Take A Stand...

 

Umm... the election was last week, Jim.

Not that kind of stand.  One of the Hip Replacement gigs a few weeks ago was in a place where there was a 2-story open, atrium type design.  Looks nice, not great for the acoustics.  An amp stand that would allow me to tilt the amp back... surprisingly (to me), Mark had an extra amp stand.  It makes a difference in being able to hear the amp better and give it a better spread.

I decided to add an amp stand to my gear.  Because I don't have enough stuff to carry.  (humor)  Last Friday at Allan's, I used one of his amps, on a stand.  That cinched it for me.  I have some "rewards" money at Musician's Friend - enough that would pay for a stand.  Almost like "free."

I looked at a bunch of different amp stands; considered a set of Fender tilt-back legs.  I like the idea of those, but I was thinking something that would get the amp up off the floor, and have some adjustability in the angle of the tilt.  I decided on one that is built similar to a tripod leg mic stand; and, I can use it on any of my amps.

It came in yesterday while I was at rehearsal.  Here is how it looks with the amp on a stand...

 Very sturdy, adjustable angle.  This will be good on Saturday's gig, if we are able to play outside (the weather is looking a bit iffy right now).

On another inexpensive gear front: while out for lunch today, we weren't too far from a Guitar Center.  I have been using "boutique" guitar pics.  They make a difference on my acoustic guitars, but I don't hear any difference on my electric guitars.  We stopped at Guitar Center and I picked up a 12-pack of Fender Heavy pics.  $8.  Yes, I am almost thrifty.  ;-)

 I like this particular Guitar Center.  (in Tempe)

I Believe In Music...

 

If you said, "Mac Davis, 1971, from the album of the same name," you get 20 bonus points.  If you asked, "Who's Mac Davis?" - get off my lawn ya damn whippersnapper.

Music today at Mark's; rehearsal for the Hip Replacements.  We have two gigs this weekend: Saturday is an outdoor performance at Banner Health downtown; it is a Spotlight on Alzheimer's event, the public is welcome.  Right now, there is a 30% chance of rain for Saturday, so we'll see if it goes off as planned.  We did this event last year and wound up playing inside, thanks to a pounding rain.  They are planning for 25 vendors to be set up - the vendor portion was cancelled last year due to the rain.

On Sunday the 15th, we have our last gig of the year at Pizzicata - Happy Hour again, 3:00 to 5:00.

Last gig of the year?  Yeah; Mark goes in for another back surgery on the 17th.  He is anticipating a longer recovery time on this one.  So, nothing else scheduled for a while.

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A good rehearsal today - we nailed down things for both gigs this weekend.  Set lists are ready.  Ron surprised us with some new percussion items today...

 And one you can't see: a nice seat pad for the cajon.  The snare adds a lot, and allows Ron to play in a more upright position.  A good addition.

 

Another Morning Ride...

 

Ebike today, rather than a motorized conveyance.  Another beautiful morning; it was 70º when I left the house.  For all the grousing I do about the summer heat, this time of year is pretty darn nice (just wish it lasted longer).  As the northland moves towards being "the frozen northland," the autumn days here are welcome.

I have a bit of a "route," that takes me through a large city park, then south and west through another neighborhood.  This keeps me away from the majority of the traffic.

 Photos taken with my Oakley Vanguard Meta glasses.

 

X Max the Spot...

 

Yes, I took the weekend off.  No blog post here for 2 whole days.  Everything is fine here, thanks for asking.  Joan's fine, I'm fine, the cats are fine.  "The neighbors" are fine.  We're all fine.

No, that title isn't a typo.  I took Joan's Xmax out this morning.  I'll say it again: that is a fun scoot; faster than my Burgman, more nimble than my CTX.

 A glorious morning.  Sunshine and bright blue sky.  Comfortably cool.  I left the house just after 9:15, so there was almost no traffic on the surface streets.  Even less on the mountain.  

The scoot...

 The happy rider...

 Great way to start the day!

Music at Allan's today...

 

This is not the Hip Replacements, or the Brothers MIM.  I call this group "the Allan Lindsay Project," or "the local guys."  (3 of us are within 5 minutes of each other.)

Some background on this - we would generally get together every other week.  Allan's wife Carole, was suffering from a terminal illness, and it has been a couple months since we've gotten together to jam.  Allan's wife passed about two weeks ago... and he invited us guys to his place today to make some music.

The mood was not jovial, as you'd expect, but I think each of us wanted to be there for Allan.  We made some music.  I took a few photos...

Allan above, Bob below...

Joe above, Tony below...

Yours truly making a selfie...

 While taking a break, I offered Bob a try with my PRS...

 Bob also plays guitar.

This is a good bunch of guys.  The music is not my style, but it's another circle of friends.  I think I speak for all the guys in that this was being there for Allan.

 

 

The Little One...

 

Talking about Stella?  Well, she is "the little one," but I'm talking about the new, more portable catio.  Both of the cats are good with it, but Stella seems to think she is "camping" when in it...

 That is her long, lean, jungle cat look above.  She is good in it in the house, or outside...

 That will be good when we're in the van.  A lot going on right now, so who knows when we'll get out in the van next.  Murphy, being the big boy he is, gets to be out without a leash in our yard...

 Yes, that is a bit blurry - it was early morning, just before the sun came over the mountain, and he was moving right along.

This evening, I have been entrusted with taking care of the new Guide Dog puppy, Natty (Natalia).  She is young enough that she needs frequent "potty breaks."  After giving her a kong (a hard rubber container that you put food in and freeze it), we went outside for one of those p-breaks.  She goes on command.  It is part of her training.  I have to say that I am impressed with how advanced she is for her young age (just 4 months old) - she walks great on the leash, knows basic commands, and seems to take joy in doing good.

She is the puppy of one of the Guide Dogs that Steph and Dan trained that is in the breeding program.  Good genetics.

With Steph and Dan out for the evening, I sat on the couch and played some mellow acoustic music for their cats and Natty.  An attentive audience.

I didn't take my phone with me for this, but here is a photo of Natty taken not too long ago...

 Yeah, that was for Halloween - Natty was a Wendy's soft drink cup.  She quite patient, too.

 

A Blue Tsunami?

 

I generally keep politics out of this blog.  Well, other than to say "Vote for none of the above."

I don't think the results of this election show that the country favors the democrats - I see this as a "mandate" that people are fed up with their elected officials.  Both sides.  Will it change things?  We can hope, but I don't have a lot of faith in the political system.

Something needs to change.  People are tired of the rancor.  They are tired of politicians who think things are good as long as "their side wins."  It shouldn't be about beating the other side, it should always be about doing what is right for the American public.  High gas prices are not good for people who are working to get by.  Nor ever-increasing food prices.  People are fed up.  And this election is a sign of that.

Will the President "get it"?  I doubt it.  Will the legislators?  Not if they think a win in this election is for "more of the same, but now for the other side."

A change is long over-due. 

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Music today with the Brothers MIM (the big group); 6 of us there: Mark, Ron, Danny, Gil, Carl, and me.  A good time making music.  We took turns picking what song to play.  We're a bit heavy on guitar: 4 guitars, 1 bass, 1 percussion.   Good friends.