Day 4916

Why do grocery stores keep changing the location of everything? It's irritating. They must think you will buy more if you have to search for the items on your shopping list. I couldn't find the aisle with all the spices this morning, so getting more pepper will have to wait until next week. Wherever you go, there are fewer and fewer cashiers and more self-checkout stations. Central Market just replaced a large section of cashier stations with self-checkout machines. I ended up in this section by mistake and will make a point not to go there again. The new machines weren't working correctly and kept ringing up the items I scanned twice. You couldn't correct this mistake yourself. You had to wait for someone from the store to come reset the machine. These machines won't let you buy alcohol without an employee checking your ID either. Good grief. Even a machine should know that I'm 75 years old.

I'm not totally against automation. I like the app that Walmart and Sam's Club use to let you bypass the checkout line. You scan the items on your phone as you are shopping. This is much easier than rows of self checkout stations near the exit. I don't think this trend is going to end any time soon. Pretty soon there won't be a need for employees in stores at all.

There were lots of severe weather warnings for today, but once again we didn't get any rain at all. I keep planning to go to the gym, but always end up taking my long walk because I'm tired of driving. With all the warnings about large hail I didn't want to risk leaving my car out in the open either. It was hot and humid today but that didn't stop me. I trudged along, completing my regular route at a very slow pace. Truthfully, I've grown tired of taking a long walk every day, but these walks are still preferable to other exercise alternatives. I'd probably gain ten pounds if I quit walking entirely.

I have quit thinking about switching from cable TV to a streaming service. It's easier to just pay a bit more and stick with something familiar. The experimenting I did yesterday convinced me that streaming is a bit of a nuisance. I don't watch TV that much, but I still like using a regular remote to change channels. Oddly our TV has a built-in Alexa which I have never activated. I think you are supposed to talk to your TV and tell it what you want to watch. Not for me. I'm becoming more an more like my Dad. He refused to use computers and used an old manual typewriter for most of his life. Maybe is is natural to become resistant to change as you grow older. Why relearn something you already know?

I got a press proof of my article about the AX-2 Mission from my editor at SpaceFlight. The article looks nice and they used four of the launch pictures I took. Whenever I see these articles in print, it makes me want to do more of this type of thing. I don't have any strong desires these days, but writing about rockets and attending launches at Kennedy Space Center is enjoyable. It's not a good way to make money though. None of the launch photographers I know are getting rich. Hmm. Is this a hobby or an occupation? It's hard to tell sometimes.

The weather is supposed to be much nicer tomorrow. I'll go mall walking in the morning and then we'll take Dawn on her Sunday outing. It doesn't bother me that we do the same thing every week. Actually it's kind of comforting.

Escher is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4903

Not a bad day. It was supposed to rain today, but the rain never materialized. We had a pleasant early morning walk with Dawn and then returned home for a big breakfast. Our routine on Sunday seldom changes. After breakfast I make the bed and check my messages. Then I go walking at the mall.

Mall walking is a nice change of pace from walking in the park. The temperature is controlled, the terrain is flat, and the scenery is interesting in its own weird way. Every week there are stores that have closed and new ones that have opened. Window displays change, but everything still looks the same. I wonder who buys this stuff? I have never seen anyone wearing anything remotely similar to what is on display in these windows.

From a mall walkers perspective you'd think the most important things in the world were expensive purses. There are tons of purses on display in store windows. Some stores make a real effort to always feature new merchandise, while others never change their displays at all. Although most stores don't open until noon on Sunday, there are already people inside many of the stores. They are dusting things with Swiffer dusters. They are having staff meetings. And they are stocking merchandise. I don't think I'd enjoy working in retail. It seems like a boring existence.

Dawn was ready to go on her Sunday outing when I returned from the mall. As usual, she was eager to get in the car and than panicked as soon as the car started to move. It was a little warm today, but Dawn got a chance to smell new things and I added another mile to my daily step total. We concluded our Sunday outing with ice cream cones and then returned home. The ice cream store always has a help wanted sign outside. There must be a high turnover. 

I finally got started on my article about the AX-2 launch this afternoon. It seemed like a better alternative than fixing the screen door. I made good progress on the article, but still have some work to do. I'll probably finish the article tomorrow and then send it to the magazine on Tuesday. There are several interesting launches this summer, but it might be a while before I return to Kennedy Space Center. Until I can find a publication that actually pays for travel expenses, I need to watch my budget. The cost of everything continues to go up and these trips are getting expensive.

One of the UPS battery back up power sources for the computers in the office has gone bad. Do I replace this thing, or just do without it? After my last trip to the battery store, I'm reluctant to replace expensive batteries again. Batteries are the bane of my existence. They never last as long as I expect. I don't know what people who buy electric cares are thinking. None of these people have had the cars long enough to experience the frustration of battery replacement. It's still much easier for me to just go to the gas station.

I guess Memorial Day is tomorrow. This is a confusing holiday. For decades Memorial Day was always observed on May 30. Then somewhere along the line the date got changed to the last Monday in May so Federal employees could get a three day holiday. I'm glad Christmas is always on December 25. I have trouble remembering dates that change like Memorial Day and Easter.

Sam is today's Dalmatian of the Day

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Day 4879

I got started on my SpaceFlight Magazine article today. I'm not really happy with it yet, but at least I'm making progress. As usual I lost a paragraph and had to start over when Microsoft Word froze on me and I had to restart the computer. I really need to remember to save my work more often. No harm done though. I didn't like that paragraph anyway.

It was another slow and largely uneventful day. We got up and walked Dawn earlier than usual because Janet had an early appointment. Dawn continues to seem strong and no longer shows any signs of weakness in her front legs. She hasn't fallen in quite a while now. I haven't fallen either, but I do show signs of weakness from time to time. There's nothing wrong. I'm just getting older.

After my usual breakfast I checked my messages and got ready for my long walk. Most of my messages are spam these days. There doesn't seem to be any way to avoid these unsolicited messages. I get them on my land line, my cell phone, and on my computer. I've gotten where I never answer the phone unless caller ID shows a number that I clearly recognize. Most of the e-mail spam is painfully obvious. How stupid do these guys thing I am? Spam and telemarketers are still irritating though. I uses every spam blocker in creation and still a lot gets through.

I made pretty good time on my walk today, but my feet are hurting again. These walks are starting to seem like Ground Hog Day. The same things happen over and over again. I pass the same people, see the same animals, and end up complaining about the same aches and pains. Long walks are still the best way to kill time that I can think of. If I didn't take these walks I would just stay at home and eat snacks. A two hour walk adds structure to an otherwise amorphous day. I'd consider walking three hours a day, but I don't think I could make it. Two hours is pretty tiring as it is.

Much of my work on the article today was just doing research. I returned from Kennedy Space Center last Friday, but I forget things quickly. I don't know what I'd do without Google. You can quickly find the answer to virtually anything on Google these days. Doing research use to involve a trip to the central library and hours of searching through books, magazines, and newspapers. The whole process is so easy now.

I didn't finish my article, but I did finish my long walk. I need to start walking on the other side of the lake just to break the monotony. I could always go to the gym instead, but it's more enjoyable to walk outside instead of around the gym's small indoor track. I'd probably accomplish more by just going to the weight room at the gym, but I've become totally hooked on getting my Fitbit steps every day.

I've taken this weeks trash out to the curb and am waiting for the rain that has been predicted all day to finally start. Tomorrow I'll finish my article and send it off to the magazine. I'm ready for another launch trip. There is very little that interests me here in Dallas.

Crosby is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4696

Today was a busy catch up day. I unpacked my bags, did my laundry, and wrote my article about the Falcon Heavy launch for SpaceFlight Magazine. I haven't submitted the article yet. I'll check it tomorrow morning for typos and errors. There's still time. I hope the magazine isn't expecting great pictures. I have nothing. This was the first launch I've ever witnessed where the fog was so heavy that it obscured everything. Hopefully, I'll have better luck when I return for the Artemis launch later this month.

We're back to walking in the dark again. We clipped lights to our jackets, put on Dawn's green LED collar, and off we went this morning. These dark early morning walks won't last much longer because the time is going to change soon. When Daylight Savings Time ends we'll trade a late sunrise for an early sunset. I still can't decide which is worse. It surprised me that it was foggy in Dallas this morning. Our fog was nothing compared to yesterday's monster fog bank at Kennedy Space Center. The fog was already lifting by the time we returned from our sunrise walk.

The weather was nice and I was planning to take my long walk in the park right after breakfast until I learned that the tree guy could come over today. I've been eager to get the large branch removed from the roof before it rains again. The broken limb has been precariously perched between the edge of the roof and a nearby tree for almost a week. With rain in the forecast again, I was afraid that the position of the branch might shift causing the whole thing to come crashing down on our back porch. 

The tree is gone now. That's one more thing I can cross off my list. As expected, the cost of tree removal has gotten higher. It cost the same to remove this limb as it used to cost to remove an entire tree. I hope I don't have any more tree problems for the rest of the. year. There is a large Red Oak in the back yard that isn't going to last much longer, but I hope it survives for a few more years. I like the trees. I just don't want them to fall on us. About ten years ago a big limb came crashing down less than ten feet from me. With very old trees, this can happen at any time. Trees can be dangerous. You can be seriously injured or even killed if a tree falls on you.

I did manage to take a short walk later in the day after a quick trip to the bank and my pharmacy. This walk was just to get my steps. I walked a lot longer at the Orlando airport yesterday. I don't think I could have walked my usual six miles anyway. My feet were protesting today. I suspect that I spent too much time walking yesterday.

I hope that tomorrow is a slow day. I've been feeling tired all day and need some rest. Sadly, I just don't have as much energy as I used to have. 

Puppies are today's Dalmatians of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4637

It was just a normal Sunday until the severe weather warnings started to appear later in the afternoon. We got up early and took Dawn on her sunrise walk. It seemed like it was going to be a nice day. The weather was cool and the humidity was low. We had breakfast when we returned and then I got ready to go mall walking. It was certainly cool enough to go walking in the park, but the ground was very wet. I'm not fond of walking with wet feet.

I make five circuits of the Northpark Mall to give me the steps I need. Nothing much to look at this time. The store windows haven't changed and the display of new cars is gone. There was a display of sculptural objects made using stacks of tin cans. I think this was a benefit for a local food bank. There were lots and lots of cans. I wondered if participants had to buy them or if they were donated. I also looked inside the new Eataly store. It was pretty impressive and seemed like a great place to buy overpriced food. 

Dawn got her Sunday outing today. We didn't walk far because it was already getting hot by the time we left the house. Dawn did get a little walk though and then we went for ice cream. I wish they hadn't raised the price for ice cream, but I'm not surprised. The price for literally everything has gone up dramatically this year.

I keep checking the Internet to see if there is any news about the Artemis launch. So far it looks like another launch attempt won't take place until October. Will I try to go see this again? I'm not sure at this point. I'm not even sure if my credentials will still be good. I know that there's a Falcon Heavy that is supposed to launch in October. It would be cool if the timing was right and I could see both. 

It was an uneventful afternoon until it started raining again. This was quite a storm. Our lights flickered but we did not lose power. We just got lucky. Several areas nearby did lose power. The flickering lights did scare Dawn. She decided that her dog bed in the kitchen was a safer place to be. We definitely needed rain after a long hot summer, but I think we've had enough. Every time it rains I start to worry about roof leaks.  Nothing today, but that was only because the rain didn't last very long.

I'll start working on my SpaceFlight Magazine article tomorrow. I'm not sure if they want the article to be just about these first two launch attempts, or if they want the story to continue until a launch eventually takes place. I didn't get many good pictures this time. I had camera problems and there was no launch. I bet they will just postpone the story until a later edition. 

We don't visit the rescue Dalmatians on Mondays anymore. It's a shame that the old kennel closed and the dogs had to be moved. Visiting the dogs was always a pleasant way to spend Monday afternoon. Oh, well. Life is always full of changes. The dogs are still well cared for and that's what matters.

Domino is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4287

I finally mowed the grass today. It was kind of nice having a doctor forbid you from doing something you hated to do anyway. Time to move on though. I'm better now and the yard looked terrible. It was time to mow. I didn't take my normal long walk today, but according to my Fitbit, mowing the grass is better exercise anyway. Fitbit doesn't seem to understand lawnmowers. My tracker always records this activity as riding a bicycle.

Although it got hot later in the day, it was reasonably cool when all our activity took place. We had a nice sunrise walk with Dawn, even though the sun was already up. We get started later on Sunday. After I mowed the grass, we took Dawn on her Sunday outing. For the first time in weeks I was able to keep up with Dawn and Janet. As usual, we all enjoyed an ice cream cone on the way home. I'm really going to have to work on getting back in shape during the weeks and months ahead. I have a feeling that a lot of the weight I lost during my hospital stay was muscle mass.

I received a press proof of my SpaceFlight Magazine article this morning. Wow. That was fast. It finally occurred to me that the November issue was probably almost ready to go to press and they just squeezed my article in at the last minute. The editor did tell me what pages the article would appear on before I even wrote it. I was pleased that they used three of the pictures I sent. One of the pictures was a full page spread and looked pretty dramatic. They changed a few things in the text that I thought were confusing, but British grammar rules are different. At least I've got another article about rockets under my belt. I was afraid that having a new editor might mean that I was done at the magazine. It appears they still like me though, so all is good.

Janet made a pot roast in the slow cooker today and the house smelled good all day. Pot roast is almost a perfect meal to me. The meat is as tender as a good brisket and it's packed full of healthy vegetables. As an added bonus, pot roast doesn't seem to give me heartburn. We ate well tonight and I'll have tasty leftovers for the rest of the week.

I thought that I'd used plenty of bug spray when I watched the launch last week, but it's obvious now that some mosquitos made it through the barrier. Florida mosquitos are much worse than Texas mosquitos. The bites itch more and leave bigger welts. I still cover the bites with clear nail polish, although I think this method only works with chigger bites. Actually Florida mosquitos feel a lot like Texas chiggers.

It's been a busy weekend, but I'm ready for another week to start. We'll probably visit Charlie and Cooper at the Dalmatian kennel tomorrow. A young female Dalmatian came and went while I was in Florida and I never got to see her. The females always seem to get adopted quicker. I don't really have any plans for next week, but that shouldn't be surprising. They say the weather will be dramatically cooler starting Tuesday. Hey, that's something to look forward to.

Rhett is today's Dalmatian of the Day

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