It's been a while since Joan and I got out together on our scoots. I've ridden, she's ridden, just couldn't make the scheduling work for both of us to get out at the same time. Yesterday was a treat: fun ride, gorgeous weather. I grabbed a 360 camera at the last minute to get some video of the occasion. Once home and the video edited, I added a voice over, comparing and contrasting Joan's Yamaha Xmax 300 and my Suzuki Burgman 200..
If you said, "A fluke is the two lobed horizontal tail fin used by whales for propulsion," you are technically correct. It's not music or movie trivia, so no bonus points. If you said, "An accidental, lucky, or unexpected occurrence that happens by luck rather than skill," you are on-topic for today's post.
Murphy sometimes comes to my chair, stands on his back legs, and wants to play. Last night he did that... I held up my hand and said, "Give me five," and he smacked his paw (no claws out) on the palm of my hand. Joan saw it - no photo, but you can trust that it actually happened: verification by spousal unit will hold up in a court of law. That is a legal fact that I just made up.
We were both delighted with that fluke. Murphy is not trained to "give me five." But I will carry that moment in my mind and heart for a very long time.
Stella is different with Joan: she will climb up on her and lay her head against Joan's neck or chest. Joan will pick up Murphy and give him hugs and kisses - he pretends like he doesn't like that. ;-)
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After Murphy got his morning outdoor time, he settled on the chair we put in front of the patio door so he can look out. Stella joined him...
I like having some kind of sound while I'm sleeping: a podcast, sleep music, white noise, the TV. Over the years, I have used a variety of headbands with speakers built into them - I get the sounds, Joan doesn't hear it. Last year, I tried some SoundCore A20 sleepbuds...
But wait! SoundCore has a newer model: the A30 Special. And you can buy a 2 year warranty. Because, as Joan said: "I don't think any of these things you have bought have held up more than a year." That's based on a bunch of the headband things over the years.
I generally like to listen to spoken word, as in a podcast. If I listen to music while trying to sleep, I find myself "groovin' to the music." I can't use the TV because of the light. So, I pull up stuff on my iPad Mini and blue tooth that to the sleepbuds or headband.
For the record, this isn't a new thing for me. When I was a kid, I had a clock radio (remember those?) that I would have on overnight. Without some noise, I can hear my own heartbeat at night.
Joan just placed an order for me on Amazon. Back to the old-school headband tonight.
A little late with the Artemis 2 stuff, Jim? No, this was for a SpaceX launch to put some more Starlink satellites into low orbit. The launch was scheduled for last night. We kept an eye on it online. Launching out of Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the bearing of any particular flight might take it where those of us in Phoenix can see it as it flies over. Generally, 1 to 5 minutes after launch. Yes, it is moving right along after launch.
Keeping an eye on the launch online...
After 5 minutes, Joan went back inside to check her iPad; came out and reported, "It already landed." That would be the booster that separates and comes back to land on a platform in the Pacific. The trajectory on this one was more south than southeast, so not visible in Phoenix.
Here's what it sometimes looks like (photo from an earlier launch) when we can see it...
"Are we talking about your age, Jim?" Funny. Not.
I'm talking specifically about the Compsognathus dinosaurs. You may have heard them referred to as "Compys" in the Jurassic Park series of movies. They look like this...
"Thanks for the (pre)history lesson, Jim - what does this have to do with anything?" Thanks for asking. Seems that one of us (and it was Joan) thinks that Stella looks like a Compy. She has long back legs and is fast. And, at times, will stand on her back legs.
I guess that makes Murphy a Saber Tooth Tiger (AKA Smilodon)...
When they are in the middle of a zoomies event, it can feel like we are caught in a Jurassic Park movie.
Like 4 guitars around the campfire? No, but thanks for asking. Last night at the Phoenix Art Museum, we saw a "Candlelight Concert" with the string quartet Listeso. Excellent musicianship. Two violins, a viola, and a cello. Surrounded by candles (electric) covering the stage floor, except where the musicians were standing/sitting.
Have you gone all classical on us, Jim? Nope. This concert was a tribute to The Beatles and Queen. The "set list"...
A nice evening out. Old folks bonus: we were home before 8:30. ;-)
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Our little girl is growing up. Your daughter Stephanie? No, she is nearing retirement. I'm talking about Stella...
"I can't imagine that." I weighed her: 7.2 pounds. That is a bit more than 50% bigger than she was when we first brought her home (4 1/2 pounds). And very close to half of what Murphy weighs. For the record, she has been with us about 3 1/2 months, making her 8 1/2 months old. She has more growing to do, but we are so pleased that she has put on some weight. Good nutrition, plenty of exercise, and an abundance of love - she is secure in her place in the family. She has a fun personality. And most importantly: she likes being where we are and she is becoming snuggly... she likes to sit on Joan's lap, resting her head on Joan's chest. She gives me "nose-to-nose touches" - I am very fond of that. She is playful with Murphy.
It's all going according to our plans and best hopes.
Yeah, when someone says that something "is good for you," it rarely feels that way.
Yesterday, Joan said, "I think Stella has been good for Murphy." Murph might not feel the same way if you ask him. That said, he is certainly getting more exercise since we adopted Stella into the family.
This morning, while I was getting their food ready, there was a raucous game of "chase and tag" happening up and down the hallway and all around the living room. Murphy would chase Stella - tag... then he'd turn and run and she would chase him. They both seem to like it.
I've often heard people say that it's good to have two cats so they can keep each other company. I can say for sure that Murphy doesn't have much time to get bored these days. So, maybe Joan is right: I'm hoping they are good for each other. I enjoy seeing them play.
The know how to chill, too. Murphy on his back...
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I can tell you what is good for me: getting out for a ride. Between being under the weather for a couple weeks, then a busy schedule this past week, I haven't been able to get out for a ride on the CTX. I took care of that today. After getting our two cats their second meal, I geared up, checked tires and oil, and got out for some "wind therapy."
Being a Sunday, it wasn't the usual light traffic on the fun roads - plenty of "Sunday drivers." Easy to see the origin of that phrase. ;-) But, it was a thin overcast and temps in the low 80s - cooler than we've seen in a while.
The CTX is a fun bike. I am a BIG fan of the dual clutch transmission. Some riders don't like it... I think it may be because they don't understand its best function. With the bike in Sport Mode, it runs as you might expect: rather sportingly. With the bike in Drive Mode, it is kind of uninspiring; it tries to shift to the highest gear as soon as possible. I might even say: a bit of a slug. But, you can shift the gears manually at any time by using the paddle shifters (like an F1 race car). Most motorcyclists would tell you that they downshift just before they come into a tight curve. And that's why some riders don't care for the DCT: "It can't anticipate when you want to downshift."
DUH. No transmission can anticipate for what the rider can see ahead - the rider needs to shift as necessary... and that's why you can manually down (or up) shift a bike with DCT. Just like you would manually downshift any bike with a manual transmission in that situation.
Going up the mountain, I manually downshifted twice. In that whole run up the mountain. That's how good the DCT is. Yes, I had to downshift more often than that as I came down the mountain - again, just like you would with a manual transmission. At some point, as you slow down with the brakes, you will want to downshift to be in the best powerband for the situation. The DCT lets you do that. Certainly better than the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) in a scooter.
This transmission, combined with the strong low-end torque, and the riding position is why I consider the CTX to be a "sport cruiser." I like it!
