Day 4514

I made sure I got up in time to walk with Janet and Dawn this morning. It was extremely foggy and a little wet. Naturally, Dawn wasn't in a mood to walk. She hates getting wet, but it really was just a little damp. As soon as we got to dry ground, Dawn was fine.

It was definitely a slow day today. Did I do anything at all? I'm not really sure. I thought my Space Force press credentials were already approved for 2022, but I got an e-mail this morning asking for more information. I probably forgot to fill out something on the application form. No problem. I can't afford to go back to Kennedy Space Center anytime soon anyway. Two major trips in a single month have pretty much tapped me out.

I thought about updating the star tracker software again, but I wasn't really in the mood. There's plenty of time for that. I have a feeling that it's going to be a while before I'm taking pictures of the night sky again. Now that I've unpacked my bags, done my laundry, and put everything back in it's proper place, I'm left with my old standby activities. I ate my breakfast and I took a long walk.

The air is much more pleasant in the Davis Mountains. I didn't have any allergy problems while I was out at the observatory. As soon as I returned the allergies came back. Now my eyes are watering and I'm constantly sneezing and blowing my nose again. Allergies don't stop me from walking though. What else is there to do? I walked my full six mile route this morning, but my feet were killing me on the last half mile. I still can't figure out why my feet are extremely painful one day and then just fine the next. I was really slow today in  hopes that a slower pace would help. It didn't make any difference. I probably should have stayed home and read a book.

I'm already wishing I was back on the road again. Life is simple when I'm at a launch or helping at the observatory. There are specific tasks to do and I build my day around them. Living in a hotel is super simple. There is no grass to mow and if something breaks, it's not your responsibility to fix it. I don't do much anyway, so having a desk where I can write and a bed to sleep in is all I need. I love the food out at the observatory and always look forward to meals. The barbecue is pretty good at the NASA commissary too.

Since I won't be going anywhere for a while, I need to find something to do. Theres a kayak sitting in the back yard. Using it would help build upper body strength, but the last time I was out on the lake I saw a bunch of snakes swimming next to me and that was that. I hate snakes. There's a guitar and some keyboards in the office, along with the remains of a small recording studio, but I haven't felt like writing songs in ages. I definitely don't want to start collecting things again. I'm glad I finally kicked that habit. I guess I should be happy that I still have two things left that I enjoy doing. Rockets and astronomy are still oddly satisfying.

I hope the weather is better tomorrow. It was hot and very humid today. It feels like our short Spring is already over and we are sliding headlong into Summer. Let's just hope that the air conditioner in both the house and the car keep working.

Crosby is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 3701

An all day rain reminded me that life has returned to normal. I've traded rockets for roof leaks. Even though it's hard to get me out of the house, I'll have to admit that life on the road does have its advantages. The problems of day-to-day life fade away temporarily. I don't worry about plumbing problems and having trees removed when I'm away. I've never had my hotel roof leak either. It's nice to have someone clean your room and make your bed every day as well. Rental cars never have to be taken to the dealership for expensive repairs. This is all an illusion of course. A month after your trip ends the credit card bills arrive and you realize that all this freedom can get pretty expensive as well.

Today was definitely a day to stay home and get to know Dawn a little better. What a sweet, gentle girl. It's sad that she was attacked by another dog, but she is doing well and we all think she will make a complete recovery. Dawn seems much more mature than the male Dalmatians we currently have in the rescue program. I guess this makes sense. Dawn is older than the boys. She is completely house trained and doesn't chew or tear things up. She can't wear a cone because of the injuries to her neck, but she probably doesn't need one anyway. So far she hasn't tried to pick at her stitches or pull out her drainage tube.

We go to the vet tomorrow for a checkup and hopefully they will remove the tube in her neck. I think there's a good chance that the tube will be removed since there is very little bleeding or drainage. Dash had to have drainage tubes inserted for almost a month, but his wounds were much more severe. We will keep Dawn until she is healthy again. She already has a forever home, but her new family has other dogs and it's easier for her to heal in a quiet environment.

I don't know what I'm going to do about this roof. We're in the middle of the rainy season and it hasn't gotten dry enough for me to attempt new repairs or even make a decent inspection. I keep the pump running but there is still plenty of water on the roof every time it rains. It's kind of a losing battle to keep the water out. Traditional repair techniques don't work with a silicon roof, so I'm going to be forced to call the roofer again. I know he's sick of hearing from me by now, but what choice do I have? This company is the only one with experience in applying silicon roofs. Architects recommend these guys, but unfortunately I don't think they had enough experience to realize that I wasn't a good candidate for this type of roof. A silicon membrane might be great for new construction, but it doesn't work well in old houses that have settled. New flat roof are designed to drain properly. Basically, all roofs need to drain properly or they are eventually going to leak.

I hope it quits raining tomorrow. It was cold and wet all day. I thought I had found an hour or so when I would be able to take a walk, but unfortunately I miscalculated. About two miles from home, it started raining again. By the time I returned to the house I was soaking wet. I put on some dry clothes, put my wet coat and hat in the dryer and took a nap with Dawn.

I should have just stayed home and taken a longer nap with Dawn. She is definitely a good dog to curl up with on a cold winter day.

Lady Gogh is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day