Day 4199

One of the reasons that I don't get enough sleep is that I'm a night owl and Dawn and Janet are early birds. I didn't feel like getting up this morning since it felt like I'd just gotten to bed. Dawn was ready to walk though. What happened to yesterday's beautiful weather? Even though the sun hadn't risen yet, I could tell it was going to be a very hot day. The humidity was much higher than yesterday and it's the humidity that determines my comfort level. We still had a nice walk though. Things don't get bad until the sun is high in the sky. I'm careful to watch for snakes now. Dawn almost stepped on a snake a few days ago. I think it was a copperhead but we didn't linger or examine the snake close enough to make sure. I guess I've already told you how much I hate snakes. I'd like to live in a place where it was 72 degrees all year long with no snakes, mosquitos, or poison ivy.

Dawn walks completely normally now. She doesn't freeze in place or have panic attacks anymore. I think she really likes our new early morning schedule. I've never seen her this eager to walk before. Dawn's new confidence makes it worth getting up early. It's nice to see a happy dog. I guess it doesn't matter how much sleep I get at night. I can always take naps. I take a lot of naps during the day.

I briefly thought about taking my long walk right after breakfast, but a quick trip outside to get the mail convinced me that this was a bad idea. While I was outside I saw a lot of small ants crawling up and down one of our brick exterior walls. I looked up and there were a ton more ants up on the ceiling under the front porch. It looked like we were under an ant invasion. I got some bug spray and killed all the ants. After they all died, I swept them into a pile and disposed of them. We've had ant problems before, but I've never seen this many. I hope they were coming from outside the house trying to get in rather than from inside the house trying to get out. We'll see if they come back tomorrow. I hope I've seen the last of them.

It was way too hot and humid to walk in the park, so I went to the gym instead. I always feel like my gym workouts are harder than my walks in the park, but my Fitbit says otherwise. Apparently I burn a lot more calories in the park. I tend to walk faster outdoors too, although it certainly doesn't feel like it. I'm working more on my upper body these days, because that's what needs the work. I usually return home sore, because a lot of these muscles haven't been used in a while. I still prefer walking outdoors, but I'm glad I'm getting some use out of my gym membership. I don't understand why so many people wear a mask while exercising at my gym. It's not mandatory anymore. Janet says almost nobody wears a mask at her gym now. The decision whether to wear a mask or not will probably end up being one more thing that divides us as a country. I have a feeling that some people will continue wearing their masks forever.

Dawn knows she goes to training class on Wednesday now. She starts pacing around and whining almost an hour before Janet is ready to go. She seems genuinely excited, but then Janet says she becomes fearful once she gets there. Dawn is very apprehensive about doing anything new. She's a lot like me in that regard. Dawn's a very smart dog and she does learn though. I have a feeling that she is going to be a star pupil after she gets used to the routine.

I still haven't made an appointment to have a colonoscopy. I think I'm due for a visit with the dermatologist too. I keep avoiding these things in hopes that they will just go away. Doctors are used to people like me unfortunately. They just keep hounding you until you eventually decide it's just easier to get the procedure over with. There are so many things to avoid this summer. I wonder how long I can avoid mowing the grass?

Boo is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day