Organ Stop...

 

Oh, no - it wasn't a vital organ, was it??

No, but thanks for asking.  Last night, we met Joan's sister Beth and her husband Rob in Mesa for an interesting dining experience.  They are from Silver City, New Mexico, but they do come this way from time to time.  We saw them just a couple weeks ago.  Rob got hearing aids, and his audiologist is in Phoenix.

Beth picked Organ Stop as a meet-up place.  I was not familiar with it, but Steph and Dan have been there, and they said it was a lot of fun.  It is a pizza place, but the big draw is a giant Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ that rises up out of the floor.  Organ pipes all around - 23 ranks of pipes.  The organ is powered by three Spencer turbine blowers (with a fourth as a standby), spinning at 1800 RPM with a combined 60HP, moving 10,000 cubic feet of air.  The Wurlitzer has more than 6,000 pipes.  The largest pipes are 32 feet long and could fit four people inside.  Yeah, it's big...

 The organ and organist rise up out of the floor.  The organist plays all types of music, not just what you'd expect from this amazing and interesting giant instrument.

But, what about the pizza?  Crispy crust - just the way Joan likes it.  We got a table on the upper level so we could get an overall view.

The restaurant opens at 4:00, the music starts at 4:30.  I'm glad we were there when the place opened... not to get a table, there were plenty available; but so we had a chance to visit for that first half hour before the music fired up.  The volume fills the room; with those giant pipes, it sometimes rattles your innards.  But, the organist was very talented and it was a fun experience.

Beth and Rob...

 Us...

 And, the part Stephanie would have enjoyed the most: "dancing cats" marionettes...

 After a couple hours (the organist took a break every 45 minutes or so), we took things outside so we could continue to visit.

By the time we left, the seating had increased to a good crowd.  This giant organ, the music (they encourage requests), and the atmosphere are an attraction.  This place has been in business since 1972.  They moved to this location, a larger building (seats 700), in 1995 to accommodate the continuously expanding organ, which is now considered the largest Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ in the world.

 Worth a visit?  Absolutely.  But, after a couple hours there, I was ready for some quiet time.  ;-)  And, another piece of pizza after we got home.

A short video...

 

Being handled...

 

"Is Joan getting all grabby again?"  Well, I am a trophy husband, so I understand my role.

A friend here in our community reached out: "Would you like to know what the problem is with the HOA board?"

"Sure," I said.

She said, "I'm going to talk to you like an adult..."  Interesting assumption on her part.

She went on to explain that 3 members on the board are interested in doing good things for the community, with no apparent agenda (good to see that it apparent on the Zoom meetings)... but you have no public relations to get that word out to our homeowners.  She volunteered to help with getting information on the Homeowners' Portal, to video our board meetings, and send out the video to homeowners who request it.  She is a magazine editor and reporter, with a good understanding of media.

Good timing - I forwarded my Meet The President announcement (before posting it) to her.  Her assessment: too emotional; you want to present the reason for that get-together without referencing Facebook.  Or, as many of us have said over the years: Don't Feed the Trolls. 

She continued with, "You have a great sense of humor, but you need to let people get to know you - in person - before you put that out there."

Yep, being handled.  With the rancor on Facebook, and a board member essentially having a melt down during the last board meeting, I am making every effort to get the community to pull together.  Or, as Joan just put it: "You are making the effort.  No one else knows how much time you put into this board stuff.  Either it will go well, or you can walk away knowing you gave it your best."

The post went up on the Homeowners' Portal and on Facebook (you have to go where the people are).  Here's the "non-emotional" version that was posted:

Meet Your Dobbins Village HOA Board President

As your Dobbins Village HOA Board president, I am inviting you to an informal Q&A session from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Dobbins Village park ramada.

This session is an opportunity for you to ask me, in person, questions about HOA board matters, including:

The budget — landscaping expenditures, event allocations, etc.
Bids — how we have evaluated and why we have chosen our service providers 
Other issues — speed bumps, food trucks, CC&Rs, architectural requests, etc.
Board procedures — how we operate, voting history, etc. 
Accessing the Dobbins Village Homeowners Portal — support will be available for those having trouble logging in, so feel free to bring your device 

I am organizing this gathering independently and not in coordination with other board members or City Property Management. I will answer any question you have, either in the moment or with a commitment to follow up after. I will share my personal opinions as a fellow homeowner, as well if you’re interested, but I ask that all who attend be mindful of our time so everyone can ask questions and be heard.  The format will be informational rather than debate style.
 
Location: Dobbins Village Park Ramada
Date: Saturday, Nov. 22 
Time: 9-10 a.m.

Respectfully,
James Bathurst, Dobbins Village HOA Board president 

We'll see how it goes.  That Saturday is going to be a busy day, with that get-together in the morning and the Hip Replacements playing an outdoor gig at another Banner Health event that afternoon.

--------

On the really bright side, I got in a fun ride on the Suzuki Burgman this morning - really good for clearing my mind.  ;-)

 

 

Wading in neck deep...

 

"Oh, no - more rain and flooding?"  Well, there is rain forecast for this weekend, but this is a metaphor.  And, yes, this is more HOA related stuff, so if you want to skip over this post, I get it.  I would be happy to skip over this stuff, too.

This morning, I am meeting with the vice-president and Landscaping Committee chairman, along with the manager for our account from the landscaping company.  The discussion is regarding replacing trees and other plants in the community that have died or were torn out by the storm last month.  Just trying to do my part to help.

Here's the rub: some homeowners wanted the park fixed right away; another group didn't want to spend anything on repairs.  Deferring to the CC&Rs, we are required to get repairs done to any common property that is damaged.

People are just discovering that their HOA dues will be going up $20 starting in January.  We held 3 months of budget meetings, where homeowner input was requested.  Generally, around 10 to 15% of the homeowners participated.  So, for some, this dues increase was a surprise.  It shouldn't have been, but, you can't make people participate.

So, of course, the "angry mob" has unleashed on Facebook: accusations that the board is "recklessly spending money," even though every expenditure is voted on during our public board meetings.  To make matters worse, one board member was over the top with screaming and accusing at the board meeting last week.  Apparently, she doesn't remember that she voted in favor of all those expenditures except one... and that was for repairs to our common areas that were damaged... and that is clearly covered in the CC&Rs that we are required to effect the repairs... not to mention that she wasn't there for the emergency board meeting. 

Accusations (completely unfounded) that "board members are buddied up with vendors like the landscape company and getting kick-backs"... wow, that is pretty darn libelous.  People saying that the board is using the social budget to throw parties for themselves and paying food trucks to come into the community - total BS.

But, people seem to think they can get on Facebook and say anything with impunity.

One board member responded to the accusations, because many were directed at her.  I try to avoid "trial by Facebook"... it is like arguing politics on Facebook: nobody's mind gets changed.  Everybody gets mad.  Nothing gets settled.

So... I am setting up a "Meet the president" gathering for Saturday, November 22nd; 9:00 am to 10:00 am.  No other board members, no one from the management company - ask me any question you want about the HOA dealings, and you will get the facts.  You may not like the facts, but you will have them, with no innuendo, no screaming, no unfounded accusations.  Here's the letter that will go on the Homeowners' Portal...

Meet your HOA board president.

Saturday, November 22nd, 2025, 9:00am to 10:00 am.  Dobbins Village park, at the ramada.

There has been too much mis-information being put out on Facebook.  I have said the HOA board doesn’t conduct business on Facebook, but this is apparently where people come to spread half-truths or make assumptions.  Come to the park in our community, at the ramada, and I will answer ANY of your questions.

Want to know the real facts about the budget, including the social budget that people seem to be losing their minds over?  Ask me: face to face.  I will explain WHY, and why every board member voted for it.  Want to know about the bids that your board has to wade through and vote on?  Saturday morning @ 9:00, and you will get the truth.

This will be just me - I have not consulted with the other board members or City Property Management in scheduling this get-together.  This is not going to be a “shout down” - I will be civil and respectful, and I expect the same from anyone in attendance.  I am giving my time freely - if you come looking for an argument, this is not the forum.  We’re all entitled to our opinion, but this get-together is about FACTS.  If you ask my opinion about something, I will give it; give yours if you want, but this isn’t going to be a debate.  If I don’t know the answer to any particular question, I will find out.  I don’t proclaim to have all the answers, but I can guarantee you that I have been up to my eyeballs in things relating to the HOA.  You may or may not like the answers, but you will get direct answers to your questions.

It is easy to get on Facebook and complain.  Come to this get-together on Saturday, November 22nd from 9:00 am to 10:00 am.  Am I brave or stupid?  Come judge for yourself.  One thing for certain - you will get the facts.  Not my version of the facts, not a board decision, not anything from City Property Management.

But, the half-truths, innuendos, and some outright lies on Facebook are not good for this community; and I am serving on this board because I CARE about this community.  Want to ask me about speed bumps?  Food trucks?  CC&Rs?  Architectural requests?  Want to oust me from the board?  I’ll explain the the procedure.  I don’t do this job for the ego-boost, and it certainly isn’t for the money (since the board and committee members are all volunteers). 

I would like this to be in a very public setting that doesn’t cost us anything.  Let’s put our park to good use.  People complain about the board meetings being on a Thursday evening - let’s do this on Saturday morning.  In case anyone missed it: Saturday, November 22nd, 9:00 am to 10:00 am.  Don’t send in questions ahead of time - you will know I have no “prepared statements.”

Don’t know how to get on the Homeowners Portal?  Bring your laptop or iPad - my wife has volunteered to help you.  This community is our home.  I can’t guarantee that everyone will be happy here, but there doesn’t need to be the unpleasantness like you see on social media - we are better than that.  Well, most of us.  But, I’ll answer questions, even for the cranky people.  Let’s be fair and not try to monopolize the time.

This is your chance to show that you are bigger than the bickering on social media.  Show up. 

We'll see if anyone shows up.

 

The Aurora Borealis...

 

Or: Northern Lights.  They are highly visible in many places in the Northern Hemisphere tonight.  I've been seeing the photos posted on-line last night and tonight.  Beautiful!  In fact, the local weather said they'd likely be visible in northern Arizona... alas, we are at the southern edge of the Phoenix, which means we are having to look through the "light pollution" from all the lights in the Valley of the Sun.

So, no Northern Lights for us.  I went outside to look to the north - just the glow of lights from the 5th largest city in the country.

But, one of the local weather guys shared this...

 Not as cool as seeing it in person, but I can imagine.  We have seen the Northern Lights twice - both times while living in Spearfish, SD.  I was hopeful tonight, but realistic.

 

Living In Harmony...

 

"The craziness with the HOA has subsided?" you ask.  Oh, far from it.  I won't go into it here, beyond saying one board member has been absolutely foul since day one.  And now, it is worse.  To the point that the majority of the board is looking into having her removed from the board.  And, of course, she is retaliating by enlisting the help from people in the community who have never attended a board meeting and feeding them untrue information... to where they want to have "Tim and Xxxxx removed from the board."  No, there is no "Tim" on the board.  I assume she meant "Jim"... frankly, I would be happy to step down and let the crazy woman see what actual service to the community is all about.

That aside, the Hip Replacements had a rehearsal at Mark's today: Mark, Ron, Podge, and little ol' me.  We worked up a couple new songs, and fine-tuned others.  Then, more practice on about half of our set list.  It was like a breath of fresh air: good music, nice harmonies, and friendship that means a lot to me.  These are all good guys.  I really appreciate how each member makes suggestions to add details and make the songs we do feel fresh.

Another gig coming up later this month, and more inquiries about having us play out.

 

 

The Wall...

 

Nothing to do with the wall along the border between the US and Mexico.  Many homes in the Phoenix area have concrete block walls around the property.  You definitely see it in all "Master-planned communities," like where we live.

I didn't know what to think about it when I first saw this concept decades ago, but I find it provides private space in an area where there is more population density.  And even though we are on "the edge" of that density in our location, Phoenix is the 5th largest city in the country.  Houses and multi-family building (apartments, townhomes, and lease-only communities) is happening all around this area.

I have come to appreciate the walls.  On the southwest side of our walls are small farm(ettes) - in the morning, we might hear roosters announcing the sunrise, baby goats bleating, and an occasional donkey braying.  It feels almost rural.  South and southeast of us is another community with million dollar homes being built - yes, we hear that construction noise, too.  For now.  Directly east of our community, a townhome development is just getting started.  This is a rapidly-growing area.  Within our walls is our bit of tranquility.

Which brings me to this wall discussion.  All the kitties before Murphy had to be on a leash when they were outside, no matter where we lived or traveled.  At our home in Texas, the deck that faced the canal had a gate, so Molly, Izzy, and Rufus could be off-leash out there, as long as they had human supervision.  When we moved to this home in Arizona, things changed.  Sadly, Rufus passed not long after we moved here, but he did walk around the neighborhood on his leash before his passing.  Murphy learned to walk on a leash, but we soon discovered that the wall contained him, and we allowed him to be off-leash; but we are always out there with him.

As he has grown and discovered his "cat super-powers," a 6 foot block wall isn't that much of a barrier... he can leap to the top of that with hardly any effort.  That is a concern.  Also on the other side of our walls: the occasional coyote and fox.  The big concern is that he might go "up and over."  So far, that has only happened a couple times, and only on the wall that faces the street in front of our house... we can quickly open the gate or go through the house and out the front door to scoop him up and keep him safe.

This past week, he has gone to the southwest corner of the wall: once with Joan and this morning with me.  He hasn't gone over that wall to the other side.  Realistically, Murphy is not a flight risk.  While he thinks of himself as an apex predator, the furry boy has a soft life: 4 meals a day, lots of human loving, plenty of toys, and his own chair by the glass door so he can be looking out.  Could he make it "out there" on his own?  I doubt it.  I think he knows that, too.  But, it is up to his human family to make sure he never has to find out.  If he were to go over that wall to the southwest, it would take us time to get around to herd him back.  And this boy is fast - easily the most athletic and fastest runner of any of our cats.  Rufus was a linebacker; Murphy is a running back.

So, what to do with the boy when he gets rambunctious outside?  This...

 That is Murphy's catio.  It is 4 levels, with ramps, padded places to sleep, and 360º views.  It is on wheels, and easy to roll in and out of the shed.  Murphy seems quite content in there, and it is handy to have him in there if we are outside, but not able to keep an eye on him 100% of the time.

 I was sitting right beside the catio when I took those photos this morning.  So, we still get our together time, but I don't have to watch him like a hawk.

Murphy can do the whole leash thing, but since it hasn't been "mandatory" while in our courtyard, he is not as keen on that as his predecessors.  He does not go to the door and wait to have his harness put on like Rufus and Izzy used to do.  On the flip side, Murphy understands "Let's go home," and will head right for the door... about 62% of the time.  ;-)

 

A visit from the neighbor...

 

Our next door neighbor came around into our yard this morning.  Joan, Murphy, and I were out there enjoying the gorgeous Sunday morning.  I haven't played the Aeroband guitar in a while, so I had that out there with us; Joan and Murph enjoy their private concerts.

Anyway, back to the neighbor: as she walked up, she said, "I could hear someone playing loud rock 'n roll music - I figured it would be you."  Of course, she was kidding - I was playing quiet rock 'n roll music.  I was enjoying switching the sound modes on the Aeroband, mostly between nylon acoustic guitar and piano.

We invited the neighbor to sit down and visit with us.  She seems nice enough... talked about her dog a bunch and a bit about her 3 cats.  She didn't make near enough fuss about Murphy, which is something we expect of guests in our home.  Or on our patio.

"You let neighbors just walk into your yard?"  No.  But, this one is different.  Yes, I'm talking about Steph.  We love having her and Dan as our neighbors.  As happens frequently, the talk turns to the care and feeding of their cats.  Something I do from time to time.  All this time, I thought Steph lobbied for us to move her because she wants to see us on a generally daily basis.  Apparently, it was also to have a convenient cat(s) care-giver.

Kidding, as usual.  We do for each other.  It was nice to sit and visit.