A love song...

I play a lot of songs for Joan.  She is very supportive of my music.  A couple years ago, I was playing some love songs for her, when I said, "Here's another love song..."

I played: Born Under A Bad Sign.  As in: "If it wasn't for the bad luck, I would not have no luck at all."  No, I don't feel that way, but I like the vibe to that song.  And, I thought it was kinda funny to slip that in with some love songs.  ;-)

She has a long memory.  She knows I will play Born Under A Bad Sign now when she asks for a love song.  Somehow, that seemed equally funny to put that one in after playing some Christmas songs this morning.

I decided to record that one, and here it is...

https://soundcloud.com/captainjimb/born-under-a-bad-sign

I am usually able to put the first tracks, with guitar and vocals, down in one take... not this morning.  Just little mess-ups.   After that, any other parts are recorded into the H4n Pro recorder, so I'm the only one who hears them... probably good, since that is drums and bass.  On those tracks, it was one practice run, then record.

Round 3...

No, not a boxing match.

A couple months ago, the fire extinguisher manufacturer Kidde issued a recall for some models of their extinguishers.  Turns out there are millions of these things out there!  I thought it might take forever to get the free replacements - or that the company might go out of business before they could get them distributed.

The replacement procedure was simple: fill out a form online with the model and serial number of your extinguishers.  We very quickly heard back that 4 of our extinguishers are on their recall and they would be sending out replacements... considering the numbers involved, they arrived reasonably expeditious, two one day and two another.

Also included in the boxes were the return labels to send the affected ones back.  Even more expense for Kidde.  Since the extinguishers are considered "hazardous material," you can't just drop them off at the local UPS Store.  As per instructions, Joan called FedEx to arrange for a pickup.

When we went out for lunch on Thursday, we left the 4 extinguishers on our front steps in case FedEx came while we were out.  Yep, the came and dropped off a package, but didn't pick up the 4 boxed extinguishers.  When Joan checked with FedEx, the driver wrote "Could not find that address."  Ummm... they dropped off a package at that address... a package that they set beside the 4 boxed extinguishers.

For clarification, we live on an island, where we all have the same street address, but each place has a lot number.  The lots are numbered sequentially.  Really, if you find one lot here, you can find any.  The numbers on any given street are on the street signs, and each lot has its number painted on the driveway.  (USPS does not deliver to each address here, so we have one central place with private mailboxes... that do NOT match our lot numbers.  Yes, that is a pain in the butt.)  The take away from this: every house has a unique lot number.  This is the second time in the past month that FedEx said, "Could not find that address."  And in between those notices, they have delivered here frequently.

Joan called FedEx again on Friday and was assured that a driver would pick up the boxes.  This time the tracking said: "No one home."  Bullshit.  We were home.  All day.  The boxes were again out on our steps.  The front light and porch light were on until 9:00 pm.  IF we hadn't been home, but we were, the boxes were right there.  On the steps.  The driver would have to walk around them to get to our doorbell.  IF he had actually come to the house... where we would have heard him, because we were home.

Joan called FedEx again this morning.  The person on the phone just read the driver's notes asking if the house is "hard to find" or if were were actually home.  Joan explained that each note was not factual (I would have used the technical delivery term: "Bullshit," but Joan is much more refined than I am).  The person on the phone assured her that someone would be there to pick up the boxes "today... or maybe tomorrow."

(Sigh)  Truth be told, while I'd rather these get sent back to Kidde, I'm OK if someone steals them off our porch.  I understand that Kidde doesn't want them "out there" due to the liability.  We have fire extinguishers in the house, the car, the cargo trailer, the boat, and the motorhome (some of those weren't models in the recall or were a different manufacturer).  I'd just like to see FedEx do their job, and not make up bullshit stories.  Yes, I know this is their busiest time of the year... I can't help but think this particular driver knocks off early, and punches in "Not home"... "Could not find that address" ... or some other made-up stuff instead of actually making the delivery or pick-up.

New motto: "FedEx - for when it absolutely, positively has to be bullshit, made-up excuses."

Proof...

If I could give my younger self some advice, it would be: "Don't worry about that whole 'Naughty List' thing - you still get stuff."

I am proof of that.  ;-)

A low-key, but still joyous Christmas this morning - still in our jammies, we exchanged gifts and the cooking began.  Joan made fresh cinnamon rolls for breakfast and is now working on an apple crisp kind of dessert... the house smells good.  There will be turkey, ham, and lasagna (the ham and lasagna are a Christmas tradition for us).

Little Isabella is loving her new "condo"...

It is plush, with a tufted cushion, lots of room to spread out, and opens on three sides and the top.  When needed as a carrier, the three sides zip up and have roll down privacy screens, should the little princess need that.  She is a very contented little furry girl.  She likes it so much that she got one just like it for her nephew and nieces in Arizona.

I was thinking we might get out for a short boat ride today, but Mother Nature has blessed us with some drizzly rain; really glad we got out yesterday.  It will be a nice day to stay inside with the fireplace going and enjoy our Christmas meals.

We'll have "another Christmas" to look forward to when we go to Arizona next month.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

All I want for Christmas...

Well, I did the dentist last week for a new crown, and my two front teeth seem to be good, so...

We look forward to spending Christmas with our sweet daughter and son-in-law.  A kitty emergency came up, and they had to cancel their trip here, last minute.  We are all disappointed, but they need to stay there to care for their oldest furry girl.  We completely understand.

That means, we didn't have to drive to the airport today.  Of course, that means I don't get to have a fancy lunch out in the big city.  I said to Joan, "How would you feel about plunking the boat in this afternoon?"

"I think that would be good for both of us."

I've complained about the dredge operation, but they are just doing their job, and working hard at it.  I drove up and down the two canals we'd need to negotiate to get back to our dock, and determined that they (the dredge workers) left us a way back in... snug to be sure, but doable.

We took the cover off the boat, loaded our stuff into it in the driveway, then hooked it up to the CR-V to take it to the boat launch.  The tide was quite low (expected around the Winter Solstice) - Joan backed the trailer into the water, and I powered it off the trailer.  Not knowing if we'd be able to for sure get to our dock, we left our vehicle and trailer in the Welcome Center parking lot.  Joan came back to the boat, and we shoved off...

Delighted to be back on the boat - it seems like a very long time since we pulled it out... in reality, about 3 weeks.

Of course, we kept our eyes peeled for some views of our dolphin friends...

It wasn't long, and our first view...

We saw several small groups - they all seemed to be focused on feeding, so we gave them plenty of space.

The pelicans were following the dolphins around, occasionally getting spooked when a dolphin came up right by them...

The pelicans are always entertaining to watch, as well...

We decided to head towards home, to see if we can get our boat in the canal; along the way, we saw plenty of small boats out and about (mostly fishing)...

These "big boys" in the Port Isabel Turning Basin...

Even a few kayakers...

A Roseat Spoonbill feeding along the shore...

We decided to take a cruise through the old shrimp basin - plenty of boats in...

It was just happenstance that we went back there... and saw a family in a pontoon waving their arms.  Not just a "friendly wave," they wanted something.  They were tied off to the back of one of the shrimpboats furthest in.  Yep, they were broke down and needed a tow.  "Yes, we'll get you back to your dock."

It turns out, they have a place on our island.  We had them attach a line to their boat, came up alongside them, and took a wrap on one of our rear cleats.  Their pontoon is a lot bigger then ours, and they had a bunch of people onboard.

Good think we came along - Santa wouldn't have known where to find them!  ;-)

We got them to their dock - the Dad wanted to give us something for helping them out... "Not necessary - have a Merry Christmas!"

Back at our dock - yes, we got in with only a bit of concern - we tied the boat off and took one of the scooters to the Welcome Center to get our SUV and trailer.  Hosed the trailer thoroughly, went back and cleaned up the boat.

I did send a photo to Steph while we were out there.  It is a long-standing joke that every time she comes here, the weather turns to crap.  Mother Nature must have heard they weren't coming: the temps were a bit cool (sweatshirt weather), but not much wind and lots of blue sky.  I would trade that lovely weather in a heartbeat to be with our kid... but, again, we truly understand.  We will see them in another month or so.

And, I did get one of my Christmas wishes: boat time and dolphins.

Merry Christmas!

:-)

I mentioned "warm and windy"...

Yesterday.  Mother Nature decided to ramp it up, both wind and temp.  Today is hot and windy... it's 79º at 1:30pm (but feels like 85º), with the wind gusting above 30mph.  The relative humidity is 75%.  Yep - hot, windy, and humid.  I considered a bike ride today (scooter or e-bike), but neither would be pleasant with these conditions.

Yes, I am aware that parts of the country are getting snow and cold... and in the grand scheme of things, hot and humid is (from my perspective) much better than cold and snow.  This time of year, with a strong south wind, it is likely that there is "a change" coming... sure thing, a "cold front" will be making its way through our area tonight, dropping our temps a bit (tomorrow's high is predicted to be 62º), 100% chance of rain, and switching the wind to the north.  No, that isn't the same as the forecast I posted yesterday... another day, another wild-ass guess.

Still, it doesn't qualify for: "Oh, the weather outside is frightful..."  ;-)

Winter Solstice...

Didja feel it?  As of 10:28am local time, winter is officially here.  Wouldn't know it by me, as it got to around 80º here this afternoon.  The daylight hours will be getting longer again.  Being this far south, it isn't like living up in the frozen northland, where it was dark when we went to work and dark when we came home.  OK, the key word in that previous sentence is... work.  It is starting to get bright when the Today Show comes on at 7:00, and the sun doesn't set here until around 5:43pm today.

On the flip side of that, we don't get the 15 to 16 hours of daylight like the Summer Solstice in the Pacific Northwest.  We're closer to the equator, so there is less of a dramatic change.

The weather weasels are now making their guesses for the next week, covering Christmas...

Yep, only 68º for a high on Christmas Day.

A bit of startling weather news today: a snowflake right here at our house!  No, not the frozen kind... Joan picked up another display for our deck...

We have had a couple lighted 5-pointed stars for our Christmas lights over the years, but we couldn't find any this year.  So, a "snowflake" on the other side of that white post.  And that is all the "snow" I want to see for Christmas.  The lights needed a "centerpiece"... this will do.

After lunch out with Mike and MJ, I wired in a new switch for our living room ceiling fan/light... we can control the brightness and color temperature of those lights by voice.  Or with an app.  I may never have to leave my chair... is there a smart device that will respond accordingly when I say, "I could really use a cheeseburger"?

;-)

Jane - stop this crazy thing!

If you said, "From the animated TV show The Jetsons, 1962 - 63," you get 25 bonus points.  If you remember that it was from the scene where George is walking Astro the dog on a treadmill, you get another 25 bonus points.

It's Joan, not Jane in our house.  Joan is rigging lights to go on and off by voice command.  And the Christmas tree.  I'm not so sure I like these "household helpers" listening in to everything we say.  If you happen to use the helpers name, she is just hanging on your every word.

On this shortest day of the year, it is warm and windy in the Tropical Tip.  Instead of going outside this morning, I recorded another song - here is With A Little Help From My Friends...

https://soundcloud.com/captainjimb/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends

The home-made drum pedals work great, thanks for asking.

One of the nice features of living in a resort area is: no lawn care.  The HOA takes care of all the grass cutting, edging, and blowing the leaf debris off the driveways and streets.  If you want some additional landscaping, that is on your own.  Just as I settled in to lay down a couple tracks this morning, the mower went by right outside that window; followed a few minutes later by the leaf blower.  Drums and bass go directly into the recorder, guitar and vocals are recorded off the mic... which means you need it reasonably quiet to do that.

I am still experimenting with which track to put down first; for me, it just feels more natural to do the guitar and vocals, then add the bass, drums, and a second guitar in Nashville tuning, if desired.  It has been an interesting new challenge.