In the early morning, I heard a noise and decided it was the neighbour cat running across the roof, as she is wont to do in some weird parkour extravaganza. When I fully awoke within the next hour I realized it was continuing, so was not the cat. It was, in fact, snow falling from the tree branches onto the roof -- a distinctive sound that heralds shoveling. I reminded myself that the weather gurus had forecast 1 cm of snow overnight. The roof activity does not happen with a measly centimetre of the white stuff. I did not want to look out the window. If I stayed in bed and didn't get up, it would be like Schrodinger's snow. Needless to say, I walked into work. Ploughs had not been by yet -- they, too, likely expected much less and were unprepared until later in the morning. Visibility was not great as the thick wet white globs fell. There was 4-6 inches of compacted wet snow down when I left the house. Shoveling when I returned in early evening was a challenge as there was water under it all and mud under all that. Now the forecasters have consulted their clairvoyants and predict we'll get about an inch or so of rain in the coming 24 hours. It should be one grand mess by this time tomorrow.
While hiding from the world outside, I met with students, celebrated a friend's birthday, and graded scads of assignments. Sugar played a role in getting through the day -- not that it is a bribe or reward, just a comfort for today -- a mini-cupcake at the celebration and bran muffin later in the evening.
An annual holiday concert occurred elsewhere today. The coordinator is a singer-songwriter from Montreal whose career began in the '60s in New York -- Andy Kim. He wrote many songs that are familiar across ages. I chose to share a newer recording of one of those early songs. This version is by another artist who entered the musical world in the '60s, as well. The arrangement is playful and interesting -- giving a very different view of the piece. Enjoy!
This was the last 8:15 AM class until January. 🙌 Getting up in the dark is difficult at any time, but for someone who has never been a morning person, it can be excruciating. Having to stand in front of a class and make sense of complex concepts only adds insult to injury. I will enjoy my brief reprieve. During the day I completed two mediocre lectures, had a student meeting and graded a couple of papers. I took an hour to run out at the end of the afternoon to fill up with gas and pick up a few things at the grocery store. I had to return to chair a 5:30 PM meeting that lasted about 15 minutes -- one of those protocol items that needs to be minuted. Thankfully we managed quorum so business was moved forward.
The temperature in the building has been much cooler the past few work days. I finally called to ask if a space heater could be found for me in the interim -- they should have work completed by early January on the heating system -- an upgrade to bring the building into a more sustainable place. The project manager and the contractors came to visit my office. They said today was cold due to work on the roof. They said I was the only one with a cold office. I did let them know that everyone in my hallway has purchased a space heater to keep semi-warm. This has not been the case in past years. All four floors have complained today. I was told the heat had been turned back on some time back. Well, that hasn't been evident for most of us <smile>. They will see what tomorrow brings. And so we wait. Blankets and gloves should not be required in the office <sigh>.
My meanderings today brought a few songs to mind but I settled on one. It dealt with how I felt for much of the day today. Enjoy!
Two highlights today -- I finished one large pile of grading (several smaller ones still await my attention) and I attended a great seminar on the contemporary history of the dietetic profession, mainly from an education and training perspective. Both made me smile and let my mind move into different areas of thought and work.
The other big event of the day was a meeting with my financial adviser to help me answer the question from the CDIC commercial -- "How's my money?" <grin>. It has been three years so it seemed to be time to have an update on where things are and if we are still on track to possibly retire rather than work into my 80s. <smile> I supplied all my numbers and we will meet in a week or so to go over the dreaded calculations that will give an idea of where the monthly income might fall. That always makes me anxious -- don't want me and the cat living on the street with a grocery cart of odds and ends. Retirees range from those with reasonable incomes to those who struggle to make ends meet -- even with the federal pension and old age supplement. Having a bunch of non-earning years due to extra years at school can affect that allotment. I'll have to request some figures from them to see where I stand, too. Maybe I should start to buy lottery tickets.
The last meeting of the day leads me to this song. The first few lines ran through my head a lot this afternoon and into the evening. I've used this song in the past for the last line of the first stanza, and putting the lyric together as a whole today makes a lot of sense. I've chosen a version from a more recent event -- where the singer has clearly aged a bit from the original -- seemed fitting for the topic today. And for those who don't know me personally, I love denim <smile>.
The first nor'easter of the season is upon us. It rained overnight and continued today. Rain mixed with ice pellets beat against the windows with each gust of wind. The precipitation fell at a light angle and then at a 45 degree or greater angle with the gusts. Needless to say I didn't hear the parade go by this afternoon. The winds return over and over as the storm swirls around us. Lights have flickered and power is an iffy prospect.
I've been grading like a crazy person to get the one set done and will need to find a spare 14 hours before Friday to finish the other paper assignment before classes end. I'm not sure how that will occur, but will work out something this week -- sleeping and eating are optional, right? <smile>.
The song for today comes from a stage musical. Several great songs came from this play including this one which shares the title of the play. The singer of this version has a pleasant soprano. Enjoy!
Whistle Down the Wind -- Lottie Mayor (ft. Andrew Lloyd Webber on piano)
Another Saturday night spent with a pile of essays. I sometimes say my life is to be envied <smile>. I do realize that there is some truth to that statement, even though I tend to use it in a less positive vein. Evenings and weekends spent with work can be overwhelming. Wanting to head out for a shopping trip -- for groceries or other items -- that isn't rushed seems so far from reality for 8 months of the year. The same can be said for going out for a chat and cup of tea, having friends over for dinner, or taking an evening to watch a movie or just read a book. I feel that I whine about this often, but there is a distinct feeling of deprivation and missing out on some parts of life. It can make concentration very difficult -- even if the topic being read is interesting. I've been trying to find a way around that recently.
I did walk out to get milk and some items for supper early in the afternoon. There was a bit of sun amongst the clouds, but it was a bit chilly. We are expecting a nor'easter type storm overnight into tomorrow. My grading break was to be the Santa Parade just after lunch, but if it is pouring rain, that may be cancelled.
Grading set aside for the day now, but it is time to try to sleep. I generally am awake into the early morning. I was born at 12:36 AM and have found that time of day to be very private when everything becomes quiet. A song came to mind last evening when thinking through some grading. The lyrics deal with the time of day and the feeling of missing out on something. I do love the singer-songwriter -- he is such a talented individual with a distinctive voice. Enjoy!
Night Life -- Willie Nelson (recorded at Berklee College 1 month after his 80th birthday)
At the end of a long tiring week, the news that I awoke to seemed difficult to process. Florence Henderson had passed away. She is best known as the mother of the Brady Bunch, Carol Brady. The show aired for about 4 seasons -- when seasons were longer than they are today -- which was more than enough time to become the ideal mother -- the mother she thought we all were looking for.
It seems that I am now in the demographic that recognizes more people who pass -- somehow when we weren't looking we became "that" generation. People who played beloved characters or sang our favourite music are leaving this world. There is a true feeling of sadness that can turn to actual grief over these losses -- things I never really understood in the younger years. Given that many age groups are in the workplace, there may not always be people who feel the loss that the Boomers do at times like this. For this reason, I've found social media can be a place to remember and 'wake' a person, if you will. There are a number of people I know that are in my age group that are easily found in the Web 2.0 (or 3.0 depending on your frame of reference) world. Again, this is another interesting aspect of the community constructed online.
Florence Henderson had a Broadway career long before becoming Mrs. Brady. I've chosen a song sung by her to celebrate a life lost today. She had training from the nuns in high school to sing Gregorian chants and masses in Latin. Her phrasing is impeccable and the power in the voice truly astonishing. Enjoy!
My Love -- Florence Henderson (from Hollywood Palace 1967)
The day was filled with heavy grey cloud and occasional blue sky with sun. Each time I returned to the car, the windshield was very wet. While it didn't seem to rain outright, there was constant precip in the air. When I got home at the end of the day, the front porch had big flat crystals on the steps. It was just 1C, so frozen precip was part of the day -- thankfully melting as it fell. Parking lots were filled making it necessary to circle around until someone left at two locales. Everyone must be out and about. I felt today was the first day that felt less fall like with the raw north wind.
Four lectures are left in each class and we will be down to the wire this year. Missing two classes due to a fall break and Remembrance day has created a bit of stress in cramming everything into the class time -- content, reviews, activities -- all have been scaled back this year due to lack of time. So much is left to do to prepare finals, write reference letters for internship and grad school, prep for January courses, and more grading, of course <smile>.
Today is Thanksgiving for my friends and family in the US. The television commercials have become more Christmas-y and we are in re-runs for this week <smile>. A song came to mind to celebrate this day -- in a tongue in cheek manner <grin>. Enjoy!
Mashed Potatoes -- James Brown ft. Nat Kendrick & the Swans
This morning the television morning show carried a short interview with a great songstress whose new album came out 12 days ago. Martha Wainwright comes from stellar folk musical genes from Kate McGarrigle and Louden Wainwright III. Her brother and aunt have solid musical careers, too. This latest album, Goodnight City, is said to be 'softer' than her past music, but still with the recognizable edginess. She stated that the songs were more positive than her earlier music, something she put down to being a parent.
I've chosen to share the single from that album as it fits with the way I've been feeling for a few weeks now -- losing control and focus while feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all. It is a unique song with great poetic phrases. Note -- Scroll down a bit to find the music link in the album review. Enjoy!
Many years ago on this date, we began to see the world differently due to televised news. This is the anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy. The news feeds had been set up to follow the motorcade as it wound through Dallas. For this reason, the media were in close proximity to the event and could follow the story as it unfolded. The few television channels of the day switched programming to the news -- something that wasn't common in those days. As a child, I recall watching the news and seeing the impact and chaos around the car -- over and over and over. Those grainy images on the big TV tube made an impression. It was a true watershed moment. Real death was difficult to understand from that flickering image. Yet, within the next decade the suppertime news began to broadcast film from journalists embedded with troops in Viet Nam. Again, death entered our living rooms and innocence left.
Television broadcasts have followed on from that tragic day, showing ongoing situations where people are dying on our screens. With the major changes in dramatic programming, audiences may have become a bit desensitized to the reality of news. Without a doubt, though, television and the moving images are powerful and emotional communication devices. I'm certain that seeing the Kennedy brothers die on my television along with the shuttle explosions, and unfolding shooter situations have played a major role in my professional interest in the impact mass media can have on viewers. I have also seen many positive messages on these media, so it isn't always bad. Social media have opened the world allowing me to remain in touch with friends around the globe. Societies and communities have developed online. From sociological and anthropological stances, the relationships seen on screen can represent the best and worst of individual and group behaviour. From the early days of the internet, it has sometimes reminded me of Golding's Lord of the Flies, and yet it has also shown great compassion and support. Intriguing, for certain.
There is only one song that fits today's thoughts. It tells the story of how television became embedded in my consciousness. -- and all by a classic voice from a favourite band from the dim distant past. Enjoy!
Monday. That word brings all sorts of feelings and expectations. Most of these are negative. It can be a challenge to get back in the swing of the work week after a weekend, yet it can also be a whole new clean slate with which to work. It is all a matter of perspective. My day began with two quirky things that could have gone either way -- I did hear myself laughing out loud about the absurdity of it all, so I guess I went the way of a clean slate -- at least for today <smile>.
I thought of a song with a key message that could be heard as a positive or something a bit more cynical. Either way it really seemed to fit this Monday. I love the great hair styles of these guys -- it does date them and maybe me. The song itself is upbeat and the video is just plain fun. Enjoy!
Another day almost over. More grading involved, but only 1/4 through one large assignment this weekend. Seems I need another 15-20 hours to finish this one and then there are the smaller ones waiting in line, too. I'm not sure any of these assignments are waiting patiently. It feels as if they are jeering and calling out at all hours.
The fun for the day was working on a MOOC that I'm doing. Yes -- the timing is bad for this one, but it is amazing. It deals with the foods and feasting of Royal houses from Henry VIII to Victoria. Week 4 begins tomorrow, leaving only the 5th week. This will end just as classes end -- really bad timing. The history involved in food preparation, medical treatments, and new found foods as the globe expanded is filled with detail that is quite interesting. What were Christmas celebrations like? How did these change over the centuries and why? The latter seems appropriate since today was the Santa Parade from Toronto -- one that has been around in one iteration or another since I was a child. I have seen it in person once -- the year I lived there. Can't say I'm ready for a holiday preparation to begin, but with American Thanksgiving coming this week, it will begin in earnest. I just won't be doing much until a few days before Christmas. Again, grading takes precedence.
My perceived feeling of the papers awaiting grading and my feelings about wanting to do something other than grading led me to one song. In a playful presentation, it covers that main feeling quite well. Enjoy!
It has been a slow day -- well, I've been moving slowly. Housework managed, but other work not so much. I had a short nap in the afternoon as head was still very fuzzy. I spent a couple of hours doing grading in the evening. I feel that the red pen has become a permanent part of my hand.
Using a red pen seems rather harsh. It appears that any marks are filled with negative ideas -- imbued with anger. Yet, comments are meant to be constructive, though the colour may produce a different feeling in the recipient. I've used pencil a times and a blue pen, but neither really show up on the page as well as red pen. When I moved to this job years ago, my aunt who had taught school for over 30 years, gifted me 2 red pens. She did this with a smile saying that I'd be needing them. She was right, of course. The grading process is enormous. Yet, I still struggle with using red pen.
A song that came to mind today has a title that fits my colour pondering as well as how I've felt with the process. It is an older song with an upbeat sound -- it made me smile as I thought of it today. Interestingly, this was co-written by Paul Simon. Enjoy!
The alarm went off on time today, and I promptly fell back to sleep. Headaches will do that. I woke about 45 minutes later and had to race through morning routines to get myself to work and into the classroom on time. Feeling foggy with the migraine didn't help me move quickly, but it seemed to work fairly well. I realized today that one class has a distinct scented student -- something flowery and obnoxious. Scents can set off allergic responses. This explains the croaky voice -- not a cold but allergy swelling around vocal chords. Migraines do have allergic bases for me so this may be the reason I've had so many this fall. After tripping over a stool in the room, I had to explain to the class that I had a migraine and that I don't see clearly at such times. I then told them that scented soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, fabric softener and dryer scent particles create horrific responses -- not only with me but with colleagues in the building.
Marketing has been pushing multiple scented products with scents that last weeks. There seems to be an undercurrent that people smell bad. As long as people bathe regularly, there should be no problem. We are not in need of heavy cover up scents as they used in medieval and later times when washing bodies and clothes were seen as health risks. Now, the scents themselves pose health risks to many people with different health issues. As future health professionals, there is a need to de-scent the closet. Sadly, we can't seem to get signage around the building as there isn't an institutional policy nor is there will to develop one for our building. This topic may require constant advocacy but it is difficult to do when the workplace makes one sick.
Today I've been tired since waking. It was difficult to remain alert through classes and meetings. I hope to listen to the rain and fall into a restful sleep to help make the hurt go away. The song I chose to share covers some of my experiences today. Enjoy!
Another day filled with pain. The migraine that arrived late yesterday is still with me. It felt less painful this morning, but this evening the waves of pain have intensified again. It is a familiar pain -- one that has a name. From that standpoint it is better than some new pain that hasn't been identified. Other than that, I'm not sure of any other positives at this moment. Thinking, speaking, and writing don't work well. Today there was that rare dizziness that can accompany a migraine.
It was also a grey cloudy day to match the cloudy mind. Forecasts show rain over the next few days with heaviest rain bands tomorrow. Temperatures are to be warmer than west of here, so it is expected to stay as rain.
The song shared today came from the ongoing discomfort of the day. The rhythm reminds me of the relentless pain experienced with the key phrase being a bit softer -- a goal for someone with a migraine. <smile> Enjoy!
As I left the house this morning, the air felt damp but warmer than I'd expected. I thought it was drizzling, but that wasn't the case. As I drove up the hill to campus, it was clearly fog -- well actually the air was not that clear. Visibility was a block or so -- the hills on the north side of town were not visible nor was the highway on the south edge of campus. Within an hour, the fog became thicker such that seeing buildings up the road was not possible. While many people may think this a regular occurrence -- we do live in the Maritimes after all -- fog is not seen locally too often. If we were on the eastern or south shores where the coast faces directly into the Atlantic, fog is ever present. In the northeast and not directly on the water (just the estuary to the smaller Strait of Canso) we see fog much less often.
A mystery about communication surfaced again today and even with direct questioning about what could be clarified to ease the anxiety in the receiver, I was not able to change much. That left both sides still in a metaphorical fog of insecurity. I'm hoping that things will improve and self confidence is restored in others involved. As the day wore on I began to feel tightness and pain in my neck and shoulders. Lurking behind that pain were bits of a migraine. I went for a short walk, but soon realized that wouldn't help. So, the headache wasn't based in tension. The neck and shoulders may not be either, but rather symptoms of the underlying headache. I headed home for an ice pack and heating pad to see if either would help. (not really <sigh>). I worked through a bit more grading and am about to head off for what could be a restful sleep that makes this thing disappear. We'll see.
The song that came to mind while walking to the car today, was one I've only heard as an instrumental. What I discovered was there were lyrics and they commemorate an uprising. The song is a lament and the voice for this version fits very well. While my family came from Ireland (several branches of the tree actually from parts of that island), I'm not fully comfortable with a song that urges revolt, yet when taken in context of what was happening 100 years ago, it does make more sense. Enjoy!
It has been a rather fast paced day. It began with returning one large bag of graded papers and then continued with two lectures and discussions followed by individual meetings with students. By afternoon I had a chance to catch up on the gazillion e-mails that had landed in the inbox since yesterday. I tried to organize some larger group meetings and interviews that need to be done before the end of term -- 2.5 weeks from now. <smile>
Anxiety dreams should be kicking into high gear any night now. Packing content and grading into the final days of term carries much stress. The lack of sleep is written on all faces I encounter. Stress plus lack of sleep is an equation for negative emotions to run amok. Patience dwindles. Filters falter leading to a greater need to bite one's tongue. Anxieties rule. Altogether, communication efforts fail more often than usual.
I headed home for supper with a thought of going to an evening lecture by a former Prime Minister, but after eating I read the mail and fell asleep for 30 minutes. When I woke, there wasn't time to get to campus on time. A song that a colleague had mentioned earlier today came back to mind. The singer-songwriter has produced the soundtrack of a generation. This is from an earlier version of the song from an iconic album -- I have it in the original vinyl. <smile> Enjoy!
Today is a two story day. The first began when I heard on the morning news that it was Diabetes Day. That left my head momentarily until I complimented a young woman at work on her great navy top and lighter blue sweater. Her reply was a simple thank you and a note that it was Diabetes Day. Without that tidbit of knowledge, I had worn navy blue today, too. We laughed and she then noted that she was all blue today "but in a good way." That, too, made me smile.
Second story occurred when I left the office. It was dark and I had hoped to leave before sunset to get the groceries and then be home for a usual supper hour. Needless to say, that didn't happen. Walking across the parking lot, I found the first star but no moon. I watched the sky as I drove in different directions on the way to the store. No moon in any direction. I had thought there was cloud but the star told me otherwise. As I got to the store parking lot, it dawned on my that the moon may not have risen yet. It had been rising earlier in the evening last week, but it was later last night -- we did change time last weekend. So -- I got groceries and when I returned to the car with the bags, there it was that big, bright moon -- not lost after all.
A song entered my mind when working through the two highlights of the day. Each made me smile. So -- two stories means two songs. The first is a country song from a singer with one of the great voices and a most excellent smile. The second is from a singer-songwriter that is featured here often -- a wonderful voice and great poet. The country-calypso rhythms of this one add interest. Big warning here -- please click the video and then reduce the screen so you can just listen to this great song. The video is just silly and somewhat disturbing. Sorry -- but I found no others online that were easily accessible. I truly apologize for this video -- but not the song. Enjoy!
Look up tonight. If there are no clouds this will be the biggest and brightest the moon has been since 1948. The moon is called a supermoon tonight as this is when the moon's orbit is closest to earth this year. Added to that today is this is the closest orbit in 68 years. So -- it appears to be a super-supermoon, if you will. It is truly brighter than usual out my back door tonight. The moonrises this past week have been lovely. Astronomers tell us that the height of this moon will occur Monday about 6 AM ET -- 7 AM where I live. They also say that viewing tomorrow works, too. So if there are clouds tonight, hopefully they will leave for a viewing tomorrow.
The moon has been part of human stories, legends and dreams since hominids mastered bipedal locomotion, and likely before that. Moon cycles affect tides, such that major storms during full moon phases create greater storm surge. There is no doubt of the power held by this body. Most poets speak of moonlight as a silvery colour, but I've seen it more as a pale gold.. It is reflected sunlight, after all. My furry friend has dark stripes interspersed with pale golden stripes -- I say he is the colour of moonbeams <smile> -- natures way to camouflage a nocturnal hunter. Moonlight does not give the same clarity of vision or colour as sunlight, but it can create shadows and light to give a hint of direction at night. Folklore is filled with moon-centric tales, giving rise to many words commonly used -- lunacy, lunatic, moonstruck -- many related to some type of madness. Again, a basic understanding of the power of the moon to affect humans by turning them into mythical creatures at full moon or create unusual behaviours. New mythology began after the Apollo program landed humans on the moon. I have touched a moon rock at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. Nothing too odd has occurred from being in such close proximity to an actual piece of the moon, though -- well nothing that I am fully aware of, that is. <g>
So many songs exist from which to choose from for this posting. The one I share does include terms that relate to the 'super' aspect of the lunar event we are witnessing tonight. While I was seemingly alone in my back yard this evening, I expect that there are many others silently watching the spectacle. I love the keyboard intro -- so '70s. Enjoy!
The surprise of the day involved sunshine -- lots of it. Forecasts had suggested rain with possible frozen bits in trace amounts. I headed out to run some errands at the mall. One store has just relocated to the other end of the mall with the checkout area in front of huge windows. It was rather blinding to stand staring into the sun and I'm sure the clerks had issues with the sun on the computer screens. I had time to look a bit at potential new phones -- seems the one I currently have from the previous century will not be supported in the three western provinces or the Gaspe. The latter isn't a major issue, but the western ones are where friends and family reside, so by next summer, I need a new phone for the calls west. I saw some nice ones and now just need to compare specs online and then get myself a Christmas present. The afternoon and early evening were filled with laundry and grading. We are at the point when grading is never-ending -- my hypothesis is that grading is self-replicating. I did manage to complete one set of papers and still have 52 from another class. There will be many smaller assignments in the last three weeks of classes, too.
For fun <smile> I signed up for a MOOC that runs the last 5 weeks of my courses -- not the best timing, but it is fun. The topics deal with culinary history of Royal palaces in England. The first two weeks dealt with Tudor kitchens for Henry VIII at Hampton Court and the Tower of London during Elizabeth's reign. The former explored food served at celebrations in the court and the latter looked into food served for prisoners at the Tower and the slight changes in food availability with the expansion of the world in the 16th and 17th centuries. It takes some time to read and then construct comments, but it gives the brain a bit of a rest in the form of a change in processing -- not grading <smile>.
The song shared today comes from an album that hit #1 on the Billboard 200 50 years ago today. It is a song that gave me my online nik. The tempo is upbeat and it is just a fun song. Enjoy!
It has been a somber day. Remembrance Day brings feelings of gratitude and loss. Knowing that family members and friends served and are serving to keep the peace and fight for shared values brings pride and tears. Their roads have not been smooth. Selfless service brings with it a few hiccups and some very deep abysses. When Rabbi Reuven Bulka (Honourary Chaplain of the Dominion Command of the Royal Canadian Legion) spoke at the National War Memorial today, he noted that many who serve carry our moral norms into amoral situations -- something that can have lasting health impacts -- physical and psychological -- that systems need to be prepared to address.
On another somber note, Leonard Cohen, poet extraordinaire was buried in Montreal yesterday. He was from the Westmount neighbourhood. His poetry and prose spoke to the soul. Early in his writing career, he chose to take his poetry to the people in the form of music. His voice was readily recognized and his semi-spoken word delivery easily identifiable. His last studio album was released last month, entitled "You want it darker." Many of his songs were covered by other singers, the lyrics familiar to many from several generations.
With a huge number of songs to his credit, choosing something to share here today has been challenging. I finally got it down to two selections. The first is a recitation by that amazing bass voice that fits well with Remembrance Day. The second is one of the many songs covered by other artists. This one is by a voice that suits the lyrics perfectly. But there are others that we could listen to -- Suzanne, So long Marianne, Hallelujah, . . . and so many, many more. And remember he left us with a new album just a few weeks ago. Enjoy!
In Flanders Field -- words by John McCrae; recorded by Leaondard Cohen
Bird on a Wire -- Aaron Neville ft. The Neville Brothers
This was a short week due to Remembrance Day falling on a Friday. We are at the point in term where only one-quarter remains. That is 9 classes -- so much more that needs to fit. Grading is piled so deep I'm not sure how it will be completed by end of classes to be returned -- at least not completed while retaining sanity and health of the grader. Work on the new course -- never been offered by anyone before -- has begun, but time will be tight to get that ready for January start. All this on the go and the tv has been playing Christmas movies for 2 weeks now and the commercials have begun -- just seems to add to the stress and anxiety.
The day was lovely outside -- skies cleared with some sun. Clear skies made the moon rise easy to see. I plan to do a whack of grading over the weekend and prepare for upcoming classes -- figure out how to fit the key points into the remaining time. This will be interspersed with housework and hopefully time to watch a movie. It is difficult to remain calm at this point in the game. Things are rushing forward with no way to slow it down or even function well when one is just holding on so as not to fly off into space. Those around me seem to be in the same space -- trying to find a moment of calm or turning to isolationism to preserve self.
A song line came to mind that puts into context the concept of time moving quickly. The beat is a bit frenetic while sounding upbeat. This video is from the movie from the stage production. Enjoy!
Temperatures today were into the mid-teens (Celsius) with some great sun. I was out for a meeting in mid-afternoon and enjoyed the walk in the warmth. When the meeting was over it was already cooling off as the sun sets earlier this week. After a quick supper of a great spicy tomato orzo soup from a little shop on Main Street paired with a cheese sandwich, I headed back to campus for a concert. The high school band and a quintet of young female singers opened for Men of the Deeps, the coal miners choir from Cape Breton. This is their 50th anniversary year. Their conductor and arranger for those years retired last year, and was feted by the group on his home turf here in town. Their new conductor is a high school music teacher on Cape Breton (his father sings with the choir), arranged a tour of the province with accompaniment from high school bands -- an amazing idea.
I've seen Men of the Deeps a couple of times when they've come to town. I was familiar with them from television specials before I moved to the Maritimes. Tonight did not disappoint. The group members are getting older -- as we all are <smile> -- but their voices are fantastic. They visited with the audience during intermission and after the concert ended. I bought their new CD -- a composite of songs from the past 50 years along with 3 new recordings. I'm looking forward to listening to this one. Several of my favourites are included.
The songs shared here today were sung tonight. This recording from a concert years back includes two songs, one of which is preceded by a poem. This second song is a tribute to a mining disaster from 1992 a half hour away from town. Interestingly, the Men of the Deeps were in our town performing that night. One of the singers had a son who was a dragerman, a rescue worker in that mine that night. I can't imagine what that would have been like for them that night. Enjoy!
I woke today tired and feeling foggy. In class I said the next group presentation was on the 8th, so we'd do it later. The response from students was that today was the 8th. I stopped and wondered if the time change made me not know what time it was or what day it was. The day went fairly well with more house repair work getting finished and some brief meetings. Once I left the office, I stopped to buy milk at the drug store. It felt very loud in the store with two kids yelling across the large store to their parent. I picked up the milk and stood in line to pay. The noisy kids were now running around me. I seemed to zone out a bit and the guy behind me had to tell me twice that it was my turn. Paying seemed easy until I found my club card and the transaction had been completed before scanning my card. This meant calling the manager to correct this on the register. As I stood there with the yelling continuing around me, I'm not sure I even made eye contact with the girl behind the counter. I do remember saying if there is a problem can we just cancel this since I couldn't stay there much longer. The manager arrived at that point. I managed to lift my head and say to them that I had a migraine and the noise was hurting me. The cashier said she was having a bad day, too. When I looked at her she was in tears. I wasn't sure that my actions had been part of that or if she had something really major going on.
I've not had a headache like that before -- it was short-lived. I didn't realize anything was happening until I'd entered the store and it was when I was at the counter that I realized what was happening. I must have looked or acted like someone under the influence. Once I got home, with some rest I felt better, ate some food and when trying to write the blog I fell asleep. So another late entry here today. A song that encompasses the feeling I experienced was chosen for today. The singer is outstanding. Enjoy!
The day was bright and sunny, even though a bit cold. It was a day of grading -- an activity that can bring smiles and frowns. I took some time to look at the sun outside the window between papers to help keep my mood on track. I was into the office for a late afternoon meeting. While there I chatted with a few others. Seems many of us were feeling tired today -- it may be the effects of time change, which always seems to create some delayed catch up. My face showed the fatigue as one person told me to head home since I looked a bit knackered.
I can't see a time before Christmas break where there won't be piles of grading to wade through. It is a challenge to keep a smile on my face -- and not a forced smile <smile>. There are moments when frustration can take over. The overall goal is to keep these moments from becoming hours or days. Taking a break can help, but there are times when this seems frivolous. Just a moment to look out the window or walk around the block can help recentre one's mind and provide the will to carry on with the task.
A song that I heard today seemed to fit my thinking well. It is by an amazing singer/songwriter. I love this version as a studio demo since it is a stripped back version and features a much younger voice. Enjoy!
After the turmoil of yesterday, things have been a bit calmer. I'm still having trouble settling in to the grading, but some work was done for the house and for the office -- not sure it was the balance that I strive for, but there was time to do bits of both. Feeling overwhelmed can make me choose not to make a choice -- to not do what needs to be done whether for me or someone else. I'm not convinced that is a good way to go through stress, though. It seems like hiding from reality in some ways. Then again, maybe that is what I need every so often -- a way to recharge perhaps.
Moving forward isn't always as easy as it sounds. Sometimes we are paralyzed by fear or anger or frustration and just stay stuck in that one place. Working to move out of that space takes time, energy and work. Today felt like I made some progress toward doing the stuff that may not be fun stuff. Life is filled with such tasks. I've told myself that if I just sit down and do it, it will be done sooner than if I fret about it all and avoid choosing to do it now. Interesting, hmmm? Time now to choose to move down that road to see what else lies ahead -- I just need to climb over this small hurdle in the middle of that road.
The beginning lyrics from a song summed up my progress today. I've featured this group here many times and listened to them a lot in years past. Love the rhythm, poetry and tempo of this selection. Enjoy!
Up Around the Bend -- Creedence Clearwater Revival
Where does time go? Today was all cattywampus. I woke in the middle of the night and then never really got back to sleep well. I did housework early in the day and made a trip out to a shop before noon. The rest of the day was spent dealing with housework, grading and laundry. And here it is 11 PM and I don't know where the day went.
Overnight tonight, daylight savings time ends. In the fall this means gaining an hour, but it still takes some time to readjust to the one hour difference. I'm still not convinced that time change is a necessary action <smile> -- but then I am from Saskatchewan where we don't change time twice yearly.
A song title came to mind for the blog today. Love the singer-songwriter -- a wonderful voice and great sound from that old guitar. Also, there several familiar faces in this video. Enjoy!
It has been a crazy week with an excess of happenings at home and work. The work day ended with a meeting to outline future work for a lengthy review process. I'll admit it was difficult to be in the right frame of mind for this when I was tired and a little wired with the new piles of grading that arrived today. I headed home with a favourite pizza from our local mobile wood-fired oven vendor. It was my treat for the week ending -- not that work doesn't continue all weekend with grading and such, but it is at home instead of in the freezing cold office.
The anxious feeling that arrives as the last four weeks of a 13 week term commence is ever present. It seems I've mentioned this event in the blog before <smile> as I read through the posts from the past two years. All I can say is that it hasn't changed. Not only are the faculty feeling overwhelmed, but the students and staff are in the same situation. There is much to do and the end is almost in sight. This causes a desperate frenzy rather than a feeling of impending calm <sigh>.
I fell asleep in front of the TV and laptop last night, so this is a day late heading out to you. The song chosen for yesterday dealt with the roller coaster of emotions that are in play as the term ends. I suspect that it doesn't help that several major holidays occur just before and just after the term ends. The song that came to mind yesterday covers the concept of those multiple emotions in a single term -- one that comes from Thoreau. The singer-songwriter uses an uptempo country sound to deliver the message. Enjoy!
It appears we've reached the point in the season when cool mornings and less warmth to the days is the norm. I've been wearing my heaviest fleece under a wind and rain jacket. It is time to freshen up the winter clothes and store the summer items. That is a fair amount of work and isn't a favourite activity. Regardless of the likability of the task, it needs to be done to stop me from feeling so cold. Again, not something that is surprising a this point in the year, but Autumn has been breaking us in slowly. It seems we may not be listening -- cognitive dissonance in play in a major way.
Renovations to upgrade the ventilation system in our building have been underway for some time now. The work is slated to be completed by early January. In the meantime, the main heating for the building will be off. An antiquated heating system available only in rooms with outside walls will provide heat in the interim. Sadly, this is a system that has not been turned on in the 18+ years I've been here. The wall units in my office do not put out any heat while the air vents above my chair circulate and exchange the air using the outside air but without the heating of that air. I've taken a fleece vest to the office to wear under the fleece jacket when seated in the room for any length of time. On top of this the space heater in the office has chosen this week to stop producing heat. -- it hums as usual, but no heat output occurs. One of the classrooms I use feels like a sauna, so it means shedding layers or melt into a puddle in the midst of lecture.
Preparing for the seasonal changes happens each year, so we should be ready. I'll need to be prepared to move to work elsewhere if it gets too cool in the office. A new space heater needs to be acquired. Digging out the sweaters may help to retain some body heat. Perhaps I should wear my Rider toque and neck warmer with gloves -- that might cause a stir. <smile> I am also taking a great fleece throw to the office since my legs get cold, too. So -- besides looking like a much older person with a shawl over my knees, add in a scarf, hats and mitts and I'm certain I'll cut a dashing figure -- at least I'll be memorable.
One short lyric line ran through my head when thinking of preparing for the seasonal changes. It is from a song with a much different story, but the lead chorus line and title should make sense. It is from a Canadian singer/songwriter with an amazing voice to boot.This video shows a face from his early days on the guitar -- another Winnipeg boy. <smile> Enjoy!
Repair people have been around the house everyday this week and there are more to come. The roof was replaced on Monday and Tuesday, though that destroyed the non-paved driveway. I'm not certain that someone will return to fix it as they'd promised. Today the kitchen sink was repaired so it doesn't continue to leak into the cupboard underneath. I took measurements yesterday for a carpentry repair to the front porch that should occur in the next week or so. We are still trying to find a time for the electrician to repair the fuse box and doorbell wiring. I'm hoping that will work in the next two weeks. I will need to shop for some indoor plumbing fixtures so those can be repaired when the carpenter (also the landlord) is available. Today when I arrived home, the yard care fellow was starting the leaf cleanup. The front yard is pretty much down now, but the back yard is always up to 14 days later. So, the bulk of the leaves have been moved for now. Now if I could just get myself motivated to do the fall cleaning indoors, things will be set.
Fixing the bits and pieces of a house isn't wildly different than maintaining a human. We do our regular check ins with dentists, MDs, eye doctors, physios and a string of other health care practitioners. We work on diet, activity, relaxation and such to reduce risk of disease. Sometimes the maintenance testings are seasonal -- annual blood work, twice yearly oral care, or scans and screens done every two years. It reminds me of Spring and Fall house cleaning in a way.
So -- even with the stress of people coming and going from home this week, things are being managed. Stress levels should reduce from living with malfunctions in the house. A song that brings a smile came to mind today. The video shared does include the lyrics in the text. Enjoy!
It was a cool and wet start to the day, but there were breaks in the cloud by supper time. Roofers seem to have finished the job today. It did mean another day of sheltering the furry critter in the office. Due to a lengthy list of student meetings between lectures today, I had to crate him under the desk and check to ensure allergies were not present in anyone popping into the office for one of those chats. Over my lunch time and for the hour between meetings at the end of the day, he was allowed to wander around the office with the door closed. I felt sad a few times when I was discussing the assignment with a student and his arm would lunge out of the crate door -- out up to the armpit. It seemed there was a desperate need to connect with the world outside the crate -- maybe trying to open the door to get free.
Pondering those moments from today, it seemed to parallel situations that I've experienced in my life. I'm standing there and people see me and hear me, but they choose to ignore me -- pretend that I'm not really there. This isn't just a high school thing, but a workplace thing with people old enough to know better <sigh>. We all can feel disconnected with the world around us without anything quite so blatant occurring. As social beasts, I'm sure we want to be part of things -- to whatever degree we are comfortable, that is. (just the introvert in me shouting 'whoa' <grin>).
A song lyric that seems to fit the ideas of today's meandering thoughts, deals with things in a different order than I was thinking of things today -- being on the outside looking in instead of being on the inside looking out. From either location, the feelings are likely similar. Enjoy!
