Day 4688

It's always something. We had a huge wind storm last night and a big branch from one of our Oak trees fell on the roof. The branch is way too big for me to deal with myself, so I called the last tree trimmer I used. He never called me back. I thought I might as well try to deal with a few other issues as well, so I called the last carpenter I used to come repair some rotted fascia on the house. Oops. No longer a working number. I contacted another carpenter who had good reviews on the Internet and he said he was completely booked for the next four months. He advised me to contact a different carpenter but didn't recommend any. Oh, well. I am getting our dryer fixed though. I guess in today's world, one out of three isn't bad.

It was really windy on our sunrise walk with Dawn. I thought she wouldn't want to walk on a day like this, but she was fine with the wind. Actually it seemed to invigorate her. Janet was fine too. I was the only one worried that a tree was going to fall on us. At least the air felt clear and clean. The wind must have blown away all the pollen that has been aggravating my allergies.

The wind died down as I was eating breakfast and it was calm outside by the time I was ready to take my long walk. I didn't feel like going to the gym today. It was a bit chilly when I started walking but it warmed up quickly. I maintained a pretty good pace today and my feet didn't hurt much. I thought I'd see a lot of downed trees in the park during my six mile walk, especially since one fell on our roof during the night. Surprisingly, most of the trees looked exactly the same as they did last week. I only saw a single downed tree and the park department guys were already removing it. I wish I could get these guys to help with my trees. They are very efficient. 

My experiences with finding service people today has made me realize that I'm not ready for what the world has become. Over the years I've built up a carefully curated list of repair people I knew I could depend on. I had the best plumbers, electricians, carpenters, glaizers, HVAC repairmen, and much more on this list. The entire list is useless now. Everyone has retired, died, or simply disappeared. So far, using the Internet to find suppliers has not been a satisfactory replacement for the recommendations I used to get from friends. I refuse to use Angie's list. 

I'm having second thoughts about even going to the next Artemis launch attempt. It's disappointing that this next attempt is at midnight, so there won't be good photo opportunities. I'm not wild about the hotel I was able to book and the entire trip seems expensive and somewhat pointless. Since SpaceFlight Magazine has already published my article about the launch that got scrubbed, I'm not even sure they'd be interested in another article about the same rocket. I'm not canceling anything yet though. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood today.

Tomorrow I've got to clean out the utility room again and wait for the appliance repairman. They always give you a four hour window and then end up coming at the end of the day. The repair needs to be done though. A washer without a dryer isn't of much use. I wonder when I'm going to be able to get my steps tomorrow? I've always got to get my steps.

Patch is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4687

What a dismal day. It basically rained all day, although we were able to take Dawn on an abbreviated sunrise walk during a break in the clouds. The rain has been heavy enough that I'm worried about the roof leaking, but so far so good. The pumps on the roof are still working and that's probably helping a bit.

There's not a lot to do on a cold rainy day. I ate my breakfast and checked my messages for nonexistent messages from NASA. I was getting ready to go to the gym when we had a short power outage. Power outages freak Dawn out. Maybe it's the beeping noises the battery backup devices make when they kick in. Dawn couldn't find anyplace where she felt safe and ended up huddled in the kitchen. The power came back on in less than ten minutes but that was of little comfort to Dawn. I couldn't get her to come back to the bedroom at all. 

I waited around for her to calm down and tried taking her outside so that she could see that everything was alright. Nothing seemed to work. Dawn tried sitting on several living room chairs, but couldn't find a place where she felt comfortable. I finally ended up leading her back to the bedroom on a leash and sat with her until she started to relax. I don't know what causes this behavior, but it seems to happen every time there's a power outage.

The rain wasn't going to stop, but it was a fairly gentle rain and Dawn eventually fell asleep in the bed. I went to the gym, but I turned off the backup batteries before I left. Hopefully if there was another power outage, there wouldn't be any beeping noises. The fact that I would willingly drive in the rain shows how addicted I've become to getting my daily steps. Rain or shine I need to get at least 10,000 steps.

The gym was surprisingly crowded today. I thought the place would be empty, but what else are you going to do on a rainy day. Probably a lot of people were getting cabin fever sitting at home waiting for the rain to stop. I was absolutely terrible on the basketball court this morning, but I eventually completed thirty free throws and moved on the the running track. I walked two miles, got my steps, and headed home again. I thought the rain might clean up my car, but it wasn't meant to be. Passing spray from other cars just made the car even muddier.

One of the pumps on the roof must be partially clogged. It wasn't operating well today and kept throwing the breaker for the pump circuit. I didn't climb up on the roof to investigate because it was pretty nasty outside. Maybe if it clears up tomorrow I'll go up on the roof and clean out the pump, but I think my roof climbing days are just about over. It's slippery up there and I'm not as nimble as I used to be.

It's not raining right now, but the day isn't over yet. I see another band of storms approaching us on the weather radar and I'm starting to hear thunder. I'm not a big fan of an all day rain. Sure, the yard needed the water, but I definitely don't need the stress of waiting for the next roof leak. Maybe I'll get lucky this time. After this narrow storm band passes, I think it's clear sailing for the rest of the night.

Ellis is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4686

Lots of walking today. We got up later this morning, so we didn't need to attach lights to our jackets for Dawn's morning walk. It was quite windy today. Maybe that is why there is rain in the forecast. Dawn enjoyed her walk, but I kind of felt like going back to bed. I got plenty of sleep last night, but apparently not enough.

We always have a big family breakfast on weekends. Dawn likes this because she gets more table scraps. She loves bacon. The temperature was still cool enough to go walking in the park after breakfast, but I decided to go to the mall instead. I enjoy walking in the mall before the stores open. The temperature is perfect and the filtered air never gives me any allergy problems. The floors are smooth and I don't have to worry about tripping over a loose stone. No snakes either.

There are three types of people who seem to enjoy mall walking. There are old people like me. There are families with small children. And there are young couples on a very cheap date. Maybe some of these people stay and buy stuff after the stores open. Not me. As the stores prepare to open, the place starts to fill up and I get a strong desire to leave. I've gotten used to seeing a line in front of the Apple Store as it prepares to open. Today there was a line in front of the Swatch Store as well. Why? These are just cheap plastic watches.

I wonder how some of these stores stay in business. The clothes on display aren't very attractive and don't even begin to resemble what the people wandering around are actually wearing. The shoes on display are uniformly terrible. How did super thick soles get to be a thing? Maybe the shoe makers are just grasping at straws. People aren't wearing these shoes. They are all just wearing running shoes.

I walked three miles and came home. After resting for a few minutes Janet and I took Dawn on her Sunday outing. She is always super excited to go and then gets scared as soon as she gets in the car. I don't think we'll ever be able to take her on a road trip. The weather was nice today and Dawn got another one mile walk. I fell behind as we completed our walk and approached the car. I don't know why I was so tired today.

The ice cream cones are getting smaller. When we first started getting ice cream on Sunday, the cones were definitely bigger. They were less expensive too. I hope this isn't a sign of the times. The little Chinese restaurant we like across the street has already gone out of business. It's probably not a great time to own a restaurant. Somehow I think the ice cream store will do OK. There always seems to be a line of cars in front of the take-out window when we arrive.

I still haven't heard anything about the Falcon Heavy launch. I think this is supposed to take place this Thursday, but credential notices haven't gone out yet. I don't even think they've officially announced a launch date. None of this really matters because I can't afford another trip anyway. That being said, seeing a Falcon Heavy that actually launches is probably better than watching another Artemis launch get postponed again. I'm scheduled to go down for the next launch attempt, but I'm not terribly optimistic about a success.

I need to call the appliance repairman again. The slipping belt in the dryer is getting worse. I really need to get this fixed because I hate going to the laundromat.

Freckles is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4685

Today was busy. We got up extra early so Dawn could go down to the park and pee before we left for the Dalmatian Rescue Golf Tournament. Janet left first so she could help check the golfers in and I left about an hour later to take pictures. This was our first morning tournament. Previously, everyone ate lunch and then there was a shotgun start around 1 PM. Most teams seemed to like this early start better.

It was a beautiful day, although it was quite windy. The wind might have affected the golfer's score but it didn't dampen their enthusiasm. Everyone had a good time. It took me a while to find the teams playing in the tournament. The course was huge and there were jogging trails mixed in with the cart paths. Occasionally I would find myself on a jogging trail and wonder why I wasn't seeing any golfers. After circling the course several times in my cart, I eventually found everyone for their team pictures.

Most of the people who adopted the litter of puppies we had back in April came to the tournament. I was amazed at how quickly the puppies had grown. They all looked like adult dogs now. All Sammy's puppies looked fabulous. This was an exceptionally good looking litter. I enjoyed getting a chance to see the dogs again, and the dogs seemed to enjoy seeing their brothers and sisters. Lots of other people brought their dogs as well, but we didn't take Dawn to the tournament. She wouldn't have made it this far in the car. It's a shame that she is still terrified of car rides, but she seemed happy enough to take a long nap on the bed while we were gone.

My knees are terrible now. Every time I got down on my knees to get a better angle, I had trouble getting back up again. I think I took some decent pictures, but some of the people took even better pictures using their phones. Smart phones have come a long way since we started doing these golf tournaments. The annual golf tournament is still Dalmatian Rescue's biggest fundraiser of the year. We've had more golfers in previous years, but I think we still did pretty well. 

After finishing my photo duties, I drove home again so I could feed Dawn and let her out to pee. She actually seemed glad to see me this time. I'm usually around the house and this was a long time for her to be alone. After Dawn finished her lunch, I left to do my grocery shopping. There was no time for a long walk today, but I got plenty of steps walking around the golf course. 

As usual I had trouble finding certain items. I think selective scarcity is just a fact of life now. Rising prices are definitely a fact of life. I ran into an old ad agency buddy while I was at the grocery store. We hadn't seen each other in over five years and were both old men now. We traded stories about surviving the  Covid years and wondered about the future of the ad biz. A lot has changed. I think we were both glad we spent our working years during advertising's golden age. I had a lot more fun working during the 70's than I do facing retirement while I'm in my 70's.

Dawn was glad to see that life had returned to normal after Janet returned to the house later in the day. We had a light dinner and got ready to start over again tomorrow. I'll probably go mall walking again and then we'll take Dawn on her Sunday outing. It was nice to have a change of pace today. I'm not a very sociable person, but I enjoyed going to the tournament. Hopefully my knees will still function when we do this again next year.

Dot is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4684

Today was uneventful. I almost made us late for our sunrise walk when I fell back asleep after Janet's ten minute warning wake up call. Luckily I can get dressed quick and I was ready before she tied her shoes and Dawn had her harness on. We walked in the dark again. I need to find some better clip-on lights. The ones I wear now are too bright and mess with my night vision. I'm going to look for a red LED armband that I can wear for astrophotography as well.

I waited about an hour after breakfast to take my long walk in the park. The temperature warms up quickly and I didn't want to wear a coat that I would have to take off and tie around my waist when I was halfway finished. The temperature feels just about perfect around 10 AM now, so that's when I'm trying to leave the house. I wish the city was quieter. Nothing spoils a perfect day faster than a cacophony of leaf blowers, chain saws, and police sirens. When I used to take my morning walk out at the observatory all I would hear was the wind and the occasional sound of a hawk flying overhead. I really miss the sound of silence.

There's not a lot going on in the park these days. The construction work on the trails is finished now and there are fewer joggers and cyclists when the weather is cooler. I watch the leaves turn yellow and fall from the trees. I count ducks and watch out for snakes. I saw a baby copperhead yesterday. You've really got to watch out for these things in the late Fall. The babies are even more poisonous than the adults. This is why we always try to stay on the trails with Dawn. I really don't want her to get bitten by a snake.

Truthfully, I'm not a huge fan of nature. I just don't like people. I can walk my six miles in the park without having to talk with anybody. The only downside to these long walks is foot pain.  I wish there was a solution, but I'm not very optimistic. Articular cartilage cannot regrow or heal because it doesn’t have any blood vessels. This doesn't stop people from offering a wide variety of cures. Some say damaged cartilage can grow back. Really? Where do they get their information? I've taken Glucosamine for years and it doesn't seem to do anything. They say eating oranges, nuts, and brussel sprouts helps too. I like all these foods, but still have bone on bone contact when I walk. I'm not complaining though. I'm still doing pretty well for a guy who will turn 75 next summer.

I'm convinced that I'm paying way too much for cable TV. I looked up U-verse rates on the AT&T website today and their advertised rates are quite a bit less than what I'm actually paying. I tried to change my plan on the website this afternoon. You used to be able to do this, but now a page comes up that just asks you to call a representative instead. I didn't call. I'm sure if I got someone on the phone they'd just try to convince me that their exorbitant rate was actually a bargain. I think I know what is going on, but I'll have to go to a store and talk to someone in person. I'm an early adopter of almost everything. U-verse was more expensive when it was initially introduced quite a few years ago. I probably got grandfathered in at the old rate. Companies have no problem overcharging you if you don't complain.

Tomorrow is the annual Dalmatian Rescue golf tournament. I usually take team pictures of the golfers at these events. I'll ride around the course on a cart and stop and take pictures whenever I see a team playing.  I'll take a team picture and then try to get a few pictures of players teeing off or putting. This seemed easy when I was younger, but now it seems tiring. Depending on how many teams there are, it can be a long time to be out in the sun. I'm glad the tournament is in the morning tomorrow because the weather will be cooler.

Lance is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4683

I got up early to take my car in for service this morning. They told me that if I was the first customer, I could wait while they did the work and I wouldn't have to leave the car for the day. The service appointment didn't take long because one of their machines broke and they couldn't do everything they'd planned. I did get an oil and filter change though and they turned off the annoying "service required" light on the dash. I was back home again before 9 AM.

I got an unpleasant surprise this morning when my hotel in Titusville called and told me that they had to cancel my reservation. What? Apparently they had a severe plumbing problem and an entire floor of the hotel had flooded. This left me in a bad situation. I'd made my reservations early to make sure I had a room for the next Artemis launch attempt. Now it was several weeks later and I had to scramble to find anything that wasn't already completely booked. All the convenient Airbnb's in the area were gone. I eventually found a hotel in Cocoa Beach, but it was a lot further away than I would have liked. Even worse, I will have to leave Dallas on launch day just to get a room. This won't really be a problem since the launch is at midnight but it is cutting things a little close. I kept looking and finally found another hotel that was closer to the space center but it was kind of run down. I booked this one too. I'll think about it for a few days and cancel one of the reservations. Since I'm leaving a day later now, I had to change my airline and rental car reservations as well. All this kind of makes me wonder why I do this. Attending a popular launch is so much trouble to arrange and it's all over in just a few minutes. It's amazing how quickly these rockets disappear in the sky.

Janet took Dawn on her sunrise walk while I was getting my car serviced, but I did get to take a walk in the park later in the day. I didn't do well today at all. My feet hurt for the entire walk and I was pretty slow. At least the weather was nice. It was a lot warmer than yesterday, but it was still a very pleasant Fall day. The walk itself was fairly boring, but not as boring as going to the gym.

It took me so long to find another hotel and reschedule everything that I didn't have much time for anything else today. I liked my original plan a lot better, but I guess this will have to do. I've always hated surprises and this was a big one. I'll still get to see the launch though, assuming that it doesn't get canceled or postponed again. I still can't decide whether to try to attend the upcoming Falcon Heavy launch as well. I haven't heard anything about my credentials yet, but this launch is happening pretty soon. Why are they waiting until the last minute to approve credentials? Oh, well. It is what it is. Realistically, it's too expensive for me to go to two launches so close together anyway, but I'll wait to make a final decision until I hear whether I've been accepted. 

Since my service appointment wasn't as expensive as I thought it would be, I can probably go ahead and get the dryer fixed this month. The machine still dries clothes just fine, but it's started making an ominous noise. I can't realistically ignore this much longer because the belt that turns the drum is starting to fail. The last time the appliance repairman was at the house I asked him how long the belt would last. "Maybe you've got a week. Maybe you've got a year," he told me. That wasn't much help at all.

It seems like it should be Saturday tomorrow, but we've still got another day to go. I've taken this weeks trash out to the curb and am still fretting about my change in travel plans. I hope tomorrow is a better day.

Emily is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4682

I knew this was going to happen. We woke up this morning and there was no heat on the coldest day of the year so far. I was pretty sure I knew what was wrong because this happens every year. The furnace flame sensor gets dirty and the burners won't light. A repairman taught me how to fix the problem myself and it has saved me a ton of money over the years. That being said, I still don't enjoy doing the repair. It's an easy fix that involves sanding the flame sensor with fine grit sandpaper. The problem is that I have to dismantle part of the furnace to access the sensor. It is located down near the floor which is hard on my knees as well. At any rate, I got the furnace working again before breakfast, because I hate being cold while I eat.

It was really chilly this morning. I had to put on some extra layers for our sunrise walk. Dawn didn't need to wear a sweater yet, but if it gets any colder that's next. The park was really empty this morning. The colder it gets, the fewer runners and cyclists we see. Dawn really enjoys this cooler weather and I'm happy with it as well. I've got plenty of warm coats and I don't sweat much on a chilly day. The stars were out when we got started this morning. It reminded me that I ought to spend a little more time stargazing. Maybe not though. It's just not that much fun here in Dallas.

Once I finished breakfast and was satisfied that the furnace was running properly, I took my long walk. I didn't do as well this morning. My pace was slower and my feet hurt. There is no way to predict how I'm going to feel until I start walking. I thought this was going to be a good day when we took our sunrise walk with Dawn. Apparently not. By the time I returned home I felt like soaking my feet in a bucket of warm water. It was a beautiful day for a walk. My feet just weren't having any part of it.

After lunch I got out my video gear and checked everything out while recharging a bunch of batteries. I discovered that I'd forgotten how to use my wireless microphones and had to download a PDF document to relearn how to use the transmitter and receiver. Will I ever use this equipment again? It's doubtful. Making corporate videos was an important part of my business back in the day. I had a little editing studio and did everything myself. I still have the tape machines but I doubt that anything is done on tape these days. Oh, well. The equipment paid for itself and most of it is sitting in the storage warehouse now.

Dawn graduated to the advanced group at her training class this week. Janet said she did well, although she didn't bring home any ribbons. Next week the class is having a Halloween party and Dawn is going as Cruella de Vil. Janet made her a cute costume, but we don't know how long she will keep the Cruella wig on.  

I've got to get up early and take my car in for a service appointment tomorrow morning. We'll see how expensive the repairs are before I move on and get the dryer fixed. There's always something that needs to be fixed.

Diva is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4681

Brr. Winter arrived a little early this year. The furnace was on when we woke up this morning and it was time for a change in walking attire. I wore long pants on our sunrise walk and added a sweater under my jacket. It wasn't that cold, but it's been a while since we've seen temperatures in the 50's. Dawn loved the cooler weather. She was full of energy this morning and we completed our one mile loop three minutes faster than usual.

It was another good day for a long walk in the park. There was no sense in going to the gym on a day like this. I ate my breakfast and waited a while for the sun to get higher before leaving the house. It never did warm up very much, but the sky was clear and the cold front seems to have cleared away my allergy problems for a while. It felt good not to have a runny nose today. I didn't make great time, but I did OK. I saw quite a few photographers with long telephoto lenses looking for the eagles, but the birds appeared to be in hiding. Watching this quest to see the eagles made me feel like I was walking back in time. It was exactly like this last October.

I've been thinking about deleting several of my social media accounts because I never use them anymore. I keep thinking that some of these accounts might be the source of all the spam I'm getting. I haven't used LinkedIn in years. I couldn't even remember my password. When I finally logged in with a new password, I was surprised to discover that only 11 people have visited in the past two years. There was a time when I thought that LinkedIn might bring me business but it never did. It hardly seemed worth the trouble to delete this abandoned account, so I just turned off everything I could on the settings page and left. I also thought about deleting my Instagram account but then I remembered that NASA likes people to use Instagram when they visit the space center. There was also a time when I regularly posted on Instagram, but it is no longer a showcase for photographers and I've lost interest. Once again it didn't feel like it was worth the trouble to actually delete the account. Who knows. I might start using this again someday.

I've become ambivalent about social media in general. I only continue blogging because I'm determined to reach my 5000 day goal. Blogging definitely isn't like is used to be. I don't think anyone reads the blog anymore. A few friends still read the JPEG images of the blog I post post every day on Facebook, but I don't know if anybody still reads the real blog. The last time I looked at the stats, it showed that I only had two readers per day. That can't be right. This used to be a really popular blog back in the day.

I'll probably wind up right back where I started, writing my daily journal with a ball point pen in a little leather book. Writing is still a useful skill. I have a terrible memory and if I want to know what I was doing back in 1985, it's all there somewhere. I saved all the journals, just like I've saved all the negatives from decades of photography before the digital world was invented. I used to spend hours and hours in the darkroom. I don't think I've developed a roll of film or printed anything in twenty-five years but I used to be pretty good at it.

I don't know why I'm feeling nostalgic today. I guess the world in the rear view mirror seems more appealing than the world looking forward. I haven't turned into a prepper yet, but the future does look bleak. I think I'd be happier if I could bring myself to turn off the computer for good and quit watching cable news. I'm pretty good at amusing myself doing simple things and definitely don't need a daily diet of bad news. 

Little Petey is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4680

Today was busy. We got started with a nice early morning walk. I hesitate to call these sunrise walks anymore because usually we have completed our walk and are home again well before sunrise. It was dark and a bit chilly this morning. We clipped lights to our jackets and Dawn wore her green LED collar. I wish everyone wore lights when they walked in the dark. It's still a little unsettling when a runner, or even worse a stealth bicycle, surprises you in the dark.

After my weekday breakfast of shredded wheat and fruit, I checked my messages and took my long walk in the park. This was the first time this season that I've worn a jacket on one of these walks. I still wore shorts though. It will have to get a little colder before I resort to long pants. That day is probably coming soon. The cold front that arrived with our recent rain promises even lower temperatures later in the week. 

I made good time today although I didn't set any records. My feet didn't bother me much, which always makes a difference. This weekend's rain washed away much of the sticky aphid honeydew on the roads. It was nice not to have to clean my shoes when I returned this morning. Hopefully these aphids will disappear soon, just like the ants and web worms that preceded them. We don't have a lot of Maple trees here in Dallas, but the ones I do see are showing some nice Fall color. Some of the Red Oaks actually do turn bright red in the Fall, but their leaves haven't started to turn yet. Some of the Pecan trees are turning yellow and I'm starting to see lots of Goldenrod near the shoreline at the lake. It's going to be a colorful Fall.

The park squirrels are all busy gathering nuts for the Winter. They love this season's abundant pecan crop. There seem to be more Double-Crested Cormorants every day and the female Muscovy Duck that has joined the two males is a permanent fixture now. Maybe there will be ducklings in a few months. No eagle sightings though. It will be easier to spot the eagles a few months from now when all the leaves are off the trees.

After I returned home I had a quick lunch before dealing with today's to-do list. I never used to eat lunch. Maybe that's why I've been gaining weight. You'd think I'd be losing weight with all the time I spend walking. I guess I need to walk faster.  I paid a bunch of bills this afternoon and did this month's Quickbooks accounting. This takes longer than you'd think because I am obsessively meticulous and have a Quickbooks category for just about everything. 

I finally made an appointment to see the eye doctor, even though I'm dreading the visit. I was glad that the first he could see me was sometime in December. I'm in no hurry. I actually am in a hurry to get my car serviced though, so I made an appointment to get this done as well. I'm tired of seeing that annoying "service required" light every time I start the car. Unfortunately, nobody offers loaner cars anymore. That convenience disappeared with Covid. I was able to schedule a time where I can just wait at the shop while they do the required service. I'd rather sit around at the shop for a few hours than deal with Uber again. I've never been a fan of Uber and Lyft.

Curiosity got the better of me and I upgraded the star tracker to the latest firmware this afternoon. I don't expect a lot more of these software updates. The product has finally reached production status and is available in stores now. My days as a beta tester are coming to a close. I did get a good deal on the tracker by becoming a Kickstarter backer. The retail version of the star tracker sells for a lot more than what I paid.

The last thing I did today was a load of laundry. You can't have a proper busy day without doing a little laundry. Maybe I should have saved some of this stuff for tomorrow. I have no plans for tomorrow at all.

Lucky is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4679

Today's all day rain didn't really amount to much. The only time we got wet was when we tried to take Dawn on her sunrise walk. The weather radar failed us this time. I thought we had enough time to take a short walk, but the rain started almost immediately. Dawn did her business in a hurry and we headed back to the house.

I didn't want to risk getting wet again, so I went mall walking after breakfast instead of walking in the park. The temperature was nice and cool, but the skies looked ominous. I was surprised at how crowded the mall was today. At first glance you would have thought the stores were open. There were a lot more families with children today. I guess when the kids can't play outside on a rainy day, you take them to the mall. I walked an extra lap around the mall this morning because we didn't get our sunrise walk. One way or another, I was going to get my steps.

I'm starting to see some of the same people every Sunday. It's the same way when I walk in the park. I guess everybody has their regular routines. Some people walk around the mall in a clockwise direction while others go counterclockwise. This direction never seems to change. I'm a clockwise person myself. I wonder when the Christmas displays will start to appear. Christmas merchandise is already out at Walmart and Sam's Club. It looks like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are all happening at the same time.

The rain was basically over by the time I returned home, so Dawn got her Sunday outing anyway. It was pleasant outside, even though the ground was a little wet. Dawn enjoyed her walk, but she still doesn't ride well in the car. I don't think we'll ever be able to take her on a car trip. She does calm down when we get to the ice cream store though. I think Dawn likes ice cream even more than we do.

I washed the car this afternoon. I thought a heavy rain might clean it off on the way to the mall, but a light rain just got it muddy. My office is always a perpetual mess, but I do like a clean car. It seems like I'm always washing the car even though I don't drive much.

There's a new update for the star tracker available, but I didn't feel like dealing with it today. I have spent far more time updating this thing and installing new firmware than actually using it. Maybe someday. I'm still fascinated by astrophotography, but I can't imagine spending much time outside at night in Dallas. The few times I've gone outside to observe something I'm usually interrupted by multiple police cars racing down our street in pursuit of bad guys. Our own neighborhood is relatively safe, but this street appears to be a superhighway to high crime areas. 

It doesn't look like we are going to make it to the fair this year. Sometimes going to the fair seems like a fun thing to do. This year we had no interest. I don't think we missed much. Neither of us like fair food and yesterday there was an active shooter scare that had everyone running for the exits. One of the reasons I like going to Kennedy Space Center is that everyone has to go through a background check to get their credentials. I feel very safe wandering around the space center. Not so much here in Dallas.

I need to make an appointment to see the eye doctor next week. It doesn't seems like a year since my last visit, but here we are again. I"m dreading this visit because I know the doctor will want to schedule cataract surgery almost immediately. I can tell my cataracts have gotten worse this year. I'm sure the doctor will know too.

Camp is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4678

We got a late start this morning. The sun was already up when we took our sunrise walk. There's a lot of Fall color in the trees now. It won't be long before I'll be raking leaves again. It's supposed to rain tomorrow, but it was certainly nice today. I wish our Fall weather lasted a little longer. It's my favorite time of year.  

After our regular Saturday breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast I did my grocery shopping. I continue to be amazed by current prices. Many items are literally double what they cost several years ago. You wonder how long this can continue? I'll have to admit that I've never really understood the wage/price spiral. Prices go up and then wages go up to compensate, so you are always more or less in the same place. What is the point? I do understand that if something is genuinely rare or scarce, the price would realistically be higher, but we have an abundance of most things. Life would certainly be easier if everything had an intrinsic value that stayed the same.

After I completed my shopping, I came home and checked my messages before heading for the gym. Nothing from NASA or the Space Force. There is still no firm schedule for the Falcon Heavy launch. It doesn't really matter, since I can't afford to go to two launches in a single month anyway. There are never many people at the gym on Saturday. There were only three other people on the floor when I arrived. I like a huge, empty gym. I can't imagine going someplace that it crowded all the time. I still shot free throws on the basketball court and walked two miles on the indoor track, but I've added the vibration plate to my routine as well. I've convinced myself that this thing will improve bone density.

I had to go back to one of the stores I was at earlier this morning because I forgot something. This happens more than I'd like to admit. Luckily the store was on the way home from the gym, so the extra trip was no trouble. We got such a late start today that I didn't even attempt to do anything else when I returned from the gym. I took a nap and as always, Dawn immediately left the room and went to her dog bed in the kitchen. I wish I could ask this dog what she was thinking. This behavior still seems very strange to me.

I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow. We could use the rain but it is inconvenient. We wouldn't be able to take Dawn on her Sunday outing and it will be more trouble for me to take a long walk as well. I can always go mall walking at Northpark, but I don't even like to drive in the rain. Such trivial problems I have. 

Lucky is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4677

It's that time of year. The furnace came on this morning for the first time this season. This afternoon the air conditioner came on. This happens every year. We go back and forth like this for a while while the seasons sort themselves out. Even though it still gets warm later in the day, you can tell the days are getting cooler. It was chilly on our sunrise walk with Dawn today. I had a jacket on, but I wished I'd worn long pants.

I didn't even think about going to the gym today because it was quite nice outside. I got started on my long walk right after breakfast and ended up getting a surprise. I saw one of the eagles again. I'd heard the eagles were back in the area, but this was the first time I've seen one this year. I suspect that these are the same eagles that made a home in the park last year, but I'm just guessing. Now that I think about it, the eagles arrived about this same time last year and started making their nest a few months later. We'll see if they attempt to make another nest. They weren't very lucky last year when they built their nest in a dead tree and a limb broke off and destroyed it.

The Double-Crested Cormorants are back as well. All we need are a few more Canadian Geese and the lake's winter waterfowl will be in place. I'm looking forward to winter walks. You don't have to worry about snakes and the mosquitos subside as well. Winter walks are better unless it is snowing. I've got plenty of warm coats but there is only so much you can take off in the summer.

I was wrong about shoddy road construction in the area. I've been reading about the aphid infestation and it turns out that the aphids love pecan trees. Sure enough, the sticky areas on the roads are all directly under pecan trees. It wasn't road tar coming to the surface I was seeing, it was aphid poop dripping from the pecan trees. They call the stuff honeydew but it's still aphid poop. There must be millions of the little critters in the area this year because the sticky stuff is everywhere. The aphid infestation might also explain why we've been having problems with ants this Fall. Ants apparently love to eat the honeydew and our neighbors have a large pecan tree right next to our house. I hate to even think what the roof looks like right now.

I watched the reentry and recovery of the Crew-4 capsule on NASA TV this afternoon. It still amazes me how accurate they can be with these rockets. The Dragon capsule landed exactly where it was supposed to and the recovery ship was right there waiting for them. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised by this. Last week we managed to score a direct hit on a small asteroid and knocked it out of orbit. Orbital mechanics has always been a mystery to me. Isaac Newton formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation that make space navigation possible hundreds of years ago and I'm still sitting here counting my steps. I guess that's why I'm a writer. I was always terrible at math.

It's hard to believe it's the middle of the month already. Time flies as you grow older. I'm sure Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas will all just go by in a blur. Today was grocery day for Janet and tomorrow is grocery day for me. I wonder how expensive things will be this week? We are living in a dystopian world where absolutely nothing is getting easier or less expensive. I'm glad I grew up and spent my working years when times were a lot better.

Abby is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4676

It's feeling like Ground Hog Day again. Every day seems exactly the same. I have no one to blame but myself since I have no real desire to change. I did try to change things up a bit by going back to the gym this morning instead of walking in the park again. The gym is pretty much the same as well. I always have the same routine even if there are dozens of machines I have never tried. All I can say is that it's a good thing I handle boredom well.

The park was quiet this morning. There seems to be a lot more activity on the weekends. I'm always surprised that so many people do things together before the sun comes up. Some run in groups and cyclists often ride in groups. I have trouble just getting up in the morning. I'd never be organized enough to join a group activity before I've had breakfast. All this is just idle speculation though. I tend to avoid group activities at any time of day.

I've been wondering why the grass and other plants have been so sticky this Fall. Even the roads under trees are getting sticky. It turns out that we have an infestation of aphids in Dallas. The clear, sticky liquid if basically aphid poop. I wish I hadn't learned this because it is kind of gross. The stuff is not harmful to dogs or humans, but it can kill plants. The plants are having a tough time this Fall. First it was the little green web worms and now it's the aphids.

I was terrible on the basketball court when I was at the gym this morning. I wonder why I am so inconsistent? I've been shooting free throws at this gym for so many years now that I should have perfected the process by now. Shooting baskets is basically just hand eye coordination. I must not be terribly coordinated because I'm all over the place. On a good day I can sink seven or eight baskets in a row. On a bad day all I do is embarrass myself. I used the vibration plate again today. It doesn't even seem like exercise, but if it can help improve my bone density, it's worth spending ten minutes on the machine. I still don't like the drive, but going to the gym was a nice change of pace. I didn't have to walk through any aphid poop either.

It's surprising how many launches I get approved for at Kennedy Space Center. I got invited to another launch today. Some of the approvals are automatic and I don't have to apply for credentials. The Space Force is usually a lot more consistent with approvals than NASA. I'm glad they don't check and see whether I actually show up for the launch. If they checked I'd have been crossed off the list by now. I'd really like to go to all of these launches, but I can only afford several trips a year. I'm already looking forward to my next trip. I still feel like a pretend journalist, but I do enjoy the experience.

Dawn's been avoiding me all evening because Janet is out of the house. It's disappointing that we haven't become buddies, but there isn't a lot I can do about the situation. It seems like she ought to be able to tell that I really like dogs. Maybe I look or smell like one of the men who mistreated her. Dawn is probably glad when I go to Florida.

Puppies are today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4675

NASA has finally set a new date for the next Artemis launch attempt, so it's time to make travel arrangements again. I sure wish the process was a little easier. Hotel and airfare prices can differ drastically depending on which day you choose. Sometimes leaving or returning one day earlier or later can double the price of your ticket. Hotels are the same way. As it turned out it was cheaper to stay an extra day in Florida to get a lower airfare.

Since the launch is scheduled for a few minutes after midnight I initially scheduled my departure for the wrong day and had to reschedule everything a few hours later. Jeez. You'd think I'd know how to tell time by now. The Airbnb I like wasn't available, but I was able to book a room at the hotel I usually stay at. The rental car website wasn't working properly today, but I'm pretty sure my car is booked as well. I'll probably have to skip the Falcon Heavy launch at the end of October. These trips have become way too expensive and I can only afford one trip to the space center this Fall

Our day started as usual with a pre-dawn walk with Dawn. We left earlier this morning since Janet has a doctor's appointment. I'm getting used to walking in the dark now, but this won't last long. On November 6 we go back to Standard Time and we'll be walking in daylight again. I keep hearing that congress wants to make Daylight Saving Time permanent next year. Why? I'd rather make Standard Time permanent.

I had a hard time deciding whether to walk in the park or go to the gym today. It was a little too warm for my taste, but I didn't feel like driving. Eventually I decided to take my long walk in the park. The water department was digging up one of the streets in our neighborhood, so I had to take an alternate route to reach the path I usually take. The streets are a mess now. Several years ago the city used a cheap "spray on road" technique to re-pave several streets in the neighborhood and now the tar is leaking to the surface. You have to be careful where you walk because the stuff sticks on your shoes. I made pretty good time today, but by the time I returned I wished I'd gone to the gym instead. Considering how cool it was on our sunrise walk, it got hot outside very quickly. I shouldn't complain though. At least the little green web worms are gone now.

My chore for the day was removing the water that accumulates under the shower tiles. I need to get the shower re-tiled, but it is easier to remove the water every few weeks with a wet-dry vac. I tried to re-seal the tile once, but apparently it didn't work. Several quarts of water can accumulate between the tiles and the shower pan. When it reaches a certain level it starts leaking out the same cracks that let it in. Water is not my friend. I think most of the problems around the house have something to do with water.

Dawn did well at training class this evening. Janet said she is going to graduate to the advanced class next week. I'm surprised at how much Dawn seems to enjoy these classes because she is typically scared of everything. I'm glad Dawn has found something she enjoys. Now I need to do the same.

Kuuipo is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4674

We got the day started with another early walk this morning. I'm surprised at how many people are out this early. When we enter the park, we see lots of small lights in the distance. The brighter, fast moving lights are bicycles. The lights that move up and down are usually runners. Runners seems to like wearing little lights on their shoes. If a moving light is low to the ground is is a dog. The dogs often wear glowing LED collars. If someone wears an entire lighted vest, it's almost always an old person. A few people wear no lights at all. These are the ones you've got to watch out for. Especially the stealth bicycles. I don't think anyone would have any problems spotting us in the dark. Janet carries a flashlight and we both wear small lights on the back of our jackets. Dawn has a spiffy green LED collar.

After breakfast I wrote a letter to my sister and took it to the post office on my way to the gym. I always reply to my sister's letters even when I have little to say. We never talk on the phone and have always communicated through letters. I'm pretty sure I have been writing these letters for forty years now.

It was cool enough to take a walk in the park today, but I'm getting bored with these walks. It's nice to have a change of pace. I also enjoy shooting free throws on the basketball court and the indoor track is easier on my feet. If I go to the gym too frequently, I get bored with this as well. I guess I'll keep changing things up. They say variety is good for you. The important thing for me is to keep moving.

I tried a new machine at the gym this morning. It's called a vibration platform and it is designed to improve circulation and increase bone density. I think this machine can do many other things as well, but its ability to increase bone density with regular use was what caught my attention. Brittle bones and falls plague older people and the last thing I want is a broken hip. Improving bone density was one of the reasons I started walking in the first place. We'll see if using the vibration platform helps. I'm not sure how I'll measure any improvements though. My doctor is reluctant to give me any more bone density tests.

Since I went to the gym later today I didn't have to spend as much time doing nothing this afternoon. There are plenty of projects I could start around the house, but I'm doing my best to avoid them. Painting and sheetrock repairs are messy and I'm not terribly good at either of these activities. I'm not good at stopping roof leaks either, even though I've spent twenty years trying. I'm certainly as good as the roofers I've hired over the years. They haven't done a good job either. What can I say. I used to be a regular Mr. Fix-it around the house, but I've totally lost interest. Living in a little room at the Astronomer's Lodge sounds pretty good to me now.

Dawn still leaves the room every time I want to take a nap in the bedroom. She's fine about sharing the bed if Janet is in the room, but is still wary of me if we are alone in the house. I don't think this behavior is going to change, although Janet thinks the solution is for her to go on another cruise and leave me here with Dawn for two weeks. You know what they say about old dogs and new tricks. I'm very reluctant to do anything new myself. Why should I expect Dawn to be any different. 

Katy is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4673

Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day? To me it's just another day when we don't get any mail. There's growing evidence that the Vikings were the first Europeans to set foot in North America anyway. I wonder why holidays like this even matter to people. Humans have been displacing other humans since the dawn of time. The European colonialists were certainly no saints, but neither were the people who lived here before they arrived. The Aztecs were just as warlike and murderous as the Spaniards who conquered them. I'm surprised that our species has survived as long as it has. We really don't deserve this planet.

We have returned to walking in the dark. I don't know why we still treat Monday thru Friday as work days since we are both retired. Old habits die hard I guess. Dawn has no problem with walking in the dark. I still worry about bumping into a coyote though. A beautiful full Hunter's Moon was low in the Western sky and Mars was directly overhead this morning. Jupiter seems to have disappeared in the pre-dawn sky. It's an evening planet now. I'm not a morning person, but I enjoy our sunrise walks. It's still quiet and peaceful outside. Later in the day all you hear are police sirens and the leaf blowers and mowers of countless lawn care companies. The hustle and bustle of the city makes me nostalgic for the isolation I enjoy during my stays at McDonald Observatory. Silence is my friend.

I took my long walk after breakfast this morning. The temperature warmed up much faster than I expected and I was hot by the time I returned home. I noticed that a female Muscovy Duck has joined the two large males I see every day on my walks. I hope she's careful. These two males killed the last female who joined them. They say Muscovy Ducks are friendly and make good pets. I certainly wouldn't want these two as pets. They are almost as mean as the Canadian Geese.

I kind of miss all the construction that was going on in the park this summer. It gave me something to think about other than counting ducks. There are so many specialized skills in the construction trades. I wonder where you learn these things? I'm old and I still don't have any idea how to lay concrete or frame a house. Truthfully, I can't even fix a running toilet. I guess writing is a skill, but I never trained to be a writer. My professional life has been largely accidental.

I need a plan for the afternoons. I'm usually pretty busy in the mornings, but I typically run out of steam right after lunch. There are so many things that no longer interest me. My storage unit is filled with prior interests and obsessions. When did these interests die? It's been a very gradual process. Oh, well. At least I still like dogs and rocket launches.

Neo is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4672

I went mall walking again today even though the weather was beautiful. I've done a lot of walking in the park this week and I guess I just needed a change of pace. It's interesting that some stores never change their window displays, while others always change them. I wonder if it makes any difference? Several stores have closed since I last visited and one new one has opened. 

I don't understand current styles at all. Most of the clothing on display looks ugly. Mall walking is surprisingly popular. On most Sundays there seem to be more people walking at the mall than I see walking in the park. Northpark is very pleasant when the stores are closed. I avoid the place when the stores are open though. It is far too crowded for my taste.

We got started on our sunrise walk so late this morning that we didn't need our flashlights and lighted dog collars. The park is usually busier on weekends, but it was fairly quiet today. Most of the green web worms are gone now. Now that I know what to look for, it's amazing how many trees they destroyed. The city recently mowed the meadow behind our house, so it was easier to get down to the lake this week. Although our walks are always the same, I almost always see something new. Today I noticed that a for lease sign on one of the houses on our street was gone. The sign had been there quite a while and I wondered if the place was finally rented or the owners just gave up and ended their listing? 

After I returned from the mall, we took Dawn on her Sunday outing. The weather was cool enough that we were able to give Dawn another one mile walk before we went for ice cream. There is lots of poison ivy in Dawn's Sunday park, so we have to watch where we walk. There is a lot of construction going on as well. I have no idea what the city is building but it certainly looks expensive. Janet uses these walks to work on Dawn's training. I'm just trying to get a few more steps.

It still bothers me that our ice cream cones have gotten smaller while the price has become more expensive. There is no ice cream inside the cone at all. Just a scoop on top. You'd think they could manage to fill the cone up. Oh, well. We still like to support local businesses. Expensive ice cream is still better than no ice cream at all.

Although I was busy this morning, I did virtually nothing this afternoon. There are still lots of things that need to be done around the house, but they didn't need to be done today. I haven't been up on the roof in a long time. It is probably filled with pecans that have fallen from the neighbor's tree. I should clean things up before it rains again, but I've become wary about climbing on the roof. This isn't a good activity for someone who is starting to have balance issues.

I still need to get my car serviced. I'll probably wait until I see whether I'm been credentialed for the Falcon Heavy launch. The dryer is definitely going to need to be repaired sometime soon as well. I hate having to budget expenses. I never used to do this when I was working. Oh, well. Welcome to retirement. 

Maverick is today's Dalmatian of the Day

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