Fri Feb 1 = This morning I bled my van's tires from maximum allowable for the tires down to 35psi @ 374,010mi to see if a quieter ride is worth the additional expenses of lower mileage and higher tire wear.
- At the usual 3:00pm I went shopping,
under the auspices of
,
with Willie. I need to slow down and think. I embarrassed myself in the Winco grocery store by asking about what I thought was the past expiration date of April 5th, 2019 on some liver. Stupid me! April was on my mind because I had just spent the morning arranging some April comedy appearances.
Sat Feb 2 = I got up early for a Comedy Brunch at
El Charro Hipster in Phoenix. Durell, producer and host, gave us 10 minutes for clean comedy. I talked about my waining physical prowess, GPS and holding things.
Sun Feb 3 = This morning I got up early so Larry Shepard, doing some work next door, could come over and retecture and repaint my ceiling where there was a water leak several years ago. He was four hours late, buying a new truck, so I had to stay around home most of the day.
- While staying around I researched and ordered 500 business cards - the same as the ones I have made for myself in the past using Avery software.
- Also I researched and downloaded the Freemake Video Downloader. It did not work so I downloaded Video DownloadHelper, a Firefox browser extension that works and is pretty slick. Now I will have videos for my website, even after the originators take them down from the Internet. Too bad I did not download my Channel 3 appearance eight years ago before it was taken down. This evening, I finally downloaded my appearances on The Weather Channel and the
KDWPT
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
.
- I ran accross this Bill Maher vs. an Intelligent Christian (4:53 video)
Mon Feb 4 = I found a new place that might be interesting: Copper Cactus Ranch, founded by Bobby Cook and Rich Homan, which is a men only retreat located one hour east of Phoenix, hidden in the Superstition Mountains foothills. I understand that the road to get there is pretty gnarly. I reserved Friday and Saturday nights there, staying in my van. Should be fun, economical and... interesting.
- More information. Once I research it I don't want to have to do it again, so I added a list of paper weight thickness measurements to my Definitions web page.
Tue Feb 5 = I pivoted and went a different direction tonight after doing comedy at Dos Gringos, hosted by Jill Kimmel. Instead of heading to Catalina Sports Bar and Grand Avenue Pizze, I drove to nearby Monkey Pants for a new open mic produced by Tough Crowd and hosted by Tom Zorio. Thanks for the tip, Ben Kaufman.
- You may have noticed that my Future Appearances for the rest of this week evaporated from my website. That was no accident. This evening I developed a significant sore throat, so am canceling them, getting good sleep and hopefully getting over the sore throat.
Wed Feb 6 = Two roofers came over to look at my roof. Also I couldn't find my 50 year old digital fever thermometer so, after a little online research bought a new, better one: Vicks Model V966US.
It takes your temperature in 8 seconds, has a beeper that is easy to hear, a large optionally lighted display that can show green/yellow/red depending on your temperature and is supposed to be very accurate.
Thu Feb 7 = Today another roofer, Jari (Finish) came over. His take was: If it's not broke (leaking) don't fix it. He suggested that I could caulk the vertically split roof tiles with Locktite PL3000 polyurethane adhesive and, optionally glue in the broken tile corners. I could use the same stuff to reattach the east tile that has fallen off, as well as some of the cap tiles' mortar. This would probably get me by for the next five years and cost very little.
- I had Discount Tire inflate my van tires to their maximum allowed pressures, ending the 35psi experiment I started after a previous refueling on 2/1/19. With the lower pressure, my mileage figured about 1 mpg less.
Their 100 year-old Cat's Claw tree & windmill
"
Fri Feb 8 = This morning I took my last dose of glucosamine/chondroitin and multiple vitamins in prep for my colonoscopy on Wednesday. I lay out in the sun at noon, received delivery of 50 USB comedy fobs, then spent the rest of the day getting off and driving to the Copper Cactus Ranch, Men's Retreat, almost 2 hours from my house in the in the Superstition Mountains near Queen Valley.
- I got acquainted with aobut 12 staffers and guests, had an delicious buffet, enjoyed some awesome music from a band of 5 and did a 15 minute comedy show for them (Thanks Bobbie). Later we congregated in the hot tub. I spent a somewhat restless night in my van with my electric heater turned on its lowest setting. It was still a little warm under my comforter.
Sat Feb 9 = After breakfast a group of us hiked up a nearby, as yet unnamed peak. On the way down I helped excise a cholla cactus from Richard's hand.
- I worried that my lightweight $10 Walmart shoes would not survive. I imagined having to call for help on our walkie talkie if the shoes became shredded, to avoid shredding my feet. The shoes, and my feet, made it just fine.
The happy group that hiked the peak in the background: L-R Richard - Recardo - Guiermo - Bobby - Lou
The three that made it to the top: Guiermo - Recardo - Lou
North from the top: Weaver's Needle L; Copper Cactus Ranch below
South from the top: Elephant Butte & Rodad - Queen Valley to right
- Back at the ranch, we forestalled sore muscles in the hot tub. Later, most of us took naps.
- The evening activities included beef Stroganoff on homemade biscuits, salad and homemade cinnamon rolls (of which I had one taste), the ranch's first underwear party (everything was pretty conservative), music, more hot tub and, for me, my first real massage. It was not painful, just soothing and relaxing. Thanks, Billy! After all that I got to bed in my van about 1am. Instead of socializing during the music I put my nose to the grindstone, processing the above pictures from our hike and getting them online to share with the others.
Sun Feb 10 = What a good group of guys. In the 40 hours of my visit at the Copper Cactus Ranch, I felt I had made a log of new friends and had a chance to have fun, see things from different points of view and feel free to talk about things that many would consider taboo. After a bunch of hugs, I headed back home, stopping by the Superstition Springs Best Buy to pick up the Logitech MX Anywhere 2s Bluetooth mouse I had purchased online at the ranch.
- Why another mouse? My
XPS
Dell XPS-13 computer with 13.3" touch screen, 60WHr Integrated Battery, Windows 10, Intel 7th Generation Core i7 CPU, 16gb memory and 1TB SSD
only has two USB ports and, with Bluetooth, this mouse will free up one of those ports. Also the mouse has a dark LASER so works on any surface, including glass and mirrors, has three extra buttons and a host of other features... and is not too big so will be good on my trips and will hopefully help me be more creative faster.
- Talking about creativity and planning, here's Beat It on pop bottles. Reminds me of Snubby and his PVC Pipe music.
Mon Feb 11 = This evening I was listening to a recording of Jill On Money where Jill interviewed Poker Champion Annie Duke, on Making Smart Bets in Life, Politics, and Football. VERY interesting, talking about good decision-making, to include uncertainty and divorcing the outcome from the quality of a decision; trying to be accurate, not right. Life is like poker; not chess! Here is a 19-minute video... required watching.
... and if you like that, here is a 1:24 Talk at Google where Annie Duke takes the concept further with more interesting details.
Tue Feb 12 = Colonoscopy Prep Day: only clear liquids, then at 5pm, start drinking the magic diarrhea liquid that will clean out my colon. Also vacuuming and washing my bed linnens so
Cindy
my younger brother George's wife
would think I am always neat and clean when she comes over tomorrow to take me to my colonoscopy. This afternoon I gave her a call. She forgot and was on her way with George, driving to Las Vegas and not going to turn around. It all turned out OK. I wanted to do the procedure without anesthesia anyway, so now I will HAVE to, since I will be driving myself home.
- I lay out in the sun at noon. It was a little sketchy, as we have been having more clouds than usual with fronts coming through.
- I am going to make USB media cards available after my shows along with T-Shirts. I have 50 cards on hand and have loaded 14 of them with over an hour and a quarter of my comedy (1:19:19), including a 52-minute beach show and 90 seconds of kiteboarding. I re-did all 14 from NTFS to exFAT to squeeze a little more into the cards' 8gb capacities. Here's what's on each card:
My Show Cards, with a flip-out USB connectors
File
Size MB
Length
Venue
Topics
141226
168.6
6:47
Firehouse Gallery, PHX
Intro Lost Pee Voice
160426
400.8
3:55
St Louis Funny Bone
Old Man
170525
581.4
5:03
Relapse Theater, Atlanta
Viagra
180524
7.0
4:57
Idiot Box, Greensboro, NC
Viagra (audio only)
180626
6,100.7
52:39
Outer Banks Haulover, NC
Full-Length Informal Beach Show
181005b
679.2
5:58
Loony Bin, Wichita, KS
Fit/Gym
SC Kite
38.8
1:38
San Carlos, Mexico
Kiteboarding/Kitesurfing demo
Wed Feb 13 = This afternoon I got into gear to go in for my colonoscopy... without an anesthesia. I am glad I did it that way, and will do it again next time. It was a little painful, but not too bad. I had never before seen my butt up so close and personal... on a wide screen... or the inside of it. Dr Feris gave me a narration of what he was doing. It was an interesting tour. In the ascending colon, he did find one small polyp (right picture), which he removed. It was so small, it would not have been noticed by any other means. Faris just yanked it off with the miniature forceps his assistant had inserted through the probe. Later I learned that it was a tubular adenoma Farris Farris found nothing else of significance, but took several biopsies.
During the procedure I was pretty relaxed. They commeted that my pulse, breathing and blood pressure were all low normal: good things.
- When they were done they wheeled me out in a wheelchair. I ran to my van after the nurse let me out of the wheelchair. I have to stir up my tired blood, ya know. This evening I lazied out and did not go to a gym.
- My after-bedtime project :( was to hand sew my second night time arm-support squishy pillow into a 6" x 11" long cylinder.
Thu Feb 14 = Today I ordered a used LG G3 Sprint 32GB Metallic Black LS990 Smartphone as an additional audience camera for my comedy shows. The Ddroid from
Stan
Stanley, my older brother who was a retired as a machinist for Eaton Corporation in Hutchinson, KS until he succumbed to a three-week bout with Myasthenia gravis in March, 2018
that I have been using brakes up a long recording into 4gb/10-minute files - not good.
- The package of 500 business cards I ordered arrived today - a day late, via UPS/USPS. At first the USPS claimed that the address was not correct, almost sent the package back.
- This evening I went to LA Fitness, trimmed my beard, showered and did a medium-to-heavy legs workout.
Fri Feb 15 = Today I arranged with John Murphy, the owner, to headline at
The Dirty Leprechaun Lounge in Hutchinson, KS. Should be a fun show. I'll be working up some new material, as it will be my second performance there.
- Tonight I started the drag/drop backup of my
XPS
Dell XPS-13 computer with 13.3" touch screen, 60WHr Integrated Battery, Windows 10, Intel 7th Generation Core i7 CPU, 16gb memory and 1TB SSD
.
Sat Feb 16 = I have about 300gb of unprocessed videos from comedy shows taking up space on my
XPS
Dell XPS-13 computer with 13.3" touch screen, 60WHr Integrated Battery, Windows 10, Intel 7th Generation Core i7 CPU, 16gb memory and 1TB SSD
,
so have decided to process one video (approximately 6 minutes average length) each day. This afternoon I took care of one from Dec, 2017. Took me 30 minutes for everything, including the, time-consuming, figuring out the best audio to use.
- Speaking of videos, using my XPS, I reformatted the micro SD card for
Stan
Stanley, my older brother who was a retired as a machinist for Eaton Corporation in Hutchinson, KS until he succumbed to a three-week bout with Myasthenia gravis in March, 2018
's
Droid, using exFAT instead of the default FAT file system, hoping the Cinema FV-5 would not then break up long video files. No dice, although I was pleased to know that the Droid supported the SD card formatted in my XPS.
- Laying out in the sun around noon was a challenge with spotty sun. I probably went out for sun, got cold, and went back in about five times :( This evening I went to over to my near-by Anytime Fitness for medium arms and torso workouts followed by the same, only heavy.
- I analyzed my Tesla routine and kept the punchlines that got laughs. Next step is to make icons and practice the set.
Sun Feb 17 = This morning I took time to watch a 58-minute Phoenix Mayoral debate to decide my vote in the run-off election.
- It took my old Toshiba Tecra 18 hours to copy my XPS backup files from a 4tb drive to the 1tb Iomega that I will take over to to
George & Cindy
my younger brother and his wife who live in Mesa, Arizona
's
as my off-site backup. Thanks, guys.
- After a short light fast legs workout at LA Fitness, I came home and updated my Comedy Home Page.
- I tried to set 3 of my USB Show Cards to read only. Under PROPERTIES for two of the cards, there was no SECURITY tab.
Also I printed more tickets and show slips.
Mon Feb 18 = I joined Uber. This time they accepted my credit card, maybe because I was in my home area instead of Miami.
- The Tempe Tavern was my first comedy stop tonight. I wore my long thermal underwear and my ski jacket because of my second appearance outside on the patio at Devil's Advocate. They chickened out and had it inside. I did my the new Colonoscopy set I'm working on.
Tue Feb 19 = Having a widely irregular sleep schedule may be the reason I'm always tired. I'm sure it has nothing to do with being 77. Today I programed, I think, the alarm feature in
Stan
Stanley, my older brother who was a retired as a machinist for Eaton Corporation in Hutchinson, KS until he succumbed to a three-week bout with Myasthenia gravis in March, 2018
's
fancy Sangean ATS-909 digital radio to wake me at 10am every morning with the news on FFNN, a local financial talk radio station. My goal is to start a regular sleep schedule and, at the same time, keep up with what's going on in the world.
- First comedy tonight was at Dos Gringos. I got on first so I could go to Catalina Sports Bar, where the main list was full and I would have been about sixth for the speed rounds, so I went on to Grand Avenue Pizza. That was a rare show with everyone heckling everyone. It was cold out on the patio. Only comedians were there, about a dozen.
- We have a freeze warning for 10 hours tonight, from 11pm to 9am. I had my backyard remote thermometer alarm set for 29.5 degrees and had flannel sheets ready to take out to cover my Natal Plum shrubs, which are freeze sensitive. The alarm never sounded. I hope the Natal Plums weren't uncomfortable.
Wed Feb 20 = This morning, at exactely 10am, I was awakened to the news by
Stan
Stanley, my older brother who was a retired as a machinist for Eaton Corporation in Hutchinson, KS until he succumbed to a three-week bout with Myasthenia gravis in March, 2018
's
Sangean ATS-909 digital radio. The alarm worked! However my CPAP machine emitted so much RFI, even when turned off, that I had to unplug it to understand the news.
- For use as a camcorder for videoing my comedy, my third LG-3 cell phone arrived yesterday and, this morning, I initialized it, added the Cinema FV-5 camcorder app, and tested it. The audio synchronized perfectly with my Canon VIXIA HF R800 camcorder. However the phone started a new file about every 23 minutes. This is a problem the way I do my videos. It is a Sprint phone. My first LG-3 is from Sprint and has recorded over 1.5 hours as one file.
Thu Feb 21 = Today I tested my new Sprint LG-3 with the Cinema VF-5 camcorder software. It starts a new file every 28 minutes :(
- This afternoon I refined my Colonoscopy routine, based on how the various jokes went over the six times I did the routine since Monday.
- Tonight I did Colonoscopy at Improv Mania. I got lots of laughs and some complements.
- I was almost a multi-car accident on the way home tonight. In the rain, I was barreling along on the 101 about 11:30 when I saw a dark car sideways, with no lights on, blocking my lane and half the lane to my left. Fortunately I saw it in time, there was no traffic to my left and was able to swerve to the left and miss the car. Luckily there was no one standing in my path. Naturally I called 911 to report it.
Fri Feb 22 = I spent quite a bit of time researching low-light camcorders for videoing my audiences, finding the Panasonic HVC 770 HD (2015 vintage) the best deal, and then deciding to try using my Canon VIXIA HF R800 instead and to use one of my LG G3 cell phones in its place for the zoomed-in comedian. We'll see how that works.
- It took me 20 minutes to process last night's video from Improv Mania. The show was fun with a lot of laughs, but I did not reach my goal (6 laughs per mnute and people laughing 30% of the time) with only 4.9 laughs per minute and people laughing 16% of the time.
- This afternoon I got all my 2018
Dahlia
my Phoenix rental house located on Dahlia Drive
tax stuff figured out, so now all I have to do is enter the figures into TaxAct.
- Tonight I went, for the first time, to CB Live, a new comedy club in Desert Ridge, and saw Gilbert Gottfried. He was pretty good. On the way home I stopped by Anytime Fitness for a short, slow, heavy arms workout.
Sat Feb 23 = At the recommendation of Johnnie Jet, on my cell phone, I installed the aps for American Airlines and MyTSA.
Sun Feb 24 = This afternoon it took me about an hour and a half to process video from a 42-minute show from last summer. It took so long because I had to produce two times.
Stan
Stanley, my older brother who was a retired as a machinist for Eaton Corporation in Hutchinson, KS until he succumbed to a three-week bout with Myasthenia gravis in March, 2018
's
Droid brakes a long recording into 10-minute files. The first producing was to combine its five files into one. The second producing was to combine the result with the videos of my other two cameras and the audio track.
- Bully! This evening, after some shopping, I stopped by the 32 St & Bell LA Fitness for a 14 minute, light legs workout with 16 reps for each muscle. Toward the end of my workout I saw a young guy laughing and asked him if he liked stand up comedy. The guy with him with a gruff voice and an even gruffer personality laid into me. I explained that I was not talking to him. The young guy happily accepted one of my free Stand Up Live tickets. When the older guy saw me later he used considerable profanity and threatened physical harm. I am happy to say that I did not reciprocate, but DID hold my own. Later I saw him complaining to the front desk about me. On my way out of the gym I complained to the front desk about him.
- Wasting time this evening but learning, I found an audio track on my C.Crane Witness+ from my appearance last July at The Winner's Circle in Salisbury, MA. It was a little better than the audio on the video that I received from the owner, so I decided to reproduce the video with my better audio track. After about 45 minutes and two tries, I realized that my audio was not going to properly synchronize with the video. I didn't exactly waste the time because I learned, if Power Director 15 will not synchronize by audio, there is little point for me to try to do it manually.
- I had a little time before bedtime so I configured an old 19v 3.5a (60w) Viewsonic monitor switching power supply for my iCharger. I plan to use it to balance my
Mon Feb 25 = Today I decided to have my roof replaced by Patterson Roofing. William Patterson seems to be a genuine nice guy and is a pleasure to work with.
- My new Panasonic camcorder arrived today... on the front porch instead at the back where I requested. Fortunately no one made off with it. I got the camera set up and will be doing some comparison tests to determine where I will use it to video my performances.
- Tonight I got to Third Space after after the 10 comedian spots were filled, so headed to The Plazma Bar early. Mike ran a good show. It was my first appearance there. I'm sure I impressed all nine audience members by having my navy T-shirt rolled up so my white undershirt was showing off my midriff. That was not intentional. It was the result of my stupid bathroom oversight.
Tue Feb 26 = This morning I arranged for Patterson Roofing my tile roof, as the felt underlay is brittle, there are a number of misaligned, chipped and split tiles and the flat roof over the back porch needs to be replaced. Not too bad after 24 years. That averages a little over $333 per year. They will be finished by March 15th.
- Big trip today. This afternoon I went to the Biltmore Southwest Sleep Center to check out the feasibility of a mouth appliance to use at night when I am on my road tours, since my van does not have the space or power to operate a regular CPAP machine. Eric set me up for a one-night at-home sleep evaluation.
- Then on to Kelly Paper in Tempe for a ream of ivory paper with which to make more 4.25 x 5.5 daily note pads.
- Then to the Tempe Center for the Arts and Tony Vicich's advanced comedy class with my gas gauge riding on empty and my trip computer showing zero miles left in the tank.
- After the class I didn't run out of gas and refueled at an ARCO a mile south of the TCA on the way to Grand Avenue Pizza for tonight's comedy. I sold my first USB Show Card there to Hector Garcia. Of course all profits go to
Wed Feb 27 = Johnnie Jet, a weekly guest on Leo Lapporte's technology radio show, recommened the Manta Sleep Mask, so I ordered one. It is a little expensive, but it is COMFORTABLE, they say it puts no pressure on the eyes and gives a total blackout.
- Tonight for comedy I intentionally did a weaker set (Tesla) to force myself to concentrate on my delivery and relating to audience members. It went pretty well.
Thu Feb 28 = I got up early to drive down to meet Robin at the Valley Sleep Center. She gave me a high tech sleep device to wear tonight, that records chest expansion, nasal air pressure and oxygen level. With the informaton she will be able to diagnose my current level of sleep apnea.
My van has come up with a few extra problems the last couple of days:
turn signals quit working. I hadn't used hand turn signals since I was 16 and am sure the other drivers wondered why this old man kept sticking his hand out of the window to check for rain (in Phoenix?)
ABS light came on
Air Bag light came on
Back up light did not work
overhead trip computer was out
AC, Heat and Ventilation system quit working
Cruise Control quit working
- On the way home I stopped by a Home Depot to return a dozen cawking tubes (since I decided not to caulk my broken roof tiles) and then to H&M Motorworks on Cave Creek Road for them to steam clean my engine to help C&R Tire spot leaks tomorrow. I was impressed with the way Mike runs his shop and keeps it clean. He and another mechanic are the whole cheese there. Mike personally cleaned my engine.
- Tonight at Improv Mania, while I was waiting for my turn, I went out to my van in the Chandler City Parking garage and tested all the fuses, both under the hood and under the dash. I found one blown 10-A fuse under the dash. I replaced it, went back in, had a good comedy set and drove home... with everything working again.
- At home I connected myself up to the sleep monitor. You can see the nasal tubes to monitor air pressure for air flow, the oxygen sensor on my finger and the chest strap to monitor breathing.
I got to bed relatively early to get up early tomorrow.
"
