Or so says the auctioneer. But if someone wins the bid and takes the item, is it really gone? I guess the line, “Sold to the highest bidder” clarifies the situation.

Me, today, going, going but not quite gone. I suspected that it would be a day with multiple challenges and it was. My workday began with my calling several villages – two expressed an interest in taking books and a third will take them. So I will be boxing up and sending out books this weekend.

I remember when I met Melina Sevigny who eventually became the BLBP president. She said she’d provide me with village spreadsheets. She did and I was very grateful. She also had me accompany her to TOTE where she’d stored books in a large, heated warehouse. She showed me how she packed up the boxes.

Books to Eek

I was then awed and didn’t think that I would ever be able to contact villages, pack up books, or work with shippers. It all seemed to me to be beyond the realm of comprehension. However, look at me now – I’m doing it all.

I don’t like calling villages and asking if they want free books. I fear that those who answer the phone are suspicious and that they are going to let me know this. Simple nos do suffice, but of course I prefer yeses.

Today was a day in which I did it all and more. In addition to calling the villages and neatly filling in my spreadsheet, I worked with seven, count ‘em seven, volunteers. I, as always, made the job of cleaning and stamping the books easy for the volunteers by taking the books out of the cardboard boxes with lids and putting them in cardboard boxes without lids.

I was surprised to see that the boxed books ran low. I had to do something about this, and this something was to run over to U-Haul and get more books. I then brought them back and unpacked them. I did this twice. Fortunately, the sun was shining brightly when I made both trips.

I met with Skye in the late afternoon and we worked some on our article. We quantified driving and shipping costs – we are attempting to say that there is, when shipping, a carbon footprint.

Then, once the dust settled, I retreated into the back room and continued to sort books. It’s coming along, my setting books aside for next year’s Alaska State Fair and in addition Halloween. Once the Halloween books are gone, I will have more room. I’ve been saving Alaska State Fair books (already) so there won’t be any shortages next year.

I pause. I thought that I’d have time to go for a ride on Hrimmi, but I thought wrong. I came home, went inside, heated up some pasta, and fed the dogs. This left me with no time to spend with my horses. Gotta find that balance, for sure.