Sunday. All day. Daylight savings time. No daylight is actually saved. The bottom of the apron is cut off and sewed to the top. So it’s now darker in the morning and lighter in the evening, or so I’m told. The less light in the mornings is just fine with me because I’m then able to sleep a bit longer in the mornings. And more light in the evenings is just fine with me because I’m then able to get a horseback ride or two in if I get home from the hotel at a reasonable hour.

It was a good day – all days in which I don’t have to go anywhere are good days. Commuting takes up considerable time, even though I don’t have to deal with much traffic. I get a whole extra hour, which I squander when I commute but don’t squander when I stay put.

Alys and Tyra and Shadow

Days like this actually bring out the best in me. And so today I realized how lucky I am to be leading the life I’m leading. There was definitely a balance. I spent my morning writing. I first finished my People’s Paper article. These articles are supposed to be less than 800 words, so this time around, in writing a story about how it came to be that I ended up putting the bookcase in the Palmer High School pool, I had far less detail than the story deserved. But I began by saying that I had a story to tell, told the story, and then in the end referred back to it.

I could perhaps revise it and send it someplace.

I next wrote up my weekly narrative executive report. It was very detailed, and also very upbeat. I realized in writing it that I must, absolutely must, maintain an upbeat persona when I’m at the hotel. Otherwise, what I’m doing is for naught.

I, now on a roll, next filled in dates in the Google.Doc calendar then wrote thank you letters to those who had made financial contributions to the Bright Lights Book Project.

After all this, it was time for a break, which was why I opted to go for a horseback ride. As I was heading out, Pete said he’d join me. He rode Tyra and I rode Raudi. The two mares were their usual amiable selves. Someone had ridden their 4-wheeler on a portion of our trail, and in churning up the snow made it more difficult for the horses to deal with. It was like they were trudging through watered down cake mix.

I didn’t get Hrimmi out because it was fairly windy out, and getting colder. I do worry about her thick coat retaining sweat, so I usually take her out first. It’s now 7:20 p.m. and it isn’t even dark, meaning that I can get home at 4:00 p.m. and ride two horses before 8:00 p.m.

Tonight, I’m going to work on sending out fund raising letters. There was a time when I hated doing such things, but apparently not anymore.

Next: 69. 3/10/25: Executive Director’s Report