Education...

 

Learnin' is good.  No, I don't know who said that, so no bonus points.  We're just friends visiting.

This morning (7:00am to be precise), the HOA board vice president and I met with landscaping companies.  Clarifying some things in their bids, clearly stating concerns and expectations of the homeowners, and listening to their best pitch.

I got an education.  No, I am not ready to move into the fast-paced, high-paying world of being an arborist.  But, I know a lot more about desert plants, native and non-native plant species, watering needs, irrigation procedures, trimming, SLM (sustainable landscaping management)... the whens, whys, and why nots of various trimming schedules.

Homeowners see some trees in front of their homes and feel "something needs to be trimmed"... not everyone in this community is from Arizona.  What works in the northern Midwest or California, isn't what you should plant in the desert.  But, people like what they know.  He pointed to South Mountain and said, "If it isn't growing naturally up there, it is going to take more work, water, fertilizer, and money to make it grow here.  And that's what we deal with.  The developer had a contractor plant things in the development that shouldn't be here.  And now we get to deal with."

To their credit, each company offered to hold an educational session for homeowners.  No doubt that would help the homeowners learn how to better care for their own plants... but I see the potential for a lot of slings and arrows directed their way.

Unfortunately, we can't have the whole board in on sessions like this because of Open Meeting Laws.  So, that means that the two of us who were there will be making recommendations.  Each board member had access to the well-over-150 pages of bid information.  I learned a lot more about landscaping in these meetings as opposed to looking only at bids.

Apparently, there was some lack of understanding about the purpose of these vendor meetings this morning by some who were not involved, with some thinking it was an opportunity to complain to a landscaper about "this tree or that bush."  More misinformation for me to deal with after the fact.  The main thing I learned: each of these companies

On the bright side, things seem to have cooled on some of the other issues that were discussed in the Town Hall Meeting last week.  More budget stuff to deal with as the time to get things nailed down is coming up fast.

Yep... learnin'.  Old dog, new tricks.  I got into this because I wanted to be a good neighbor and try to give back to this community.  My buddy Mark cautioned me: "Be careful what you wish for..."

  

A "Me" Day...

 

"Aren't all your days "Me" days, Jim?"  Oh, if only that were true.  Yesterday was supposed to have nothing on the schedule.  The first call came in before 8:00, from our account manager at the management company.  Yep, HOA stuff to deal with.  That led to 3 more hours of phone calls.  Yeah, I was about to clean up when that first call came in.

I was able to get into the hot tub around 6:30am (before the calls) - it was relaxing.  It was too hot last night to even think about taking a soak.  Hot?  Yeah, 114º on Tuesday, 117º on Wednesday, and 118º predicted on Thursday.

Between 11:00 and noon, I was able to work on a set-list for the upcoming gig with Mark and Podge.  There are considerations to that: you want the music to flow, but we need to take into consideration guitar changes for Mark.  So, we'll run through that to see how it feels.

Joan and I got out for lunch at In and Out Burger, home at 1:20, then more HOA phone calls and dealing with a "Facebook shit stirrer" who just delights in trying to turn people against the board, and is happy to use misdirection and outright lies in his attempts.  Our policy is generally "don't feed the trolls" on social media.  He reminds me of a former competitor of mine who said, "Love me or hate me - just don't ignore me."  My style is more: "let's work together to get things done."

This was the theme for the rest of the day: I didn't get back to our house until just after 7:00pm; except a break around 5:00 to get kitties fed.  A lite supper for the humans, take Murphy out for some hot patio time (still 105º after the sun went down).  Then spend some time with Steph and Dan's furry kids until their bed-time.

First time in years I had to plug my phone in during the day - it got a lot of use on Tuesday.  

The neighbor "kids" while I was cleaning dishes this morning so I could prepare their food...

 

"Hurry up, Grandpa!" (all three in unison).

"Chill, my little fur babies, this all takes time."  Still not as whiny as the shit stirrer.

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Music with Mark and Podge today.  We will get one more rehearsal in before we play out.  Something goofy with my pedalboard and amp combination, making some odd noises.  I just bypassed the pedalboard so we didn't lose any rehearsal time.  I will get it figured out in the next couple days.

In the words of the philosopher Rosanna Rosannadanna: "It just goes to show you, it's always something."  ;-)

 

Incident Reports...

 

"What did you do now, Jim?"  Thanks for asking.  I didn't do nuthin' - you can't prove nuthin' - and I wasn't even there - I have an alibi. 

Sorry, old habits.  As you might know, we are about mid-way into kitty-sitting while Steph and Dan are enjoying some time off with Dan's family.  In a rented house, ocean front, in Alabama, right on the Gulf.

Their cats get fed twice a day, meds for two of the cats, on a schedule, plus Joan and spend time with them each evening (yes, we bring Murphy along with us).  Here, I am being adored by "the boys" (Alfie and Tango)...

 The kitties have adapted to this new routine, and come running when I come into their house.  For the record, Joan has been helping, too: when Tasha needs her meds, it takes two of us - one to hold her, the other to administer the pill.  Tasha is a big beautiful girl, and can be very strong willed.  Joan has also been doing litter box duty.  We work together to keep things as normal as possible for the "herd" (yes, at times it is like herding cats).

I send Steph updates twice a day, after each feeding.  I call it "proof of life" and include photos, always one with all three cats at their food bowls...

 That photo gets repeated a lot.  Joan said, "You could probably send the same photo over and over."

"Well, sometimes the cats are in different positions - Steph would know."

Last night, I did have to send Steph an "incident report":

08/03 Tasha bit my left hand while administering her pill.  Blood drawn.

08/03  Someone pooped in the corner by the front door.  DNA testing shows it was Alfie.  He denies that.

08/03  Alfie bit my right hand after I stopped petting him (duration estimated to be 30 minutes - for the petting, not the biting).  Blood drawn.

08/04 Someone yakked up a fur ball and brown barf… on Tasha’s towel and the kitchen counter.  DNA tests are inconclusive.  Additional costs incurred for handling barf… I was told there would be no barf.

08/04  Obviously influenced by Budzban cats’ bad behavior, Murphy scratched the hand that feeds him.  Blood drawn.  He said something about me “having another family - and who are these twins that the girl next door keeps talking about?”  Libel charges are being considered.

08/04  Breaking and entering.  An orange cat (suspected to be Tango Foxtrot Budzban) was seen sneaking into the Bathurst residence and stealing food… right out of Murphy’s bowl.  Witnessed by two adult humans and one traumatized feline who testified: “Yeah, I saw him.  That orange one right there (let the record show that he was pointing at Tango)."

This is clearly a pattern of bad behavior.  I will be recommending CMS (Cat Military School).

In spite of this crime spree, we will be spending time with the Budzban cats this evening, modeling what good behavior looks like.

You’re welcome.  Love you! 

I try to write some interesting for her with each "proof of life", but after doing this as needed over the past year and 9 months, it is hard to come up with something new each time.  For the record, we are glad to help - when Steph and Dan have to stay late at work, they know they can call and we will get the kitties "fed and med"... it takes some stress off them.  Before we moved here, they would hire a pet-sitter to come to their house twice a day when on vacation.  I hope this makes it easier for them to get away.

There will be another trip for them in a couple weeks: Rubina, the Guide Dog for the Blind that they raised has completed her final training and is being matched with her new human.  Steph and Dan want to be there at the Guide Dog campus for this "graduation ceremony."  Yes, this is a big deal to know their work will change a life.  We are proud of the work they do with this organization (and it is a lot of voluntary work).

 

Some days off...

 

"You have a break coming up, Jim?" 

No.  After getting the cat crew taken care of this morning, I decided to get out on one of the bikes - today, it was the CTX.  When I got up this morning around 6:00am, it was 80º outside.  80º is almost refreshingly cool.  The high for today is predicted to be 113º.

It takes a while to get 4 cats fed, 1 gets his meds, and take Murphy outside for bit.  It was 84º when I started gearing up to head out on the bike around 7:00.  There is road construction at one intersection along the way, and they are stopping traffic all 4 ways, then allowing one lane at a time to pass.  You feel 10 minutes of just sitting in the sun while you wait your turn.

With the backup at that intersection, the next couple 4-way stops are usually crowded.  But, once clear of that, the traffic was in my rear view mirror.  Unusually quiet on the mountain... 2 bicyclists, 2 cars, and 1 pickup in 15 miles of twisty roads.  I stopped at the top to rehydrate.  I would say the ride is a refreshing way to start the day, but the heat was quickly rising.

It was 94º when I got home just after 8:30.  This week is going to be a hot one, with temperatures climbing each day until Thursday, when the predicted high is supposed to be 118º.  Yes, that will be a record.  Looking at those temps, this will be the only day this week that I'll get out for a morning ride.

So, those "days off" will be from riding.  Otherwise, it is a typically busy week.  HOA stuff scheduled today and Thursday, music on Wednesday and Friday.  And cat-palooza every day.

We have been spending evenings at Steph and Dan's house so the cats get some human interaction besides meal times.  Last night, Alfie and Tango took turns sitting on my lap.  Murphy watched them from a few feet away... I could tell he was thinking: "Suckups!"  (Murph isn't keen on lap-sitting.)

 

Duties X 4...

 

Maybe I should have written that as: doody times 4?

With Steph and Dan on vacation, we have 4 times the cat duties.  Last night, we went to their house so their cats had human interaction for several hours.  We brought Murphy with us, so he gets to spend time with his "cousins." 

In the grande scheme of things, there is a hierachy: their "cat status" is Tasha as the Queen; Alfie is their special needs boy who needs neurological meds on a schedule; and Tango, their orange boy, who is just a sweet youngster at heart.  Toss Murphy into the mix and it changes things.  Murphy tends to be the Alpha Male with Tango, but they behave differently when at our house than when they are at Steph and Dan's house.

Murphy is curious about Tasha.  He is smart enough to not get too close or playful with her.  One hiss from Tasha last night put Murphy in his place.  But, there is no animosity there - they all seem to get along.  Murph seems to be considerate around Alfie (who moves a little slower... except when snacks are involved).  He and Tango are two young boys; sometimes they are rough and tumble, sometimes they are just chill.

This morning, Joan and I were able to sleep in until almost 7:00; that was a rare treat.  I took care of Murphy's feeding and while Joan took him outside, I went to Steph and Dan's to get their 3 "med and fed."  Yes, they were happy to see me.  It takes a little longer in the morning feeding, because food and water dishes need to be washed and there are some supplements to be added to their food.  Then, at least one photo (usually more) to send to Steph for "proof of life."

 When we were done with cat stuff, Joan, Murphy and I went back to our patio to continue the "Morning Concert Series"...

 Yesterday, it was an hour long Beatles set before going inside to get out of the heat.  Today, after seeing a piece on CBS Sunday Morning about the Latitude Margaritaville 55+ "active adult" planned communities, I did a Jimmy Buffett set before going back inside to the air conditioning.

It's a good start to the day.

 

An Early Morning Schedule...

 

We had to be up early this morning.  A 6:00 departure.

No, we aren't going anywhere, but we are taking Steph and Dan to the airport.  Departure from our house at 6:00am.

Not sure why this happens, but if I have nothing on the agenda, I am generally up between 5:30 and 6:00.  But, if I have to get up early for a reason, I wake up and check my watch (on my nightstand) at least once an hour.

We were out of the house right on time.  Dan drove to the airport, they got out at the Departures drop off, we had our hugs, then we took off with Dan's car.  Leaving the airport at 6:30, it only made sense to stop for breakfast on the way home.

Joan suggested Waffle House, and there happened to be one near the airport, right on our route.  I am always up for Waffle House, and even better when it isn't my suggestion.  The food was good, some to take home, and we were back to the house at 7:38.

Morning patio time.  In the 80s that time of day, expecting to see 114º for a high today.  Yeah, upper 80s feels almost refreshing, knowing what is coming.

Steph and Dan are off for a vacation with Dan's sisters and their families.  They trust us to take care of the cats and the house while they are gone.  Of course, we may have let it slip that we are planning a blow-out party at their house while they are gone.  What's that?  No, I have never had a blow-out party, but I've seen enough movies to to know that there will have to be a bunch of people we don't know, mass consumption of alcohol, and rowdy behavior by all involved.  It probably makes sense to have the party tonight so we have the whole week to clean up and repair or replace broken furniture and dishes.  And sober up the cats.

I may have to watch Risky Business again to make sure I have it all down.  I've been practicing sliding across the floor in socks, shirts and underwear while lip-syncing to Bob Seger's Old Time Rock 'n Roll... I'm going to have to get some tighty-whities to pull the look together.  And a Porsche.  And hookers.  Steph and Dan don't have a cut-glass egg, so we may have to toss around a different prized possesion of hers... like her TV remote.  Yes, these are all references to that movie. 

Just kidding.  We'll have to substitute Dan's Buick for the Porsche.

 

If the Rain Comes...

 

If you said, "The first line from the Beatles' song Rain, 1966," you get 5 bonus points.  Only 5??  Yeah, we covered this in the not too distant past.  Well, I guess it's been a while, since precip isn't a regular thing here in the desert.

But, it is monsoon season.  And in the middle of the meeting last night, I heard a sudden downpour.  For about 10 minutes.  But, it did sound heavy.  Caught in the meeting, I couldn't step away.  Joan was watching the meeting from our house (I was in my music room) - she dashed outside and put down the patio umbrellas that were up.  Wind generally comes with the rain during monsoon season.

I assume this was a very isolated storm, as no precip was predicted, and there was no mention of rain on TV this morning, or on any of the precipitation apps.  But, it poured right here.

Generally, if there is precip predicted, we will cover the patio furniture or remove the cushions.  That didn't happen.  Joan went out when the downpour started and put down the umbrellas.  When the rain quit, she stood the furniture cushions so the water could drain out of them.  They were still wet at the lowest part of the cushions when I went out there this morning.

So, glad to have some rain, but it would have been nice to know it was coming.  But, as in the second line of the song: "They run and hide their heads"... Joan didn't have the opportunity to run nor hide her head.

Mother Nature does what she wants.