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Dreamed that I was responsible for the logistics of a school enrichment project. The project involved taking a batch of technology items to various schools, helping set them up, and then coming back later to disassemble everything and pick it up.

The schools were in remote areas. The program was supposed to help provide access to technology that regular schools already had available. At the first school, I was helping unload the materials. As I helped, I picked up that the teachers were not that enthusiastic about receiving the technology. Even though the equipment came with lesson plans and suggested projects, the teachers felt it was a burden for them to deal with the extra preparation and making time for the projects. To help ease this discomfort, they were being paid extra for their participation.

I learned that they were expecting to be paid when I delivered the equipment. I didn't know anything about those arrangements and told them they would have to contact the project coordinator regarding when they would receive payments. They were not happy. I figured that I'd talk to the coordinator later and mention the teacher's expectations. Meanwhile, I had five more schools to which to make deliveries.

The second school was an academy in the woods style private school. I got the same teacher reactions as at the first school. Apathy and discomfort. They too expected to be paid on delivery. In addition, the students at this school were helping to unload and unpack. This led to a modicum of chaos, but we managed to get everything unloaded. As I worked, there was this one kid who stood near me and talked about some of his personal projects that involved technologies. The kid had an odd monotone voice that was almost a drone. He spoke nonstop about his experiments, detailing the materials and resources he had used. The content of what he described was very technical and specific. He was like a walking encyclopedia. He seemed extraordinarily bright, but spoke slowly and in that perverse monotone.
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Lots of dancing last night. Only sat out a handful of dances. Attending lessons is paying off.

Got to bed late and to sleep later. Read a few more of the Astonishing stories. A more appropriate title would be Weird Stories, or Stories of the Weird. Strange stuff. Surprising that my dreams were so logical and non-weird. Bizarre maybe, but non-weird.

Went to my step-granddaughter's 6th birthday bash. Met many of my son's highschool and college friends there. Good to see that he has a strong network of friends that have maintained over the years. D&D hosted the event. There was, as seems customary there, more than enough good food and drinks.

However, after several hours I was exhausted--bleary-brained from meeting people and trying to keep track of names and stories. Was glad to finally take leave and come back to my quiet room.

But, I also noted how much my stress levels elevated during this event. They went off the charts. I grow old, I grow old. I am aching for a still and quiet place from which I can choose to venture. I am aching for just such a sanctuary. May I discover it sooner instead of later.