Half a Century...

 

Is that how long since you updated your jokes, Jim?

Funny... not.

Today is son-in-law Dan's birthday.  His 50th birthday to be more specific.  Yes, there was a party at work, with people all wearing black.  Then, this evening, Steph made supper for us, and we celebrated with the 4 of us.

Lots of presents and cards...

 Perhaps a few reminders of the rather harsh card Dan gave Joan years ago.  Nobody remembers what it said, just that it was one of those "you're so old..." kinda things.  So, yeah, a faint memory that gets brought up at every birthday celebration.  ;-)

Dan is a good guy.  I have probably (?) made jokes about him being like "the son I never wanted," but he is very much a cherished part of our family.  And not just because he keeps Stephanie from being "a crazy cat lady."  Yeah, more jokes.  'Cause that's also a part of the family.

Joan put up a bunch of "50" related signs around their house, including one on the front door so they'd see it when they got home from work.  There was a placard of things that happened or were popular "50 years ago"... Stephanie and I may have broken out in song with each of the "most popular songs" mentioned.

It was a nice evening.

 

Another Day, Another Regional Park...

 

I got the RoadTrek out yesterday to get the oil changed.  I was missing driving that thing.  So, today, Joan and I took it out for lunch.  While we were having lunch, she said, "There is a Regional Park we haven't been to, and it's less than a half hour from here - want to check it out when we're done with lunch?"

"Absolutely!"

The park is Usery Mountain Regional Park (near Mesa).  When Joan said "Usery," I heard "usury"... which means the illegal practice of lending money at unreasonable interest rates.  No, not the same.

This is a nice mountain park: plenty of hiking trails, a Nature Center, group campgrounds (primitive), a developed campground with electric and water at each site and a dump station.  This would be a fun overnight sometime when the weather is a bit cooler.

A few photos...

 The cacti and low brush is all looking nicely green after our recent rains.  Here's a shot of Joan hamming it up with a cactus on our way into the Nature Center...

 Fun day-tripping in the van today!

 

Let's cut to the video...

 

If you said, "Every sports broadcast," you get one bonus point.

Here's a short video of the HoverAir X1 following behind the CTX yesterday...

 To be fair, it would be nice if it would follow at a higher speed, but this technology is pretty impressive (to me).  I am thinking the X1 Pro will be great for "B-roll" on any of our travel videos - setting the scene, transitions between scenes, and some variety compared to "point of view" photos and videos.

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I got together with Podge and Ron today, to make some music.  This is the first time those two have played together, so it was a treat to watch them interact; they are both good guys.  I think this is the most songs I've gone through in a rehearsal - everything on a set list plus some additional tunes.  A good time.

 

Got Out This Time!

 

Almost as cool to start the day, compared to yesterday.  I just wanted to go for a ride.  I put some camera and drone gear in the trunk and headed out.  Leaving at 8:40 in the morning was good timing: the traffic heading to work and school on Dobbins was very light.  And up on the mountain, also very little traffic...

 

I rode part way up the mountain before mounting a camera and turning it on; the Insta360 X4 this time... but the HoverAir X1 stayed in the trunk.  Until I got to the upper parking on the mountain.

 

I did a couple short Zoom Out flights, then a Follow around the parking area.

 Time to make a decision: should I try a Follow behind me on the road?  Yeah, let's go for it!  I hooked up the beacon on my handlebars, fired up the X1 Pro, then down the road.  Slowly.  I had to come almost to a stop once to see if it was still back there.  It was.  Then off, being careful to keep the speed down for this first test on a twisty road...

 Then, a stop and having the X1 Pro land on my hand...

 

Yes, it seems to be working as it should.  I may work up the nerve to try it a bit faster next time.  ;-)

I'll be working on the video.  Busy day tomorrow, so it may be Thursday or Friday before I get to it.

A couple stills from the X1 Pro...

It's a Beautiful Morning...

 

If you said, "A song by the Young Rascals, 1968, on the album Time Peace: The Rascal's Greatest Hits, and the song reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100," you get 25 bonus points.  Partial credit will be given for partial correct answers.

Yes, it is a beautiful morning here in the desert: 70º at 7:30 am.  Murphy was enjoying time outside...

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Wasn't meant to be...

Since it was a refreshingly cool morning, I thought it would be good to get out for a ride.  And, maybe take the HoverAir X1 Pro along... in case there wasn't much traffic on the mountain, I could see how it would do following the bike on a twisty road.

I put a 360 camera on one of the bike mounts, connected the beacon from the HoverAir to the bike, geared up, and hit the starter... it clicked.  I have had the Battery Tender on the Suzuki, but I was planning to take the CTX today.  I got out the jumper battery and the bike fired right up.

Joan was going to close the garage door for me, but when I got on the bike, she said, "Wait a minute!  There's something under your bike!"

She pulled out this...

 

I have been all over this bike at different times, but I don't recall seeing a bolt this size.  A definite WTF moment!  Joan brought out a mirror and I started looking all over the bike... nothing looks out of place.  It is somewhere in size between the large bolts for the swing-arm, and the bolts I used to install the center stand.

No way was I taking this bike out and running it on twisty roads until I could determine where this bolt goes.  I rolled the bike out into the driveway, where I could get plenty of light on it.  Crawled all over the bike, and... nothing looks out of place.  I looked around the Suzuki, which is parked next to the CTX.  Nothing.  I put the garage door down and looked at all the bolts on the tracks and the opener.  Nothing.

With the plan of getting out for a ride put off, I put on full armor gear and took the bike for a "test ride" around the neighborhood.  Nothing unusual.  Yeah, the creeps me out and certainly doesn't instill confidence it taking the bike out.

So... no ride today.

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I would like to say I found where the bolt was missing, but Joan is more nimble and flexible than I am - she is my hero.  It is from the centerstand I installed 3 years ago.  I ran to Ace Hardware and picked up another nut (nyloc this time and Lock-tite added).  I picked up some irrigation line stoppers for Joan while I was there.

Back home, I got the necessary wrenches and the Lock-tite out, and slithered as far under the bike as I could.  Joan took some photos...

 Time and grunting - it is in a place where I can't see it, so working by feel.  It is up close to the exhaust pipe, so an open wrench is the only way to turn the nut, and enough room for a 1/4 turn at a time.  I could say I was patient, but that would be a big fat lie - my neck and back were hurting from the position, but I didn't want to have to mess with this again.  It just takes time.

A very sincere thanks to my Honey for finding the spot where that bolt belongs!

  

Winding Down...

 

Sunshine this morning.  Joan and I took Murphy outside; he got to wander around while the humans started putting the patio area back together.  There is a chance that last night's rains were the winding down of the Monsoon Season.  I took this photo around sunset, with a rain shaft on the far side of South Mountain, heading this way...

 Monsoon Season traditionally wraps up September 30th.  That said, Mother Nature will do what she wants.  Example: there was a lot of flooding in Arizona on Friday, the 26th, with the heavy rains.

With this forecast...

 ... we set up patio umbrellas again, and put the cover back on top of the pop-up kiosk over the hot tub.  Added bonus: it was 70º outside when we got up this morning.  Refreshing.  Maybe we'll take the covers off the patio couch and chairs?  Nice to sit out there with a guitar in the morning.

 

Second Verse, Same As The First...

 

If you said, "A line from the Herman's Hermits song 'I'm Henry the VIII, I Am,' 1965," you get 15 bonus points.  Peter Noone calls out this line between the first and second choruses to indicate the lyrics are being repeated.  The phrase can also be used more broadly to mean that something is continuously repeating itself, often with annoyance, like a broken record.

And that brings us to this post.  I got a phone call at 7:25 this morning - it was Steph.  When I answered, she said, "Could you give us some help?  Go to our laundry room and bring a bunch of towels to our front door."  For some perspective, the rain had just starting pounding a few minutes before that.  No sprinkle to start - just an immediate hard-pounding rain.  Yes, Steph and Dan were out walking Dicha.

When Joan and I got to their front door, they were outside, drenched.  There is a covered entrance to the house, so they were out of the rain, but already soaked to the skin.  Literally.  When Steph took off her shoes and socks out there, she wrung out her socks.  Understandably, they didn't want to come into the house until they had a chance to dry off themselves and the dog.

By request, there are no photos.  But I can accent this post with: wet dog smell.

In case you didn't pick up on my drift, more rain predicted for today and tomorrow, occasionally heavy.  This burst was heavy. 

Fortunately for Murphy, we got him outside earlier.  That may have to hold him for the day.

 

A Change For The Little Guy...

 

Something different with Murphy?  No; I call him my "big boy," but other than a new cat toy yesterday (catnip is involved), Murphy has a routine... and he is very content with that.

I'm talking about my "little" guitar - the Emerald X7.  I have had Nashville Tuning strings on it for several months.  And while I like that jangly tone with those strings, I miss having that size guitar with the real guitar sound.  So, time to change those strings...

 I have an emotional attachment to this guitar.  It was my second carbon fiber guitar, the first Emerald.  It is small in size, but doesn't sound small.  24" scale, so it is less of a reach for my aging fingers; a thinner body depth than my other acoustics, so it fits nicely against my body.  It has traveled more than any of my other current acoustic guitars... from Maine to California, Tropical Tip of Texas to the San Juan Islands (between the US and Canada in the Pacific Northwest).

String change time is also a good time for a thorough neck and fret cleaning.  Guitars do gunk up on the neck: sweat and skin from your fingertips... um, TMI again?  

 Over the years, I have accumulated gear that makes this process quicker: a small pair of wire cutters that also are good for lifting out bridge pins...

 And, an electric string winder - which is really just a slow adjustable speed battery-powered screw driver with a bit that fits over the tuning keys.  It makes that winding task faster and easier.

And when done, I spent some time playing with my little friend - it sounds big again.  :-)  If I talk about each of my guitars like they have a personality, it's because they do.  Each of them has a different tone and fills a niche.

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This afternoon, it was the once-every-two-weeks jam with my local guys.  Yes, we're loud; but we play songs that are appropriate for loud.  No video today, but I did grab a couple quick photos with my phone...

Left to right (above) - that's Tony, Allan, and Roland.  And below, Allan, Roland, and Joe...

Bob, on keyboards below...

Yours truly, with a pick in my mouth, trying to get myself in a photo, too...

Allan and Roland...

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Another update for the HoverAir X1 Pro: this latest update allows Voice Command for flying the X1 Pro.  There are heavy thunderstorms all around the area (yes, I got rained on coming back from Allan's this afternoon), so I couldn't try out the X1 Pro outside, but here's a screen capture from a video taken with the drone flying on Voice Command.  In the house.  Without whacking into anything.

 Is it really raining that hard?  Yes, currently coming down pretty heavy...

 Last I saw on the local news update (some areas around Phoenix are experiencing flash flooding), there was over 1" of rain so far today; that's more than we've had for this monsoon season to date (June 15 through September 30).

One of the guys (Roland) at music today got hail damage on his car on the way to Allan's house.  I was concerned about hail when the rain was pounding at different times today.  Reports of it around the area.  Roland gave us first hand reporting.

An inch of rain in the Tropical Tip wasn't a big deal.  Here in the desert, the ground can only absorb so much, so flash flooding is a concern.  More rain forecast for the next two days.

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A rain tally for the day: just over 2" here in Laveen.  That is a bunch of rain in one day for the desert.  The local news was full of flooded streets videos.  Some showing cars being towed because they stalled out in the water that was half way (or more) up their car doors.  The saying they promote here: Don't Drown - Turn Around.

Seems like common sense to me.

 

 

I was just informed...

 

That today is "National Daughter's Day."  Yes, by Stephanie.  Apparently, this is the day that people need to make a public proclamation that they appreciate their daughter.  Here's mine: "Yeah, she's OK."

If you are feeling the need to tell me how cool she is, I have this for you: "Yeah, you just don't know her."

OMG, Jim, how can you say that??!!  Stephanie adores you!  That is going to crush her spirit, even if you are just joking!

Allow me to elaborate: years ago, when Steph was in high school, and I was doing senior portraits for many of her classmates, one of them said to her, "Hey, I just got senior pictures taken yesterday - your ol' man is pretty cool."

To which she replied, "Yeah, you just don't know him."

I have waited a long time to say that.  ;-)  And also: she knows how adored she is.  I demonstrate it every day.  There isn't a kid on this Earth that has gotten more love and support.  Need I remind you that Joan and I moved from the lush Tropical Tip to the blazing desert... because Stephanie lobbied for this.  For years.

I have told her since she was little that "Parents have kids until they have a perfect one, and then they quit."  And that's why she is a one and only.  Some have opined: "Or, you traumatized your parents so bad that they said, 'Well, we won't do that again!' "  ;-)

I think Stephanie knows how much she is adored... but, if necessary, I will repeat: "Yeah, she's OK."

 She hasn't hardly changed at all. :-)

 

Another Music Wednesday...

 

Coming up today: music at Mark's with "the big group."  Except today, we will be minus Danny, the bass player.  So, 5 guys with guitars.  Is that too many guitars?  Probably, but these are all good guys and we're making music for the fun of it.

Danny is under the weather, and I know we will all miss the friendship and humor he brings.

I know Mark enjoys it when we can be "a garage band," because of the open space.  His living room is large, but when you get 5, 6, or 7 guitar players in there, with equipment, it can get a bit snug.  Today is supposed to have a high of 106º, so we need to be in air conditioned comfort.

Joan will sometimes come along, so she and Cindy can make an afternoon of it, but we have workers coming to the house today - another try at fixing our patio door.  I think this is the 6th attempt, including a replacement of the door and jam that was done not long after we moved in.  It is a very secure door, but it seems "fussy," because of that.  Hopefully, this will be the last of dealing with this.

This will be my first time using the new multi-effects pedal outside my music room.  I am looking forward to giving it a good shake-down.  It sure sounds good here at home.  I've tried it with 3 different amps/PAs, and going with the most portable one today: a Bose S1 Pro.

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We had a good time with the music today.  We missed our buddy, Danny, but we all took turns playing bass.  One of the guys (Gil) had never played bass before... yes, he did a fine job with it, and seemed to enjoy the experience.  Ron and I traded off on my guitar and percussion.  Percussion in this case being a cajon and/or those "air drums" (drumsticks and foot switches).

A good time.

And back home in time to take care of all the cats in the house(s) for supper.  Steph and Dan had to work late and they have a concert tonight (Benson Boone).  Interesting thing today: I mentioned Benson Boone to the guys, and no one had heard of him.  Even I know who he is, and not because he is one of Steph's current favorites... he's the guy who did a backflip off his piano at the Grammy Awards this year.  ;-)

 

 

 

Providing Security...

 

"Tell me this has nothing to do with the President and Vice President being in Phoenix on Sunday."

This has nothing to do with any of that.

I am speaking of family security.  And, no, before you ask, it has nothing to do with weapons of any kind.  Well, I should define "weapons."

I was thinking about this while in the shower this morning (shower thoughts?)... not one time since Murphy has been a part of this family have Joan or I been attacked while in the shower.  After seeing the movie Psycho as a youngster, I thought being attacked while in the shower would be more of an issue.

The reason for this safety: Murphy is providing security - right at the bathroom door.  Open or closed, no one is going through to do us harm while in the shower.

 

For full disclosure, Rufus also provided this security service.  I don't remember the girls (Smoke, Molly, and Izzy) doing that, but they always were there to rub your legs while sitting on the toilet.  (TMI?)

The "weapons" I alluded to above are the murder claws and fangs.  Rufus had fangs like a saber-tooth tiger; Murphy's fangs are smaller, but just as capable of tearing out a bad guy's jugular.  Or fighting off a grizzly.  Or, a moth.  Any creature that might consider an attack on his Mom and Dad.  Always on the job.

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Adjustments...

"You went to the chiropractor, Jim?"

Oh, so close.  But, no.  After lunch and In & Out, Joan is working on a couple sewing projects, and I wanted to try some different camera settings on the HoverAir X1 Pro.  The auto settings do a decent job, but I need to "tweak" the image results, generally making them a it darker... meaning they are slightly over-exposed.  Wanting to keep most of the settings "auto," I changed the exposure compensation to -0.7... shooting both stills and video tests, that seems about right...

 For full disclosure, most of the images that I post here get a "tweak" in exposure, color balance, and contrast; it takes a few seconds with each image, so no big deal.  The image above didn't have any of those tweaks.  The image below is before making that exposure compensation...

 And then, "tweaked"...

 The closer the exposure to ideal, the less "tweaking" necessary.

 

Equinox...

 

Talking about your Chevy crossover SUV?  No, but we really like that vehicle.  It can haul a bunch, is comfortable to drive, and rather sporting with the turbo.  But, I digress.

Today is the Autumnal Equinox...

 To be specific, it happens here at 11:19am today (Mountain Standard Time).  Relatively equal amounts of daylight and dark.  In fact, the term equinox means: equal night.  This is the time that the sun is lined up with the equator as the Earth does its tilting on its axis thing.  The start of astronomical fall in the northern hemisphere.

This event is also a time for various cultural and natural celebrations, including harvest festivals like Mabon, traditions of giving thanks, and observations of nature's shift toward winter.  Here in the desert, it is the hope that we are moving away from those scorching summer temperatures.  Yes, we're occasionally seeing the high for the day dipping below 100º.  Not cool by any means, but it's a start.

Happy Autumnal Equinox!  No, this has nothing to do with anything pumpkin spice.

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A Costco run today.  Seems that we go to Sam's Club more often than Costco... but I really like the whole feel of Costco much better.

As we came into Costco, a sign for the HoverAir X1 Pro/Max caught my eye - under my breath, I said to myself, "I'm going to be pissed if it is cheaper here than what I just paid a couple weeks ago."  Fortunately, it was the same price as direct from Hover or on Amazon.

A guy standing next to me asked, "Do you know anything about these?"

"Well, since you asked..."  We had a nice discussion.  He wants a drone, but he wants it easy and no fussing with "getting permission" to fly it.  Yes, with some drones (over 250 grams and with GPS), you have to get clearance to fly it, depending on where you are and what you're close to.  I ran into that with the DJI Mavic Mini I had, and it was a pain.  With this Hover, you just pull it out, and within about 30 seconds, you're ready to fly.  Oh, sure, you still have to know and follow the rules, but there isn't the fuss as with a heavier drone.

He had a lot of questions - Joan said to me, "You two visit, I need to shop on my own for a bit."  I answered a lot of this gentleman's questions.  He asked me if I knew anything about flying these compared to flying an actual airplane, mostly regarding air space.  Yep, I had answers for that, too.  Mike (my new buddy's name) and I had a nice visit.

We did our shopping and Joan asked about lunch (we hadn't had it, yet)... "I could be good with some fine Costco dining - and the good news is: they switched from Pepsi to Coke a few months ago."  She had a hot sandwich kinda thing, while I went for the gourmet: hot dog and a Diet Coke for $1.50.  I am a cheap date.  ;-)

One more stop, at Wally World, and back home around 12:45.  An Amazon package waiting for me: a wireless transmitter/receiver to replace a guitar cord.  It is a 2.4 ghz device, which means it may not work in a crowded wifi area (5 ghz is better for that), but the transmitter and receiver will always be close to each other for my use.  And the price was right.  (Joan found a good deal on a returned one - and it has all the original packaging and paperwork.  And, it functions just fine.

I spent the next hour trying my new multi-effects pedal (with the wireless transmitter/receiver) into an amp and a PA.  Tones that sounded good through my headphones needed a bit of tweaking for "live sound."  Joan recommended: "Work with it an hour a day or so until you are completely comfortable with it."  It worked out that way today.  'Cause I'm all about obeying.  Don't get me started on that.

I get together with Mark and the guys on Wednesday, so I'll be able to try this stuff out "in action."  Here is a photo of the two components...

 Someone in Mooer's Product Development could use a talking to.  The model of this wireless set up is: Air P05.  The type font on the product looks like "P O S."  As in: the US slang for "piece of sh*t."  I'm hoping that won't turn out to be prophetic.  ;-)

 

 

 

I've looked at clouds from both sides now...

 

If you said, "From the song Both Sides, Now, by Joni Mitchell, written in 1966, released as a single in 1968," you get 15 bonus points.

I took Murphy out for a walk around the yard this afternoon.  It was pretty gray looking at the sky behind South Mountain.  After being out there a while, a look to the east showed this...

 And this...

 And then the long, low rumble of thunder.  Right now, it looks like South Mountain routed the storm clouds east of us.  Pretty dramatic clouds, though.

And after that rumble, Murphy gave me this look...

 

"I think maybe we should go inside, Dad."

"Good plan, Murph."