and Letters to The Editor (LTE).  “Hateful” and “bigoted” are two words that come to mind in my daily readings. “Willful ignorance” is a term I frequently think of.   But columnist Ken Concannon, who pretends he is a “fair and balanced writer”, really annoys me.

Even against the background of ignorance, hatefulness, and bigotry, Mr. Concannon’s column of June 29 “Some commentary on Nazis and socialism” got me angry.

Continue…My Letter To the Editor – Published!

Opinions & Commentary

Commentary Concannon Letters To The Editor LTE Potomac News

Published July 16, 2007 by

Back From Vacation, Back to Work – New England

Car Travel Cartoon
Car Travel

Our vacation trip continues with visiting family in New England.

Aunt Terry was vacationing in Cape Cod until noon Thursday. It was only a planned 3 and a half hour trip from Mom’s house, so we weren’t in a rush to get there. We made good time driving until we got off the freeway in Worcester, Massachusetts, about 15 miles from Aunt Terry. After that, we still made good time driving except we were driving around in circles.

Continue…Back From Vacation, Back to Work – New England

Family Stories

Aunt Claire Aunt Terry rhode island Richard Herteau Uncle George Uncle Leo

Published July 16, 2007 by

Back From Vacation, Back to Work – New York

Car Travel Cartoon
Car Travel

Winnie and I successfully completed a week’s worth of traveling, visiting family, and sight seeing. We returned home late Saturday evening, July 7, after a 13 hour trip from Massachusetts. It was a really nice week, but also more tiring than I expected. It’s taken until now for me to feel rested again, ready to get back into the old routine.

Or perhaps, it’s really that I haven’t wanted to get back into the old routine again…

Continue…Back From Vacation, Back to Work – New York

Family Stories

Aunt Joan Hayden farmingdale long island Mom's House new york

Published July 2, 2007 by

On Vacation!

Ron Charest announces a vacation trip to the Northeastern US to visit with family. It would be the first time his wife Weifang would be meeting the family.

Continue…On Vacation!

Family Stories

Family vacation

Published June 26, 2007 by

DMV Wars Part Duex

Commonwealth of Virginia
Commonwealth of Virginia

As many of our frequent visitors (visitors => More Than Two) may remember, back in December and January I posted about a problem with our local DMV.  It seemed that the various DMV officials were making stuff up in increasingly new and original ways, to prevent Winnie from obtaining her driver’s license (and by default, proof of Virginia residency).  My breaking point was when, on our fifth trip over a period of 7 weeks, they denied her license on basis that she could not prove how she made the jump from her maiden name “Wei Fang Li” to married name “Wei Fang Li Charest.”

Continue…DMV Wars Part Duex

Opinions & Commentary

DMV Driver's License Governor immigration Politics virginia