Whoosh, another month came and now has went. I tried to draw it out by staying up late, and spending evenings outside. The evenings have been the essence of summer, the only things missing have been the frogs and the fireflies.

I remember going to Huntington Beach in South Carolina and hearing the frogs doing an auditory wave.

Here, we have bug zappers, and this is about it.

It was raining last night, and then it cleared up midday. It’s often been like this, this past month.

This morning I wrote a very short proposal for the Mat-Su Senor Center, requesting that they allow me to come and speak to their board. I don’t have any aspirations or expect us to partner up. Rather, I just want to keep distributing books to seniors. So I didn’t indicate in my two paragraphs that I had an agenda. This, in itself, is sort of interesting because say, in writing classes, you are taught to be as forthright as possible.

Pete with Kaden Carpenter

I also wrote an article for the Alaska Reads Act newsletter. I had previously written one about the senior center, but Jenn Miller, the editor, wanted more details about the project. So I went into considerable detail, focusing on the build it and they will come analogy. What continually came to the forefront of my thinking, as I was writing, were scenes from yesterday’s Mat-Su Miners pancake breakfast. It was evident to me that Robert, Pete, and I now are adept at working the crowds when we appear at an event with our books. As importantly, I felt an affinity for the team, the staff, family members, and friends, so much so that if they make it to the playoffs, I’d like to attend a game. And those kids, getting the players to sign their books – this was the high point of the BLBP project thus far.

In the afternoon, I took advantage of the better weather and first got Hrimmi and then got Raudi out. They both enjoyed being out and plundering through the now four foot brush, which is mainly comprised of cow parsnip and nettles. When there was less, they cantered through it – with it being so tall they were more cautious. I did not get Tyra out. Instead, I gave Pete an assist putting railroad ties at the base of three sections of fence in the horse pen. We had wood logs there, but it rotted, the staples popped out, and the bottom rungs of the fence bent upward.

I sounded the red alert after Raudi got her foot caught under the wire. Fortunately, she just stood there, waiting for assistance. Pete went and got the fence tool and freed her.

This evening, Pete went to his friend Gene’s where he’s going to spend the night in his truck. Tomorrow he’ll go fishing. Me, I went to town and did some BLBP work. I started sorting through the boxes of books containing books on the subject of writing. Then I went and distributed at Buggee Park.

And so, yes, today the weather dictated my activities.

Next: 208. 7/31/23: Tired