Day 4187

I didn't accomplish a lot today. It's still too wet to mow the grass or do yardwork. There are indoor projects I could start, but I've been trying to avoid them. Eventually I'm going to have to repair the sheetrock in the ceiling where water used to leak, but I"m not sure I have the skills to do this. I'm not sure I want to hire anyone either. It's a messy, very dusty job. It's a lot easier just to not look up and pretend that the stained areas aren't there.

I ended up writing a letter to my sister and telling her about the lost letter that went to O'Reilly Auto Parts. I wish she'd start reading the blog, because that's a lot easier way to keep up with things. I can respect someone who wants to ignore the Internet though. I'd kind of like to ignore it myself, but I'm too lazy. I've grown to depend on Google and Wikipedia to verify things I'm not sure about and I don't know what I'd do without online shopping. I've grown to hate driving around town looking for things I need. Stores are often out of stock and prices are almost always better online. I'd probably be just fine writing the blog with a ball point pen in a little leather bound journal, but it would be hard for me to give up Amazon.

When I went to the post office I noticed that they no longer had a mask mandate. They just had a sign saying that it would be rude and inconsiderate to come inside without one. Masks are going to be around for a long time. A certain segment of the population loves them and they are very judgmental. I don't really care. Personally, I'd rather expand the six foot rule to a ten foot rule and make sure that I never got close to anyone again. If the pandemic has accomplished anything, it has convinced me that the rest of the world is full of disease and should be avoided at all costs.

Dawn really seems to be overcoming her fear of being around me in the kitchen. She's started following me to the kitchen when I go to fix her dinner now. This is new. She used to wait until I was safely back in the office again before she would venture out to eat. She likes going out in the back yard with me as well. After breakfast we will often spend up to an hour sitting out in the sun together. This is a slow process though and Dawn spooks very easily. She doesn't like loud noises and sometimes all it takes is blowing my nose to send her running away.

It was hot today on my walk but at least there was a nice breeze. I've started dipping my hat in water every time I pass a water fountain in the park and that seems to help keep me cooler. It's amazing how quickly the water evaporates though. I should probably just spray myself with a hose before I leave the house. I'd probably be entirely dry again by the time I returned.

It looks like it's clear out at the observatory tonight. I'd still kind of sad I'm not out there with my camera. I hope they decide to continue the photography night program. There just aren't that many opportunities to spend the night on Mount Locke. I'll skip the monsoon season, but I'd like to go back in the Fall. Maybe rental car rates will have become more reasonable by then. Maybe I'll have mastered using the star tracker as well.

I wonder if travel will ever seen normal again? Janet and I used to travel a lot, but cities aren't safe anymore and neither of us likes to camp. I'm glad we saw the world when it was a simpler, safer place. A lot of places we've visited wouldn't even be conceivable now. Hopefully, exciting trips will still be an option in the years ahead. I wonder though. The world has become a very strange place.

We'll see what happens. For now, I've got groceries to buy and another long, hot walk to look forward to.

Willa is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day