Yes, back in the day, we used to enjoy winter sports. One of the highlights of the ski season was seeing what new Warren Miller ski films had been made. It was great video, with a voice over by Warren.
Well, I am so over anything snow related, but I thought I'd try a voice over with some video clips today. Joan is working on another quilt project, so another solo outing.
No, I won't be giving up my day job.
... the big game. Commercials, snack food, and some football.
And this scary face...
Not a lynch mob; a morning of guitar work today. I took strings off the SG (the newest electric) and went to work on dressing out the frets again. I was a bit more aggressive with it this time around, feeling confident after the previous effort. Strung it up again, and the fret work is 98% of the way there. If it had been like this when I got it, I wouldn't have noticed anything out of the ordinary. So, on the next string change, I'll get that last 2%. At this point, though, it plays nice. I am having fun with this guitar diversion.
While I had my gear out for working on the guitar, Joan asked if I had any other guitars ready for a string change. Well, there is always a guitar that is due for a string change. ;-) I recently got a set of Elixir Polywebs in a gauge lighter than what I normally use... I was thinking they'd be good on my Emerald X10. Today is a good time to find out.
Only guitar players will appreciate this: I generally use Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze strings. These Polywebs are supposed to be "warmer and slicker, with less squeak." They're also about $10 more than the Nanowebs. I'll reserve judgement after I've had a chance to play them for a while.
And what about the Optiweb? Thanks for asking; those are for electric guitars. I have been using Ernie Ball strings on my electrics for decades... I may have to give those Optiweb strings a try. Not sure why, but Elixir strings have been hard to find lately.
8 weeks - my first follow up appointment after the big poke and the pulling-of-the-tube. I was told it would be for a blood test to check my PSA. Not sure what else they will do today.
Whatever the test, I didn't study. Guess I'll just wing it. ;-)
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Things went fine at the doctor's office. We waited in the car until they were ready to get me in an exam room. The nurse did the prelim and took blood. The expectation is for a zero PSA number, but I won't know for a week. The doctor came in and asked how I was doing, answered questions I had, and set me up for another appointment in 4 months. She asked if I had lost weight... yeah, apparently, about a 25 pound prostate. ;-)
Joan thinks that is because we have been eating better at home during the pandemic this past year. That might be it, too.
Sometimes.
The ad for this keeps showing up on Facebook. Must have something to do with key words like "old man" and "cat."
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Of course, Rufus is much better looking than the cat on that shirt. Late this afternoon, he was sound asleep in his big chair. The boy sleeps hard. And by that, I mean: soundly. Obviously, he feels secure in this environment. Zonked out...
Look at that luxurious belly fur - it takes all the self-control I can muster to not run my fingers through it. And the face...
Almost scary looking: one eye slightly open, mouth ajar, and those saber-tooth fangs hanging out. I love that furry face... he's my boy.
If you said, "A 1987 film starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello," you get 75 bonus points.
No, it has nothing to do with today at the beach. I forgot to download it last night, and that is a nice view off our deck.
OK, back to the beach: this morning, Joan said, "How would you feel about a beach walk today?"
"Sounds like a really good idea." It has been over a year since we walked on the beach. Oh, last year after we got back from Arizona, we did walk the beach boardwalk a couple times when we knew it wouldn't be crowded. But, not out in the actual beach.
Here's a short video of our walk...
You may have a similar situation: you don't always take advantage of the things that bring so many people to an area... like going to Mt Rushmore when you live in the Black Hills... or going to the Grand Canyon when you live in Arizona (we took Steph and Dan there for their first time 8 years after they moved to the Phoenix area... or going on a whale watch trip when you live in Washington State. No doubt, you have your own places near you.
Some of this is just life getting in the way: doctors thinking they need to cut on me, traveling for several months at a time, and (of course) the pandemic. During the month of April (after Spring Break), local officials closed the beach because of the rapid spread of Covid 19. In late May when the opened the beach again, thinking people would wear masks and socially distance, over 70,000 people came to the island the first weekend that travel restrictions were lifted. We stayed away... looking at the images on the local media made it clear that very few people were taking any measures to stop the spread of the virus. It was part of the reason we left here earlier than usual last summer.
But, today, we'd have the opportunity to check out the beach. As you can see from the video, it wasn't crowded. What you can't see in the video: Joan and I were among the few who were wearing masks, even though the signs posted at every beach access says "masks must be worn" (except when in the water).
Our beach is beautiful. Soft sand when you are up from the water, harder (and more comfortable to walk on) close to the water. We will go back again, picking our times: not on weekends or holidays; and we will wear masks and keep our distance... especially from people who can't read, or think the rules don't apply to them.
It was a nice walk.
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On the way home, Joan checked for the package she was expecting: "Out for delivery." We've been waiting a week. I home project to be done... we discovered a leak in the washing machine last week. Joan researched the problem and ordered the part that we hoped would fix it.
I didn't take any photos in process. There are a bunch of screws that have to come out to take the back off the washing machine. Easy, just takes time. The old water valve came out with a couple screws, disconnect two electrical connections, and disconnect the outlet hose from the water valve. The new part would have gone on fast and easy if the holes for the screws had been punched out enough. After trying unsuccessfully to use self-tapping screws to open the holes up, we switched to a power drill. I could have saved 20 minutes if I had gone right to the drill. Water valve installed, back of the washing machine re-installed, hoses hooked up, time to plug it in... woohoo - it works!
We'll watch it close the next couple days, but that seems to have solved the leak issue. Joan caught it right away, so the floor barely got wet before we shut off the water last week.
Yes, we worked together on this. Joan is the plumber in the family, but this project needed some brawn. She did that, too. Kidding; contrary to popular belief, I am more than just a pretty face. And I am smart enough to say, "That would be great," when Joan offered to put in the screws on the lowest part so I wouldn't have to be on my knees. We do look out for each other. :-)
If you said, "Queen, 1980," you get 25 bonus points. Only 25? Oh, quit your whining, that one was a gimme. If you said, "What's a 'gimme'," you are even older than I am. ;-)
I got out for a pleasant scooter ride today, even picked up the current "Scooter Tag." No, that's not the "bites the dust" part - the Vespa and its rider returned home unscathed.
While out on the scoot, I got a text from Joan, letting me know that the SN9 rocket from SpaceX would be launching around 2:00pm. What's that? Yes, I can get texts while riding. Hands free. I decided to swing around and come back to watch the launch from our house. There was a hold which delayed the launch about 25 minutes.
When it did get off, it is an interesting experience: with SpaceX about 4 1/2 miles from us, there is a delay between what you see and what you hear. The launch...
All went well during the short flight (about 6 1/2 minutes)...
The above image is as the rocket started to hover. Then, onto its side...
From there it was a controlled free fall until the engines fired again to get it into position for landing. That's where something went wrong. The rocket over rotated and...
Not the end to this flight that SpaceX was hoping for. After SN8 ended in a fireball, I think there was hope they had that issue under control. It appeared that something came apart when the engines fired up for rotation. I'm sure we'll hear more about it in the coming days.
As you can see in the photo above, the next rocket (SN10) is being prepared. It was not damaged.
After the SN9 launch and crash, I went back out on the scoot; thought I'd take a little jaunt up SPI. Apparently, a huge number of people came to the island to watch the launch from the south end of SPI... the traffic coming up Padre Blvd looked like a Friday night during Texas Week in the middle of Spring Break. I got off the main drag ASAP - Gulf Blvd and Laguna Blvd were pleasant, with very little traffic.
A lovely day - only in the 60s, but sunny and very light wind. Nice day for some Vespa time and a rocket launch.
