If you saw the post from two days ago (It's a Jungle Out There), you may get this title.
Joan got another silk plant - well, actually, more of a small tree. I have no idea if it will eventually go outside, but Stella was pretty excited to see a tree in the house...
Advertising isn't what it used to be. For a lot of businesses, it is more effective to hire a social media manager to get the word out about their products... make "free" posts on FaceBook, Instagram, etc, regarding your stuff.
It worked on me.
Today, Joan wanted to stop at a rain gutter manufacturer and get a length of downspout to add to the bottom of one of our existing downspouts to route the water further away from the house. The company that did our rain gutters couldn't sell us a 10' piece of downspout, but they gave us the name of their supplier.
We stopped there today and bought a 10' section. For those keeping track, it just fits in the Equinox. After that, Joan asked me where I wanted to have lunch. I have been craving a burger (out) for several days - I have been seeing posts on Facebook for Shake Shack, and suggested a new one about 5 miles from where we picked up the section of gutter.
IF we have been to one of these before, I don't remember it. I knew I liked the burgers at Steak & Shake, but not the same thing. So, off to the Shake Shack...
The burgers were good. The shake was excellent. The sides (fries and onion rings) were plentiful; nothing exceptional. Not inexpensive. We voted: we'd eat here again, but not go out of our way to get here. This is a new location, in a new shopping area. The interior is kind of austere - nothing fancy about it...
If you said "Randy Newman, the theme from the show Monk," you get 15 bonus points. If you said, "Burkhard Dallwitz, 2008," you also get 15 bonus points. If you said, "A line from the Jimmy Buffett song Fruitcakes: 'Stay in touch with my insanity really is the only way. It's a jungle out there, kiddies, have a very fruitful day'," you are my people and you get 20 bonus points.
It was only (only?) 88ยบ when I took Murphy outside just before 7:00 this morning. A break from starting the day in the 90s. Murphy walked about a bit...
No, not a full moon or a SpaceX launch. The weather around the state just digs in why we haven't gone anywhere somewhat local in the van. This evening, there are flash flood warnings in Pinal County, southeast of us. Areas along the Mogollon Rim had flooding over the weekend. Seems it has been a lot of that over the last couple months. Well, that and forest fires and big wind.
We did the "get it out, put it away thing" over the weekend and today. Took down the umbrellas, flag, cover over the hot tub, and put away patio furniture cushions...
Looking to the southeast...
I read this today - it made me think of each of the great felines that have been a part of our family...
The band? No, that's Little Feat - this is feet. Four of them. No, we did not get another feline.
Steph and Dan were gone overnight - they made a run to California to pick up another Guide Dog for the Blind puppy. I have been kitty-sitting (and feeding) while they were gone. All good here on the home front.
I got a text from Steph today with the Check In app, telling me that they would be home around 4:35.
Joan and I went out for lunch around 1:30, in between kitty feeding - our two and their three are on different schedules. And sure enough, right at 4:25 I got the "we have arrived home" notice.
As I went into their house from the side door, Steph was coming in from the front door... with a bundle wrapped in a towel. "Can you hold her? I have to use the bathroom. Right now!"
When Steph came out, she unwrapped the puppy to show me. Yep, she is puppy cute. "Now, the puppy needs to pee." Unfortunately, a heavy rain broke out just as Steph was coming in the door. So, she had to wait for a bit for the rain to pass before taking the new puppy outside. Dan took over...
My kitty-sitting is done - I am off the clock now.
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Earlier today, I got some good guitar time in. Working in my music room, I tried out several different effects pedals with the new guitar. Two hours went by quickly. Still in the "honeymoon phase" with the guitar and the new amp.
In all the history of mankind, people have always thought the younger generation was essentially doomed. This is not a rant on kids, but an observation. And... kitties.
Stella is 14 months old. In "human years," that makes her a teenager. Murphy, on the other hand, is the equivalence of late 20s (coming up on 4 years old). There is a difference in activity levels. Before we got Stella, we could see that Murphy was "playing" less. Maturing. I was happy that he was beyond that kitten stage.
Enter Stella at 5 months old, and we are back to the beginning of the kitten stage. Truly, Stella's "kitten energy" has been good for Murphy.
Yesterday, Joan brought in one of Murphy's old toys from the garage. It is a "fuzzball on a wire" that spins around randomly. Murphy loved that toy. Until (months later) he got tired of it. We'd put it away, then bring it out after a while and he would play with it again. Until he got tired of it. Again.
Murphy was less enthralled with it this time, but Stella was intrigued. She quickly discovered how much fun it is. Stella is good with keeping herself entertained with toys, but this one spins and bobs. Even better!
This morning, Stella was playing with the toy while Murphy laid in the new-ish scratcher toy...
And when Stella is done with the toy, she will still try to get a rise out of Murph...
