Last night my foot hurt something awful, and I was unable to sleep. It was a sharp pain in the pad behind my toes. I considered getting up and soaking my foot in a bucket of water with Epsom Salts, but I was too lazy to do this, or to get up and take some Ibuprofen.

I woke up Pete with my whimpering, and he massaged my foot. This was enough to allow me to get back to sleep. Then the pain went away.

It did not hurt when I got up, nor does it hurt now.

Some friends dropped off a dog for a day of dog sitting. They were headed to a folk festival in Ninilchik. So Stitch is here – a medium sized short haired black and white dog with a patch over one eye.

Having Stitch here is a reminder as to why we ought not get an additional, third dog. This place gets crowded. And dogs need attention.

Pete went to do pulse and respiration work at the competitive trail ride. I stayed home in order to be here for Stitch. Also seemed like a good time to get work done.

I have been fighting the urge to take a nap since I did not get much sleep last night or the night before. I am now finding myself here, middle of the day, dozing off. So I will take a nap when I finish this dispatch. This is something to look forward to.

I got enough stuff done so as to get me through tomorrow, rain or shine. The weather situation is looking a bit more promising. We are now looking at a 60 percent chance of rain, and after 4:00 p.m. It is like the good weather wants to stay.

This morning, I wrote a letter of recommendation for Kora, our young (18) year old staff person. I figure that broadly defined, the Summer in the Park(s) program is about literacy – and so assisting Kora in finding a job complements this mission.

It will be good to get a nap in. I am again falling asleep at the computer.

I also worked some on the final documentation for the Summer in the Park(s). The outcome, somewhat unexpected, has to do with curriculum We put a lot of time into planning what it was we’re doing.

My latest idea is to approach teachers at Swanson Elementary, which is located near Bugge Park, and see if they wish to partner with us. We may take the program out of the park and do this in the school. Maybe I should also approach Becky Williams. All of this will be in September or October when the Alaska State Fair is over.

The sun had disappeared for a bit but is out again. I have never, ever before been so weather obsessed. In a few days I will be back to normal, if there is such a thing as normal.

Next: 208. 8/3/26: My hero