That's the plan, Matt! We're planning to stay several days in San Pedro de Atacama, and do some of the crazy landscapes there, as well as some of the night-sky viewing (we checked the moon phases for when we're going, to make sure it would be dark). Hoping for excellent photography (my friend is super into that, I"m thinking I maybe need to take some classes before going??) And then we'll wind our way back down to Santiago for a few days.

I need to travel again. First gotta renew my *^{%!! passport.

Took Brian grocery shopping and to pick up his 'scripts. He got to use one of the motorized grocery carts. I got to mock his driving skills. Shopping with him is such the experience. Commentary on everything and everyone. Was markedly more efficient than normal because the cart was pokey so he wasn't backtracking. And it died in the checkout lane! But people are really extra nice if you're on crutches with a massively wrapped foot ( no cast until later) or if you're merely accompanying that person. Had wobbly old ladies holding doors open for me, shooing me in and an even more frail old guy help bag up B's groceries even though I clearly was able bodied.

It was a helper sorta day. Also got coffe for two vendors at the market. My two biggest flirts, but they asked. I just wouldn't let them pay. And even more nice was that when I mentioned who I was picking up the coffe for, Zeke' s gave me the vendor rate, taking me at my word (I'd forgotten there was one.)

Later, was listening to something on the radio and it reminded me of a kid, well, young guy, around here who has been befriending and helping the homeless, and who has been on my mind a lot lately....and I kinda wondered, was this a sort of unconscious reaction to all the ugliness? Or just happenstance? Either way, made things a little less doom and gloom.

Question in New Scientist this week: "If a dog's sense of smell is thousands of times more sensitive than ours, why do they have to get so close to smell each other's bottoms?"

NS is offering £25 for an answer to this burning conundrum.

So I got a cinnamon broom from TJs today. First hung it on basement door,basement side. Too strong. It's now hanging on a door on the basement cabinets, in the middle. Still strong. OTOH, better than the catlitter perfume?

My sister is visiting for my birthday. Today, we went out to brunch, where I got a vegan cronut; then we went to Findlay Market, where I said hi to one of my students who was working there; and went out for Ethiopian food. We were going to go out to a wine bar afterwards, but my knee is hurting, so we're staying in and watching Trainwreck instead.

Other than the knee, that sounds pretty dang good! Many happy returns, Hil.

I'm going to guess because the general stank of other dogs masks whatever identifying pheromones they're actually looking for until they get in close?

Just put away money B gave me for TJs food I picked up. Way over reimbursed me. I'll rake his leaves tomorrow in retaliation.

I don't think so, Matt. From what I understand, dogs are really good at identifying different scents in parallel, one doesn't mask another.

I would think they just like it. They can sniff each other from farther away, but why not get in close to the source if you can?

went out for Ethiopian food

How was it?