Blue Moon...

 

If you said, "The Marcels, 1961," you are kinda right and get 15 bonus points.  If you said, ""Blue Moon" was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1934. The first vocal performance in a film was by Shirley Ross in the movie Manhattan Melodrama (1934), while the earliest commercial recordings as a single were by Connee Boswell and Al Bowlly in 1935," you get 5 bonus points for knowing how to use the Google.  ;-)

Blue Moon... no, it isn't blue... come on, you didn't really think that, didja? Anytime there is a second full moon in a given month, it is called a "blue moon." And, since the moon cycle is approximately 29.5 days, the blue moon only happens every 2 or 3 years generally. So, if you didn't get out there and howl at it last night, you'll have another chance tonight.  The peak was 12:46 am this morning, so it will still look full tonight.

A couple interesting facts: It's a Micromoon; because the moon is currently near its apogee (the farthest point in its orbit from Earth), it will appear about 14% smaller and slightly dimmer than a typical full moon.  Depending on your sky, you may also be able to spot the planet Saturn or the red supergiant star Antares glowing brightly right near the moon.

Oh, yeah, and the photo...

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A bit of a milestone...

Yesterday, the views on this blog hit a big number...

 Over 3 million views.  Over 400,000 views in May.  I don't know why.  I have mentioned before that I get some statistics, but not specifics, as in: who.  I can tell you that about 90% of the viewers are from the US.  I know what kind of devices are being using to view (iPhone, Mac, Windows, Android) and the different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari).  There have been a variety of websites that have linked to the blog over the years, but the majority of people are checking in directly or through Blogger (from another blog).

Nothing to be gained from the numbers; this blog is not monetized.  Just an almost daily posting of what's going on with us.  As Joan calls it: my public diary.

 

Not just the people...

 

Last night, we brought some kitty carriers into the living room...

 Stella said, "These look like fun."

Murphy responded with, "You are so naive.  These things mean we are going to be in the little house that moves.  For hours and hours; days and days."

Stella said, "That sounds like fun."

Murphy said, "We won't have all our toys.  Mom and Dad have two separate beds, so you have to make a choice.  Mom will want to hold you on her lap while Dad drives the little house."

"Do we still get food?" Stella asked.

"Yeah, sometimes they stop the little house so they can feed us."

"That doesn't sound so bad."

Murphy said, "You are so naive."

Stella said, "I don't even know what that means.  I think I like this little bedroom"...

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This morning, we started doing some work around the RoadTrek: Joan emptied out inside, while I did the same on the compartments in the back that hold all our utility hook-up stuff.  Into the garage with that so we can go through it and decide what to put in the storage pod and what stays home.

Joan asked me to go through the whole van and check all the screws keeping the interior solid...

 The good news: there was very little tightening necessary.  A few people on the RoadTrek Facebook Group said they had an issue with things loosening up.  Not us.  At this point.  I'll give it a regular check out before any long trips.

Joan asked for another project: remove the compartment door on one of those compartments I emptied and it will be the new "private bathroom for the feline family members.  I can work with that...

 That's it in the lower left.  Yep, that's gonna work.  Next little project: move the fire extinguisher from behind the passenger seat on the floor.  Sounds easy enough.  I knocked out that 5 minute job in just a half hour...

 And then, time for lunch.  Steph and Dan joined us for Mod Pizza.  Tasty!

Next chore: start the water system sanitizing.  Getting warm out, I turned on the air conditioner in the RoadTrek - easy to do with the lithium system and the inverter.  Yep, that's hot...

 No, it was not 110º out, but the van was closed up.  Fortunately, it cooled down pretty quick.  Oh, and that shot above: it's from the app on my phone.  I really like being able to be outside the van and check or run all the stuff in it with the connection to the FireFly system (the "brains" for the RoadTrek).  Slick.

Next order of business: introduce Stella to the RoadTrek... a little bit at a time.

 

 

Prepping...

 

Does that make me a "prepper"... as in: "I'm a prepper, he's a prepper, she's a prepper, wouldn't you like to be a prepper, too?"  Hmmm - isn't that from the Dr Pepper commercial?  Close, but no cigar.

Today, we are "prepping" to get out of here.  We brought the RoadTrek in from storage; put the Stowaway2 cargo carrier on it before bringing it in.  We are looking to do a "short-ish" outing to see how Stella does as a travel cat.  We know Murphy settles in after a couple hours from initial departure.  The RT is now in the driveway, so I plan to introduce Stella to it in stages...

 

That may be easier said than done; Stella has no interest in being outside.  She isn't a fan of being on a leash.  But, she has been adaptable for other things; so, that's the hope.

Out at the storage slip, we grabbed a few things out of the cargo trailer and put them into the Stowaway2; after attaching it to the hitch on the van.  And once we got home, the first thing we did was take the Stowaway2 off the van and roll it into the garage... we need to see what will go in there and how we will load it.  That cargo carrier looks huge on the back of the van.  Putting a few things into it at storage made it feel like it was filling right up.  The plan: put stuff in there that we will use when staying in an RV park; 30 amp electric cord, fresh water hose, water pressure reducer, water filter, cable (when a park has cable TV), leveling ramps, patio chairs, patio mat - these are all things that we store inside the van.  Moving that stuff to the cargo carrier will give us that extra space inside for clothes and stuff.  And, with 2 cats, we are going to need space for more "cat stuff" inside.

Before we left this morning, we moved bikes and stuff around inside the garage to make room for the cargo pod...

 That's the cargo carrier in the foreground.  It needed to come off the RoadTrek while it is in the driveway - the van just fits for length.  We'll have the next few days to decide what goes with us, what will be in the van, and what will go in the cargo carrier.

 

Posing...

 

Yes, back to what keeps the internet going: cat content.

I can't even take credit for this shot...

 Joan took this with her new iPhone; the camera is much better than her old phone.  And, the subjects are especially fine looking.  I am biased... but, that doesn't make me wrong.  Murphy is that handsome and suave big boy.  And, cute little Stella will look you right in the eyes.  And then flirt with you.

They look sweet in that photo.  And, they are.  Generally.  This morning, around 5:00am, they acted out the chase scene from Bullit; with cats instead of cars.  On our bed.  While the humans were still trying to sleep.  The San Francisco hilly streets were the humans.  So, fun.  For them.

I guess I'm up now.

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I got out for a bicycle ride this morning.  My intent: ride.  I would say: "No tech," but... I like to listen to something when I ride: music, podcasts, YouTube videos.  I said to myself, "Self, no shooting videos so you don't have to work anything up when you get home."  I didn't say anything to myself about not taking any photos.  So...

 I just thought it was a rather pastoral scene; in the park, some water on the walkway (from sprinklers, not rain), and looking towards the sun with all the trees backlit.  Yeah, I used the camera in my glasses.  Because... it was there.

I played some music for an audience of 3 (Joan, Murphy, Stella) when I got home.  No music scheduled with any of my music buddies this week.  I like that schedule.

This is shaping up to be a chill day.  Well, it is "National Hamburger Day," so I'm guessing a visit to Smashburger will be in order.

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I did take this hot chick out for lunch.  To Smashburger; they had a special for National Hamburger Day: any single burger for $5.28 (get it - today's date).  We do go there once a week or so... there is one young man who works there that is friendly and remembers us when we come in.  ("Welcome back - good to see you again" sorta thing).  Today, as we got up to the register, it was already showing 2 BBQ Bacon Burgers - he said, "That's what you usually order, right?"  (big smile)

"I guess we are predictable.  Yes, that's what we're going to have - plus an order of Smash Fries, a soda, and a Cookies 'n Cream shake."  I was impressed that he remembered our order.

That is a really good burger - onion crisps, several thick strips of bacon, BBQ sauce, the burger, and a grilled bun.  What's not to like?

 I included that photo just to show how decent the image quality is; that's from the Oakley glasses.  Decent exposure, good contrast and color balance.  Like an image from an action cam rather than a mirrorless or DSLR camera.  But, from glasses.  Impressive.

 Oh, and the burger is really good.  :-)

 

Dust off some old tech...

 

Well, not that old.  I'm talking about the HoverAir X1 Pro drone.  Knowing that the batteries drain themselves to around 50% when the X1 Pro isn't being used, I charged everything up this morning... while taking Murphy out for his morning walkabout in the courtyard.  It has been a while since I've used it.

My plan: get out on a bike ride and shoot some video with the HoverAir X1 Pro and the Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses... and then see how things go with editing those together.

 

I didn't get a chance to work on that editing until this afternoon; Joan and I went out for lunch, with a few other stops afterwards.  Back home, I started sorting through the video clips.  The audio from the beacon on the HoverAir isn't as good as that from the Oakley glasses.  But, it was an interesting experience.  I had the beacon mounted on the handlebars of the bike... and one abrupt bump sent it flying... fortunately, into the gravel and not into the pond in the park that I was riding around.

I tried some "dolly track," where the drone flies backwards, capturing me from the front.  Some "follow" shots (those are easy).  And a "zoom out" where the drone flies up and away while shooting video of the subject.  And, I supplimented that video with some clips from the new Oakley sunglasses.  The camera in those glasses shoots only in a vertical format, so it gave me a chance to see what I could do with cropping that horizontally; better than the same thing from the Ray-Ban Wayfarer glasses, due to the wider field of view on the Oakleys.

And, the finished product...

 

It keeps me out of the bars and pool halls.  For now.

 

D-Day...

 

Nothing to do with World War II - I need to make a decision today regarding which pair of Meta sunglasses I will keep.  They both have good points and bad - no idea why I have been racking my brain over this decision.

But, in the meantime, I got out on the CTX this morning.  And, at the last minute, I tossed the Ray-Ban Wayfarers in the trunk of the bike.  I tried to put them on under the helmet, but... no go; they wouldn't fit under there.  I didn't even try the Oakley Vanguards, since they are significantly larger.

A great morning for a ride, but warming up quickly.  A couple still images...

 Yes, shot with the Wayfarer's camera.  And, the video...

 Since the glasses wouldn't fit under my helmet, I rode without a helmet for the short time I was trying the glasses.  Yeah, that was a bit unnerving.  I may not always wear a jacket due to the heat here in the desert, but I always wear a helmet.  Even if I am just taking the scooter around the neighborhood.

The video is "unlisted" - not being put out anywhere except here on the blog.  The audio was a bit distorted at times.  To be fair, these glasses were not designed for video/audio on a motorcycle.

I have one more thing I want to try with the Oakley Vanguards, then it is decision time.

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Glasses... blah, blah... you know what we come here for.

Yes, I do...

 

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I tried the third of three nose pieces that came with the Oakleys.  They are designed for different nose bridge heights.  I do notice a difference with each, but I can't say that one is a better fit than the others.  The Oakleys "grip" your head; the Wayfarers fit like more traditional sunglasses

More angst.  A list of pros and cons.  In the end, it came down to: one of these has better sound, a better camera position, a better lens field of view, and (for me) are better sunglasses (no frames in your line of sight; nice gray lenses).  The cons for these glasses: more cost and and what some consider "an aggressive" style.

Yeah, the Oakleys...

 When I visited with Joan about it, she said, "A year from now you aren't going to miss the money difference - keep them both if you want."  No, I really don't need two smart glasses that do pretty much the same thing, even if the approach for each is different.  Then, she added, "And as far as the unusual look to them, since when do you care what anyone thinks about the way you look?"  That's a fair question.  But, some people are put off by the Oakley styles... I used to be one of those people.  I'm not keen on having something that screams "Look at me!"  That's probably in my head.  Hopefully not on my face.

I cleaned the fingerprints off the Ray-Bans and packed them away, just like new.  Joan got the return label printed.  It's a done deal.

She also asked, "When will the next generation of these glasses come out?  The action cameras you buy seem to get a new version released right after you buy them... so, if a new version of these glasses come out with something you can't live without, get 'em."  She gets me.  ;-)  For the record, the Gen 1 Meta glasses were out almost two years before the Gen 2 versions came out.  And these Oakleys have been out for about 6 months.

Now I can obsess about something else.  ;-)

 

 

A Threesome...

 

Me, the Ray-Ban Wayfarer Met Gen 2 Glasses, and the Oakley Vanguard Meta Glasses.  Out for a ride again this morning - starting with wearing the Wayfarers, then switching to the Oakley Vanguards.  I need to make a decision today, then get one or the other boxed up to go back.

 One more video...

 

This can't be right?

 

Joan flipped our scheduling calendar to the next week, and...

 Nothing.  Not a single thing scheduled.  Yet.  I don't think I've ever seen this before.  Doctor appointments... feeding the grandcats... music (with 3 different groups)... there's always something.

But, for now: nothing.  What are we going to do with ourselves?  ;-)

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That didn't last long.  Steph saw we didn't have anything on the calendar; I think she felt bad that we have no social life, so she scheduled me to feed the cats this afternoon.  They are going out with friends and she thought it would be later (after a Diamondback's game, and the game wasn't going to take as long as they thought).  So, yeah, I'll be feeding cats later today.

For full disclosure, that's today - Sunday - so it isn't officially something scheduled for "next week."

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Still deciding.

About what?  Thanks for asking.  I'm sitting here with both pair of Meta sunglasses: the Ray-Ban Wayfarers and the Oakley Vanguards.  I need to make a decision, because one of them needs to go back.  They each have their pros and cons.  Similar tech, both powered by Meta AI.  Completely different in style and fit.  The cameras in them are slightly different: same specs for resolution (still and video), same storage (32 gig).  The Oakleys have one extra "action button" that you can assign (slow motion, hyperlapse, etc).  You can see the difference between the field of view of the Wayfarers and the Oakleys...

 

The Wayfarer shot above, the Oakley shot below...
 

 And with my head swung around to the side...

 Wayfarer shot above, Oakley shot below...

 That's a talking Jimmy John's sandwich in Joan's hand.  Nothing to do with the glasses.

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Some cat content...

Little Stella almost asleep sitting up...

 Both kitties by the patio door...

 Neither of which was shot with the sunglasses.  ;-)

 

 

Another Morning, Another Test...

 

After getting the Ray-Ban Wayfarer Meta Gen 2 glasses, I have spent some time researching the genre.  Meta is leading the pack on Smart Glasses right now but it is a rapidly growing and changing market.  I really like the Wayfarers, but they do feel heavy on the bridge of my nose.

Meta also makes glasses in conjunction with Oakley, a brand owned by the same parent company as Ray-Ban.  I looked into different models of Ray-Ban and Oakley.  Oakley is known for more futuristic sunglasses designs.  They have one model called the HSTN that is similar, but more angular, to the Wayfarers.  While out and about the other day, we stopped in Best Buy and I tried on a pair of those.  I also tried on some Oakley Vanguard Meta Glasses - a larger more wrap-around style; it's what I think of when I think of Oakleys.

I order a pair of the Oakley Vanguards after reading a bunch of reviews.  Overnight delivery, they showed up at our house early this morning.  I took the box outside to get the glasses paired up with my phone and the Meta app.  Of course, it needed a firmware update.  Murphy was content to just hang out rather than explore... he's a good boy.

 The first thing you notice about these Oakleys: they are BIG.  When I first saw them, they reminded me of ski goggles.  Yeah, that "Oakley style."  I was never drawn to the Oakleys - I'm more of a Maui Jim kinda guy, having worn those for decades.  But, I digress - back to the Oakleys.

Joan suggested I give them a try on the same route I took yesterday on my ebike.  Good idea!  Before heading out, a photo...

 Not quite as big as ski goggles, but definitely more than typical sunglasses.  On the bright side, the reviews were right: these are comfortable.  At first test, more so than the Wayfarers.  I headed out on the bike.

 

The field of view is wider on this camera, compared to the one on the Wayfarer (122º vs 100º) - you notice it in the photos: you can see the brow on my bike helmet at the top of the photos.  And, on to the video...

 At first blush, I think I like the Oakleys better.  I'll take a day with the two of 'em and get a better feel for it.  Each of these were bought from Amazon; each have a 30 day return.  I will give them both more face time (not to be confused with the video phone feature of FaceTime from Apple) and make a decision.

Also, you might notice that the video above is in its native vertical format (check out the video in yesterday's post to see the difference).  YouTube, other than "Shorts," is horizontal.  We'll see how that aspect of it plays out... my past videos have been horizontal.  Also, the camera in the Oakleys is in the center, just above your nose; the camera in the Wayfarers is on the far left side of the glasses - that makes a difference, too.  And the size: not only are the Oakleys bigger on your face, but they don't fold up as compact as the Wayfarers... the charging case for the Oakleys is about twice the size as the charging case for the Wayfarers.  You are not going to put that in a pocket...

  Size, comfort, function... decisions, decisions.

 

 

Out for a morning ride...

 

On the ebike (Lectra XP4 750), not the motorcycle or scooter.  It's been a while since I've ridden the ebike.  I wanted to try a test with the Wayfarer Meta glasses, leaving the video in the native vertical format that the camera in those glasses shoots...

 That image is a still taken with the camera.  And, here is the video...

 On iMovie, a vertical video comes in with black on either side so it becomes a horizontal video.  The video is 3k; no post production work done to the video other than adding a couple titles, some transitions, and some background music.  Easy and fast; less than a half hour into that 9 minute video.

I appreciate the hands-free aspect of taking video with the glasses.  To the point where I have decided to try the Oakley version of the smart glasses... I will only keep one or the other, but the Oakley Vanguard Meta glasses have some differences.  I'll revisit that when the glasses get here tomorrow. 

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Joan was feeling Babo's pizza for lunch.  We had another errand to run on the way, so it was a good outing.  As usual, the pizza was outstanding.  The cannoli for desert is a nice way to finish off the meal.  And, leftovers to enjoy it all another time.

The Interstate was slow moving on the way home according to Maps; Joan suggested we take surface streets to see how everything along the way has changed.  Here's the big change (from my perspective)...

 The very first Buc-ee's in Arizona is scheduled to open in about a month.  I am hoping that will drive fuel prices down locally.  Either way, we will probably let the "newness" die down before we give it a try.  We do know what we're missing, having been a big fan of Buc-ee's for years when we lived in Texas. 

 

Another Test...

 

A test of the Ray-Ban Wayfarer Meta Gen 2 glasses, this time while driving.  On my way to Mark's yesterday to make some music with the guys, I shot some video with the new glasses.  Not necessarily for public consumption, but I wanted to see how the on-board mics would handle the audio and how the 3k vertical video would hold up when cropped to horizontal.

No other post production video work done other than adding a few titles and transitions - no adjustments for exposure, contrast, and color.  Other than a lot of jerky head movements (I keep my head on a swivel when driving in this Phoenix traffic), the video is decent.  I can see where this new addition will fit in with my other cameras... and I will be sure to use it when I don't need to make all those head movements... you can't trust just your mirrors, even with all the safety stuff on the vehicles that beeps at you when it thinks you are getting too close to other traffic (or it is getting too close to you).

Let's cut to the video...

 Here's what the format would look like without the crop...

 And, with the crop...

 The issue for me comes in using a video production software (iMovie) that doesn't have a set up that works with vertical video.  It takes that vertical clip and puts it in the middle of a black horizontal frame.

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Yeah, who cares about that test video - where's the cat content?  Easy, big fella - here ya go...

 Murphy and Stella sharing a bar stool in front of the patio door.  Not an easy shot to get because I can't get further to the side because of furniture in the way.  And, I am shooting into the sun in the east from this angle.  Technical stuff aside, two cats sharing a space - one big furry boy and one short hair little girl.  Together.  Oh, they still have their rowdy moments, but I appreciate these sweet, sharing times.

Joan sent me this photo as a test from her new iPhone...

 That is a definite improvement from her previous phone/camera.  It has taken a while to convince her that an upgrade was necessary.  Not too many of those coal-fired iPhones out there anymore.  ;-)

 

Where does the time go?

 

Tick, tick, tick.  I missed making a post yesterday.  We were busy, but nothing scheduled.  Just getting stuff done.  Joan got a new iPad set up - even though you do a transfer of data from the old one to the new one, it takes time to go through all the apps to make sure you have passwords (if necessary) set up.  We made a run to a FedEx outlet to send the old iPad in for the trade-in.

We did other running while out: stock up on cat food, have lunch.  And through it all, getting used to my Wayfarer Meta glasses.

 Nothing earth-shattering here: Joan checking on her list at PetSmart.  For me, the opportunity to see how the built-in camera does on indoor lighting.

I have music at Mark's today with the "big group."  I missed it last time, so it has been a month since getting to see all the guys.  I'm looking forward to it.  Not excited about the drive there and back in the traffic, but the music with friends is always a good time.

This is different from playing with the Hip Replacements - those are rehearsals to get any particular song down tight.  I go with an acoustic tone for my guitar so it fits the blend.  With the MIM guys, I can lean more towards the electric side; I appreciate the variety.

 

Another Test...

 

I didn't study!

That's OK - you aren't being graded.  This is a test of the camera in the Wayfarer Meta glasses.  First of all, from the driver's perspective in the car...

 From mid steering wheel to above the visor... wider than I expected.  I'm looking forward to trying it in the van: a taller windshield and a higher seating position.

We did our planned shopping, then a stop for lunch.  Do you recognize the place?

 If you said, "Five Guys," you get 5 bonus points.

If you asked, "What's the point of those glasses?" that's a fair question.  They serve several functions: first of all, they are a nice pair of sunglasses; they have a built-in still and video camera; built-in speakers that direct the sound right into your ears - for listening to music, podcasts, sending and receiving phone calls (microphones built-in); getting messages; using the Meta artificial intelligence.  You can push a physical button on the right bow to take photos or videos, or you can say, "Hey, Meta - take a photo," and it will do it hands-free.  With the blue tooth audio, it can replace Airpods - or, at least, supplement using them, since you don't have to carry an extra device with you.

Plus, I enjoy working with these tech items.  At this point, I can't say how much or often I will use all these features, but... they are there.

I took a video while driving...

Yes, I check my mirrors frequently - especially when there are big trucks weaving over the white lines.

Could this be used instead of a dash cam?  No; there is a 3 minute limit for videos.  This has been designed to be used for Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook: short content to match the short attention span of the average viewer.  I'll have to use it for a while to figure out my best usage.

But, it all seems to be working. 

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Other things the glasses can be used for: language translation - let the Meta AI know you want Spanish to English translation (16 different language translators available), and as you're being spoken to, the glasses will tell you what is being spoken in English.  You can set a timer: tell the Meta AI to remind you to feed the cats at 5:00... and it will remind you.  Not that I would ever forget to feed Murphy and Stella.

After getting them fed at 5:00, I take Murphy outside... as long as it isn't too hot.  89º for a high today, so we were good to go.  When he and I come inside, there is generally a Churu treat for both of them.  I left my glasses on when coming in and got this photo hands-free of the fur babies getting their treat...

 Pretty sweet with them nose to nose enjoying a treat, huh?

I also did a test of that video I shot in the car, cropped to horizontal...

 Seems like that will be adequate.  Certainly not the same as 4k, but when viewing this footage on a phone or iPad, it should allow me to use it with other camera video.

 

A Beautiful Morning...

 

If you said, "The Rascals, 1968, from the album Time Peace: The Rascal's Greatest Hits," you get 20 bonus points.

If you said, "The desert this morning," you are are absolutely right, but no bonus points.  It was in the mid-70s when I took Murphy out shortly after 7:00.  He stalked a couple hummingbirds, but they were too fast for him.  He spent some time checking out a quail on the wall...

 From the Wayfarer Meta glasses camera, so: wide angle.  You might have to zoom in to see the quail.

Joan made us a nice bacon, eggs, and hashbrowns breakfast.  Then, I started packing up gear for the gig today...

 Seems like more gear than usual: both Bose PAs, an acoustic amp, two guitars, a pedalboard, a backpack with cords, mics, and stuff, a mic stand, and a speaker stand.  Looks like two trips with the wagon.  We'll be using my Bose PA gear today; more set up for me, but a smaller space than the last gig.

Time to clean up and take on the day. 

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Joan and I got to the restaurant just before 2:00; the other guys showed up about the same time.  Haul in gear and get set up.  On the bright side, we found a really close parking space where we could back up to the walkway.

Set up took just over a half hour.  Time to check the PA, get guitars tuned, and run a very short sound check.  That gave us about 10 minutes to get off our feet before we started.

The room where we were playing was full - good crowd; family, friends, and fans.  I assume the restaurant owner was happy with the crowd and food/drink orders.  Joan, Steph, and Dan were there - first time Steph and Dan have seen me play with a band in a long time.

We started right on time.  Joan and Steph took some photos...

 The crowd was receptive; seemed to be having as much fun as we were.  We did two sets; 3:00 to 5:00; started on time, ran a couple minutes long.

Then, the tear down.  That takes just as long as the set up, but you're tired.  It's part of the job.  On the even brighter side, Joan ordered me a lasagna to go.  I came to their table during our break, and the food looked great!  I don't like to eat right before playing, especially anything cheesy.  So, it was especially nice to have that to-go order.

The restaurant is nice.  Pricey.  My pay wouldn't cover the meals at our table.  

Once home, Joan and Dan helped me get gear carried in.  I put stuff mostly away; put things on the chargers that needed charging, then got kitties fed while Joan heated up my lasagna.  Yep, mighty tasty.

I'll be heading out to the hot tub after I take some ibuprofen.  A good gig.  Still, a lot of work for this old guy.