Connection...

 

A dating app?  This is a good place to insert my favorite line: "No, Joan doesn't let me date."  Yeah, it's a joke.

I got together with Mark and his friends for some music making... with a plan to also shoot some video for the last song that Mark and I did.  I shot some video, then Cindy (Mark's wife) graciously shot a bunch more so I could be in it, too.

I would like to say she did a great job with it... but, I don't know - the darn camera (an Insta360 One X2, the one I use to shoot most of the 360 videos) won't connect with any of my devices (iPhone, iPad, Macbook Pro).  It normally hooks right up, using the camera's built-in wifi.  I can see a very small preview on the camera, so I know the files are in there, but I can't get it to connect to download those files.

I would show you some cool photos and videos from today... if I could get them off the camera.  So, I have a message into Insta360, with the hope that they can give me some suggestions on how to get the wifi back on the camera (that's how it connects to the devices).  Yes, I tried using a cable to connect it direct - it doesn't do that.

On the bright side, we were "a garage band" today.  Literally.  We made music and shot the videos in Mark and Cindy's garage, with the plan that some of that footage will be used to make our next music video.  Well, that is the hope.

Shorts...

 

No, not in our electrical system.  It may get all the way up to 70º today, so I will be wearing shorts.  First time in weeks.  No photo.  You're welcome.

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Off to Steph and Dan’s today to give some medicine to their furry boy, Alfie.  And since we’re right there, my “bad eating” for the week: lunch at Oregano’s.  That quote is not mine, ‘cause I thought the pizza was great!

Also, since I will be using the Insta cameras tomorrow to shoot some video for the next music project, I took a few minutes to shoot, edit, and import some video, using the new iPad.  It does an OK, job, but I will still need to import the video files to my MacBook Pro, because the app version of the video production is not as “full featured” as the OS version.  But, I know the iPad will download and edit the video files from the camera faster than my older iPad Pro.  Technology marches on.

The Desert...

 

It wasn't a clear, sunny day today, but there were occasional patches of blue.  As promised, I made breakfast outside on the griddle; by 10:30 it was up to 62º, so I didn't need a parka.  It was good to get out there and cook again.

After clean up, we parted company: Joan was heading to the grocery store, I took off for some motorcycle time.  Rufus stayed home.

I made a circumnavigation of the White Tank Mountains.  With all the rain we've had, I expected things to be blooming in the desert.  Not yet.  I did pull over to get a photo of some of the ground cover that was showing some purple and yellow, but no blooms on the cactus, yet...

 The riding was good, though - very little traffic; certainly different from what we see daily in Buckeye.  I rode through Sun City Festival, which sits out on its own, away from other civilization.  The way things are getting built up, I would expect that stretch between Surprise, AZ, and Festival to become populated... but, in the meantime, it is wide open desert, with the occasional saguaro cactus standing tall.

Once into Surprise, it was full of traffic.  I thought I'd take side streets and stay off the Loop 303, but I discovered that roads we used to ride on our scoots have been cut-off to make room for more housing.  It was a lot of zigging, zagging, and I still found myself having to go through some of the slow winding streets in development... and, no, it is not the same as a good twisty road for riding.

About 3 hours of riding today; it was almost enough.  :-)

There is hope...

 

It springs eternal.  That "light at the end of the tunnel" thing.  

This morning, when I was starting to clean up, Joan said, "I'm going to set up the griddle table and you will be making Sunday breakfast tomorrow.  Even if you have to wear a parka."

 

I have only cooked on the griddle a couple times since we've been here.  Not from lack of desire - I enjoy cooking on the Blackstone... but it has been too cold... or rainly... or blowing like stink.

It is still cold in the mornings here in the desert, but the 10-day forecast is improving.  I probably won't need a parka... just 3 or 4 layers.

This afternoon, we are going to Steph and Dan's place.  I will be making burgers on their griddle.  As is typical in the desert this time of year, it will be quite nice by mid-afternoon... may make it all the way to 68º for a high for the day... and then the temp will drop as the sun goes down.  Again, the typical 30º swing from day to night.  I miss the 10 to 12º swing at home... but, I digress.  I will just be grateful for whatever kindness Mother Nature allows.

And now Rufus and I are going out for a walk.  ;-)

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We had a lovely afternoon with Steph and Dan.  And their animal menagerie.  Dan and I did some griddling and we had some real belly laughs while playing Monopoly Cards (a very different game compared to the board version).

I posted a photo of their sweet girl Tasha that was a FaceBook Memory from 8 years ago...

Perhaps the cutest kitten ever.  And, she great into a beautiful big girl (she is bigger than Rufus)...

She is a Siberian Forest Cat (they're a big breed), as is her younger "sibling," Alfie.  I didn't get a photo of Alfie today, but here's a shot of Tasha with Tango (their orange little guy)...

When we got home, Rufus was ready to go for a walk (after supper, of course).  This turned out to be his longest walk since we've been here - but, it really did turn out to be a decent day.  Finally.  And a nice way to wrap up the day.

Sunshine...

 

If you said, "Jonathon Edwards, 1971," you are my people, and you get 25 bonus points.  There have been other "Sunshine" songs, but this is the one that gets you the bonus points.  My favorite line from that song: "... he can't even run his own life
I'll be damned if he'll run mine, Sunshine"

It was a cold start to the day, but at least the sun was shining.  Only got to a high of 62º today, so still below normal.  Joan and I went to Mark and Cindy's today.  Once again, Cindy made lunch, then she and Joan went to check out fabric for a potential quilt, while Mark and I made some music.  Nice way to spend the afternoon.

We stopped at Steph and Dan's before heading for home.  Someone is having a birthday in 9 days; I won't mention who, but it is Steph.  We booked a Spring Training baseball game as part of her celebration... the Brewers (for Dan) vs Cincinatti (because I like their chili).  There was plenty of cat petting and some attention for Blaine the Guide Dog puppy.  And plans for getting together over the weekend.

Rufus was happy to see us when we got home.  We felt likewise.  It kind of feels like we are getting beyond our self-imposed "house arrest" due to the crap weather.

Squeeze

 

Moving around in your skinny coach?  Yeah.

A cold start to the morning, after last night's storm.  Rufus likes routine, and his food has to be in a different place when the slides are pulled in.  I have to step over the furry boy as I go about my morning routine.  The weather woman on the local news talks about snow on the Estrella Mountains.  It is a damp cold.

I told Joan that I felt like a McDonald's breakfast today... it has been too cold for me to make breakfast on the griddle.  I think I made breakfast a couple times right after we first got here, and then... the cold.  It was in the upper 30s.  I needed a coat (obviously) to go out, but the closet slideout in our bedroom is blocked by the mattress when it is pulled in; Joan moved the mattress a bit, then squeezed her hand in the closet to pull out my puffy coat... you know it is cold when the puffy coat comes out.

I got in the car and turned on the heated seat; you can feel it right away.  It's a feature I don't think about, but it sure is nice when it's cold like this.  I had to squeeze through traffic in Buckeye - this is a busy small town, and made worse by road construction creating "clogs."  I am not joking when I tell you that I saw a woman hold up a line of traffic because she was putting on her makeup and didn't go when the light turned green.  Mickey D's is reasonably close, but the road out front squeezes from 3 lanes into one... and most people seem to have lost the ability to take turns in squeezing into that one lane.

The drive-up was busy, but they moved people through efficiently.  The lights were in my favor on the way back - Joan was surprised that I was back so soon.  That was perspective because she had been wrestling with making the bed with the closet squeezed against one side.  She reminded me why I felt the need for McDonald's this morning: there had been a piece on the Today Show where a guy was eating there for 100 days and expecting to lose weight by eating a keto(ish) diet.  It was on while I was gone, but I must have heard the preview for it while I was getting Rufus his breakfast.  The power of suggestion.  ;-)

I didn't have to "squeeze" (see the theme here?) into my jeans, since we really have been eating better.  I haven't had McDonald's since we've been here, and this morning I just felt the need for "a treat" after the storm and "living skinny"... we'll put the slides out soon and get back to our routine.  That routine would be better if Mother Nature would cut us some slack and not make it too cold to griddle outside for breakfast... man does not live by keto breakfast cereal alone.

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Snow on the Estrella Mountains this morning...

 

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A big difference between life here in the Valley of the Sun and back home in Texas: yesterday, authorities were called in when a dead body was found at the entrance ramp to the Interstate nearest us - it got quite a bit of airtime on the local news because… it was holding up traffic.  Today: no mention of the dead body; did I mention: the big news surrounding that situation was… that it held up traffic.  Not the fact that somebody got seriously dead.  Today, that is, literally, yesterday’s news.  Priorities?

Meteorlogical Spring...

 

That's what the weather weasels call the 1st of March.  The rest of us recognize that spring starts with the Vernal Equinox that will occur on March 20th.  Today will be a "moving day" for those in the RV lifestyle... it happens a lot on the 1st of each month.

Here in Arizona, the local weather is full of stories about huge snowfall in the northern part of the state (schools are closed in Flagstaff), another closure of parts of I-17 and I-40 due to snow, and predictions of wind, rain, blowing dust (making for "blowing mud") here in the Valley of the Sun.  We put off getting together with Mark and Cindy today due to predicted winds up to 45 mph here... yes, we will be pulling in slides to hunker down through the afternoon.  Didn't want to leave Ruf alone if the weather really gets nasty.

Spring?  Yeah, I'm ready for it.

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Walking Rufus last night.  Well, early evening, just after sundown.  A guy saw my walking the furry boy and said, "Do you have a minute?  I have to go get my wife to see this - we love cats!"  She came out and they both made a big fuss over Rufus.  They have 3 cats and a dog in their motorhome, but none of the cats go outside.  She took a couple photos of Ruf, then showed me a photo of one of their cats - who looked a lot like Rufus, without the white paws and belly.  When they asked where we are from, they got excited and asked questions about south Texas - they hope to go there in the near future.  Right now, they are in the "newly retired" stage, and driving 500+ miles per day.  She went inside to get a notebook and wrote down things about RV parks in our home area and things to do.  There are here for an overnight while passing through... can't say I envy them being on the road today.

The next door neighbors, with Morgan the devil child, are getting ready to leave this morning.  Can't say we'll miss the screaming and stomping... but Joan said, "And now the unknown of who the next neighbors will be."  She has a point. 

Ah, spring is in the air... no, wait... that's blowing mud.  ;-)

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Here it comes...

 I'll be watching for an old lady blowing by on a bicycle (Wizard of Oz reference).  Slides are pulled in.  Wouldn't hurt my feelings if it turns out to be less than what the weasels are predicting.

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The rain has rolled in to go with the building wind.  Looking across the street, I will be surprised if the slideout awning on that motorhome survives unscathed; that's why we pulled slides in and "battened down our hatches."  The motorhome is made to go through the wind... but, not with the slides out. There are awnings over our slides (not all RVs have them - they keep debris and heat off the top of the slideout).  Ours fit good (a built in tensioner keeps them snug), but strong wind can start them flapping.  So, we put up with being "skinny" overnight to protect our equipment.

I learned a new weather term today: graupel.  Well, I don't know if it is a new term, but it was new to me.  Have you ever experienced "slushy hail"?  Graupel: "As the snowflake travels through the cloud the droplets attach and freeze around the snowflake, helping it to grow into a tiny snowball. Those tiny snowballs are then sometimes referred to as snow pellets, ice pellets, soft hail, hominy snow or the more official name graupel."  Another weather term to add to the SnowSUX® line: GraupelSUX®.

Here's the current radar on the local weather...

Towards the left of the screen, do you see "Buckeye"?  Yeah, right there in the red and yellow.  That's where we are.  Fun.  Not.