Home again...

 

No, we didn't go anywhere.  We never go anywhere, we never do anything, we never have any fun.  Yeah, kidding.  Steph and Dan are back from their trip to California to go to the Guide Dogs for the Blind graduation ceremony.  Plus a couple days of touristing around San Francisco.

Joan and I were up early - I got cats fed, we cleaned up, and drove Dan's car to the airport to pick them up.  We were up at the butt-crack of dawn.  When we got home, I wanted to go in with Steph and Dan to see what the reaction would be from the kitties.  I was expecting running and jumping... no, the Grandkitties did their cat thing: "Oh, 'bout time you got back here."

--------

I got an email from the marketing folks at Aeroband this morning: asking if they could use the video Mark and I did on their website and in advertising.  Sure.  They also asked if they could send out any new products as they are developed for review.  Free stuff for an honest review?  Yeah, pretty much like what Joan and I do with Vine on Amazon.

 

One more sleep...

 

The Grandkitties are missing their Mommy and Daddy.  Joan and I have been spending extra time with them, but they are craving human interaction.

Today, Joan put a short cat tower in the doorway between our house and Steph and Dan's...

 ... allowing the kitties to go back and forth, if they want.  Tango has been coming to visit us for as long as we have had Murphy; but, the "big cats" (Tasha and Alfie) haven't shown any interest in coming to visit.  Until today...

 That is Tasha, checking out some of Murphy's toys.  Alfie did come over for a bit, but I didn't get a photo.  After the big cats looked around, I guess they decided they were OK in their own house.

I let the Grandkitties know "One more sleep and two more meals, and your Mom and Dad will be home."

Tasha spoke for them, "So, you mean like forever, huh?"  She was speaking of them being gone forever, not that they were going to stay home forever after they get back... but, it only feels like it, and they have no more trips planned that I know of.  I'm not sure they believe me.

 

I feel like the Pied Piper...

 

Except with cats.  When we go to Steph and Dan's side to feed and give meds to the kitties, they come running.  Joan and I are spending time at their house, but it isn't the same, and I know the furry babies are looking forward to having their Mom and Dad home.

And speaking of Steph and Dan: Joan and I watched the "graduation ceremony" today, live streamed from the San Rafael campus of the Guide Dogs for the Blind.  They introduced 3 dogs and trainers who are going into their breeder program; one dog that is a "K9 Companion" for a young girl, and 4 dogs who have been matched with "their person" as new official Guide Dogs.  The puppy raisers were invited to speak, as well as the person receiving the Guide Dog.

Stephanie did the talking for her and Dan... she held it together quite well, with only a few tears of happiness.  She told the story of how Rubina came to be their Guide Dog Puppy In Training.  Some tears in our house, too, as we watched.

 

We are proud of the work Steph and Dan do to raise these Guide Dog puppies - it is a real commitment in time and energy with all the training they do.  Not to mention the weekly meetings with their Phoenix Guide Dog group.

It was a nice ceremony - glad we were able to see it "live" on-line.

 

The finished Aeroband video...

 

This link is currently "unlisted," but it will be public in a day or two.  Here's a preview if you want to check it out...

 I appreciate Mark's perspective on this.  Seems we both enjoyed the experience, but, no, it won't replace any of my current guitars.  But, a fun "add-on"... I especially like the piano sounds.

I sent Mark and Aeroband the link to the video.  Mark was happy with how it came out, and Aeroband responded right away: they like the perspective of an older player with some hand issues and appreciated getting two perspectives.

I put a link to the Aeroband Guitar in the description of the video on YouTube, and they asked if I could make a small modification to that link so they can keep track of how many people went to their site directly from my video.  No problem, and it doesn't change the link...

https://www.aeroband.net/products/aeroband-guitar?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=kollola-youtube&utm_campaign=captainjim605 

Click on the above link if you want to go to the Aeroband site for any more info on the guitar. 

--------

The link is now "Public".

 

 

If the Rain Comes...

 

An easy music trivial question this morning: "The Beatles, 1966, the first line from the song Rain."  10 bonus points for the complete answer.

Last night, the rain did indeed come.  It's monsoon season, after all.  It started with the distant rumble of thunder.  I had been texting with Mark - he said it was raining at his house (about 20 miles north of us).  Looking at radar, it was moving south.

The "official" rainfall for Phoenix is recorded at Sky Harbor International Airport - they received a grand total of... nothing.  Here in Laveen, the National Weather Service called our rainfall at .24"... it was obviously localized.  The rain pounded here; no idea what we actually received, but it was the first time we've seen large puddles in parts of our yard.  Under the turf, pavers, and gravel, the ground is hard and dry - it can't easily absorb that much rain all at once.

This morning, the puddles were gone.  It pounded hard enough that it actually rinsed off everything in the yard... instead of what we've come to expect: dirty water spots.

Steph and Dan are in California, the Guide Dog puppy they raised is "graduating."  Rubina has been placed with her person and there is a ceremony for that on Saturday.  So, we are kitty-sitting once again.  We spent the evening at their house, so the Grandkitties had human company.  The thunder didn't fire up until we were back in our house.  I went over to check on the kitties during the thunder and rain - they seemed chill.

It seemed like a lot of rain to us.

--------

Video Production...

I didn't get out of the house today, other than a couple excursions in the yard to get Murphy some outdoor time.  The reason...

 You may have to look close, but I have lights and a video camera set up in my music room.  I got the Aeroband guitar back from Mark yesterday and spent most of today shooting video and getting after the editing process.  Mark sent me videos from his phone while he checked out the Aeroband.

The editing is getting close - hope to have that finished by tomorrow.

 

This, right here...

 

 This was on Facebook last night.  I've said, something similar: "One cat does not replace another, but your heart can expand to love another."  It took me a while to come to that after we said our good-byes to our first cat, Smoke.  She lived to almost 22, and losing her hurt so bad that I said I could never do that again.

Of course, I was proven wrong when Molly came to visit.  And stayed.  Steph said, "She knew you had a big hole in your hearts that only another cat could fill."  Molly taught us that we could bring another cat into the family.  She was truly amazing - she is the subject of "Cat On A Leash."  Our time with that big girl was too short.  We started "dating her" when she was 6 years old.  I expected another 15 years with Molly... but, it wasn't to be.  We lost her when she was just 10.

And then, our sweet little Isabella (Izzy).  We went to the shelter looking for a full-grown mature girl, and this little bit of a thing locked eyes with Joan, and... that was that.  Izzy was small, not in good health, but we gave her great care and she thrived.  She grew to become an 8 pound cat with the heart of a lioness.  She and Joan had a special bond, but I was very protective of her.  Great personality, lovey, and an amazing traveler - by boat and RV.  Like Molly, she walked on a leash and was generally fearless.  Her time came too soon.  We were trying to get her to Phoenix where a pet surgeon gave us hope that she might live longer.  That was not to be.

Next came Rufus.  Regular readers here know about this big burly boy.  He was in real need of being rescued.  His look when we first saw him could only be described as "quirky," but his heart was full of love.  This boy was a Maine Coon mix (we didn't know that when we first adopted him, and he certainly didn't look it), and had all the wonderful attributes that breed is known for.  He and I had a similar "communication" as Molly and me.  He walked tall and proud on his leash and just knew that anyone we came across was there to see him... people and dogs.  I felt we hit the feline jackpot with this boy - we were fully retired when we adopted him and he was our constant companion.  He seemed to settle in just fine when we moved to Phoenix and he loved our large yard.  We took him to the vet when he developed a cough, and... another heartbreak.  We had Rufus for 5 years and it wasn't enough.  My Facebook Memories are full of Rufus posts - each one brings back wonderful memories.  And the heartache of losing that wonderful spirit.  I had said that "This boy needs to outlive me," because the thought of life without Rufus was unbearable.  It will be two years this November and I still think about him every day.  That boy gave the best "kitty hugs" ever: pick him up and he would put a big paw on either side of your neck and hug you in.

And now, Murphy.  This boy is the most cat of any of our cats: he has spunk and personality.  He was handsome from the moment we first saw him.  In the year and 8 months we've had him, he has grown into a big boy and is playful and a bit of an imp.  He does not snuggle like all our previous fur babies.  But, he sits right beside Joan all the time... or follows me around like a puppy.  He can walk on a leash, but he gets the freedom that the 6' block wall around our property affords... but one or both of us is always out there with him.  He will look you right in the eyes.  Where Rufus was Thor, the God of Thunder, Murphy is Rico Suave.  We could not love him more.  He is not a fan of being held, but we are patient, and he is learning that we are a huggy family.  As I am writing this, he is sitting beside Joan, leaning against her.  Progress.  Murph is the most athletic of any of our cats, but that may be due to his young age (coming up on 3 years old).  He is strong; both physical and in attitude. 

The image I posted at the beginning of this post describes us and the wonderful felines who have been a member of our family.  My heart has the scars from the holes left when our cats have crossed that Rainbow Bridge.  Each has been so very different, but all of them truly special.  If you read this far, my thanks.  That statement really touched me.

 

Have you heard the saying...

 

"Perfect is the enemy of good"?

15 bonus points if you said "Voltaire."

Yep, an old guy in my neighborhood, Walter Voltaire, said that when I was mowing his lawn.  I told him I would make it look perfect.  That was 10 year old me selling him on paying me to mow his lawn.

"Perfect is the enemy of good" is an aphorism that means insistence on perfection often prevents implementation of good improvements.

Today was "Clean the Van Day" - I have been wanting to get at this for quite a while.  We've only had the van out twice since we got back from the Tetons.  Having driven through rain on that trip, and a couple monsoon events (blowing dirt and rain), the RoadTrek was in dire need of a thorough washing.

Adding to that: there is a RoadTrek Group on Facebook.  While some people post about their travels, a good portion of the posts are from owners who are having problems.  Many of those problems stem from the unique battery systems on these vans.  RoadTrek was the first in the Class B industry to utilize lithium batteries.  There is a learning curve with this battery system, and some owners don't understand how to best charge the lithiums, how to best store the van, and even the procedure to use with the batteries and inverter when plugging into shore power.  Add to that, RoadTrek has continuously updated the batteries as technology changes... so, the owners of a 2020 model year van may have a different use procedure than those with a 2025.  Questions and issues get posted on that Facebook group.

I like to get our van out regularly, to make sure everything is working and that the batteries, solar, inverter, air conditioning, under-hood generator, and motor get regular exercise.  And, it has been so damn hot that we haven't taken the van out in a while.

We got after it reasonably early, heading to pick up the van around 7:00.  It was already 90º.  We put it in the driveway at the house and went after it, with both of us cleaning...

 

Starting early, besides being a bit cooler, there is some shade in our driveway.  Some parts of the van, like the entire front end, the front of the awning (where Joan is scrubbing in the photo above), and the lower 1/3 of the sides were especially grubby, due to smashed bugs and driving on wet roads.  The solar panels on the roof needed rinsing.  Everything got soaped, scrubbed, rinsed... and repeat as necessary.

 Looking clean and shiny when we were done.  We then put in the floor liner Joan had ordered a while ago...

 Seems to be a good fit, but we'll see as it gets some use.

We finished up just after 9:00 - hot, sweaty, and tired.  Time to clean up ourselves and take on the rest of the day.