Another Board Meeting...

 

This evening, it will be the "town hall" type of meeting.  The board won't be discussing business, but the meeting will be opened up for comments from homeowners regarding 3 "hot topic" subjects.  In reality, there would be no discussion necessary, if homeowners would abide by the CC&Rs that they signed when they purchased a home here.  Personally, I don't agree with everything outlined in the CC&Rs, but I signed them... for the good of the community.

These rules are put in place for the safety and security of the community and to protect the homeowners' property values.  As a homeowner, I don't get to pick and choose which rules I will follow.  Some people don't understand that.  "They can't tell me what I can do with my own property!"

They probably should not have bought into an HOA community.

Oh, I get it: everybody loves to hate HOAs.  The terms I see used for us online: "Money grabbing and power hungry!"  Yes, bullshit.  Money grabbing?  Each of us on the board pay the same HOA dues as everyone else... only we are responsible for spending the HOAs funds in a way to get the most value for those dues.  We understand that costs on almost everything have gone up; landscaping and water costs are up significantly.  Don't want to clean up after your dog?  We have to pay a licensed company to do that.  Don't want to pick up trash that someone else has tossed?  The landscape companies will do that - for an extra fee.  And for all the work the board members put into the budget and other things that come up - we get paid a grand total of $00.00.

Power hungry?  Oh, please.  I would be delighted to turn over this work to someone else.  Any homeowner can say whatever they want, including outright lies, on Facebook (I have come to call this "trial by Facebook") - the board has to be open and transparent in all dealings.  In fact, in order to not run afoul of the Open Meeting Laws, we can't have 3 or more of us get together (that would be a quorum), even in a social situation.  Our emails and texts are subject to scrutiny.  But, complainers on Facebook can post anonymously.  There is no "power" here, just another job with no pay or benefits.  And the knowledge that you are doing something for your community.

While other people get to pick apart any decisions we make, on Facebook, and without any consideration of doing anything for their neighbors.

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Yep; the Town Hall Meeting went about as expected.  We had an attorney there to explain the legal aspects of each of the items on the agenda and answer questions.  Not much argument on the first two topics, but the same arguments regarding people using their garages and driveways before parking on the street.  Every homeowner signed the CC&Rs that are explicitly spelled out.

The attorney stated categorically that the board is required to follow and enforce the CC&Rs.  Those opposed to that section of the CC&Rs felt they should not have to abide by those regulations, because... well, no one presented an argument that made sense.

But, everyone who wanted had the opportunity to speak.  Fewer than 20% of the households in the community participated, so no clear way of knowing what the majority of homeowners want.  And, it will take a 67% vote to change the CC&Rs.  That isn't going to happen.

So... fun.

 

Doctor, Doctor, Give Me the News...

 

If you said, "I got a bad case of loving you! The name of the song is: Bad Case Of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor) by Robert Palmer, 1979)" you get 15 bonus points.

Yep, another visit with the doctor today.  Hopefully, it will go better than my last scheduled visit, where they kept me waiting for a half hour, then told me "The doctor is in an administrative meeting right now, so we'll have to reschedule you."  Needless to say, that didn't go well.  All I really needed that visit was to have bloodwork done and get prescriptions renewed.  After a heated discussion with the administrator, that was accomplished.

Pretty much the same reason for going today, so I'm hoping it won't be a repeat... especially after they call, e-mail, and text to remind me of the appointment.

From there, it will be off to Mark's house, to make some music and see what he thinks of this newly received Aeroband Guitar.

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A good visit at the doctor's office today: my numbers are all good; and I was there early and they took me in early.  I don't have to go back for 6 months.

I left the Aeroband Guitar with Mark.  He only played it for a few minutes, but I think he enjoyed it.  It sounded good in his hands.  He's going to try some things with the midi features on it, which I will include in the video.

 

Monday, Monday...

 

If you said, "A song by The Mamas & the Papas, 1966, from the album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears," you get 10 bonus points.

Joan said to me, "You better get in the shower early, because it is Monday."

I said, "Monday?  I'm retired, remember?"

"You're going to get some calls.  Since being on the HOA board, you always get calls on Monday." 

Of course, she was right.  The calls started around 8:00 and went on through the morning.  More than usual, including an hour with the new attorney for the board.  We are now set up with a Town Hall type meeting for Thursday evening, to get input from homeowners on 3 issues that have folks concerned.  I've mentioned before that after taking over from the developer, this board has had a lot to deal with.  And, also of course, there is a shit-stirrer who gets on social media to try to float conspiracy theories about what he thinks is an agenda that the board has.  Not true, but it gets people stirred up, and we won't get sucked into that fray.  Yes, this is the same guy that sent me 38 private messages in less than 2 hours about 10 days ago.  Further proof that no good deed goes unpunished.

On the bright side, by noon it was mostly done.  And Joan and I went out for lunch.  Then took on the rest of our day.

And the beat goes on... but that's a different song.  ;-)

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Keep on a Rockin' Me, Baby...

If you said, "Steve Miller Band, 1976, Rockin' Me, from the album Fly Like an Eagle," you get 20 bonus points.

After another day of dealing with HOA stuff this morning (Tuesday), Joan and I did some grocery shopping and a light lunch out.  Nothing interesting there, but when we got back to the house, I went into my music room and hooked up my pedalboard, a guitar, and a mic to my Bose PA.  I haven't used that since we played out in April.  We've all gotten together more often since then, but I didn't need to bring a PA or my pedalboard.

We have another gig in August, so I need to rehearse a bit with the equipment I'll be using.  Not a big deal, but damn that Bose PA sounds good!  And the gear I have on the pedalboard adds to the guitar tone and vocals.  I don't often play plugged in here at the house, so this was a definite change of pace.  And quite entertaining for me.

It also turned out to be a "Wood kinda day."  I spent some time playing for Joan and Murphy with a couple of my Taylor wood acoustic guitars: for those interested in these things, a lovely 814ce with a tobacco burst finish, and a 652 Builder's Edition 12-string with a satin honey burst finish.  It has been a while since either of them got more than just a few minutes of playing time.  I admit my preference for my Emeralds, but these Taylors are very nice guitars, as well.

 The playing is good for the soul.  My head gets into the music and I have peace.  Nothing all new-agey, just nice to leave the community concerns behind for a while.

 

Music, man...

 

Not to be confused with "The Music Man" - a classic American musical by Meredith Willson, first performed on Broadway in 1957."  If you said that, you get 15 bonus points.  If you can name one of the two big hits from that musical, you get an additional 25 bonus points.  If you said, "76 Trombones or 'Till There Was You," collect your bonus points at the cashier's cage.  We're on the honor system here.

It was 78º when I got up, just before 6:00am.  I did my morning routine, then took Murphy out.  A half hour or so later, Joan came out to relieve me on Murphy-Watch.  I came inside, grabbed a guitar (Emerald X20) and went back outside to entertain Joan and Murphy.  For a bit over an hour.  Mostly Beatles songs this morning, followed by some Billy Joel and James Taylor tunes.

Coming back inside, Joan started on a tasty breakfast skillet meal, while I swapped guitar and experimented with the new Aeroband Guitar.  Switching immediately from the Emerald to this one highlights just how different the Aeroband is...

 Mostly just experimenting with the Aeroband.  And taking some measurements and notes for the upcoming video.

 

Returning to the scene of the crime...

 

Nothing to do with CSI Phoenix.  I felt it was a crime that I didn't get much of a ride in yesterday, before the battery crapped out.  I took care of that today: same bike, same route, and I rode past "the scene."

It was a good ride.  Some weekend traffic; more bicycles than anything else.  A dozen or so motorcycles, one other scooter (a Burgman 650), and a few cars.  I was behind a car for a short time - a guy on a sportbike came up behind me fast and passed me and the car in front of me... just as we were all coming up on a blind curve.  He got away with it.  This time.  But, I have seen lifted pickups come around that same curve over the center line.  The options wouldn't be good: head-on with the pickup, smash into the cliff on the near side, or into the guard rail and off into space on the far side.

I didn't mind trailing behind that car until there was a safe place to get around.  I think the car driver may have been a bit freaked out, as well.  He slowed and waved me around shortly after that.  Passing is tough on this road, because it is double yellow line most of the way.  And, it isn't like the car was driving slow: he was at or above the speed limit while I was behind him.

The scoot is a lot of fun on these tight, twisty roads; certainly more "flickable" than the CTX.  But, the CTX feels better when you twist the throttle (good low end torque).

I think there is supposed to be one more morning of reasonable temperatures (it was in the mid-70s when I got up shortly after 6:00am).  If I get out on one of the bikes tomorrow, it won't be a trip up the mountain... it will be "Silent Sunday" - on the 4th Sunday of each month, the road is closed to motorized vehicles.  Biking (bicycling) and hiking, only.

 

Rescue Me...

 

If you said, "Aretha Franklin," you lose 50 bonus points.  That song was co-written and recorded by Fontella Bass in 1965.  30 bonus points if you said, "Fontella Bass."

I had to have Joan rescue me once again this morning.  I was out on the Burgman scoot, heading up South Mountain.  I stopped to take a photo of the new road surface...

 No idea how far up that new surface goes, because my scoot wouldn't start when I was ready to roll again.  "Well, crap!"  (I may have said something a bit harsher than that.)  Assessing the situation, it was slightly downhill to get to some shade, maybe 1/4 mile away.  As I started walking the bike towards that, I called Joan to see if she could bring me a jumper battery.

Unfortunately, I had my AirPods in (still wearing my helmet) and the phone didn't allow the microphone in those AirPods to work (I have no idea why)... so, I could hear Joan, but she couldn't hear me.  Of course, she suspected the worst.  I hung up and called back - same thing!  I took my helmet off, and called back... yes, Joan was very worried.  I explained what was going on and asked if she could bring a jumper battery to me.  "I'll be there as quick as I can," she said.

While walking the bike towards the only bit of shade I could remember seeing, a guy in a car stopped and asked if he could help.  He didn't have a jumper battery or cables, but he offered me water and a ride to the Ranger Station.  I let him know I had help on the way and a container of water.  Nice of him to stop.

When I got to the shady spot, I called Joan again to let her know where to find me.  There was a crew with a crane removing a light pole not too far away.  One of the workers came over to see if there was anything I needed: "If you have jumper cables, we can bring a truck over to get you started."  I thanked him, told him I didn't have jumper cables on me, but I did have help coming.  He asked a couple questions about the Burgman...

 Joan called when she got close and I stepped out into the road so she could see where I was.  The building in that photo above is no longer used, but it provided some shade... but also put me where you couldn't see me until you were right there.

Joan pulled in, I had the bike battery compartment opened, put a jumper on it, and it popped right off.  Joan followed me back home (no issues).  So, I didn't get my morning bike ride in.

These days, I ride early; for the enjoyment of the ride, but also to keep the batteries charged up.  The heat is hard on batteries, and this is a pretty small battery in the Burgman.  It did start right up with no issue before I left the house; I would have thought that riding it would have charged it even more, but I guess this battery is a goner.

Not the first time Joan has come to my rescue, but not because of a bike issue for a lot of years.  Needless to say, it is fortunate that I wasn't further up the mountain (or out in the middle of the desert) where there is no phone service and miles from any shade.  It must be the good, clean living.

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I had music with my local guys today.  Yeah, we played loud - it's what we do.  In the grand scheme of things, I'd rather play quieter and have more emphasis on the vocals, but I am still "the new guy" so I go along.  And, I have fun with these guys.  It's a once every two weeks jam, but there are some songs we have down pretty tight. 

When I got back from that, I had a couple HOA things to deal with.  Seems that is a daily occurrence anymore.

And, to follow up on a comment from my buddy Earl regarding the battery: there are currently 4 things charging, and the Battery Tender is on the Burgman.  I'm lucky (or crazy enough) to get in a couple rides a week and generally trade off.  I've been paying more attention to my CTX lately, so it has probably been about 3 weeks since the Burgman got out on the road (although I have started it and let it run in between).  I will make it a point to moved the Battery Tender around on the bikes.

 

Touring...

 

It means different things to different people.  Back in the day, big road bikes were often referred to as touring bikes.  It might be what a performer does while playing multiple dates out.  Some people think of it as taking an extended journey.  For many, though, it means getting to a specific site, often led by a guide.

Today, we will be touring an Amazon Distribution Center.  Joan found this opportunity, asked if I was interested ("Absolutely!") and signed us up.  Its been on our agenda for a month now, and today is the day.

She is always interested in how things work.  When we went to the Gear Fest at Sweetwater Music years ago, our sales rep gave us a tour of the facility - besides the music store, stages, recording studios, I think the area that fascinated her most was their shipping and receiving area.  A lot of stacked storage, automated forklift-type things to get the higher stacked items, and conveyor belts to move it to stations where orders are boxed, then moved on to be loaded into trucks/trailers.

This should be interesting.  She was really hoping to get a tour at the Amazon facility in Tolleson, where they make some deliveries using large drones - no tours available there.  Yet.

Amazon gives you guidelines on what to wear and info that you will be walking a mile or more, including some stairs.  No cameras or video recording devices, but we can take our phones.  No loose clothing or jewelry.

I'll post more on this later.

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So, how was the tour?

Interesting.  The take away: with this being just one of their Fulfillment Centers, you really appreciate how HUGE Amazon is.

On the way there, a pickup passing us on I-10 kicked up a rock into our windshield... big ol' star chip.  "I guess we'll see what can be done with that after the tour."

We were at the Amazon building early...

 Going inside, there are a bunch of entrances that require a ID badge to scan to open the doors.  No sign about the tour.  Just this...

 A guy from Security came over and told us: "Just wait out here - someone will be out to take the tour in."  We were the first ones there, and over the next half hour or so about 25 people showed up to take the tour.

You can't take photos or video, have to leave your phone "in your pocket, with the camera facing in."  Their house, their rules.  The guy leading the tour took us to an employee lunch room where we got fitted up with headsets that provided hearing protection with duplex audio, so you could hear him and ask questions.  Good thing, because it is loud in there. 

The guide took us to several different areas in this massive building (he called it "The largest building in Goodyear; about the size of 14 football fields.  Four levels.  Everything tracked by computer and much of it that seemed random.  I expected bins of stuff, with people picking stuff out of those bins and putting it in boxes on conveyor belts.  Not even close... conveyances that look like tall racks of bins arranged in a huge cube, with a robot (think: a HUGE Rumba) underneath that propels it around like a 40 lane urban interstate highway.  More conveyor belts, ramps, and circular slides than I could have imagined, and fewer workers.  Don't get me wrong, there were scads of workers, but an endless mass of items and packages moving all around.

We walked a lot, stood and watched a lot, climbed stairs, walked some more, stood some more.  The tour attendees asked some interesting questions, some moderately stupid questions, and tried to remain in "two single-file lines"... some of these people obviously never had to line up for anything.

After about 90 minutes of that, we were ushered back to the area where we came in, asked if we wanted him to take photos of us...

 Then, back out into the blazing sun.  I have a new appreciation for what happens after you click "Buy Now."

We went out for lunch, during which I called SafeLite to see what it would cost to get a big windshield chip repaired.  You have to wade through their 800-number that gets you to a centralized booking center - it took 15 minutes just to find out that they charge $165 dollars to repair one chip.  Pass.

We stopped for fuel (cheaper on this end of town... and will be even cheaper next year when a HUGE Buc-ee's opens in Goodyear).  Do I seem to be using the word "HUGE" a lot in this post?

From there, I drove to that SafeLite business to see if they really charge $165 for one windshield chip.  The nice lady at their front desk said, "That is kind of the going rate."

To which I replied, "No, it really isn't."

To which she replied, "Well, that is what the national office tells us, but since you are here in person, we can do it for $64."  Yeah, $101 less than what I was quoted on the phone.  I asked how soon we could get in, and it a bit of luck, the guy at the counter next to me was cancelling his 3:00 appointment.  The nice lady said, "How about right now?"

It took about 40 minutes (as estimated) and the tech brought out my keys and took us out to the car to show me the repair.  I'm satisfied.

Yeah, all this kinda ate up the whole day.

 

It's Hump Day...

 

If this brought memories of the camel saying, "Mike, Mike, Mike, guess what day it is..." you get 10 bonus points for having those good memories.

A variety of things today: HOA stuff for the first couple hours.  If there seems to be a lot of that happening right now, its because... there is a lot going on.

Jump in the shower and get ready to head to Mark's to make some music.  We picked up an Oregano's pizza on the way for the guys, and the ladies when out to Kneader's.  We have a show scheduled for August, so we're working on a set list for that.  Once a week is about the best we can do to get the time together.

When Joan and I got home, there was a package waiting for me.  Not a surprise - I knew it was coming.

"Is it a guitar, Jim?"

Seriously, do you think I need another guitar?  So... yeah, it's a guitar.  This is a different situation and a very different instrument.  The company that makes Aeroband Guitar (in case you want to look them up) sent me a guitar to do a video review.  They would like a "geezer perspective" (my words) on this very different instrument.  It is certainly not a guitar in the traditional sense - we all know what acoustic and electric guitars are, I would consider this to be a digital guitar.  The neck is detachable and there aren't traditional guitar strings on the fretboard; rather, there are silicone "strings" and frets that are mounted on the fretboard.  Sensors under that produce the sounds.  So, it only needs a light touch on those "strings" to get sound out of it.  There is a built-in speaker in the body of the guitar; or, it can be plugged in via a 1/4 guitar cable to an amp or an audio interface to connect to a computer.  This instrument has midi built in, so when connected to a typical digital audio workstation, you can produce any kind of instrument sound with this.  As it is, there are 5 different guitar models (3 acoustic, 2 electric), bass, piano, banjo (no, I don't know why), and a clavinet.  All at the press of a button on the headstock.

And speaking of headstock, there are no tuning keys on this - it is always in tune because it is digital.  Using the app that comes with it, there are a bunch of different tunings (drop-D, open-G, etc, etc), as well as being able to change the tuning as if you were using a capo, in half step increments - an octave up and another down.  There are drum tracks built into it, as well.

The app has songs in it you can play along with (doubt I'll be using that).  You can make adjustments to "the strings" (each individually) for sensitivity.

There are some things this can't do compared to a regular guitar: bend strings (since there are no actual strings on the fretboard); play harmonics (guitar players will know what I am talking about).  As you get close to a fret, you may get a "warble" in the note as it tries to determine where your finger wants to be.  There is no nut between the fretboard and the headstock, so your fingers can slide beyond the first fret (never had that happen on a typical guitar).

Here's the first look at opening the box...

 I figure it will take me at least a week to get down the technique to best play this and then shoot and edit a video.  I'll post something here when that happens.

Playing it for an hour or so this evening, it is a unique experience; certainly not like any other guitar I've played.  At first blush, I'd kind of compare this to a regular guitar as playing a Casio keyboard with a bunch of built-in sounds to a Hammond organ.

This should be interesting.

 

Where do the hours go??

 

An hour on the phone this morning with the HOA rep from our management company.  Lots to go through in the near term.  It is a period of adjustment when we continue the move from the developer being the HOA to an actual board elected by the homeowners.  There is a lot of information that needs to get distributed so homeowners understand why CC&R rules haven't been enforced for the 4 years this community has been here.

Then, this afternoon, interviewing attorneys to determine who will be the best fit for advising and representing the association.  I've read that some (very few) homeowners think we are hiring an attorney to "go after" violators or to try to force people into compliance.  Absolutely not true; we are looking for legal guidance so we know things are being done properly as we work into this new role.

As I've said before, people love to hate HOAs... and lawyers... and rules of which they are clearly in violation.  So, we move deliberately and with the majority of homeowners in mind.

And more time going through bids for services for the community.  With an annual budget that serves 367 homes, it's a lot.

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Other things got done during the day.  Of course, Murphy got some outdoor time, especially after showing this face while on the couch, waiting for me to get off the phone...

 And Joan wanted some help taking down and disassembling our largest patio umbrella, looking for any missing bolts.  Yeah, she found a bolt in the yard, right by the umbrella - makes sense that is where it came from...

 Didn't find where any missing bolts should go.  Another time, we'll look at the underside of our patio furniture.

I remember the olden days of sailboat racing, where some snarky competitors thought it was potentially unnerving to toss a loose bolt or screw onto the deck of another boat, right at the base of the mast.  Yeah, that would get your attention!  Pretty sure we don't have any patio umbrella competitors, though - just trying to stay on top of things.

Also, each of the bikes got run today.  Not ridden, but run enough to juice up the battery and bring the oil up to operating temperature.  Yes, it would be more fun to ride them, but you have to do what time allows.

 

Dirty, Rotten Thieves...

 

I got a text around 6:00am this morning from a fellow board member: she and her husband were out walking their dog and saw that a backflow that controls the water flow to the irrigation in our community park was spewing water.  Some thieves ripped the heavy metal cage off the backflow and had tried to cut it with a Sawzall... they must have gotten interrupted, because they didn't get away with the backflow.

But, they did plenty of damage in the process.

I met Shannon there, I turned off the the valves on the backflow, but there was a lot of pressure built up in the lines - water still spewing.  Shannon and I divided calling duties: I called the Police while she got ahold of our managment company on their emergency after hours line.  Then, a call to Agave, the company that does our landscaping and takes care of the irrigation in our common areas.  A call to Backflow Pro that did the original install.

We waited onsite until Agave got there; fortunate that they had a crew 2 miles away.  That supervisor called in another guy to bring the proper tool to shut off the water at diversions valves that were located a ways from the backflow.  Water spewing stopped.

The backflow will need repairs, so Agave removed it so they could take it to their shop.  With that done, I went back home.  An hour later, I got a call from the Police officer who was at the scene; drove out to visit with him.  Nice guy; understood the situation, but didn't give me much hope on finding the people responsible.

So, a fun start to my Monday morning.

What's a backflow look like?  Thanks for asking...

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Most of my morning was taken up with dealing with the above situation.  The Police did come out and take the information; the officer was friendly, professional, but didn't give much hope that there would be anything they can do, since no one saw it happen.  That said, a police report in our neighborhood means we may get more patrols through here.

Posts made to inform other board members and homeowners.

Joan spent some time with me, going through landscaping bids that seem like a large amount of money to me.  Trying to compare things between the 4 making bids is complicated, but Joan helped me go through it all, outlining things in a way to make it easier to compare.  I have now spent hours on these bids... everyone should have a Joan, who is so organized and detail oriented.

It was nearly noon before I had a chance to get in the shower.  But, cleaned, shaved, and mostly ready to take on the day.  Yeah, after noon.  I chose to take a break and make some music: it is good mental floss for me... hard to be mulling over events and numbers when you're playing and singing.  A high point: Murphy hopped up next to me on his own...

 It makes my heart happy when the boy wants to sit by me... and is even better therapy than making music.  And that is saying a lot.

Maybe things will settle down for the rest of the week?  Hahahahahahahaha!

 

Still sorting and wading...

 

More HOA business.  Today was sorting through bids from landscapers so we can have an intelligent discussion with each of them next week.  The numbers are startling; well, at least to me.  People out there see a landscape crew two or three days a week and assume "It can't cost that much."  We have a large community-owned park, meaning weekly mowing and edging, "summer and winter" grass, trees and plants to be cared for, then add in all the other common areas in the community.

I think I may have choked a bit when I saw the value of just the trees in the common areas in the community.  Yeah, we want to take good care of those.  There are also trees and plants lining the streets in the community - all those need care and upkeep, too.

The cost for watering all this is a very big number, as well.  A common concern from homeowners is "What do we get for our HOA dues?"  These two things are a big portion of the budget.  Add in insurance, repairs,  and maintenance costs, and you have a good portion of the answer to that question.

Once again, Joan's organization and input is invaluable in sorting through all this.  I made notes for questions.  Tomorrow, I will contact some of the references these companies have provided.  And make some inquiries for locations where we might be able to have a Town Hall Meeting.

And the beat goes on.  And, on and on.

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And now for something completely different...

The weather.  "Oh, yeah - hot, blah, blah, blah, Jim."

No, not really.  It was only 93º here today.  Cloudy all day.  I actually had to turn up the temperature in the hot tub late this afternoon.  Murphy got to go out several times today, with no concern about burning his paw pads.  He got to see Dicha this afternoon, when they were both outside at the same time.

Stephanie was almost giddy about the overcast; she was hoping for rain.  Honestly, I think she would be happy living in Seattle during the winter.  We won't be following her there.  

Joan likes the desert, but she was happy to go outside late this morning and work on potting some plants.  And not come in fried to a crackly crunch.  (10 bonus points if you said, "Oh, you're referencing a Cheetos TV commercial from the 70s.")

All in all, a nice break from the triple digit temps.  Another day in the 90s predicted for tomorrow.  It doesn't suck.  ;-)

 

 

Another day older and...

 

If you said, "Deeper in debt, from the song Sixteen Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford, written in 1946 by Merle Travis," you get 10 bonus points.  Only 10?  Yeah, it wasn't that long ago that this same song was mentioned here.

I am now a year and a day older.  As far as I know, no deeper in debt.  I had a good birthday.  Joan and I went out for lunch, finishing with a decadent dessert... it's been a while since I indulged like that, so it was a treat.  Steph and Dan came over last night.  Before that, I played some music for Joan and Murph, but the kids (??) got in on some when they first got there.  I had to explain how some sort of applause or cheering is expected after each song; yeah, they caught on.

And then the adoring...

Notice the shirt in the photo above - Joan had me open that gift first thing yesterday morning, so I could wear it - a "classic" from 1953... can't say I have all my original parts.  ;-)  The thing I am holding in the photo below is a remote temperature read out - for the hot tub.  I have to do a bit more fussing with the tub this time of year to keep the temperature cool enough to soak.  This will be very handy, to know if I need to open the cover or turn the heater in the hot tub up or down.

And, some no sugar brownies instead of a cake (my request).  No way to put that many candles on a browning, so...

 It was a good day.

 

It's a marathon, not a sprint...

 

"You think you're fit enough for that, Jim?"

Thanks for asking.  My idea of working out is when I flip my underwear up with my feet so I can catch them and put 'em in the hamper, without having to bend down when I take them off.  You do that, too?  I had a sneaking suspicion I am not alone in this.

Regarding the title here, I am talking about last night's HOA board meeting.  Starting at 5:00 with an executive session to hear appeals from several owners, then going right into an open meeting on Zoom with homeowners able to watch and participate.

There was a lot to go through, the most significant being the consideration of a new landscaping company.  This is not a matter of having someone mow the lawn in the park - bids from 4 different companies were all in excess of $150,000.  Surprisingly, this topic received little discussion from the homeowners; the big topic there was street parking and hiring a dog poop removal company.  Yes, really.

I had done my homework beforehand...

 Over 200 pages of bids to sort through and compare, agenda to set, CC&Rs and Design Guidelines to consult.  Joan helped me sort through it and get the info arranged so it was easier to absorb and have it collated so I could refer to it during the meeting.

The meeting started at 6:00 and ran until after 9:00, with no breaks.  I think it went well.  Of course, there are comments allowed during the meeting.  Most were encouraging, one guy thinks we are probably the Antichrist.  So, yeah, the usual.  I did my job as president to keep things moving, encourage votes, manage comments, and keeping order.  As expected, about 10% of the homeowners participated.

Joan occasionally poked her head into the music room (where I was set up at my desk) to make suggestions and offer water and support.  And then fixed us something to eat before going to bed.  It was along day and evening.

And now this morning: Happy Birthday to me.  Yep, completed another trip around the sun.  I should be dizzy from all those revolutions.  ;-)  Joan and I will go out for lunch and then get together with Steph and Dan this evening, for a proper amount of adoring the old guy.

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Joan and I went out for lunch.  I got a phone call during lunch from our HOA management rep: the crazy guy who is going out of his way to create havoc asked for a list of all homeowners, including addresses, and asked the rep how to go about filing a complaint against the board and the HOA with the Arizona Department of Real Estate.  She had to tell him she couldn't help him because she has never had to deal with that before.  He is soliciting "donations" to hire an attorney to bring suit against the HOA because of a discussion about the CC&Rs and parking.  He is the admin for a Facebook Group from our community (not vetted) so he has a social media platform.  Of course, the board has done nothing illegal or even remotely shady, but he can get on his FB Group and call us liars and declare "Fines Coming!", even though nothing has been done regarding that.  And then declare that we are causing "division" within the community.  For full disclosure, this guy sent me 38 private messages through Facebook yesterday morning in a 2 hour period.  Hopefully, people can see through his actions, while the board will be retaining legal counsel.  So... no good deed goes unpunished.

Lunch was good.  ;-)

 

Board...

 

Not to be confused with "bored" or a chuck of lumber.  I am talking about being on the HOA board of directors.  We have a board meeting this evening, where we will be deciding on some individual homeowner's appeals, mostly having to do with fines and late fees (in executive session), and then an open board meeting (on Zoom), where I expect there will be homeowners getting their pitchforks and torches ready.

Yes, that is humor.

We are a community and there will always be topics that we don't all agree on.  My goal as president of the board was to resolve issues without anyone having to be disagreeable.  And, of course, the main purpose of the board: to run the business of the community.  It is that "main purpose" that most people don't seem to care much about.  We have community expenses, the largest of which is common area landscaping and watering.

Some people don't care for the job the current landscaping company is doing.  Experience has shown me that this will always be a concern.  So, we have bids to consider regarding a landscape company.  We have a bid for a company to handle dog poop pickup and disposal... this should be a non-issue if people would just pick up after their pets.  People are going to complain when their HOA dues increase because we have to spend more money for landscaping or to pick up dog poop.

Every issue someone wants to "push," results in having to spend more money.  And still, someone is not going to be happy.  Then, you have a very small minority who will get on social media and threaten to sue or suggest that the board members should be recalled if an issue doesn't go their way.  I have joked that being an HOA board member rates right up there with being a dog catcher (not to be confused with Animal Control) in the public eye.

Some people think that, as board president, I can "make a proclamation" and they will get their way.  Of course, that's not how it works.  I have to put my personal opinions on issues on hold while we determine what will best serve the homeowners.  I would call the job thankless, but it is mostly indifference... until an issue comes up where people will take sides.

Currently, we are dealing with a parking situation in the community.  These homes all have garages that will hold between 2 and 4 vehicles.  Every driveway can accommodate 2 more vehicles.  The CC&Rs clearly state that homeowners should utilize those garages and driveways before parking on the street.  If everyone would follow those rules, the crowded parking on the street wouldn't be an issue.  But, some (many) people don't follow the rules, and wind up having 2 or more vehicles parked on the street while their garage(s) are full of stuff besides cars, and there are no cars in the driveway.  To complicate matters, the developer here gave the streets to the City of Phoenix.  And, parking on the street in our community of 367 homeowners is way down the list of priorities to the City of Phoenix.

The street parking means that on some streets, there is only room for one car at a time to pass.  It becomes a matter of public safety.  So, homeowners that follow the CC&Rs complain about those who don't.  And those who don't like to declare that the HOA doesn't control the street parking.

See the problem?  CC&R rules collide with City parking guidelines indifference.  In the end, the HOA is going to have to hire an attorney to determine how this should all play out.  That will cost the HOA more money.  People will complain that their HOA dues go up and they get nothing for that increase.  See that problem?

Homeowners who don't follow the parking rules set up in the CC&Rs have gotten violation letters from our management company.  They complain that they didn't get letters "when Lennar (the developer" was in charge."  And, that is true.  Lennar's purpose is to sell lots and build homes... knowing that at some point, they will turn over the running of the community to a new HOA.

Yep, we are the new HOA.  If you took a poll, I think you would find that most people do not have a good opinion of an HOA.  Because they don't understand the purpose of an HOA: to keep up the community, which will build their home value.  "I don't care about home value - I just want what I want, and I don't want to have to pay anything extra for it!"  Again, see the problem?

I was hoping to have a board that could work together and not be "punitive." My exact word.  I wanted to see an HOA board that would listen, evaluate, then make the necessary decisions.  It should be easy.  It isn't.  People have personal agendas.  Some of those people run for the board.  Some of those people get on social media and try to raise a fuss to sway people to their way of thinking.  So, decisions that should be common sense, and in the best interest of the community, have to be debated.  And, the public (rightfully) gets to weigh in.

And the beat goes on.  Wish me luck.

 

Big Fat Liars...

 

Talking about the weather weasels again.  Before going to bed, I checked weather... the "chance of precipitation" they were talking about was insignificant in the hourly forecasts.  I was more concerned about wind.  The wind was predicted to be single digit speeds through the night and all day today.

They lied.

The wind howled through the night.  In the light of day this morning, the plant stand that holds about a dozen pots had blown over.  Pots broke, plants and dirt spilled out.  More work for Joan.  I was concerned that the pop-up cover we have over the hot tub would be damaged, but it looks OK.  Joan had secured 3 of the 4 legs, and I put weights on all 4 feet.  The fabric top on it was making some noise in the wind, but it wasn't going anywhere.

Other potted plants blown over, but they were on the ground, so nothing broke.

Anticipating some rain, Joan put a second cover over the patio furniture last night.

The predicted high today is only 101º and more humidity.  

 

Pic me, pic me!

 

Typo?  Something to do with taking a photo?  Nope.  There is a brand of guitar pics that I have been using for nearly a decade.  They have one particular material I really like.  This model is $25.

"$25 for a guitar pic??  Are you kidding?"  No, I am not kidding.  I tried some different varieties of boutique guitar pics and this turned out to be my favorite.  This company came out with another line of pics that they labeled with the same name, but in different colors.  Only $8.  I tried them, thinking they must have come out with some way of using that material, but making them more efficiently.  Nope - those pics sounded dull.  I sent them back and got a refund, and stayed with my tried and true model.

This company, Gravity Picks (yes, they spell it with a "k") had a 20% off sale about 10 days ago.  I ordered a couple of my usual pics...

 They arrived last Saturday and when I opened the envelope, the pics were thinner than all the other 1.0mm pics I have received from them.  I could immediately feel the difference.  I present Joan with an older pic and one of these newer ones - without hesitation, she said, "This feels thinner."

I pulled out the digital caliper we have and it read: 0.69mm.  Yeah, that's thinner than 1.0mm.  I sent an email to the company and heard back from the owner Chris that same day: "Something isn't right there - we can fix this."

OK.  On Monday, I got another email from Chris, asking for photos of what my caliper read...

 .69 on one pic, .79 on the other.  I sent the photos to Chris.  His resolution: I need to zero out my caliper.  It measured 1.04mm on an older pic of the same model.  Also, "the model you received is not what you ordered."  These have a pointier tip.

For full disclosure, these new pics sound the same as my older favorite pics - they don't feel the same, and they are definitely thinner.  These new ones are glossier and don't feel as secure between my fingers.

I'll probably keep these, but I won't be buying any more from this company.  I'm sure they won't feel the loss of my business.  As a former businessman, I remember the saying: It is easier and more profitable to keep a customer than to try to convince a potential new customer.

I decided to follow his advice and zeroed out the caliper: 1.04 on an old pic, 0.60 on the new pics.  It isn't my imagination.

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After a lengthy email exchange, Chris is sending me out the right pics and in the "guaranteed" thickness.  It shouldn't have to be this much work to buy a couple guitar pics.

 

Out for a ride in the desert...

 

 

Mid-July.  When the high for the day is supposed to get to 108º.  It's been a week since I got out for a ride, so I was needing some two-wheel therapy.  Damn the heat, I just need to get out early.

It's been a couple months since I shot any video with the Insta360 X4, so I hooked that on the bike.  The editing for 360 footage takes longer, so this gave me the opportunity to see how the new MacBook Pro would do with some video editing... just fine, thanks for asking.  To be fair, though, it is a short video.

 Hope you enjoy riding along - I was happy to get out there.

Shot, edited, music and voice over added, and uploaded.  That's about an hour and a half for this 3 minute video.  It keeps me off the streets and out of the pool halls.

 

You're right...

 

It has been too long since I posted a Murphy photo.  Allow me to correct that...

 What can I say?  I think he is a very handsome fellow.

 

Smooth Move...

 

If you were thinking "Ex-Lax," you get 10 bonus points for having a sense of humor.

I have been kicking around a computer upgrade.  Of course, another Mac.  There were some good deals on MacBook Air laptops for Prime Days, but those same deals were available in person at Best Buy.  It was a strong consideration.  In the end, the attributes of the MacBook Pro won out... and Best Buy had it for $170 less than direct from Apple.  No downside that I can see.

The young lady (Katie) that helped us in Best Buy was knowledgeable and answered all our questions.  Joan was thinking this might be a "recon trip," since the model and configuration I wanted wasn't showing any in stock.  Katie pulled it up on her phone and said, "This is showing that we have 3 left - would you like me to get one for you?"  Good closer, too.  We walked out with a shiny new MacBook Pro.  In "Space Black."  Looks more like a graphite gray to me.  A change for me, since my previous MacBooks have all been some form of silver.

Katie touted the attributes of their "protection coverage," including the fact that they could do a transfer of everything from my current MacBook to this new one for free.  I assured her we could handle that.

When we got home, I set up the new laptop next to the old one, and started the "Migration" (what Apple calls the transfer).  I hold my breath when I do this... years ago (many) there was a glitch part way through a transfer and I lost some files.  This was painless; took about an hour and a half to get through the process (better than the 5 hours and 9 minutes it said at first).  All the files transferred, all the software checks out, and I only had to re-enter my log-in information on Photoshop (Adobe wants to be sure you aren't trying to use a single license on more than one machine at the same time).

Best Buy also had the best price for a trade-in on my old MacBook.  Joan doesn't want it, and I have no need for a second one, so a trade-in makes sense.  They want to you wipe the computer (eliminate all information on it) and make sure the registration for "Find My ____" is removed.  They can't re-sell it if it is still registered with Apple.  Katie suggested that we wipe the old computer first to make it easier to do the trade-in.  "Nope.  I'll transfer everything from the old one to the new one, check that everything is good with that, then wipe the old one."  She understood my reasoning.  While Katie was ringing up the new MacBook, Joan was on her phone starting the trade-in process with the old one.  If that goes as promised, this will have been a rather painless transition.

I started with the initial transfer...

 Then got my iPad into the mix...

 I took the time to back-up important files before starting the process.  That takes a while, too.

I did a test with some video and photos - this new computer is noticeably faster.  The screen is brighter.  It has a built-in SD card slot.  The keyboard feels better.  An M4 chip in the new one vs the M1 chip in the older one.  No complaints with the previous MacBook Pro - it is still working fine and the battery is healthy.  Nearly 5 years with that one, so it has served me well. 

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Music with my local buddies today.  We are very amplified and a harder edge than what I play with Mark and the guys.  Both very different experiences.  This is more of a jam, where with the MIM guys, it is mellower and more harmony, songs worked up.  Both groups are good players.  I enjoy the differences.

 

The Full Buck Moon...

 

The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from a number of places, including Native American, colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not solely to the full Moon.

The full Moon in July is called the Buck Moon because the antlers of male deer (bucks) are in full-growth mode at this time. Bucks shed and regrow their antlers each year, producing a larger and more impressive set as the years go by.

Several other names for this month’s Moon also reference animals, including Feather Moulting Moon (Cree) and Salmon Moon, a Tlingit term indicating when fish returned to the area and were ready to be harvested.

How it looked this evening (103º at 9:00pm):

Just coming up behind South Mountain...

 And, in its full glory...

 Yeah, it was hot out there while we were waiting for the moon to climb above the mountain.

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I tried some video with the DJI Pocket 3 - that didn't work out, but the camera did get this view of the lights in the yard with the moon...

 Joan has a lot of lighted things amongst the plants and flowers.

 

 

It's a new record!

 

Sounding like a broken record?  Yeah, pretty much.  The predicted high temperature yesterday was 117º.  The actual high reached: 118º.  2º hotter than the previous record of 116º.  The weather weasels on TV treat this like it is a competition, "celebrating" each new record high.

Global warming?  That term seems to set off some people on both sides of the issues.  Based on my non-professional observations, that seems to be the case; this are continues to top record highs.  "Extreme Weather Alerts" (when the temps are expected to top 110º) are happening more frequently.  Another one today, with a predicted high of 114º.

"A cool-off for tomorrow" - that is a quote... "only 110º."

It does affect day-to-day life: with the Extreme Weather Alerts, people are warned about "going outside after noon."  I feel for those who have to work outside.  Construction in the development southeast of us goes on; more activity early in the day.  By mid-afternoon, it tapers off.

Murphy is aware, too.  He likes to spend time outside, which means one of us will be out there with him.  So, early in the day and just before dark... but, early is better.  It was still over 100º at 10:00pm last night.

I try to keep up with the temperature on the hot tub.  The water temperature was 103º when I got in around 8:30pm; the outside air temp was 107º... you can't just turn on the tub and have the outside are temp help cool it down.  I even ran water from the hose into the tub... after letting the water run for a while to get the hot water in the hose and water lines out.  It didn't bring down the water temp in the tub.  I tried a new tack overnight: leaving the tub uncovered.  That worked: when I took Murphy outside this morning, the air temperature was 90º (at 6:30am) and the tub had cooled to 94º.

The hot tub is designed to have the cover closed when not in use.  To keep the water warm.  Also keeps the water cleaner.  But, you do what you have to do.

Is this all about one old guy grousing about the heat?  Well, it is my blog.  But it is a lot more than that.  Even the saguaro cacti seem stressed locally - there is a limit to how much heat they can endure, too.  And looking back where we used to live: the Gulf of Mexico is averaging 2º warmer than it was in 1970.  We all know that warmer water is providing more energy for hurricanes, but more than that, it puts more moisture into the upper atmosphere... which means more thunderstorms and potentially severe weather into states north of the Gulf.  Like the horrendous rains in Hill Country in Texas.  And the damaging storms in the mid-west and east.  "Tornado Alley" has moved east, as well.

It's all related.  The Earth has warmed and cooled over the eons.  We are certainly in a warming period right now.  That means more unstable weather.  "Unstable" - that seems to be a good term to describe Mother Nature these days.

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And, while we're talking about getting outside early and late in the day: the moon-rise over South Mountain was gorgeous last night.  No, I didn't shoot and photos or video.  Joan and I were out there with Murphy.  It was quite a treat to see the glow of light behind the mountain, followed by the moon-rise.  The actual full moon is today, so I may get around to shooting something this evening. 

  

I did it...

 

I was not swayed by the hype.  Or so I thought.

The MacBook I'm looking at was not on sale during the Prime Day (days?) Sale.  I did peruse some of the sale items.  And then I came across a lens I have been considering.  Really, I almost put it in my Amazon cart last week.  After all, I do have a birthday coming up next week.

Lo and behold: that lens is on sale during Prime Days.  $40 off the already good price.  Joan said, "That's your birthday present."  I'm good with that.  It's a 25mm lens for my Sony a6700.  Viltrox (the brand) - I first heard of that brand last year.  This particular lens gets good reviews.  Should be fast and easy to use with the a6700.

 It should be here in time for my birthday.

Swayed by hype?  Not really.  I was looking for a prime (nothing to with Amazon) lens in this general focal length to use when traveling... I like to shoot through the windshield.  May use it on the bike.  We'll see.  I was surprised to see this on sale, though - the price was already good, but expected to rise thanks to the tariffs.

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It's been about a month since Mark and I got together to make some music... I was gone, then he was gone.  Today, we remedied that.  It felt good to play some good ol' rock 'n roll, with harmony.  No new songs, just getting back into the swing of things.  Plus, it was good to see my friends, Mark and Cindy again.

 

 

It's finally here!

 

Did you have trouble sleeping last night?  The anticipation of what Ama Claus (Santa Prime?) might unveil for the Amazon Prime Days Sale?

 

Yeah, me neither.  I am considering an upgrade to my laptop, but the Apple Macbook Air has been "on sale" at Amazon and Best Buy for weeks.  I was hoping to see something better for Prime Day.  I have been going back and forth between the Air and the Pro... price difference, performance difference, screen difference, internal fan vs no fan, difference in ports, size, weight.  All the different configurations make it more of a challenge to get comparisons.

As far as the other stuff on the Prime Day Sales - yeah, I haven't really dug into it... maybe there's other stuff I didn't even know I need?!  I'm kidding.  A lot of hype.

 

 

Above Normal...

 

"Is that like Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average"?  If you said, "Garrison Keillor, from A Prairie Home Companion," you are close and get 5 bonus points as a "participation award."

I'm talking about our local weather weasels... "This will be hottest week of the year.  So far."  No shit, Shakespeare - every week will be "the hottest week of the year - so far" for the next couple months.  Average temperature here for this time of year is 107º.  For a newbie desert dweller, there is nothing normal about living just outside The Gates of Hell. 

To quote the late Sam Kinison and his rant on world hunger: "You live in the f****** desert!  Go where the food is!  We have deserts in America - we just don't live in them!"  Screaming Sammy was funny... not accurate, since about 4 million of us live in this desert in Phoenix... but funny.

 

That's not normal.  Why do people live in the desert?  To get away from "winter"?  People don't live at the North Pole.  'Cause they aren't stupid.  Apparently, living in the desert makes you stupid.  The weather weasels tell us: "You won't want to be outside after noon because there's an Extreme Heat Warning.  It will still be in the 90s through the overnight hours..."  Do we need to be told this?  Are there people here that are so stupid that they don't know you will spontaneously combust if you go outside after noon?

Normal.  At what point does all this "above normal" become normal?

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This is serious.  I like my hot tub.  As in: I use it almost every night.  I like to sit out there after dark and watch planes go by and enjoy the jets (the water kind, not the flying kind) on my my joints.  We are kinda on the flight path for Sky Harbor Airport for traffic coming in from the west.

The serious part: the temperature of the water.  I turn the temp down when its hot like this... 100º feels kinda cool (I keep it at 103º during the winter).  It's an EcoSpa and seems to be well-insulated.  It hold the temperature very steady when it is cool out.  In the heat, the tub is more affected by the sun pounding down on it.  With the temperature of the tub set at 100º, the water temp will climb to 104º or so in this heat... too hot to comfortably soak when the outside air temp is still in the upper 90s.

So, I adjust the temperature on it, as necessary - trying to determine how the heat and pounding sun will affect the water temperature.  I've been doing pretty good... until these over 110º temperatures.  Time to set up the pop-up kiosk over the tub...

It makes a difference.  Last night, the water temperature was 101º when I got in for a soak, around 9:30pm.

"So, why don't you just build a gazebo over the tub, Jim?"  I like the open air feel of where we have this - I can look straight up at the stars, look to the west to see air traffic, or watch the moon come up over South Mountain.  Even this pop-up kiosk cuts down a lot of that visibility, but at least I can take it down for the months it isn't needed.

Yeah, a "first world problem."  Last year at this time, we were gone: spending time in North Carolina, then Arkansas, then New Mexico.  We will be here in the desert for most of the summer this year, so I do what I gotta do.  And, I miss the hot tub when we aren't here.  Such a dilemma, huh?

 

A Trifecta!

 

I first used that term to describe the "attributes" that attracted Joan when we were teenagers (and horrified her parents): long hair, played in a band, and rode a motorcycle.  ;-)

It was a goal that was celebrated, but seldom accomplished, when driving the whale watch boats: 3 different species of whales in one trip.  Once or twice a season, if I was lucky.

Today, another type of trifecta: a different bike outing on 3 consecutive mornings.  Today, I took Joan's Xmax out.  The three bikes we have are very different; on both of mine, I feel like I'm riding in the bike... probably because they both have Corbin seats, which are scooped to give you more support on the backs of your thighs.  On Joan's bike, it feels like I am riding on the bike - I still taller, giving it a higher center of gravity.  One isn't necessarily better than the other, just different.  Cruiser bikes tend to have that "sit in" feeling, and sport bikes are more "sit on."  Just an observation.

The Xmax has more power and grunt than my Burgman; less than the CTX.  So, they each provide a different riding experience.  The Xmax is the sportiest of the three.  

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Before getting out on the bike, Murphy and I had some morning-time together outside.  This is his "S-up?" (What's up?) look...

 I think we all slept good last night.  I didn't hear another intense round of fireworks at midnight.  Walking the yard this morning, I found one cardboard tube - the remnants of one of the aerial displays.  I was surprised that there was only one, considering how many went off so close.

Happy Birthday, America...

 

249 years old.  No doubt, others before me have said, "I don't if this country can take much more of this crap."  But, this blog has never been about the politics.  Heck, it seems to me that humanity may be trying to make itself extinct.  I digress.

I feel like I should eat a hotdog, maybe some apple pie; go to a drive-in theater and watch some fireworks.  You know, like the good old days.  'Cause that's what you used to do on the 4th of July.

These days, I'm good to not be around crowds.  Too many stupid people.  Stupid people, alcohol, and fireworks... what could go wrong?

I digress again.

I got out on the CTX this morning.  A couple degrees warmer and about 20% more humidity than yesterday at the same time.  The CTX is a different kinda bike from Burgman.  Today was a different kinda ride.  Being the 4th of July, I was expecting more traffic up on the mountain.  Before I left, Joan said, "Ride safe - there's likely going to be a lot of people out there."  Yep.

Riding into the Park & Preserve, this sign is a sign of that...

 A view of the city would be spectacular from Dobbins Lookout at the top - you would be able to see fireworks all over the Valley.  But, they have to completely close the park because of stupid people (and fireworks and alcohol).

I didn't bring a camera with my today, but I did shoot a few things with my phone...

 The park was a lot busier today (as expected); yesterday, I saw one other motorcycle - today, there was at least 30.  Plenty of people on bicycles, too.  I rode different today - yesterday, I had the road pretty much to myself, and I may have bumped my adrenaline level a bit.  I was more deliberate today, expecting the unexpected.  I waved a couple Harley riders around me on my way up the mountain... I was enjoying the scenery, the feel of the bike, listening to some tunes in my helmet, and not "pushing it."  On the way down the mountain, I waved a kid on a Honda Monkey (a little 125cc bike) around.  I made it easy for each of them to pass.  Unlike a couple guys on bicycles who rode side-by-side, filling the whole lane.  It was easy enough to get around them, when I had enough forward visibility after a curve; but, they were slow and not about to make it easy for anyone to get around them.  Their problem - I was just enjoying being out.

I stopped at the top of the mountain to re-hydrate.  Stopped once more on the way down to take that photo of the bike (above) and a couple scenery shots...

 Just a nice holiday day to be out, enjoying the ride and the scenery.  And, feeling like a grown-up motorcycle rider.  :-)

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I keep hearing on TV and in the media that "times are tough for the typical American family."  Based on the amount of money that went up in smoke tonight just in our community, you wouldn't know it.  Yeah, I'm talking about fireworks.  The regulations in Phoenix: "any fireworks that launch or explode are generally illegal in Phoenix, except for supervised public displays with a permit."

There were a LOT of launched aerial displays happening, every direction around us.  Just after dark settled in, it sounded like a fire-fight in a war zone out there.  I enjoy a public fireworks display, put on by professionals.  In a safe manner, at an advertised time.  All the commotion out there tonight was not that.

"Aw, Jim, don't be such a curmudgeon - people are just enjoying the holiday."  Yep... an evening of drinking and amateurs with explosives - what could possibly go wrong with that??  I was soaking in the hot tub when the people one lot behind Steph and Dan shot off a dozen loud aerial displays.  Yes, the kind that aren't legal in Phoenix.  Pretty, but obnoxiously loud while they were going off right over the top of our house.

10:30pm currently, and the fireworks competitions are dropping off.  The regulations say that people can set off fireworks "until 1:00am on July 5th."  Hopefully, I will be asleep way before that.

Murphy didn't pay much attention to all the noise, other than looking around when the sound was really close.  I had checked with Steph and Dan earlier to see how their critters were doing - nobody was fazed.  I know some animals panic with all the noise... poor babies.