This Is Not An Instagram Post...

 

The kitties made me gush last night...

 From my angle above, from Joan's angle below...

 Murphy and Stella together.  On one pad.  Laying next to Joan.  Peacefully.

I don't paint any "ideals" like you would see on Instagram.  Trying to wrangle these two can be like babysitting toddlers.  Toddlers with knives.  Early on, Murphy wasn't sure of this intruder.  Stella was sure that this big cat was always trying to kill her.

They went from mistrust and fear to trying to establish dominance.  Don't let their size fool you into thinking any of that was one-sided.  Murphy is much bigger and stronger.  Stella can fight like a street brawler.  It wasn't "Oh, aren't they sweet," but more like "Knock it off you two and go to your separate corners."  If they were close, somebody was swatting somebody... and getting it back.

I didn't say it out loud, but I wondered if we had the patience and stamina to handle a street-smart kitten and a young adult cat.  Then, last night, they laid side by side.  Peacefully.  For a short time, Murphy groomed Stella.  Or maybe he was just getting a taste before trying to eat her.  I hope I'm kidding.

Seriously, their "play" can get pretty rough.  That's why this peaceful moment last night gives us hope.  

This morning, they chased each other around for a bit, but not roughly.  I took Murphy outside while Stella watched from the patio door.  Back inside, they both got a Churu treat, which they ate face to face off a spatula.  Peacefully.  Neither of them is guarded about their food.  And right now, Stella is laying on that same pad on the couch, while Murphy is dozing on his Murphy chair by the patio door.

There is hope.  It has been seven weeks.  If we are going to be able to do some traveling in the RoadTrek, we have to know that these two can peacefully co-exist.  There isn't room to take a catio in the van.  And I really don't want to have to do a Jim and Murphy trip, leaving Joan and Stella at home.  Time will tell.

In the meantime, it was sweet and hopeful to see that these two can be nice together.  And, no slap-fight. 

 

Old Dog...

 

If you said, "Can't teach 'em new tricks," you get 10 bonus points; and welcome to my world.

Yeah, I'm still dealing with practicing on Pixelmator Pro instead of Photoshop.  Some of the quick commands are the same.  Not all, though.  The biggest difference I've come up against so far is being able to input numerical changes for RGB color - I did that for years with our color lab in the studio, and it was a relatively easy transition to Photoshop back in the 90s.  That was great for us as we made the transition from film to digital (in 2001).

 

We were early adopters of that technology; it was a major change for the photographic industry.  Photographers who had only used an outside lab (the vast majority) were at a disadvantage because they had to learn not only the digital imaging, but also how to work up a finished image (for color balance, exposure, contrast, and retouching).  We had been using digital and film side by side for a year before we made the switch.  I have to admit that I don't miss mixing and dealing with the chemicals in our color lab, and not having to work "in the dark" with film and when changing long rolls of photo paper.  With digital, we could work "in the light"... then, there was also dealing with the screen color on 4 different monitors.  Again, we had an advantage, because we had been balancing and adjusting the color on a VCNA (Video Color Negative Analyzer).  The VCNA was state of the art for getting the color balanced from a color negative to photo paper.

The change to a full digital lab had its challenges, but we were committed.  Or maybe we should have been committed.  ;-)

All this to say: I have about 30 years of nearly daily use with Photoshop.  I was first using it with version 2.0... before there were layers.  Layers didn't happen until V3.0.

I took one of the first classes offered by PPA (Professional Photographers of America) regarding using Photoshop.  The professional digital cameras were in their infancy... and were not good.  One really eye-opening experience: the guy teaching the class had us all go to the back of the room - then turn around and look at the monitors... they all had different color!  Without a color balanced monitor, the color you saw on the screen would not even be close to what you would get on printed media (color photo paper).  Thus began a steep learning curve of getting to that goal of "what you see is what you get."  We all learned that we had to by "spyders" - a device that hung on the front of your color monitor that would help you adjust the monitor.  And that became a start up routine: fire up the computers, let the monitors settle, then put the "spyder" on each monitor to "get close" on the color.  Then run a print test to see if it matched.

 

And I thought we were getting away from having to check chemistry on our 40" color paper processor in the days of film.

And now, I am working on making a change from Photoshop.  Not because there is anything wrong with that software, but because I don't like Adobe's business model of having to pay for a monthly "subscription"... forever. 

And now, all these years later, this old dog is having to learn new tricks. 

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Yeah, yeah, Photoshop, blah, blah - what about the cats?  Thanks for asking.

You are probably familiar with a Murphy bed.  We have a "Murphy chair."  Every morning, after Murph and I spend some time outside, when we come in, I move one of our kitchen counter bar stools in front of the glass patio door.  Murphy hops up there, so he can see what's going on out in the courtyard.  We have a cooling pad on that chair... and it is Murph's.

 

This morning, while Murphy was getting brushed, Stella jumped up in "the Murphy chair."  That didn't last long: Murphy was there in a shot to reclaim his chair.  ;-)

 

4 Virtuos...

 

The players?  Well, I'm talking about the Emerald Virtuo guitars in our group of 7.  Yesterday was music day, and the first time since last spring that all 7 of us have been together.

After being under the weather for a couple weeks, it was really good to get back together with my music buddies! 

A while back, I had mentioned to the folks at Emerald (the guitar maker from Ireland) that we now have 4 Virtuos in our group: Mark's, Tom's, Carl's, and mine.  In addition to those, Mark also has an X10 Slimline, and I have an X20, and X10, and an X7 (my first Emerald from 2016).  Alistair at Emerald said they'd like to see some photos or a video with our group.

Today, Cindy (Mark's wife) took some photos for us.  Here's a look...

 The 7 of us, truly a "garage band" today, at Mark's home.  L to R: Gil, Carl, Ron, me, Mark, Tom, and Danny.  It is always a good time when we are together.

 The Virtuo players...

 Cindy asked us to step outside to get a bit of Arizona in a photo...

 I wasn't sure how my singing voice would be - it has been nearly a month since I've gotten together with these guys.  I am over the nasty cold, but the lungs are still needing some re-build time.  Surprisingly, I was able to sing in my full range.  And, with 5 singers, I didn't have to do all the lead singing.  Plenty of good harmony.

We are all in our 70s.  With a combined playing experience on the far side of 400 years.  Whew - now I feel even older.  We all use iPads for our charts.  It is easy to put your nose in the iPad and not look up to see how much fun we're all having... I had issued a challenge for today: each person submit two songs where they don't even look at the iPad.  Yes, we did it.  I first used an iPad when playing out in 2012 - it was for my set lists and an occasional glance at a chart to check lyrics.  With these guys, we play a lot of songs that are new to us (unlike the songs I've been doing for years when I play solo) - it is helpful to have the lyrics and chords while playing.

I had been looking forward to this for weeks - a truly good time!  And Ron brought pizzas!  We generally get set up, run though a song for a sound check, then have lunch before going after it for the afternoon.  Oh, and a short cookie break - 'cause man does not live by pizza alone.

 

 

Walking Bacon...

 

 I was reading through some van groups on Facebook and came across this...

From Seniors and Camping group. I found my new favorite takeout. Walking Bacon. LOL

 

We like to travel to new places at least once a year. Last year we got up into Pennsylvania in a little town south of Altoona called Roaring Spring. We were walking down the street looking in shop windows and it was getting close to lunchtime (nap time) and we were standing in front of a sandwich shop. They had an outdoor menu so my wife decided what she wanted and I did too. She continued to look in store windows and I went in to order.

 

I got the sandwiches and the guys asked me if I wanted some “walking bacon.” I’m like what? He said "Walking bacon, we give you 3 slices of bacon to get you home." Well I just stood there and he said, "I can tell by the bewildered look on your face the answer is yes. " So I got my sandwiches and bacon went and found my wife and she said, "Are you crying?" I said I didn’t want to talk about it, but this town has to be the greatest place on earth and that sandwich shop is more than likely the center of the universe. I’ve met very few true geniuses in my life, but that guy……sorry I’m tearing up again.

 

Cracked me up.  And now, all I want in the world is... Walking Bacon.

 

 

Anticipation...

 

If you said, "Carly Simon, 1971," you get 15 bonus points.  If you said, "From the catsup commercial," you get an additional 5 bonus points for having a sense of humor.

Today, I am full of anticipation.  If you said, "Well, he's full of something," no bonus points, but thanks for the chuckle.  It's gonna be a good day.  I am feeling better.  Not 100%, but definitely better.  Getting over a cold with asthma takes time.  While in the car yesterday, I sang along with the radio.  Not loud, but I could push out some sound.

Tomorrow, I get together with "the big group"... that is 7 of us.  First time since we played out late spring last year.  Mark, Ron, Danny, Gil, Carl, Tom, and me.  They got together two weeks ago, but I was sick... I missed seeing my friends.  I may not have full voice, but I'll sing what I can and the other guys will do their part (and some of mine).  I am already anticipating what gear I'll take.

 

A file photo from the last time the 7 of us were together. 

This morning, when I got up and started getting breakfast ready for Murphy and Stella, they played together.  Nicely.  No growling or hissing.  After their breakfast, Murphy and I went outside for our "walkabout and guy time."  Back inside, when I sat down, Stella jumped up on my chair and into my lap; a first.  And right now, they are sitting by the patio door, looking out...

 They share plenty of toys, but that is Murphy's chair.  It has a cooling pad on it, for his comfort; we move the chair in front of the door so he can look out.  This morning, Stella joined him; well not on the chair; he fills that.

Murphy gets to go outside, in our yard, not on a leash.  I am anticipating that the time will come soon for Stella to go outside - in a backpack, in a stroller, or on a leash (with a harness - if we can find one to fit her wiry physique).  Stella often looks through that patio door glass to see what we are doing.  Yes, Stella survived on her own, in a parking lot, before we rescued her.  While I'd like to think that she knows she has a good deal here with us, I have no idea if she is a flight risk.  And, I don't want to chance it.  At this point, she has made no attempt to get out the door when I am coming or going with Murph.  I'd like to keep it that way.

 

 

Snuggle Time...

 

Is this going to be a TMI post, Jim?

No, but thanks for asking.  I was needing a "feel like a real person" day.  Joan had talked about picking up some stuff at Sam's, and I suggested lunch out.  A real lunch out, not her picking up something and bringing it home; but, a sit-down, order off a menu kinds lunch.

We did just that.  After walking around Sam's - and adding to my spring wardrobe - we went to Olive Garden.  My choice.  I know some people think of Olive Garden as the "McDonald's of Italian food," but I do not agree with that.  I was really feeling like a bowl of their Pasta Fagioli soup.  And some pasta.  And some bread sticks.  Mission accomplished.  Topped off with Black Tie Mousse Cake.  A treat.

Then, to PetSmart.  Kitty food (we are still trying options for Murphy).  We saw a deal on some dog toys, texted it to Steph, and she told us what to get.  Joan got a couple cat toys, as well.

Back home, I tried on my new wardrobe - 3 long sleeve pull-over shirts, for layering, as one does here in the desert.

I am still recuperating from the lung and sinus bug that got me, so time for a mid-afternoon nap.  Old guy or going back to my kindergarten childhood... no matter; it helps.  I was joined by a snuggle buddy...

 My big furry boy Murphy.  He doesn't spoon with me like Rufus used to, but he seems to be happy being "right there" when I need the company.

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The Facebook Memory from 8 years ago today: the day we adopted Rufus...

 That quirky-looking boy turned into the incredibly handsome cat that drew people in.  With a personality as big as he was.  It makes my heart heavy that we only got 5 years with this boy.  Definitely, one of a kind.  He was there to get me through the hip replacement; and the cancer surgery.  And so many good times.  He was beyond the kitten stage when we found each other - a strong, stable force.  I miss you, big fella.

 

The Big Game...

 

I'm in it for the snacks and the commercials.  Apparently, there is a football game being played, too.  Oh, I get it: everyone is a football fan on Superbowl Sunday.  Some more than others.

We're not getting together with Steph and Dan, since Joan and I have both been under the weather.  Steph did bring over a spicy cheese dip she made - tasty.  I am told there will be cheese sticks and burgers, maybe some chicken wings.  Into the second quarter, I haven't seen any of that.

Maybe it is sports overload? Already.  We've had the Olympics on since Friday.  Only six more weeks of that. Could be the "All Kitty Wrestling, All The Time" playing live in the living room.

I think I need to get out of the house.

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I did it.  I downloaded two of the Apple apps from their Creative Suite: Pixelmator and Final Cut Pro.  I shot some video with the HoverAir X1 Pro drone to test the video production and pulled a couple still images from my files.  Yeah, I can work with this.  Probably.  Old dogs, new... you know.

Pixelmator seems simple, but less precise than Photoshop: using a slider rather than putting in exact numbers for color correction.  Final Cut Pro has more options but isn't as intuitive as iMovie.  I will work with them for the next 29 days (free trial), then make a commitment.