Day 2-90 -- Quiet Snowfall

This morning brought heavy wet snow that turned my black coat white on my walk into work. This spring snow has that wet texture that has been termed snowman snow or heart attack snow depending on your perspective. Accumulations of 10-15 cm were forecast with a bit of rain to top things off.  Temperatures were above freezing while the snow fell, so rain didn't seem out of the question. By mid-afternoon the snow had stopped and the bit of rain was finishing. The sun came out with that great spring sun warmth. When I left the office, most of the new snow had melted away in the sun, leaving a wonderful bright late afternoon.

Last week, I challenged people to live in the moment and roll with the snow that will come as part of spring transitioning into summer. I found that I wasn't really disturbed by the snow today, something that did surprise me. Maybe I've managed to let it go. It was so quiet on the walk to work. Snow is an amazing sound damper. As I walked up the road where the snow wasn't as deep, I kept checking behind me to ensure no cars were coming up the hill. The silence was relaxing, though, allowing me to be alone with my thoughts. Even with the heavier snow, there was no wind howling through the trees. That was my gift today -- a few moments in silence alone. <smile>

I will admit to giggling a bit as I pondered the latest snow fall. A song came to mind that came back to me several times during the day. I will share it with you all so it can stick in your heads, too <smile>. Enjoy!

Do you want to build a snowman -- Kristen Bell, Agatha Lee Monn and Katie Lopez

Day 2-89 -- Talking or Communicating?

We had a wonderful visiting speaker in department seminar today -- a retired CBC radio journalist who currently sells spice mixtures at the Halifax weekend market. He spoke about talking with people and really communicating. As experts in a science field, there is a need to speak to people at a level that they understand. This led me to reflect on difficulties inherent in translating knowledge as health professionals. To succeed at communicating, we need to listen to people and their concerns. Only then can we hope to be of any help as health professionals. Only providing our message -- that is, what we think they need to hear -- can often totally miss the mark. If we ignore their knowledge level and talk down to them or over their understanding, the needed information will not be communicated.  As George Bernard Shaw stated, "The only problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place."

I've encountered many stories and personal experiences of miscommunication. One of my first presentations went less well than I'd hoped.  I planned to do all the talking and soon realized that my assumptions of the group I was speaking to were incorrect. I also learned quickly that speaking 'to' rather than speaking 'with' made all the difference in the world. It is a hard lesson to learn. Sadly I've encountered health professionals who have not gained this insight and miscommunicate for much of their careers. I will admit that I have let some professionals know that I understand more than they may think. I generally try to do this quietly at first, by asking a specific question using their language. As a patient this can be a challenge, but it generally throws the professional off a bit and then we can finally converse in a manner that gets my questions answered and their major points communicated. Not everyone feels comfortable doing this, so they sit politely and nod and then walk away never to return.

The speaker today reminded me of a wonderful song that so fits the topic of communicating. The singer and this version are classics. Enjoy!

Everybody's Talkin' -- Harry Nilsson

Day 2-88 -- Time of Transition

It is March -- the end of March, but it is still March. Why then do I hear broadcasters and meteorologists talking about the weather as if it didn't belong to a spring season? I'll admit that expectations of it being summer right away bring on my inner rant <smile>. Spring and Autumn are transition seasons which move weather from the two extremes of summer and winter. The gradual changes seem only to bring frustration to many people. Snow is not solely a winter phenomenon, but occurs in autumn, winter and spring (and occasionally shows up in summer). I've reflected on the comments of people to try to understand why this irritates me so much.

The failure, or refusal, to understand the transitions of the seasons bothers me since it is a fact and it happens every year. Yet, the frustrations that I hear and read seem to be wishing for summer to appear NOW and not in a couple more months. I'll admit that the 20 cm of wet spring snow that I shovelled today was not a hit, but it is not unheard of and shouldn't be unexpected. Perhaps the desire inherent in the complaints I've encountered feels problematic to me as they are wishing to bypass chunks of the year -- in effect bypassing great swaths of life. My 99 year old friend told me long ago to never wish my life away. I took that to heart. If we are always waiting for something down the road to appear quickly, we will be missing what is right in front of us now and feel unhappy about where we are now. Spring brings wonderful changes. Today, for example, while shovelling snow, the sun was bright and very warm. That solar-loading has increased. Birds will return in the next few weeks. That great muddy smell of spring will arrive once we melt through the piles of snow. Rivers will flood if this occurs too quickly, so folks should be aware of things they wish for -- they are not always wonderful. Warmer breezes from the south will predominate with time, trees will bud and srping bulbs will bloom. Patience will pay off with the arrival of summer, but I'd wish for people that they find the joys in the change of seasons. Stop and take notice of the changes in the size of snow piles -- mine changed significantly last week <smile>. Be present in the moment.

The song that came to mind today is another from the '60s, but the title and chorus definitely fit the topic of the blog today. Enjoy!

Wishin' and Hopin' -- Dusty Springfield

Day 2-87 -- Saving Mother Earth

Earth Hour -- a time when lights go off around the world as a gesture of commitment to making this a better world. For eight years now, people around the world have gone dark to challenge the notion that we may not care or be capable of pulling together to make a change. The slogans for this year, "Use your power to change climate change" and "Uniting people to protect the planet,"  show that the actions of a few can bring attention to the power that we use without thought. Turning off lights and electronic devices, even for an hour, can help us regain the skills of conversation, reading, and entertaining ourselves.

Many programs advocate for conservation of natural resources, spaces, flora and fauna. Without the work of such groups, far fewer spaces would be protected and policy would likely ignore environmental implications of profit. Greed seems to lead much of the loss in biodiversity. An understanding of longer and shorter term effects of human activity is needed by all.

The selection for today is a song by a fellow Canadian. The lyrics address the need for conservation well. Enjoy!

Be the Rain -- Neil Young

Day 2-86 -- Another Year End Banquet

We celebrated at the year end banquet tonight. While we have 1-1/2 weeks left of term, we gathered to reflect on the accomplishments of the past academic year. There was a great turnout of students from across all four years. The program was fun and the meal delightful. Awards and scholarships were presented and professional rings distributed. Tributes to faculty members were heart-warming and also made us laugh.

This made me think back over all the academic endings throughout my career -- from elementary school to high school, from undergraduate to graduate degree programs. and of course, all of the year ends during my time teaching. Early in my school days, each year end meant that some students and teachers were moving on, a sad and happy event depending on perspective. When one of those departing students was me, there were feelings of sadness, excitement and fear as I moved on to something new and unknown. Those mixed emotions bring to mind the Chinese character for change, which actually consists of two characters -- danger and opportunity. That is what taking that leap into the unknown felt like to me. I also found it sad to be leaving favourite teachers and professors. As one of those educators now, I find it difficult to see students leave, but am excited for them to begin their careers and live their lives -- still feeling mixed emotions it seems <smile>. 

The selection for today is a song that comes to me often near the end of the school year. It is performed by a British singer from the '60s and the lyrics say a lot to me about those special people who help us to grow and develop. Enjoy! 

To Sir, With Love -- Lulu

Day 2-85 -- Dreams become real

This week is one very full week for our honours thesis students. Celebrating accomplishments can be so rewarding. Seminar presentations occurred throughout the week. Today was Student Research Day on campus where 70+ undergraduate students presented a research poster or an oral paper. The quality of work is amazing. I contend that many are working at the level of a graduate student while in their last year of undergraduate work. The thesis will be submitted early next week and to top off this week, the year end banquet is tomorrow. A wonderful time to pause and enjoy the moment before moving on to the next end-of-term task.

When speaking with several of the students today, I asked how they felt about being at this point in the research projects. They found it exciting and rewarding to be able to share their findings with others. Some noted that last September, they were unsure that they would ever be able to get to this point; yet, they'd tackled the process one chunk at a time and here they are -- at the end of that road. My advice at this point is often to take time to enjoy the opportunity to speak to people about the work you are so passionate about. Such occasions do not present themselves too often throughout life, so savour it. <smile>.

The selection for today is one that speaks about future success, much like the dream the students held in September. With perseverance, courage and faith, those dreams became reality. Enjoy!

Go the Distance -- Michael Bolton (from Hercules)

Day 2-84 -- Surprising Reciprocity

This evening brought a major surprise. No -- it wasn't an unexpected weather event <smile>. It was a good surprise.  The phone rang with call display saying 'unknown name', which I generally just let go. In this case, the number was from my home town but wasn't a familiar number. I answered hesitantly only to hear the voice of a family friend and former teacher of mine. He is one of those favourite teachers. He'd called to thank me for a letter I wrote a while back that explained the major role he'd played in my life. There had been a health issue on his end and I wanted him to know how important he had been and still was to former students and -- dare I say -- friends. He admitted to reading the letter until it was pretty much worn out. That took me by surprise -- that I had been able to reciprocate in some small way.

There are many people who have helped me to be the person I am today. I know I haven't let them all know the parts they played. I should. Something as small as a letter helped someone to get through the rough days of recuperating. A short phone call helped me to see that my thoughts had helped, completing a circle -- that never-ending circle. This may be the basis of the pay it forward movement, where that circle actually becomes a spiral moving through the lives of many people. Interesting. We should all strive to share the importance of others with those others. We never know when some small message will provide needed strength. .

I'm still processing this one, but it was an amazing way to end the day. A number of songs came to mind, but I settled on one with amazing lyrics that stress that social support we can each provide for others. By definition though, social support should be reciprocal. So, let's not forget to share the caring we receive with others. Enjoy!

Count on Me -- Whitney Housont & CeCe Winans

Day 2-83 -- Promises

Today was sunny with a promise that Spring may really be on the way -- not quickly, but on its way. The 'to do' list moved slowly, too, but it moved <smile>. Positive outcomes occurred for several class activities. It is pleasant to see things nearing completion and feeling a sense of accomplishment. That feeling, even if brief, can keep the motivation going by providing much needed feedback and validation.

Even with all the positive energy in the air today, there were moments of sarcasm and frustration. Given the incredible fatigue I've felt, my filters are off and little things threaten to squash the flickers of optimism. So, even on a good day, there are moments that are not perfect. Imagine! <sarcastic smile>  When things seem to head off into the woods, it generally means that it is time to take a break, recentre, and start fresh. This, too, can create further stress -- adding to the time needed to get through the overfull task list. But, just as spring will arrive, there is the promise that the list will be completed.

Perhaps it is being tired, but the song that stuck with me today is one that has seen much overplay recently. The lyrics speak to ways to deal with unpleasantness as it sneaks into the day. As much as the song has set itself up for multiple parodies, listening to the original lyrics is worth the 3 to 4 minutes. Enjoy!

Shake it Off -- Taylor Swift

Day 2-82 -- Two more Mondays

It was a cold start to the day today with a wicked north wind adding to the nippiness. The slush and water from the weekend were frozen solid and dusted with a skiff of new fallen snow. Walking required very careful footing. The sun shone later in the day adding some positive feelings to this first day of the work week. The day was filled with many responsibilities and meetings, with little time to pause even briefly throughout the day.

This Monday brought the realization that there are only 12 days left in the term. That means little time to complete the grading of term reports and prepare the three final exams. It is difficult dealing with the rising panic that comes with the end of term and the mounds of work that must be completed. It is everywhere on campus -- with faculty and with students. So much to do in so little time. Exams begin in less than three weeks.  Very stressful. My goal is to try to deal with things one day at a time, which can work as long as I spend the time up front partitioning the work load over the next two weeks to ensure that it gets done. That will be the task for tomorrow.

The song for today is from way back in the far reaches of my brain. It was one I enjoyed  as a youth from a band from Alberta. Enjoy!

Mr. Monday -- The Original Caste

Day 2-81 -- Working at feeling better

It poured rain last night. Not the kind of rain that 'washes' snow away, but a cold winter rain that makes snow sticky and heavy. The wind is picking up now -- a strong wind bringing in Arctic air. This is yet another flash freeze to expect. So the snowball and snowman texture snow that is present in huge amounts will become solid white glaciers of ice.  The luge run I'd shovelled as a walk way will be a slippery length to traverse. We are to expect major wind chills over the next two days. Then the temperatures will be closer to freezing and we will experience some warmer sun and further bits of rain by the end of the week.

Trying to get to some of the grading has been challenging due to a bit of a headache. The same goes for the laundry left from yesterday. Amazing how one episode of pain can leave one feeling totally worn out. Good things for today -- it is Sunday so I didn't have to be at the office, there was no snow to shovel, and the car is safely in the driveway (so I know the air horn outside from the street plough is not honking for me to move a vehicle). <smile> As for the illness issue from yesterday, things are feeling a bit better so far today -- not super but better. If tomorrow continues like this, I'll be back to usual (notice I didn't say normal <smile>) in a couple of more days.

The song today has two lines from the chorus that have stuck in my head today. The iconic band presents this one well. Love it!  Enjoy!

Getting Better -- The Beatles

Day 2-80 -- that broken feeling

Sorry for this one being late. Yesterday evening did not go as planned. After supper, I began to have vague discomfort. Within an hour there was no vagueness -- it was full on excruciating pain. I'm pretty sure I know what it is -- and that it is not something terminal, though it felt like it at the time. This time was far worse than the shorter periods of pain in the past -- 2 times that I can recall one or two months ago and another over a year ago. Tomorrow, I will make an appointment to discuss it with my MD.

The main feeling throughout the night was that something was 'broken' -- just not functioning the way it should be. There is a bit of residual pain today and I have spent most of today in bed resting. Tomorrow has a number of things happening at work that I have to be there for -- student presentations of thesis projects and 2 lectures.  Hopefully things will get back to normal and I will be able to stand upright in front of the class. If not, I'm not above sitting on a stool and speaking from there <smile>.

The only song that seemed to fit the main event of yesterday ran through my head a lot. It is a beautiful song by a singer with a lovely voice. Enjoy!

Broken -- Lindsey Haun

Day 2-79 -- Beauty all around

Sunshine was amazing today. It felt warm and brightened spirits all around. The westerly breeze almost felt like spring. I shovelled more and then went into work. Returning in mid-afternoon it seemed the roofing guys had been there and left tons of snow where I had shovelled and where I was to shovel next. The two guys returned as I was still in the yard. They asked for a narrower shovel so they could clear the roof ice and snow from the walkway. They were very  pleasant and did a great clean up job. Then I looked out the back door. I hadn't cleared the back porch yet and had planned to do that this afternoon. I couldn't even make the back door budge. There was three times the amount of snow there than when I'd checked it last this morning. They'd pushed much of the snow and ice from the roof onto the porch!  I couldn't even see the banister any more. It had been there in the morning but was now under sheets of ice half the size of me. I called the office and finally got the boss. With some discussion, he agreed to come and look at it. I then headed out to try to find the porch and make an 18" path up the stairs, all the while wondering if avalanches could bury someone in their own yard. The boss arrived about 30 minutes later and took over. All I'd asked was that he move some of the heavy ice and I could manage the snow as I'd planned. He took 15 minutes and shovelled out the full area -- even when I stated that what he had done was perfect and I could take over from there. A pleasant surprise for the day.

These experiences made me stop and breathe. The day was gorgeous and the sun delightful. I heard the water dripping from the eaves. The air smelled clean and fresh. Perhaps Spring will arrive in a quiet manner. We do have a storm coming over the weekend, a rain snow mix is forecast. I'm hoping for less snow and a bit of rain. We'll see what transpires.

A song ran around in my head today that seemed to reflect the wonder of a day without a major snow storm <smile>.

It's a Beautiful Morning -- The Rascals

Day 2-78 -- The end of an upleasant relationship

Well -- spring arrives in less than 24 hours meaning winter will be leaving. While Mother Nature is really in charge, there will be few sad feelings to see the backside of this winter season. Granted it began slowly and kindly, but the honeymoon period ended and the real personality came through with a vengeance. These last three snow storms -- well two storms and one major set of snow squalls to be technically correct <smile> -- have definitely extinguished any tiny spark of good will.

Two hours were spent shovelling today to clear the 18 inch path to the car and then to try to dig out around the car. Tomorrow I will need to clear the snow off the car and attempt to move it out of the driveway. It had been buried to the hood in a nasty drift around three sides of the vehicle. The backhoe just cleared out the end of the driveway -- all the stuff from the sky, the sidewalk plough and the street plough. The pile on the front lawn is closing in on 10 feet. Tomorrow the same backhoe with a different driver will clear the full length of the driveway to the back porch. This will enable the roofers to come to clear major snow accumulation and then use cables to melt through the ice dams so there is a place for water to run as the rain and above freezing temperatures of next week arrive. Hopefully, this will stop the water infiltrating the bathroom and kitchen. I will admit that I've had trouble getting my head around how much snow is really out there. In those famous words from a favourite movie, "Inconceivable!"

The selection today is my farewell to winter. The lyrics, of course, likely mean something different, but the relationship with this season is so over. Let's hope Spring is kinder and less eventful. I'm not in a rush for warmer weather, just putting a wish out into the universe -- a wish for fewer and smaller precipitation events along with a slow melt with little flooding. Spring should understand that any new relationship will be tentative due to just leaving a less than perfect one. Enjoy!

My Give A Damn's Busted -- Jo Dee Messina

Day 2-77 -- How do you describe snow?

Well -- it has snowed all day.  I wasn't able to see the cathedral or the drug store out my kitchen window since visibility was down to about half a block. The university was closed for the fifth day since early February. I worked from home with grading and a teleconference. Then spent a while outside shovelling what had fallen. The pathway to the street looks like a luge run -- a narrow track carved out of 30 inches of snow. The shovelled snow makes the piles much higher along the way. The small walkway right in front of the house has snow piles higher than the porch and taller than me in places. More is expected to fall overnight, but far less than has arrived already.  There will be heavy equipment out by morning -- the wind is still blowing a lot around, so the street plough hasn't been by for some time.

I'm sure I've said this here before, but I am so over this <smile>.  One or two large snow falls a winter are manageable, but when it is every two or three days for weeks it can be demoralizing. The effort of moving beyond the house becomes a major challenge. I can't imagine what it is like for anyone with mobility issues. This type of weather can bring feelings of isolation for many people The local term for this is 'shack wacky' -- somewhat akin to cabin fever <smile>. The extra time necessary to move snow leaves less time to do the other things necessary in life -- socialize, homework, housework, and such. I see strained and tired faces -- it is just so mentally and physically draining.

The selection for today came to mind while watching snow fall. As part of an innovative musical approach, the lyrics describe snow well. While shovelling, I will admit to thinking of other ways to describe the white mass <grin>.

50 Words for Snow -- Kate Bush (& Stephen Fry)

Day 2-76 -- Pulling Together

The past two days I've encountered an interesting phenomenon as I've walked through town and around campus. People I've never met strike up conversations. These begin and end with the weather. The stresses of repeated storms with large amounts of snow left behind seems to bring people together -- a common point of commiseration. So, even in the sunshine today -- the calm before the next storm -- people talk about it all in a pleasant way. There aren't major complaints or anger present, just a resignation and will to make the best of a bad situation -- together.

I find it interesting how people pull together during times of distress. It can show the best of humanity, yet when things begin to feel comfortable again we go back to our old isolated ways. But for those brief moments people look around them to speak to and help others. For some reason adversity seems to make us see outside of ourselves at what is really happening. We share the pain and move forward. Just like the random conversations I've encountered this week -- we experience a moment of togetherness in the midst of something that can be quite isolating. Those small moments have helped me to get through the less than pleasant aspects of trying to dig out from one storm before the next arrives.

A wonderful song from years ago ran through my head today. The lyrics speak to the need to work in concert and to avoid becoming separated from each other. Many covers have been done for this one, but the string arrangement of this early version still resonates most with me. Enjoy!

Get Together -- The Youngbloods

Day 2-75 -- Time to ignore the world outside the window

Is it too late to just hide away until the weather becomes more spring into summerish? The snow outside is ridiculously huge. There were more white-out periods this afternoon bringing even more to shovel. I spent an hour to make a 75 foot path the width of a shovel -- about 18". The plough came and did move snow onto the front lawn from where the street plough had piled it chest deep by the side of the road. I'm expecting to hear heavy equipment overnight soon as they try to widen the road ways and re-establish parking lanes on the main streets.

I know that snow happens like this in the northern Atlantic. I am just so weary of it all. Most people I encountered today were upbeat, but still felt challenged by even more snow. Roofers were to arrive today to use cables to melt some of the roof and eaves trough ice. Needless to say, the weather did not allow this to occur. The water coming into the ceiling and dripping through the ceiling fans in the bathroom and kitchen were particularly challenging this weekend. Saturday saw at least one drip per second in the bathroom. Luckily this is positioned over the toilet so most of the water fell directly into the bowl. However, this meant using the device for its intended purpose was  not without its down side.  On Sunday the dripping moved to the kitchen fan on the other side of the wall from the bathroom. This involved cold water dripping down my neck as I stood at the stove to cook.  Both situations are a bit startling <grin>.

Today's selection was one I'd heard a while back. It just so fit my feeling this morning. I kept checking the web page to see if campus was closed so I didn't have to go outside <sigh>.  I was the one breaking the trail at 7:30 AM -- usually I have someone else's foot prints to follow. Anyway -- the song has fun lyrics that describe my mood today and likely for several days to come <smile>. Enjoy!

Hibernation Day -- Jars of Clay

Day 2- 74 -- blizzard, birthday and building castles in the air

Can you say blizzard?  I'm so tired of saying and seeing this meteorological event. It has been blowing since last night. I moved about 10 inches or more from the porch steps and small front walkway.  The walkway had drifted to be above my knees. Forecasts say another 2-4 inches overnight, (but could be 6-12 inches!), another 2 inches tomorrow. and two days later another 6+ inches. Street ploughs haven't been by as they would have been pulled from roads in many places due to minimal visibility.  The meteorologists said these were the last two storms of winter -- said somewhat tongue in cheek since spring arrives just after that and all subsequent storms will be spring storms.  Really?? Do you think people need to hear you poke fun <grump>.

There is so much new and old snow that the piled area is as high as the porch -- leaving little room to put the snow there and meaning the need to walk elsewhere to dump a shovel full. I fondly recall the year I interviewed for the job here. It was the third week of March and the crocuses were blooming. Being from the prairies, I thought I could certainly live with that <smile>. The first two winters here had little snow -- just one or two major snow falls that disappeared with warmer temperatures directly after. I've not seen anything quite like this year, though.

On an up note, we had a birthday in the house today for a short furry soul and between grading papers I cooked cinnamon buns. Dreaming of warmer days with less snow was a big part of the day, though, which brought the song for the day into my head. The singer is originally from a couple hours down the road, so she knows snow <smile>. Love the lyrics, melody and the wonderful vocals.This video is from the first cross-Canada concert tour -- not the greatest quality, but it is her at the beginning of a major career. We saw her as a family outing in Saskatchewan then. Enjoy!

Snowbird -- Anne Murray

Day 2-73 -- Pi Day 2015

Pi Day -- the 14th of March each year -- 3.14.  This year is especially interesting for math aficionados since the year is 2015 and the next 5 digits of pi can be seen  as a time of day -- 9:26:53.  So -- for a one time event -- 3.141592653 was be experienced twice today -- once for AM and once again for PM.  I hope you found time to stop and notice this alignment of the clock today.

I am not a math whiz by any stretch of the imagination. I tell my students to always check my grading on papers -- even when I check and recheck the final grade can sometimes be miscalculated -- and this is really basic arithmetic NOT advanced mathematics.  I've struggled through calculus and before that trigonometry. With the help of some wonderful tutors, I attained acceptable grades. I can do it, it just takes extra work. It isn't my favourite activity, though <smile>. We do use numbers in much of our daily lives often without really even noticing -- purchasing items, cooking (with or without a recipe), making change, planning gas fill-up locations for a long trip, and so much more. So, it needn't be painful.

Some people celebrate the day with pie, in moderation of course <smile> For this blog, in honour of Pi Day, only one possible recording came to mind. It always makes me smile. It shows a fun side of a singer-songwriter. Since this one isn't really a 'song' I have included a second selection named for one of my favourite pies <smile>.  The visuals help with the need to escape the incoming nor'easter. Enjoy!

Peter Percival Patterson's Pet Pig Porky -- The Monkees (Peter Tork)


Key Lime Pie -- Kenny Chesney

Day 2-72 -- No Regrets

Regret -- for small or large actions -- can bring negative moments or days. I've always felt that life should be lived and that we should learn from all actions and experiences.  Weighing words carefully may help, but even then words can mean different things to the people hearing them than they do to the speaker. Its just the joy of language <smile>.  Major actions can bring feelings of disappointment or guilt and in extreme cases a type of existential guilt that can last. Living with regret may become unbearable.

Learning to forgive oneself and make peace with former actions can mean far fewer regrets throughout life. Accepting responsibility for choices made is a necessary component of the process. This seems to be difficult for many people. It may be easier to blame others for a personal choice that led to 'failure', but this may not be the best way to deal with the guilt of making inappropriate choices. We do have the ability to choose how we act and also have the ability to accept our role in implications of our choices. It sounds straight-forward, but it is much more difficult for some people to enact.

I've been reminded of a song about not having regrets in a recent commercial. The singer has an iconic voice -- and has been called one the greatest singers of the 20th century (or all time according to Tony Bennett). The lyrics reflect the need for no regrets in life.  Enjoy!

Non, Je ne regrette rien -- Edith Piaf

English translation of lyrics done reasonably well here
http://www.metrolyrics.com/non-je-ne-regrette-rien-lyrics-edith-piaf.html

Day 2-71 -- Unexpected Snow

As the end of the work day, as several of us were heading out to the parking lot, the wind shifted direction. They tell us that this was the cause of the meteorological assault that we encountered.  The sea-effect snow squall was so thick. Visibility was limited. Brushing the snow from the car seemed endless -- as the last of the windows was cleared, the first one was completely covered again.  I drove a block and stopped at the next parking lot to scrape the frozen smear left behind from the wiper blades. By then the interior was warm enough to keep all snow in a melted format, so I pressed on, avoiding the steeper inclines and the inclined bridge, all in an attempt to avoid colliding with anything else. I arrived home unscathed and moved about 2 inches of snow from the walk way and stairs. I just looked out a few minutes ago and it seemed to have started up again and has left another 3-4 inches -- none of which was forecast.

The snow is a soft looking snow that coated tree branches and made the world look fresh and white. Sadly, it sits atop 6-7 inches of solid ice and makes walking even more frightening. Depth perception can be difficult when looking at white on white so the unevenness left by the ice isn't easily discerned leaving one with rather unsteady footing. This wasn't a wind-filled storm, but a quieter snow fall. Sound can be attenuated during such an event, leaving the feeling of isolation. From the warmth of indoors, watching the snow can be beautiful and even calming.. That will leave when the shovel is brought out in the morning <smile>.

The selection for today reminds me of the unexpected snow today. The music is quiet and soft. The singer manages to retain that tone -- unlike some of her other recordings. Enjoy!

Listen, The Snow is Falling -- Yoko Ono & John Lennon

Day 2-70 -- How Flexible is Flexible?

Managed to complete several small tasks at work today, while the two larger items met with obstacles from others. I do try to be flexible, but it can be challenging when expectations are that I can just move things from one spot in the schedule to another without consequence. We managed to find an alternate time, but it did mean having to move other people to other times. That just doesn't seem right to me without a solid reason. So -- this had me reflecting on flexibility. It isn't really a spontaneous sort of issue, but more one of scheduling. With many students and colleagues (both internal and external) with whom I interact regularly as part of my job, one last minute change may or may not be easy to implement. Today was not an easy day for this. <smile>

Again, today seemed to be a challenge -- likely more so due to the lack of sleep. Dripping water in the kitchen woke me again last night and a lot more water coming though the ceiling fan than we've had yet. The warmer temperatures today -- 7C -- helped to melt a lot of the thinner ice.This meant that I was able to clear most of the stairs at the front and back doors. They look much more passable now and far less treacherous. The melting did little for the 7 inches of ice on the walkways. That will come.  While I want spring to arrive, I don't want an overnight change as this will lead to flooding of waterways in the area. Like the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady wins the race. Perhaps that goes for me, as well. Even when tired and the schedule seems full, if I take it slower and give it a bit more thought, I may find an easier answer some days -- not all days, but for some of them maybe.  Hmmm

The first verse of a song by a Canadian singer seemed to say it all for me today. The video made me shake my head and realize my day could be have been worse -- I could have taken hair and clothing advice from this woman <grin>.  Enjoy!

Up -- Shania Twain

Day 2-69 -- Vague Stress Feelings

For some reason, today brought some stressful feelings. There isn't a single item that seems to be the root cause -- there is just this looming presence that coloured the day grey.  I am tired and feeling a bit under the weather (so to speak) and even the sun and minor melting didn't seem to push the dread away. A couple projects are not moving forward as they should, so perhaps some of that anxiety is just catching up with me today. Maybe completing the work-life balance survey for my employer got me thinking about the imbalances that exist -- things I don't get to do nearly as much as I'd like due to the size of the workload. That isn't new, it just reminded me of it all. The feeling will pass <smile>. After all, stress is a part of life and expecting it to be stress-free is nonsensical.

So -- I tried the 'three things' technique tonight to see if that could turn the mood around. As usual that showed me that the day was not all bad and helped me to focus on some of the 'good things' that happened -- things that I may not have given adequate attention at the time..
1) The dripping water coming in through the exhaust fan in the kitchen (woke me at 2:30 AM) seemed to  abate by the time I left for work. 2) The sun was very bright when I left work this evening. The water on the road created some glare -- something I haven't seen for a long while. It was pleasant to see the sun and feel the warmth. 3) Two comments from friends made me smile and laugh. These brief breaks in the day can relieve some of the tension even momentarily.

The lyrics of the selection for today address the need to trust that things will take you back to that place of normalcy and comfort. It is from a British band that I've just encountered. This is the title song of their debut album with amazing harmonies. Enjoy!

Let the Road (take you home) -- Rixton

Day 2-68 -- So Many Choices!

Choices -- they are put before us each day of our life. Some seem minor and others carry more weight, yet it is possible that they all affect our destination in this journey. Making the decision between the many choices can be painful. Weighing pros and cons takes time and may require input from outside others. For time-limited decisions, the pain of making a choice can become excruciating. I recall the anxiety caused by making past decisions and know that current decisions will bring similar emotions.

I thought of choices today when many students were receiving information about future training and graduate school opportunities. Reflecting today on my career decisions since graduating with my first degree led me to examine outcomes of my choices. It may be understatement to say that things did not go according to original plans, but even when it felt like a poor decision with a negative outcome, there were positives experienced. Without the presumed failure of making some decisions that would have me employed far from home, I would not have become unemployed and had time to spend getting to know three of my grandparents as an adult. Looking through other choices with mixed outcomes, the positives do outweigh the negatives. We may learn more from failures than from successes that go smoothly. Less successful experiences earlier in my career helped to develop resiliency and strength out of some of the crushing disappointments. Someone once said that I was a 'risk taker,' which surprised me. Thinking that through, I learned something important about myself that has helped me.

The song I share today is a favourite that talks to me about decision making -- not to be paralysed by fear and let opportunities pass you by. It is sung by a great poet-philosopher. Enjoy!

The River -- Garth Brooks

Day 2-67 -- A Day to Address Inequality

International Women's Day -- a time to recognize women in our societies and address the needs for equality in all parts of the world. Much research has identified that enabling women to become empowered can benefit local food security, regional economic growth and long term health of populations. Yet, even in North America equality of access to paid work, pensions, education, and health care are not what they could be. Single parent households have much lower incomes when headed by women than by men. Women have poorer health and fewer disability free years than men. Gender-based violence still creates problems within society. Social constructions of archetypal roles of men and women seem to be the basis of such inequalities.

Just over one hundred years ago, women in Canada, the US and the UK fought for women's right to vote. Their road was not an easy one (see the movies Iron Jawed Angels OR Suffragette). Since World War II women have entered the workforce so that today many homes have two wage earners. Women have entered post-secondary education and moved into professional roles throughout society. Yet, the glass ceiling is still very evident in business and administrative roles. The current pioneers in these areas stand beside the suffragettes and Canada's Famous Five.

A song for today was difficult to settle on. Many songs about strong women seem based on subjugation. I did find one to share. The lyrics come from a poem by Maya Anjelou and are performed by a number of female singers. Enjoy!

Phenomenal Woman -- Olivia Newton-John (Ft. Delta Goodrem, Amy Sky, Mindy Smith and Others)

Day 2-66 -- Springing Forward

Tonight brings with it the semi-annual time change -- spring forward.  Given that I lived in Saskatchewan for the majority of my life, I still find this event just plain odd.  There seems few reasons left to continue the time change that was put in place to help farmers when things were far less mechanized that now. It seems that getting the light in the morning is so pleasant, and this switch will take that away in favour of a brighter end of the afternoon.  It is a trade-off.

Several things bother me about the effects a seemingly simple one-hour time change can bring. It takes people a week or so to get back to 'normal.'  I encounter many tired and cranky people around time change <smile>. Accidents increase for the few days after the change. This simple hour seems to wreak havoc with circadian rhythms and sleep patterns. And who has tried to reason with companion animals who insist that it is feeding time? They, too, take a week or more to readjust.

I'm sure I'll manage my way through this change, just as in past years, though I'll still question the process. After all, losing an hour of one's day can be monumental. <g>. One song came to mind that fits the event and the bureaucracy behind its continuation. I love this cover from a tribute to the original singer-songwriter. Enjoy!

The Times They are A-Changing -- Tracy Chapman

Day 2-65 -- Postmodern pluralistic rhythms

It has seemed to be a very long week. Getting back to the routine of classes and meetings and office hours seemed a challenge. The week was filled with small hurdles and many positive outcomes. Moving forward to the end of term entails a detailed plan to ensure that all points are covered and all ends tied into the best bow --maybe a bow-tie, since "bow-ties are cool." <smile> So -- fitting it all into the next five weeks will be interesting. Stress will be involved, but experience tells me it will all get done <smile>.

To present a 13 week course involves much finesse. The first few times through the process, it seems like oodles of time to pack in the necessary content. Experience brings method to find the rhythm that works. Each person finds a different way through to the end, each with a different rhythm. There is no one single way to complete the task. The plurality of approaches brings strength. While some insist that their way is the only way, the reality is that it works for them and may not suit others. Each method is truth, but truth for the actor involved. Admittedly, this comes from my postmodernist view of the world, but I've felt strongly that one size does not fit all for most of my life. There is no single cookie-cutter that will work for each of us.

Today's selection deals with the differences between people. It has been covered many times and each is a bit different, too <smile>.  I've chosen a recent performance of this hit song written in the '60s. Enjoy!

Different Drum -- Carrie Underwood (sung at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction of Linda Ronstadt; song written by Michael Nesmith)

Day 2-64 -- Just Hanging Out

My neck has been very sore for almost a month. MD advice this week prescribed massage and use of a cervical traction device.  Now this thing looks like it comes straight from the Spanish Inquisition. I had my physio demonstrate the thing -- good thing because the instructions are similar to those that come with Ikea furniture -- they and the accompanying line drawings come from the mind of a minimalist. I suspect that one could actually worsen a neck injury if this is not done correctly, so I find it odd that the instructions are so sparse.  It is a pulley system that goes over a door. The harness is a bit cumbersome --proving once again that the one-size-fits-all concept is a fallacy.

I tried this for 15 minutes this evening and it created a bit of a headache from the harness. I'll try to readjust things in the morning and try again.  It definitely is a learned behaviour <smile>. While sitting there 'stretching' a song ran through my head (sometimes I worry <grin>).  It seemed a perfect song for the confusion surrounding the situation. It is sung by a favourite group from childhood and co-written by a singer-songwriter I encountered in adulthood. Love the sound of the banjo and that amazing Gretsch. Enjoy!

What am I doing Hangin' 'Round -- The Monkees

Day 2-63 -- Feeling Inspired

Today was a full day at work. Classes and student meetings went well and were productive. The highlight of the day was a seminar by a Lt.Col with the Canadian Armed Forces. She is the chief Food Service Officer at National Defence. She provided a wonderful overview of her Forces career across Canada and around the world. It is not all food service related, but that has been her main focus. It created much interest in the students, who hadn't really considered who was responsible for feeding troops at home and on deployment.

I found much of the specifics she spoke about reminded me of the work of Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War. She altered food service in hospitals, altered diets for some of the wounded, struggled with procurement officers for release of stores, began the controversy of centralized vs. decentralized institutional kitchens -- all topics that continue to this day building on the work she began in the mid-1800s. I so enjoy being in a place where we are able to bring in speakers -- in person or through technology. Learning of new research or career experiences can be very inspirational. I've found seminar speakers and speakers at conferences can provide a needed revitalization of interest in things that have turned into 'work' rather than the joy they began as <smile>. I got that feeling today.

The selection for today addresses the inspiration to look at some of the research work with a new view -- how to re-engage with that 'dream.'  The video is from a movie but the audio for this one is better. Enjoy!

What a Feeling -- Irene Cara

Day 2-62 -- Gorgeous Views and Late Dinner

A lovely sunny day -- but with cold temperatures and even colder wind chills. While waiting for the taxi at the end of the day, I took in the amazing colours and light. The sun was low on the horizon so the long lower angled shafts of light settled on a huge chunk of snow and ice perched atop one of many 8+ foot piles of snow. The chunk looked like an uncut diamond -- subdued sparkle in crystalline form. When I turned out of the wind I saw the moon -- almost full -- fairly high in the blue sky. Gorgeous. The time of day and the temperature provided the most crisp colours and contrast -- blackened tree branches, vivid red-orange brick and emerald evergreens. It made the wait all worthwhile. I realized that I hadn't seen much in the past month, since I'm always watching the ground for icy patches. This was rejuvenating.

I went to my MD appointment. He was running late, so I arrived at 5:45 for my 4:15 appointment and had a 20 minute wait. The office is upstairs from a large grocery store, so I knew that once I was out, I could pick up the items I'd depleted when cooking this weekend. I was wondering how long I might be and when I'd get to have supper. Being above a store full of food didn't help. Then -- no word of a lie -- the radio in the waiting room played a song that made me laugh about the situation. I got home late and ate at 8 PM.

The selection today is that song. It said so many things to me outside of the original movie score in which it debuted. The new meaning centred on my thoughts of food and feelings of hunger. Just listen to the lyrics and ignore the goofy video <smile>. Enjoy!

Hungry Eyes -- Eric Carmen

Day 2-61 -- Slipping into Work

Today I broke the perfect upright record. I fell on the way into work. It was snowing so there was an inch or two over the ice. I managed to keep it together until the odd corner we have in town. There are 3 lanes -- a straight-through east, a left turn (facing east) and a straight- through heading westish. With all the accumulated ice near the curbs, there are actually two and a half lanes. There were people heading straight (east - ish) and one in the turning lane. The transport truck heading west (ish) was stopped as there was no where near enough room to accommodate that size of vehicle until the car in the turning lane turned. I was waiting on the island at this odd 3-way 'corner' and the woman turning (another professor from campus) was waving at me to cross. I, in turn, waved her on <smile>. She turned the corner and stopped once she was on the new road and out of the way of the transport. Again, she waited for me to cross. Seeing there were still many cars stopped behind the truck and that he wasn't going to move until she was further down the street, I decided to go across and just get it over with.  I was rushing and not fully paying attention when I had to step up onto the curb. This is about 12+ inches from the road surface -- all sheer ice. Generally, I pause here and choose my path, but with the traffic and all the snow, I just stepped up. Immediately, I slid slowly down the ice pile landing on my left side. I believe I said, "well, shoot" as I fell, but I could be mistaken <smile>. I realized as I righted myself that the car tires were just 3 feet away and that the driver would have no way of seeing me. I stood up and waved to her that I was OK as she was mouthing to me "are you alright?"  I then turned and took another step up and moved on with my journey --as did all the cars waiting.

I feel fine. The slowness of the fall meant no hard landings or major twisting. I may find something tomorrow, but it has been a while and nothing has surfaced, so I don't expect any new pains to surface. I find it interesting that the brain goes through many things while falling or in any accident. The gentleness of my fall was likely much faster than it seemed. It is like watching a dish slip out of your grasp and fall to the floor. It seems like you should have been able to catch it -- it was happening so slowly. Reality seems suspended or put into very slow motion. Perhaps this is a type of preservation process, stopping one from trying to catch a dish and get cut or struggle when falling which could create further damage. Interesting. I may need to read up on this <grin>.

Several great songs came to my mind as I continued my walk to the office. I settled on one to share today. It says it all <smile>.  Two other songs that also were playing in my head can be found on day 2-19 and day 328. Enjoy!

I Fall Down -- U2

Day 2-60 -- Peaceful Sunday

Mission accomplished <smile>. Today was restful. The laundry was completed and some cooking done. I made a big pot of chili and it is aging in the fridge until tomorrow. While on the theme of meatless meals, I also made a batch of red beans. Granted those are Lundi beans made on Dimanche, but I was doing laundry today, so I think that saves me <grin>.  For supper I made sweet and sour meatballs with rice. The upside is there will be a number of single servings in the freezer for the upcoming push to the end of term.

As the day comes to a close, I find myself thinking of the calm feeling that has permeated my day. It feels wonderful. There are clouds blowing in overnight that will leave some snow, but that is not until tomorrow <smile>. This peacefulness helps to rejuvenate and will help me to sleep well before the early start tomorrow. Finding a way to get back to this feeling in the coming weeks will be useful -- revisiting the blog posts and music should help.

The song that came to mind deals with the end of a day using calming music and lyrics. The singer-songwriter is a favourite of mine and has been featured often in this blog. His vocals are soft and peaceful and his lyrics wonderfully poetic. Enjoy!

Twilight on the Trail -- Michael Nesmith

Day 2-59 -- friends, freedom and fun

What a great day.  Sun shone and temperature was mild and wind was minimal. I took the car out and did some chores and some grocery shopping. It was rather freeing to be in charge of my own transportation and schedule <smile>.  It took a while to get what I needed at the store. Many shelves were empty -- particularly those that usually hold salt, sand and even kitty litter. There is nothing to put on the ice to make those journeying across it feel safer. I'll have to keep my ear to the ground to hear when the truck with these items arrives at any of the stores in town.  Hopefully it will be soon as there are two storms gearing up for next week -- some snow on Monday and then something not fully clear for Wed/Thurs/Fri. It goes without saying that shovelling will be involved, but so will ice, so grit and salt will be needed by everyone.

While at the grocery store, I ran into a retired friend.We haven't chatted for a long time so it was nice to do a quick catch-up at the store <smile>.  When I got home, I got a call from a friend back home. Again, it was June when we last saw each other, so it has been a while between chats.  Both of these events were unexpected and pleasant. It is so easy for time to get away on us with long stretches in between talks. Its not that we don't think of each other often, but time zones and life responsibilities can take us down divergent paths. So -- when those paths cross again, it is always a wonderful experience.

The song for today came to mind when thinking of being in touch with friends. It seemed to fit well with my ability to be back out in the community <smile>. This version has an interesting duo performing -- all around fun. Enjoy!

You've got a Friend in Me -- Randy Newman & Lyle Lovett