At first when I woke this morning and saw the sun shining, I wondered if it wouldn’t have been a better day for a hike than yesterday.

But the sun was deceiving . . . it was much colder today than yesterday, so I was glad we had hiked yesterday.

I am working on two people’s books to get them ready for publishing on CreateSpace, but neither of them had given me any feedback, so I worked on Art Festival projects, posted to FaceBook for the Gallery shows and worked on some of my own projects.

Then I worked on some changes I had wanted to suggest to one of my book project people. I realized I didn’t have to wait for all the answers to questions I had asked them in an email to show them how I thought the book should be formatted to look more professional than their first edition.

There was also a Flood Information Meeting tonight. Every time I go to one of these meetings, I am brought face-to-face with the harsh reality of what Manitou Springs is facing for the next 7-10 years. Yet it is always inspiring to see how many people are working together to get as much mitigation and creek restoration pieces in place before the next rainy season. And how different government organizations are finding funds to help pay for these very expensive projects.

One harsh reality was mentioned by a couple of speakers. They spoke about how the members of the community are going to have to chip in financially if the City is going to meet the matching funds for some of the grants. We are a very small town, with a very small budget. But that isn’t deterring everyone from believing we can make the projected solutions happen quickly.

I walked to the meeting, “hiking” over Osage and higher to get to the Congregational Church. Invigorating to take this route. I did walk home on the main street after the meeting. It was dark, and there were many icy patches on the other route. Not willing to risk falling to get more exercise. I have enough challenges in my life without taking a fall.

Came home to three messages on my answering machine: a fun one, a sad one and a lovely invite.

I had not noticed that the Flood meeting was a half hour later than normal, so I stopped at the Commonwheel Gallery to check out our Pots By The Pound Sale. The first caller must have called as I was walking to the meeting, and was at the Gallery, so we chatted about her message. She’ll be working with me to get trained next week when I work at the Gallery all day. Always nice to have another worker on a long day like that, and I get to learn a bit about a new member. And I caught someone else leaving that I needed to talk to about a Gallery show I, and he, are suppose to be doing in April – Old Spokes: 40 Years Reflections on Commonwheel.

My dear friend Ann had called to invite me to a glass of wine this Friday. We try to get together a few times each year, but last year, not sure if we even had one drink together . . . I am sure we did, just can’t remember when . . . maybe at a similar time in the winter last year . . . Luckily, she chose a time and day I have no meetings or webinars, so I am looking forward to that visit.

Then there was a sad and challenging call that I had to address with the caller and then share the information with Commonwheel’s President. Changes for the Gallery marketing are coming because of this change we need to handle in a way that is best for all parties involved. We had hints that it was coming, but this call confirmed we will need a new marketing person sooner than we had thought.

A year ago, I probably would have offered to step in for the interim, but I am grateful my financial situation is a bit more stable and I won’t be trying to “do it all” just to make some money. I have skills and knowledge to help until we do find a new marketing employee, but had already made it clear that others in the Co-op who have some skills they can share to help in this situation, should also step up. And they did!

Tomorrow will be an interesting day as we all come together to discuss our next move to not lose momentum for the advertising pieces needed to keep Commonwheel in people’s thoughts during our slow winter season.

And make sure our most fun sale, “Pots By the Pound”, is as successful this year as it has been in the past!