Everyone appears to be in a good mood. There is now a 40˚ F temperature difference between now and last month at this time. Intimations of spring, indeed. Right now, I don’t feel like I’m moving in slow motion.

I got Ryder and Hrimmi out for a walk this morning. There will come a time when we’ll again feel heat in that sun. We are not there yet although the sun now rises over the peaks of the distance Chugach Mountains at 9:30 p.m. Two months ago it was 11:30 a.m.

I first went to the senior center at noon, the time in which I was supposed to be there to work on the art framing project. Grr, grr, grr, there was a membership meeting going on, so after hanging out for a bit and reading the paper, I left. Grr, grr, grr.

I should have gone and checked out the book situation at the hockey arena but forgot.

Went back to the hotel. Began repacking boxes. Pam came in the door and we ended up doing a field trip; we went to Black Birch Books in Wasilla and talked with the owner for some time. My dad would say that Taylor is an operator. She has an amazing book holding (this is what the libraries call it) and a coffee shop. She binds books. She holds near daily events. She has way more energy than I do, but as I thought, I’d do more events if I wasn’t distributing books. Still, she by example, shows that with a bit of determination and energy, that a person can do just about anything.

I left her place feeling energized. And also feeling like we can get a partnership going, with us taking and maybe on occasion providing her with books.

Back at the stead, Robert had dropped off the books he retrieved from Title Wave earlier in the day. This plus the books from yesterday, and from Black Birch today – the only words to describe it are, “over the top.” I didn’t have too much time to fret because I had to get ready for the Open Mic Session.

Again, the phrase, “build it and they will come,” came to mind. Yes, they did come, board members and community members. There were eight readers total. I had to MC – this means mistress of ceremonies – my goodness, it’s a job, keeping the whole shebang rolling without being overly controlling.

Lloyd, who I met at the senior center, was there – it was his birthday. He is 85. I told him he had to wait to read, he looked irritated and mystified. The reason was, it was his birthday. Pete made banana bread and I gave him a card and the book, There was an old woman who Swallowed a Birthday Cake.

Between readers, I had Pam read The Wonky Donkey – she turned it into audience participation. And I gave a tour of the bookcases, talking about what they contained. This included my collection of “There was an old Lady who Swallowed a. . .”

So yeah, it went well. The next event will feature dogs and a literacy activity table.

Yee haw.

Next: 44. 2/15/24: Middle of the Month