Day 2 - 333 -- Winter Fisheries

Today is Dumping Day, the day when lobster season opens in south and southwest Nova Scotia. This first day of the season sees boats head out to 'dump' traps in areas hoped to be lucrative. The season is open until the end of May in this area of the province. In the area near where I live, the season opens around he beginning of May and finishes the end of June. The current season provides the Christmas lobsters, which are consumed on Christmas Eve in many homes in the province. From an economic standpoint, this is an extremely important fishery -- locally and nationally.

Today about 1500 boats headed out to claim their fishing spots for the remainder of the season. It is a race of sorts to get to the prime spots before someone else lays claim and traps. All fisheries carry a major degree of risk, even with safety measures in place. Many people work lobstering who may not be able to find other work. It is not an easy way to make a living by any stretch. Today reports state that three people went overboard -- two from one boat and one from another. Coast Guard and Search and Rescue were available to assist. but one of these men lost his life. Waters were calm but the temperatures were cold this morning.

The song that came to mind today is a Newfoundland song with lyrics from the point of view of a fisherman. It seemed to fit the opening of the season and sadly, the life lost during this first foray into the Atlantic this season. Many have sung and recorded this song, but I love this version most. The harmonies in the final verse are wonderful. The accompanying video was produced by the grandson and great-grandson of the songwriter -- a cool find. It shows the 'bergs and caplin and the rocky shores of Newfoundland. Enjoy!

Let me Fish off Cape St. Mary's -- The Irish Descendants

Day 2 - 332 -- No Life without Science

Tonight I found an interesting program on television. On a major network in primetime, there was a 1-hour special highlighting winners of the Breakthrough Prize. The awards were provided in the areas of basic physics, life sciences and mathematics. A youth award was given to a high-school student with a smaller prize for his teacher and a lab upgrade for the school. It surprised me to see an award show for science covered in a televised awards ceremony -- to say nothing of it being broadcast in primetime -- complete with actors and singers clad in tuxes and formal dresses!

Science in all its forms has taken many punches in recent years. Research grants and the projects they support are often seen as frivolous unless there is a potential patent at stake. Many life science studies will never result in a marketable product, but they do help us to understand how people make food choices, understand the connection between behaviour and health and how people experience treatment. Basic science has led to understanding of the genetic basis of disease, metabolism of nutrients and methods of cell infections. While seemingly frivolous these studies lead to improved knowledge translation, making the treatment and health promotion processes much easier for non-professionals to navigate. Even studies of the history behind particular treatment processes can inform future treatment development. Without science, we certainly wouldn't have the tangibles like computers, smart phones, medications and such. Nor would we have access to health information, explanations of treatment options or practical understanding of science in everyday life.

The meanderings of my thoughts today brought me to a song about science. It deals with two well-known figures in field -- one from long ago and one from current day. The song provides a venue for these two scientists to face off and is a bit off the wall. Enjoy!

Sir Isaac Newton vs. Bill Nye - Epic Rap Battles of History -- 'Weird' Al Yankovic (ft. Neil DeGrasse Tyson)

Day 2- 331 -- Cool Damp Day

Grey and dark -- the best way to describe the day today. It seemed like twilight all day long due the thick, heavy cloud. Temperatures dropped a great deal from the mid-teens of yesterday. I headed out for a walk to the bank and encountered a steady light rain. The wind made the 4C temperature feel much colder. After that walk, the rest of the day was spent indoors, where even though much warmer, it still felt cool -- must be the dampness at play there.

I spent the afternoon and evening deep in the grading pile. I had just a few more to go at 7 PM so stuck with it, expecting about an hour tops. When I finished those final 5 papers, it was 8:45! Rather late for cooking supper, eh? Weekends always seem to be freer since there are often fewer scheduled activities; yet, that very loss of scheduling makes the usual time points become quite mixed up. I generally eat later on weekends, but not 9:30.

The song selected to share here provides the feeling of greyness encountered with weather and time today. Love the orchestration with this one. Enjoy!

November Rain -- Guns N' Roses

Day 2 - 330 -- Marking the Passage of Time

What a warm, sunny day it was today!  Temperatures went into the mid-teens (Celsius) this afternoon. I went home an hour early and spent some time picking up twigs that came down in the storm at the beginning of the week -- sort of a grown up pick-up-sticks <smile>. It is always good for some great stretching when picking up things and upper arm work to break the longer branches to fit into the compost bin. It was pleasant to do this prior to sundown, which seems to be happening earlier and earlier -- well, I'm actually noticing the change this week. Once that was completed to my satisfaction, it was time to pack the furry one off to the vet for the annual check and a vaccine that was due. He truly is such a good boy -- he purred through the whole visit and made friends with the new clinic kitten who just laid beside the carrier as they communed. Very cute. Seminars for the research students completed today. Their studies are so varied and intriguing. It will be exciting to see the final product in March. All that, and a friend celebrated a milestone birthday today. So, it definitely was not a dull day.

Many markings of passing time surfaced today. I complain that I can't always tell what time it is with one of my watches. The second hand really messes me up as it is similar in size and length to the other two hands. So, as one of my students said, "You pretty much need to have an idea of the time before you look at your watch." That made me laugh. I guess I just need to use the watch that I had refurbished this summer. The hands are much darker against the background, so should fix my time checking difficulties. Seeing annual events occur that mark our passage through the year emphasized the impending end of term. It is time to reflect on the accomplishments of the past 13 weeks (and some of those are awaiting grading this weekend). The progression of the day showed me that while things may be expected to occur at different times of the year, they are not routine; in fact, they occur in different ways each year.

The song title that ran through my mind had been highlighted on the morning show today. It wasn't until the end of the day, that I realized how it had been placed in my head. The title and other lyrics do deal with many of the themes and activities of the day. The singer has an unmistakable voice and style. Enjoy!

What's New Pussy Cat -- Tom Jones

Day 2 - 329 -- Power in Small Gestures

Today was filled with giving. Working with a student I was able to provide something small that took some of their pressure away. Later in the day a colleague gave back for a fun lecture I'd provided for her class a while ago -- just something small that I loved to talk about that added to that course content.  When I stopped by the mall for an errand, I made a small purchase at the bookstore. When paying I discovered a gift card in my wallet and found that it had much more on it than I'd expected there to be -- the universe giving to me.

It always surprises me how small things can mean so much. Perhaps the effect comes from their unexpected nature. When you expect to do something for fun or to help others in a small way, it can have a larger impact on their day -- similarly to a smile, that small gesture expands when it is released into the world. All the more reason for adding small gestures to daily life.

A few lines from one song came to mind today. Those lyrics clearly spoke of the importance of giving and its reciprocal nature. Enjoy!

Give a Little Bit -- Supertramp

Day 2 - 328 -- To market, to market . . .

Today the local farmers market set up on campus, bringing lots of wonderful fall vegetables, baking, and crafts. Many students had tables set up to sell hand made cards and jewellery. Three vendors had hot foods available, too. Many people I met were doing some Christmas gift shopping. One pair of students was launching the product developed last winter -- a lentil-based power bar. They placed second in a provincial competition and soon will have a business in place to produce and market the product. All very cool.  My purchases were minor today -- some wonderful oat cakes, jam and vegetarian Asian dumplings for my lunch. I spoke with a local weaver who makes amazing tea towels but didn't have the colour I'd hope to find. Luckily, she sells these through a local artisan shop that is about a block from the house, so I'll be able to watch for her next delivery there.

I also ran around town getting a few other items needed and added to the gifts that need to be mailed in the next couple of weeks. It seems odd that it is time for planning for Christmas already. Days get so full at term end that even basic shopping can seem a nearly impossible task to add to the schedule. So, having even an hour or two to look at seasonal products is a gift on its own. Add to that the wonderful sunshine we had today, and there were some major positives in the day.

The song shared today is a traditional Irish folk song about going to market. The singer may be most recognizable as an actor. Most of her work was in film, but she had a wonderful singing voice, too. She passed a month ago at the age of 95. Enjoy!

The Next Market Day -- Maureen O'Hara

Day 2 - 327 -- What's in a Name?

The Google doodle today took me back to several books I've read over the years -- all about anthropology. One of my favourites 'Lucy's Child 'was written by paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson and co-authored with James Shreeve. These are special members of my anthropology and primatology collection. The Doodle today notes that it is the 41st anniversary of the discovery of the skeletal fragments of an early hominid that became known to the world as Lucy. Now, there is music in the naming of those remains. Johanson noted that the Beatles' song, 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' played repeatedly in camp on the night of the discovery. So, two of my major interests intersected there.

The closest I've come is a display of castings of the original bone pieces displayed at the British Museum. Even that was quite moving. This individual was called australopiticus afarensis -- a very short hominid that seems to have used bipedal locomotion. Very cool. She was found in the Afar region of Ethiopia and while the skeleton is only 40% complete, this is more than is often found for fossils that are 3.2 million years old. The story of the discovery, almost by accident when people were ready to believe they'd find nothing that they'd hoped to find at that dig, is fascinating. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the science of life. (if you'd like other suggestions besides those related to Lucy, I'd gladly point you to a few titles).

In honour of this being from the very distant past and the current people who took part in the discovery, I've chosen a song that speaks to the area where it all occurred. You could also look at Day 36 for the Beatles' song that led to her name. Enjoy!

Africa -- Toto

Day 2 - 326 -- Storm Updates

Another very long day living in the midst of the paper storm. Got through the last of this pile of papers, though there will be a few stragglers arriving soon. Four other shorter piles await, just so I can't get into any mischief.  Today was also a meteorological stormy day. The winds have been wild from yesterday until after supper tonight. It is much quieter outside right now. Luckily, the precipitation fell as rain here due to very warm temps from the Bahamian air mass. Granted, not quite like a Caribbean beach day, but it was about 17C (mid-60sF) at noon.  The temperature is to drop to freezing overnight and there may be a few flurries in the air tomorrow.

A song that ran through my mind today fit the stormy theme and my trying to manage the processes. Enjoy!

Riders on the Storm -- The Doors

Day 2 - 325 -- The Power of Television

It happened 52  years ago -- the death of John F Kennedy in Dallas. As a child, I'm not sure I fully grasped the implications, yet I did see him die. The grainy black and white images on the television screen showed it over and over and over. It was the first time we all saw death happen via that big box in the living room. Some say innocence left that day, and in many ways this is true, though the Cold War had taken much of the complacency away with the addition of air raid sirens and nuclear drills in the schools. We had air raid siren tests during supper times, since we lived in a city with a NATO pilot training centre. It was difficult to understand that, too. I don't recall my parents being able to explain things well, either.

I do think about the television images often and particularly on this day. As I've said before, I expect this was the beginning of my interest in television content, which has led to my media content analysis research career. The song chosen for today is about the events of that day decades ago. There are many songs about this, but this one seemed right for today. Enjoy!

He was a friend of mine -- The Byrds

Day 2 - 324 -- Paper Storm

I've often wondered how paperwork seemed never-ending. I've concluded that there is some self-replicating process at work -- one we neither see nor fully perceive. The result is that we never seem to get to the bottom of the pile, or piles in some cases.

I've found myself in the midst of a paper storm, being inundated with white sheets filled with typed words. Each time I think I've made a dent in the pile, it seems that there is just more to read than had been there earlier in the day. I fear the paper will eventually envelope me and I'll be found under heaps of paper that need to be removed by shovel.

A song that seemed to fit the situation came to mind. It has a history. The singer of the version shared here was not the originally intended singer. I've also shared the backing tracks without the lyrics since these were never completed prior to an untimely death -- if only we had that track it would be amazing. The song, though, speaks to the metaphor of feeling awash in something intangible.The instrumental version has a brighter feeling to it -- one can almost hear voice. Enjoy!

Buried Alive in the Blues -- Big Brother and the Holding Company

Buried Alive in the Blues -- Full Tilt Boogie Band (from the Janis Joplin album Pearl)

Day 2 - 323 -- Running out of Time

The weekend plans involve trying to get caught up on grading and some household chores.  Several other things took attention away from the grading, which is generally the main focus at end of term, so I am far behind with large and small grading projects.

I've sometimes felt that it was all about procrastination. The combination of shifting priorities and extreme fatigue cannot be discounted in the lack of daily attention to these tasks.  I've been reflecting on the lack of consistent progress and have been puzzled as to why I'm not getting the job done. Self blame is often the first choice to explain difficulties, while omitting the added responsibilities that take significant time and effort to complete and fill the time generally allotted to another task. Note to self -- don't be so hard on your self. <smile>

The song today reflects the point we are at with the term, and hence the short time available to return graded assignments prior to the beginning of exams. This is a whole two weeks at present. The song is full on  '80s style -- Enjoy!

The Final Countdown -- Europe

Day 2 - 322 -- Witnessing a 'First'

For the ninth time in 162 years, a new chancellor has been installed at the university. Founded as a Catholic institution, the Bishop of the diocese has traditionally been chancellor. Today we witnessed history with the installation of the first lay chancellor who is also the first female chancellor. This is a monumental change in the status quo, yet one that moves the vision of the institution forward. Now, the religious foundations of the university have not been severed, yet while this change may appear small from an outsider perspective, be assured it is not. It opens doors to future directions that are seen from many perspectives -- a necessity for post-secondary education in the knowledge economy.

While it may be comfortable to remain in our seemingly safe and cozy settings, without change we cannot grow to our full potential as people. The same holds for organizations. Change can be startling, scary and sad. It is important to acknowledge and validate the myriad feelings that accompany larger change -- not only the feelings within ourselves but also those in the people around us. Without this respectful approach, working together to build the future will be bogged down in learning to communicate all over again.

The song that I have chosen to share today speaks to change and the positive aspects for everyone concerned. It does this in a wonderful upbeat manner. Enjoy!

Changes -- Ziggy Marley

Day 2 - 321 -- Moments of calm

The end of the work day brings a wonderful welcome each time I arrive home. It feels comfortable and spending the evening with my best furry friend allows me to be calm and helps with reflection on the events of the day. I enjoy those moments of clarity -- if they occurred with greater frequency, it might help with that calm feeling becoming more common. A couple of events over the past two days helped me see things in a different light, enabling me to focus on the needs of others. While not earth-shattering in any way, these provided feelings of empowerment, respect and centredness -- feelings that I hope I was able to pass along to others.

I often look back on the day for the '3 things to be grateful for' yet often find myself condemning the whole day or week because of one event or ongoing struggle. It seems to me that the peace is found in moments not in the totality of a time block. It isn't all bad, nor is it all good; often it is just ticking along and putting one foot in front of the other. Brief moments can colour the feelings for the longer term -- for positive or negative overall outlooks. It may be that we can be so focused on the big picture that we disregard the moments or miss them entirely. A goal to watch for the moments might not be a bad plan.

A song that has a peaceful sound and lyrics sung by an amazing singer/songwriter fits today's reflections well. It even covers heading home at the end of the day <smile>. Enjoy!

Welcome Home -- Carole King

Day 2 - 320 -- In the Shadows

When I arrived home from work tonight it was dark. There was a light mixed precipitation falling -- just light enough to see in the car headlights but not so much to feel when outside walking. One of the safety features on the car is that the headlights stay on for a bit after I exit the vehicle. It definitely helps when walking down my long, dark driveway. Tonight, the headlights behind me cast enormous shadows in front of me. The 50 foot or more stick character before me was quite intriguing, It reminded me of a giant puppet with movements being quite pronounced as they stretched down the drive, across the backyard and into the graveyard beyond.

Generally shadows walk beside us or behind us in the sunshine of the day or the moonlight in the night. Metaphorically shadows can be our friends, like for Peter Pan being something we can't fully function without. Other shadows seem darker and menacing and represent burdens or threats. The shadows tonight were entertaining. reminding me of Indonesian shadow puppets -- able to tell stories and amuse. Shadows can make us see ourselves represented differently than in a mirror and perhaps show us parts of ourselves that we can't see in the mirror. Perhaps I need to pay more attention to the shadows I cast -- literally and figuratively.

The song I've chosen to share speaks to shadows at night with cloud cover, much like my experience tonight. The lyrics also speak to seeing oneself through shadows. Enjoy!

Shadows in the Rain -- Sting

Day 2- 319 -- Pondering the News

The morning show today featured a musical artist and one of his singles. While listening to the song, it struck me how perfect the sentiments expressed fit the current global situation -- the outpouring of ideas and feelings from all sides after the recent events in Paris. It goes much further, though. The concept of tolerance covers all of life lived in homes, workplaces, communities, regions, nations and globally -- including social media. Now there is something to ponder.

The video for the song shows the power of innocence. Enjoy!

Live Together -- AJ MacLean (ft. Jordan James)

Day 2 - 318 -- More Musical Memories

I took a stroll down memory lane this afternoon. After a quick trip to the grocery store, I sat down with a cup of chai and found a movie from the past on my TV screen. The Fabulous Dorseys, a 1947 biopic has some great music, while the story and acting are a bit marginal -- though many of them were the musicians themselves. From that, it appears that Will Smith, LL Cool J, Jennifer Lopez and others didn't invent the leap to the screen. <smile>  My Dad loved this music that he grew up with and he knew the life stories of most of the musicians. Again, not that different than the teen magazines of my youth or the entertainment magazine shows of today, though I still maintain that things have gotten much more intrusive and personal over the years, but that is a blog for another day. <smile> Interestingly, today is 10 years anda day since my dad passed away -- this musical moment today seems like a message.

Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey had independent and combined bands over their lives, mostly working separately. At one point Jimmy played alto sax and clarinet in the Red Nichols band, The Five Pennies, among band mates Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Gene Krupa and Jack Teagarden. That would be a point in time I'd love to travel to just to hear all of these folks in one band on one stage <smile>.  (As an aside, I strongly recommend the movies The Five Pennies (1959) and The Glenn Miller Story (1954), which are wonderful movies -- both are in my collection <grin>.)  Frank Sinatra sang with the Tommy Dorsey band in his early career, as did Bing Crosby. The Dorsey brothers were well connected, being part of the swing and jazz band craze from the ground up. Yet, when the focus changed to the singers and not the bands, their bands became less in vogue, though they did do some early television together in the '50s.

The music I heard today, reminded me of so many times listening to LPs with my Dad and playing the piano while he played the sax. I was very young, so it wasn't anything earth shattering, but it was fun. I've chosen two songs to share here today both about lost love. The first is a beautiful slower tempo song with a great voice behind the lyrics and the second shows the orchestral and singer aspects of a show. Enjoy!

I'll never smile again -- Tommy Dorsey Band ft. Frank Sinatra

Marie -- Tommy Dorsey Band (from movie The Fabulous Dorseys)

Day 2 - 317 -- Behind a Smile

Ever have a day when you just feel frustrated with everything? Today was one of those days for me. I slept poorly and woke later than usual. There was a bit of a headache and some nausea that came and went all day. I did far less work than I'd hoped. I found myself revisiting old frustrations -- mainly anger with situations and people -- including me, I discovered. Just a brooding cranky sort of day filled with feelings of betrayal, loss of power and control.

One thing that seemed to run through my thoughts were glimpses of people smiling. Not those genuine smiles but the plastic fake kind or those nasty sneers that appear sometimes -- You know, those people who smile and nod in agreement when they don't agree at all. Its passive aggressive silliness that makes communication nearly impossible <sigh> and is totally disempowering.

One obvious song ran through my head today along with all the frustrations. It seems to fit the theme of the day -- and as Scarlett said, "After all, tomorrow is another day." Can you dig it? <smile>. Enjoy!

Smiling Faces Sometimes -- The Undisputed Truth

Day 2 - 316 -- New Things to Enjoy

Newness and change can be intimidating or exciting or both at the same time. I am one that often has to ponder things before understanding how I feel about something. Initially I may feel uneasy, but am unable to articulate why. With time and reflection, the unease becomes clearer and I am able to recognize a feeling or understanding of the situation. I strongly believe new things belong in all lives and often feel open to change, even though it scares the hell out of me. For this reason, I aim to try new things and understand new thoughts from various perspectives, not just from my comfy corner of the universe. No small feat <smile>.

The newest encounter came last night in the form of a new (well new-to-me) musical artist. As I was flipping through the channels, I saw the most intriguing choreography accompanied by an intriguing voice. It likely fits into an indie synth-pop genre, and it was wholly fascinating in an unsettling way -- almost unable to take my eyes off the avant garde visuals on the screen. The second song was different in sound, but just as amazing. Both were heard on the Daily Show yesterday. I want to share these here so some of you may be introduced to this young talent (and some of you can enjoy one you already know). The videos show the emphasis on  performance that is central to the presentation of the songs. I've listened to a number of her songs and have chosen these two, but encourage you to listen to others. Enjoy!

Tilted -- Christine and the Queens

Paradis Perdu -- Christine and the Queens

Day 2 - 315 -- Not Really Stalking

The day began with some excitement -- sort of <smile>.  I was going to take a shower when I heard a weird noise. I thought it might be the cat, but saw him just sitting there and then realized there was a ladder outside my kitchen window. The yard guy came by to clear the eaves today. Good thing I wasn't in the shower -- the window just next to the kitchen window. So, I heard him making his away along the length of the house so I decided to forgo the shower until later in the day and went to change clothes to go outside. As I was doing this, darn if there isn't a ladder going up outside my bedroom window. At least there are blinds there. It was a bit absurd as I went back to the bathroom to complete my change.

After that, things were very mundane. I am in the midst of huge assignment grading and got through a third yesterday and almost all of the remaining two-thirds today. Now this is just for the one course. The other has more students so more papers that will take about 25 hours to grade. Along with these two major term assignments are the regular smaller exercises about 3-4 hours worth online right now and another 3-4 next week and again the week after that. There is also one further short paper that should take 10 hours to plough through. I also need slides for lectures for the remaining three weeks, which need to be done this weekend. Not sure why my brain starts to add all this up. It won't make things easier to manage in any way. This is the time of year that I begin to look for the grading elves to visit in the night. Hey, if shoemakers can have them, why can't I? <g>

Only one song came to mind after the morning 'almost' encounters. The lyrics are a bit creepy, and certainly overstate my experience, which was in no way a peeping tom. But, it certainly reminded me of that type of invasion of privacy. There are a wonderful array of strings in this one that help soften that unrelenting beat. Enjoy!

Every Breath You Take -- The Police

Day 2 - 314 -- Time to Reflect and Say Thank You

This has always been a sombre day for me -- a day to remember the many people I know and the larger number that I don't know, who have served during times of war and peace. So at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, I pause to reflect on the experiences of others that have affected the world in which I live. Each year I've watched the ceremonies from the National War Memorial in Ottawa and sometimes attend local services (living in different time zones can allow me to do both <smile>). Sacrifice means many things. It generally refers to that 'ultimate sacrifice'. Yet, we understand that sacrifice can be living with the physical wounds and the memories that wound mind and soul. It refers to those left behind, which is acknowledged yearly by the Silver Cross Mother award. There was sacrifice on the home front during the world wars as factories retooled to produce armaments with many women working on the assembly lines. Food and fuel rationing ensured citizens at home and troops had what was necessary. So, I see sacrifice as a multi-level concept that does not take away from the loss of life in service in any way. As stated by the Silver Cross Mother, Sheila Anderson from the NWT whose son Jordon was killed by an roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2007, this is a day to remember the losses but also to recognize the service and current needs of those who came home alive. Today also felt particularly poignant to watch the ceremonies from Ottawa coming from the place where Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was killed just over a year ago while he was standing guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

While reflecting today, my thoughts go to particular people who have served. I appreciate what they have done for the greater societal needs. Their service means much to me even if I can't always put it in words beyond 'thank you' which somehow seems a bit too concise for all that I feel. So I'll at least publicly say 'thanks' here today.

• To my grandfather, who as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force fought in WWI at Vimy Ridge and who had difficulty sleeping at night when I knew him -- I've often wondered how much of that was due to the battles
• To Bill and Winks, who served in the RCAF in WWII and Bill with the Air Force as a career in peace time
• To Barney, who served in the RCAF in WWII and who after a mortar attack in France woke in a hospital where people were not speaking  English, luckily it was a French hospital 
• To Lenny, whose career in the Army began in the  Korean conflict and took him and the family to postings across Canada and into Germany. He also served with an early Peacekeeping force in Cyprus.
• To Norm, who served in the Canadian Merchant Navy in the Atlantic during WWII and joined the army to serve in Korea
• To Mike, whose career with the Armed Forces (Air Force) included a tour with the Peacekeeping force in Egypt
• To Cory, who served in the Canadian Navy and Naval Reserve during peace time
• To Scott, who served on the flagship of the Commander of Canadian Fleet Pacific in peace and in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea after Operation Apollo

I also am thankful for some people I've never met -- Violet Ryley and Kathleen Jeffs were dietitians during WWI and WWII, respectively, feeding troops at home and overseas in the field of battle and hospitals. General (ret) Romeo Dallaire served as commander of UNAMIR, UN Assistance Mission in Rwanda and witnessed the genocide. He brought the topic of mental health needs of returning troops clearly into the public discourse. While some might feel this dilutes the remembrance, without the many animals that served, the troops would not have been able to accomplish what they did -- the horses and mules that pulled artillery, the pigeons that flew messages from the front lines to HQ, the cats who kept vermin in check on ships, the dogs who detected bombs and served as sentries -- for these there is the purple poppy. 

The song I chose for today tells the story of the volunteer Royal Newfoundland Regiment from the viewpoint of those at home. This regiment entered the Battle of the Somme at Beaumont-Hamil. After the 30 minute battle less than 10% of the regiment remained. To the small island of Newfoundland, then the Dominion of Newfoundland, this meant the loss of much of a generation, which had major impacts on their development and economy. The singers are from Newfoundland and Labrador where the video was filmed. Enjoy! 

Sing You Home -- The Ennis Sisters

Day 2 - 313 -- Deserted Hallways

A fairly quiet day at work today, since it is the day before the fall break begins. Wednesday to Friday are part of a fall reading break this year. We had a large contingent of students on a course field trip today, so I expected about 10 in my one class since 20 were away. Well, I had 5 show for that 8:15 class class and about half for the noon class. With the very small group early today, I asked that they move closer to the front than they usually sit so we could have more of a conversation and there would be less echo in the nearly empty classroom. A colleague walked by and asked later how many I had in class since when she'd passed it appeared as if I was talking to an empty room. <smile>  I may be losing it at this point in the year, but I'm not that far gone -- yet <grin>.

It is challenging to have so many people away from class when we are short a couple of class sessions this term. Some other classes chose to cancel the day's session, but I have to motor through material and will add some extra bits of reading to the online course site -- items that I discussed with the smaller group today--  so that everyone will have access to the same materials. The hallways were quiet today, too. Even when there was a midterm next door to my office, there wasn't much buzz in the hallway before or after. When I arrived on campus today, many parking spaces were available -- hadn't quite expected that since one major lot was closed for refurbishing. So, I parked closer than planned.

The lack of activity in the halls and classrooms, particularly for the small group that began my day, led to the chorus of a cheesy song running through my head. Granted it is a bit tongue in cheek. Enjoy!

All By Myself -- Eric Carmen

Day 2 - 312 -- Barriers come and gone

November 9, 1989 -- another of those historical dates that might appear in a modern history class. Twenty-six years ago today, the Berlin Wall fell after about 40 years of separating families, friends and a nation. It served as a visible symbol of oppression, with pieces of the wall now spread around the world as reminders.

This type of wall -- real or symbolic -- that separates people and systems has led me over the years to ponder the personal impact of such divisive policies. We read about families that are split apart and nations that become less functional or become two or more nations. The stresses of such actions must be unbearable -- even when there for the long term, there must still be a background of anxiety not knowing where family members are or how they are doing. Imagine that barrier being removed. What would that be like?

Thinking of this anniversary, one word came to mind. Luckily it is a word we find in many songs <smile>. The single word has been used as a title of at least two current songs. A new album that dropped last week contains a song with the title, which is also the album title. Granted the song is about something a bit different than what I'm thinking, but many of the lines spoke to me more broadly. Enjoy!

Hello - Hedley

Day 2 - 311 -- Is it really new?

Today was much more productive than yesterday, at least in terms of paid work tasks. Two major items were moved into a draft format. One dealt with a revision of a course to integrate topics at both an introductory and an advanced level -- so that actually is two courses. Each revision of existing courses aims to update content to current practices. Challenging. The draft needs a fair bit of tightening before a meeting later this week. The second task is still in my head. I tend to write through things in my head before it comes out through my fingers, so things are generally less drafty when they hit the screen or paper.  This one deals with a conference presentation abstract about why history should be part of professional education and training. It is based on research that has been underway to understand and describe the evolution of dietetics as it is currently practiced.

Thinking through the two major work tasks, led me to a place of history repeating itself. Experience has shown me that schools of thought seem to be somewhat repetitive. Every few years the approach to policy and practice seems to come full circle. While this may mean that there is little original thought at play, it may also mean that while going 'round and 'round that we actually are completing a spiral. Each revolution moves us upwards, perhaps adding some new thought to an old philosophy or practice -- thus, building as we go rather than simply mimicking a dog chasing its tail. Though, failing to understand the past may lead to simply repeating the same errors over and over and expecting new results. Wasn't it Einstein that used that concept as the definition of insanity? <smile> For these reasons, I've felt the story of how we got where we are today informs the course we chart for our future.

I will admit to hearing only one song today -- and during my sleep last night while 'writing' the projects. Many people have covered this, though I find this singer's rendition particularly fun. Her younger voice playfully dealt with the rhythms and melody. Enjoy!

Everything Old is New Again -- Anne Murray

Day 2 - 310 -- Sleep, Sunrise, & Silliness

The work planned for today didn't quite get off the ground. That doesn't mean nothing got done, just not a really productive day. The weather was warm -- 16C around noon -- so I went out to plant some irises for next year. I hope they are happy where I've placed them -- time will tell.  Other than that, I managed to get some house chores done and cooked some red beans for the freezer -- need to fill that with several items so that I eat good things when grading over the coming weeks. However, I did fall asleep in mid afternoon just when trying to get set up for grading online papers. Those did get done into the evening, though.

There are times I wonder if I'm losing my sanity. Does a sane person keep working the ridiculous hours that go along with the life of an academic? I find myself forgetting things and word finding becomes a challenge. That is likely due to the lack of a decent sleep. So, again, I wondered about my mental health when I woke earlier than I usually do on the weekend. The sunrise occurring earlier after time change has messed up my sleep patterns, so that I tended to wake earlier than usual all last week and it seems the internal clock hasn't reset yet since I was up an hour or two earlier than usual for a Saturday. I've also found myself thinking silly things and laughing at absurd situations. Those moments of silliness can be somewhat cathartic and may even reinvigorate me for a short period of time. So, perhaps a bit of craziness can be a good thing.

The lyrics of the selection today contain the thought that being a bit crazy may help us survive the challenges. Enjoy!

Crazy -- Seal

Day 2 - 309 -- Need for major sleep

What a crazy day this was. I had to play verbal charades in the second class of the day. I'm so tired that my word finding ability is fractured badly. At least I could play verbal charades and ask those with mobile devices to please search for the proper noun given the part of the story I could tell them. It all worked out well -- I just  hope that they can  see the reason is that I am as tired as they are -- and none of us are doing things at the top of our game. <smile>

Focus has been difficult for the past several days. Sleep happens, but I seem to be working through projects while I sleep, so not as restful as it could be. The plan is to sleep over the weekend and do the main tasks that need to be ready for early to mid-week after I wake and eat <smile>. There are way too many things to do for work and around the house to accomplish all in a single weekend. The grading alone will need to go into the break days at the end of next week. Some will continue to be done between now and then and the rest will have to wait until we have two more days without classes to devote to the piles of papers.

The selection for today is like a lullaby for adults. The singer has a voice I love to hear -- a voice she lent to a large body of work. I'm hoping it will help readers relax just as I hope it will help me fall asleep tonight. Enjoy!

Sweet Dreams -- Patsy Cline

Day 2 - 308 -- Where there's smoke . . .

As the last third of the term moves forward, there are many people wondering how everything will fit. So many papers to write or grade, content to cover, read and absorb, and preparation for the final exam processes.  Time is always tight at this point, but we seem to be a bit short on time due to a late start and a longer reading break this fall. So -- the crunch is upon us.

I looked at the calendar today and smiled, since today is Guy Fawkes Day in the UK. We don't celebrate this day here, but it still appears on some calendars. This historical date brings bonfires and fireworks displays in the UK in remembrance of the gunpowder plot from 410 yeas ago. I smiled when I realized that today was the day the conspirators tried to blow up the building where the king would be opening parliament in London -- the smile was not because of the act of treason, but because I'd thought a day or so ago that the piles of paper I'm surrounded with at  the moment would make a good bonfire -- not at all serious about that, but there was a fleeting thought about a nanosecond long.

These convoluted musings led me to a song about a fire due to carelessness that destroyed a casino during a music festival 44 years ago in 1971. It seemed to fit the ramblings of my brain today -- all over the place with very little hazy focus only. Love the opening guitar here. It is unmistakable. Always takes me back to undergraduate student days when a good friend would practice in the basement of residence -- and he was always gracious enough to play this one for his 'fans' <smile>. Enjoy!

Smoke on the Water -- Deep Purple

Day 2 - 307 -- An Historic National Day

A new prime minister was sworn in today -- the son of a former prime minister. PM Justin PJ Trudeau took the oath of office along with his cabinet. Whether one voted for that party or not, the history in the day has been huge. This cabinet is 50% women, and visibly represents the diversity of our nation in culture, ability and regions represented. I couldn't help but feel proud to have a cabinet that clearly represented the diversity of MPs elected by Canadians across the nation. For the first time, big screens and bleachers were set up on the grounds of Rideau Hall for citizens to watch the ceremony occurring inside the building. The area was filled with people -- while many others (like me) watched the streaming video online.

This event brought reflections on this nation and the many ways in which it remains connected -- no small feat being the second largest nation (land mass) in the world. Given my family history, that did bring me to the world of transportation. The longest continuous highway in the world runs from St. John's, Newfoundland to Victoria, British Columbia -- the trans-Canada highway. The song chosen for today goes back even further, telling one part of the nation-building history. Enjoy!

The Canadian Railroad Trilogy -- Gordon Lightfoot

Day 2 - 306 -- Learning, Writing, Growing

Tuesday is the crazy weekday this term -- both courses, two research student meetings, and several other bits of short meetings, course prep and admin tasks. This week is especially full with office hours and times outside those designated time blocks at capacity with 15+ minute consultations about the assignment that is due Friday. It is a new writing format for most of them, so there isn't strong self efficacy in place yet. They generally have things together as expected, but just need to check that out before doing the final edit and polish.

I find it rewarding to see their excitement with topics of personal interest as they discover new ideas, facts, and debates. Discovering that changes to the way the world works are not impossible, but neither are they easy, seems a common learning. Hearing them speak to the technical aspects of their chosen topic with confidence is delightful. It shows that there was challenge there for them and that the process seems to have helped them somewhat as they waded through the heavy reading. We are 2/3 of the way through the term, and the work put into the projects has changed their viewpoint and how they speak about the issues at hand. I hope they notice the growth that I see. Very cool indeed!

A song about self growth seemed perfect for today. The singer delivers the message well -- an amazing voice that left far too early. Enjoy!

Make Your Own Kind of Music -- Cass Elliot

Day 2 - 305 -- Grey Skies Overhead

Lots of admin tasks completed and submitted today. Most took a bit longer than expected, so I didn't get to the course prep needed for this week. Well, "tomorrow's another day"  -- said with my pitiful southern accent <smile>. After work, I got some groceries for the week but didn't get the items for the weekend cooking. I'll wait to get things 'fresher' for that and may find that the recipes I'm thinking of today will change by the end of the week. Today I'm thinking of a fall veggie lasagna -- zuchinni have to be perfect for that one. Also thinking of New Orleans red beans. I'll see what the rest of the week brings for cooking ideas and energy levels -- one of those recipes is much more involved than the other <grin>.

Weather phenomenon of the day -- I stepped out the front door to bright sunshine and some cloud. Sunglasses were definitely in order. I drove in (a 12 minute walk but I had to get groceries on the way home) and when I turned onto campus the brightness of the last few blocks turned to twilight. There was a huge dark grey cloud hovering over the campus. There seemed to be sunny breaks in all directions, but overhead was murky looking. I was unsure what that meant for the day <smile>.  It turned very misty into the afternoon, with bits of rain in the evening.

The song chosen to share here today is from a 1966 album. The lead singers sound a bit different in these earlier days than their iconic sound from the later 1970s -- a very different sound indeed. Enjoy!

Monday's Rain -- The Bee Gees

Day 2 - 304 -- Allhallowtide

Today is midpoint in Allhallowtide, the traditional Christian remembrance of people who have died. It consists of All Hallows' Eve (Halloween), All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. In the Middle Ages children and poorer people in England went door to door to receive sweet pastries called soul cakes. The practice was called Souling. A traditional folk song about the practice exists. Modern recordings have kept the many verses of the original song, but seem to have added a couple verses that refer to Christmas. Wassailing or Mumming are similar but distinct activities during the Christmas season.

The selection for today is one of the modern renditions of the traditional folk song complete with the Christmas reference. I was thinking that it just didn't fit with the modern addition. Then, when I was flipping through the TV listings this afternoon, darn if there wasn't a Christmas movie on today. Really? <sigh>  Enjoy!

Soul Cake -- Sting