The days are getting increasingly shorter – it’s now dark by 5:15 p.m. Long gone, it seems, are the days in which I’d be outside until 10:30 a.m., come in and eat and then head back outside again. The past two days I left right after first light (for animal emergency preparedness training) and returned right before first dark. I did see the horses without the aid of a headlight, but it occurred to me that two weeks from now, I would not be able to do this if I was on a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. working schedule.

Two days of this was a taste of what it would be like, and that taste was bitter to the tongue. The experience, of getting going early and coming home late (in my book) was well worth it. I learned a great deal. And what I did know was presented in a different way, which provided me with a differing perspective.

We really are at the beginning of winter and this does have me feeling a bit apprehensive. However, I feel like I got a jump start on winter this year. Sometimes it’s like a hook, it snags me in the gills and I waste considerable energy in attempting to wrest myself free.

For one thing, I got projects to do. I’m fairly far along with Forks, and in the next few days I will start working on the proposal. I‘m also continuing with horsey homeschooling. I’m continuing with my body/awareness self-study, now in the evenings. And I’m going to the gym twice a week and working with my personal fitness trainer.

And now this – I’ve begun jumping through the hoops required for national involvement, doing emergency disaster relief work. This weekend, I’ll take the first of four FEMA online tests. And after that I’ll get my application in order. I might have to do volunteer work at the local shelter, and follow this up with actual work. I can do this. I will have to grow a very thick skin, but this is now within the realm of possibility.

Today’s presentations were quite good. They were on the subjects of animal care, dog, cat, and horse. The dog was somewhat interesting to me – I had not for sometime thought about how to read a dog. The cat was interesting to me in the way that an accident is of interest to passing motorists. Cats are dangerous and I can’t see myself throwing a towel over one of these animals and scruffing it. A cat can take your eye out. I was, of course most interested in horse particulars. Our teacher, Josh, did a very good job presenting information. Several times, my inner voice told me to be quiet, to not speak up, to listen and focus on learning. I slipped a few times, the way alcoholics do – for example, I said that there was another, better way to put on a halter. My idea was dismissed.

We went outside and were given a horse leading/restraining demonstration. It was all I could do to keep myself from going into the paddock and assisting. Interestingly, those working with the horses were guys.

Ahh, I just need to keep myself busy. In another month and seven days the days will lengthen. Then and only then will I feel like I’m over the hump.

Next: 320. 11/16/18: Owning My Movements