It’s late. It’s going to be another evening when I struggle to stay awake as I write this dispatch. I do it out of habit, and the habit seems to be dying hard. I pause because thoughts don’t come easily when I’m tired.

Today, cleaning books, talking to a volunteer; there was a time lapse as I went to answer her questions. I was patient with myself when the answers failed to come easily. I had to be. I suspect she noticed.

Elizabeth had a lot of good ideas. A lot of people have a lot of good ideas. I listen carefully to them, and I respond in the affirmative. And I try as best I can to make a note to keep the ideas in mind. The reality is, I can never act on more than an idea or two because I don’t have the time

I sometimes think about what it would be like to have less to do, so that I might act on more ideas. I sometimes blame myself for not just going ahead and doing what’s asked. But the real reason is that I don’t have the time.

Today was a big day in bookland. I first went and distributed books at the bakery; then, after getting gas, I went to the frame shop and picked up matt board. Then I distributed books at the Amoosement Park and Buggee Park.

I hung briefly at the hotel before going to the Borough Animal Shelter. I got in ahead of those waiting for dogs because I had books. I gave a book to a little boy; I discovered that his family was waiting to check out a dog named Shadow. I was told by Stacie, the volunteer coordinator, that they now no longer allow people to go back and check out the dogs, rather, they have a waiting room and there they bring in the dog or cat. I did not get to see how it went with Shadow and his potential family. I hope well.

Stacie appeared and talked with me – she has single minded intensity of focus, for sure. I was impressed with how thorough she was in answering my two questions. The first was, would it be possible to organize a children read to dogs event. This, she said, would have to be through other organizations rather than the animal shelter, so I quickly put this on the back burner. We then talked about doing a children’s story hour at the animal shelter – this now exists as a distinct possibility.

So I will bring it up at the literacy team meeting on Monday.

The guys were busy moving shelves from the smaller room off the main room when I got back. They made quick work of it. They moved some of the books, but there was considerable rearranging that needed to be done so yours truly did this.

The literacy room is looking okay. The macro-managing is done; I now have considerable micromanaging to do. I can do this. Tomorrow I will be at home. Then we will go and get Ruth some new chicken companions.

Next: 249. 9/15/25: Where to Begin?