Splashdown...

 

The Artemis 2 splashdown yesterday was the completion of a successful moon flight.  This flight was historic in many ways, most notably: the first time man has been around the moon in over 50 years.  And, the furthest man has been away from the Earth.  Ever.  First woman on a moon flight.  And, lots more.

To me, it felt like the US really needed something positive to be happening.  And, like many, I kept watch on the status during this nearly 10 day flight.  It was impressive... right down to the splashdown, happening in "prime time."  I held my breath until the parachutes allowed an "easy" splashdown into the Pacific Ocean, near San Diego. 

Some of the images...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos courtesy of NASA. 

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The Pied Piper of Cats...

It's my life.  Well, for a few days.  Besides our two felines, we are kitty sitting for Steph and Dan's 3 kitties.  Two of their three need meds.  They get two meals a day - more food per meal than Murphy and Stella, who get 4 meals a day.

Before meals for the neighbors, the bowls all need to be washed...

 There is considerable "angst" on their part during this process.  Then, Alfie needs his meds.  And, then, I can start getting the food ready.  Three food bowls, but they all eat together...

 We have today planned for a chill day.  We've had a lot going on this week, so we plan to make ourselves available for kitty snuggling here and at the neighbor's... we have enough love to go around.

 

Early...

 

Joan set an alarm for 5:00 am this morning - we are taking Steph and Dan to the airport.  They are going to Milwaukee for a few days to celebrate one of Dan's friend's birthday.  They are entrusting the welfare of their kitties with us while they are gone, including feeding and meds.  We'll throw in the petting and special attention for free.

I didn't have to depend on an alarm this morning... at 4:40 I could hear the sound of a cat yakking.  For those not familiar with the term, I'm talking; barf, puke, spewing, hurling.  Murphy was just trying to do his part to make sure we were up on time.  I hopped out of bed, cleaned up what was mostly spit, then started my morning routine.  First order of business: getting our cats fed.  Both Murphy and Stella were looking at me like "This is too early, dude."  I don't like when they call me "dude."  Since I did the work, they decided to partake.

A quick clean up, and we met Steph and Dan out at the car at 5:27.  No way were were going to hold them up.  A different departure point at the airport: Dan drove to the Sky Train Station for drop off.  Supposedly, with traffic and road construction, this is more expeditious than dropping them off at the terminal.  I guess it worked for them, because 10 minutes later, they were making their way to the line to go through Security.

Joan and I stopped at Black Bear Diner on the way home.  Breakfast - the most important meal of the day.  And, for those keeping track: yes, this is where we first saw Stella...

 Those are file photos from when we first saw her and were trying to get her to come close to us; before Christmas.  She came to live with us on Christmas Day.  She has grown quite a bit since those photos.  Here she is sitting by the door this morning...

 

Joan and Murphy are out in the courtyard.  Stella likes to watch through the door, but she is doesn't want to go outside.  Yet.  She spent her first 5 months living outside (before she came to live with us); I think she is pretty happy being a house dweller.

Our routine when bringing Murphy in from outside is a treat for both kitties...

 We like to put the Churu on a spatula so they can have a treat together; nose-to-nose.  Good kitties.

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With Steph and Dan gone, we can go over to their house and sit nekkid on their leather furniture.  Well, that's what we tell them.  Before I went to Allan's house for some Friday Music Jam playing, we let Tango come over to our house - wanted to see how Stella would handle that...

Nose to nose (above) - Stella and Tango did just fine.  Single file below...

 Everybody did just fine.  Stella was not concerned about another cat in her area...

 Tango is a very mellow boy.

When I got back from making music at Allan's, Joan opened the door between the houses to see if any of Steph and Dan's cats wanted to come visit.  Alfie made an appearance...

 Alfie is a big boy - he looks physically larger than Murphy, but it is mostly fur.  Murphy outweighs him by more than a pound...

 Alfie is a handsome boy.  He has some neurological issues and the meds he takes have changed his metabolism; he eats plenty but doesn't gain weight.

Kitties in a row...

 Do you see 4 cats in the photo above?

For a brief moment, Tasha came over - not for long and not close enough to get a photo.  But, all 5 cats in our house for the first time ever.

 

Music, Music, Music...

 

A rehearsal yesterday with Mark, Ron, and Podge (the Hips).  This next gig we have coming up is as the opener and backup band for the Valley Women's Ensemble (singing group).  This is their annual fund raiser - they will open, we will play in the middle, then we'll back them for a to-be-determined number of songs, then they will finish.

So, we're working up their songs and tightening up ours; as well as working up a couple new ones of our own.

Today, I am meeting Ron this morning to check out the venue where we'll be playing - to determine how we'll set up and what sound gear we'll need to bring.

From there, I'll have an hour or so before going to Mark's again, for a jam with the "big group" (the Brothers MIM).  Not enough time to go back home.  

Joan took Murphy outside while I got ready and loaded gear into the car.  Murphy was asking me for a treat when they came back in.  As Joan put it: "Dad is stretched a little thin this morning."  No worries - Murphy and Stella will get their treat before I head out.

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Checking out the venue (in a church in the Arts District downtown) this morning went well.  It will seat 300, and we now know what gear we'll need to bring.

Leaving from there, I started towards Mark's house for an 11:30 "doors open" time for the big group.  I was ahead of time for that, so I made a short stop at the Schnitz before continuing north.  And another stop at Costco - I needed gas, and they had premium for less than $5 per gallon; a deal compared to other gas stations.

Then, at Mark's, where it was the 7 of us.  Mark's friend Tom is here for the last time this season; he lives in Iowa the rest of the year and they are heading back before we get together again.  We made it "All About Tom Day," where he picked the songs he wanted to play.  It was a good time, and some fun music making.

That said, I can use a day off to give my back (hauling gear), fingers, and voice a rest. 

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OK, sorry it took most of the day to get to the important stuff: here's a look at Murphy and Stella this morning...

 

The "kids" are looking at a bird out in the courtyard.  The image above gives you some size perspective with Murph and Stella sitting side-by-side on that chair; well, Stella is kinda half standing.  Her head looks so tiny compared to his.  And then below, Stella is standing on her back legs - the only way she is ever going to be taller than Murphy.

 

Step One: Check ✔

We needed 92 signatures to submit the petition.  As of last night, 102 homeowners have signed.  Many of them came to gatherings to visit and sign.  There was some door-to-door, explaining.  Some people were reluctant to sign over concerns of retribution.  The reality is: every homeowner will now get to vote on the recall.  The board will need to call a meeting - they will have 30 days to respond.  If there is no response in that time, the entire board is automatically recalled.  Nobody wants that.  But, that is the way Arizona State Law is written concerning this situation.

The next step is the ballots going out to homeowners, and getting those ballots returned within that 30 day time frame.  The homeowners get to make the decision.  If the recall passes, the board can appoint a new board member.  One homeowner I visited with asked, "Would you be willing to serve on the board again?"

"Absolutely not."  I've had more than enough of all this.

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I slept good last night.  Up just after 6:00 this morning, I got kitties fed and did my morning routine.  Murphy and I went outside.  There was a quail on the wall that kept Murphy's attention.  He kept a close watch on it, but didn't chase it.  When he and I came back inside, there was a Churu treat for each of the kitties, then they both went to the chair to check on what was happening outside...

 Murphy is grooming Stella's back.  She wasn't so sure about that, and hopped down to play with some of her toys.  Murph has the chair.  Everybody is happy.

 

Close...

 

It is close on getting the number of signatures required to bring the removal of the board member to a vote of all the homeowners.  In talking with people, there were a few who were reluctant to sign the petition, until they understood that signing it did not automatically remove the person... it simply allows the process to start so ballots can be sent out to the homeowners and everyone can vote, regardless of whether they signed or not.  All while following the letter of the Arizona State Law.

You would think the honorable thing to do if 25% of the homeowners have signed a petition to have you removed from office would be... to resign.  It would save the community the cost of having a lawyer draw up the paperwork and send out ballots to the 367 homeowners.

The petition is what starts this process.  25% of the homeowners will have to actually vote when they receive the ballot.  You would think that would be an easy number to achieve... about 20% of the homeowners took the time to vote in the recent annual election to elect 4 new board members.  This whole situation is important to those who are involved in the community.  Which, unfortunately, is a minority of the homeowners.  And, in that election, you were able to vote online.  

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The upbeat news for the day: the astronauts on the Artemis II are into the area on the far side of the moon - now further in space than anyone has been before.  Currently...

 It makes my heart happy to see this happening.

 

Happy Easter...

 

Whatever your beliefs, this time of year is all about new beginnings.  For most of the country, spring has sprung.  Well, we've already had weeks of summer here in the desert, but you can sense the change.  Kids have had spring break.  Spring training for baseball is over and it's into the regular season.

Time for a fresh start where needed.

 

Getting Along...

 

Are you talking about the community effort to remove an HOA board member?  No, but that is progressing.  Two days in, it is 2/3 of the way to the required number of signatures; on a holiday weekend.

I am talking about Murphy and Stella.  There are still moments of "wrestling," but it is mostly playful.  The other night, there was a loud noise when I dropped something: Murph and Stella both "ran for it."  Sensing no danger, Murphy came out right away.  Stella did not.  After a while, Murphy started looking around for her.  "Where's my sister?"  Curiosity or concern?

At feeding time, they eat their own food, then swap places to eat the other's food.  Kinda like Jr High lunchroom.  Most of the time, they are fine being close... then, one of them will toss in a slap or a bite, and the "Slapdown" is on!

Chillin...

 And the slapdown...

 And back to peace and harmony...