Like a shot...

Not talking about how fast I am on my scooter.  ;-)

We got flu shots today.  It's that special time of year.  You know because you go into Walmart and they have Halloween candy, Thanksgiving turkeys, and Christmas decorations all on display.  And, for those of us at the coast: 98¢ flip-flops marked down to 25¢.

We are now 48 hours into this c-c-cold front.  Never got above 63º today, and now the rain is starting.  On the bright side, it should pass in about 10 to 12 days.  I'm kidding... more like 11 days.  This is the equivalence of our winter; we went right from hotter than usual into the first norther (which is about a month and a half earlier than typical).  What happened to fall?

The forecast for rain here on the coast is over 5" for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

I may need another shot to get through this.  Rum.

;-)

More of the same...

Weather, that is...

The chilly stuff looks to be around for a couple days, then a long wet period as the temps rebound.  Definitely an early season norther.

We spent a quiet day mostly around the house.  Lunch out for some comfort food - it's Texas, so there was some chicken frying involved.

A special day for one of us.  There was cake involved.

:-)

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On the guitar front: a week now with the new X10.  I am SO enjoying this guitar.  It has some unique pickups on it - a humbucking pickup at the base of the fretboard that is usually thought of on an electric guitar; and a piezo pickup (for the acoustic sound) with six individual adjustable saddles.  The two pickups are wired together so they are controllable on the guitar - two dials and a 3-way switch... which allows for all of one pickup or the other and a blending of the two.

With a typical guitar cord, you can use either pickup or a blend.  With a TRS (tip, ring, sleeve) to a Y-cord, you can run the electric pickup to an electric amp, and the acoustic pickup to an acoustic amp.  AND a blend of the two.  I spent some time today with that Y-cord and the amps... an incredible range of tones.  Easy to make it sound like an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar playing together.

This set up is another unique option, available at this time on a carbon fiber guitar, only from Emerald.  The more time I spend with this guitar, the more I like it!

Yes, I played for Joan today.

Pretty impressive...

I have been known to throw some shade towards the weather weasels.  No, really??  Yes, really.

The weasels have been predicting an "early season cold front" to be blowing in this afternoon.  "Around 3:00" to be specific.

I figured we'd have time for a boat cruise, if we got out before noon.  It was warm and humid when I took the cover off the boat... yeah, that same cover I had put on because of the predicted crapola weather coming in.

Heading out...

The dredge was not in the way.  It hasn't moved (or worked) since they moved it INTO the way and then out of the way.  But, I digress.  An osprey watching us as we chugged down the canal...

Here is a sure sign that weather is predicted to impact us from the north...

Those boats are all tied to the seawall along the ICW at South Point Marina.  Their usual docks put them at quite an exposure from north winds.  Tied here, they have some protection.

Looking towards the turning basin...

In that photo above, you can see a large cargo ship (well, bits of it) in the background, moving down the ship channel.  Some birds flying around the bait shrimper and the Gulf shrimper...

And then, the first view of dolphins...

Coming by the boat...

In that photo above, that one went right under the boat.

Joan said, "We aren't going to see you for a while - let's see your pretty face!"

A nice viewing...

We cruised around a bit more, always keeping an eye to the north.  Just nice to be out and about, knowing that it may be a while before we get to do this again.

Heading back towards home, we got another "good-bye viewing"...

And, some fine looking pelicans...

A Great Blue Heron...

Back at our dock before 2:00, I cleaned the boat and put the cover back on.  Still hot and humid, but not particularly threatening looking.  Coming into the house, this little furry fellow was happy to see me...

Yeah, that's "an angle" and a lot of fur - the boy is not that... um, thick.

At 2:54, we heard the first gust, when a broom that was standing on our deck fell over.  Yep, here it comes - a cool north wind!  The temperature dropped almost 20º in about 40 minutes.  The humidity dropped, then started climbing again.  I went out to check the boat - it's tied off good, but that wind has a bite to it.  Yes, I know that is relative.  Places in the northland are getting snow, we may see a few days in the 60s.  It will be a nice change of pace... as long as it doesn't stick around too long.

Credit due: the weather folks got it right on today.  Of course, they were tracking it across the Valley (Rio Grande Valley) as the front moved in from the northwest.

3:51 and the temperature is 68º.  Wind is out of the northwest at 26mph gusting to 32.  Glad to have gotten out on the scoot and the boat today.  And... dolphins!

:-)

Pumpkin patch...

I was out for a ride on the scoot today.  It has been a few days, and I have really missed riding.  Warm and humid (85º 85% humidity), but it still felt good to be out on the Vespa.

The weather weasels are calling for thunderstorms everyday for the next ten days.  The percentage varies, but it doesn't look promising for scooting or boating for a while.  I figured I better get out while I can.  And while it probably isn't going to rain all the time the next ten days, I don't want to be riding with wet streets and big puddles (the drainage here isn't great), because: black scooter = a lot of work to clean up.

I took a moment to check the scooter forum to see what the current tag might be... your scooter by a pumpkin patch.  Can't say that I've seen a pumpkin patch anywhere around this area.  But, the city has put up a few decorations in the large grass and palm tree lined median on our main road through town... I zipped around by there, and...

Closest thing we have to a pumpkin patch.

I had to stop on that main road, but I slid into a turn lane, with no traffic around, to get the photo.  And wouldn't you know it, a police car pulled up to the stop sign on the side street less than a block away.  It paused for a moment, then turned on their lights.  You know "that feeling" you get when you see the flashing lights?  Yeah, I got that.  The police car then pulled quickly onto the main road and drove away the other direction.  Whew!

Is there a police code for: scooter parked on the roadway while the rider photographs a pumpkin patch? 

Is there a police code for: scooter parked on the roadway while the rider photographs a pumpkin patch?

Is there a police code for: scooter parked on the roadway while the rider photographs a pumpkin patch? 

;-)

A day of rest...

Forecast to be a windy day here in the Tropical Tip.

We met friends Mike and M.J. for brunch at Marcello's Italian Restaurant.  No, not spaghetti for brunch, but a special breakfast(ish) menu.  M.J. had a crab benedict with some kind of lobster sauce on it...

She said it was tasty... I'm taking her word for it.  Chicken and waffles for me (nothing fishy smelling about that).

When we got back home, Rufus was napping on his favorite toy...

I sent Steph this photo - she said, "Pretty sure that's not the way you're supposed to play with that toy."

Rufus can play with it any way he wants.  'Cause he's my boy.

When I decided to take an afternoon nap, he joined me...

Joan took this... Rufus and I slept through it.

At 5:00, the wind was down to 16mph - if I didn't have the cover on the boat, I probably would have taken it out for a sunset cruise.  Or, just enjoy the nap.  Either is good.

A day of rest.