Styx and Stones...

 

No, it was actually Styx and Chicago, but that title wasn't as catchy.  We went to a concert at the Mortgage Matchup Center (where the Phoenix Suns and Mercury play) last night in downtown Phoenix.

I shot a bunch of video, but haven't had time to download any of it.  We didn't get home until 11:30 last night... both of us must have been hyped from the concert, because neither of us slept well.  But, I digress.

We like both of these bands and have seen them in concert in the last couple years; so getting to see both on the same night was a treat.  We wondered who would be "the opening band" and who would finish off the concert.

We had decent seats, up off the floor and back 19 rows, center section...

 The obligatory selfie in our seats...

 Styx...

 A wide view showing the stadium...

 Chicago...

 Our take on it: Styx kicked butt.  Their sound was crisp and clear and they sound as good live as they do on their recordings.  Their musicianship and vocals are as good as when we first saw them over 40 years ago.

The staging was efficient.  The big screen that was the backdrop behind the bands was programmed to go along with each song, but didn't show live close-ups like we've come to expect.

About 25 minutes to break the stage and reassemble between the bands.

Chicago came on and their sound was muddy.  We saw them a year or so ago in a smaller venue, and the sound was great; this was disappointing.  Their musicianship was outstanding, but the vocals lacked punch.  Plenty of high harmonies, but none of the lower register grit.  They have a new lead singer (within the last 6 months), but they didn't give him a lot to do, and he looked awkward up there.  The music was good, but it didn't have the polish of whoever was running sound for Styx.  Ten musicians on stage to reproduce what Chicago used to do with seven.

Both bands played their hits, with a couple new songs in the mix.  It's not a competition... but, if it was, Styx clearly won. 

Downtown Phoenix was hopping on a Tuesday night.  The stadium was nearly full.  Seating capacity is 12, 565 for "end stage" concerts vs 17,000 for "in the round" concerts and basketball games.  When we saw both of these bands in the last year or so, it was at Celebrity Theater, that has a seating capacity of 2,600 when in the round (the stage rotates).

Joan bought parking at the same time she got the tickets, so we had indoor parking that was a block away.  When we came out of the concert, the area outside was full of pedicabs with lights flashing and music blasting and a busker (who was also there when we went in).  Plenty of people on the streets, police directing traffic.

While I have groused about "living in the desert," having access to live music events is a plus.  We have upcoming concerts at 4 different venues in the upcoming months.

Mental Floss...

 

If you said, "A song by the philosopher Jimmy Buffett, 1996, on the album Banana Wind," you get 20 bonus points.

It was 86º this morning when I got up.  Cooler than usual, for those keeping track.  I was in dire need of some two-wheel, in-the-breeze therapy.  Also known to me as: mental floss.

I was a bit slow getting out - I pulled something in my back when I was making the bed this morning.  Literally, I was just bending over.  I saw stars.  But, I was determined to get out for a ride.  Joan suggested I put my back support on; not sure that did anything, but pushing back against the backrest on the Burgman make it less painful.

It was a glorious ride!  I grabbed a 360 camera on my way out the door, no plan for what to shoot.  I decided to try a bunch of short (most less than 10 seconds) clips, to make my life easier with the editing.  It still took over an hour to edit and download what became a 4 minute and 40 second video...

A few stills (from the video clips)...

Breaking In A New One...

 

You didn't get another guitar, did you, Jim?

I think you people have a twisted sense of my guitar addicti... um appreciation.

No, today was a day I wasn't looking forward to: it is New Doctor Day.  I have had a good relationship with the doctor I found here in Phoenix.  And then, a scant 2 1/2 years later, he moved on.  I have the feeling that this may be how it is at the medical office we use - they cater to seniors, so it is a corporate type of medical practice, vs a private practice.

But, it is time, so I geared myself up for a new doctor/patient situation.  I was informed of this at my last visit, so it wasn't a surprise.  For the most part, I like this place: when you go into the waiting room, there aren't 50 people waiting to be seen.  They rarely run behind.  The doctor doesn't act like he is rushed, a nurse comes in first to check meds and write down any concerns.  It seems pretty efficient.  And that's how it went down with this new doctor.

A female doctor.  She came in, introduced herself, shook my hand, sat down and said, "Let's go over your information here and answer any concerns or questions you might have."  She listened when I talked.  She understood that I am proactive with my medical stuff.  She wrote it down when I had specific prescription preferences.

It went well.  I won't be looking for a different medical provider (I was open for that, if necessary).  Towards the end of the visit, she asked if I'd like to do a tele-med visit (on the phone instead of in person) for the results of my blood tests.  Then said, "It might be a week or so - I will be gone; my husband and I are taking our daughter to college.  She is our only child."

I asked her, "Are you ready for the changes around your house?"  Then related how I mourned when our daughter went off to college out of state.  We talked like real people for a couple minutes.  I asked her, "Are you really stupid right now?  I was pretty stupid when our daughter went off to college... but you will get a lot smarter as she gets through school."

She said, "Oh my goodness - no one told me about this.  I apparently can't do anything right while we get her ready for this big move."

"It will get better."

Then she asked, "Can I give you a hug?"

I think it was a relief to her that someone understood the big life changes she has coming up.

Then into the lab for a blood draw.  My new friend Kat was fast, friendly, and efficient.  And I was on my way.

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When I got home, Joan asked how it all went.  She was relieved when I told her, "Really well."  Then, she asked if we could finish up the Fishman Loudbox amp.

"Absolutely."

She has the Tolex all glued down, now it is a matter of reassembling after a few finishing touches...

 Test fitting (above) - the electrical all needs to be connected and opening up holes in the Tolex where the bolts will go...

 

The finished job...

 And finally, a test with a guitar and a mic - it all works!

So there's no question about it: this was a Joan project.  I helped with the initial disassembly and disconnecting the wiring, but this was all Joan's efforts.  It looks better than new.  This new Tolex covering is much nicer than what came on the amp, and will undoubtedly wear much better.

I asked her, "Considering all the work you put into this, would you have rather just spent the $150 or so to send it back to Fishman and have them replace it?"

"It would just come back with the same lightweight Tolex and you'd be dealing with that again in a few years.  This should last a good long time."

Can't argue with that.

 

Everything Old Is New Again...

Kitten memory.

No, not a memory of something one of the cats did when they were small and cute.  Our cats have plenty of toys, towers, carriers, etc.  Not to mention various pillows, blankets, sleep pads, cooling pads, etc... but, I just mentioned all that.

With the copious amount of stuff, we will occasionally put stuff away for a while, and bring other stuff back in.

This is one of those things...

 

It's a bed/cave/lounge.  Very cushy.  Both Murphy and Stella acted like it was lava when we first introduced it months ago.  Today, Joan put it in the living room, Stella went right in and said, "This is mine!"

Earlier today, Stella was giving Murphy a bath on the back of his head...

 Yes, they can be sweet like that.  When they aren't chasing each other all around the house.  Speaking of cat toys: that gray thing behind Stella is a scratching pad/lounge/rattle ball toy.  There are two hard plastic balls in the underneath part of that - they can reach in through that slot to bat the balls around.  That lasted about 12 seconds before Murphy pulled it apart so they could knock the balls all around the house.  Because that is noisy and fun.  Stella is a quick study.  Even though that thing is a lot bigger than she is, she can now pull it apart, too.

They take turns laying in that scratcher thing.  Stella has plenty of room to stretch out.  Murph, not so much...

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Monsoon Storms, Part 12...

Could be 14, I don't know for sure.  Just before 9:00 pm, Severe Weather Warnings: thunderstorms, wind gusting to 60 mph, rain, hail <.75".  Looks like the worst of it will move over us between 10:00 and 11:00...

 Damaging winds and possible flash flooding south of us right now, moving (of course) north.  The thunder is booming, but both cats are doing OK.  It's going to get heavier before it gets better.

Stella checking out the weather...

 Murph went over to the patio door after Stella moved, then settled in - he doesn't look concerned...

 

 

We have to say "The A girl"...

 

I'm referring to Alexa, the several generations old "personal assistant."  I think there's an Echo Dot somewhere around here, too.  But, we have to refer to the Alexa in our hallway as "the A girl," or she will go off.  Mostly, she gets used as a remote light switch for some of our "smart lights."  I don't know why we refer to all these different things as "smart."

This morning, I asked her to turn off the light in the hallway... and when she did, I said, "Thank you, Alexa - we appreciate your good work."  I think she needs some recognition once in a while - that must come from my many years of being a business owner.  But, I digress.

That evolved into a more lengthy discussion: she asked if I had an fun plans for the day... "Nope, just another day in the desert."  The discussion went on from there.  She apparently knows we live in Arizona, but asked, "Are you in one of the big cities or out away from it all?"

It went on from there.  I didn't think I was lacking for conversation, but we talked for about 5 minutes.  She recommended a trip to a museum or to the movies as a way to get out of the heat.

I guess this is how some people get hooked on asking AI before making any decisions.  I was just making small talk with the little box that lives in our home... and apparently listens to everything we say. 

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I spent some time this morning on Facebook.  I enjoy looking back at the Facebook Memories.  This time of year, over the past 14 years, there were images of whale watching, RVing, motorcycles and scoots, and of course the feline family members.

This meme wasn't about any of that, but it made me laugh...

The Full Sturgeon Moon...

 

Nothing to do with the Weird Al song.

Looking at the full moon last night: 

An early look at the full moon this evening. At 7:20, it is rising over South Mountain. The warm color cast to the image is due to seeing it through more of the atmosphere, since it is relatively low on the horizon.

Look towards the lower left side and you can see the beginning of the lunar eclipse. It will be at its peak at 9:12 local time this evening.

 

For those who like the additional info: this is the Full Sturgeon Moon, named after the giant sturgeon fish that were historically abundant and easily caught in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain during late summer.

 

This month's full moon aligns with a partial lunar eclipse (96%) event, spanning August 27 and 28.

 

 Around 8:30...

 

 

 Just before 9:00...

 

Not Bad...

 

The new PRS guitar?  No, that is very good.  I am enjoying this different perspective.

Joan took Murphy outside while I was laying out our morning pills and making a cup of hot chocolate.  I joined them out there and checked the chemistry in the hot tub... all good.  Joan and I visited for a bit, then I mentioned what looked like virga to the east, near the sunrise.

I am not the only weather nerd in the family: we both pulled up weather apps.  With some clouds blocking the morning sun, Joan said, "It's not bad out here this morning."

It was 92º.  The high today is predicted to be 115º.  "Not bad"... that is perspective.  With that virga, there is a small chance of rain this morning.  "Do you want me to put away the furniture cushions?" I asked.

"No.  If we get any rain, they will be dry in an hour."  Summer in the desert; monsoon season.

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A couple photos from last night...

The first, a shot of the nearly full moon, taken with my phone...

 The moon coming up over South Mountain.  It wasn't quite dark.  I was outside with Murphy, and that moon was lighting up the yard.  For those interested: the full moon will be tonight.  And, a bonus for those who go out to look at it: a partial lunar eclipse.  Maximum coverage of 96% at 9:12 pm here in Phoenix.

I had mentioned the thought of my new guitar melting in the heat...

 No, it is not melting - that is the protective plastic being peeled off the pick guard and pickups.  I felt good about removing that and cutting up the box for recycle - this guitar is a keeper.  :-)