Some would say that having an up and down period in one’s life is akin to being on a roller coaster. I don’t like this analogy because I don’t see going either up or down on a roller coaster as being fun. It’s all sheer hell to me. Now the analogy of being on a carousel, I can go with this. The ups and the downs are equally fun. You end up where you start, and this is contradictory for, in going up and down, you want to end up forging new territory. However, this is as close to real life as I am going to get.

I don’t even want to talk about specific ups and downs, particularly those relating to today. Reliving the day’s past events is, as I go through the motions, taking me back in time. But what the hell.

Very cold here, very cold. I put on my Refrigirware suit this morning and went outside. I wore a pair of thin gloves that I purchased at REI a few days ago, on a whim. I knew that they would not work well because thin gloves don’t keep the cold out. Once I again realized this, I gritted my teeth, and rather than go back inside and root around for a warmer pair of gloves, I fed the horses and picked up poop.

I gritted my teeth again, when I got back inside, because I had to go back outside and bring in wood. And I had to take the dogs for a walk. And I had to contend with the fact that because we right now do not have a working generator, that we have no water. Pete said that we’ll get a new generator tomorrow. So, I’m going two nights without a shower.

Add to this, Herr Consultant sent us her write-up, one that we are to submit to funders. She does not share the vision. Down, down, down we go.

A morning like this, hit the bottom of the ocean, touch whale shit, then of course you have to head back up. And I did. I got to the hotel and in talking with Pam and Pam, I felt better. Then Cathy, our artist in residence, showed up, and we had a grand time playing with a calligraphy set that someone had left behind.

The former banquet room of the historic Eagle Hotel generally has a calm and peaceful atmosphere. The one who routinely screws it up is me.

Today I found myself remembering back in the day, when the book project was in it’s infancy. Carol Henry showed me a video of a fellow who gave out free books to children – and he also incorporated exercise into his program. I was so impressed. I could not imagine that I would be doing something similar, and in some ways surpassing what he was doing. But I have.

So, tomorrow may be an up, up, up day. I will picture myself being tied to a balloon, and going way up the into the air, above the clouds – of course, the weather will be warm.

Next: 31. 1/31/25: Above the Clouds