Day 3968

I reluctantly made my travel arrangements for the Crew-1 launch today. I still haven't received the official media schedule from NASA, but it looked like return flights from Orlando were filling up fast. Two of the three available flights on the day I wanted to return were already full and the third only had three seats left. Jeez. How can these flights be full when I keep hearing that people aren't comfortable with flying yet? Clearly a lot of people have returned to the skies. I can't recall making reservations this early even before Covid hit.

With airline reservations taken care of, I went ahead and booked a hotel and reserved a rent car as well. I guess I'm all set now. Just waiting for NASA to change the launch date so I can do this all over again. You'd think with all the stories about how the travel and hospitality industries are struggling, there would be lots of bargains out there. I didn't find any. Airline, hotel, and rental car rates were all higher than they were the last time I traveled to Florida.

I looked at dehumidifiers today. There weren't a lot available locally and most looked pretty shoddy compared to the one we already have. When I was looking online a few days ago, I found that there were very few portable models available with a 70 pint capacity. Everyone was selling 50 pint capacity portables now. When I looked at Lowes, several brands said "equivalent to older 70 pint models" on their 50 pint dehumidifiers. How can this be? What happens to the extra 20 pints? So many questions and nobody knows anything about dehumidifiers here. Most of these are sold up North where people have damp basements.

On the way home from my dehumidifier search, I stopped at a luggage store and got a new carry-on bag. I'm getting tired of having to open my entire suitcase to get the laptop out so TSA can examine it. I wanted something with an outside pocket for a laptop. Janet said I should look at AWAY bags and that's what I ended up getting. Luggage has come a long way since the last time I bought any. This bag was well thought out and extremely well made. I'm all set now for future rocket launches and observatory trips.

Our beautiful Fall weather continues. We had a pleasant walk with Dawn before breakfast this morning and when I took my second walk later in the afternoon, the temperature was still only in the low seventies. I hope this weather continues. Dawn loves the cooler temperatures and I definitely need the exercise. When I'm walking, I realize that I still need to go to the gym. Walking is relaxing, but it doesn't elevate my heart rate much and does nothing for my arms and upper body. I wish I actually enjoyed going to the gym. Janet returned to her gym weeks ago, but I'm still making excuses. 

People who were expecting a blue wave didn't seem happy this morning. Investors were pleased with the prospect of a divided government though. The stock market had a great day. Investors almost always like a divided government because it means that politicians can't do much of anything. Perhaps this is for the best. Politicians seem incapable of making the right decisions anyway. Given a choice, I'll take gridlock any day over what either party would do if left unchecked. 

Ginger is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 3671

There was an indoor triathlon underway when I went to the gym this morning. The cycling segment took place on stationary bicycles set up on the basketball court. The swimming segment took place in the indoor pool. Finally, the running segment took place on treadmills. Somehow, this didn't seem like a real triathlon at all. Contestants only spent ten minutes in the pool and twenty minutes on treadmills. Most of the people I see at the gym do a much more strenuous workout than this anyway. I think the contestants did get a special t-shirt though. Unfortunately, I didn't get to shoot baskets today since the court was filled with stationary bicycles. I spent my hoop time on the rowing machine instead.

I looked for winter coats at REI on my way to the gym. I wasn't impressed. Most of the coats looked like they were made of plastic. These high tech materials were supposed to keep you warmer than down, but they didn't look like they'd last more than a single season. I wish the old Eddie Bauer coat I wore while we were living in Alaska wasn't so heavy. That very old monster of a coat still keeps me warmer than anything I've purchased recently. I guess I could take this coat to the Davis Mountains, but it would double the amount of luggage I need to take.

Luckily, I didn't need a heavy coat on my walk today. It was only 34 degrees when I woke up, but the sun was out and it warmed up rapidly. I got my 20,000 steps, but I wasn't winning any races. Even young mothers pushing baby strollers were passing me today. The park is really popular on weekends. During the week the place can still feel like a nature preserve. On a weekend when the sun is out, it feels more like going to the state fair.

Although I managed to keep moving, I certainly didn't accomplish much today. My one household chore was changing the sheets on the bed. There is so much that needs to be done around the house but none of it is appealing. There is nothing pleasant about painting or repairing sheetrock. We haven't even finished raking all the leaves. I guess it will all get done eventually. Maybe not the sliding glass door though. I can't find anybody to fix that thing.

This week has gone quickly. It's almost time to visit the Dalmatians again. We need to take Larry to the vet while we're up at the kennel. It's just a routine exam, but it will be interesting to see how he rides in the car. Hopefully, all the dogs are doing well. I really enjoy seeing these guys.

I'm debating whether to take a better camera with me to Florida. It's a battle between my desire to up my photography game and my aversion to taking a lot of luggage. I usually take a little pocket camera with a long optical zoom. It's great for website pictures, but not so great for magazines. If I take a DSLR, I have to take multiple lenses and all the sudden I'm taking twice as much luggage. I'd rather take no camera at all, but I am a photographer. A camera is expected.

Suzie is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day