A Rave...

 

Yesterday's post was about earbuds or a headband with speakers that I use to fall asleep.  Last night, while sleeping, there was a rave in our house.  I got up to pee and was surprised by the thumping bass and the flashing lights.  And a DJ - "Put your hands in the air!"

 

I assumed it was a dream and went back to bed.

Look at these faces...

 

Pretty sweet, huh?  I took those this morning while Murphy and I were outside first thing this morning; Murph laying on the pavers and Stella looking through the glass of the patio door.  And then when Murphy and I came back inside...

 Sharing the chair to get a view outside.  Yep, sweet.

But, when I got up this morning, there was evidence that what I saw during the night wasn't just a dream.  Towels were pulled off the rack in the bedroom; the weather station screen was knocked flat; table runners in the hall and living room were askew; rugs were balled up; cat food crumbs by the kitchen sink; cat toys scattered about.

It took me a while to get things picked up before I could start their breakfast.  Then, after kitty breakfast, Murph and I go outside.  A treat for both when we come back inside.

And now, a half hour later...

 Yeah, they're both sound asleep.  They had an exhausting night.  They also like to nap at night before bedtime.  I think we'll keep them awake during that evening nap time tonight... something that will help them sleep through the night.

 

Sleep Sounds...

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I'm working on it.   

The First Day of Spring...

 

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

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

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

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

 Oh, and Happy Vernal Equinox!

 

Bicycle... Bicycle...

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Don't Mess With the Beaver...

 

Talking about this beaver...

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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With A Little Help From My Friends...

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

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

 

Happy St Patrick's Day...

 

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

Or, something like that.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Back to the cat stuff...

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

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

 

It's That Time...

 

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

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

I put up two of the umbrellas...

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

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

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

 

 

Beware...

 

... The Ides of March.

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

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

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

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

On the bright side...

 These two made it through the night with no fuss.

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2 x 2...

Two rides on two different two wheel conveyances today.

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

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

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

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

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

 

Survived Friday the 13th...

 

I am not particularly superstitious by nature.  I dumb-ass driver almost made me think otherwise yesterday.  I took the Burgman out for a ride - another warm one, with an afternoon high of 93º.  I was not in my typical "all the gear, all the time" due to the heat.  I had on riding pants and boots, armored mesh pants, and my Schuberth modular (full face) helmet... just couldn't bring myself to put on an armored jacket.  I did put some "sleeves" (pull-on) with my t-shirt, to keep my arms from getting fried.

On the way to the good riding, a dumb-ass driving an old minivan pulled out from the left side of the road, causing a car in that lane to have to slam on the brakes, and making me swerve almost to the curb on the right side of the road.  Shortly after 2:00, so I don't know if he was drunk, high, texting, or just plain stoopid.  "Stoopid" with two oo's is even worse than regular stupid.

With that out of the way, the riding on the twisty roads was good.  Only two vehicles over the center line - you want to stay away from that line in the blind curves.  Even though the temp was in the low 90s, it was reasonably comfortable on the scoot.

I did shoot some video with the Insta360 Go3s, and edited it down to less than 3 minutes.  Enough to make me smile when I watch it - hope you enjoy the ride, too...

 

This image made me chuckle...

 

Stella and Murphy are on the top of the cat tower...

 Murph is laying down with his back to the camera, Stella is sitting up with her little head framed between his ears.  Together on that same platform.

It didn't end there.  After Murphy got his morning walk, and they both got treats - sharing the chair with the patio view...

 No fuss.  No tussle.  No biting.  Until Murphy flicked his big furry tail in Stella's face... and she pulled a tuft of fur out of that big furry tail.  They are doing good... until one of them decides to start something.  Despite the size difference, it isn't one-sided.

Then, we're back to the two-chair solution...

 

 

 

Flies through the air with the greatest of ease...

 

If you said, "That daring young man on the flying trapeze - a traditional song in the public domain," you get 20 bonus points.

If you asked: "Are you planning to join the circus, Jim?"... no.  And for the record, I am neither young nor daring.

It is an every day challenge to keep Murphy off the kitchen counters.  There is no reason for him to be up there - no food on the counter; both of the cat towers have a higher vantage point.  We have tried scolding, spraying water, "time out"... none of that has been effective.

He was a good boy this morning: no counter jumping.  While I was preparing cat breakfasts, a silver and gray streak flew by my peripheral vision.  Silver and gray?  Yep, little Stella leapt up onto the counter... with "the greatest of ease."  I told her no and put her down on the floor.  Twelve seconds later, she flew up there again, from a different angle.  She has discovered one of her cat superpowers: the effortless leap.

Research reveals that cats can jump 5 to 6 times their own height.  Stella is skinny but long in leg and body.  She is built for jumping.  And now, 2 1/2 months after bringing her into the family, she is exercising this ability.

I don't think I have the energy or patience for this.  Joan gave them both new catnip toys just now... no idea if it will calm them or get them hepped up.

Our friend and neighbor Pam is the editor of a magazine for independent pet store owners.  She will occasionally give us "cat stuff" to try out (stuff that she gets sent for free - she is a dog owner; doesn't have a cat).  Yesterday, she texted me "How many cats do you have now?"

I texted back "I'm counting..."

A minute later: "I'm still counting..."

Another minute later:  "Two, seems like 114."

She brought over a "swag bag" full of cat stuff: treats, food, toys, a couple harnesses.  It was also the first she has seen Stella.  And the first time Stella has encountered another human in the house, besides us, Steph, and Dan.  She was wary.  Stella, not Pam.  Pam is friendly; doesn't seem to be a cat-killer.

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In other news: a birthday celebration today.  That's right - on this day mumble-mumble years ago, a crying bundle of joy came into our lives.  I knew my life would never be the same.  Yep, Stephanie's birthday today.  She and Dan are taking the day off work.  I am told it will be a "low key" celebratory day, with the 4 of us doing lunch out.

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To keep cats off the counter, Joan set up two chairs by the patio door...

"That's my chair!"  "Mom said I could sit here."  "Mom, make her get off my chair!"  "I was here first!"

(sigh)

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We had a nice birthday celebration afternoon with Steph and Dan.  Steph wanted to do lunch at the new Chili's just a couple miles from our place.  The food was good, the service excellent, and the deserts were better than birthday cake.  Then back to Steph and Dan's place for opening gifts and cards...

 Murphy was invited to come to their house (Stella hasn't been introduced to their cats, yet), but he chose to stay home with his sister.

 

Let's cut to the video...

 

From my motorcycle ride yesterday - it was a gorgeous afternoon!  The high for the day was 78º.  Enjoy it while you can - the highs are going up from here: 80s today and tomorrow; 90s for the weekend; and into triple digit temperatures next week.  Assuming that plays out, it will be the earliest 100º day(s) here since records have been kept.

But, I digress.  Enjoying the ride and ranting about gas prices...

 

Off to make some music with Mark and the guys.

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A good day of music with Mark, Danny, Carl, Gil, and Tom.  Ron had his second surgery for cataracts yesterday, so he got the day off.  Everybody got to toss in a suggestion or six for what songs to play.  No new ones, but we did pull a couple of songs out that we haven't played for over a year.

It was my turn for lunch; I brought a couple Oregano's pizzas - plenty of food for 6 guys.  Alas, no "cookie break" today... I thought Mark was responsible for the cookies, but found out it was Cindy, and she is doggy-sitting in NYC.

Traffic sucked there and back.  And to add insult to that: gas on I-10 was $4.29 on the way there... and $4.35 on the way back.  Yes, dirty thieving bastards.

No photos or video of the music; but, really, it was fun.

 

Sharing...

 

Sharing is caring.  Murphy is being a good big brother.  As part of our morning routine, after Murph and I get some outdoor time, he likes to sit on one of the kitchen bar stools by the patio door.  That is his space.  This morning, Stella wanted to get up there, too.  I waited to see if there would be a smack-down, with the winner getting that coveted view...

 Murph granted her access.

 Some interaction...

 And, check this out: Murphy moved down to the floor, where Stella usually sits while Murphy occupies the chair...

 Joan is ready for a "togetherness test" - we plan to go out for a quick lunch, with no one of the feline persuasion locked inside the catio.  We'll see if both cats are still in good shape when we get back.

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Lunch was tasty - we made it a short time out to the nearby In & Out.  Back home, both kitties were in fine condition and napping.  I had concerns, but these kitties are doing good.  Until one or the other decides to pounce.  Not sure how much of that is for us.

I got out on the CTX this afternoon.  Besides the need for a ride, I wanted to try downloaded and working on video on the iPad Mini.  The ride was great (mental floss).  I shot the video with the DJI Action 4 camera and DJI Mic 2, looking to do as little editing as possible.  One camera, keep the shots tight to eliminate trimming.  One camera.  It worked as planned.

You'll see the video tomorrow.

 

It's a Pterodactyl...

 

If you said, "A line from a Little Caesar's Pizza commercial in 1988, with the guy in the commercial folding the pizza box in origami-style," you get 50 bonus points.  If you asked, "There's a 'P' at the front of the word 'terodactyl'?" you get an additional 20 bonus points.  I had to look it up; the word spelling, not the commercial.

Stephanie and I still quote that "It's a pterodactyl!" line when folding anything.  Pretty much an inside joke.

Why are we discussing this?  Thanks for asking.  Joan ordered me a case for the new iPad Mini.  I looked at a bunch of different cases online and this one seemed light-weight and folds in a bunch of different configurations to set the iPad at different angles and orientation...

 No, that is not a page from the Kama Sutra - that is instructions on this case/cover/folio (pick the description you prefer) showing the 23 different configurations/angles.  I had to watch a YouTube video to try to figure them all out.  Realistically, you will use 3 or 4.  And some of them are the same configuration, just turned on its side.

But, next day deliver from Amazon, so I had it first thing this morning.

 It is rare that you will buy a device and not need accessories for it.  This case came with a "free" Apple pencil holder that attaches on the side.  I have two Apple pencils for previous iPads... of course, they don't work with this one.  The pencil always seems like a good idea... and then I don't use it... or it falls off the side of the iPad and I misplace it.  Yeah, I probably need one for this iPad.  ;-)

iPads are famous for being "intuitive."  Since I had been using my old one for 14 years, I thought I would just be able to use this new one in the same way.  I am so silly... the one game I play on the old one (Ten-Ten) doesn't exist in the App Store anymore.  There are newer whiz-bang versions that need to be connected to the internet and flash and make noise and make you watch a commercial to continue.  Bite me.  I'll find a new simple game.

I listened to some new podcasts overnight.  Well, they droned on while I slept.  Except they would quit after each episode and I'd have to manually start the next one.  "Put it on Continuous Play," you say?  Yeah, that's where I had it.  Apparently, there is more to it than that.  I tried my Sleep ear buds with the built-in white noise and "scenes"... I picked "SeaSide"... it was wave action sounds, then some new-age annoying chimes every now and then.  I will find something else that is just the background sounds.  Yes, I am an old dog, and these are new tricks.  I guess "simple" isn't a thing anymore.

Oh, and I discovered that "pterodactyl" isn't a thing anymore; it is now a pterosaur or a pterodon or a pterodactylus.  Or, as I like to say, "One of those extinct flying dinosaur things."  Simple.

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Joan quietly said, "Look at this"...

 Stella and Murphy are laying beside her on the couch.  I would call that a snuggle.  I took a quick photo with my iPad Mini...

 The camera on Joan's iPhone is better than the camera on the iPad.  As expected.  But each of these images show off a whole bunch of cute!

 

We Did NOT Spring Forward!

 

Nor did we "fall back" last fall.

 Arizona is a rebel.  Well, that, or the voters decided to not participate in all that "springing and falling" years ago.  For the record, Arizona tried it.  Didn't see any point in it.  I'm good with that.

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Long In The Tooth...

You, Jim?  Yes.  There is dirt out there that isn't as old as I am.  We have had that discussion - I am grateful for all these "bonus days."

I am talking about an early Apple device.  I bought an iPad Mini when they first came out in late 2012.  Going on 14 years.  I have used it almost daily since then.  Here's a shot from 2013, using it as a music prompter with OnSong loaded on it...

 I've had podcasts loaded on it since those early days.  I play those every night on that iPad.  I've used it to internet surf and do email.  I have set it up to control the "sleep pods" I wear at night.  And through all that, the battery has continued to work like a champ.  I am amazed.

That said, Apple quit supporting that first iPad Mini years ago: no updates.  It has gotten to the point where some of my apps no longer work because they have updated, requiring the ever-updating operating systems.  A 14 year old Apple device would be the equivalence of a 118 year old person.  Probably.

 

After some regular urging from Joan, I picked up a new iPad Mini today.  It is a unique form factor (niche?) that works well for me.  Significantly smaller than my iPad Air 4, and especially my MacBook Pro M4.  But, bigger than an iPhone.  I use that size to read and/or play simple games like Ten-Ten or Solitaire while I get sleepy.  The old Mini has been needing to be restarted somewhat regularly, recently, due to the screen freezing.

 

Apple is good about having a means to load apps and data from an older device to a new one.  Rather than load from the original Mini, I loaded from the more recently (like 4 years ago) purchased iPad Air 4.  Faster than reloading apps and data - especially all the music data I have in there (like charts for about 400 songs).  I didn't use the old Mini much for photos or videos, but that may be an option with this new one.

These devices are kinda like a "factor of 2": the iPad Mini7 is about twice the size of my iPhone.  The iPad Air 4 is about twice the size of the Mini.  And, each of them serves a function.  If the new Mini lasts as long as the first one, it will probably outlive me.

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I spent most of the evening messing with the new iPad Mini.  I tried to find a way to save about 100 podcasts I have on the old Mini that are no longer posted on Apple Podcasts.  No way to upload or save them on that ancient machine.  So, I started downloading several new series of podcasts - I like to listen to them to fall asleep.

I am guessing it will take several days to find out what didn't transfer well, what didn't retain the passwords, and what apps I will want to add.  The old iPad Mini had 32 gig of storage; this new one has 256 gig.  I have already put close to 80 gig of apps and data on it.  When I am done figuring out what is missing, I will go through it and delete apps and data I no longer use.  You update technology to make your life easier... it rarely works out that way.  ;-)

 

 

Lap Cat...

 

Yes, there is a definition of sorts for that title: "affectionate felines that actively seek out warmth, comfort, and security, by sitting on their owners' laps.  Top affectionate breeds include Ragdolls, Maine Coons, Persians, and Siamese. Encouraging this behavior involves creating a warm, calm environment with treats and soft blankets."  We haven't seen lap-sitting since Rufus - that big boy loved being on his Momma's lap.

Murphy is not a lap cat.  He will sit beside us... not on us.  Stella was certainly not trusting of humans when we first brought her home.  About 10 weeks now.  She seems to love being around us, loves to be petted, is willing to be held, but doesn't initiate it herself.  Last night at bedtime, she got up on the bed on her own; that's a big deal.

This morning...

 That is Joan's lap that Stella is laying on.  Without being held in place.  Joan put her there, but it was Stella's choice to stay.  This is a start.

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And for afternoon nap time...

 Not too close, but on the same couch.  Murphy and Stella are doing good together.  Not 24/7 - I would say it's around a half hour of "wrestling" split up over several times during the day.  Like that photo above shows, they can be around each other peacefully.  Treats together a couple times a day.

And right now, Murphy is laying right next to Joan while she is reading.  Stella is on the top section of the taller cat tower.  It's pretty quiet here right now.

 

Pulled An All-Nighter...

 

Nothing to do with an extended study session. 

For men of my age, that is often the term used when you can stay in bed all night without getting up to pee.  I was up several times during the night, but that wasn't why... Murphy and Stella made it overnight, sleeping on our bed.  Murphy was on his pad at the foot of the bed, and Stella was generally between us.  No scuffling or smack-downs.

That is the first time Stella has been out of the catio for the entire night.  We have been gradually working up to this, starting with an hour with us, then out to the catio in the living room.  And building up from there.

Proof that the two feline family members can co-exist peacefully and quietly.  By 4:00 am, they had both moved off the bed and into the living room.  Joan and I each got up at different times to check on them... so, yeah, we each had multiple "bed exits."  And since I'm up, I might as well... you know.

Once everyone in the house was up (around 5:00 am), there was some running about playing tag.  The cats, not Joan and me.  They got an early breakfast (separately, since they eat different food).

I sense naps in our future.

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There's no place like home...

Home Show, that is.  In spite of the early morning we had, today was "Senior Day" at the Home Show - geezers get in for half price between 10:00 am and noon.  This was on our radar, so off we went.  To State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals NFL Football Team... it looks a lot different when it is full of over 1,000 vendors, taking up 3 levels of the stadium...

 

There were a couple potential things we had in mind.  Unlike the last time we went to one of these (just over 2 years ago, before we moved into the house), we didn't have "must get" things on our list (last time: major landscaping, a hot tub, pergola, whole house water filtration system, Tuff Shed, garage storage racks, etc).  This time, there was no pressure to get things picked out and scheduled.  I had one thing in mind; Joan had one thing in mind.  Neither of us made a purchase today, but we did get good ideas and contact information.

We walked by all the vendor booths; a few of the categories: awnings and shade structures, bedding, blinds and screens, closets and storage, decor and furnishings, financial and real estate services, floorings, garage solutions, garden and plants (so many desert plants), home security, energy solutions, landscape and turf, lifestyle and leisure, lighting and electrical, outdoor living, painting and wall coverings, pet products and services, pool and spa equipment, remodeling services, roofing and skylights, vehicle and automotive services, water treatment and plumbing, wellness services (one place offering full body scan services had booths in 3 different areas), windows and doors.  Workshops and seminars.

We got our exercise.  When we first went in (not long after it opened at 10:00 am), the vendors were all happy, smiling, and welcoming.  By the time we left, some of them were starting to sound a bit more desperate.  We also did a fair amount of smiling and saying, "No, thank you."  There were a few places where we stopped to visit and get more information.

Many of the vendors were geared up for the mass of senior citizens: free stuff like candy, pens, can koozies; wheels you could spin to win some of that same free stuff.

 Pages and pages of the vendor listings - in case you wanted to plan ahead and go right to a specific booth.  There did not appear to be anyone doing that; more like slowly shuffling, looking to each side of an aisle, and moving through like cattle.  The upper level, surrounding the widest circumference of the stadium was one very long aisle... you were a captive audience.  By the time you went down two levels to the "floor" of the stadium, the vendors were arranged like blocks in a downtown area.

It was a lot to take in.

We all got a nap when we returned.  "All?"  Stella napped with Joan in the living room, Murphy was with me in the bedroom... kinda like a junior high dance: boys on one side, girls on the other.  ;-)  I'm going to need a soak in the hot tub this evening.  Oh yeah, there were at least a half dozen hot tub vendors there, including the place where we bought ours.  I had a short visit with the guy who owns that place (he's the one we bought our hot tub from)... and got a great tip on some maintenance we'll need in the next year or so.

 

DONE!

 

Really.  My last duty as the president of the HOA board was tonight: open and run the annual meeting.  Four new board members have been elected.  Only 5 homeowners ran for those 4 open positions.  Obviously, others who likely would have been good were smart enough to not run after seeing all the roadblocks and rancor two board members and a small handful of hateful homeowners threw at this board.  And, as president, I got the brunt of it.  

Three of us on the board did the work, dealt with vendors, got the budget done, attended all board meetings (prepared).  With no personal agenda.  It was a lot more work than it needed to be.  I am glad to be done with it.  It's too bad - service for your community shouldn't have to be an uphill fight, month after month.

On the bright side... done. 

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On a MUCH more pleasant note...

 

Music today with the Hip Replacements...

 

Making music with my friends.  Some discussion about an upcoming gig, but mostly making music.  It felt good - whatever was going on with my voice seems to be gone: no issue with moving from my chest voice to falsetto; smoothly. 

I had to leave early - there was an RVSP only meeting with the Phoenix department that is responsible for major road projects.  There is going to be something developing with the surface road that runs in front of our housing development.  There has been SO MUCH growth in this area that this feeder road is inadequate.  The Road Development is looking for input on what this area needs so a plan can be formed.  They are looking out several years.

There were 8 people from this City department and about the same number of people that were there to offer input.  Our Community Manager from the property management company had invited me to attend; she was happy to have Joan there, as well.

It was an interesting presentation.  SO many things have to fall in line for this to come together.

 Laveen is a unique situation in the Phoenix area: this road improvement project will preserve the views of South Mountain, give a nod to the agricultural history, will provide for pedestrian, bicycle, and equestrian access, and include artwork in various spots.  I am impressed.  At this point, the City is looking for input and will have another public meeting with information gleaned from this meeting and a few others for an initial public discussion at the end of April.