I attended an annual seminar today honouring a dietitian-chef. The speaker this year addressed food memories and their role in developing the foodies among us -- and likely many who don't consider themselves foodies. Her memories led me to think of the foods that are integral to celebrations based on family traditions. Our family always had ham and scalloped potatoes for Easter. There was a green vegetable and some form of salad. The dessert was often a hand-decorated cake that my mother made -- in the shape of an egg or a bunny. Christmas needed to have fruit cake -- mom made a medium or light cake and my grandmother made a deep, dark version. I loved them all. Mom's shortbread melted in your mouth and were spritz cookies -- extruded in fancy shapes from a cookie press. My friend's mother made thumb print cookies, another mother made pink and white shortbread in the shape of candy canes, and my mom and grandmother made fantastic plum puddings. All were part of the expectations of celebration foods.Luckily I have many of these recipes and have made several of them in past years. I have yet to tackle the fruit cake, but I think it is well past time for me to attempt this delight.
Looking at my usual recipes, I know I have developed flavours and traditions of my own. I love a lemon-lime pie or cake for Easter -- it seems very fresh and spring-like. For Christmas, I have made vinatarta from a recipe shared by a student in a foods lab I instructed in Manitoba. I have a passion for curry of all types and have developed a taste for Louisiana gumbo and red beans and rice. I feel I've mastered the latter, but gumbo is a challenge. I've liked what I've made but it still isn't quite 'there'. I feel happy with my dark dry 'roux' -- which is actually dextrinized flour without added fat. It adds an amazing colour and flavour to gumbo. I love to sample new foods and I enjoy cooking new recipes. So, as I've said many times, Food is my life [tm].
So -- the selection today does reflect food to some extent. This is a newer cover by a Canadian singer from just down the road. Enjoy!
This day filled with rain and freezing rain and a bit of snow, ended in a wonderful way. At a fundraiser for the local summer repertory theatre, there were three wonderful young musical talents sharing their gifts. These three had been at a regional music festival for all ages and had come home to town with top honours, and it was evident why this was. A young woman keyboardist sang some moving songs -- mainly written locally. She sang a duet with another young woman that was stunning. A young guitarist played and sang the most unique set I've heard in a long time -- some John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Tracy Chapman, Johnny Cash and one other that escapes me at present. The acoustic guitar was delightful and his cover of the vocals worked very well. It was fantastic to hear these young people -- they appear to be senior high school students. The young man said he wanted to open with a song he'd been singing for a long time, and I will admit that made me smile. (the song was older than he was <g>)
So, while there was a mix of newer material, local material and what the radio stations insist on calling 'classic' material, everyone in the room was spellbound. The sadder songs of life almost brought a tear -- very moving. The upbeat songs brought memories of earlier days. I was impressed and happy to see that these young people are on their way to making music a part of their lives and sharing it with those around them. This part of the world seems to be a source of much musical talent -- it is an accepted part of life and expected for any 'kitchen party' that there will be several musicians in the crowd to keep the group going. My grandparents were known for this kind of party back on the prairies, but it is not commonplace there as it is in the Maritimes. I think that my grandparents played a role in my love of music and my eclectic tastes. My dad learned to play saxophone early in life and I recall my grandfather playing the violin around the house when we were all there. Music is definitely a major addition to my life and I'd hope other families will also embrace it for their younger members (as well as the 'older' members <smile>)..
Based on the writers of 'older' songs sung tonight, I was reminded of a fantastic duet I'd heard before and Youtube did not forsake me. <smile>. While this wasn't sung tonight, other songs by these two were presented. I am just captivated by the blending of voices and styles in this song. Enjoy!
Give me one reason -- Tracy Chapman and Eric Clapton
Today was a usual Saturday filled with household chores and work. I stopped for a break during Earth Hour -- shut off the lights and used a hand-crank lantern for a bit of clarity when moving about in the dark. While resting and reflecting, I found the room would darken and then the faint lantern light would come back. Upon closer inspection of the device, it appears that a shorter furry creature was sticking his face over the light area, thus blocking all the light from the room. It made for some fantastic shadow patterns on the ceiling <smile>.
I was watching the shadows and thinking of musical accompaniments --and many songs came to mind. I did settle on one that seemed fitting in more than the shadow aspect. Enjoy!
In the business of the day, I had a chance to chat with a couple friends. We noted a fundraising event on campus this weekend that was a tribute to the music of Neil Young. The event is called "Heart of Gold" which is likely my least favourite Young song, but it does fit the theme of a fundraising event well. When asked what other song of his I particularly enjoyed, I immediately said, "After the Goldrush." From the quizzical look that I encountered, I assured my friend that he'd recognize it if he heard it, and so I began to sing/hum the song. There was an immediate flicker of recognition and as he walked down the hallway he turned and asked if that was the song with the lines . . . where he cited two lovely lines. He went off singing the song.
Then I stopped myself and began to deconstruct my reasons for choosing this song as a favourite of Neil Young. I will admit that the melody and pacing have a soothing aspect to them and are very memorable. When I reflected on the words, I began to recognize that they do embody a passion of mine that began decades ago -- that of the environmental movement. This song was written around 1970 when many children of the '60s (including Al Gore) were raising awareness and advocating for improved daily activities to conserve the ecosystems within which we live.
It seems fitting to share this selection with you as we move towards Earth Hour tomorrow -- 8:30-9:30 PM join the world in a rolling blackout by turning off lights and flickering screens for one hour. Maybe sing this song <smile>. This version is a cover by another Canadian artist with a wonderful voice. Enjoy!
The day began with shovelling a path to the back of the car, leaving 2-3 car lengths to the street for my plough guy to clear. That took 45 minutes, but the snow was drier and lighter than what I moved last night. By early afternoon, we walked out of the office building to head out to a meeting and were accosted by the most ferocious wind. It literally blew us across the parking lot with no control of where we were being pushed to run. On the way back after the meeting, I felt like a mime walking against the wind, but getting no where. On the way home, I was buffeted about but managed not to be blown into traffic.
Days like today make me think of the east wind that Mary Poppins blew in on. That east wind always seemed so gentle. The wind today was anything but gentle. I'm sure if I'd had a cape or wings, I'd have taken off into the blue sky. It was difficult to remain upright and for my feet to keep touching the ground with some of the huge gusts. Not quite as bad as the storm chasing meteorologists we saw blow right out of the shot yesterday, but very close. I know wind. I grew up on the prairies. But the maritime winds seem to come from all directions at once. I was walking headlong into the north wind, turned left at the corner and walked headlong into the west wind.
While I was outside today, several song lines ran through my head. I chose this one as it made me smile -- at least after an encounter with a wicked gust. Enjoy!
Well -- I guess I spoke/typed too soon about Shelagh's Broom -- either that or she just did half a job at cleaning that day. There must have been a good movie on or a fantastic book she had to get back to reading. Today was nasty. I was prepared for worse, but that is not saying it was not a bad storm in its own right. The snow here did not begin until about noon and within half an hour there was major snow. I can't say it was falling since what I saw out the window was that amazing Maritime horizontal snow. The winds gusts were loud and with the heavy snow visibility was near zero. There was a point when I couldn't see the outline of the house across the street. Then about 6 PM the wind began to die down and the snow was lighter and before we knew it, it was pouring rain. I tried to find the positive in this, since the saturated snow is very difficult to move. If the winds gain strength overnight, there will be less blowing snow since it will all be stuck together like cement. <smile>.
The clean up is beginning. I was out for about 30 minutes around 9 PM and the air was filled with the sound of heavy equipment. That will continue into the night as roads, parking lots, businesses and schools are dug out from the drifted snow. It did take me a few minutes to get out the front door. The screen door opens outward and the snow had drifted into a solid mass against the door. Over the years, I've become an expert at getting the door shovelled out from the inside -- an inch at a time with the toe of my boot, hands and finally the edge of the shovel. There was over 6 inches of compressed snow on the porch and stairs with considerably more on the walkway in front of the house. By the time I'd moved that snow, I decided to stop and call someone for assistance in the morning. It is about 100 feet to the street, and I just wasn't up for it today with the weight of that snow. I've done it, but not today. <smile> The walk out in the morning will be challenging, but once out to the street, the walk into work will be doable. When the street and sidewalk ploughs come back in the early morning, there will be a huge pile at the end of the driveway to clear, too. Another reason to wait to call someone -- there will be more to move before I choose to move the car out of the driveway.
It is interesting to have a day inside the house due to external reasons rather than by choice. I did not see any vehicles on the road all day, so others were holed up inside, too. I did some work, a radio interview, and even cooked some items for the freezer and for supper today. I didn't get to everything on my list as I'd hoped, but some things were completed. It seems like 'found time' in a way. Part of me felt I should be watching a movie <smile>. I did find my self saying the same phrase over and over -- which leads me to the selection for today. It was part of a commercial a while back that stuck in my brain -- so even marketing researchers seem not to be immune to the effects of the sales gurus <smile>. Enjoy!
Sunshine greeted me this morning and it was strong and bright all day long. It was a day of juxtapositions, though. When I arrived at the office and checked the e-mail, the second message in the list brought sad news. Earlier in the day, an amazing man left this world.
He served in the Merchant Navy during WWII. I had been unaware of this service until well into adulthood when I was chatting with him about my recent trip to southeast Asia. I had noted that Bangkok seemed like the armpit of the world. He smiled his quiet smile and said, "You've never been to Calcutta." That opened a conversation about his service in the Atlantic during WWII -- which I discovered later was a highly dangerous job as they were transporting supplies and were prime targets for German subs. Several years later when I moved to the maritimes, he told me about a particular visit to Lunenberg just after VE day when the ships in port drank the town dry -- trips were made to points east, including Halifax, to keep that party going <smile>. He was a modest man, rarely speaking about his aboriginal heritage or naval service. When asked, he generously answered questions, though. He and his wife and family moved many times to many jobs -- mainly around Saskatchewan, but also to Hay River, NWT and Prince George, BC.
I treasure every visit we had together. I could be myself with him and he accepted me for me -- that 'just as I am' kind of love. I know I will miss him and I do believe the world is a poorer place without his corporeal presence. He, of course, will live on in the memories of those who loved him.
Today's selection reflects the feelings I've had today. This version is a cover by an unexpected duo with amazing harmony skills. Enjoy!
Crying in the Rain -- Art Garfunkel & James Taylor
In the past week or two, I've encountered unexpected behaviour in a number of people I know (me included). The stress of end of term was my number one explanation, though the full moon ran a close second. People who never seem to say a sharp word of any sort, abruptly cut people off in mid-sentence, causing some distress in the speaker (one of which was me <smile>). Other people asked the same questions repeatedly and those that were asking me, received the same response but rephrased in hopes of helping with understanding.
It seems odd to me that a community of people act out in unusual ways at the same time. When everyone seems in a negative space on the same day in the same workplace, it can be challenging for all involved. I've encountered this in other places, so it is not unique to the current worksite. When one person is having an off day, the others are better equipped to deal with it. When everyone is off, no one has the resources available to manage the situation well. Days like the latter can engender feelings of anger, sadness or irritation and can take some time to work through. Days like that would improve with a counsellor or massage therapist (or both) on staff -- ones that just wander the halls looking for incidents in which to intervene. Some days it would be a short wander. So -- stress is the likely culprit, but I'm still not discounting the full moon.
Today the selection seems to fit the topic -- another song phrase that ran through my mind last week. Enjoy!
Bad Moon Rising -- Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR)
What a fun afternoon! After getting the final laundry load in, I moved the snow from last night so it wouldn't freeze into ice tonight. Then I went for a walk out to the bank and the drug store. The sun was amazing and even though there was a new cover of snow on the ground, the sidewalks and roads were clear -- a sure sign that the ground is warming <smile>. I also felt a bit better today so walking was a delight.
When I returned home, I felt energized and pulled out the vacuum before finishing the next set of grading. Amazing how wonderful the weather made me feel today <smile>. I didn't get to everything on the weekend 'to do' list, but I did get some larger important tasks done. I still need a day for cooking to fill the deep freeze so I eat well while grading the term assignments and final exams, but that should occur in fits and starts over the next couple weeks. There is a storm in the offing the meteorologists tell us, but for today, I'm happy with the outdoors.
My selection today was a phrase that I heard while out walking this afternoon -- a happy, upbeat sound. Enjoy!
Today began with laundry and moved into lecture preparation. The high point occurred over dinner, when the department faculty and students attended the annual Year-End Banquet. The menu was wonderful -- items made from local products as much as possible. The meal began with a hearty, wonderfully seasoned mushroom and barley soup. This was followed by chicken breast or a quinoa mixture each napped with a lovely curry-like sauce and accompanied by mashed potatoes and heirloom carrots. For dessert we were served an apple-cheesecake pie with caramel sauce. Overall -- a wonderful meal.
Our guest speaker talked of her unconventional career path giving students an idea of what can happen when open to the unexpected. Faculty brought best wishes and motivational thoughts. The evening ended with 'most likely to' awards to students and faculty, always a few good laughs there. The student tribute to the faculty took the form of a song, to the tune of 'don't stop believing' -- needless to say there were many tears from laughing so hard. What a wonderfully creative group of people they are <smile>.
When I had my turn to say a few words, I spoke around the theme of growth. The traditional Chinese symbol for 'overcoming obstacles' resembles a small evergreen tree inside a box -- trying to grow. Everyone encounters obstacles and overcomes these, learning that adversity may look like the opposite of success, but if we choose to learn from the barrier in our way, we can grow. It is all a matter of our outlook when we encounter adversity. I challenged everyone in the room to take the opportunities that present themselves -- and whether failure or success, choose to grow from the experience. I then paraphrased my message by quoting a line from today's selection.
This time of year can be very frenetic -- we are counting down to the last 2 weeks of term. Final term projects and reports are coming in so the students see the end of their input and faculty begin the grading. When I looked at the calendar yesterday, I realized that I will be grading until the end of April. Some good is in that, since the two final exams will be a week apart, so I should be able to finish the class of 50 before getting the class of 70. Between now and then, there are a number of small items to grade for the big class and the large binders for the project in the smaller class. These came in to the Main office today while I was in meetings -- there are two paper boxes full of project reports waiting for me.
Now this isn't a full-on complaint, but a fact of life for an academic. I am behind in a number of areas this week, though, due to feeling under the weather. That, too, will pass. Yesterday and again today, when I felt particularly lousy, one line ran through my head -- one of those ear worms that won't go away. It spoke to the fact that I needed to be elsewhere to deal with feeling better and yet every time I thought I'd do the last small e-mail or phone call, 3 or 4 more small things were added to the pile. Again, not a bad thing, but difficult to deal with when feeling yucky. So -- I did leave early a few times this week and this did help <smile>. I'm confident that by the beginning of the week, things will be well on their way out of my system and I can regain the functionality I'm more used to having.
The song that I've heard this week encompasses the idea of overwork and the need to change the situation. For me this was heading home for some 'me' time but for others it may be something else entirely. It is an oldie, but one whose message is still salient today. Enjoy!
Today marks the first day of spring. While some people, including meteorologists, seem to expect sunshine and summer, it is spring -- one of two transition seasons. Spring ushers out winter and welcomes summer, so it will contain bits of both types of weather. It clearly feels more like spring with the smell in the air and the solar loading in the sun. Along with that are the muddy yards as the snow pack melts and ice along the edges of the main roads and walkways.
I like the transition seasons. The cooler weather and even the warmer spring days are more pleasant than the heat and humidity of summer in the Maritimes. Fall is likely my favourite season -- again it is a pleasant temperature shift from the uber summer days. Spring, though, brings the anticipation of seeing the naturalized crocuses, snow drops and periwinkles popping up in the lawn that is still working on greening itself up a bit. After these come the other spring bulbs and a wonderful treat for this part of the world -- magnolias. These seem to be impossible trees. When I first saw one years ago when living in Toronto, I recall asking my friends in an awe-struck voice -- what kind of tree is that out there with the huge flowers? This happens before the leaves appear, which only adds to the wonder of the tree. These we don't have on the prairies <smile>
So -- one of a few tunes that worked through my head today is the selection I'm sharing. It is by a wonderful Saskatchewan singer-songwriter. Happy Spring & Enjoy!
Well -- today is national Dietitians Day in Canada. For those who don't know, I am a registered dietitian and I teach in a human nutrition department at a university. Also, as those who know me will have heard ad nauseum, "food is my life" [tm] <smile>. This statement reflects many facets of my life. I love food and if people didn't eat food, I wouldn't have a career.
Food has been at the centre of my life for as long as I can remember. My grandmothers cooked many memorable and everyday meals and when I think of either of them, there is often food in the picture in my mind. Dinners at home were prepared by my parents, with my dad often taking on Sunday dinners and the weekly homemade soups. Some of my 'go to' comfort foods include meals both Mom and Dad made. Food was such a part of family life. When at university as a undergrad, I found the sciences most intriguing, and found myself drawn to biochemistry. I thought long and hard on this route and in second year decided that I wanted a job after a degree without having to go to graduate school. So, I transferred to a nutrition degree program. I also learned years later, that one should never say never, since I've been to grad school twice now. <smile>
While I loved biochem, as I moved further into my career and off to grad school for the first time, I knew that I wasn't cut out to be a lab researcher so I moved into the community health field and haven't really looked back. I love questions that deal with making healthy choices the easy choices, ensuring access to food for all people, and understanding how mass media both shapes and reflects our food choice behaviours. Without food at the centre of my life, I'd not have found this field for which I have such passion. So, I am a dietitian, but I am also a foodie, and there really are a lot of us out there <smile>. We are not the food police as we are sometimes portrayed. Our goal is to facilitate a healthier life through many lifestyle factors including food.
The selection today mentions food a bit. <smile> Enjoy!
Today I took a long hard look at the calendar to ensure that my math was actually correct. It seems that I have 7 classes left in one course and 6 left in the other course. There is more information to present and discuss than that time may allow. I know I've asked this before, but where exactly does the time go? It isn't that I don't plan for the courses and lectures, but having two courses that I have never taught before, makes it a bit trickier to estimate how long each major component will take. The courses will turn out fine, but it now means that I can't be the tangential person that I often am but instead will need to stay on track.
I couldn't help thinking of the surreal nature of time today as I began to envision Dali's melting clocks. As a concept it is not an easy one to get one's head around. Of course, the theory of relativity and the idea of time travel are complex, but perhaps we take the 24 hours each day for granted as a simple concept. Our 'to do' lists always seem greater than the time we allot to the tasks. Is this really because we just don't learn how long things really take, or is it that time moves at different paces at different times? We can get 'lost in time' when we are engrossed in a particularly interesting task -- when it feels that we just sat down to begin and yet hours have passed. For other less exciting tasks, the time seems to go by in super-slow motion. Do we need to add a better mix of the slow- and fast-time tasks to the list to make it more achievable? Hmmm.
Today the selection does mention where time goes -- though this theory may have us constantly scrambling to catch up with time <smile>. Enjoy!
Today I celebrate my ancestors who came to North America from Ireland. My father's family arrived at the beginning of the potato famine with two brothers heading to the US and one brother and sister-in-law staying in Canada. Other branches on both sides of the family likely originated in Ireland, too. I often think of the family members who braved the north Atlantic, probably travelling in steerage.I will admit that motion sickness and some nasty infectious disease would have taken me before getting across the pond.
Imagine leaving the place of your birth due to lack of money and food, much of it stemming from an unjust land tenure system. The three brothers that left Ireland travelled with the widow of another brother and her young family. I can't think of what that trip would be like with toddlers and kids in diapers. I expect that they were fully aware of the negative aspects of the crossing, and yet it seemed a far better situation than where they were.Their bravery and their desperation overwhelms me as I try to put myself in their shoes.
I've spoken to people who have chosen to move from their home country to make a better life for themselves and their families. It never seems to be an easy choice and people speak about that decision in a wistful way. Many left family behind, but there is a better chance with today's travel methods that they may be able to visit them again. In the mid-1800s, this was not the case. I wish I could speak to those ancestors and tell them how grateful I am for their decisions -- without them I wouldn't be here doing what I am doing today.
The selection today is an Irish song sung by a group from Newfoundland whose name says it all <smile>. Enjoy!
While working on course prep and grading today, I had the television playing in the background. During one of the movies, I surfaced when I heard familiar words about music. The brain is an amazing thing. I wasn't really listening, but my brain still heard it all and filtered it all. A couple lines came back through my mind as I carried on with the heavy lifting. Very cool to have this ability -- it is like a super power, but one we don't readily recognize <smile>.
The line that burst through this unconscious process told us that music comes from love. For the most part, I agree with this. There are a few things that I have heard blaring from my student neighbour's windows that really were more filled with hate, but that is a small grain of sand in that beach full of music. Today, the second verse (of three) noted the deep effect music can have to help us relax and rise above the turmoil of daily life. It also noted that some music doesn't make sense to each and every one of us. The former of these is the reasons behind this blog. Several friends have noted that my choices can be eclectic. For that reason, I know that not all choices will resonate with all readers and listeners. While each one speaks to me in some way, we are not all the same, so of course they won't be interpreted in the same way by everyone else. This is part of the plurality of music -- we all hear different things, have different words speak to us, and tolerate different styles to varying degrees. For these reasons, I have been amazed that so many people stop by to see what music was chosen for the day. To me, this shows that music can move beyond borders and bring people together. Very cool. <smile>
So -- for today's selection the song that got me pondering something beyond the papers I was grading <g>. Enjoy!
I was able to sleep in a bit today, which was a wonderfully indulgent way to start the day. Ran some errands, did some laundry and then worked on getting classes ready for next week. The day was above freezing with some rain beginning by late afternoon. More rain is expected overnight and more course prep and grading expected for tomorrow.
Today is the day we celebrate the third birthday of the short furry dude that shares my home. This involves a mini-cake that only I consume and some extra brushing and nail attention for him. It is just something fun to do, even if a little silly. <smile>
The selection for today reflects this celebration. The video is doctored to fit this song, as it wasn't really one that was sung at this last historic concert. Enjoy!
I hit the ground running today. Many responsibilities required me to organize seminars and meetings. Things that I am good at and enjoy, yet just too many for one day. To be honest, twice I had to just say that I needed a minute and excused myself -- I doubt that Workman's Comp pays for bladder repair <smile>.
Days like this are challenging for me. Some people thrive on the hustle and bustle. I need to have breaks to recharge and regroup. There weren't many today until a lovely dinner out with great conversations even if some of them dealt with work, it was more relaxed and felt manageable. Supper was superb -- a lovely roast chicken breast with red pesto, fresh veg mix, and brown butter mashed potatoes, all blended well with a great Argentinian malbec. That time helped me to breathe and feel more centred by the time I got home.
Today's selection had a line that ran through my head a couple times today -- at least when I had time to listen to what was in my head <grin>. It must have been trying to tell me that I needed a moment. Enjoy!
Meetings seemed to be the order of the day. It can seem very overwhelming with a constant parade of shorter meetings about similar yet different topics. I find myself repeating things and wondering if I've repeated things in the same meeting or between meetings <smile>. The meeting at the end of the day was very interesting as we are planning a panel discussion for a summer conference on a topic I love. So things ended on an up note.
Sleep would have made the whole process better, I'm sure. The storm last night was loud with big winds howling and rain pouring down. It woke me or semi-woke me many times, so the restful sleep one craves was extremely elusive. Tomorrow is another day of meetings so I'm hoping it will be quieter for improved sleep tonight.
Today I've chosen a song from a movie my father loved -- we watched it whenever it appeared on TV. I now own a dvd copy of my very own <smile>. The movie had some wonderful actors and musicians. The story deals with a man who was at the forefront of the big band jazz era and had the likes of Glenn Miller, Jimmy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, and Jack Teagarden in his band before they moved to bands of their own. This one does help me relax. Enjoy!
Goodnight, Sleep tight and Lullaby in Ragtime -- Danny Kaye and Barbara Bel Geddes
This week the Introductory Foods lab tackled yeast breads. Most students had no experience making bread, so it was exciting for them. Now this isn't a cooking class -- it deals with learning the chemistry of food systems -- the proteins, starches, sugar, yeast, fat and how they interact to form a loaf of bread. What happens if there is no salt in yeast bread? What if we triple the sugar? What differences occur if we use all purpose, bread, whole wheat, rye, or cake flour? All is revealed as they try different versions of the same recipe. Some are great and some just don't work. Then we examine what is happening on a molecular level to determine what worked or didn't work. I loved this as an undergrad and teaching the course this term has brought back memories of that time and when I worked as lab instructor to intro and advanced foods labs as a Masters student in Manitoba.
The whole building smelled wonderful this week. The scent of bread baking is so filled with the warmth of home. It reminded me of my grandmother, who made bread each week from when I was a preschooler to when I was in high school. As little ones, my cousin and I would be at Grandma's and we loved bread baking day. We would arrive after she had done most of the work, just in time for the hot loaves to be cooling on racks on the kitchen counter. We knew we would get a slice of fresh warm bread with butter melted into that amazing soft centre. However, we couldn't always wait. Now we were likely 3-4 years old and could just reach high enough to touch the end of the cooling loaves. We discovered that we could pick at the golden crust and get crumbs to chew and then the rapture of getting to the fluffy white centre, where we could get larger bits out to eat. My grandmother was very patient with us that day and said that there must be mice in the house that made those little holes in all her lovely bread. I'm sure my cousin and I just giggled, thinking we'd fooled her. When in high school I would often go to Grandma's for lunch. I carried my lunch from home, but she would always have warm rolls waiting for me. She showed me the trick to oven warming rolls in a paper bag sprinkled with water. This made them close to the warm, fresh-from-the-oven texture we so loved.
In memory of this early appreciation of bread, today's selection is one that was played many times when I worked at Eaton's one summer after high school -- in the record section along with china, housewares, sporting goods and plants. We had about 3 or 4 LPs that were played over and over each day. This song is from side one of one of those LPs --The Best of Bread.
Tuesday dawned cold but sunny. The temperature increased through the day so that we had wet snow falling all afternoon -- 2+ inches where it accumulated. By the time I left work, the snow had almost stopped. Tomorrow is to be a mix of sun and snow transitioning to rain. I'm calling this storm (for those north of us will get far more snow Wed into Thursday) Sheilaugh's Broom. This name is given to a late winter storm that occurs close to St. Patrick's Day. It is said to be named for St. Patrick's wife -- the storm represents her cleaning house and sweeping out the last of winter. Spring is on its way -- the sun is stronger, the air smells different and precipitation is a mix of winter and spring weather -- the signs of the transition season arriving.
I had a few moments throughout the day to reflect on the events of the past couple of weeks when friends have said a word or smiled or more -- moments that moved my spirits higher and helped me get through the minutes, hours and days when things were not going according to my plan <smile>.
Today's selection is my way of acknowledging this help and saying thanks. I have always loved this song sung by this singer -- even though many others have done wonderful versions. I recall watching the event where this was recorded, albeit via television and not in person. Watch for the other familiar folks on stage. Enjoy!
A Little Help from my Friends -- Joe Cocker (ft. Brian May and Phil Collins)
When I looked at the calendar this morning, I found that there are only three more Mondays with early classes this term. That means 4 weeks left (counting today and this week) before classes end. One-third of the time allotted for a 3-credit course and yet it feels as if there is more content than that to cover. Perhaps I love this area of science so much that there will always be more cool content to talk about than course hours in which to do that talking. <smile>. I know I can talk a lot about things that are exciting to me and I've always hoped this helped someone find a topic that they find intriguing and exciting.
The day was sunny but cool with several pieces of good news shared throughout the day. I heard some great news from a research colleague and two thoughtful messages from friends. Several students had happy news about plans for summer and the coming year. I recall being in their place -- a 3rd or 4th year student wondering about summer jobs and further professional training opportunities. It is wonderful to watch that process each year. Their enthusiasm and excitement seems almost infectious. I envy them that feeling of the newness of it all <smile>.
So -- one academic year moves towards its close while new opportunities open up ahead.
Today's selection seemed perfect to illustrate this concept. It is sung by a favourite musical artist. Enjoy!
Today marks the day with 23 hours, an odd event experienced in most places in the Spring. Being from Saskatchewan, I spent most of my life not changing time fall and spring and still managed to work with people from across the world (in days when internet wasn't here, too). While this may have been a necessary thing to do decades ago, it makes little sense to do this regularly. We do change later in the fall and earlier in the spring now supposedly to change energy consumption during the colder seasons.
Yet, much research supports the negative health effects of this time change practice. The Monday after the change is known to be a day filled with sleep-deprived people having more accidents -- whether with vehicles, assembly lines, or data entry. These can have major impacts on the lives of those involved. Several studies have highlighted an increased negative health impact that stretches into 10-14 days after the change. That equates to 2-4 weeks each year. I can attest to the crankiness of people in the workplace and the service industry around time change. Everyone looks so tired. Adapting to the single hour difference takes a longer time than we'd all care to admit.
This year, I teach in the A block which holds its first class each week at 8:15 on Monday mornings. I'm not sure how the students will feel tomorrow, but I know my brain will still insist that it is just after 7 AM. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I don't function well until closer to noon, so tomorrow is sure to be interesting.
The musical selection for today deals with the concept of time. It is sung by a Winnipeg born singer-songwriter and the backup musicians are an amazing group of talented folks. Enjoy!
No Time -- Burton Cummings ft. Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh and Todd Rundgren (among others <smile>)
Since 1977, March 8 has been International Women's Day, a day to advocate women's rights and celebrate freedoms. After the social and political actions of the 1960s, the UN designated 1977 as the first International Year of Women and the annual day began about that time.
This is a day to reflect on all that we have in our part of the world and recognize the ongoing work to achieve women's rights that still exists throughout the world. On this day I think of several famous women who paved the way for where we are today. The 'Famous Five,' five strong female leaders from Alberta, worked to convince the Privy Council in Britain that Canadian women should be deemed to be persons under the law. This 1929 decision was a turning point in Canadian constitutional law, allowing women to be persons, and Judge Emily Murphy to be appointed as the first female senator. So -- I'd like to note my thanks to these wonderful women -- Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby, and Nellie McClung. Prior to this landmark decision, they had been authors, social reformers, suffragettes, a journalist, a judge, a provincial cabinet minister, the first female MLA in Canada, an artist, and the first female police magistrate in the Commonwealth. Truly women to look up to.
When in the UK last year, I visited the National Portrait Gallery. There, I discovered an amazing photograph of a woman whose name I'd first heard as a child when listening to Mary Poppins <smile> -- Lillian Pankhurst. She and her daughter had been suffragettes for women's right to vote in England. They had been arrested several times. In those days, prisons were worse than our present system, and those for women were inhumane. Women were chained to the walls of the cells for reasons such as this civil disobedience or failing to obey their husbands. If ever at St. Lawrence Market in Toronto, evidence still remains on a small section of stone wall -- chains used in women's detention still hang there. A very sobering sight, indeed. It reminded me of the movie Iron Jawed Angels (Hillary Swank starred in this), which told the story of women's suffrage in the US. It was bleak and harsh and hard to watch in places, but definitely worth the time.
So -- after pondering several songs for today, there really was only one song that fit the theme without casting aspersions at the other sex <smile>. It may be cliche to some, but the words really do say what we are so lucky to be able to say in our neck of the woods. Enjoy!
This is the end of a very hectic week. I'm not sure things will change much in the coming weeks, but even a slight change of pace would be welcomed. There was good news today from a couple students and a colleague, which helped brighten the day. It is always good to hear of plans coming together <smile>.
Over the coming weekend, I hope to work through some prep for next week on several fronts. This may help to quell some of the intermittent panic that arises. The plan is to help me to regain some of that control that has been excessively slippery and difficult to grasp over the past couple of weeks. Even getting something on paper for the various project work plans should help with some sense of stability. Some sleep would help with the whole process, too, I expect <smile>. So, while there is a lot of 'work' to do this weekend, it is a break of sorts that often helps me to recharge. Several people have heard me opine on personality types, but I do know that as an introvert the concept of 'cocooning' really does help me to relax and recuperate while improving productivity and concentration. Don't get me wrong I have no desire to see this pass quickly. As my 98 year old friend has always said to me, "Don't wish your life away." Very wise words. So I want to be part of this, I just need to find a way to build in some moments in the days for some quiet reflection.
Today's selection has some wonderful lines by two great song writers that fit well with my thoughts today. Enjoy!
Take it Easy -- Travis Tritt (ft. some other familiar faces in the video <g>)
In the middle of the afternoon, I had another visit from the plumber. There seemed to be no real answer as to why this mess happened again. He was able to get a small backup to occur by filling the lines with tons of water, but could not replicate this event. It seems there may have been a clog that was flushed out with all the water. I'm feeling a little apprehensive with this end point as it means that things could recur and we'd never know how to stop it from being the new normal in my life. That is definitely not something I'm ready to accept.
Again, the lack of control and satisfactory answers of this week has me exhausted. Hopefully the weekend will allow me to get things ready for classes next week and do laundry without any backup in the basement. Perhaps this is karma for my disliking Mondays lately <smile>.
The selection today deals with this last point. Enjoy!
It is Wednesday and this week is just shaping up in a less than stellar way <smile>. I got some of the work needed done today, but deadlines I'd set for myself will need to be pushed into next week. Also, when I went to the deep freeze for supper fixings, I found "water" on the floor again and unmentionable things in the bathtub. The sewer backed into the basement again between midnight last night and 4 PM this afternoon. I'm at the point where I just don't even need to deal with this all again.
So -- these events have made me feel frustrated and increased my need to control things. Of course this isn't possible as most of the items in play are outside my ability to control or fix in any way. That is where the frustration arises -- that uncomfortable feeling that one is not in control of even basic areas of one's life. The feeling will pass with time, but in the meantime there is a need to deal with the anxiety, frustration, mild anger, and needing to hide from it all. This is an overwhelming mixture for certain <smile>.
On the up side, there was sun today with little wind, so walking was cold, but not too nasty. Tomorrow is to be colder than usual for this time of year, yet a bit warmer than today. The car may just be a combination of a battery issue and the very cold weather we have had the past few mornings. It did start when I came home in the afternoon and temperature was warmer than it had been this morning. We'll see on Friday when it is to be warmer in the morning than recent days
The selection for today speaks to the current over-zealous need to control the world around me and is by a band with a name that suits the frustration reaction today. <smile> Enjoy!
Everybody wants to rule the world -- Tears for Fears
I really spoke too soon when I termed yesterday manic -- today there were very few minutes between booked meetings, classes, lab and walk-in or phone-in new meetings. Again, I don't mind these tasks, but just want some time to regroup before moving forward. The day began with the car failing to start. It was very cold overnight -- well, cold for places without block heaters. But, it didn't seem to be a battery issue and I think it is something a bit more costly to fix <sigh>. I don't have to be in class or a meeting until noon tomorrow, so that will give me time to call someone to get it in to fix. During the day there was a continued battle with a software program that is supposed to save time over completing forms by hand. Instead it took over an hour to complete a form that would take 15-20 minutes by hand with pen and paper. It is a frustrating aspect of work.
On days like today I especially miss my dad. He understood the detailed inner workings of the internal combustion engine as well as his expertise in carpentry and basic knowledge of plumbing and electrical wiring. No matter where I lived I could always call him, tell him the symptoms of the problem and give him my differential diagnoses. He taught me well and I can recognize many of the common and some of the less common car problems (and plumbing and electrical <smile>). So -- I have my primary diagnosis and one alternate one. I just wish there was a phone where he is so I could confirm it before going into the mechanic. It can be problematic being a female with a car problem; even when I know exactly what I want them to do, they tend to ignore me. That has cost some of them a free redo a few times and led to their being struck off my list of places to trust with my vehicle.
Today's selection is for Dad -- one of his favourites and one that I've loved since I was a kid. <smile> Enjoy!
The first day back from midterm break (aka Reading Week) began with an 8:15 AM lecture. It was a cold morning that made getting out of bed a real trial. Or perhaps that was due to staying up to watch the Oscars last night <grin>. The day was a flat out run from the time I left the house until after I had supper made in the evening. Tons of e-mail conversations that needed responses throughout the day and several student meetings. The paperwork that I'd hoped to get to today just didn't get any attention beyond moving it from one place to another on my desk. Parts of it had to wait until after I'd eaten supper and had an uninterrupted moment.
I half expected this to be the way the day played out, but I just didn't know what the issues of the day would be. I was correct on a couple fronts, but several surprises arose throughout the day. Some frustrating, while others required calming skills to help others through crises. All in all, a usual beginning of the week, but with a bit more 'oomph' behind it after having had a week without lectures. While I enjoy the tasks of the day, the rapidity with which many of them demand a response or solution can be very trying for a person who does not make snap decisions. I prefer to weigh out the options and make a choice based on understanding implications of all possibilities. Now, this doesn't always mean that I need days to ponder and stare up at the sky; it does mean that I need a few minutes between crises to calmly reflect before moving on to the next one. Sadly, our world seems not to be set up to allow this sort of reflection. Perhaps that is why we keep hearing of silly decisions in the news -- ones that must have been spur of the moment solutions that failed to review the options and implications. When the demands come from different quarters that don't intersect, it only adds to the stress load -- leaving one to make one decision while listening to the next problem. Not an ideal situation, but it seems the way the work world has moved of late - and not only in my current position, but across sectors and position levels.
At about 3 PM today I heard the line of a song in my head. It made me smile as it did reflect how I was feeling most of the day. I love this acoustic version as you can hear the lyrics much better than the one many of us have listened to before. Enjoy!
This was a day with less work than usual. I had planned to finish laundry, bake and do some cleaning. Well, some of the laundry got done <smile>. I did add snow shovelling so I could get the wetter stuff moved before it freezes solid tonight. I did a few things to get ready for work tomorrow (I don't want to go back <g>) and then I spent a few hours on phone calls to catch up with a couple of friends. I hadn't had a good chat with either of them since around New Years. It was great to talk with them and hear their voices and to assure myself they are doing well.
I am privileged to be part of several friendships where it is possible to not speak for a while and yet pick up just where we left off when we make contact again. This is precious. I know we think of each other often, but life can get in the way of distant and not-so-distant friendships. Luckily, I've found several people who understand the nature of my work and I understand their life and work commitments, too. In my mind, that is the true heart of friendship -- we are with each other daily in head and heart, yet may not be able to speak as often as we wished. It is my hope that everyone can experience this type of relationship.
Today's selection is one of the many songs about special friendships and has been one of my favourites for some time now -- like since Tapestry and Mud Slide Slim and the first concert at the Troubadour <smile>. Enjoy!
You've got a friend -- Carole King and James Taylor
Lovely sunshine greeted me this morning. It was amazing. The solar loading is growing so things are warming out there as we creep toward spring. This is a time of year when we look to that rebirth -- greening of grass, trees in full leaf and flowers. I know that the annual bloom count was some time back for those out in Victoria, but for the rest of the nation, we are anxiously awaiting the snow drops and crocus.
This is the time of year that brings with it memories of several losses -- people close to my heart then and still. Sadly, several friends have encountered losses of their own this past week. This has made me think of things that helped me through the pain and sorrow. Interestingly, many of these involved music. It really speaks to the soul for all moods and emotions. I have found it a great soother and a way to find peace.
So today, I want to share one of those songs with you all. It was written after the loss of a parent by the singer-songwriter. He has an amazing knack for packaging those feelings into words and notes -- as a way to work through life or the 'infinite contradictions'. Enjoy!
