Day 3558

Two days before my billing cycle ends AT&T tells me that I've used up my data plan for the month and as a courtesy they've added $20 to my bill so that I'll still have data access on my phone for the next two days. Jeez. Couldn't they have given me the option of just going without a data plan for two days. I never would have missed it. I seldom use my data plan anyway. The only reason I ran out last month was that I used my phone as a WiFi hotspot for my laptop while we were in Fort Davis.

I called customer service to complain, but the guy I talked to had no interest in refunding my $20. He tried to sell me an iPhone 11 instead. I have no problem with the electric company, the gas company, and the city water department. The phone company always irritates me though. Everything they do seems like a rip off. What are you going to do? Even a budding Luddite like me needs a phone.

Maybe my data plan ran out today because I kept having problems with the app that lets me bypass the checkout lanes at the grocery store. Everything I tried to scan in the produce section kept giving me an error message saying "must use cashier for this item." I finally gave up and used the cashier for everything.

I keep reading about the new Land Rover Defender, hoping that I'll like it better. I've been waiting for this thing to arrive for a long time and I'm so disappointed. It doesn't look like an indestructible off road vehicle at all. The design looks like something you'd take to the grocery store or use to pick up the kids after school. I have no doubt that the new design is more reliable than my old Defender. That thing broke down all the time, but it was part of the charm. Why does everything need to be computerized these days. If I wanted a computerized car, I'd just go buy a Tesla.

When I'm sleeping I'm always wandering around lost in my dreams. When I wake up, I'm taking long walks in the park. Sometimes it feels like I'm spending all my time walking. There is definitely a Forest Gump quality to all this. It's too bad that all the walking I do in my dreams doesn't count as exercise. It probably barely counts as sleep. They say that REM sleep isn't as beneficial as deep sleep.  I spend a lot of time dreaming, but according to Mr. Fitbit, I don't get much deep sleep at all.

I didn't accomplish anything today, but I did keep moving. Tomorrow I'll move even more. Sunday's have become my 20,000 step day. Years ago, the band used to practice on Sunday. Then there was a time when I would use Sundays to build up my photography portfolio. Now I just walk. Priorities change when you've got nothing to prove.

Rowe is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 3542

Good grief. When I woke up this morning and looked out the window, I noticed that a large tree had fallen in the back yard. How did this happen? The skies were clear last night and there was no wind. Even stranger was the fact that neither Janet or I heard the tree fall. The tree was well over a foot in diameter. It had to make a large crash when it fell. This wasn't the Elm tree that was damaged during our June storms either. It was an Oak that I thought was healthy. At least the tree didn't fall on my head while I was taking out the garbage last night.

We are nowhere near the hurricane and yet our yard looks like it was hit by a hurricane. The remains of our Elm tree still needs to be removed. Our demolished greenhouse still hasn't been repaired. And now one of our Oak trees has joined the mess. I tried to call the guy who trims our trees but he was on vacation in Arkansas. It looks like it is going to be difficult to get to the back gate for a while.

It's sad to lose these old growth trees. We now have only half the trees we started with. It is almost inevitable that we will lose the rest someday. Our trees are no different than similar old trees in the park. They are all nearing the end of their natural life. Insects attack the trees. Wind and weather takes its toll. Eventually the wood gets brittle and the tree falls.

I've been thinking I missed a doctor's appointment for several days, so I finally called the clinic to see if I was imagining things. Usually doctors offices send you a reminder. The receptionist looked up my records and told me I had an appointment several days from now. I wonder if they ever were going to remind me? I've got the appointment on my calendar now but I kind of wish I'd just forgotten about it. Now it don't have any excuse to skip the visit.

I got a text from the phone company today telling me that I'd used up my data plan for the month. What? I thought I had an unlimited data plan. I sat on hold with customer service for a while, only to discover that there never was unlimited data associated with my account. What was I thinking? Maybe I had unlimited data when I first got the account years ago and somewhere along the line, the phone company eliminated it. This happens a lot. I've had most of my accounts for so long that plans change and eventually the company gets tired of grandfathering my old plan in their new program.

The hotter it gets, the less I feel like walking. I did my five miles today but it felt like a chore. I keep moving because I know it is good for me, but I'd really rather just sleep. There are so many little problems that need attention and I'm just not in the mood. Old house. Old trees. Old roof. Old body. It adds up after a while. It won't take much for Janet to convert me into a traveler. When you are away from home, you don't have to think about these things.

Allie is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day