Today was productive -- and it was a Friday even <smile>. Met about course assignments and then finished some of the main documents for one course so they'll be ready for September. That felt good. Slides still need to be updated for that course, but these will be a few small changes and additions to keep things current. I will spend more time on another course next week and hope for the best <smile>. The day ended with a spontaneous dinner out with a friend -- wonderful sushi, with a delightful roasted beet salad and a luscious dessert -- dolce de leche torte -- a wonderful meal with a great friend. A perfect ending to a very full week.
The full moon tonight is the second in the month, so it is termed a blue moon. Be sure to take a look at the moon tonight if you can -- these happen only every few years. The skies are somewhat clear here. We'd had pouring rain overnight that lasted until after noon. There is incredible humidity outside (and sadly, inside). Tomorrow is to be hot with a killer humidex and clearer skies.
The celestial event had me singing today's selection as I worked around the kitchen this evening. It was written by Rogers and Hart when my parents were only toddlers, yet became a hit for various artists over more than six decades.From those many versions, I've chosen one from the middle of that time span. It has a more romantic feel. You should check out the other versions available online; each uses a very different beat and rhythm -- from swing to doo wop to country (like horse clip clop backing -- just weird <grin>). Enjoy!
Well -- back to the desk and all the projects that it holds. We sent off a short proposal today, so will see where that leads. After a trip away, it can be difficult to get back into the groove of the routine aspects of daily work and life. I have a very long list of things to do before I take some time for vacation. Preparation for the fall term always seems to take longer than expected. While I look forward to presenting new and updated materials and different topics, getting these all together can be a challenge. What appears easily doable seems to take two to three times as much effort and time as expected. It is odd that I don't learn that this is the way the world works. <smile>
Getting sucked into a routine way of thinking can sometimes slow completion of projects. It seems to lead to the frittering of time on small tasks not fully instrumental to the larger task at hand. The disruption of thinking by a 'bing' each time a new e-mail arrives is an example. I always turn the volume down so I don't hear the 'you've got mail' call to lose focus. For longer projects, I often wear ear buds to my iPod, which can effectively diminish external noises like the 'bings' or all the activity in the hallway outside my door. Implementing techniques to improve focus can be more difficult when one is tired, though -- I think that is where the fritters find a way into a day.
The song I'm sharing today is an obscure little ditty that made me laugh. It deals with mundane aspects of daily life and a type of boredom that may not be unlike getting caught up in the fritters. This live version is even more entertaining than the recorded version -- though the sound quality is a bit compromised -- it's a trade-off <smile>.. Enjoy!
This one is a day late getting up here. I was in transit much of yesterday and simply unpacked and went to bed when I got back home. It was a long day -- about 12 hours door-to-door -- or hotel-to-home actually. Traffic was heavier than usual heading out of the city to the airport, but I arrived with time to spare. I realized while walking through the Pittsburgh airport that things seemed more relaxed. It is a very large airport -- designed for the heavier traffic as a hub city for a major airline that withdrew and moved to a different city after the place was built. It seems almost deserted though there are many flights and lots of people traversing the area. The sound was not as loud as most crowded larger airports. The music playing overhead was from a classical station, adding to the calmness of the venue. It was refreshing for a traveler.
A slight delay to check a suspected oil leak made customs and immigration in Toronto a bit of a rush. I got to the departure gate with about 15 minutes to spare before boarding began. Weather was fine for the drive home from the airport so things went fairly smoothly after the iffy start to the day. Regardless, travel is tiring so I collapsed into my own bed and slept reasonably well.
The selection chosen to share was what was playing when I fully noted the music at the airport. While not strictly classical, it is orchestral and made me smile when I realized what a nerd I must be to recognize the whole thing <smile>. Enjoy!
A day of contradictions it seems. Heard a couple wonderful speakers -- one that cracked me up, as usual and two others that presented very interesting information. The end of the day meant many people that I see infrequently were heading back home -- that is always a bit melancholy. It often brings a feeling of being a bit lost -- not knowing what I should do after my time being filled for me up until their departure. I did have good conversations with a couple of random people -- these left me smiling. A key piece of software has chosen not to work for me, and that leaves me a bit frowny. So --as I said -- contradictory experiences battling with one another for my emotions.
So -- I am not sure what way is up at the moment. I think I'll just post this and head off to bed to try again tomorrow <smile>. The song that ran through my head was from a great female artist from a few years back <grin>. Enjoy!
I reflected on my career today when a woman I consider a mentor received a life achievement award from her peers. We met only once, but I had seen her speak years before that. I read much that she wrote and it fit well with my doctoral research and the research that I have been doing ever since. The first time I heard her present at a conference she spoke about qualitative research methods -- in particular an unstructured interview. There was a single question -- "Tell me about cholesterol." -- that wasn't really even a question. The rest of the interviews went along like a conversation. The information gathered with this technique answered many of the "why's" rather than just the what and how many. It fascinated me and I began to look for others in the nutrition field using these methods. There were precious few finds for that search. Now, there are many people utilizing these techniques to understand people and allow the creation of messages that can help them with food choices.
So -- today I was able to let her know the impact she has had on my career -- just one of many she has inspired without really knowing. It was good to be able to tell someone this. Far too often, we never get the perfect time to tell someone what they have done for us, or else we just never get around to it. If someone has made a difference in your life, they should know this. Find the words to say or type or write in a real card -- it may make a difference in their life.
The song today speaks to the difficulties along a career path. Staying the course can be difficult, but others can help us to get over the hurdles or choose the path to take. It is sung by a wonderful gravelly voice and is somewhat autobiographical in nature. Enjoy!
Today was spent catching up with a friend and colleague and planning future project work. This is the 'fun stuff' of the job. Lots of great questions out there looking for answers. This is a great way to spend an afternoon <smile>. The evening was spent at dinner with people I've only e-mailed with for the past few years and many other wonderful people working on a larger project together. Putting faces to the typed names on the screen was very helpful and makes the work easier to do when we know the people a bit better.
It is interesting that we can work or talk with people we have never seen or spoken to other than through the typed word. Then meeting face to face -- what a wonderful gift. We went for dinner together and had a very lively conversation -- such fun.
The song today talks about the treasure of making friends and even good acquaintances. The singer is a treasure, too. Enjoy!
Today brought with it some wonderful food experiences. For lunch I ended up at a New Orleans style food restaurant. Amazing! The gumbo was smoky and spicy with fantastic Andouille sausage. It was just what I recalled from my visits to New Orleans. I paired it with a half sandwich of pulled pork with a hickory apple barbecue sauce -- messy but great textures and flavours. It was a festival for the taste buds. For supper a colleague and I went to an Italian restaurant where I had a lovely spaghetti with pesto, olive oil and amazing shrimp. It was a great ending to a busy day.
I've always found it interesting that food flavours and odours can bring such memories. The gumbo today took me back to my visits and food experiences from years back. It is a form of comfort food, it seems. The emotions that the food brought forth surprised me -- they were happy, contented, pleasant feelings -- I was in a world of my own <smile>
The song today brings with it thoughts of the wonderful city from which these foods arose. The song tells of the colours of the city. Enjoy!
Well -- technology can be challenging and can stop things in their tracks. Today I was away from home and pulled out the credit card only to have the clerk ask if I had another one. What?? Seems he couldn't get the transaction to go through so he felt there was an issue with my card. NOT! We managed to figure out something and off I went to call the card company to see what was up. I was on hold for-ev-er. So, I just went to bed and said I'd deal with it in the morning. After some caffeine, I made the call. On hold again, but not for as long. They had no records of any declines so the issue was with the merchant's connection. That made me feel better, as I tend not to carry cash around much and use plastic within my budget limits.
A song that definitely fits this silliness is by a Canadian songstress. The world has gone mad at times it seems <smile>. And only the older among us will recognize the origin of the title and the early sounds on the track. Enjoy!
There are days that I'd like to be a cat. Now, not just any cat but one with a loving home. My choice is based on the cats I've lived with since about age two years. They each had their own personality, which impacted how they reacted to people, types of toys and other animals. What interests me is to have a few days where I could sit and look out the window and contemplate life and the world around me. To nap when I feel tired or listen to nature or to nothing in particular. Many cats seem very content doing these things. I'd like a touch of that to overpower some of the 'worries' that humans seem to carry around with them.
There is a song from some time ago that fits my desire for a quick cross-species experience. It is from an animated movie, filled with fun visuals and great lyrics. Enjoy!
Everybody wants to be a Cat -- from The Aristocats (Disney)
Things are really piling up this week. Many tasks will go unfinished until I get back to them next week. Deadlines are looming for several smaller projects. The smaller items with closer deadlines are taking time away from the larger projects that will take more time, but have later deadlines. I can see a future where things get so crazy busy that the tension may not leave at all. Needless to say it has been an anxious day. A couple tasks were completed with the assistance of others, but the pile on the desk hasn't changed today.
There are a number of items that have my head busy working away and not focussed on the tasks in front of me. Speaking to a friend tonight, she said she could hear the stress in my voice. Interesting -- I didn't think it was that noticeable in my voice -- my face maybe, but not my voice. I've had others see my shoulders around my ears and gently place their hands on the shoulders, look me in the eye, and tell me to breathe. I heard my voice answer -- why? do I look tense? -- but about an octave higher than usual. Tonight it wasn't as great a difference in the pitch but more in the cadence -- at least from my listening.
I'll admit that as I was reading through e-mails that required responses, a line from a song lyric ran through my mind. Just the first line, which is also the title of the selection for today, was what I heard and felt the need to sing out loud <smile>. It is a lesser known song from a group featured here often -- Enjoy!
How many of you watch movies about an historical event or person and become disappointed? I've had this happen a couple of times in just the past few days. On the weekend, I watched Grace of Monaco, which grossly overstated her role in negotiating the end of an embargo imposed on Monaco by France. Once I realized it was going to be only loosely based in fact, I found I could enjoy the fictional story.
Tonight is the third and final instalment of the mini-series Tut, another movie that takes liberties with history. One glaring error that has been pointed out is Tut's appearance. Avan Jogia portrays the Pharaoh as an extremely good looking young man with a reasonable intellect. These aspects are understood at present to be opposite of the actual king. While the external conflict and politics of the kingdom present actual history, much of the palace intrigue may overstate what actually occurred. At times, it seemed that the machinations of the royal court were made to resemble those of other hit TV dramas such as Game of Thrones, the Borgias, and such, just with a different setting. What the mini-series may do is interest people to read more about the ancient Egyptians. Again, if I suspend belief that this is a factual account, I can enjoy the show for its dramatic elements and story-telling. The cinematography is stunning -- Morocco was an excellent choice for filming location. Costumes are very lovely, showing the opulence of the era. While I've noted that one can suspend belief for some movies and just enjoy the show, there are some that are just too ridiculous. Cases in point -- Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter or Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies <grin>.
I felt today's selection spoke well to directors and writers who use fictional devices to alter the story. History is exciting all by itself. It isn't clear why we need to dress it up to make it more exciting for viewers. The song is an older one, but I've chosen a slightly newer cover with three wonderful voices blending in a fantastic arrangement. Enjoy!
(What a) Wonderful World -- Art Garfunkel with James Taylor and Paul Simon
When in the Main Office today, I heard a song and said, "Neil Diamond" -- the admin assistant's eyes lit up as she smiled and said "yes." It had been some time since I'd heard someone listening to a collection of Diamond songs. It felt so 'right' -- relaxing and even freeing. Hearing that first song made me stop and breathe instead of fretting over the papers in my hand or the silly photocopier <smile>.
As I pondered the many songs that this man has recorded, one stuck in my head -- just the title line heard over and over. It describes a part of my personality that shows on the outside. What can I say -- I love the fabric and will always feel like 'me' when wearing a pair -- my favourite clothes from any closet I've had. <grin> Day 227 of the blog holds this song -- Forever in Blue Jeans.
The selection for today is one that embodies the conversation I had about his music. It makes you feel good and is positive in nature. The melody is enticing and the words make me feel better. Enjoy!
I took some time 'off' this afternoon to watch a movie -- Grace of Monaco. The cinematography is stunning for the story about two years during her transition from Hollywood and the US to royalty in Monaco. The film focuses on the political conflict between France and Monaco in the early 1960s and her role in the political realm -- though this is rather inaccurate in several ways. I do recommend it and will likely watch it again -- more for the story written not to learn about history -- for it is not based solidly on fact. <smile>.
I found the theme of personal transformation to be of interest. We all go through many alterations over a lifetime, each very different than the previous or the next. While these changes may feel like major disruptions, they may not be as large as change from Gratia, upper class girl to Grace, major movie star to Princess Grace, part of the House of Grimaldi. The movie presented some of the learning processes needed to begin to cope with a new role in life. Many parallels to 'regular' folk can be found, even if we don't have to face off against a powerful political personage like de Gaulle <smile -- I love alliteration>.
The song chosen for today is from the film -- an aria that speaks to a life changing decision being made by a young woman. It is beautiful and I've chosen a version sung by an incomparable soprano. Also, to celebrate the 68th birthday of a great guitarist and songwriter, I've included a second selection today that speaks to change from a whole other perspective. Enjoy!
Ebben? Ne andro lontana? -- Maria Callas (from La Wally, by Catalani)
While talking on the phone today, I noted that I didn't call as often as I thought of the person at the other end -- nor do I correspond by paper or e-mail notes well. Life seems to speed up and trying to find the time to write a simple note or pick up the phone just doesn't seem to occur. I often find that I have the time to commit to a call and then I notice that it is after bedtime for many people. One does need to be more purposive in this process it seems. We also chatted about how the next generation seems to keep in touch better through technological means -- texting, Skype or FaceTime and such, and social media are used often with occasional phone calls and rarer e-mails. Technology is helping many people to keep in touch with friends from school and for those older people, it is helping us to reconnect with people after many years of being out of touch. With the impending loss of delivery to individual houses, postal missives may become even less common.
I admit that I feel let down when there isn't any 'real' mail in the box -- and bills don't count <smile> though there are fewer of those as things switch over to paperless billing. The art of writing a thank you card, birthday or celebration card, sympathy card or a plain old-fashioned letter seems to be disappearing. The package of letters from home or a romance saved in pretty boxes seems positively Victorian, well maybe Edwardian -- but it is seen as something great-great-grandparents did. While studying some of Florence Nightingales personal papers, her letters to friends and family in England were keys into her mindset and personality. Had someone not saved these, the world would not understand well her life or social situations of the times. Archivists may need to move further into ways of keeping the ever-changing file formats to hang onto the e-musings of people, though many of these will simply be lost. We don't seem to keep large files of old e-mails. Letters and cards are a bit more durable and if kept in drawers or boxes away from uv light, they have greater chances of survival than electronic notes. It may be a major loss of future historians.
The selection today deals with postal correspondence -- letters that carried mundane and important messages. I chose this song for its ability to show the importance of a single letter to communicate a personal and life-changing message. There have been many covers since the original version. The artist singing here gave a different tone to the original with the gravelly, almost bluesy voice. Enjoy!
Today and tomorrow are part of an another historical anniversary. Sixty years ago today Disneyland opened to media and then to the public on July 17, 1955. It was the first of its kind, the theme park that was a major part of an empire that was just beginning to build. Looking at things today, it seems to be a given -- Disney is everywhere it seems. The theme park, though, was a unique family oriented outing. Even today, families plan visits to one of several parks around the world.
My family visited Disneyland when I was a teen. It was a fantastic trip to California. We drove from Saskatchewan and back in two weeks -- a very quick paced trip, but a very memorable one. Disneyland was filled with many fun activities, foods and rides. I still smile when I think of some of the experiences we had there. Now that I am on the east coast of the continent, many friends head to Disney World -- it seems many adults enjoy it as much or more than the kids <smile>. Perhaps someday I'll visit a park again with friends.
One song came to mind when I heard today was the Disneyland anniversary. Though many have covered this song, it was first recorded several years before the first park opening and was originally sung by an insect <smile>. Enjoy!
When you Wish Upon a Star -- Jiminy Cricket (Cliff Edwards)
Seventy-five years ago The Battle of Britain was well under way over the English Channel. The start of this battle for air supremacy is generally recognized to have begun on June 10, 1940 and went through four main phases ending October 31, 1940. The RAF had pilots from many nations, including Commonwealth and European coutries. At its command were 700 fighter aircraft, while the Luftwaffe had 2500. Several memorable Churchill speeches occurred during this period, but the one that still resonates has been named 'The Few." In a speech in the House of Commons in August 1940, he stated, "Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few" -- a statement reflecting the contributions of the aerial combat crews. When it was all over, 1495 airmen had been killed and Operation Sea Lion (plans to invade Britain) had been cancelled. The Blitz continued its demoralizing bombardment until into 1941.
When in London, I've visited Churchill's war rooms under 10 Downing Street -- a cramped area for planning operations during bombing raids in the city. The trek to the top of St. Paul's Cathedral was a once in a lifetime journey -- really -- I have a major fear of heights and this had several terrifying areas. I did, however, make it to the top which served as a lookout during the bombing of the Battle of Britain and later during the Blitz. More power to those people for keeping watch way above the city. The other area that can't be avoided when getting around London, is the underground. Several of the very deep lines were used as shelters during air raids. Walking down those many stairs always reminded me of how they'd been used decades earlier.
While walking and thinking about this today, one song came to mind. While anglo-centric in its lyrics, it is an anthem for the strength of the British people during WWII. The singer, a favourite of my dad's, had the power in her voice to do this one justice. Enjoy!
The third named tropical storm of the season has passed by, though out into the Atlantic. Yesterday and today have had heavy cloud and humidity along with stronger breezes. The latter made the humidity bearable and created a much cooler late afternoon. Tonight is more humid than last night, so it is unlikely that any windows will be opened. I discovered soon after moving to this end of the country, that even though the temperature outside is cooler than in the house, opening the windows serves only to further raise the humidity inside the house. So rather than cooling things, it makes inside feel so much hotter and uncomfortable. This, of course, affects sleep, which in turn affects mood the next day <smile>.
Three storms seems more than usual for this early in the season, even though the expectation is a less active than usual year in the Atlantic. I still marvel when I walk out my front door into a tropical air mass -- in all seasons it is a surprise. I come from a part of the country where we add moisture to the indoor air with humidifiers and now I find myself with two de-humidifiers in the house! The one in the basement runs almost continuously from May to October. I turn the one on upstairs with much less regularity. Doing so is a trade off -- reducing the humidity in the air by 5-10% will increase the ambient temperature significantly -- but its a dry heat <grin>. Hot is hot, take my word for it.
Walking through the thick, heavy, wet air today, reminded me of trips I've made to the tropics. The saving grace was the cloud cover so it wasn't quite like Bangkok. This air reminded me of a song from a while back that seems to encompass the pleasures of tropical areas. The Band is a classic and this was one of the last hits before the group broke apart. Enjoy!
Today an historical event occurred. The probe sent into space over nine years ago has travelled to the end of our solar system, sending back amazing close up photos of Pluto. This seems surreal in many ways. Think about it. Something made by humans and launched into space from our wee blue planet has travelled 3 billion miles over the past 9 years. And the camera systems are still operational and doing what they were designed to do -- let us see the surface of Pluto better than we've ever seen it before.
I grew up with the space program from the earliest forays into space to orbits of the earth to the moon landing and the space stations. It is still amazing to see something new happen. I have brought the technology from space programs into classrooms, particularly as these have affected food technologies and better treatments for osteoporosis and several other diseases. Much of this research occurs in the background and many people don't fully understand the enormity of these programs of discovery. So much more to be learned, but for today, let's take a moment to enjoy this latest achievement.
The selection for today brought to mind travelling out among the stars -- even if we are here on earth, each one of us could travel vicariously today to the end of our solar system. Wow! Enjoy!
Well, it must be Monday! I was awake about 5:30 AM or so and then went back to sleep until the alarm. I woke to a loud vocalization from the cat -- nothing scary or angry sounding, more like a loud question. He is usually very quiet when he speaks and he generally doesn't wake me up. I was in a very deep sleep, so was a bit foggy, but woke up and asked him if he was OK or what was up. I then looked at the clock thinking I might as well get up as the alarm would go off any time now. This is the Monday part -- it was 11:15 AM!!! No alarm sounded. Forty minutes later I was out of the house and to the office much later than planned. But, like a colleague noted when I said it must be Monday -- Monday is great since it is one day closer to Friday <smile>.
I spent a few minutes this morning trying to deal with the 'no alarm' conundrum. I had checked before bed last night to make sure it was turned on and at the right time of day (AM not PM <smile>). I had reset the clock and alarm last Thursday after having unplugged electronics due to a thunderstorm. It seems that I had reset everything well with the small exception of entering 2014 for the year instead of 2015. Since the alarm is set for Mon-Fri only, and the machine understood today to be a Sunday, nothing sounded today. Do any of you remember when setting an alarm meant simply moving the alarm hand to the right time and pulling out the alarm button? Electronics seem to have added way too many steps to a simple 'wake me up' device <grin>.
As I was walking into work today, an earworm entered -- the last line of today's selection repeated over and over again for much of the day. I'm now passing this along to others -- maybe <smile>. Be sure to admire the gorgeous Gretsch and the moog synthesizer. <grin> Enjoy!
Very little really done today -- a relaxing Sunday for the most part. One review submitted and laundry folded, but that was about it for 'work'. I spent time watching a movie, catching up on Facebook messages and doing a lot of 'nothing'.
I'm not sure why when there is a day that has very little on the 'have to do' list that I spend it really doing very little of note. There are always activities that I think it would be nice to have some time to do, yet that found time doesn't translate into something that I thought would be a pleasant way to spend time. I will admit that I am very tired today. The past two nights were filled with louder than required parties in my neighbourhood that didn't end until between 1 and 2 AM. This is another activity that baffles me. I really don't understand the need to play music at a deafening level. Each of thefour offending events were not next door but three doors away for one and the rest were 1/2 to a block away. Feeling tired may have made my brain decide to do nothing from that 'fun to do' list and instead just rest. So -- that is what I did <smile> and I enjoyed it.
The selection for today deals with the concept of a stay-cation or just a day off from it all. I enjoy the relaxed tempo and rhythms of this song along with the great voice. Enjoy!
This time of year is great. The local strawberry growers have fresh juicy berries available. There are several fields just outside of town, with some offering u-pick. It takes a long time to pick enough berries for jam and freezing, so I tend to buy a couple quarts each week. I always plan to put one quart in the freezer to mix with other fruits in crisps during the winter, yet somehow that never occurs. Well, you know what they say about good intentions <sigh>.
I have several favourite ways to prepare fresh strawberries. Other than jam -- strawberry or strawberry/rhubarb -- the first dessert dish I made was strawberries Romanov. This contains sliced berries with a touch of Grand Marnier and served with whipped topping of your choice. My favourite take on a strawberry shortcake-type dessert uses sponge cake as the base. The other topping is a heated mixture of berries, brown sugar, butter, black pepper and balsamic vinegar. To serve either topping, use ice cream or whipped topping with the cake and berry mixture. The other fave I'll share today is a spinach and strawberry salad. Many things can be used depending what is available. I use red onion or green onion, toasted almonds, and sometimes add green pepper or mushrooms. The dressing I make is orange juice base with red wine vinegar, fresh ginger and honey. Sometimes I add poppy seeds to the dressing. Many other ways to enjoy fresh strawberries exist, but these are the three things I try to make each year but new recipes are always welcomed.
The title of the song today reminds me of a recipe my brother has made well in the past <smile>. It also encompasses the angst of young love and is reminiscent of the many emotions of young adulthood. I love the group performing. Enjoy!
The day began with some errands -- trips to the two grocery stores and the gas station. What should have taken an hour took two. All places were busy today. It is Friday, but there was more to it than that. The gas station was training a new cashier and there were 8 or more of us crammed in the little place hoping to pay <smirk>. Once a second person took on those with credit or debit cards, the line moved along quickly. The grocery stores were very busy -- filled with many people who appeared to be visitors to the area. Groups of tourists are in town for the big cultural festival this week -- the Highland Games -- the ancient heavy games run this weekend as well as dancing and pipe band competitions. The others that were most visible were the old and young hippies and a mixture of colourfully dressed folks. These were all stocking up for an outdoor concert this weekend somewhere in the woods outside town. Walking down Main Street later there were many people taking photos of the area, some speaking languages not usually heard on the street. (All our downtown street signs are tri-lingual -- English, French and Scottish Gaelic).
This time of year is interesting. Meeting visitors, often to help guide them somewhere, can be fun. Learning where they are from can be enlightening. I've met people from Europe, Australia, and across North America. I guess I take this little town for granted sometimes and forget how unique it can be for visitors and residents alike. The summer repertory theatre opened yesterday and the multiple beaches in the surrounding area are ready for use. We also had a couple large conferences on campus this past week, with visitors from across the country. The population of 5000 people swells in the summer due to all the visitors. This economic activity keeps the local businesses operating.
A song that came to mind today speaks to the positive aspects of meeting new people as well it carries a hint of 'hippy-dom' <smile>. Enjoy!
Over the past few days, by bedtime I've found myself feeling that I could fall asleep anywhere. Yet, when I turn the lights out and lay down, the brain kicks in and revisits all those things I didn't say in the past several weeks. For some reason, these thoughts are always far from soothing and may even stimulate adrenaline release from frustration or something akin to anger. Needless to say, it takes longer than expected to get to sleep making the morning alarm even more jarring than usual. The resulting lack of sleep does little to help the brain work through the bothersome ideas, but here I am doing just that <smile>.
The root of things seems to be a lack of control over what happens to me. Logic dictates that I don't have the power to control everything around me or even in me. So why does the brain refuse to accept this? It seems not all things are based in logical reasoning <grin>. If I had asked or said something in the situations at the centre of my over-tired wakefulness, would it have really changed the outcome? Not likely. Would I feel satisfied that I'd at least tried? Perhaps not -- something else might be found that could have been said or done. It is a never-ending merry-go-round -- and I am prone to vertigo, so should stand clear of such devices -- real or imaginary. Right? <smile>
A line from the chorus of a song struck a chord with me today -- a perfect metaphor for all those missed opportunities and words not said. The title says it all -- the need to keep focus on the individual. Enjoy!
Ever have one of those days when all priorities need to shift around? Meetings and writing time planned for today had to be shifted several times due to outside influences. It wasn't impossible to do, but seemed almost absurd by mid-afternoon when one meeting had been moved three times between 1 PM and 3 PM. At the same time, the couple of hours of writing time became compressed as the meeting was moved forward leaving inadequate time to really start something. The meeting went well even when shorter than planned. The writing came home with me tonight and moved forward. Each of these tasks has carry over into tomorrow as had been planned. Hopefully tomorrow will not be as disrupted as today so things are completed and submitted tomorrow as needed.
Tomorrow -- this day that is always a day away has been subject to much writing and thought. It provides us with hope or a second chance. It is an interesting concept and a lot of pressure to put on a 24-hour period. As I was thinking through the shifting today, I began thinking of tomorrow. There is no promise that it will be as we hope it to be or something else entirely. The moving work plan today wasn't unbearable, it just took some extra energy to rework the plan. The hope is that tomorrow will be different. That hope goes without saying as every day brings new insights, new opportunities and maybe new hurdles. So -- tomorrow will be different <smile>.
There was a lyric that came to mind this afternoon when my mind went to the 'be careful what you wish for' place. The whole thing made me smile then. Enjoy!
Today, like yesterday, was a day in the mid-to upper 20s. The sun was strong and hot. Luckily there were light winds each day to help remain comfortable when walking in the heat. Overnight the temps cooled enough to drop the inside temperature just a bit. It helps to begin a hot day with a slightly cooler house rather than add to an already overly hot indoor temperature. Tonight the temp will drop but is expected to be right at the dew point. This generally means an open window is like accessing a river. It smells and feels wet and only raises the 'feel like' temp inside. I'm hoping there will be enough wind before the dew point is reached to help cool the air inside.
I'm not one to enjoy hot days, but if there is some air movement the day can be manageable. Friends like to sit out on the patio or at sidewalk tables to eat or enjoy a drink. I find this very uncomfortable. Sun and I haven't generally gotten along. Given my northern European skin shade, I tend to burn quite readily. I also have allergies to several flowering plants, so find more time outside means more difficulty breathing. But again, a breeze can help. Cooling the house benefits from windows on all sides, yet this house wasn't built that way. Prevailing winds are often westerly and windows and doors are on north and south sides only. As a friend noted, you can hear the wind going by but it just won't go through the window. <smile>
With thoughts such as these, one particular song went through my head. Many covers have been done, but there is only one version that is stuck in my head today. Enjoy!
Locally this past weekend, a major folk festival returned. Last year, Hurricane Arthur forced the cancellation of the Stan Rogers Folk Festival, an international festival of song-writing held in the tiny village of Canso, NS. While Rogers was born in Ontario, he spent summers in the Guysborough County area where Canso is located. This year saw 60 performers on seven stages over the three day event. Contrary to most years, the weather was drier than usual -- and a bit warmer. Canso sits out into the Atlantic and is often visited by rain and cooler temperatures, but not this year. Perhaps it was nature's way of apologizing for the early hurricane we had last year.
Rogers, a prolific song-writer, recorded and performed many wonderful songs. The lyrics told the stories of hardships, history and life events from across Canada , with many of these songs having a maritime flavour. He died at age 34 in a plane filled with smoke and then fire -- after an emergency landing. One can only imagine what more he might have created had he lived longer.
Canso has been inhabited since 1604 and was site of a British fort built in the 1700s. The area was part of many wars including those between Britain and France and the American Revolution. Fisheries and processing plants were the major economic processes until the collapse of many of the Atlantic fisheries in the past 20 years. The StanFest brings large crowds from the province and internationally, so plays an important role in the local economy. Canso is an hour and a bit away from where I live. Locally, we have lobster fishers and a tuna fleet. It is a difficult life, much like primary producers anywhere in the country.
I chose one song for today that highlights the loss of fishing incomes. The video shows many of the fishing fleets as well as the dilapidated fishing shacks and wooden boats where this way of life had to be abandoned. The lyrics tell a story of the difficulties with industrial trawlers yet maintains the dignity and pride felt by smaller fishers. Enjoy!
"Food is memories." This idea was stated several time throughout the film "The Hundred Foot Journey." It made me think of the connections that we have with and through food. Researchers have used a life course method to determine how food choices change over a lifetime. Participants are asked to map the main life events over a number of years and then are asked to think of how these events affected food choice behaviours -- or if they did at all. These memory anchors help us to recall more effectively the mundane aspects of our days. Not that I believe food intake to be mundane, but it often becomes routine. We may not recognize the small changes in our food choices without assistance and context.
Food can also trigger memories. Meat loaf, apple crisp (topped with brown sugar and butter mixture), and a noodle casserole bring back memories of youth and family meals. Fresh white rolls take me to my grandmother's kitchen every time. Thai green curry with fragrant rice reminds me of the meal we had in Chiang Mai -- my one cup bowl of curry had one-quarter cup of fresh green chilies, which I did not consume <smile>. A mai tai can take me to Waikiki Beach where friends and I watched the sunset over the ocean. So food can bring on memories and memories of life events can bring memories of food. Interesting <smile>.
"The Hundred Foot Journey' contained many themes, but the acceptance of difference seemed prominent. This led to the mixing of Indian and French food traditions. I've chosen two selections to share today. The first is from the movie. It was part of the original score and played over the final credits. Its fusion style mirrored that seen in the story. The second selection deals with memories in a tongue-in-cheek manner. Enjoy!
Have you ever been woken from a deep sleep and couldn't make sense of things? The phone rang this morning and I woke and held it in my hand trying to figure out which button was 'talk' and which was 'off.' This may sound odd, but the portable for the house land line has these two items on opposite sides than the cell (and obviously the latter is not a smart phone <smile>). I did answer before it shifted to voice mail. After that the whole day seemed a bit foggy. During supper I turned on the Atco QE II Cup from Spruce Meadows (international show jumping) to watch the 2-hour competition. I saw the first few riders while eating, and then fell asleep, waking up when they were announcing the jump-off. I then did a few quick chores and walked over to buy milk. At the store, I felt that I was still way too dopey feeling -- like sleepwalking but partly awake. Bizarre <smile>.
I know much of this is part of not getting to sleep until very late due to partying neighbours and having the sleep disrupted by a phone call. The rest of the reason I'll put down to still healing and dealing with pain. Things are improving, but I'm afraid I'll fall asleep in public somewhere before this is all over. <smile> This thought brought a song line to mind. Enjoy!
This is the end of an odd week. With the holiday falling on Wednesday this year, it seemed the week had two Mondays <yikes>. I am definitely ready for the weekend. There is some housework and 'work' work to do, but it can be done when and where I please <smile>.
Music is a key part of life for me -- otherwise this blog wouldn't exist <smile>. Music of a wide variety of genres and styles can be pleasing. I try to keep an open mind. While I often fall back to the music of my youth, as most people do (or will do), I do choose to listen to selections from before I was born and from current day - when I am chronologically not a youth, but psychologically am youthful <grin>. Those who follow this blog will be familiar with the breadth of musical stylings.They've been termed eclectic -- a term that I have come to embrace. It is far better than 'all over the map' or 'confused' or 'eccentric' <smile>, which were the terms that I often used when thinking about my musical tastes. It works for me, and seems to work for many others, too.
Listening to the morning news magazine program today, I heard a wonderful group that has been around for a while now. Their a cappella style mixed with beatbox skills is stunning -- no instruments at all used in their performances. I love the lyrics of this song as they present music as a refuge. This musical selection showcases the group members' broad vocal skills. Enjoy!
The temperature moved into the summer range today -- solid mid-20s with a touch of humidity. So -- summer must be here. Students got their report cards earlier this week and are exercising their new found freedom in small groups around town. So -- summer really must be here. <smile>
Summer is a change of pace from the other 9 months of the year. It is the traditional time of family vacations due to the lack of school classes. Educators almost have to take vacation during the summer months since they are in classrooms for Fall, Winter and Spring. A 3-4 week break then just won't happen. Weather and travel can be easier and even staying home allows you to do fun things around the house or just out in the area -- walks, drives, BBQs, swimming, festivals of art, music, and culture, bonfires and so many other wonderful events. As a teenager, we'd spend summer evenings cruising Main Street in our parents cars -- going up and down the main drag and racking up many miles over the course of an evening. We'd all chip in for gas -- and it was a pittance compared to fuel costs today <smile>. Those were heady, fun-filled days <grin>.
The song chosen for today explains the activities of families and teens once summer arrives. The lyrics and video are fun as are the pair performing. Enjoy!
Summertime -- DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince (aka Will Smith)
Happy Canada Day! The day was relaxed as a holiday should be. The evening was spent with friends at an annual gathering to build your own pizza followed by fireworks in the yard. It was a fantastic event as usual. The pizzas constructed were tasty, original and even artistic. We were joined this year by a visiting researcher and his wife who are from Greece. It made the day even more special to spend it with visitors to the country.
No matter where they occur, fireworks displays seem to be filled with delight -- lots of 'ooos' and 'aaawws' -- and spontaneous clapping. Tonight was no different. It is interesting that blowing things up and creating beautiful skyward displays of sparkling embers can create the happy reaction that it does. The noises alone can be frightening. I've heard several people say that adrenaline is part of the excitement of the fireworks. So feeling the concussions of the explosions deep inside -- the liver rattling effect -- and seeing the sparks and embers explode at what seems to be directly over one's head can be part of the delight of the experience. Yet, it is all about context. I recall a family who had just emigrated from Northern Ireland to Saskatchewan in the 1970s. At a sale day for a large department store, a balloon popped and the family of three children and their mother were instantly on the floor tucked up close to display counters. Context. I expect that there are people for whom the explosion of fireworks brings less than pleasant feelings and memories. We live in a nation where few of us have experienced the explosions of wars -- for this we are very lucky.
There are compositions that work very well as accompaniments to fireworks, such as Handel's 'Music for the Royal Fireworks' -- which was the soundtrack to the display witnessed tonight. The selection for the blog today is another composition that seems made for a fireworks display. Enjoy!
Heavy cloud hung over us most of the day again, with skies clearing by evening -- in time to see the gorgeous full moon. The highlight of the day was an evening out at a dinner to support the local Visitor Information Centre. It was an amazing five course dinner (small servings so no feeling over full <smile>) and each was paired with a wine from the Annapolis Valley vineyard -- Luckett winery. There were wonderful taste sensations, great conversations and new acquaintances made. My favourite wines were the two fuller reds -- no surprise there. The others were all pleasant and the foods made each flavour profile pop. The winery owners spoke to each wine letting us know which local grapes were used for each and the production techniques used. It was an enjoyable evening ending with a hug from the chef.
For a small town and a small province, there are many wonderful wineries, craft beer and cider brewers, and artisan distilleries. The amazing chefs throughout the province operate highly rated establishments that highlight the foods of the region -- seafood, artisan fromageries, fruits, vegetables, grains, and so many other locally grown and marketed food products. Tourism is a large part of the provincial economy -- the quaint fishing villages, spectacular seascapes, multiple beaches, theatre troupes and many cultural communities draw tourists from around the world. Our little town grows in number during the school year with students and in the summer months from tourists.
The song for today comes from the lovely dinner tonight. The song went through my head with the voice of the singer-songwriter. I have chosen, though, a cover by a group. Enjoy!
