Day 3881

We managed to get an early start this morning. The pre-dawn skies were clear, there was a nice breeze, and as an added bonus, there was a conjunction of the Moon and Mars overhead. Mars is nearing opposition and gets brighter every day. I still find it hard to believe that three spacecraft are currently on their way to this little orange dot in the sky.

The female Muscovy duck has returned and the trio living by the bridge is back together again. The hello guy has returned on his bicycle as well. The guy who walks his cat on a leash is still gone, as are a few regular dog walkers, but I appreciate continuity wherever I can find it. I have counted the local gaggle of geese and I always make sure that there are still ten. Four of the geese are white and the rest are brown. I'm still not sure what that means.

The Mexican plums are getting ripe. It would be tempting to pick some and make jam, but my plant identification skills leave a lot to be desired. I just think these are plums. They might be something pretty and poisonous instead. They say the white powder on the surface of this fruit is actually a natural yeast and can be used for making a sourdough starter. That seems a lot more complicated than making jam.

I finally acknowledged that my walking shoes have worn out, so I went out and got some new ones after breakfast. I still think Nike Air shoes are ugly and don't last very long, but they seem to provide the best cushioning for my tired feet. Another pair of Nike Air Max shoes it is. Since I was already out, I stopped and got some more ink for my printer and a tub of ice cream on the way home. There is no further need to use the car for the rest of the week.

This afternoon I made sure that all my video gear still worked. I doubt that I'll have a need for any of this stuff soon, but I don't want to forget how to use it. Actually, I did forget how to pair the wireless microphone transmitter and receiver. I had to download a manual online and review the procedure. At any rate, batteries are charged, everything works properly, and I'm ready to make a video again if the urge ever strikes me.

I don't know why I still take afternoon walks. Mornings are fine, but afternoons are way too hot. A lot of people must actually seem to like the heat because the park is full of people renting kayaks, having picnics, sitting in hammocks, and slacklining on Sunday afternoons. Young people have no problem gathering in large groups. I'm convinced that they are the ones spreading the virus.  It couldn't be us old people.

I guess I'll try out my new walking shoes tomorrow morning. This is when I usually discover that I've gotten the wrong size. My feet must be an odd size because nothing seems to fit perfectly. Shoes improve with wear however. By the time you've worn them out, they usually fit perfectly

Nautica is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 1867

I think the video I shot today will be a success. The sound was good. Exposure was good. Everything was in focus. What's not to like? My new LED lights performed a lot better than the old quartz variety. I was pleased with the wireless mics too. I'll have to use this stuff more often. Considering how I was dreading this shoot, it couldn't have gone better. Most importantly, I didn't break anything.

Video production seemed a lot easier when I shot with a full crew. Back in the day, I never had to transport, configure, and set up all this heavy equipment myself. With today's budgets, doing as much as you can yourself is a necessity. Maybe the Miller tripod and Century Stands were always this heavy, but I don't remember struggling with them like I did today. Clearly, Carpal tunnel, a bad shoulder, and arthritis have taken their toll on my aching bones.

I never did find time to do a practice run through before I loaded the car this morning. Necessity is always the mother of invention and I figured out the last remaining equipment mysteries on the set. I need to buy a bigger camera case so I can leave the rails and matte box permanently on the camera. Assembling this gear and attaching everything to the camera and tripod can eat up a lot of time. When I can afford it, I'm going to get more wireless mics too. Wireless mics are great. I don't know how I lived so many years without them.

Although the video shoot used up most of the day, we still had a nice long walk with the dogs this morning. Janet was looking out for me and fixed bacon and eggs for breakfast, along with Cowboy Burgers for dinner. If you've never had Cowboy Burgers, you need to pick some up at Central Market sometime. These are without a doubt the best hamburger patties in the universe.

It will take a while to edit the footage I shot today into something coherent, but I think the material is there. Now it's time to turn my attention to the upcoming SMAP launch at Vandenberg Air Force Base. I have no idea what to take or what to wear. I guess I need to start checking the weather in California. I have a feeling that it's going to be a lot warmer out there than it is here.

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. I'll start logging and cataloging the footage I shot today. There are already a number of website updates I need to make as well. At least today's work is complete. It's always nice to know that I won't have to go back later and re-shoot everything.
 

Bones is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 1777

I voted today. It was easy to find a polling place. You just look for a nearby church or school with hundreds of yard signs out front. I always wonder why so many judges run unopposed. There were pages and pages of judges on the ballot with no opponent. I didn't know who any of them were. I think the only people who are interested in these local judge races are lawyers. All the lawyers in our neighborhood have a big sign for some type of judge in their yard. I think most of the propositions on the ballot are purposefully written to confuse voters. You have to read them really carefully or you can easily end up voting exactly the opposite of what you had planned. We have voter ID here in Texas, but it didn't seem to be causing the problems that some pundits claimed. Since everyone drove to the polling place, they all had driver's licenses.

I don't understand the fierce opposition to voter ID anyway. Disabled and elderly people have been able to vote by mail in Texas for decades, so not being able to drive really isn't an issue. Everyone else needs an ID just to be a functioning member of modern society. I probably get asked to show my drivers license a dozen times a week. You can't fly without showing an ID. Many stores ask to see a photo ID before you use your credit card. Very few doctors will treat you without seeing an ID first. Banks want to see your ID. You really can't do much of anything without having an identity. Why should voting be different?

Personally, I think we should be making it a little harder to vote. I don't care who you vote for, but I think you owe it to the other voters to at least be familiar with the issues and the candidates. If you haven't got a clue, just stay home.

I ordered a wireless microphone system for an upcoming video project today. The radio mics cost more than what I'll make from doing the video. Do I care? Obviously not. Writing still pays the bills for me. For the most part, video and photography jobs are just an excuse to buy cool gear. The wireless mics probably aren't even essential for this particular job. I just want to see how they work.

One of my neighbors asked me if I'd made a hand print in the new concrete bike path that's slowly taking shape behind my house. Nope. Somehow, the thought of sticking my hand in wet concrete never crossed my mind. This guy was real excited though. He said his hand print would last for a thousand years. Maybe he meant to say ten years. Nothing lasts very long in Dallas.

Dash is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day