This past fall I came up with the Wayback Machine, and then used it while at Mountain Rose, a retirement community. I had those present go back in time, to a specific year, and then talk about specific events related to that year. I have not had a chance yet to do this again.

I am now thinking about using a Mood o Meter. I’m not sure yet how I’ll go about this. Right now, it’s an internal way of measuring my mood. I am picturing a box, a machine, and on it is an arm that registers my mood. The mood, registered, has low, middle, and high ranges. My mood, which I at least see, is usually changing although at times it remains still for long periods of time.

Today there were extreme fluctuations. The day began with my cleaning the horse pen, in the dark. My mood was upbeat and remained this way through breakfast. My meeting with the consultant – it went to the opposite extreme in the near blink of an eye and remained there until the meeting ended. It is hard for me to respect those who exclusively think about outcome in relation to numbers.

I was pushed by the Big C to come up with answers to finance related questions. I grew anxious when I could either not answer these questions or felt as though I was not being heard when I attempted to provide evidence, which I thought was related to the big picture. I thought at one point that I would have to grab the Mood-o-Meter arm and keep it from going off the register. Instead, I took a few deep breaths and brought it back into range.

I recalled that I felt this way when I was defending my dissertation.

I felt my mood go back on the upswing when Pete and I carpooled to town. Though he, like her, is a bean counter, he did at least pretend to understand my point of view, which is that there is more to the BLBP than numbers. This conversation, though, deepened my resolve to finish Shelf Life. I have so many stories. This way, all who read it will end up with a sense of the whole.

The Mood-o-Meter reader continued its swing to the left shortly after I resumed work in the hotel. Susan, a volunteer, walked in and gave me a quilters pillow. It has farm animals on it. It is one of the nicest things anyone has ever given me. It goes well with my quilt. Susan also is taking on the eBay books and assisting in sorting them into go and no go categories.

It is interesting how the volunteers begin by cleaning books, then find their own niches. Susan also wants to learn to repair books.

Such good thoughts. I had to leave and distribute books – the Mood-o-Meter registered, as it should, right in the middle, for the rest of the afternoon, and into the evening. Best to have it on the positive side of things when I go to bed, otherwise I cannot sleep.

Next: 350. 12/24/24: No Sleep for the Wicked, No Rest for the Idle