It’s a blustery day. Windy, slightly overcast. It snowed this morning, fine white pellets that could aptly be described as rain. It was also extremely foggy. At first, when I looked out of the bedroom window, I thought that the volcano (Mt. Spurr) had erupted. This is something that we all have to keep aware of.

Pete suggested that when it blows, that we quickly load up the animals, the horses in the trailer and the goats in the rear of the truck – I made the latter suggestion – and head down the Glenn Highway in the direction of Glennallen.

Now if we are to do this, we are going to need to PREPARE and pack accordingly. If this holds off by this weekend I will pack up. Maybe my efforts will motivate Pete to give me an assist. Maybe.

And then – I did hear back from the Library of Congress, and it is looking like I am going to go to Washington, D.C. I have already asked my traveling partners, my old friend Christopher Benson and my sister Eleanor. I am now waiting back to see if I hear from the LOC (this is what they call it) as to book pick up and shipping particulars.

Bookcase made by students

This could be a sequel to Shelf Life – or a part of it, the investigative aspect. There are so many books out there now. And the publishers are oblivious to this. If say, they can get someone to buy a book, so much the better. The corporate-economic machine resembles a steam roller – it is going to take down as many literal and figurative trees as it can. (Sometimes, as with the last line here, I surprise myself with what I come up with.)

I am now in the former banquet room of the historic Eagle Hotel. I usually write my dispatches late at night, but today I have the time to do this while working/volunteering. A rare instance. I thought I’d be working at home, but our volunteer coordinator instead opted to spend the day babysitting.

I can hear the clanking of the dishes – the dish washers are hard at work. Well, I don’t know if they are working hard. They used to have tunes going, tunes that sounded like dishes being dropped on the floor and silverware being tossed in the sink.

Pete just arrived. He’s moving three boxes of fiction in that are from Mat-Su College and shortly will be moving five bins of children’s chapbooks out that are going to Kid’s Kupboard.

Used to be that the background noise included construction sounds but no more. Car Quest is no more. In its place is Poppy Lane, a huge gift store, full of trinkets and things that the tourists are going to love. I did attempt to get a bookcase in the coffee shop, so far, no such luck. I doubt that they are going to go for it. Too trendy for us.

So I am now waiting on participating in this online meeting. This is an honest to goodness actual lull. Saints be praised and pass me a box of nonfiction.

Next: 97. 4/8/25: Being a Human Ping Pong Ball