Day 4914

I spent way too much time today trying to decide whether to abandon U-Verse and go to a streaming service instead. I don't know why I even care, since I don't watch TV much. It seems like something I need to do though. U-Verse is on the way out and AT&T doesn't want to support it anymore. I'm pretty sure our TV and home network will support streaming, but I'm always wary about doing anything new with electronics. There's always something they don't tell you about and you end up spending hours talking to a customer support person who doesn't really understand your problem. Streaming is a lot cheaper than U-Verse, but like everything else, the price is just an illusion. The price will keep going up year after year and then one day I will discover that it is actually more expensive than U-Verse.

My main reservation about streaming services is that they depend on my Internet connection which is never as fast as it claims to be. At least the U-Verse TV doesn't depend on WiFi or my network router. It just hooks up straight to the fiber optic cable. First world problems, I guess. I'm sure I'll end up getting some sort of streaming service and then end up hating it.

I had to pick up a prescription today and I still can't figure out how GoodRx works. The pills I picked up today had a list price of $113. On my Part-D prescription drug plan the Co-Pay was $18. On GoodRx the price was only $5.00. What is their business model? I don't see how they can offer prescription medicine so cheap, especially when the app is free to use. It does seem weird and more than a bit wrong that a prescription price could vary so much. $113 vs $5 is quite a big difference.

Not much happened today, but what else is new. We had a very pleasant early walk with Dawn and then I had a not so pleasant longer walk later in the day. The warmer weather still hasn't forced me to go to the gym, but I'm thinking about it more. Did I really walk in the park all last summer? I do remember some very hot days last year, but I don't remember fighting the heat every single day. I did used to go to the gym a lot more, although I can't remember why. One of these hot days will be a tipping point for me though. I'll go back to the gym and wonder why I didn't go sooner. The best thing about my gym is that it is always cold. When we start having triple digit days, it will be worth the drive just to stay cooler.

I'm still having trouble sleeping because of the pain in my shoulder. I'm pretty sure I just pulled a muscle mowing the grass, but Janet says I should see a doctor. I'll wait a while. If I went to the doctor for every ache and pain I had, I'd be going every day. If I went to an orthopedic guy about this, they would take an x-ray, tell me nothing is wrong, and then tell me to use Voltaren when I'm uncomfortable. Been there, done that.

This week has gone quickly. Tomorrow is grocery day for Dawn. It is her favorite day of the week. I'm not sure if I have a favorite day of the week. They all seem pretty much the same to me.

Lacey is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4847

We had a little bit of everything today. There were clear skies this morning and we were under a tornado watch this evening. I walked indoors at the mall and Dawn got a nice walk outdoors when we resumed her regular Sunday outing. I even mowed the grass today, although that was somewhat of a failure. It's time to replace the mower batteries again.

There were few signs that we were going to have nasty weather later in the day when we took Dawn on her sunrise walk this morning. It just felt like a nice Spring day. Janet had to help evaluate a dog this morning, so I had my weekday breakfast of shredded wheat and berries while Dawn pouted in the bedroom. I told Dawn that she was still going to get her outing later, but I don't think she believed me.

After breakfast I went mall walking. I'm always surprised at how many things change week-to-week at the mall. New stores open and others close on a regular basis. There's certainly a lot of activity. Some stores change their window displays every single week, while others haven't changed anything in several years. I still have no desire to buy anything, but it's a pleasant experience to do my five laps around the mall perimeter. This is as close as I need to get to the rest of society.

I wasn't sure that Dawn was strong enough to take her regular walk at her Sunday park, but she was full of energy today. She did well. We're reduced her meds to a minimal dose and she still doesn't seem to be in any pain. Dawn hasn't fallen or stumbled in almost a week. These are all good signs, but we are still a bit cautious. Right now it seem like the muscle tear in her shoulder was the cause of the falls instead of the bulging disc in her neck. Either way, we still need to keep her quiet for a while longer. Dalmatians are so full of energy that they are often their own worst enemy when they are trying to heal.

I really need to find someone to mow the lawn for me instead of continually trying to keep our old mower running. Lawn care prices have always seemed high to me and we have a small yard, so I keep thinking that I can do it myself. Pushing the mower is getting harder though. Oh, well. At least I made an attempt today. I'll finish things up when the weather turns nice again.

I was a bit surprised to be under a severe weather alert this evening. The weather had been nice for most of the day, so this kind of came out of left field. Luckily the storm wasn't as bad in our part of town as the Weather Channel had been predicting. We got about ten minutes of very heavy rain and that was it. There was no hail and definitely no tornado. I think other parts of the state did get tornados though. It's that time of year.

I had to pick up a prescription this afternoon and once again discovered that GoodRx had much better prices than my Part-D prescription drug plan. I'm still not sure how GoodRx actually works. It's not a drug plan and you don't pay anything to use the app. Today I paid about a third of what I would have paid using my Part-D plan. The Part-D prescription drug plan prices are considerably less than retail as well. If there is so much flexibility in drug prices, why don't the pharmaceutical companies just charge less in the first place? It would be tempting to just drop my Part-D coverage, but I suspect that GoodRx only covers certain drugs. I have a feeling that a lot of expensive cancer drugs or the Sovaldi I had to take for Hepatitis-C wouldn't be listed on the app at all. 

I need to pick up my unsold gear at the music store this week and decide what to do about my broken large format printer. It would be nice if I'd hear something about my credential status from Space X, but I'm not holding my breath. They'll probably wait until the last minute to send out notices again. At least Dawn is getting better and we weren't hit by a tornado tonight. Everything else will eventually work itself out.

Miracle is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4831

It was clear and cold this morning. This always seems to happen in March. It gets warm so everything starts to grow and then we get a late freeze and have to start over again. It was well above freezing this morning, but it looks like we might get that late freeze later this week. At least there is no more rain for a while. So far there have been no leaks in the house after yesterday's storm. Maybe I got lucky. I haven't gone up on the roof to investigate yet. I'll probably regret that decision later.

Dawn woke us up during the middle of the night and needed to go outside and pee. The drugs she's been taking are making her drink more water. She seems to be feeling better now that we've resumed the Rimadyl. The vet said she could continue taking it for another week and then we should slowly start weaning her off the drug. We don't have a long term solution yet. Maybe there isn't one.

I had to pick up some prescriptions today and the pharmacy doesn't seem to like GoodRx anymore. They used to always check and see if the GoodRx price was lower than my Part-D health plan. Now they say that this is too much trouble. I have to show them the GoodRx coupon for the drug on my phone and wait fifteen minutes wandering around the store while they refigure the price. "Can't we just do this the way we used to," I asked the pharmacist? Nope. They can't or won't use GoodRx as my default payment method. So it goes. Nothing is easy anymore.

I walked later in the day today, hoping that it would warm up. It didn't. I dressed warmly and had a nice walk, but my feet hurt again. I should probably throw away my old Hoka shoes and start wearing the new pair, but I keep thinking that I can get a few more months out of them. Truthfully, the shoes probably don't make much difference. I've got osteoarthritis and I don't want to start taking pain pills for minor aches and pains. 

I wasted a lot of time today watching Dawn to make sure she didn't try to jump off the bed. She's happy sleeping on the bed and I hate to gate her in a hallway. I didn't really have any plans anyway. My day usually consists of eating and walking lately. All I really did today was go to the pharmacy. I'm sure the long walks are beneficial, but I need to add a few more things to my daily routine. The trips to Kennedy Space Center are few and far between and I'm not sure that I will ever return to McDonald Observatory. Age is catching up with me and I hate that long drive.

Janet did her grocery shopping today and I'll do mine tomorrow. We both think that there's been a sea change since the pandemic. Stores always seem to be out of things these days and it's a hassle to find what you need. I think all businesses are understaffed too. There aren't as many employees in the stores now and the ones who are working seem grumpy. At any rate, grocery shopping takes more time now, costs more, and is definitely less satisfying.

I'm having Internet problems again. I can't even access my own domains. I hate to call my hosting company because that's usually just an exercise in frustration. I think I'll just post this and go to bed. So many things are just random these days. Probably everything will be working fine in the morning.

Allie is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4724

It's hard to get used to this weather. It was a beautiful day but was very cold. I guess I'd better get used to this. It's Winter now. We bundled up and took Dawn on another early walk in the dark. Mars was very bright in the early morning sky. The planet is nearing opposition now and won't be this bright again until 2033. Dawn wasn't very interest in the sky, but was very serious about smelling things this morning. I was just glad to return to a warm house.

After breakfast I wrote a letter to my sister because I knew I would be passing the post office later in the morning on the way to pick up a prescription. I don't like to drive anymore and try to combine errands whenever I can. After all these years I have never left letters in our mailbox for the postman to pick up. Somehow I have no faith that these letters would get delivered. I always have to drop the letter in a slot at the post office myself.

I don't understand drug prices at all. I still get a much better deal using GoodRx than using my Medicare Part D plan. Today's choice was $17 on GoodRx vs $65 on my supplemental insurance. Lord knows how much this prescription would cost if I was just paying retail. When I asked the pharmacist how this all works, she didn't know either. She said she'll always give me the lowest price available though.

I waited for it to warm up before I took my long walk. Maybe it got a little warmer but it still felt very cold when I left the house. I tried a different coat when I walked today. I'd almost forgotten that I have several goose down jackets. This one was a little warmer but the hood didn't fit as snugly. I continue to be amazed when I see men running on the trails wearing shorts and no shirt in this kind of weather. I dress like I'm on an expedition to the South Pole.

I saw one of the eagles again today. This time it was in flight. The pair of eagles is definitely here for the Winter. The nest continues to get bigger. Maybe there will be eaglets in the nest next Spring. I need to start taking a camera with me. I have a little compact camera with a long telephoto lens. The lens retracts when it is not in use and the camera is pretty easy to carry while walking. Right now all I bring with me on my walks is my phone and the nest is too far away to get a good picture.

I tried to contact a contractor who was too busy for me last Fall. There are so many problems with the house that I really need to do something. I keep hoping to find someone like those people you see on that This Old House program on PBS. Craftsmen like this are hard to find though. It's easy to find someone to remodel your kitchen or bathroom. A lot harder to find someone to do quality restoration work on mid-fifties architecture.

Dawn didn't go to her dog training class this evening. It was just too cold. Dawn didn't seem to mind napping on the bed instead. She's a smart dog. I noticed today that there is new firmware available for the star tracker. That will give me something to do tomorrow. One of these days I might actually go outside at night and use the thing. Maybe I'll wait till Spring though. I really don't like this cold weather.

Belle is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4719

Most of the leaks have stopped, but there's one stubborn one still dripping away in the office. The cadence of drips is much slower now. Maybe things will be back to normal by morning. When everything dries out I will need to bleach away the brown stains in the ceiling and start pretending the house is fine again. I still can't find a good carpenter and my list of potential roofing companies leaves a lot to be desired. A new house sounds appealing, but we already live in the best part of town to have a dog and Dallas real estate is still way too expensive. For better or worse, this is home until we get carted away to assisted living.

I still feel full from our big Thanksgiving meal. It would have been a good day for a long nap, but I got up and went through my regular routine instead. We took Dawn on her sunrise walk, I ate my breakfast of shredded wheat and fruit, and checked my messages before going on my long walk. It wasn't raining today, but it didn't feel dry either. There was a light mist in the air for most of the day. It kind of felt like walking through fog.

I was very slow today. I didn't feel unusually tired, but my walk seemed to take forever. There must be better way to use my time. My doctor did explain why my Fitbit continues to say that my fitness level is low, even though I spend an inordinate amount of time walking and staying active. Evidently one of the medications I take slows down my heart rate, so I never achieve the elevated levels Fitbit is looking for. This made me feel a little better. I think I'm in pretty good shape and couldn't figure out why the Fitbit wasn't agreeing with me.

I picked up a prescription at the pharmacy this afternoon. I'm still getting better rates using GoodRx than my Medicare Part-D plan provides. The prescription drug plan isn't cheap, so I keep wondering what I'm paying for. The pharmacist answered that question today. She said that they were getting bought by another company that didn't honor GoodRx prices. "You'd better keep that Part-D plan," she said.

It's Black Friday today. Everyone in the world wants me to buy something. My inbox was filled with special deals for everything from astronomy gear to wool socks. Some of the deals were tempting, but I really didn't need anything. I didn't buy anything either. I guess this is progress. A few years ago I would have almost certainly bought something I really didn't need just to get the Black Friday price.

It's time to make a grocery list again. Unlike most people we don't have a lot of Thanksgiving leftovers in the fridge. I need to remember to pick up the camera gear I will need for our upcoming Santa Paws photo shoots while I'm out tomorrow. The two day event will be here before you know it. I guess it's time to put up a Christmas tree too. Where did this year go?

Dot is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4640

I got the grass mowed in the front yard this morning. The yard looks good now and I can move on to other tasks. This mower has seen better days. The batteries don't last very long anymore. I can only mow half the yard at a time now because I have to let the batteries recharge. This plan works though because I've seen better days myself. Mowing half the yard at a time is about all I can handle.

It's weird how quickly the temperature rises. It's always nice when we take Dawn on her sunrise walk, but it can be thirty degrees warmer by noon. If I'm going to do something outdoors I need to do it early in the morning. I usually spend afternoons indoors where it is air conditioned.

I picked up some prescriptions on my way to the gym this morning. Once again, GoodRx was much cheaper than my Part-D prescription drug plan. I don't understand this at all. Why am I paying so much for a plan that isn't saving me any money? I hesitate to drop Part-D though. What if GoodRx only covers certain medications. Some medications are incredibly expensive. You definitely wouldn't want to be paying retail if you needed cancer medications. 

I'm always surprised at how empty my gym is. It's a huge building, but there are seldom more than ten people exercising. I like it this way, but I wonder how the place stays in business. Maybe it's just the time of day I go. I have a feeling that the place is a lot busier before and after work. In the middle of the day, it's just retired people like me.

I vacuumed this afternoon. It's pretty pitiful when you vacuum the house just to have something to do. There just isn't much that interests me these days. I haven't turned on the tape machines in the edit suite for years. The large production printer has sat idle for so long that I'm sure it is hopelessly clogged. I sold most of my guitars, but the one that remains sits idle as well. I definitely don't collect things anymore. That's where most of the clutter came from. I'm glad I still enjoy viewing rocket launches and spending time out at McDonald Observatory. I didn't have these interests earlier in life, but they're here now. I guess it doesn't really matter what you end up doing, but I think that everyone needs something that captures their interest.

I'll probably do some more yard work tomorrow morning before it gets hot.  I keep checking for news on the Artemis rocket, but there is no new schedule yet. They are going to try to fix the leak out on the pad, but it looks like they'll have to roll the rocket back to the VAB anyway to check some safety systems. The longer they wait, the more I'll probably feel like going back to Florida for the next attempt. Until then, it's just walking Dawn and going to the gym.

Bailey is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4615

Today was busy. Our rain and cooler weather is just a memory now. The temperature didn't set any records today, but it is definitely still summer. We took Dawn on her sunrise walk, had some bacon and eggs for breakfast and then went to move the rescue Dalmatians. The move took longer than expected and there were several complications, but we got the job done.

When we returned home I did my grocery shopping. I'm beginning to think the preppers might be right. Almost every week something on my list seems to be in short supply. Are we headed toward Armageddon? So far, the shortages appear to be random. You never know which shelves are going to be empty. I can still find what I need, but I often have to go to several stores. Janet thinks that things are going to get worse. I hope not. I'm not used to seeing empty shelves in grocery stores.

I picked up a prescription while I was shopping. GoodRx is still a lot cheaper than my prescription drug plan. Why am I paying so much for my Part-D plan when it doesn't even give me the best prices? Medical costs are a mystery. There is no rhyme or reason to anything.

The oil light came on in Janet's car when we were moving the dogs, so I picked up some oil for her at Auto Zone. Oil is another thing that has gotten real expensive. I remember when engine oil was only a couple of dollars a quart. Now most later model cars require synthetic oils and the prices are over ten dollars a quart.

I went to the gym later this afternoon but I didn't get to stay as long as I usually do. The gym closes early on Saturday and I got a late start. I managed to get my steps on the indoor track, but ran out of time on the basketball court. I'd never stayed at the gym until it closed before. Someone comes around to all the stations at closing time and shoos everyone out. The gym is closed tomorrow, but I'll probably go mall walking again.

I picked up Chinese for dinner tonight. I hope the little neighborhood restaurant that Janet and I like manages to stay in business. It hasn't been very busy the last several times I've been there and this evening the place was completely empty when I came to pick up my order. The food is good but I don't think we can keep the place going on our own. Chinese food once or twice a month is plenty.

I need to remember to do my mall walking early tomorrow so we can still take Dawn on her Sunday outing. There are still a lot of things that need attention in the yard, but I'm going to wait until it gets a little cooler. 

Emma is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4556

Today was busier than usual for me. I actually got a few things done. After our sunrise walk with Dawn and my usual bowl of shredded wheat for breakfast, I decided to mow the grass instead of taking a long walk. I still need to replace the batteries in the electric mower because a charge only lasts long enough to mow half the yard. No problem though. I find that I need to recharge myself as well these days. I mowed the back yard and then checked my e-mail while the mower was charging before I went back outside and mowed the front. I don't know why I keep doing this. I've found someone who will do the mowing for me, but old habits die hard.

The new dishwasher is a success. Janet likes it anyway. I didn't have much faith in the unusual drying system when I started an overnight cycle before I went to bed last night, but all the dishes were clean and dry when we woke up this morning. The tub was dry as well. I think this machine takes longer to dry things than our old dishwasher, but it isn't a problem since I only run the machine once a day before I go to bed. This thing sure is quiet. I can't even tell it is on when it is running. 

Since I used up the cooler part of the day mowing the grass, I went to the gym this afternoon to get my steps. I stopped at the pharmacy on the way to pick up a prescription and discovered once again that GoodRx had a much better price than my Part-D prescription drug plan. The pharmacist said my Part-D rates would get better once I met my yearly deductible, but why bother. The GoodRx price is so much better.

I'm glad they opened up the basketball court again at my gym. Shooting baskets is one of the few things I actually enjoy while I'm there. They closed the court for a long time because I guess they thought people might catch Covid by touching basketballs. Sadly, now that things are finally returning to normal at the gym, they are crazier than ever everywhere else. Gas is expensive, food is expensive, the stock market is tanking, and everyone seems angry.

It was still pretty early when I finished my workout and returned home, so I decided to bite the bullet and upgrade the star tracker again. I wish they'd decide that this thing was ready for production and stop the almost weekly upgrades. Some of the upgrades make things better and others make things worse. Every time I do an upgrade, I'm afraid my Polaris will stop working again. Actually I'm surprised that the Benro folks have done as well as they have. They're attempting to create a product that can be controlled by hundreds of different cameras that all work a little bit differently. Luckily, this upgrade went smoothly. Everything still works. I took a few test shots and put the contraption back in its box. I"m sure there will be at least ten more firmware upgrades before I get a chance to take this thing back to the observatory again.

It was one of those rare days when everything went right. I didn't kill myself mowing the grass. The new dishwasher works like a charm. And the star tracker still provides me with an odd amount of pleasure every time I can get it to work. Dawn was even a bit friendlier with me today. All in all, I'd call today a win.

Shadow is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4531

When I started seeing reports of people spending over $100 to fill their tanks, I didn't believe them. "How is that even possible," I thought. Much to my chagrin, I discovered that it would take more than $100 to fill my own tank when I got gas this morning. Yikes. This is a pretty steep increase from a year ago.

I stopped at the pharmacy on my way to the grocery store and sure enough, my doctor had renewed all my prescriptions again. "I don't need these yet," I told the pharmacist. "I won't need any of these for a very long time." I checked on the prices while I was there and all the meds were a lot cheaper using GoodRx. I really need to talk to my provider and find out why I have a prescription drug plan. Maybe I'm missing something, but it appears that I am paying a whole lot for nothing.

A lot of my favorite brands are being replaced by private labels at grocery stores. This started at Costco and Sam's Club, but other stores are doing it as well. The cost differences are often significant, but I have to wonder about the quality. I still believe that you usually get what you pay for. I don't really like this private label trend. I've been buying certain brands for years and it's frustrating when you can't find them anymore. Oh, well. I guess this is just one more sign that I'm growing old. I'm not a big fan of needless changes.

Today was another day where it was supposed to rain, but didn't. I took my long walk earlier today because I didn't want to get wet. I stayed dry. I think there is still rain in the forecast, but it hasn't arrived yet. All we got today was the humidity. It was hot and muggy all day. I should have just gone to the gym, but after I finished grocery shopping I didn't want to get in the car again. I was able to complete my full six mile route, but I can't say the walk was pleasant. Welcome to Summer.

Dawn was grumpy all day because she thought that Janet was gone too much. When I fixed her dinner this evening, she refused to come out of the bedroom and eat it. I knew she was hungry, but she stubbornly stayed in her room until Janet returned home. As soon as Janet arrived, she raced out to the kitchen and ate everything in a big hurry. Dawn is a strange combination of stubborn and scared. It's going to be a fun time when Janet goes on vacation next month.

I couldn't replace the batteries in my uninterrupted power supply this morning because the battery store is only open on weekdays. At least I remembered this before I unplugged everything and put the heavy UPS in my car. It's seems kind of quaint for a store to only be open Monday thru Friday, but that's the way it is. It will give me something to do next week, now that my problems with the star tracker seem to be over for a while.

I just looked at the temperature and it's dramatically colder than it was a few hours ago. Looks like it is going to get down in the high fifties overnight. It's hard to get used to Texas weather. It's like a roller coaster. You can be sweating one day and freezing the next. At least we aren't getting snow like they are in some parts of the country. I fantasize about a place where it is 70 degrees all year long. Does such a place even exist?

The big event tomorrow is Dawn's Sunday outing. It's a simple thing to drive to another park for a walk, but it sure beats mowing the lawn.

Casey is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4527

I had to pick up a prescription this morning and I asked the pharmacist if there would be any difference in price if I used GoodRx instead of my Part-D prescription drug plan. I was surprised. The pills cost $37 using my drug plan and only $10 using GoodRx. Jeez. Why do I even have this prescription drug plan? I would just drop it, except that I suspect that GoodRx only covers certain widely used drugs. Some medications for cancer and other diseases are insanely expensive. You wouldn't want to be without coverage if you needed them. 

When I had hepatitis C, the Solvaldi I needed to cure the disease cost $1000 a pill. I had to take the pills daily for 12 weeks. I've had a healthy respect for medical insurance ever since. When I was working, medical insurance was my largest single expense. Often it made the difference between a profit or a loss for the year. It's hard to even get medical insurance if you own a small business and aren't part of a group. I had friends who were freelancers or owned small businesses like mine who went without medical insurance because of the expense. I always thought this was insane. The quickest way to get wiped out financially is to get sick without insurance. I'll use GoodRx when I can, but I'll keep my prescription drug plan. You never know when you might need it.

I got another update from the Benro people who said it would fix my camera connection problem with the star tracker. I didn't bother trying to install it because I knew it would just cause further aggravation. Why the hesitation? On the same day I received this special patch, there was also a general update to the iPhone app that controls everything. Do I upgrade the iPhone app first and then apply the patch, or the other way around? The Benro folks never said and it could make a big difference. I'm sure I'd have a lot better luck with the star tracker if I spoke Mandarin. I had the same problem when I worked for Seimens in Germany. Language barriers can create huge problems. I tried to learn German when I was doing a lot of work in Europe, but whatever I learned never stuck with me. I'm back to a single language now.

The weather was a little cooler today. We had a nice early walk with Dawn and I was even able to complete my full six mile route on my long walk later in the day. It was still hot outside, but somehow it seemed a lot better than yesterday. I really need to start going back to the gym. They have a nice indoor track and they keep the place very cold. It's boring walking six miles around a small indoor track. but it beats having a heat stroke. I have a feeling that we are going to have a very hot summer. It's only mid-May and it already feels like July.

I'm automatically cleared to attend certain launches and I get lots of messages about when and where to meet to set up cameras or attend press briefings. It kind of makes me sad that I can't attend most of these launches. Some of my Florida photographer friends go to all of them. It's just too expensive if you live out of state and don't have a big media outlet covering your expenses. I think airlines lead the list for price hikes in 2022. Flying has gotten very expensive. Driving isn't so cheap either. Gasoline expenses for my trip out to McDonald Observatory recently were a lot more than they were last year. When I was in college gas was 25 cents a gallon. In the early 70's when I was starting out in advertising, you could buy a Porsche for $8000 and rent a great apartment for $200 a month. I never dreamed then that we would end up where we are today.

I wonder if I'll have the nerve to upgrade the star tracker tomorrow. It depends on how bored I am. I usually make a mess of things when I get bored.

Susie is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4503

I had to pick up some prescriptions while I was grocery shopping this morning and out of curiosity I asked the pharmacist if I would save any money if I used GoodRx instead of my prescription drug plan. "Well, let's see," she said. The pharmacist picked a random bottle out of my order and looked it up. "This would cost you $3.65 using GoodRx and $34 using your Supplemental Part-D plan. I was shocked. "So why am I paying all this money every month for my prescription drug plan," I asked? The pharmacist just shrugged. "A lot of people are just using GoodRx these days," she said. Looks like I'll be adding another app to my phone.

Smartphone apps have taken over the world. They're cheaper and more efficient than employees and everyone wants you to use them. Janet wanted me to pick up something at the store that she said was on sale. I returned without it, because it wasn't on sale after all. "You have to use the coupon on the store's app," Janet said. "They scan it at the register and the price comes off your bill." Who knew? Janet has apps from dozens of different stores on her phone. I have none. Well, I guess I do have one, but even that app that lets me bypass the register at one store is starting to irritate me. I've learned how to do things a certain way and find it frustrating when I am forced to change.

It was even windier today than yesterday. I wonder what is causing this? At least we still get a decent amount of rain, so the wind doesn't cause wildfires like it does out west. Our part of the country seems to be in some sort of a sweet spot where the climate isn't changing as rapidly as it is in other parts of the country. Temperatures are getting much hotter out West. They are actually getting a little cooler here.

It was nice and cool today. If it wasn't for the unrelenting wind, it would have been a very pleasant day for walking. I completed my full six miles this afternoon, but foot problems definitely slowed me down. I can't decide if the Hoka boots or the lighter Hoka running shoes are more comfortable. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Basically, the last mile is hard no matter what I'm wearing.

It's been interesting to watch the construction of the new bike trail through the park. Whoever is building this thing is much more efficient than the highway department. I've been amazed at how fast the construction is proceeding and how nice the results look. It looks like the entire project will be finished by early Summer, just like they promised. The only bad thing about this new super trail is that it will bring even more bicycles to the park. Bicycles and dog walkers don't mix well. We always have to keep any eye out for bicycles when we are walking Dawn. She likes to meander from one side of the trail to the other following the best smells. Bicycles are silent and deadly. We always have to make sure that Dawn isn't wandering into their path. It seems to be an unwritten rule that bicycles never slow down for anymore.

I tried to learn a few more features of the star tracker camera this afternoon. It would be nice to just take one camera out to the observatory and this one has to go with the star tracker. Once again I'm faced with the issue of learning new things. I know the camera I use for taking dog pictures backwards and forwards. This new one, not so much. The menu structure on these two cameras is completely different even though they can share lenses. I may end up having to take both cameras because the learning curve on the new one is a bit steeper than I'd hoped.

I got Chinese take out for dinner again. This time I checked my order at the restaurant to make sure that I was actually taking home what I ordered. This week has gone quickly. It's almost time for Dawn's Sunday outing again. Hopefully, it won't be quite so windy tomorrow.

Wyatt is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day