Sleep Sounds...

 

The best songs for sleep generally feature slow tempos (60–80 BPM), minimal lyrics, and calming melodies to lower heart rate and reduce stress.  According to research (who can stay awake during this research??), the top songs to fall asleep to are: 

• Weightless by Marconi Union
• Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi
• Strawberry Swing
  by Coldplay
    

 Is that something an artist strives for?  "Here's a little number that will put you to sleep."  ;-)

For years, I have listened to podcasts to fall asleep.  That's about all my old iPad Mini was good for, but it served me well for a bunch of years.  Since getting the new iPad Mini and learning how to best download podcasts for sleeping, I have run into some snags.  The 100+ scooter related podcasts I listened to (over and over) are no longer available.  I have been searching for podcasts that are a topic I find interesting, but not so interesting that I want to lay awake listening to them.

I have two ways of keeping those audios to where I am the only one who hears them: a headband with flat speakers in it, made by a company called Acoustic Sheep... getting it?  Counting "sheep."

 And a set of earbuds make specifically for sleep: they are small and don't stick out beyond your ears, so they are reasonably comfortable for us side sleepers. 

 There are issues of sorts with each.  I've had a least a half dozen of the Acoustic Sheep headband setups over the years.  The first ones were corded, so I would tend to wrap that cord around some body part as I tossed during the evening.  When they came out with the wireless versions, it was a definite upgrade.  I've had a couple of those that lasted less than a year because the wiring inside (between the controller and the speakers) broke.  Plus, that headband can be warm.  That was the reason I popped for the SoundCore A20 Sleep earbuds.  For some reason, with the new iPad Mini, the A20s are not lasting through the night.

So, I am messing with each of these "sleep aids."  'Cause I'd like to get a full good night's sleep.

This sleeping with some sound started a long time ago.  When I was a kid and had a hand-me-down transistor radio.  By the time I was about 8, another hand-me-down: a clock radio... it would pull in stations from further away (WLS in Chicago, KOMA in Oklahoma City, WHO in Des Moines, KAAY in Little Rock).  And, a really cook feature: a little knob you'd twist - it was a timer, giving you about an hour of listening before it would turn the radio off.  Great for a kid already awake past his bedtime.

When I was 11, I got a hand-me-down TV from my Aunt Bessie: a black and white beast in a wood cabinet that would only get one channel: KTIV, the NBC affiliate in Sioux City, Iowa.  I would watch the Tonight Show every night in bed and the Today Show in the morning before heading to school.

I still watch TV in bed, but when the timer goes off on that, I listen to podcasts.  Through earbuds or tiny flat speakers that don't keep my darling wife awake.  Even though it wakes me up when the headband cuts into my ear... or the earbud stops playing a podcast and starts up what it thinks is "relaxing" music (it isn't)... that sounds like a dirge.

I'm working on it.   

The First Day of Spring...

 

That's what the calendar says.  Mother Nature laughs at your puny calendar...

The high today is forecast to be 106º.  Weather Warnings on TV telling people to stay indoors between 2 and 6 pm...

 There is talk online about an "exodus" from the desert, with snowbirds (RVers) who come to spend the winter in Arizona places like Quartsite, living off-grid, moving north.  I get that.  Most RVs are not equipped to run air conditioning 24 hours a day unless they are plugged in.  Our high-tech whiz-bang RoadTrek with the lithium batteries can handle about 7 to 8 hours of running the A/C without needing to recharge the batteries - either plugged in to electric, the solar panels, or (best re-charging) via the "under-hood generator."  And, realistically, that isn't going to happen 24 hours a day.  And, if you are sitting out in the desert (boondocking) when it is over 100º, you are going to be pretty miserable in an RV.  Fact.  So, I get that "exodus."

It is just damn hot.  And, way too early for this kind of heat.  We are 20 to 30º warmer than what is typical right now.  It causes me concern for what this upcoming summer is going to be like.

 Oh, and Happy Vernal Equinox!

 

Bicycle... Bicycle...

 

If you said, "From the Queen song 'Bicycle Race,' 1978," you get 20 bonus points.  No, I did not get out on my bicycle today (high temp predicted: 105º).

I went out to the garage before 9:00am and the heat of the day... decisions.  A motorcycle, 2 scooters, and 2 e-bikes.  To be fair, it is the Burgman's turn.  I geared up and before heading out, grabbed my 360 camera.  79º when I rolled out of the driveway.

I didn't have a plan for the video, just wanted to try some editing on the iPad Mini.  The riding was good - comfortable temperature to start.  Very little traffic.  A great day for some time on the scoot.

"What about that whole Bicycle thing in the title, Jim?"  Thanks for asking.  I passed a couple bicycles along the way; coming down the mountain, I had to "work" a bit to get around one guy on his road bicycle.  A while later, I looked in my review mirror and he was close behind, gaining on me.  I may or may not have been exceeding the 25 mph speed limit... he was absolutely exceeding the speed limit!  On a bicycle.  With only a bike helmet for safety gear; typically dressed in Spandex bicycle shorts and a jersey.  I wasn't wearing a motorcycle jacket (bit too warm for that), but I did have a full-face helmet, motorcycle gloves and armored mesh riding pants.  He had those skinny tires you see on road bicycles.  Nothing about that sounded like fun to me.

When I got home, I got in the shower, then did a few chores before taking Joan out for pizza for lunch (her request).  Back home, I started downloading the 360 videos on the iPad Mini.  Yes, that works.  I shot about a dozen short clips.  While editing them from 360 to "flat" video, I decided to let the Insta360 artificial intelligence video editor work up one of the clips.  It has been months since I've done that, and I wanted to see what has changed...

 Not much.  The edits weren't as smooth as I would do them, the "music" it used for the background was the same as last year.  The saving grace: I clicked one button, and a minute later, I had this video.  I added some captions.  Fast and easy.  And predictable.

That said, it would take me a couple hours to get a "video memory" of that ride.  It would look better; I would have put a voice over on it; added some decent music.  But... fast and easy. 

Using a "pencil" with the iPad Mini, the editing was not bad.  The Mini handled all the video downloading without breaking a sweat.  Better than I expected.

 

Don't Mess With the Beaver...

 

Talking about this beaver...

 

Some media outlets have been using the sensational headline "Buc-ee's gets an 'F' from the Better Business Bureau!"

My response: don't mess with Buc-ee's.

Checking into it, there have been 88 complaints to the BBB in the last three years regarding Buc-ee's, almost all that say that Buc-ee's hasn't responded to customer complaints.  Some were in regards to "being overcharged for fuel."  You pull up to a pump, you scan your credit card, you pump the fuel, you get a receipt... how can you get "overcharged"??  Someone else had a complaint that they "got sick" after eating food from the Beav.  I have seen no report of an outbreak of food poisoning from any Buc-ee's.

The Better Business Bureau issued that "F" rating because Buc-ee's did not respond to their inquiry.  The BBB is a "for profit" organization.  I say: "F 'em."  From my perspective, the BBB is irrelevant these days.  They exist because some businesses pay to belong to the BBB.  Before Google, Yelp, and other review sites, they may have held some sway in some peoples' eyes.  But, no business is required to respond to a BBB inquiry.  As a former business owner, we never received a single complaint from the BBB... if a customer had a problem, we took care of it.

The potential issue with Buc-ee's is they don't publish a phone number for any of their locations.  You contact them at the email address: consumerrequest@buc-ees.com or use the contact form on their website.  From what I read, they rarely respond.  You buy gas, you go inside and spend $50 or more on food and snacks, maybe pee in their immaculate restrooms, look at some t-shirts or other touristy stuff, then leave... what is there to complain about?

The only complaint I have is stupid people who leave their vehicle at a pump while they go inside to shop or pee - get your gas, move your car to a parking spot, then go inside and do your business. 

Some of the complaints were from RVers.  More stupid stuff like: Buc-ee's doesn't allow you to stay overnight in their parking lot... or: there is no RV dump site... or: they don't have a spigot where you can get free water.  Stoopid.  It isn't an RV park.  Go to a truck stop like Loves, where they will charge you $10 to dump your RV holding tanks, and hold your drivers license while you do that, meaning two trips to the fuel desk where you have to wait in line.  Twice.  Or go to a Walmart where they don't allow overnight parking and complain that you will "take your business elsewhere."  Your business?  As in: staying in their parking lot overnight for free?  We have been RVers for decades, but some of these people who try to do everything on the cheap are just whiners and tend to take advantage of a business until that business decides to not allow RV parking.  Sorry - I got off on a tangent.

One particular YouTube video interviewed RVers and asked if they prefer Buc-ee's or a truck stop.  They didn't interview me - I would take Buc-ee's over a grubby truck stop every time.  Buc-ee's business model is: sell 'em gas, sell 'em brisket and jerky, and move 'em on.   They don't allow 18 wheelers at Buc-ee's.  Whereas a truck stop caters to 18 wheelers - hey it's right there in the name: truck stop.  Some "travel centers" (the new description to make it sound less truck-oriented) have RV lanes, dump stations, and a spigot to get fresh water (think: Loves, Flying J, Pilot).  But, you aren't going to get "Fresh brisket on the board!" or Beaver Nuggets there, either.  You may get to stay overnight in their lot for free, as long as you aren't in the way of the big trucks.  Although Loves is expanding their RV Stop, where they have sites and hookup for RVs for overnight accommodations.  We have stayed in a couple of these - they can be convenient, but are not inexpensive.

The truck stops will generally have a restaurant or a fast food outlet connected.  Buc-ee's does not; they sell food (brisket sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, fresh-made potato chips, Beaver Nuggets) and have a bakery where you can get a good variety of pastries and cookies.  Just take all those and eat 'em in the car, because they don't have any seating or picnic tables.  Loves often has a dog park; Buc-ee's does not.  There are differences.  For the record, we have had no problem getting any of our RVs at a gas pump at Buc-ee's.

Have I ever had a complaint with Buc-ee's?  Well, I've had some mediocre breakfast sandwiches or a fatty pulled-pork sandwich, but never felt the need to complain to the BBB or even leave a Yelp review, good or bad.  Yep, there are more and more whiners these days.

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With A Little Help From My Friends...

If you said, "The Beatles, 1967, from the Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album," you get 15 bonus points.  If you said, "Yeah, but, the Joe Cocker version is mucho better," you get an additional 25 bonus points.

I have been playing that song solo for decades.  Today, the Hip Replacements started working up the Joe Cocker version.  It was a good time making music with the guys today.  Mark got us Firehouse Subs for lunch, and Cindy surprised us with cookies from Crumbl... because you can't (well, shouldn't) make music on an empty stomach.

 

Happy St Patrick's Day...

 

It's that time of year when everyone is Irish; even if just for the day.  And, as we all know, this is that day when, if you've been a good boy or girl, you will be visited by a Leprechaun who will leave you Irish whiskey and green beer.  Or, if you haven't been good, the Leprechaun will leave you whiskey, green beer, and a heaping helping of corned beef and cabbage.

Or, something like that.

For the record, I am of Irish descent.  Well, Irish and English - my Mother used to tell me, "This is why you have inner turmoil."  To be fair, I don't really have inner turmoil - I let the voices in my head have their say, we take a vote, and majority rules.  The vote will never be for corned beef and cabbage.

No, I didn't wear green today.  If you say you will pinch me, I will tell you to "bite me." 

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Joan left me along with the kitties while she went to the store this morning.  Most of the time, they are sweet.  This was not most of the time.  Tuesday Morning Smackdown the whole time she was gone.  I think they wore themselves out with all the wrestling, slapping, and biting.

And then, a big change: we took the catio out of the living room.  That has been Stella's safe haven since we brought her home.  She and Murphy have been sleeping on the bed with us, so we figured it was time.  The big issue: where to put the food bowls...

 Little Stella: "This ain't right!"  It must have been OK - they both ate.

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And to celebrate St Paddy's Day, I got out on my Japanese motorcycle for a ride.  In the heat.  It was 93º when I got back.  Even though I had water along, I was feeling a bit drained when I got home.  Yeah, I'm going to have to get out earlier for at least the next week or so: starting tomorrow, it is supposed to be over 100º for a high for the next 5 days.  Ah, life in the desert.  Normal highs this time of year should be in the upper 70s.  Too hot, too soon.

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Back to the cat stuff...

Time for the 5:00 meal and putting the bowls close together...

 Once again, Stella needed some encouragement to eat with her bowls in a different location.  I would have thought that after 3 months (3/8 of her entire life) of being a part of our family that we could be trusted to not try to kill her.  "Come on, sweet girl - it's the same food, just a slightly different place."

 

It's That Time...

 

With the heat rolling in early this season, it's time to put up some umbrellas to keep things cooler on the patio.  Murph and I were out there to enjoy the sun coming up over South Mountain...

 The big furry boy enjoys our outdoor time... and his fur glows in the sunlight.

I put up two of the umbrellas...

 Spent some time checking the water in the hot tub, then followed Murph for a potty stop.  Joan came out and asked if I wanted the covers off the patio furniture - "We can sit out here for a while."  I got the stroller out of the shed, and Joan brought Stella out.  We took that cover off the furniture and put out the chair pads on the tall chairs, rocker, and bench.  It's quiet and private in the courtyard.

Joan made our morning smoothies and brought them out.  It was in the 60s and very comfortable in just shirt sleeves.  The high today is supposed to be 92º, but the 100s are coming by Wednesday.  At that point, early morning is the only time you want to be outside.  The pergola and umbrellas (up to 4 now) really make it more comfortable.

A bit of web-surfing this morning - love this quote...

 

 

Beware...

 

... The Ides of March.

If you said, "A warning given to Julius Caesar as a portent of calamity - in this case, the day he was assassinated in 44 BC.  The 'ides' refers to the middle, thus the middle of March.  The ancient Romans considered this a date to settle debts," you get 20 bonus points.

If you said, "The name of the band that did the song Vehicle, released in 1970," you get 30 bonus points, and you are my people. 

I have nothing else to do with that - just the observation that this is "the ides of March," as I changed the daily calendar today.  For much of the country, this is the hope that spring is coming.  Looking at our former home in South Dakota, there is a Winter Storm Warning for most of the state, with blizzard conditions.  At our other former home in the Tropical Tip of Texas, there are Gale Warnings, with winds SSE @ 25 to 35 mph, and a high of 80º.  Just another windy day in south Texas.  And here in the desert - we are coming into a week of potentially record-breaking high temperature...

 107º?  That is way too early for this kind of heat.  It causes me concern for what this upcoming summer may be.  Maybe the warning should be: Beware the Whole Freakin' Summer!

On the bright side...

 These two made it through the night with no fuss.

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2 x 2...

Two rides on two different two wheel conveyances today.

This morning, I took Joan's Xmax out for a ride.  I generally avoid the fun twisty roads on a Sunday, but with the upcoming heat (see above), I figured I should get out while the gettin' is good.  And, it was good.  72º when I pulled out of the driveway.

Nobody tried to run me off the road on the way to the mountain.  Plenty of traffic on the first 1/3 of the ride up the mountain; way more bicycles than usual... it didn't look like an organized ride, but a lot of other people wanting to get out while it was cool.  When I got to the first turn off from the main road, there was no other traffic in front of me.  Good riding.

And, of course, I have to comment on that Xmax: a fun ride, between the CTX and the Burgman in terms of weight, power, and handling.

Later this afternoon (90º by that time), I took my Lectric XP4 out for a ride.  I like to ride to and around the city park (Caesar Chavez Park) that is reasonably close to us.  Families were winding down, having spent some time enjoying the park this afternoon.  Sadly, people don't pick up their trash - I don't get that.

Another good ride, very different from this morning.  Although, I did have some tunes playing on both rides.  No photos, no video.  Just enjoying the rides.