If you're going to play a Roy Orbison song...

 

... you have to have to wear the sunglasses...

 Podge sent me these individual photos...

 I'm assuming courtesy of Mrs Podge (Roberta).

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Joan shot some video clips - I put them together for this...

 

It's back...

 

Well, from my perspective, it never went away.  Another Extreme Heat Warning for the next 3 days, with temps expected to be 111º to 115º.  The last 4 or 5 days have been more "normal" - typical daytime high is around 105º.  I guess we have acclimated... I find myself saying "only" when the daytime highs are around 103º.

Warnings by the local media to "avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day."  Mark, Podge, and I are playing out for a group at Banner Health (near downtown) today.  We'll be loading in equipment at 3:00.  So, fun.

Actually, I'm looking forward to the playing.  In air conditioned comfort.

 

Check out the time on that image above.

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Loading up...

Joan, as usual, had a good suggestion: take the Equinox out of the garage, turn it around, back it in, and load up in the garage...

 It is 109º out currently, and the driveway is in the sun - this is much better.  The gear at the door, ready to go to the garage...

 Loaded...

 We'll have to unload in the heat, so it was good to skip that step for loading into the SUV.

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Murphy wanted to visit his cousins.  Instead of him going over to their house, he invited them to ours.  The boys are back in town...

 Alfie and Murphy by the patio door (above), and Tango checking out Murphy's toys (below)...

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 The gig is a wrap.  Our placement in the room was a bit snug, but we made it work.  Joan shot some video of the playing - I'll try to work something up tomorrow.  In the meantime, here's a few screen grabs...

 

So, what do you really think?

 

I've been asked a coupe times what I really think of that Aeroband guitar... pretty much what I said in the video.  It won't replace any of my guitars, but I did play it for Joan and Murphy while sitting outside on our patio this morning.  Before the heat drove us in.  And then I played inside for a while.

I have my favorite settings on it - the acoustic guitar setting you get when first turning it on, and the piano setting.  I used both of those today.  Also as I said, it takes some adjustment in technique to get the best playing experience out of this guitar; and I've been "adjusting."

The big deal: after an hour and a half of playing, my fingers weren't sore at all.  Not the fingertips or the muscles across my palm and thumb.  

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I laid out the set list for the gig we're playing tomorrow for Banner Health.  I like to have that set up ahead of time, so it is easy to flow from one song into the next: as soon as I finish one song, the OnSong app on my iPad pulls up the next song.  We we decide to swap things around on the fly, one click takes me back to the list, then another click on the chosen song.  Fast and easy.

I'll be bringing more gear than a typical get-together with Mark and the guys, since we'll be using my Bose PA and mixer.  We are ready.

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Have you been getting out on any of the bikes lately?  Thanks for asking, but, no.  Since Steph and Dan have been gone most of the last couple weeks, my mornings have been occupied with cat duty.  Today was the first morning in a while that I just had Murphy to take care of.  It continues being hot here, so if you don't get out early, it can get unpleasantly hot while riding.

 

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."

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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. 

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The link is now "Public".