Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Retirement

RV Repairs Upcoming

During the cross-country junket last year, we suffered a few problems with our RV. I’m going to mention only a couple of major problems, but, rest assured, there are many more squawks. The RV is now over ten years old and showing some wear and tear and desert rash (we still don’t have an enclosure (yet) but that will be coming, one of these days.

First and foremost, when connected to city water, the fresh water tank overflows onto the ground periodically, as if there is a valve changing position and flowing water into the fresh tank rather than throughout the water system in the RV (washer, shower, bathroom and kitchen sinks, etc. Next, the water valve that controls the toilet flush leaks and water flows into the toilet bowl and has to be flushed periodically. Both of the above problems required us to turn off the city water valve outside if we weren’t actively using the fresh water in the RV. Next, there are a few little cosmetic things on the outside that need attention.

There are other problems, as I mentioned and we gave a list of concerns to the RV repair shop to address at their shop. They ferried the RV down to the shop yesterday and we will be working with them and the insurance company to assess the problems. The repair crew advises that the adjuster for our insurance company works with them on a regular basis to diagnose and resolve problems.

So, the RV is going to be in the shop for a while. There are a lot of squawks and we don’t expect to have the big guy back anytime real soon.

Meanwhile, we’re happy here in our desert paradise, thanks to Almighty God. We remain assured that things with the RV will be resolved in good time.

02 Aug 2026 by Notions Retirement Travel Wanderlust 0

New Camera Toy

I’ve been playing around with the new(ish) Canon EOS R10 camera since getting it last February. This week, I ordered and received a Canon RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM telephoto lens. I tried it out today and got a few shots around the yard including the one above of a Mourning Dove and Cactus Wren perched atop one of the birdseed feeders out back. I was easily 30 feet from the birds when I took the photo. I am intend to use the new lens for wildlife and possibly astronomical photos. More on those as time marches on.

For my older Canon SL3 Camera, I have a good collection of lenses for various purposes, not the least of which is the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L is II USM telephoto lens. Comparing the older telephoto to the new one, there are a couple of things worth noting:

  • Weight: The old lens weighs in at 3 lb 10 oz, while the new lens is only 1 lb 8 oz.
  • Length @ 400mm: old is 10.75 inches and new is 9.5 inches.

Using the old lens on the SL3 makes the camera very front-heavy and, while not absolutely necessary, could use a monopod or some other support for longer periods of use. The bigger lens has its own tripod mount. The new camera and lens aren’t noticeably as front-heavy and the weight doesn’t seem to be an issue when carrying it around.

So, I’ll report on any amazing things I encounter when using the new setup. Stay tuned.

As usual, you may click on the image above to view enlarged in a new tab or window.

Update 20260617 20:29 AZ time: Venus and the Moon in the western sky. Using the R10 and 400mm Lens . . .

17 Jun 2026 by Critters Notions Photography Retirement

Chicken Fried Steak

I may have said something in yesterday’s post about a feast. Well, the plate above says it all about a good ol’ Southern tradition of Chicken Fried Steak with all the trimmings.

The steak is actually a butterflied Filet Mignon breaded and fried. The Green beans are just that with a little bacon added. The mashed fauxtatoes are fake – steamed and puréed cauliflower with butter and gravy.

The plated meal is very Keto and Low Sodium diet friendly. It is also very tasty and reminiscent of the good ol’ Southern tradition referenced. Clickable image.

07 Jun 2026 by Classics Food & Dining Notions Retirement

Potpourri Post

Last week I posted about a cactus flower and this week (am I doing weekly posts now?) I am going to ramble on about a few things going on. First of all, There is plenty going on in our lives these days, some quite boring things and some a little more attention getting. Let me elaborate a bit:

  • We continue to live in a peaceful, tranquil place which does little to generate exciting headlines.
  • There are some background issues (mainly healthwise) that take up a little bit of time to accommodate what with professional visits and other things to do with growing older.
  • Life goes on with the usual business of running a household (max kudos to Damsel) with our flock of dependents (2 dogs and numerous cottontails, squirrels, birds, etc.)
  • The yard and garden are looking good this spring, but there is always some little chore that pops up. If it’s a big chore, we have our Landscape crew deal with it.
  • There are the hobbies and other time-consuming activities to relieve some of the boredom and/or excitement that comes along.
  • Food and Dining are a major item in our lives; we’re both on special needs diets and almost exclusively prepare all of our meals at home.

First, here is a photo I took this morning of a squirrel and a peanut. Note that the animals we consider as “dependent” don’t really depend as it were; we just like to treat them now and then.

I used the Canon SL3 camera for the above photo. Part of the hobby thing mentioned above. Our main cameras (my 2 and Damsel’s Canon T6i) continue to provide us with entertainment and some good photos now and then. Click on the image to enlarge.

I recently upgraded my everyday carry from the one I have carried for years to a new, easier to rack semi-auto S&W M&P Shield 9mm EZ. The old muscles and ability to operate the old Glock were getting to be incompatible.

Tomorrow, we will be taking the dogs for their annual exams and immunization updates. We will renew the County licenses afterwards.

This week, I need to make time to get a haircut. Due to other commitments, I have fallen out of sync with my regular trim schedule.

On Tuesday, I have consecutive visits with the General Practitioner Doctor and the Ophthalmologist, neither of which is other than a regular visit for checkup. I also need to reschedule a checkup with the Nephrologist which I had to cancel due to a conflict.

So, we’re still here doing things that you might expect for “generians” (septi- and octo-) to encounter in our lives. We will continue in this regard as long as it takes.

12 Apr 2026 by Comrades in Arms Critters Entertainment Firearms Food & Dining Home & Garden Notions Photography Retirement Second Amendment Technobabble

Columbus Day 2025

Now that President Trump has restored the Columbus Day Holiday, we can wish everybody a Happy Columbus Day. Wickenburg is flying Old Glory on the main drags of town today as they do on other National Holidays.

From Gemini AI:

Columbus Day, observed annually on the second Monday of October, is a national holiday in the United States commemorating the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas on October 12, 1492. It is traditionally celebrated to honor the explorer and the beginning of European settlement in the Western Hemisphere. The holiday serves as a moment to recognize the historical voyage that opened a new chapter of global interaction. Despite the observance by many states and cities of alternative commemorations, Columbus Day remains a federal holiday, marking its place on the national calendar.

(Clickable) Image and Text courtesy of Google Gemini AI.

13 Oct 2025 by Retirement

Sixteenth Retirement Anniversary

Sixteen years ago, I pulled the plug on being employed. At first, it doesn’t quite feel like it has been that long, but again, so much has happened in the last 16 years that, when you think about it, the time seems to fill in with life’s events. Here’s a brief synopsis of a few of life’s milestones:

  • 2009 Retirement
  • 2010 Bought property in Arizona and started building our desert home
  • 2011 Moved physically into the Arizona home
  • 2012 Began retirement travels – viewed annular solar eclipse from Page AZ
  • 2013 Bob’s Mom relocates from California to nearby retirement home
  • 2014 First great grandson born in California. Acquired travel trailer to facilitate more travel plans to see family
  • 2015 Completed the RV Drive around the house with full trailer hookups
  • 2016 Many trips to various places of interest throughout the west
  • 2017 Travel to Wyoming and beyond to see the total eclipse with new class A RV
  • 2018 First great granddaughter born in California – trips of course
  • 2019 Second great grandson born in California – more trips
  • 2020 Second great granddaughter born in California – trips pending
  • 2021 A relatively uneventful year save for hernia surgery
  • 2022 Lost Beethoven, our red Min Pin – gained Tucker, a long-haired Chihuahua mix
  • 2023 Discovered a leak in the water line between bathroom and kitchen requiring a complete overhaul of bathroom and kitchen cabinets
  • 2024 Travel to Waco, TX to observe total eclipse of the sun. Visited other interesting places in the RV before and after the eclipse
  • 2025 Travel in the RV to visit birthplaces and residences of ancestors in the eastern and southern U.S.

So, as we continue our retirement, we will keep our heads on a swivel, given the multiple left-wing groups out to get their perceived enemies. And, then, there is the crime epidemic, thanks to president autopen, et al. We are fortunate that The Lord brought us to this tranquil place in the desert, generally away from all that malfeasance, but we never know when that might break down.

Y’all stay safe!

01 Oct 2025 by Aerospace Notions Retirement

Sunday Dinner

Damsel has a recipe for our Sunday Dinner consisting of Shrimp, Alfredo Sauce and Spaghetti Squash. I doodled the notion of such a meal into the Google Gemini AI image generator on my smart phone, and it produced the (clickable) image shown above. It looks very appetizing for an AI-generated (i.e. “Fake”) photo.

Gemini is a Google AI platform that enables image generation and editing. It uses multimodal input, enhanced reasoning, and natural language understanding to create images. With Gemini, you can generate images with a single model, such as Gemini 2.0 Flash, which combines text and image generation.

Gemini 2.0 Flash can be used for various tasks, including generating stories with consistent illustrations, conversational image editing, and creating detailed imagery with world knowledge
1. It also excels in rendering long sequences of text, making it suitable for creating advertisements, social posts, or invitations
2. Gemini 2.5 Flash Image is another state-of-the-art image model that benefits from Gemini’s world knowledge, enabling new use cases. It can generate images with a wide range of styles and subjects, and it is available via the Gemini API and Google AI Studio
3. To use Gemini for image generation, you can use specific prompts to achieve consistent characters, precise edits, and blended images
4. The platform is actively being improved, and Google is committed to making it more accessible and user-friendly.

Gemini is also integrated with other Google services, such as Google AI Studio, Vertex AI, and the Gemini app, making it a powerful tool for developers and users alike.

Anyhow, the actual meal will be posted on our food blog sometime late Sunday, 09/07/2025, after dinner.

06 Sep 2025 by Arizona Food & Dining Notions Retirement Technobabble

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