12-5 -- Mood Changes

Last Saturday, I headed out to the drug store for an errand. I had picked up a prescription a while back and just put it in the drawer until I finished the open bottle. When I check on the weekend, it was clear that the number of pills in the new bottle was far from the number on the label -- less than half the number. Thankfully, inventories are electronically managed these days, so finding the correct transaction took little time. Three bottles were involved in the counting of pills -- one full bottle and two partial bottles. The full bottle had been scanned out of inventory and then the remaining pills were counted out of the two partial bottles. For some reason though, the full bottle was returned to the drug cupboard. I was able to walk out of the place in short order with all that had been prescribed. The interaction involved apologies but the tone was kept upbeat. After all, it was the correct med with the right instructions. 

I chose to go up to the bakery before heading home.  Along the way, my mood changed in a nanosecond. It was a gorgeous warm and sunny day. At a light I encountered a couple of bikers heading in the opposite direction. Around the corner I came upon another older fellow on an older Harley. I was already in tears after seeing the first ones. This one hurt even more. It brought back the memory of my younger brother who died last November. He would have enjoyed a ride on that glorious day -- just like the others I saw in town. 

A song fit my feelings -- all the mixed emotions of grief that built upon the sadness I initially felt. The artist began her career singing country songs in rural biker bars. She also has full sleeve tats. Those two  facts only added to the meaning of the lyrics for me. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Stone -- Ashley Mcbryde

12-3 -- Renewal

For many years, this blog has contained my story -- sharing my thoughts and experiences on a daily basis. My goal is to continue sharing my journey. The focus will be on encounters with what I will call Sneaky Little Bastards -- SLB's for short. Some blogs may be intense and potentially triggering for readers. I've hesitated to write publicly about intense emotions and personal losses, but I've come to believe that sharing my experiences has been helpful to me -- and maybe to a few others -- all along, so continuing with major life changes and learnings as I've navigated less traveled roads and many liminal spaces seems to be central to my emotional healing. Seeing the many sides of an emotional response to life's unexpected happenings helps me to process the experiences. Progress requires processing and processing is in the writing. Writing has been my way of moving forward. It is central to expressing my thoughts and feelings and freeing my creativity. So, it is time to just do it. <smile>

The song that began the blog still speaks to me in many ways. On a recent listen, I found myself saying "Yes" that is what this is all about -- "I must be searching for something -- something sacred I lost". That line holds so much in just a few words. Another line goes further than feeling loss and enters into emotions of anger and unfairness -- "I've been searching for something taken out of my soul; something I'd never lose; something somebody stole." So, buckle up. The journey may not be linear but rather something that jumps around the timeline. We will see how it unfolds. <smile> Keep safe. Enjoy! 

River of Dreams -- Billy Joel

12-4 -- Hope Garden

The past two weeks have reminded me of a day spent with my dearest friend. Last September we planted fall bulbs around the perennial shrubs at the front of the house. I thought of these bulbs as a metaphor for hope -- a garden of hope. That added some positiveness and anticipation for the end of winter -- our least favourite season. The crocuses bloomed before anything else began to green up in the shrubs. This week the shrubs have leaves and the tulips have begun to bloom. The pale lilac variety showed first. The deep purple buds are ready to burst forth soon. When I look out the front window or leave or return to the house, the flowers make me smile. Seeing the result of our plans for a spring flowering garden helps me see the good all around me. 

The night we planted the bulbs had a full moon. The brightness of the moonlight just after midnight was amazing. It made me think the patio light had been left on. The moonlight lit the patio and the living room. It was a lovely bright night. A full moon appeared out the windows this past week, too. While not as large as the autumn moon, this spring moon also lit the patio and inside the house. Things had come full circle. 

The flowers brought with them some wonderful positive feelings, turning my mood to a happier place. The first chorus of the song shared here reminds me of why we planted these bulbs. I plan to add more to the mix for next year and hope to hang onto the feelings through the difficult days we all encounter. Keep safe. Enjoy!   

Hello World -- Lady Antebellum 

12-2 (4/3/25 ) -- Cultural Food & Music

Today is Shrove Tuesday and in some places it is called Mardi Gras. I have enjoyed my trips to New Orleans in the past and would love to go again. The food and the music are out of this world. Cajun and Creole cooking mix European with Caribbean, African and Indigenous cuisines. A food tour of the French Quarter provided historical origins of several dishes. We sampled gumbo (my fave), muffuletta, po' boys, Calas (rice fritters made for breakfast from leftover rice from the day before), and some cocktails unique to the city. Conference meals included bread pudding in many iterations. Even the phone book had a recipe in the city pages. Items I tracked down were fried catfish, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and crawfish boil. We toured the restaurants where bananas foster and oysters Rockefeller were developed. It was a great place to have a conference about food and society.  

Today I planned to make red beans from a recipe that I adapted to get close to the New Orleans version I sampled. I got busy with something else and will need to make that tomorrow. I did make pancakes for supper, though. <smile> One song has been on my mind for a couple of days now -- a song that makes me want to get up and dance. It reminds me of the Cajun music I heard when traveling. I guarantee this one will make you move. Just go with it. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Down at the Twist and Shout -- Mary Chapin Carpenter 

12-1 (26/2/25) -- Stress Reminder

Yesterday I woke with the opening bass line of a song repeating in my head. It was just seven notes, but the rhythm was unmistakable. I instantly knew the bass player and the band involved, but for the life of me couldn't get the song name to come to mind. So, I reverted to asking Mr. Google and after a few minutes, I had my answer. It is interesting to have the largest encyclopedia in the world right at our fingertips, eh? 

The song dealt with emotional aspects akin to anxiety. Now why would my brain choose to pick that seven notes to let me know that I am carrying some stress around with me? Was is trying to tell me something or simply acknowledging what I've known for some time. I will admit that this message made me smile. Listening to the full song helped me to relax and move forward with my day -- a day filled with errands and meetings. Luckily the weather was pleasant and dry for a change, so no weather conditions to interfere with the ability to drive and walk were present today. I am very ready for the precipitation events to stop freezing and becoming snow or freezing rain. The ice on the ground has been treacherous. 

The song for today may create an earworm with its intro bass line. I enjoy the collaboration of the band with a solo artist. The video is a bit avant garde which one would expect from this solo artist. <smile> Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Under Pressure -- Queen & David Bowie 

11-262 (1/12/24) -- Begin Anew

This is where it all started -- beginning with December holiday posts. As many of you may have noticed, blog posts have been missing for the past few of months. I've been carrying a lot recently and the blog was the place that provided a bit of give in my days. That said, I have made notes for some days over the past weeks and plan to get some of those posts up. It won't be like a usual catch-up where all days are covered. Instead, I will post for some individual days and other posts may deal with weekly themes.  So, bear with me as I work my way back to posting. So, with the decision to bring others along for the ride again -- I will start with today. <smile> 

I went to convocation for the first time in a long while. A good friend received an award for outstanding teaching. The university installed a new Chancellor in Mila Mulroney and an honourary doctorate was awarded to a hip hop artist whose 40 year career has been instrumental in changing the course of music history in Canada (as stated in the conferral of the honourary degree). Of course, part of the lyric of the first major hit by this artist spoke to me -- "Just let it slide, y'all"  -- something I am striving to do. Enjoy! 

Let Your Backbone Slide -- Maestro Fresh Wes 

11-261 (16/9/24) -- Relaxed & Low Key

We had a low key day -- very relaxing. We did some shopping and other errands. Lunch was at a local restaurant -- fun food and time to visit. We spent some time on campus where my dear met some of my colleagues and friends. It was late afternoon, so several had headed home already, but we did see a couple. Supper was simple and low key -- leftovers. It was all Italian food -- ravioli and fresh sauce from yesterday as our appetizer and my baked ziti for the main. It was all so very yummy. We are certainly all about the food <smile>

I am reminded of a song when I think of relaxing music and lyrics. This cover is by a group that began in Toronto when I lived there eons ago. I had an apartment on the 7th floor with a balcony that looked out over the west of the city. It was quite relaxing to stand there after dark and watch the lights and the sky. Here today, we spent time looking at the sky after dark. a calming process.  Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Up on the Roof -- The Nylons