Liftoff!

 

A little late with the Artemis 2 stuff, Jim?  No, this was for a SpaceX launch to put some more Starlink satellites into low orbit.  The launch was scheduled for last night.  We kept an eye on it online.  Launching out of Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the bearing of any particular flight might take it where those of us in Phoenix can see it as it flies over.  Generally, 1 to 5 minutes after launch.  Yes, it is moving right along after launch.

Keeping an eye on the launch online...

 A Falcon 9 rocket; while cool to see it go over, these flights to put more Starlink satellites into low orbit have become almost routine.  We stepped outside right after the launch, and... nothing.

After 5 minutes, Joan went back inside to check her iPad; came out and reported, "It already landed."  That would be the booster that separates and comes back to land on a platform in the Pacific.  The trajectory on this one was more south than southeast, so not visible in Phoenix.

Here's what it sometimes looks like (photo from an earlier launch) when we can see it...

 

Prehistoric...

 

"Are we talking about your age, Jim?"  Funny.  Not.

I'm talking specifically about the Compsognathus dinosaurs.  You may have heard them referred to as "Compys" in the Jurassic Park series of movies.  They look like this...

 They were relatively small (the size of a chicken), agile, carnivores.  In the Jurassic Park movies, you often saw them running in large groups.

"Thanks for the (pre)history lesson, Jim - what does this have to do with anything?"  Thanks for asking.  Seems that one of us (and it was Joan) thinks that Stella looks like a Compy.  She has long back legs and is fast.  And, at times, will stand on her back legs.

I guess that makes Murphy a Saber Tooth Tiger (AKA Smilodon)...

 The size comparison seems to work.  ;-)

 When they are in the middle of a zoomies event, it can feel like we are caught in a Jurassic Park movie.

 

String Quartet by Candlelight...

 

Like 4 guitars around the campfire?  No, but thanks for asking.  Last night at the Phoenix Art Museum, we saw a "Candlelight Concert" with the string quartet Listeso.  Excellent musicianship. Two violins, a viola, and a cello.  Surrounded by candles (electric) covering the stage floor, except where the musicians were standing/sitting.

Have you gone all classical on us, Jim?  Nope.  This concert was a tribute to The Beatles and Queen.  The "set list"...

Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles

Blackbird - The Beatles

Help! - The Beatles

Come Together - The Beatles

Yesterday - The Beatles

All You Need Is Love - The Beatles

Love of My Life - Queen

Another One Bites the Dust - Queen

I Want to Break Free - Queen

We Are the Champions - Queen

We Will Rock You - Queen

Radio Ga-Ga - Queen

Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen 

With only candles for lighting, you saw mostly the outline of the musicians...

 A nice evening out.  Old folks bonus: we were home before 8:30.  ;-) 

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Our little girl is growing up.  Your daughter Stephanie?  No, she is nearing retirement.  I'm talking about Stella...

 Joan weighed her; she told me, "Just over 7 pounds."

"I can't imagine that."  I weighed her: 7.2 pounds.  That is a bit more than 50% bigger than she was when we first brought her home (4 1/2 pounds).  And very close to half of what Murphy weighs.  For the record, she has been with us about 3 1/2 months, making her 8 1/2 months old.  She has more growing to do, but we are so pleased that she has put on some weight.  Good nutrition, plenty of exercise, and an abundance of love - she is secure in her place in the family.  She has a fun personality.  And most importantly: she likes being where we are and she is becoming snuggly... she likes to sit on Joan's lap, resting her head on Joan's chest.  She gives me "nose-to-nose touches" - I am very fond of that.  She is playful with Murphy.

It's all going according to our plans and best hopes.

 

It's Good For You...

 

Yeah, when someone says that something "is good for you," it rarely feels that way.

Yesterday, Joan said, "I think Stella has been good for Murphy."  Murph might not feel the same way if you ask him.  That said, he is certainly getting more exercise since we adopted Stella into the family.

This morning, while I was getting their food ready, there was a raucous game of "chase and tag" happening up and down the hallway and all around the living room.  Murphy would chase Stella - tag... then he'd turn and run and she would chase him.  They both seem to like it.

I've often heard people say that it's good to have two cats so they can keep each other company.  I can say for sure that Murphy doesn't have much time to get bored these days.  So, maybe Joan is right: I'm hoping they are good for each other.  I enjoy seeing them play.

The know how to chill, too.  Murphy on his back...

 Little Stella ready to play some more...

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I can tell you what is good for me: getting out for a ride.  Between being under the weather for a couple weeks, then a busy schedule this past week, I haven't been able to get out for a ride on the CTX.  I took care of that today.  After getting our two cats their second meal, I geared up, checked tires and oil, and got out for some "wind therapy."

Being a Sunday, it wasn't the usual light traffic on the fun roads - plenty of "Sunday drivers."  Easy to see the origin of that phrase.  ;-) But, it was a thin overcast and temps in the low 80s - cooler than we've seen in a while.

The CTX is a fun bike.  I am a BIG fan of the dual clutch transmission.  Some riders don't like it... I think it may be because they don't understand its best function.  With the bike in Sport Mode, it runs as you might expect: rather sportingly.  With the bike in Drive Mode, it is kind of uninspiring; it tries to shift to the highest gear as soon as possible.  I might even say: a bit of a slug.  But, you can shift the gears manually at any time by using the paddle shifters (like an F1 race car).  Most motorcyclists would tell you that they downshift just before they come into a tight curve.  And that's why some riders don't care for the DCT: "It can't anticipate when you want to downshift."

DUH.  No transmission can anticipate for what the rider can see ahead - the rider needs to shift as necessary... and that's why you can manually down (or up) shift a bike with DCT.  Just like you would manually downshift any bike with a manual transmission in that situation.

Going up the mountain, I manually downshifted twice.  In that whole run up the mountain.  That's how good the DCT is.  Yes, I had to downshift more often than that as I came down the mountain - again, just like you would with a manual transmission.  At some point, as you slow down with the brakes, you will want to downshift to be in the best powerband for the situation.  The DCT lets you do that.  Certainly better than the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) in a scooter.

This transmission, combined with the strong low-end torque, and the riding position is why I consider the CTX to be a "sport cruiser."  I like it!

 

Splashdown...

 

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

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

Some of the images...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos courtesy of NASA. 

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The Pied Piper of Cats...

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

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

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

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

 

Early...

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Tango is a very mellow boy.

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

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

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

Kitties in a row...

 Do you see 4 cats in the photo above?

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

 

Music, Music, Music...

 

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

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

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

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

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

--------

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

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

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

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

--------

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

 

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

 

Step One: Check ✔

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

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

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

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

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

 

Close...

 

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

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

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

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

 It makes my heart happy to see this happening.

 

Happy Easter...

 

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

Time for a fresh start where needed.

 

Getting Along...

 

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

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

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

Chillin...

 And the slapdown...

 And back to peace and harmony...

 

It's a "J"...

 

I heard a newscaster speaking about Pam Bondi (the US Attorney General) being fired.  This newscaster was talking about the Department of Justice and called it "D-O-G."  I thought maybe I misunderstood, but no, she said it again during that piece.

On YouTube, there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of reviews of DJI cameras and drones.  A good number of those people call it "D-G-I."  It's a "J," not a "G."  Maybe I'm being picky?

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Sings like an angel...

No, not me.  The Fishman Aura Spectrum DI pedal came in today...

 I got this for less than half price, used.  It was described as "excellent condition."  They did not exaggerate - not a mark on it, it looks like new.  Came in the original box, with a CD for loading software.  A CD?  No, we don't own a computer with a CD reader.  It doesn't matter, because the software is downloadable online.  That may give you an idea of the age of this technology, the fact that it comes with a CD.  Fishman developed this modeling technology about 19 years ago, and it is still one of the best of this type being made.

It isn't a pedal, like what I generally think of: step on the pedal and get the sound you want.  This is more "set it and leave it," as long as you don't change guitars.  Or, until you want to change acoustic tones  My Emerald X10 has great tone - this pedal makes it sound bigger, richer, and more presence.  Well, based on just that guitar, there are over 100 tone options.  I tried it with a couple of my hybrid guitars - also adds a rich, more acoustic, sound.  With my parlor size Emerald X7, it sounds like a much bigger acoustic guitar.  And just as many options.  Plus, there are user "images" you can upload if you want to custom make a tone.

I spent a couple hours trying it with different guitars and amps.  It sounds great with any of my acoustic-oriented amps.  It just sounds electric with a true electric amp like my Marshall amp.  Choose wisely.

This is a good addition to my guitar options. 

The Pink Full Moon...

 

No, that is not a woman's undergarment from the subsidiary of Victoria's Secret (Pink).  April 1st at 7:12 pm is the peak of the current full moon.  I tried for it Tuesday night, and there was a solid over cast; but it is nice and clear on Wednesday, the first.  No fooling.

Despite the name, the Pink Moon will not actually appear pink. The name comes from the early spring bloom of creeping phlox, a wildflower native to eastern North America.  This Paschal Moon marks the first Full Moon of spring and is used to determine the date of Easter.

April’s Full Moon has religious significance as well. In Christianity, it’s known as the Lenten Moon if it’s the last Full Moon of winter (before the spring equinox) or the Paschal Full Moon if it’s the first ecclesiastical Full Moon of spring (after the equinox).  Yep, this is a "spring moon."

Here's how it looked as it came up over South Mountain...

 That is shot with the same camera and lens I use for just the moon.  If you expose to be able to see any of the mountain in the foreground, the moon is over-exposed.  Yes, your eye will see more detail in it, but the solid white look of the moon is a limitation of how the camera can see it.

And, then, taken a short time later, with the camera set for manual exposure...

 The slight color you see is not the "pink" but seeing the moon through more of the atmosphere since the image was captured when the moon was just a bit above the horizon.  For those keeping track, the exposure was made at ISO 1600, f11, 1/800th sec.  I keep the shutter speed reasonably fast so I can handhold the camera with the zoom lens (50 - 210mm).

And, no, you can't see the 4 NASA astronauts who are on their way to circle the moon.  Pretty exciting endeavor. 

I Pity the Fool...

 

If you said, "Mr T, made famous in the Rocky film as Clubber Lang and on the TV series The A Team," you get 10 bonus points.

Yes, today is April Fools - no prank planned for the blog today.  I was going to get a photo of the full moon last night (the Pink Moon), but Mother Nature had other plans: solid overcast.  The actual peak of the full moon happens at 7:12 pm today, but it would have looked full last night and will be full tonight.  Maybe the sky will clear by then.

It might seem like a prank, but there is more HOA board crap happening.  "I thought you were done with that, Jim?"  You thought correctly.  Until the board meeting Friday night at 7:00.  Friday at 7:00?  Do you think they were trying to make sure homeowners attend?  The main purpose of the meeting was for the board to elect officers.

Here is from a draft I prepared for a post on Monday, but didn't post it...

The problem is the same woman who made things miserable for the board last year.  She is a lawyer and will tell you that at every opportunity.  And how she went to one of the best law schools in the country.  And how she works 60 to 80 hours a week.  Nobody cares.

And now that people have seen the disruption this woman causes, it is apparent that it wasn't "the previous board" that was the problem.  It is that one person.  The same person who didn't turn in minutes, as her only job as secretary.  And fought me at every meeting when I publicly asked when we could expect the minutes.  The same woman who turns in her neighbors for what she perceives as CC&R violations.  The same woman who publicly complains about the landscaping company, and people who park on the street instead of using their driveway.  The same woman who said in a board meeting that "the board has the right to look inside people's garages" (to make sure that they are parking cars in there and not using them for storage).  The same woman who did not attend board training or committee training.  The same woman who actually voted on less than 10% of the Architectural Committee submissions... because she is "so busy," and then lied about that by saying I banned her from voting.

The new board met for the first time last Friday.  It was very apparent that they met in violation of Arizona Open Meeting Laws ahead of time and had rehearsed who they were going to nominate for president.  That person is another know-it-all and the husband of the other woman on the board last who was such a pain last year.  ("I've owned 19 homes and been the president of the HOA for all of them, and I know more about this stuff than any of you... blah, blah, blah.")  Yes, he was elected because we had 5 candidates for 4 board openings.

Fortunately, 3 of the new board members didn't follow the script, and elected someone else to be president; leaving the lawyer woman and the know-it-all pissed.  The lawyer woman demeaned the education and qualifications of the new president.  The few homeowners who were on the zoom meeting were not happy with the two trouble-makers.  When questioned about her past lack of performance, the lawyer woman lied and said, "Jim banned me from voting." During that meeting.  Lied right to their faces.

Now, I was pissed.  But, there was no way to comment during the meeting - no Open Comment portion.  But, since I am no longer on the board, I could take to Facebook to defend against the lie... and there are more people on that neighborhood Facebook group than then 27 people who were on the Zoom meeting.  The meeting ended abruptly, without finishing what was on the agenda.

Unfortunately, not a good first showing for the new board.  And they are aware.  There is a ground swell rising up against the lawyer woman.  Public calls for her to resign.  I can't imagine she would do that.  After all, (she thinks) she knows better than everyone else.  More drama.

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 Have you checked your Aura?

Jim, are you getting all new-age on us?  No, but thanks for asking.  I have made some changes in my music gear over the past year or so, including the addition of another acoustic amp and an electric amp.  Totally different tones.  I have also been reworking my pedal board, but considering usage based on electric and acoustic guitars.  Two of my guitars are hybrids: the Emerald Virtuo and the Taylor T5.  Both have electric pickups and piezo pickups (which are most often found on acoustic guitars).

I'm a bit torn: I like the way my electric guitars play, and the great variety of tones available, especially when using the Mooer GE150 effects pedal.  I love the tone of my acoustic guitars.  I've been doing some research to determine how to enhance that acoustic tone and how to get it to reproduce faithfully when amplified.  That research kept leading me to a pedal: the Fishman Aura Spectrum DI.  Fishman is a well-known name in acoustic amplification and pickups.

The Aura pedal is a bit pricey.  I looked for used.  I could get it used for $100 to $200 less than the price of new.  I had kinda settled in on one being sold by Musician's Friend/Guitar Center.  And then one popped up today at an even better price, in better condition, and includes the original box.

 It should be here in a week or so.

 

 

Sounds of Silence...

 

If you said, "Simon & Garfunkel, 1964," you get 5 bonus points.  Only 5??  This one may be the easiest music trivia question ever asked on this blog.

This silence was unusual for me.  A month or so ago, what got spilled into the phone charger that sits by my chair in the living room... it was only a matter of time that it was going to die.  Surprisingly, it held in there for this past month.  Until last night.  When I got up this morning, my phone was at 18%.  I checked the charger: the AirPods part of it was working fine; the adjustable light on it was equally fine; the most important part - the phone charger - wasn't charging.  I put my phone on a charger in the kitchen and moved on with my morning routine.

When it came time to take Murphy outside, I usually grab my phone and listen to podcasts or YouTube videos about RVs, electronic devices, bikes, or whatever else interests me at the moment.  Once in a while, I'll pull up the Hulu app to watch one of our local TV news shows.  I left the phone inside to be charged.

The wind is down today, so I put up a couple umbrellas to provide shade to the patio area.  Then sat down to keep an eye on Murphy.  Without a phone to provide sound, I was more aware of the sounds on the patio.  Mostly birds.  The occasional sound of a jet on approach to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.  There is also a small private airstrip community a mile or so from our house - no activity there this morning.

Speaking of aircraft activity: people in the northeast part of the Valley are up in arms that an airport in that area is seeing increased activity due to flight training being done there.  They built homes near an airport and are up in arms that there is airplane "noise."  Joan and I both appreciate "airplane noise" - probably due the time we owned airplanes.  I like the sound of different general aviation airplanes - I can tell the difference between a Lake Amphibian and a V-Tail Bonanza climbing out at the nearby private airstrip.  The airline activity on approach or departure from Sky Harbor is high enough that it is background sound.  Not intrusive at all.

But, this morning was different.  Almost "forced silence" since I left my phone inside to get charged.  Like most people these days, my phone is with me almost all the time.  Except overnight, where our phones stay in the living room.  I guess I feel the need for something to fill that silence most of the time.  But this morning, it was me, Murphy, and the birds.  No traffic sounds.  No construction sounds.  No YouTube telling me why I need this latest camera.  This ain't natural.  ;-)

 

Everyone Knows It's Windy...

 

If you said, "A line from the song Windy, by the Association, 1967," you get 15 bonus points.  If you said, "Another weather report?" you are right, but no bonus points.  A rare windy day here, with winds ESE @ 16 gusting to 30.  That makes for a lot of dirt in the air - the sunrise this morning wasn't particularly colorful, thanks to the blowing dirt...

 Shot with my phone.  Which meant I was the one who got to take Murphy outside first thing this morning.  First time in a couple days.  That's because I was up and Joan seems to be coming down with the same thing I have.

We were supposed to go to a ballgame this afternoon, between the Firefighters and the Texas Tailgaters - two teams in the Savannah Bananas Banana Ball League.  Steph got tickets for us - we let her know two days ago that I wasn't going to be feeling up to it... a really wise decision, considering the blowing dirt and the fact that I still feel like crap.

I did, however, get out of the house for a very short outing.  Joan was feeling like In & Out Burger for lunch, so I made a run to get it.  I know - life in the fast lane.  Well, the drive-up lane.  That was it - neither of us felt up to much else.

On the bright side: kitties...

 They are a definite bright spot.