Day 2 - 303 -- Sweet Treats

Today is Halloween in this part of the world. It hasn't been my favourite holiday. As a kid, I'd dress up and go out with family and friends to gather candy from the neighbourhood. It felt odd going to homes of people we didn't know and asking for something. I still find this accepted form of begging somewhat unsettling. To be truthful, I have had 2 people come to the door in 17 years, so tonight I plan to go out with a friend who also dislikes the tradition of the day. I know I won't miss much at home. The house sits way back form the street -- 75-100 feet back and even with the house light on it is difficult to see in the dark walking down the driveway. I have friends who love this day and could likely do amazing things with my yard, but I'm just not there. Over my back fence is a grave yard, so I'm not sure those neighbours find the day all that exciting, either <smile>.

The one thing that I thought about today was the candy intake over the next week or so <smile>. Don't get me wrong, I eat sugary things. It seems that Halloween is the 'holiday' during which more chocolate is sold than any other holiday of the year. That surprised me, until I realized that the boxes of mini bars have been available since before Labour Day, so folks are buying several before today arrives --and eating them for 2 months. <smile>  Sadly, that chocolate is not high quality and very unlikely to be fair trade. Someone somewhere who is already very wealthy makes gobs more money from us as we buy into purchasing things way ahead of the time for their intended purpose. Christmas stuff has been out for a while and we begin the Easter egg ads long before Valentine's Day has past. The marketing of it all bothers me, I guess <smile>.

There was only one song that came to mind that fit the topic of the day. It is from a while back.It debuted on an animated show based on a comic book series. Enjoy!

Sugar, Sugar -- The Archies

Day 2 - 302 -- Visiting winds

The word of the day was wind. It was a medium to strong wind varying throughout the day. The temperature was warmer in the middle of the day but was much cooler by the end of the work day. After a stop for a beverage with friends, the temperature had fallen a bit more and the wind had picked up considerably. The 3 block walk home left me very chilled even with the fleece layer under the rain and wind proof jacket. A hoodie would have helped my ears feel better, I'm sure. I guess I'll have to begin carrying a headband in my coat pocket and not just some thin mitts. That old Girl Guide training coming to the fore -- be prepared <smile>.

Wind is another meteorological event that has been used metaphorically in communications. We all know the feeling of wind pushing us in a direction we hadn't planned to travel. A gentle breeze can carry the smells of the seasons -- flowers, wet earth, or that particular smell of very cold air. It can also carry with it allergens that cause us to sneeze or become congested. In a rain storm, wind can intensify the rain, leading to that painful rain hitting your face. I've often maintained that the winter wind with snow, ice pellets or rain could be a great spa treatment since it will remove the top layer of skin and may well be used in place of a razor. <smile>

The selection of the day echoes the thoughts I've had with the winds of the past couple of days and how their ebb and flow mirror the ups and downs of our days. This is one of my favourite singers who recognized our connections to the earth. Enjoy!

Windsong -- John Denver

Day 2 - 301 -- Another Rainy Day

The remnants of Hurricane Patricia and an Alberta clipper blew through today. The wind blew rain sideways in waves while I was out to visit the physio. I had to dry off the rain gear before hanging it up there and again when I got back to the office. At least the new outerwear kept my clothes dry, but I think I need gore tex gloves <smile>. Good news from the physio -- the pain has been less but it seems that the strength is better than 4 weeks ago. I have more strengthening and stretching exercises to do to help get things into a stronger place. I have another appointment for a checkup in a few weeks.

Rain can be overwhelming when driving in heavy downpours; yet somehow it can be quite comforting when not accompanied by gusty winds. The temperature was warmer today, about 16-18C, so the rain was not as startling as it can be in much cooler temperatures -- nothing worse than wet mitts <smile>.  The greyness of a very cloudy day can be challenging and it is understandable why it is used as a metaphor for sadness. I've generally found it to be somewhat more positive -- washing away the old and making way for the new. While a week or two of greyness and rain can become very oppressive, a single day here and there are refreshing in some ways.

The selection chosen for today contains lyrics that use several metaphors with rain at the centre. To me it does cover the aspect of washing away or renewal that I'd pondered today -- even the water off a duck's back idiom fits here. Enjoy!

Bring on the Rain -- Jo Dee Messina ft. Tim McGraw

Day 2 - 300 -- Time Distortion

Most of the day, I have felt that it was Thursday -- not Wednesday.  I guess that means that not only do I gain an hour at time change this weekend, but I seem to gain a virtual day during the week. <smile> If only it worked that way. I need several days to get caught up on work stuff and several more to catch up on sleep, house stuff and some planning stuff. Even as I type this, I recalled one more report due on Friday. So -- good thing that tomorrow is only Thursday it seems. I wonder if this sort of time distortion occurs more when stress increases past that healthy point -- hmmm.

Time is such an odd concept and one that can feel different than reality. Things go faster or slower and sometimes they go just as planned. I walked into a dark classroom this morning with no students. One came up behind me and was also confused as to why no one was there yet. One clock in the office said it was 8 past the hour and it really was on the hour (classes start at 15 past the hour).  So -- even technology can move faster or slower somewhat like my old tick-tock clock at home.  It is battery-free and used to lose a few minutes each hour -- so about 15-20 minutes lost overnight.. It is now hours behind by morning -- losing 2 hours or more in each 12 hour time block. The sound is comforting and I know not to rely on the position of the hands.

The song today seemed to fit the my timey-wimey musings <smile>. The lyrics also contain some advice that sounds quite sensible -- may not be easily operationalized though. Enjoy!

Slow Down -- Kenny Chesney

Day 2 - 299 -- Tough Times All Over

Tuesdays are the long and full days of each week. Classes and meetings seem to leave little time to attend to the tasks that arise from these activities or even to squeeze in lunch. This day begins very early, which is always a challenge for me -- I truly am a night owl and mornings and I just do not get along well at all. The past couple of weeks, I've been so tired when I get home that I fall asleep just after eating supper -- when I've sat down with the TV while eating. Often this is for 15-30 minutes, but the past two weeks have been 2 hour sleeps -- just can't call that a nap. I am not really awake enough after to do much  -- this blog and checking social media and I'm out for the night. Doesn't sound too bad, except the evenings at this time of year do need a couple of hours of slower work, but work nonetheless, that is required to get through meetings of the coming day or two. This time in each term finds campus looking like the centre of the zombie apocalypse.

While in front of the TV this week watching reruns of MASH, I suddenly recognized one of the actors from the early episodes as part of a musical dynasty. Not sure why I never realized who played Captain Calvin Spalding. The part had few spoken lines but there were occasional folk-style songs sung by this surgeon. The character didn't last into the next season, but did some interesting social commentary through music while he was there. One song from his vast recordings fits the feeling of the day -- a bit overwhelmed with the world and yet noting that there are many blessings within the day. Enjoy!

Hard Day on the Planet -- Loudon Wainwright III

Day 2 - 298 -- Unexpected Events

Today began with an unusual situation and it seemed to seep into parts of the remainder of the day. It began with a trip to the hospital lab for the annual bloodwork. Now this includes the need for a 12 hour fast. I eat into the evening for two reasons -- to take one med and to stop me from waking at 3 AM needing to eat. I have done this for the majority of my life. So -- I don't go to the lab for 8 AM. Today I showed up just after 10:30. Usually this means I'm out in about 30 minutes depending on the number of other people there. Well, it seems since August there has been difficulty filling a position to increase staff numbers to full staffing. Lab technology seems to be a profession with inadequate trained individuals to fill the jobs available. The admin has begun lab services at 6:30 AM and will stop registering people at 11:30 AM. All those registered by that time will have their lab requisitions completed on that day. I stayed for an hour. The people on either side of me had been there for 2-3 hours and my number was 30 past their numbers. During that hour only 3 people were seen. There was an added difficulty of someone being off sick today, so there was only one woman for the outpatients and she also had to stop and head to the floors when stat orders arrived. I was beginning to feel very hungry and cranky so I took my requisition and stickers back to the desk -- gave them the stickers and kept my req for another day. At least now I know that I have to find 2-3 hours just in case this additional shortage occurs again during cold and flu season. In their defense this was a very busy day with unusual circumstances at their end. All this was followed by some great things, mediocre things and a couple of bad news items.

What the day showed me was that the simple smile and wave from a student and the bits of sunshine through the clouds today really can give one moments of positive thought in the midst of the chaos. There was really only one song for a day like today -- one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's wonderful melodies. Enjoy!

Unexpected Song -- Michael Crawford

Day 2 - 297 -- Kitchen Traditions

Cooking seems to fit this time of year well. This weekend I did some fall fruit crisps and one baked pork chop recipe from my childhood -- and a cookbook older than me that belonged to my Grandmother. the book is held together with an elastic band since the cover and pages are not longer stitched together at the beginning and end of the book. The cover and pages are breaking into bits each time I pull it out of the resealable plastic bag -- seems it was printed in the days before non-acid paper. I love this book as it shows its age well and is still very usable. My grandma pasted and taped onto the blank pages recipes from the newspapers and magazines that she had tried and chose to keep. There are old envelopes with recipes handwritten on the back -- she must have heard them on the radio or TV. The pages contain handwritten notes -- she used a 3-star system and in one or two cases wrote an emphatic 'NO' in capital letters as a reminder to move on next time that one caught her eye. It is a living history. She hasn't been with us for about 30 years and yet her voice is in my cooking each time I use this book. I also have used it as an example of accretion and erosion in the classroom -- erosion since it is falling apart from wear and accretion for the pages with stains that show where the most used recipes were.

Cooking is something that I've always enjoyed. There is a unique sense of satisfaction making something and then sharing it with others. Even enjoying it on my own is pleasant. A new addition to my cookbook collection is a book of recipes for one that are somewhat elevated cuisine -- The Pleasures of Cooking for One. The author is Judith Jones, the former Knopf editor who brought Mastering the Art of French Cooking to print and remained Julia Childs' editor. (Another interesting fact -- Jones brought The Diary of Anne Frank to the English-language market after other editors had chosen to ignore it. Imagine!) I often think of cooking as an art form not unlike music. Understanding the ingredients and how to put things together has allowed me to develop recipes of my own. I've said someday I'll put them down into a book -- likely after retirement <smile>. Whether new or old recipes, each carries a type of memory and sense of belonging. 

For this topic, there was one line that brought me to the selection for today. There are many versions of this song. The version shared here is from an early rock and roll duo. Enjoy! 

Memories are made of This -- The Everly Brothers

Day 2 - 296 -- Reconciling Negativity

A number of conversations lately have involved discussion of unfairness of one sort or another -- those things that take a toll on each of us. It is a wonder that we all encounter situations where we are made to feel small and less than useful. It seems odd that many losses have occurred in multiple situations within our daily lives that make us feel we are the only ones in such a situation. Often these have occurred and then affected us over a longer term. There are those encounters that cause a feeling of consternation -- encounters with people we may not even know and yet they have left us with a negative emotion. Others are from those we know -- they leave us or hang around longer than we should have let them. Relationships with humans can be so complex <smile>.

One counselor I read about called the negative individuals 'emotional vampires' -- a fitting metaphor for this week before Hallowe'en. <smile>. Getting past such situations can be extremely difficult and may hang around for years and years -- popping up when we least expect to have such things revisit us.  It seems many of us are working to reconcile such hurtful events. It seems that moving past these things can occur, but there may always be a day when it resurfaces briefly. That seems like a manageable goal.

The song for today came to mind while reading about such relationships. It seems there is a power imbalance that manifests in such linkages. This song definitely speaks to that as well as working to get past the hurt. I do love the complexity of this melody and the lyrics, both of which ebb and flow just as emotions seem to do. I am sharing two versions -- the original and a newer version from a movie. While I enjoy them both, the latter with its amazing crescendo reminds me more of the imaginary conversations that may happen when alone in the car or shower or lying awake some night..Enjoy!

The Winner takes it All -- ABBA

The Winner takes it All -- Meryl Streep (from Mamma Mia!)

Day 2 - 295 -- Reconnecting

Today was another crazy day filled with way too much work to fit. I was at work for 10 hours getting through things for meetings next week. This weekend will be filled with more grading -- it is that time of year again, it seems. I do hope to have some time to just be me and do something fun -- besides the laundry and sweeping and dusting, that is <grin>.

This past week I've exchanged several e-mails with a friend and former colleague -- generally we do a birthday and Christmas e-mail. It has been fun to reconnect and 'chat' like we used to do in person. This made me think of many others with whom I haven't been in contact with for years. For many, I'm not sure where they even live now. That doesn't make me think of them less often, just that I can't reach out via phone or social media to check in with them.

This morning I heard a song, the new single from the album released today. The song had some lines that fit my thoughts about wanting to connect with people I haven't seen is long while. It has been a few years between albums for this artist and her strong, heartfelt vocals still don't disappoint. Enjoy!

Hello -- Adele

Day 2 - 294 -- Some Positive Feedback

It has been a very full day. Several ongoing tasks moved to the next stage and I prepared for the events of tomorrow. Each task took some critical thought and writing, yet time seemed to be on my side for once this week <smile>.  A major pile of grading began to dwindle as the day progressed, with the last paper graded by mid-evening. There are still several online discussion and journal entries that need to be graded, but they will have to wait until tomorrow -- and likely into the weekend.

A piece of good news arrived unexpectedly today when a colleague notified me that a conference proposal had been accepted. Actually, two proposals were accepted. So now that work moves up on the priority list in a major way <smile>.  All is good and this provided me with some positive feedback on past and future work.

The song I chose for today ran through my head a bit as positive events occurred. The message is one that I often think about when it comes to the news we hear. I always enjoy listening to this Canadian singer (from just down the highway) and this unplugged version is almost perfect. Enjoy!

A Little Good News -- Anne Murray

Day 2 - 293 -- Where were you at 4:29 PM?

Today is Back to the Future Day. In 1989, the sequel Back to the Future II had Dr Brown and Marty McFly travelling to the future. Where did they go -- or is that When did they go? -- to 4:29 PM Wednesday October 21, 2015. I guess it sounded like a long time away. Today has been a social media and news media frenzy with multiple postings and news stories. Most media stories looked at what technological dreams have come to life in the intervening 26 years. In an interview the writers of the movie script have said that they tried to let their imaginations go and came up with some interesting futuristic technologies for everyday living. While the flying car shtick was done, it wasn't expected that we'd all be flying into work or the grocery store <smile>. Many of their imaginings have arrived and are in use by many people today -- paying with technology (like a smartphone), video conferencing on large screens in the home (or small screens elsewhere), drones for personal use, garbage becoming fuel for vehicles, and using biometrics to open doors or computers and tablets (iris scanning and thumb prints). Sadly the hoverboard hasn't quite made it into mainstream use, though I know it would likely induce vertigo <smile>.

Imagination and dreams can become reality. It just takes perseverance. Today I heard an interview with some songwriters/singers who were likely just new to the world when the Back to the Future II movie was released (couldn't find their ages online easily). They have been writing songs for many artists and have just released their new album -- 'That's what dreams are made of".  The duo are brothers who grew up in the projects in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Their style is eclectic -- hip-hop, pop, R&B, and what has been termed calypso-reggae fusion. Truly interesting and extremely inspirational for sticking to the dream they had as youngsters.

The song today comes from this duo -- R City (or Rock City in homage to their home island). It comes from the story of their parents, but has been brought forward so others can see themselves in the story.  I love this one and the video, too. Enjoy!

Locked Away -- R City ft. Adam Levine

Day 2 - 292 -- Changing Tides

Change is the word of the day. Leading up to the end of the longest campaign in modern history, the media billed this election as history making. They must have had a crystal ball because many historical aspects surfaced yesterday.  Never in Canadian history have there been so many social minorities running as candidates -- people of colour, aboriginal decent, different sexual orientations, and women. From the results, it is clear that people were voting for change. A party that went in to the election holding 34 seats in parliament (total seats = 338) came out winning 184 seats -- the largest gain in Canadian history. At the end of the day, this majority government will mean the first time in history that Canada will have a sitting Prime Minister who is the son of a former Prime Minister. Changes.

The Chinese character for change is made of two characters -- one for opportunity and one for danger. That sums up change quite well -- it needs to be approached with caution while being prepared for all eventualities. The desire for change has been seen in elections in many countries. It seems to be a cycle, where voters choose something new every few years when they tire of the status quo. Voter turnout was higher than recent elections -- and like I've said to many people, I don't care how you vote, but I do care that you vote. Celebrating this ability to choose regardless of the outcome is a joy of democracy.

There were so many themes running through my head today, that coming to a song that could fit was difficult. I did find one that metaphorically seems to fit the theme of change.  Enjoy!

Correction (20 Oct 2019): the Chinese character story is not actually correct, though it continues to be communicated by many people -- including me in this blog. The first reported use of this story occurred in a speech by President J.F. Kennedy)

Brand New Day -- Van Morrison

Day 2 - 291 -- Possibilities In Play

My first glimpse out the window today showed that the ground had magically changed colour. By the time I returned home the ground was green and leaf covered again. Hopefully whatever playful imp that tried to mess with our minds will take a break for a long while.  Based on the news coverage tonight, it may be worth the rest, since people may be focused elsewhere once all results are in for the election.

At this end of the country there is a change underway and not just the colour of the ground. As the evening wears into the wee small hours, the results from the rest of the country will become clear. I may have to wait for the evening news rerun at 6 AM since I have the early class tomorrow -- in class and on point by 8:15.

I will note that it will be pleasant to not have to hear or see any political ads for a while. It often makes me think of a song from the musical Evita, when I see campaigns spinning messages -- often in a facetious way -- I'm really not that jaded <smile>. I will share that selection with you all today. Enjoy!

The Art of the Possible -- Patti Lupone, Bob Gunton and chorus of generals

Day 2 - 290 -- Not the S-Word!?!

Awoke this morning feeling a little cool. Once up and moving around things began feeling a bit better, but not really warm. The day was mainly cloudy and rain began around supper. I spent the day indoors grading the huge pile for one class. Each paper seems to take 30 minutes or more and I still have way too many to get them finished for class Tuesday -- my absolute deadline is Friday, but I do hope I can get through them all before then. Tomorrow afternoon and evening should help whittle the pile down to just a few for the next day.

While grading I had the TV on in the background -- a type of white noise that drowns out any distractions from outside. The weather network noted that rain was expected evening, overnight and into tomorrow. I was somewhat dismayed to hear the S-word added for some of the overnight hours, turning back to rain by morning. Now it really is too early to use this word or see the physical manifestation of what the word represents. I can't even bring myself to say or even type the word -- like that alone would make it very, very real. Others across the country have had this word and precipitation thrown around in their areas, with enough falling to actually measure. <shudder> 

I've chosen a song about rain for today -- but if you were to substitute the s-word for rain, it would sum up my feeling exactly. Enjoy!

Hold Back the Rain -- Duran Duran 

Day 2 - 289 -- Loss of a Hero

This past week the world lost a hero. Ken Taylor, former ambassador to Iran died on Thursday.  This man was responsible for sheltering six US citizens who had escaped as their embassy in Tehran was over-run. The 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis followed that takeover, while the Canadian Caper, as it came to be called, ensured that the six people were hidden and provided with passports in order to leave the country. His life continued in the diplomatic corps and corporate world. He received many accolades for his part in the event. The Hollywood movie 'Argo'  addressed parts of the CIA role in the rescue of the six hidden people, yet it downplayed the 3-month process of hiding these people in private homes and the Canadian embassy in Tehran and issuing Canadian passports. At TIFF, Ben Afleck noted that without the Canadian role the CIA efforts would not have succeeded. A documentary called 'Our Man in Tehran' clarified the roles in the incident.

Taylor didn't talk much about the events of 1979 except to say that anyone would have done it. That seems the mark of a true hero -- they just see it as something anyone in a similar situation might try -- sort of self-deprecating. Stories of those who just do what they think is right at the time without stopping to think too much about personal threats, can be uplifting. It brings a vision that the 'milk of human kindness' does exist. Sadly, many of the everyday heroes are never reported in the evening news, which seems to have become much more sensationalist over time.

The selection for today speaks about an everyday, ordinary hero. It seemed to fit the man presented here. Enjoy!

My Hero -- Foo Fighters

Day 2 - 288 -- A Day to Address Hunger

October 16 is World Food Day. The date was chosen to mark the founding of the UN's FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) just after World War II ended. The theme this year deals with protection of social and agricultural issues -- those that can lead to food insecurity among rural dwellers. Rural poverty and lack of access to the basic necessities of life causes people to move to cities -- that move to urbanization globally. Others find the need to move out of their homelands and attempt to build a life elsewhere in the world. Addressing the root causes of threats to livelihoods, safety and security must continue to be a focus globally. Kanayo Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, noted that the “conditions that compel people to flee their homes are also the conditions that trap people in rural poverty... Conflict, hunger, poverty, inequality, poor governance, persistent indignity and the lack of opportunity. Addressing these conditions will require sustained and consistent investment in development." 

Hunger drives people to take desperate measures. Withholding food or disrupting supply lines has been used as a weapon through the millennia. Hunger isn't solved by producing more food. The world does produce adequate food to feed all 7+ billion people. The difficulty lies in how the food is distributed -- an issue of power structures. It is also a major difficulty in access -- not only physical access but financial access. Poverty plays a major role in people having inadequate food to eat and to feed their families. Available evidence shows that reducing poverty can play a role in reducing disease, conflict and social dissolution. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated yesterday -- 

"Hunger is more than a lack of food. It’s a terrible injustice, unfairness and inequality. We are here today to pledge again to achieve food security for all the people around the world — to build a global movement to end hunger. This will go hand in hand with greater health, economic development and social inclusion for individuals and societies."

The arrival of World Food Day serves as a reminder to all to take a closer look at what is happening locally and globally to build food security through understanding the greater issues at play. Hunger is both a local and a global issue -- it doesn't happen only 'there' but it is in our own backyards. Uncomfortable to acknowledge, but we can work to change things -- charity helps in the meantime, but it isn't the solution. Imagine a world that didn't need foodbanks. Oh, and by the way, October 17 is International Day for the Eradication of Poverty -- interesting that these two UN days come back to back. 

The selection of today is a song from the '80s sung by an amazing group of Canadian artists. Granted, they look so young here, but you're bound to recolonize many of them. Enjoy! 

Tears are not enough -- Northern Lights

Day 2 - 287 -- Rejuvenated

The day began as a grey wet place outside my door. At work I kept watching the sky as I did my scheduled work. Just after noon, I checked the weather online and it promised that there would be more sun than rain, so I made a decision. I've needed to head down the road to pick up an item left for repair and really didn't want to drive through monsoonal rain to get there and back. I called a friend to see if she could take 3-4 hours late afternoon to go for a short road trip. The trip was wonderful, though a little longer than we'd planned. We each had work to finish before tomorrow and chose to do it into the evening today.

The trees are really starting to turn -- wonderful oranges, golds, reds and something closer to fuchsia red/pink -- totally stunning. We took the older highway home and found ourselves on a detour off into the forest.  Delightful! Being away from work and town briefly did a great job of rejuvenation. I definitely felt more relaxed and  recharged. Getting away in whatever form can give you new perspectives on things and helped me to prioritize the lengthy list of tasks that need completing -- making it feel more manageable. What a joy. I found my shoulders dropping away from ears as we went along. <smile>

The song for today is about another form of escaping. It has a definite upbeat sound and great harmonies. Enjoy!

Fun, Fun, Fun -- Beach Boys

Day 2 - 286 -- Stressing, Stressing

The weather was amazing today! It was sunny and very warm -- another summer feeling day. I managed to get out for a quick walk around the building this afternoon. I feel totally swamped and buried in paper and electronic files. Deadlines loom and some are past the day when I'd like to have things completed even though the final deadline hasn't appeared. Feeling stressed by the self-replicating piles of papers to read and grade reminded me of tribbles from Star Trek <grin>. One is moved and 10 more fall into that space.

I look around me and find that others look like I feel. Sadly, that doesn't make me feel much better -- sorry that others are as overwhelmed as I am. A colleague and I noted that sometimes there isn't time or energy to get groceries or even to make supper some days. That is one reason why I try to do batch cooking when there is a break in the action, which allows me to stock up the freezer for those crazy feeling nights. Reheating can be somewhat comforting -- a decent meal without taking too much time to prepare.

The line that ran through my mind as I pushed through one large pile today is the title of the selection of the day. It seemed to deal well with the group stress apparent on faces I encountered as well -- even if only slightly tongue in cheek. Enjoy!

Chain Gang -- Sam Cooke

Day 2 - 285 -- Ethical Conundrums

Ethics has been the word of the day. The concepts ran through most of my activities. We covered some aspects in both courses -- in lecture and online discussions. Several discussions with research students focused on ethics of chosen research projects. Posing questions to help others look at a situation through different eyes can be challenging, but also can help others delve more deeply into moral reasoning -- sort of like 'deep couch sitting' for the mind <smile>.

In many ways, research involves promises to participants and to those reading the resultant report. Sometimes it would be easy to bypass one of the necessary protocols, but the ethics approval may help hold people to account. Even something as simple as citing a reference rather than passing off the idea as your own, fits into ethical decision making processes. Treating others with fairness, clearly stating any anticipated risks to participation, and accurately representing all the findings in the final report (and not simply cherry picking the 'good' results <smile>) -- all are necessary aspects of an ethics plan. Sadly, many of these items are ignored and not only by students, but by established researchers. That leaves a bad taste and further reduces confidence in all research by researchers and non-researchers alike.

A few lines from the selection today spoke to the grey zone that we live in. Ethics isn't always black and white since it involves our values and the values of others -- so hammering out a solution to a problem needs input from all sides. The singer/songwriter for the chosen song seemed well able to discuss such larger concepts. Enjoy!

Grey Cloudy Lies -- George Harrison

Day 2 - 284 -- Disengaging and Disconnecting

Today was treated as a 'found' day -- I did some bits of housework and cooking, but spent much of the time relaxing. It was somewhat difficult to try to avoid thinking of or starting to work on things from the paid job. It seemed that there wouldn't likely be a day for a while that would allow me to avoid paid work for a whole day, so I took advantage of it now.

A friend once told me they were looking for a vocation not a job. When asked to elaborate, to them it meant that the 'job' would be a 24/7 commitment, meaning it would need to be something that they felt passionate about. Well, I do love teaching and love asking questions and finding answers -- aka research <smile>. Administrative silliness has bothered me in all jobs. When things were getting more intense in the admin domain in my last job, I chose to move on to one where teaching and research were part of the job description. While those two aspects of the job were to be the majority, the percentage of time devoted to admin tasks has been increasing each year. That takes away from the time necessary to devote to the teaching and research. It means that taking time for oneself doesn't seem to fit anywhere in the 24 hours of a day. Taking a day for me, then, is a difficult action, but I admit that I feel better when I do this. <smile>

The lyrics of the selection for today cover the need to relax and tune out the pressures that surround us. The psychedelic quality of the music and vocals may even help some to relax. Enjoy!

Tomorrow Never Knows -- The Beatles

Day 2 - 283 -- Feeling Thankful

We had an amazing dinner tonight -- filled with wonderful local foods with a few imports to round it out. A scrumptious turkey with stuffing and gravy, homemade cranberry sauce, smashed red potatoes with skins, broccoli-cauliflower gratin, Brussels sprouts with garlic and seasonings, turnip puff,  Irish potato biscuits, a lovely California shiraz, and finished with ginger cake and lemon sauce.  I do feel quite full -- but that is part of a celebratory feast tradition. Visiting over the meal made the whole feast so much more meaningful.

I've been thinking of things that I'm thankful for recently-- living where women can vote and obtain an advanced education, a lovely fall season, good friends and neighbours who are there when I need them and vice versa, a fantastic group of friends and family that maintain contact via online technology, having access to decent health care, a wonderful feline companion, and so much more. The list of things to be grateful for is a long one.

So -- the song that speaks to the many things for which I am thankful is by a colourful singer/songwriter. Happy Thanksgiving to all. Enjoy!

I'm Alive -- Willie Nelson

Day 2 - 282 -- Making Decisions

I voted today. The advance poll opened at noon and I arrived by 10 past.  There had been 40-50 minute waits with the line ups yesterday, so I wanted to get there early. One person was coming out when I went in and another entered as I left. There were others converging on the place a few minutes later as I walked by after picking up some milk. While at the polls today, I did thank people for working their Thanksgiving weekend. As I went off to read and mark the ballot, there were tears in my eyes -- not sad tears but tears of thankfulness for being able to exercise this basic right. I will admit I was taken aback by my own reaction to the process.

The rest of the day was spent doing those Saturday things. I made a big pot of stew, the perfect food for the cooler day today. It was great for supper. I also cooked some veggies for use in a dish for dinner tomorrow. The rest of the afternoon was spent grading assignments. All in all a good day.

The song choice for today seemed to fit the activities of the day. It is a light, happy little thing from an interesting '60s group. Enjoy!

Did you ever have to Make up Your Mind -- The Lovin' Spoonful

Day 2 - 281 -- People Power

We are in the midst of a federal election campaign in Canada. Election day is next week, with advance polls open during this long weekend. There has been a groundswell of interest in voting amongst students on campus -- something that I haven't seen to this degree in past elections. I've encouraged students to register to vote and have had questions from several about who they should contact when there have been bumps in the process. It is exciting to see.  Earlier this week, CBC's Rick Mercer Report spent much of the half-hour weekly episode addressing the election campaigns and the Get Out the Vote campaign -- which was filmed on the St. Francis Xavier University campus. Truly exciting to see such enthusiasm from the youth voters. Like I've told them, "I don't care who you vote for, I just want you to vote." Several were headed to the advance polls this weekend, as I plan to do, since it is just outside my back yard. <smile>.

Often I've heard that a single vote doesn't count so why bother voting. Such comments make me sad and a little irked. Firstly, people do have the power to vote and yet they don't feel they can make a difference. Secondly, the right to vote shouldn't be taken lightly since many people fought so that every citizen could vote -- female, aboriginal, incarcerated -- they can all vote due to the major efforts of people in the past century.All that work should not be taken for granted. So, when I see the engagement of voters of all ages this fall, it makes me smile. This is what democracy is about -- citizen participation in the voting process.

The song that came to mind today is from an iconic singer/songwriter, philosopher, and peace activist. Today would have been his 75th birthday. Enjoy!

Power to the People -- John Lennon

Day 2 - 280 -- Entering the Vortex

Today was another jam-packed day. I'd hoped to get to a luncheon event for at least 30 minutes but had a number of unscheduled meetings about an assignment due tomorrow. Similar events filled my afternoon that had been blocked for grading and paper reviews. In between there were many e-mails and other outside requests to field -- as I've mentioned earlier this week, so much so that I'm afraid I'm becoming repetitive. It is all-consuming, though, so it can be difficult to see beyond the piles in front of me <smile>.

That stuck record feeling brings with it challenges to break free. The feeling reminds me of a vortex that sucks you down making it nearly impossible to climb back out. I often hear myself say that I have to get a life, but this is my life and I need to find a way to manage such feelings. Getting out into the world outside my office and house does help. Speaking to others, walking in the sunshine, taking time to check in with a friend, eating well and getting some sleep -- all can help. Knowing that almost everyone on campus feels the same can help a bit, unless I deconstruct that one too finely <smile>.

Two songs came to mind when thinking through this 'same stuff, different day' mode and struggling to get back to a more balanced way of thinking. The first selection has a great title (was also a film title) that explains the stuck feeling. This one is a bit harder than most rock songs featured here, but it fits too well to let that worry me <smile>. Besides it contains some great guitar work from a double-neck -- just plain cool. The second selection is a lighter piece from a favourite group that deals with the the struggle to stay afloat. The lyrics are amazing (you may need to google them) and demonstrate a bit of the overwhelmed feeling one gets as anxiety and panic knock on the door. Enjoy!

The Song Remains the Same -- Led Zeppelin

Goin' Down -- The Monkees

Day 2 - 279 -- Meeting Day

Woke this morning to discover the alarm had been unplugged in error last night. Seems I pulled the wrong plug. I did get up before it was too late and even had time to make tea before class today. It hasn't been a good week for waking on time and it is just Wednesday <smile>.  I have been very tired both days and my word finding capacity just leaves -- makes me feel rather inept at times. It all comes back with time, but it is very frustrating to experience.

The day ended with a rather longish meeting -- my first time as Chair of Faculty of Science. Things went smoothly, yet nerves were still a big part of the meeting for me. Standing in front of very large groups of people doesn't phase me too much when speaking at conferences and such. Standing in front of peers and leading a meeting is different. Self-confidence leaves and I stumble over my words. The chairing process doesn't have lengthy sessions of talking by the chair, so each of the shorter times seems like starting all over again -- so nerves don't seem to settle much. Having the first meeting behind me will help with the next meeting, I'm sure. It will get easier over the two year term.

One song hit me while brushing my teeth today that seemed to fit today's events. It made me giggle when it came to mind -- hope it does the same for you. Enjoy!

The Chair -- George Strait

Day 2 - 278 -- Backed up Day from the Beginning

After a full day at the office, as I drove home I came upon a traffic jam -- well the local variety of a jam. I sat at an intersection for some time waiting to join the traffic headed over the bridge and through downtown. There was a constant stream of traffic. As the light at the end of the bridge turned red, traffic stopped back up the hill. When this happened, drivers did leave a space for those turning left to head out of town. I was in the lane to turn right. It lasted a full 5 minutes <smile> during which time I laughed out loud a couple of times, since I'd just spoken about this very thing with a friend from a larger city. So -- it does happen even in little towns like this. <grin>

At work, the spaces between meetings were consumed by extended meetings. This meant a late lunch after a lecture. I was tired all day -- slept through the alarm for the first time this term. It seems a bit early for this to occur, but there you have it. I woke long after the alarm --35 minutes before I was to be in the classroom. Interestingly, everyone I saw today seemed to be yawning and looking very weary. As I noted yesterday, the pace and stress level amped up this week and the effects go far beyond my little office. Meetings, lectures, grading, course prep -- it is all backing up. We are officially at the time when there is more to do than there are hours in the day -- as well as the time when meals, breathing breaks and such disappear in a puff of smoke.

The song chosen for today deals with the stress of backups. The singer/songwriter is a classic and his voice is liquid honey. I've chosen a fun live version of the song to share here. Enjoy!

Traffic Jam -- James Taylor

Day 2 - 277 -- Monday and Madness

This morning was glorious with great warm sunshine in cool fall-like air. I ran a few errands before my meetings began and was able to enjoy the weather. Once I arrived at work, things moved forward in a way I'd expected. This week will be the change of pace. September is busy but with a slower start. Suddenly, it is October and the world takes off. Assignments start to arrive much more regularly; midterms show up in the schedule; department admin and research meetings wiggle their way into any space on the schedule that looks remotely open. Now, today I had to ask for a couple of minutes between meetings in order to brush my teeth (after eating at my desk) and to manage other personal needs. So, it really has begun. This pace only accelerates with grading seeping into the out of office hours. It will continue until finals are over in mid-December.

Others noted this change in work today, too.  I know this occurs each year. Preparation mentally is necessary, but also work ahead of time is needed to ensure that adequate frozen portions of yummy dinners find their way into the deep-freeze.That will help ensure that some healthier options are available to avoid the high stress less healthy choices that seem like good ideas at the time.I didn't get the cooking done this past weekend that I'd planned, so the long weekend will need to involve more cooking than originally intended.

The song chosen for today is short, but the lyrics do speak to the work explosion that I've experienced. It is also Monday, which fit this song well, too. Enjoy!

Welcome to the Working Week -- Elvis Costello

Day 2 - 276 -- Tight and Tender Nerves

It's been a rather slow Sunday -- some housework done and some work completed, but a whole lot of tired made it all happen so slowly. I've been doing new exercises from physio to help with tightened nerves in the left arm. It has had some tenderness from the shoulder since I fell in May, but it took this long to get people to understand that all the tenderness was not due to the elbow. Now pain is much more pronounced, creating some major discomfort when doing simple tasks. I was sure that the strengthening exercises from the summer would help the arm, but they exacerbate the pain, so I've had to stop them for now. My new goal is to get this thing working well enough to move snow in a few months.

Nerve pain is a whole different kind of pain from muscles or connective tissue. Who knew nerves could tighten up after an injury? I've put off taking bulky waste and old electronics to the depot simply because lifting them is a challenge. Guess I'll have to become more dependent -- well at least willing to ask for assistance. Why is that so difficult to do? I've been fiercely independent for most of my life and enjoy doing things for myself. As people age, dependence levels shift a bit. I expect this creates some psychological stress. Even if there are some things that one needs help with, there are likely still other things that one can help others do. A focus on assets instead of deficits is needed, but can be difficult -- what isn't there is often easier to see. Seems humans tend to look for negatives rather than positives <smile>.

The song shared today reminds me that I may need to be kinder to myself. This bluesy selection with its breath-taking vocals is a favourite. Enjoy!

Try a Little Tenderness -- Otis Redding

Day 2 - 275 -- Pondering the Photograph

While working on slides for the next set of lectures, I began pondering the photograph. Now that may seem a bit odd, but I was presenting information on use of photographs in research, so not a very long trip from the subject at hand <grin>.  I have photos on my dresser -- actual print photos from film and negatives. Others on shelves and walls only ever came in black and white, except for the one of my great-grandmother and her sister (c. 1911-1912) and another of my father and his older brother (c. 1940) that had hand-coloured parts. These were formal, posed photos. In the photo albums are examples of more casual and spontaneous snap shots, which became more common as cameras and film were more accessible by all. Other photos are more representational or artistic -- ones of places and things that serve as metaphor with a meaning unique to the viewer.

Photographs tell the stories of my life. I have scanned many older family photos, so now they are more ethereal, seen on a flickering screen rather than the tangible shiny prints. They are nonetheless of great value to me. Since switching to a digital camera, I've taken more photos than I did with film. It is wonderful to be able to take several shots of the same item and delete the ones that aren't as clear. The bonus of not running out of film in the middle of nowhere is a dream, though a spare battery is a necessity. I find that I print few of the electronic photos. They languish in e-albums and various digital media. Granted this takes up less room, but requires more power to view. I will also admit to not fully comprehending the lure of the selfie. These seem wholly narcissistic when I see one person taking multiple shots of themselves rather than enjoying what is all around them. When travelling 18 months ago, I was asked to take shots of people with their tablets, smart phones and cameras. The involvement of others in the process seems less egocentric and a touch more social, particularly when we didn't speak the same language <smile>. It adds a human touch to the process. I often wonder if all the phone pics and selfies will be retained to tell the stories of a life or if their value has been reduced due to their sheer magnitude and ease of production. That thought makes me a bit sad.

The song for today makes me think of the memories of a life that can be captured in photographs. This prolific singer-songwriter has been highlighted here in past blog posts. His lyrics are magical and poetic. Enjoy!

Kodachrome -- Paul Simon

Day 2 - 274 -- Struggling to Understand Time

Today marks the end of week 4, so we are officially 1/3 of the way through the fall term. I have no idea how that much time has passed. I feel like I am just introducing things and have had an overwhelming feeling of being far behind where I should be in covering course materials. I'm not sure this is unusual. If I read back in the blog from last year, I will likely find similar feelings being expressed. The anxiety feels quite recognizable, so I know this isn't something different from other years; yet, that feeling of foreboding still hangs in the air just over my right shoulder outside of sight -- reminds me of a Doctor Who episode <smile>.

The rate of time passing is a topic I've written on before. I do find it unsettling that how time passes isn't understood and often seems like a surprise. How is it October already? What happened to September? Wasn't it just August? All phrases that I have heard in the past couple of days. So, I know I'm not alone, but I don't feel comfort in that. The nature of time is a major concept that has been theorized by many, but our perceptions of time may need further study to understand how humans make sense of the concept. Clocks and calendars mark the days, hours, minutes, seconds, but how is that measurement of time understood? Experiencing the incongruity of passing time over and over seems not to help us learn what measures of time feel like. Instead we are constantly trying to reconcile the clock or calendar with what we understand in our heads. I'm not sure this one can be fully learned or even reconciled. As a somewhat abstract concept it can be challenging to make it more concrete. I envy cultures who manage living with less emphasis on clocks and calendars.

Lyrics about the concept of time are the focus of the selection shared here today. Vocals catch me whenever I hear this singer -- such clear, perfect notes. Enjoy!

Who knows where the time goes? -- Judy Collins

Day 2 - 273 -- New Music to Enjoy

A very rainy day here today, yet still nothing like what was seen west and north of here. New Brunswick has had enormous amounts of rain with washouts and localized flooding. A piece of good news is the new rain jacket and rain pants that I purchased seem to do their jobs and kept me dry today (and I know this is not all about me <smile>). Locally the winds diminished greatly here before the heavier rains began -- so much less horizontal rain occurred than expected. The system seems to be stalled over the northeastern part of the province, which will bring another day of big rains tomorrow and into Saturday. Then early into next week, we will see what Joachin has to bring us.

I heard a short interview with a singer whose second album drops tomorrow. Jill Hennessy played an ADA in Law and Order and an ME in Crossing Jordan. While she is likely much better known for her acting, her musical talents are stellar. She and her twin sister Jacq (get it? Jacq and Jill) often busked on the streets of Toronto and Jacq still joins her sister on stage to sing backup vocals.

Jill has written the songs for this new album, 'I do',  that luckily also includes an older song of hers. It is about her grandmother. Jill's ancestry includes Ukrainian Gypsy which helps with one of the lines of the song. I've listened to several of the songs from the second album and they are powerful - lyrically, vocally and musically. Enjoy!

Edmonton -- Jill Hennessy