Day 4877

I stayed busy today although I don't think I accomplished much. I signed the contract with the roofing company and paid my early May bills. I attempted to mow the grass in the front yard, but the mower wasn't up to the job. I either need to replace the battery pack again or just get a new mower. I used to be able to mow both the front and the back yard on a single charge. Today the batteries died before I could even finish the front. I guess I could recharge the batteries and finish things up tomorrow but my heart isn't in it. I've lost all interest in household chores.

The weather continues to be really pleasant. We had a nice early walk with Dawn this morning. Nobody was photographing the baby owls this morning, but we did see a bunny. Dawn was so busy smelling things that she didn't even notice the rabbit.

I mowed the grass before taking my long walk today, which probably explains why I was so slow. Some days these walks really seem like a chore. My feet hurt and I didn't have a lot of energy, but I did manage to finish my six miles. It's weird that I continue to do this day after day even though it is not always enjoyable. I'm a big believer in discipline. If you set a goal, you need to accomplish it. I'm slow and have my share of aches and pains, but I still think I'm in better shape than many people my age.

I don't know why I'm dreading having the roof replaced so much. We definitely need a new roof, but I keep expecting all sorts of surprises when the work begins. I want to schedule the job when there is no rain in the forecast, but that won't guarantee that it won't rain. Texas weather is full of surprises. Old houses are full of surprises too. The roofers will probably discover something that will end up making the job even more expensive. Having strangers around the house making lots of noise will scare Dawn too. In theory this will all be worth it if the roof stops leaking and I no longer have to sweep the standing water away after every heavy rain. Maybe I won't even need the pumps anymore. 

My expenses on the Viasat-3 launch trip were higher than I expected. The cost of these trips has almost doubled since I started doing them about seven years ago. Airfares have increased the most, but hotels and rental cars have gone up as well. Even meals are more expensive. I really wonder how long I can continue doing this. The magazine I write for doesn't pay expenses, so the trips just end up being a weird kind of vacation. I guess it is no surprise that most of the other launch photographers are local and live near the space center. There are several other launches I'd like to attend this year, but we'll just have to see. I'm a realist and realize that it doesn't really matter if I'm down there or not. These launch trips are just an indulgence.

There's a laundry list of things I need to do this week. I still need to apply for TSA Pre before I travel anywhere again. I need to get some gravel to fill in a big pot hole in the driveway. It's time to write my sister again since I got a letter from her. Do I buy a new mower or just fix the old one again? I need to finish my SpaceFlight Magazine article about the Viasat-3 program. None of these things are all that important but they will nag at me if I don't get them done. 

I'm sure that tomorrow will be a lot like today, but you probably know that already.

Bogart is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day