Rehearesal...

 

I got together with Mark and the guys yesterday - a rehearsal more than a jam.  I call this group The Brothers MIM, since volunteering at the Musical Instrument Museum is how they came together.  Mark and I were playing together (sporadically) for years before that, when Joan and I would spend time in Arizona.  And when Mark and I were in high school and college in our younger years.  History.

We are scheduled to be playing out at a private party on Saturday.  At Ron's house.  The plan: The Brothers MIM will do a set, the Hip Replacements (Mark, Ron, Tom, and me) will do a set, then the big group for one more set.  I think everyone is looking forward to it.

With 7 of us currently in the big group, it can be a bit like herding cats.  We all work with our song charts on iPads, so it is mostly a matter of getting everyone to stop "noodling" on their guitars between songs so we can get the intended song started.  Not sure when that became a thing, but it is a time-wasting habit, especially when the plan is to run through two sets worth of songs.  Yesterday, I just sat back and watched while this was going on... I was determined to just have some fun. 

A photo of 6 of us from a couple years ago...

 

With these guys, I play acoustic guitar.  Well, we all play plugged in, so more accurately, I play an acoustic guitar with a pickup, plugged into an amp.  I have a variety of small amps, for different purposes.  So, I tote gear around.  Back in the day, I used to say, "I play for free; I get paid to move gear around."  It seems the amount of gear I need has been expanding... a guitar or two, an amp, a pedalboard for the guitar, a mic and stand, the iPad, and a comfortable guitar chair.  At times, I also bring a PA and a cajon.  Yesterday, it took me 4 trips from my music room to the car, the car into Mark's garage, the garage to the car, then all back into my music room.  Nothing enjoyable about that process.

What about these other guys you've played with a couple times?  Thanks for asking.  That is easy: I bring in a guitar... plug in and start playing.  They have a well-equipped studio area in one guy's house, where everything stays set up.  There are guitars, basses, drums, keyboards, and a PA... all set up.  They even have a mic and stand ready for each of us.  When we got together last Friday, I put an amp in the car, but didn't need to take it out... Allan, the guy who hosts, said, "There's a Marshall amp there that you can use if you want."  No down-side to that.  I took my Virtuo (Emerald electric guitar), and was delighted with the tone I was getting from that guitar and amp combination.

It stirred my GAS (Guitar or Gear Acquisition Syndrome).  I mentioned it to Joan, she got online and found some options.  That particular Marshall isn't made anymore, but a Guitar Center in California had a used one; supposed to be in good condition.  I ordered it on Monday, and it should be here on Thursday.  Another addition to my music room.  I don't often play electric guitar with the MIM guys... but, I may make some changes there.  No, I am not moving on from acoustic guitars.  The Virtuo is easier on my aging hands.  I didn't have an amp in my collection that really does that guitar justice.  We'll see if this incoming Marshall does that.

While a bit bigger than my current amps, it is still a small amp.  Back in the day, the Marshall amp I had was taller than I am; this one is about knee high.  It will be plenty enough for my use.  Probably.  Joan said, "If you get this, you have to play more often for me."  That seems appropriate.  (Crank it up, start playing the opening lick from Smoke On The Water) ;-)

 

Zoom - Zoom...

 

If you said, " 'Zoom Zoom' refers to both a popular video conferencing platform and a brand message ('the love of motion experienced as a child') used by Mazda, starting in 2000," you get 30 bonus points.  No, we are not getting a Mazda, although the Miata is a good looking 2-seater... so, that leaves the whole Zoom Meeting thing.

Two Zoom meetings today, then the Architectural Committee should be up and running.  There are 14 projects waiting for votes from the rest of the committee; I will be glad when we can move through these requests, so homeowners can get on with their projects.  I remember when we first moved into this house and went through submitting requests for things we were doing to finish off our yards, like the pergola and the Tuff Shed.  We had a Building Committee that we had to go through when we lived in Texas, but our builder dealt with all of that.  I can appreciate the angst while a homeowner waits to see if their project is approved.

It isn't like my approach is to green-light all projects, but as long as the projects follow the Design Guidelines, they should quickly move through the process.  I am sure, looking at submission dates for requests, that some of these were held, waiting for this committee to get formed.

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In between Zoom meetings, some time outside with the furry boy, seeing how the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 does in slow motion...

  Any other time, he would be looking all around, which would be good in slow motion... "Come on, Murph - do something."  ;-)

 

A Photo Session...

 

Your music buds got a new promo photo?  No, but thanks for asking.  And, no, I haven't gotten back into the photography biz.  A few days ago, Steph asked if I'd take a photo for her and Dan with Rubina.  Rubina's time with them is growing short - she has progressed in her training and is ready to go back to the Guide Dogs for the Blind campus for more specific training.

Rubina is very much a good girl; smart, well-tempered, and adaptable.  She is going to make a great Guide Dog companion that will change someone's life for the better.  It is not easy for Steph and Dan to give her back - she has been a part of their everyday life for months.

Hopefully, it won't be long and they will be welcoming a 3rd Guide Dog puppy into their home.

In the meantime, I got out my Sony mirrorless camera to take some photos.  Steph assured me, "This isn't a big deal - you can just use a phone if you want."  I have not been out of the business so long that I don't appreciate the value of an image as "memory insurance."

We took the photos in their yard.  Low key in the set up and flow of the shoot.

 Rubina is a good girl.  Steph and Dan are good people.

 

Like the second day of school...

 

I am getting together with my new music friends, less than 5 minutes from our house.  I wrote about this a couple weeks ago - not planning to change anything with Mark and the guys, this is in addition to that music group.

I may have mentioned that these guys play loud... I'll be bringing some molded ear plugs today.  And an electric guitar rather than one of my acoustic/electrics.  I am the oldest one of this bunch, where I am the youngest with Mark and the guys.  The song choices are very different - these guys are more about jamming and a harder sound.  I was a bit out of my element two weeks ago, but I'll be better prepared today.

Joan said to me, "You should probably wear one of your guitar shirts today."

"What?"

"Well, you want to fit in."  I don't give much thought to fitting in.  "How about your Tommy Emmanual shirt?"

"I'm not sure these guys would know who that is."  (TE is an absolute kick-ass acoustic/electric player, btw)  I pulled a Gruen Guitars t-shirt out of the drawer.  Gruen is one of the premier guitar shops in the United States.  And, if they don't know, I'll tell 'em.  ;-)

 Look at me, trying to fit in... I may get to sit at the cool kids' table.

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Today is Friday.  I get my Architectural Committee requests reminder on Fridays.  One new request came in, I got that approved, and all the rest of the requests are done for me, just waiting on the other committee members to get trained.  That will happen on Monday.  We should be ready to roll.

I got an e-mail yesterday from one of the other HOA board members - a neighbor had contacted her to ask why her Architectural Committee submission was taking so long... I just got it a few days ago, and voted on it right away.  Unfortunately, the people hadn't looked at the Design Guidelines, so the request was going to be denied.  The committee has 45 days to complete a review and vote - I hope to get that down to a week or less, but this particular request was submitted about 2 weeks ago, and this committee was just formed; so it had been waiting for that to happen.  Timing.  I wrote to the homeowners, explained the timing and suggested they resubmit after making a couple changes.  Everybody happy.  For now.

 

Work Schedule...

 

You went back to work, Jim??

No, but thanks for asking.  Between making music with my friends and dealing with Architectural Committee requests for our HOA, I have more schedule in my days.  One of the things I have enjoyed most about being retired is that lack of schedule.  I particularly enjoy having a leisurely lunch out with my Honey.

We did that today, but had to be back home for a Zoom meeting for me at 2:00 for training for the Architectural Committee.  Apparently, it is more than a quick look and vote yes or no.  ;-)

Since being named chairman of that committee, I have already dealt with a dozen or so project requests... it will be good to find out if I've been doing them correctly.

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That was a very worthwhile training: I was the one and only trainee.  I get that it is good for this company to put in the time to train the HOA board and committees: it lightens their load.  But, the lady doing the training showed me a feature on the portal that allows me to get through the Architectural Committee requests in a more efficient manner and eliminating the archiving I was doing on completed votes.

She was impressed that I had taken it on my own to go through the requests before the training; complimented me on how I handled the different project requests.  For the most part, it either meets the rules or it doesn't.  There is some discretion on the committee's part in specific cases.  For this week, with 13 requests, it came down to 5 yes votes, 5 yes conditional (if certain requirements are met), and 3 no votes where the homeowner didn't give enough information or was asking for something that didn't align with the Design Guidelines.

I was concerned that this committee chairman job would be the most time-consuming, but having specific guidelines to go by takes individual opinion out of the equation.  Interesting improvements: pergola with an outdoor kitchen under it, a swimming pool with a pergola, roof-mounted solar panels, and several for lights along the roof-lines of the home (this is a popular thing here).  The only "no" was for putting a lemon tree in the front yard: specifically prohibited in the CC&Rs due to the mess they make and the vermin they attract.  But, you can put a fruit tree in your back yard if you want.

The rest of the committee will get training next week.  The training lady asked if I would sit in on those to get some questions going.

 

 

 

I'm Pissed!

 

I had a doctor appointment this morning.  8:20, fasting, so they can do some blood work.  I got an automated call last Friday, confirming the appointment.  A text on Saturday, confirming the appointment.  An e-mail on Monday, confirming the appointment.  "Be there 15 minutes ahead of your scheduled appointment time."

Yep.  I arrived at the doctor's office at 8:02, 18 minutes before the scheduled appointment.  My experience with this place (Center Well) has been: very few people in the waiting area, they take you in right at or even before your scheduled time.

It didn't go that way today.  My appointment time came, no call to come into an exam room.  15 minutes later, still no call to come into an exam room.  Finally, a young lady at the front desk said, "James, the staff is in an administration meeting.  We're going to have to reschedule your appointment for another time."

Wrong answer.  I told the young girl at the front desk, "You waste my time and think I will come back again?"  I walked out.

Joan and I were going go have breakfast out at a nearby I-Hop.  I was so pissed that I didn't feel like eating.  Joan said, "Let's just go home and I'll make you breakfast."  Instead, I went back into the doctor's office and ranted a bit.  The young girl at the appointment desk didn't know what to do; she said, "Would you like me get an administrator for you?"

"Absolutely! 

The administrator lady already knew what she was in for.  I suggested we take the discussion to someplace besides the waiting area.  We sat down in a nearby office and I unleashed.  The gist of the conversation: "Your time is NOT more valuable than mine."

There was a lot of apologizing on her part - she took full responsibility, not blaming the doctor or the office staff.  She said, "What can we do to make this right?"  I told her.  Eventually, I got around to saying, "I came in fasting so you could do blood work.  Draw the damn blood and let me get on with my day - I will NOT came back again for what you were supposed to do today."  There were other words, mostly unpleasant.  She arranged this meeting a couple weeks ago - I've had the appointment for 3 months.  She just assumed someone would let me know and reschedule my appointment.

She made an immediate arrangement to get the blood work order in place, then took me back to get poked.  "Why couldn't you have done this in the first place?"  Again, more apologizing.  Me: "I don't need to come back into this office again to get the results.  I will see them as soon as they are posted on your portal.  I need prescriptions renewed and I'd like them to be paper prescriptions rather than have you call them in.  Let me know when I can pick up the prescriptions, have them waiting for me at your front desk, and I will come back to pick those up."

She agreed.  The phlebotomist drew blood, I peed in a cup, and I left.

I understand why they schedule things the way they do: make an appointment for an office call and they'll draw blood.  Make another appointment to come back in for the results of the bloodwork.  This way, they get to charge for TWO office calls.  Not this time. 

It's a good thing I didn't hang around to get my blood pressure taken.  Assholes.

This visit was simply a follow-up to see how I would do, eliminating one of my prescriptions - 3 months ago.  This doctor will only write prescriptions for 6 months, so you have to come back twice a year for what I call "maintenance prescriptions."  Another way for them to bill your insurance for another office call.

I have worked within their way of doing things... up until today.

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I got together with some of my music buds today.  Good time, good music.  That's the way a day should go.  

Golden Hour Done Right...

 

More images of our furry boy, just before sunset again... but, this time with a real camera: my Sony a6700 with the 55-210mm zoom lens.  This lens is my "reach out" lens - it is reasonably sharp, but the light was going fast... even with the ISO bumped up to 1000, 1/80th of a second was as fast as I could get with the shutter speed.  I'm still pretty steady for hand-holding, but most of these images were taken with the focal length set around 135mm.  When possible, I like the shutter speed to be "twice" the focal length, so somewhere around 1/250th or 1/300 would be my preference.  With photography, there are always choices and compromises.  That said, I sure do like shooting with a camera instead of a phone.

Here's our Murphy...

No, that bird is not sitting on his head (above) - that's on one of Joan's yard ornaments behind Murphy.

 I see the difference.  And then a quick shot of the last rays of light on South Mountain, while standing in our courtyard...

 Not evening-looking enough for you?  How 'bout this...

Those are from the same image.  That is just scratching the surface of what can be done in seconds with Photoshop.  One of the more recent features in PS is "Generative Fill" - you select an area (in this case, the sky), select Generative Fill, and tell it what you want to use to fill that space.  In the photo immediately above, I typed in "evening sky"; in the photo above that, I used "sky/clouds."

With the extreme contrast between the sky and the last bit of light on the mountain, a choice has to be made: expose for the sky and the mountain will be too dark; expose for the mountain and the sky will have no detail.  Pretty cool to be able to use the Generative Fill, since this is what it looked like to the camera...

 No doubt there are some who will scream "That's cheating!"  Photoshop is a tool.  Mostly, I use it to improve the color, exposure, and contrast of almost every image you see on this blog; pretty much the same thing "the lab" did for you when you dropped off your film to be processed.  Remember film?  ;-)

The Generative Fill is an AI feature.  Who's to say what the sky actually looked like in that image above where it is blown away?  I don't use Photoshop to "cheat," I consider it more of an "enhancement."  Photographers have used custom printing, dodging and burning to bring out detail in an image, since the early days of photography.

The handsomeness on Murphy is all natural - I didn't have to do anything to enhance that.