So, which was your favorite?

 

No, I'm not talking about the two teams in the Superbowl... that was an exciting ending, though.  Not even talking about the different good snack foods Joan made, including her first time making pretzel bites.  (They were tasty, btw.)

No, this is about the Superbowl commercials.  Easy pick for me: the Dunkin' Donuts commercial with Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, Matt Damon, Tom Brady, Jack Harlow, and Fat Joe.  Funny as it was, you still remember who the commercial was for.

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I was an urban commuter today: a trip downtown(ish) to the AZ Department of Public Safety, to leave off some money and paperwork. I took the CTX. It feels like a locomotive after riding the little Burgman. I change my mind daily about which bike I want to take to the gathering this summer in North Carolina.

The Big Day Is Finally Here...

 

Superbowl?  Yeah, sure, there is that.  But, the really big deal today...

 Because where would Taylor Swift be without a guitar?  Enjoy the day!

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Inequities...

It ain't right.  Murphy can lay around, doing nothing, and he's "a good boy."  If I do that, I am a lazy ass.

This morning...

Yesterday morning, he was running through the house, jumping up on the kitchen counter.  In contrast, not one time have I run through the house or jumped up on the kitchen counter.  Do I get credit for being "a good boy?"  Nooooo.

It ain't right.

Fresh...

 

Did you get all handsy with the Blonde again?  She often accuses me of over-sharing, but I ain't talking.  Or writing.

Murphy was sitting by the patio door this morning - I thought the light was looking good...

 That's not the "fresh" part.  Joan got a delivery from Amazon Fresh - saved her a trip to the grocery store...

And if you look close, Murphy is in the lower left corner...

"Is any of that for me?  Can I play with the bags?  Is it time for a treat, yet?"

Going to Denny's...

 

... to get a gun permit.

Really?  Yes, really.  Last night I took a Concealed Carry Weapon permit class.  Pancakes and permits?  It was held in the Denny's a couple miles from our house.  The company that does these classes has them in all parts of Arizona, and I presume they make arrangements with different businesses for classroom space.

When I signed up for the class, Joan asked me, "Is this legit?  In a Denny's?"  It sure seemed so.  I didn't know what to expect; when I got there 10 minutes early, I was the first to arrive, other than the instructor.  The class was held in a section of seating that was off to the side... no doors or other way of closing off that section.

Don't you already have a permit from Texas?  Yes, I do, and thanks for asking.  It is still valid until it expires (in a couple years).  I prefer to have the license in my state of residence, and Arizona is in a group of states that offers reciprocity with 38 other states (along with Texas).

The class is an opportunity to stay current on laws and techniques.  Unlike getting a license in Texas, where it is two days of class and a requirement to show proficiency at a shooting range, this is a 3 1/2 hour class and no shooting... no doubt Denny's appreciates that.  This class wasn't as comprehensive, obviously, as what Texas required at the time.  Since I took the class in Texas, the laws have changed, and you can carry without a permit there, same as in Arizona.  

There were only 5 people in the class, although 2 of them brought someone with them.  Yes, you could order food and eat while the class was going on.  That really seemed odd to me.  The instructor had self defense items for sale (pepper spray and tasers).  There was a "guest speaker" who was there to sell you on an insurance plan to provide legal protection if you ever have to use your gun in self defense.  The instructor also did fingerprints (for a fee) at the end of the class.  You have to submit two sets of fingerprints when you apply for the AZ permit.  The State DPS does a background check on you - the reason for the fingerprints.  That's it.  If you pass the background check, you get the permit.

All in all, an odd experience.  For the record, I didn't have pancakes... I had one of their 55+ meals and got 15% off with my AARP card.  ;-)

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Starting the morning off with another kitty play date...

Nothing odd about that.

Ride and Review...

 

I shot this video with the Burgman a week or so ago, but haven't had time to finish the editing or add the voice over.  It was another rainy day here in the desert, so I had time to work on it today.

Here's a "Ride & Review" video of the Suzuki Burgman 200...

 Well, more of a "ride and ramble"... but, a fun ride up South Mountain.  Again.  This is almost as much fun as Iron Mountain Road in the Black Hills.  Almost.

Geezers Making Music...

 

I mention going to Mark's place from time to time, and making music with Mark, Ron, Danny, Tom, and Gil.  All Mark's buddies, but they have made me feel like a part of group.  We each have different tastes in music, but we are all of "a certain age," so we have that mutual experience of music from our era... you know: the good stuff.  We also play some current music, as well.

Yesterday, Cindy was kind enough to take some photos with my phone while we were having fun and making music...

 

It keeps us out of the bars and pool halls.  A good bunch of guys.  I look forward to these music get-togethers.

Here's Mark during set-up, before we got going...

You can see your breath...

 

Isn't it supposed to be hot in the desert?  Oh, yeah, and it will be... soon enough.  This morning, though, it was 48º... and not raining.  We are in the middle of 3 rain storms coming through Arizona.  Well, more like 1/3 of the way into this rain event.  But right now, it isn't raining.

After his breakfast, Murphy wanted to go outside.  I expected everything to be wet, but the pavers are mostly dry.  Joan put Murphy's harness on him.  Sorta.  He looked like he couldn't walk... you know, like when you get both of your legs into one leg opening in your underwear.  A quick "adjustment," and we were ready to go.  We stayed in our yards, because I wasn't dressed for being out in public.

The boy was a walking machine out there.  He mostly avoided the gravel (it's still wet), preferring to stay on the pavers.  Smart.

With all the rain, it is humid out there.  How humid was it?  Thanks for asking; 87% humidity.  That is Texas type humidity.  My sinuses are saying, "Make up your damn mind."  At 48º and 87% humidity, the weather weasels are reporting a "feels like" temperature of 45º... they have a sense of humor.  I could see my breath while Murphy and I were walking around out there.

Our home is at the northwest base of South Mountain.  To the west of us are the Estrella Mountains.  Watching the movement of the weather here over the last 3 months, I'm thinking we are in a location where the wet weather moves around us due to the location of the mountains.  Here's a shot from this morning, looking to the southwest at the Estrella Mountains...

 At 8:20, the sun is coming up over South Mountain.  You wouldn't know we're in a rain event.  For the moment.  In the meantime, the weather weasels creep me out: the love to talk about "snow warnings"... of course, it is for the northern part of the state (think: Flagstaff), where some of the higher elevations are going to get upwards of 2 feet of snow from this weather system.  I think it is flashbacks from our days of living in the frozen northland, but I still cringe when I hear "snow warnings" and talk about school closings in the northern part of the state.  It is supposed to get to 60º here today.  And more rain for the next 4 days.

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I went to Mark's house today to get together with the guys to make some music - as always, a good time.

Joan had supper just about ready when I got home.  Time to go over to Steph's so she and I could call my brother-in-law John to wish him a happy birthday; wish we could be together for his birthday... he and my sister Joan were a good influence on me in my formative years.  John has always been like a big brother to me.

Just enough time to take Murphy out for a walk before darkness set in.  A photo from the same general place as this morning...