Day 4 - 334 -- Thanks

The word of the day seems to be "thanks"  I received a touching note thanking me for support and facilitating teaching. I conveyed my thanks to several others as they helped with bumps and such throughout the day. With just one day and two classes left before the end of term, the assistance of others was much appreciated and helped to reduce the stress level of the day.

Today is also the tree lighting in Boston Common. No, I'm not there, but many Nova Scotians are, along with a magnificent white spruce - the tallest ever sent. The tree journeyed from Inverness county on Cape Breton -- just over an hour from town. Why the tree from so far away when they do grow much closer to Boston? A century ago next week was the infamous Halifax explosion when a munitions ship exploded in the harbour leveling much of the north end of the city with shock wave damage on both sides of the harbour. In the days before internet and even stable phone land lines, the mayor of Boston had cabled the Halifax mayor.  After hearing nothing back, a train was packed with relief supplies and medical staff. It arrived 48 hours after the explosion after struggling through a major blizzard. This assistance was sent without knowing what they'd find at the other end. As they went through St. John, NB the word about the devastation came to be understood. The selfless assistance sent from Boston led to the first tree being sent the following year as a simple gesture of thanks. There were years in the middle where trees weren't sent but with the revival of the tree gifting, the tree in the Common has been sent since 1971.

The cementing of a strong friendship between the two cities was a key outcome of the explosion. As seen in many disasters there were other learnings. Fire fighting changed as much was learned from dealing with the fires in Halifax. The relief medical and nursing staff began the burn unit at Mass General, where novel treatment and care for burn victims has continued. Ophthamological care and understanding of blindness grew from the many eye injuries encountered. So, there was some good that came from the horror.

When thinking of a song that would be fitting to say 'thank you' I ran through many before one came to mind that fit the situation in my head. Filled with imagery, the lyric seems to fit helping others in times of disasters with no questions asked. There are many versions, but I found one with good sound quality. Enjoy!

Shelter from the Storm -- Bob Dylan

Day 4 - 333 -- Coping with Demands

For the past while, I've felt that much of what was sitting on my desk was stuff that other people were demanding of me. Now, it is my job but so are some of the things that I want to do -- the stuff on my 'to do' list -- writing, reading, learning new things. I don't begrudge doing the service component of my job -- it is a huge part of being an educator. I believe in being accessible and it is something that I truly enjoy. The admin stuff has always been a challenge for me no matter which job I've held. Some is reasonable, but some is hard to fully accept <smile>. Just little non-conformist me coming out to play and grump a bit.

When the workload increases beyond anything that seems sensible, negative feelings can surface. When getting to eat lunch before 3:30 or 4 PM is a rare occurrence, things need to find a balance. Well, to be specific, I need to find a balance. That, too, is very difficult to do. I do my best to keep a smile and laugh -- sometimes at the absurdity of the situation. Listening to others needs is a key communication practice for me. When I don't feel heard when I take time to explain a situation, it can be a bit off-putting. Then, it may not be reasonable to expect others to function the way I do. They are being pulled in many directions, too, and may choose silence as response. While this may feel somewhat passive-aggressive from my standpoint, maybe it is self-preservation from their perspective. Who knows what goes on in someone else's mind. Keeping track of my own is more than enough <smile>.

A new song from a Canadian singer/songwriter/poet came to my attention yesterday and must be the source of much of the reflective thought today. The song lyrics speak to the feeling of juggling multiple demands and trying to find a coping strategy. The melody has an R&B sound to it mixed with wonderful orchestration. Enjoy!

Everybody's Pulling on Me -- Jann Arden

Day 4 - 332 -- Confusing Weather

Weather can appear as a wild beast, especially the harsher meteorological events. Today involved a more cunning creature -- one that seemed calm and complacent wanting to be your friend. I wore my runners, heavier gloves and fleece liner. There was little breeze, so it seemed manageable. Up on the hill in the parking lot, there was a bit more air movement and it felt almost biting. The ground in the front yard had been covered with white, but was easy to walk through. The stairs had a thicker covering, but walking slowly with purpose made that part of the journey to the car go well. I'd forgotten the pavement in the parking lot at work -- it had parts that appeared to be fluid but were instead shiny solid slippery spaces. Again, purposeful walking got me to the office. The sidewalk had been salted to stop slip and falls, but this week, no salt had been spread in the parking lot. Odd. Tomorrow is expected to be warmer -- almost 15C warmer since today was over 10C colder -- the high temperature -- than it was on the weekend. Rain is forecast for the end of the week, so the stuff on the ground will be gone by then, since it was about 2.5 cm (1 inch) deep in my yard.

When feeling that winter has begun to toy with us, a song lyric seemed to fit my thoughts. The song is a departure from the usual fair on the blog. The singer is an indie rock guitarist/songwriter with an electronic musician backing. It is intriguing and fits my 'I'm not sure how I feel about this weather' confusion of the day. Enjoy!

Snow Lion -- Readymade FC ft. Feist

Day 4 - 331 -- Finishing Up

Today was a day for wrapping up loose ends -- things that have been underway but were slowed due to the volume of 'things' to do. Bits of grading were addressed. Slides were amended for the final lectures of the term. A visit to the physio that had been pushed to the back burner occurred today. The latter may create some soreness tomorrow -- different than the soreness of today -- but all is good as we are trying to get rid of that long term guest. I also stopped to get 6 things that were forgotten when getting groceries last week. Still came home with one less than needed <sigh>.

I have addressed endings and beginnings in past blog posts. The colder days are more prominent now, leading us into a new season. Today it seemed that the endings were making way for new beginnings -- the circular way of life. This is the last week of classes for the fall term courses. This will make way for the last exams and finally for preparations for the courses that begin in January. There is a rhythm to it all and while there is still much to do before the deadline for grades to be calculated and entered, the pace changes briefly. There are moments of panic but we always make it through to the other side. Taking a moment to focus on the positive helps the journey.

A song line fit so well with the phrases in my head today. The lyrics stress that everything helps us learn and grow. They also note that perspective is key to how we view things. What may be an ending for one person could be seen as a beginning for another. Perspective is cool <grin>. This selection is sung by an Australian band. Enjoy!

Everything is Good for You -- Crowded House

Day 4 - 330 -- Food and Memories

I managed to get myself to take some time away from the work today. I graded another online assignment after which I watched some recorded programs from the last few weeks. I'm a bit behind on some of my fave shows. It is nice to be able to watch them without focusing on other work tasks -- generally this means that I'm not sure what the episode was even about by the time the credits run. <smile>. Definitely something that one cannot multitask.  I took some time to make a special supper to celebrate the completion of the major term paper grading for the term. While not overly elaborate in time required, it was yummy. I did a vegetable saute with gnocchi and a wonderful glass of malbec. It was great to have something freshly made. Not that the items cooked and frozen for such crazy times of term are not tasty, but this one was something I haven't had in a very long time.

Interesting how food holds memories. The gnocchi tonight is my version of a dish I had last time I was in Washington DC for a conference. The days leading up to the conference involved time with friends. We hadn't all been together  for a very long time. One restaurant that we ate at more than once made a fantastic gnocchi dish with cherry tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. They also served a wonderful malbec by the glass. Supper tonight reminded me of the conversations and visits to monuments and museums we did together. It was a fun couple of days that brings smiles regularly even five years later. <smile>

Dinner tonight made me think of a number of songs, but one seemed to stick. I've chosen a more recent cover to the older original. I do love this newer version. It brings out very different feelings than the original. It is always great to find a cover that adds to rather than mimics an original recording. Enjoy!

Red Red Wine -- UB40

Day 4 - 329 -- Colourful Lights

Saturday brought some positives. I finally got through the term paper grading. There are still some smaller (in length) assignments to grade, but that will be doable in the coming week, I hope. The laundry was completed in a single day instead of the usual two. The sun during most of the day was lovely and warmed the air into the mid-teens. I went out after dark and it was still about 10C, but the wind was rather strong. Since I was just standing on the street waiting for the parade to arrive, I was glad to have a fleece hoodie under the light rain jacket. And it did sprinkle a bit during the hour outside.

Parades can be interesting and generally fun. I could hear the kids from my back yard. They were happy and a bit excited, since tonight's parade was the one to welcome Santa to the town. There were several fire and rescue vehicles between groups and floats, all with full flashing lights. I found the brightness of the lights somewhat uncomfortable -- I had to stare at the sidewalk sort of behind me to avoid the head pain the lights were causing. Interesting, since generally I find phonophobia part of a headache, but photophobia isn't a huge issue. Well, tonight it was. With that small negative aside, the event was fun. Smokey the Bear was on the float for DNR (Dept of Natural Resources), the Town Council marched with Canada 150 flags, and the old man himself arrived in a horse drawn carriage -- gorgeous black horses with braided tails. The colourful lights on the displays were delightful. Several kids had santa hats with flashing lights. After the parade, the town tree lighting occurred, but I headed home for supper. An hour later, fireworks from the tree site could be seen from my kitchen window -- all red, green and white sparklers. The higher up ones were hidden in the low hanging cloud.

It seemed a bit festive -- something I guess I needed, since I felt better after the events. It is a month until Christmas day, which is difficult to believe. I'm still wondering where October went and it is the end of November <smile>. A recent song line ran through my head when I was thinking of the lovely lights from tonight. The lyrics emphasize the power within. Enjoy!

Firework -- Katy Perry

Day 4 - 328 -- Marketing Power

My inbox was filled with advertisements for Black Friday when I first opened it and it continued to fill throughout the day. Many of these e-mails were from companies I have done online business with in the past little while. But I did get several from some of them, though each was slightly different than the last. It seemed that some notices included online as well as in store shopping 'deals.' The morning news show stated that last year was the first time that Black Friday total sales were greater than sales figures for Boxing Day in Canada. It seems that the cultural entity of Black Friday has been appropriated by other nations -- social media showed me adverts for Black Friday sales in the UK, too.

The crass commercialism of all holidays bothers me. How much stuff do we all need? How can companies sell such huge amounts at extremely reduced price points and not have financial problems? Is it that the regular prices are somewhat inflated to begin with? Shopping is also spoken of as a sport or leisure activity. This is truly the sign of affluence -- or more likely debt load. We don't wake up one day and say I need product X of our own volition. The idea has been planted by savvy marketers, some of whom have been working on establishing brand loyalty since shoppers were very young children. It could appear to outsiders that priorities have gotten lost in the rush to buy the latest version of some device or other. Standing in line for hours or days seems like a major personal cost just to get the next great thing. Have we sunk to such a disposable society that replacing items even when not worn out or broken, has become expected? \

This weekend generally has a much smaller focus on shopping in local stores. Monday is Cyber Monday -- a time to find everything that wasn't in the stores on Friday but to do this with online shopping -- which all economic forecasters note is the way things are headed, so Monday may soon overshadow the Friday shopping in this 4 day spending spree. Tuesday tries to bring some sanity back to the spending -- Giving Tuesday. I fear that most of the budget will have disappeared by that day, so sometimes feel less optimistic about the altruism of the day -- particularly after the binge of self indulgence that preceded it. Perhaps, though, charitable organizations are hoping people feel a bit guilty and will try to assuage that with a donation. I do wish the sharing the wealth concept would be first in line, but then I have that cockeyed optimist view of where I want the world to go.

A song ran through my head as I pondered the  incessant reminders to spend my money. It is from the early career of a Canadian group. I hear the lyrics in a somewhat sarcastic tone -- yet pointing out the absurdities of some of the actions. Enjoy!

Shopping -- The Barenaked Ladies

Day 4 - 327 -- Look Up

The day began with a trip to the store to return something that hadn't rung through at the sale price. A less than pleasant way to begin the day. As I drove to the office, I saw an eagle soaring on the wind. Luckily, there was no traffic on the road at that moment, so I could slow down and look up rather than ahead. I noticed almost immediately a feeling of calm and that I was breathing. By the time I had to turn, I was feeling in a much better place to start my day. At the end of the day, I looked up as I walked across the parking lot. What an amazing sliver of a moon!

It seemed to me that the universe was telling me to look up today -- take a moment to see what is around me rather than focus on what is swirling inside of me. It seems so easy to get caught up in my own little world where everything becomes 'all about me.' This happens particularly when the world seems overly demanding and I feel rather overwhelmed. Such situations lead to less restful sleep, which in turn leads to reduced filters when speaking, minimal patience, and general overall crankiness. In short, I may not be a nice person to be around. <smile>  The need to recentre can be missed until it is too late. Today, simply by looking up, I found two situations that made me smile and feel calm -- and dare I say it -- peaceful. Note to self -- remember to look around.

A number of song lyrics came to mind today. I settled on one that presented the feelings of peace and calm well. The singer was well known for singing about nature and calmness. I love his voice still. Enjoy!

On the Wings of an Eagle -- John Denver

Day 4 - 326 -- Obscured Vision

It was a day filled with interesting events -- well, at least events besides grading <smile>. I left the office for a medical appointment that had to be rebooked last week. The waiting time was not too bad -- only two ahead of me and this time is was just two. While waiting, I proofed a draft exam, only to discover the version that I felt was pretty much ready to go had three questions that were duplicated in the multiple choice section. Good that I had some relaxed time to read it in one sitting. I then went to the grocery store for a few items and met two colleagues from work -- we had some short catch-up chats. There were a few items that are only found at our second store, so I headed over there. When I got into the parking area, I was faced with a large ladder truck with lights flashing and a large crowd of people outside the doors of the store. Not knowing what this was about, I just headed home.  Interestingly, it was a group of people ready to record a Christmas song for a contest with money going to a local charity. Very cool -- but on the surface that is not what it looked like.

Given the early onset of darkness since time change, seeing the full picture of what is around me isn't always possible. Even seeing pedestrians on campus has been difficult since the crosswalks have been moved due to the large construction project. Now they are not by the light standards but are between them, so light is at a premium. People wearing all dark clothing doesn't help. I tend to do this with my dark jeans and black jacket, so I must provide a similar surprise to other drivers when I'm out walking. This isn't far from not seeing the repetition in a list of exam questions or catching typos regardless of the number of times proofing occurs. The brain sees what it expects to see. Training ourselves to look for the unexpected takes some work and likely works best when not overly tired. <smile>

The selection today deals with the need to find a light to see clearly -- not only for ourselves but also for those around us. Enjoy!

Light a Candle -- Neil Young

Day 4 - 325 -- Teen Idol Departs

Yesterday left me feeling very tired. It wasn't an unusual day, but several major events occurred at work that took my brain to places that required decisions and clear thought -- a challenge when I start the days tired <smile>. Luckily, I had purchased some foods from the annual food market from the foodservice course. These became my supper once I got home. Very yummy perogy pizza and a tasty vegan slider on a whole wheat roll made in lab. That and a big salad made supper quick. The plan was to work on two projects that needed to be done today. Well -- I feel asleep after supper and missed my work window. That also meant the blog was not completed.

The news for yesterday involved the death of David Cassidy, one of many teen idols from the '60s who parlayed his fame into a solo career. The world was introduced to him as part of the Partridge Family television series. He was the lead singer of the family band, led by a single mother and a male manager. They traveled in a flower power painted school bus. <smile>  I didn't follow his adult career closely, but did hear of his music and acting work. Sadness for the early death and health difficulties he'd encountered is at the centre of this loss.

The song for today is one by Cassidy that seemed to fit the day. Enjoy!

I'll have to go away (saying goodbye) -- David Cassidy

Day 4 - 324 -- Ordinary and Historic Day

Another Monday almost over, though this one went fairly well. I was able to strike one errand off my list that had been there for a few weeks. Got most of what I needed from a local store and will need to do an online order for the rest of the items. I spent a few hours in the office with a short list of tasks including a student seminar. I headed home and had a late lunch and commenced grading papers -- or rather, continued grading papers <smile>. The pile is getting shorter so this larger assignment should be finished by the weekend. Another smaller one is due this week with the final one due next week. I do have to get a final exam off to the printer this week, so polishing that is on tap for tomorrow.

An historic event occurred today -- the 70th wedding anniversary of a reigning monarch. Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh were married in 1947. Being just after the war, Britain was still rationing. Coupons for the material for the wedding dress were saved for use, though those sent by loyal subjects were discretely returned. The fabulous gown and the equally amazing muli-layered wedding cake required ration coupons from the royal household -- an interesting tidbit that most people might not know. Everyone was subject to the rationing rules.

So, while I was going about my usual routine, a family on the other side of the Atlantic gathered to celebrate an historic event. I've chosen a piece that was played at that wedding all those years ago. I suspect that most of us could identify it from the early section, but may not be as familiar with the middle part. The horns herald something joyful. Enjoy!

Wedding March (from a Midsummer Night's Dream) Felix Mendelssohn -- London Symphony Orchestra

Day 4 - 323 -- Weather Fluctuations

Another unexpected weather day arrived today. Rain continued in the form of drizzle mostly, though some short burst of louder rain on the side of the house did occur. Yesterday the high was just above freezing. Today, when I walked out for milk and eggs around noon, the temperature was 10C (about 40F) and at supper it was 15C (almost 50F). Tomorrow is should be in the about 4-5C (mid-30sF). The forecasters tell us that this up and down will continue in the next week. I'm not complaining but it is a bit odd with such wild fluctuations -- each accompanied by major wind with shifting directions.

The weather trend seems to be made to keep us all on our toes and never knowing what clothes to wear tomorrow. I prefer making this choice before heading off to bed so that I can just get up and get dressed. Not being a morning person, this addresses my inability to make decisions right after rising. It seems as if Mother Nature is having a breakdown, though I've always said this is what we should expect during the transition season.

A song line ran through my head that made me smile. It is the opening line from a great song by a wonderful band from the prairies. The version chosen highlights the keyboardist's skills. He is also the lead singer. Enjoy!

Undun -- The Guess Who

Day 4 - 322 -- Startling View

The morning brought a wee startle. When I got to the kitchen to make breakfast, the roof out the window was a new colour. The 's' word had arrived overnight and there were still bits in the air. With the temperature close to the freezing point, it wasn't expected to last long. Only the roofs and stairs were coated in the new shade -- well, and the car windshield. By supper most of this had disappeared. The forecast notes there will be rain and frozen stuff in bits over the next week or so. I am not at all ready for this seasonal change.

I know friends and family out west have dealt with wintry precipitation for some time now. Just west and north of here, there have been some major accumulations over the past week. I have not been a fan of the winter season. I can deal with colder temperatures, but frozen precipitation creates barriers to travel, even just walking out to get milk. Yes, it can be pretty but I often feel confined during these months. I do try to find up sides to it all, but that depends on the day and meteorological events.

A song that came to mind has a dreamy sound to it. I liked that aspect as I was hoping that it might be just a dream today <smile>.  I do take issue with the sentiment expressed at the end of the lyrics -- it is not one that I support <grin>. Enjoy!

Nights in White Satin -- Moody Blues

Day 4 - 321 -- Plans Gone Sideways

The universe had plans other than what I'd set out for my day. I got to eat part of my lunch during a seminar presentation but didn't get to the rest until almost supper time. I taught for two hours from noon onward. I had a medical appointment shortly after classes ended so I left and headed straight there. Reception had told me that the MD usually left early on Friday, so I was assured this would be doable. On other days he is often well behind scheduled appointment times -- but no one is ever rushed and some days something complex walks through the door. When I arrived I was told there were three people ahead of me. I headed to the grocery store in the same building to get the bagels they didn't seem to have when I shopped after the long weekend. I picked up two packages that were on sale and headed to the checkout. Every open register had three or more customers waiting, most with overflowing carts. I chose one that looked the most promising -- one being rung through and a smaller order behind them and then me. As the couple with the huge load came to pay, the register went off line. It seemed the cashier had no idea what to do. At that point, it had been about 30 minutes so I left my bagels with customer service and headed back to the MD. An hour later when the fifth person went in -- there were only 3 ahead of me when I arrived -- I went to the desk and found there were two still ahead of me. So -- not sure where the counting error occurred, but I had to be back to meet with students just after 4 PM. I have another appointment for next week. Nothing was a rush, so it will all work out.

I was surprised that with my major fatigue I maintained a sense of calm throughout the silliness. It really seemed that I wasn't meant to see the MD or have bagels for the weekend <smile> -- both small things today. The late Friday meeting with students went very well and I got to eat a bit more of my lunch. It was full on dark when I left the building. The street had some ongoing construction and two west-bound lanes had been reduced to one. Driving through the bright orange pylons was like running an obstacle course in the dark with bright lights being flashed in your face. That was the metaphor for the day <smile>.

A song came to mind with lyrics that speak to kindness. The melody has a calming feel to it, which reflected what I felt as the many plans went awry today. The selection is one of my favourites from a band from my youth. Enjoy!

For Pete's Sake -- The Monkees

Day 4 - 320 -- Carrying Worries

There was sunshine, several smiles and a few giggles. Part of the pile on my desk was dealt with and moved on to the filing area. Getting items crossed off the 'to do' lists from earlier in the week brought some degree of satisfaction. While there are way too many tasks left on the list, seeing some be completed helped provide a speck of hope.

The extreme fatigue is common. People I met with today noted they felt overwhelmed and tired. With two weeks to the end of term (7 lecture periods for each of the two courses <YIKES>), the work is never ending -- self-replicating is my hypothesis, though not sure how one would test that. I find myself emitting long loud sighs regularly through the day -- trying to get oxygen to the brain perhaps. Finding a place to rest for a while or to drop some of the worry being carried around would be great. After thinking of these ideas a few times through the day, I realized there was a song lyric in it all. I'm never sure which hits the brain first -- the lyrics or my reflections. The song shared today has opening lines that sound similar to statements made in the past few days. The song was one of the high points of a group with a melded sound of folk, rock, country, motown and much more. Enjoy!

The Weight -- The Band

Day 4 - 319 -- Best Laid Plans

Very little spare time presented itself today. The piles on my desk seemed not to be any different when I left the office than when I'd entered it. I brought work home and didn't get to it all -- another case of planning to do too much in a short period of time. The work will travel back to the office with me tomorrow and I'll try again. At this time of year prioritizing tasks becomes more challenging than usual. I expect this is due to there being far more work than hours within which to complete it. It seems likely that everyone around me is in the same place -- more to do than is humanly possible. Everyone looks dragged down and ready to fall asleep anywhere anytime. There are 2.5 weeks to the end of classes and then 2 weeks of exams with grades due 5 days later.

Each term is a mega-marathon with the end being the time when you struggle to avoid hitting the wall. Daily planners get derailed as fatigue sets in and the work piles grow higher. I have a list of priorities to begin each day. That list has remained the same for the past two days. The plans are there, but other tasks enter the mix and each task takes longer than it might have in September. It will all get done, but the deadlines set by me and for me seem to slip through my fingers.

That last line and the intended work for the day that never gets done, brought me to a song. This is a story quite different from my own, but the nature of plans that go off kilter is the crux of each situation. Enjoy!

Best of Intentions -- Travis Tritt

Day 4 - 318 -- First Times

A day with firsts. The rain in my yard was a different colour in the hills in the area and was far less liquid west and north of here. So, it has begun. The day continued as a usual Tuesday -- classes, students meetings, heaps of e-mail, and chasing others via phone and e-mail.  Grocery shopping occurred to refill the empty places in the fridge. Last week was very full and the time and energy to face the grocery stores just didn't happen. So, things were looking a bit sparse earlier today. Perishables replenished so the fridge appears to have items to make meals again. On the way off campus just before sunset, I noticed a flock of birds in the sky and then I gasped. I've never seen a mumuration of larks before except for videos online or television. This was breathtaking. Sadly I couldn't pull over anywhere, so had to leave them behind me.

Mumuration -- a group of skylarks flying in formation. They fly as a single unit, moving in unison as they move in all three dimensions. The effect is mesmerizing -- so surreal yet elegantly constructed. It made me think of working as a team. While we often use the V-shape of geese as an example of teamwork -- sharing the work -- what I saw today was an elevation of the team. This group flew as one -- bobbing and weaving and turning together, making the most delightful patterns. That was real team work -- working as a single unit not following a single leader, but with all being leaders and followers. It seemed more hieratic than hierarchic in appearance -- all members on equal footing (or is that winging? <smile>). What a cool way to work as a community.

The song shared today could have been a musical accompaniment for the skyward dance witnessed today. This version is played by a musician who won awards for his performances of this composer. Enjoy!

Song of the Lark (Chante de l'alouette) from Tchaikovsky Seasons (March) -- Van Cliburn

Day 4 - 317 -- Crisp Sunny Day

Much of today was spent indoors grading papers. Some were completed, but a rather large pile remains for another day. When I chose to take a break for lunch, I heard a noise against the house. Looking out the kitchen window, I saw my yard maintenance person cleaning out the gutters. There are still many leaves to drop in the back yard, but the gutters were packed full already. So, we'll have to repeat the process in the spring, I'm sure. I went out to chat for a few minutes. It was cold but with wonderful bright sun. Even that few minutes outside and wandering around the yard was invigorating. I hadn't noticed how insulated I'd been sitting with the papers. The smell of the air was tinged with wood smoke since the neighbouring houses use wood stoves for heat.

Sunshine can be amazing. If it is too bright and I'm exposed too long, I can get a migraine. Yet, armed with sunglasses and a ball cap, it can bring many positive feelings. This positive feeling has been associated with sun for millennia. It brings life through photosynthesis and warming the earth for seeds to germinate in the spring. The UV light stimulates the skin to form vitamin D, a necessity of life. Sunshine can become oppressive with the extreme heat of summer, but in the midst of winter it reminds us of the promise of spring. Bright sunny days often accompany the bitter cold days on the prairies. Such days bring ice crystals in the air as the moisture freezes. The sparkling air is truly magnificent -- magical. 

A song came to mind today with lyrics that note the simple pleasures of sunshine. Enjoy! 

I was Raised on Country Sunshine -- Dottie West

Day 4 - 316 -- Cold Change

The past two days have been colder than usual for this time of year. That doesn't mean that cold never happens this early -- believe me it does -- just that the average temperature for the past several decades is warmer than it has been. The interior of the car windows had fogged up as the outside air got cooler than the interior air (from the sun warming during the day). At least it hadn't frozen as occurs during the winter months -- a real pain but that one is yet to come.  Windows at home were covered with semi-frozen moisture -- semi as it was after the sun had risen that I noticed this. Summer clothing has been put away and warmer items are closer at hand. I've had to turn on the heat when sitting to grade -- not much movement so it is easier to feel cold. The idea of a hot bath is sounding much better than it did a couple months ago <smile>.

I've said this many times, but it is great to live in a part of the country that experiences each of the  four seasons for 3 months or so. A longer fall and spring season than one finds on the prairies is pleasant. These seasons stop the abrupt change with an adequate time to adapt to the new and leave the old. Psychologically, that seems to be a good idea.

The arrival of the colder part of autumn has been covered much more eloquently than I've been able to state it. The poetry of these lyrics provides fantastic imagery and the acoustic guitar fits the visuals perfectly. I would expect nothing less from the wonderful singer/songwriter/poet. Enjoy!

Urge for Going -- Joni Mitchell

Day 4- 315 -- Remembrance

Remembering and honouring people who serve and have served today. While listening to the service from the National War Memorial, I was struck by the plea from the Chaplin to support those who return damaged -- physically and mentally, particularly for those who have thought of, attempted or succeeded in taking their own lives. Major mental health issues have been recognized in one way or another from many wars -- shell shock, battle fatigue, PTSD, PTSS and other names have been given to the damage that war can deliver. Regardless of what it is called, it exists and should be treated when veterans return home. It is a health issue as much as prosthetic limbs and external wounds. Major-General (ret.) Romeo Dallaire has been a strong proponent for such care after he suffered and attempted to take his life. He had led the NATO forces in Rwanda at the time of the genocide.

Yesterday was the centenary of the end of the Battle of Passchendaele, one where the Canadian Expeditionary Force fought. Special ceremonies of remembrance were held in Belgium this week. It was an extremely bloody battle that had been going on for several months before the Canadians arrived at the end of October, 1917. It is also 100 years since Dr. John McCrae wrote 'In Flanders Fields', since this was the area of the battles. Nine Victoria Crosses were awarded to Canadians after the fighting for Passchendaele ridge.

I looked at several songs before choosing one to share here today -- so many choices. This one tells of the battle. The songwriter sings the song with a piper who plays along. Enjoy!

Road to Passchendaele -- Alan Brydan ft. Major (ret.) Gavin Stoddart, MBE, BEM

Day 4 - 314 -- Kindnesses

A common theme permeated the work week -- kindness. I found myself in situations where this was the only sane response. Compassion for the situations in which others find themselves produces smoother communications. People feel valued and their feelings validated. I found many responses involved surprise that someone would be flexible enough to assist others. I may be overloaded with work  requiring my attention, but that takes a back seat to people needing assistance. Today involved an act of kindness from a friend that made me smile and relax in the midst of all the goofy stresses of the end of term.

Kindness may not always be top of mind when it seems like just one more thing piled onto an already overfull desktop. Addressing the situation with empathy instead of anger can focus the energy to an external rather than internal source, while turning that energy to a positive instead of a negative force. Small acts can make a large difference. Often the situation can been viewed as a huge insurmountable barrier to one person. Yet, when another person explains that it isn't nearly as big to them, people seem surprised and best of all, relieved. Situations may involve having to break a social engagement, miss a work deadline or  request assistance. It seems we often see such needs as weaknesses -- that we should be able to handle it all and do it all. However common this belief may be, it just isn't logical to expect so much of self or others. As the Dalai Lama has stated many times, practice compassion.

A song lyric that fit the topic well is shared with you all today. The lyrics cover compassion, kindness, and even touch on forgiveness. All of this occurs in the midst of an upbeat melody and great musical arrangement. Enjoy!

Nothing More -- The Alternate Routes

day 4 - 313 -- Dropping Temperatures

The weather over the last week has changed often. We have moved from a pattern of more warm than cooler days into one that has more cold days with an occasional warmer day. As I say often during the shoulder seasons, it is all about transition. I have worn my gloves all but 1 day in the past week and the past couple of days I considered wearing two sets of gloves for added warmth. The temperature is to rise overnight tonight and leave us with temperatures in the teens by mid-morning followed by a temperature drop of over 10 degrees Celcius by mid afternoon. Rain and wind will accompany the cooler air. I feel like I should pull out the parka, but it isn't really that cold yet. It is time for heavier gloves and thicker fleece liners to the rain jacket.

While I'd rather not be moving into the colder air masses, I will deal with it as best I can. I thought of being somewhere warmer and a line from a song (actually, more than one song uses the line) about weather suiting one's clothes. I do dislike the time it takes to get the layers on and off in colder weather. <smile>  The song I chose today has a great southern blues sound from a classic artist of the genre. Enjoy!

Cold Weather Blues -- Muddy Waters

Day 4 - 312 -- Running in a Wheel

More grading arrived today with another midterm exam. I managed to work on the piles of papers, though the three assignments and midterm will take a while to finish completely -- it just takes constant forward movement. Reading the blog posts from past years at this time note the same thing. I feel a bit like a hamster in a wheel -- running nowhere fast. In actuality, even grading a couple of papers means I've moved ahead with the huge process -- so maybe not going nowhere, though it is exhausting to keep running in a spinning wheel <grin>.

I've been reflecting on the career for the past day. A presentation next week will have me covering the high points of the past few decades in a 5-10 minutes. That may be a challenge. I'm hoping to find a creative way to do this so it doesn't sound like a laundry list of "and then I did this, and then that, and then . . . ". I have a couple of ideas so will ponder between grading bouts with the hope of getting something that holds attention in a fun way by next week. It is a creative piece that helps deal with the rote process of grading.

A song written in the mid-1960s came to mind for today. It fits the circular motions of life as well as the linear progression of things. The singer/songwriter wrote this before getting her first recording contract. It was first recorded in 1967 by Buffy Sainte Marie, who introduced the songwriter to her own manager who took on the songwriter -- and the rest, as they say, is history <smile>. I've included two versions, the first by the songwriter and the second by Buffy. I enjoy the juxtaposed arrangements. In Buffy's version, there is a bit of a round at the end of the song, which adds to the circular nature of the topic. Enjoy!

Circle Game -- Joni Mitchell 

Circle Game -- Buffy Sainte Marie

Day 4 - 311 -- Mundane Day

Another day of feeling jet-lagged, but without the travel. Time change and weather changes can play tricks on the brain. Classes and some paperwork were completed today, but there is so much more to do. I asked a co-worker if we were having fun yet and received the reply that it was just another day. <smile>. The day was far cooler than yesterday. Temperatures dropped over 10C overnight. Even with sunlight, the north wind made me wish I had an ear-band with me. Even my lightweight gloves seemed inadequate. It is fall weather for certain.

The mundane nature of the day was disrupted when we went out for dinner to celebrate the birthday of a friend's mother. It was a pleasant evening of conversation and food, trying some new items off the menu with great success. I walked out to the restaurant and found the brisk walk in cooler air cleared my head a bit -- though it felt quite vacant a few times during the day. The walks did help to get rid of some of the frustrations of the day.

This morning the song for the day came to mind when my colleague noted how she felt about the day. This is a song from the solo career of an iconic '60s singer/songwriter/bassist. Enjoy!

Another Day -- Paul McCartney

Day 4 - 310 -- Feeling Confused

Things have felt a bit 'off' for the past two or three days. I can't quite pinpoint the cause, though I might blame it on time change. I've felt very tired over the weekend and seem not to know the actual time. Today I was surprised to find out it was only 3:30 in the afternoon and I thought I needed to get supper ready. I decided I'd wait until the new time arrived. My stomach was growling and I checked the time again. Now it was 6:00 PM. After supper I felt it was already time to begin to plan for the morning and get a bedtime snack together. One hour difference seems huge. Even the furry one seems not to know when to alert me that it is time to fill his bowl. <smile> I'm hoping things improve sooner rather than later.

This week will be known as grading week. A term paper from one class and a smaller assignment from another are due tomorrow. Another small assignment is due on Thursday and there is a second midterm exam held on Wednesday. This is way too much grading for a single week. The long weekend will still be filled with the hateful task of assigning grades to the student work. Times like this make me want to binge grade just to get it over, yet this tends to lack quality of decision making on my part, so I try to pace myself. It is a distinct possibility that by this time next week, my brain will have become nonfunctional mush. We'll see.

A song title fits my feeling for the past few days as well as the next 7 days. One line in particular made me smile -- "where people play games with the night" -- though I suspect the songwriter had something else in mind. The selection is part spoken word and part song -- an intriguing mix from this musician/singer/songwriter, well known from The Band. The video shared here begins with a great focus on strings. Enjoy!

Somewhere Down the Crazy River -- Robbie Robertson

Day 4 - 309 -- Sunday Yardwork

After some housework and grading, I headed outside to clear up the planters. One was easy to dump at the side of the yard. The other was difficult -- a much larger plant pot. I tried to get the bulbs out of the pot, but finally had to carry the huge thing off the porch and out to dump it and then tear the dirt and roots apart from the bottom up. I found 14 of the 21 bulbs that had all sprouted. Obviously some of them stopped growing shortly after that. I have the bulbs laid out downstairs to dry a bit before I store them in an onion bag over the winter. I look forward to planting them all again next spring. The sun had disappeared by the time I headed outside. Even with gardening gloves, my fingers were very cold by the time I finished the cleanup.

My yard care person came by this week and moved the leaves from the front yard. I'm always sad when that happens as I love the sound and feel they make as I walk through ankle deep piles when heading to and from the car in the very long driveway. The backyard trees are turning slowly now and will drop in the next week or two. Then we can tackle the eaves so the rain will run to the down spout and not overflow all along the length.  An irritation with leaf 'removal' is those using leaf blowers. While horrible noise polluters, I've seen the leaves blown off one property onto another -- few properties with fences in this area. That is just wrong. I have a feeling some of mine end up this way -- something I need to discuss perhaps <smile>.

My mind went to a strange song for today. The lyrics sound like they fit, but the metaphor of those lyrics is something entirely different. <smile> The singer has a distinctive voice that was at its peak in the video shared here. Enjoy!

Clean Up your Own Backyard -- Elvis Presley

Day 4 - 308 -- Moving Time

Here we find ourselves on the cusp of a new time -- the movement to set clocks back overnight. I'm still not sure this is necessary in current times. We know it creates altered alertness with more accidents on the Monday following the change in the wee hours of Sunday. Adjusting to the hour change is difficult for brains to do. Does having a bit more light at the end of the day really make that much difference? Days do get shorter and will be dark before the work day ends within the next few weeks. Changing time also means waking in the dark right from the start, though.

So my tongue in cheek protest song for tonight when we turn back our clocks is sung by an iconic female singer. Enjoy!

Turn Back Time -- Cher

Day 4 - 307 -- Poetry for Thought

Friday - another day filled with classes and meetings. Fatigue set in by the end of the day. Yet, I headed over to the auditorium with hopes of getting a seat for the speaking event. Buffy Sainte Marie spoke as part of the McKenna Leadership series. A documentary bio was shown first, after which she spoke about her social justice work over the decades. At 76, she displayed a passion for life and desire to move social issues forward. She spoke of protesting experiences and a sense of needing to uphold Mother Earth. The room was overfull with many indigenous and non-indigenous listeners.

I was taken by her approach to the guilt and bitterness resulting from the centuries of injustice from colonizers. She told a story of ancestors walking the plains and picking something up and placing it into baskets -- buffalo chips. She noted these dried pieces of manure were used to start fires, which can bring people together to talk or sing, provide light to read a book (or write a book), and provide warmth. Rather than using energy to hang on to the negative feelings, she recommended that we find a way to use that energy to gather together, support one another and channel that negative energy into a positive endeavour. Or we could scatter the chips as fertilizer and grow somethings new. I love this metaphor. From something that seems nasty and unusable, we can turn it into something beautriful and useful. She brought indigenous peoples to every household through her time on Sesame Street, where she and her husband and then their infant son portrayed a growing family. She breastfed her son during an episode, to normalize the process with Big Bird looking on. I enjoyed the thoughts she shared during the evening, many of which might have been uncomfortable, but they brought ideas into the open -- ideas that need to be pondered by all.

The musical part of her career was not ignored. The documentary included much of this history along with the advocacy aspects. She has written many songs that are well known. She won an Oscar for "Up Where We Belong" and also wrote "Until its time for you to go", which has been covered by many very well known singers. This blog featured her singing "Universal Soldier" a few weeks ago. She was from Saskatchewan, but was taken and adopted by a family in the eastern US. Later she returned to Saskatchewan and became part of the family of descendants of Chief Piapot. The pictures of the land along with stories and songs made me feel a bit homesick.

I share two of her songs here today. The first is a love song that became more mainstream than her protest songs. It was one that she was often asked to sing on talk shows, but only if she did not speak about her advocacy work. She turned them down <smile>. This was one of the first songs to use the bridge in the middle rather than only the repeating of verse and chorus. I chose a version from early in her career for this song. The second song is one that addresses her anti-war sentiments, with a more recent version chosen. Each song demonstrates her amazing vibrato styling.  Enjoy!

Until its time for you to go -- Buffy Sainte Marie

Soldier Blue -- Buffy Sainte Marie

Day 4 - 306 -- Remembering

Today marked the end of allhallowtide or hallowmas, the three days of all hallows eve (Halloween), All Saint's Day and All Soul's day. This group of Catholic holidays remembers those who have died.  This three day period also marks Dia de los Muertos, the Mexican Day of the Dead -- a day of remembrance and connection with those who have passed away.  At this time of year, the gaelic festival of Samhain (from a pagan celtic festival) occurs. This celebration deals with the end of summer and the onset of the long darkness of winter. Other cultures have similar days at this time of year. It is a time to think of the abundance of summer and welcome the change of season, both of which deal with death in nature. It seems reasonable that this should be a time to think of and honour family and friends who have died whether recently or long past.

I'll admit to thinking of many people with whom I can no longer chat on the phone or  over a cup of tea. It isn't like wallowing in the sadness, which it there of course, but thinking of who I am because these people were in my life. There are moments of tears, but more of smiles and positive reflection. Thinking of a selection that could fit this brought me to many different songs. I settled on one that has lines that deal with a more recent loss, but also note some happy memories. It was written by the singer/songwriter after the death of musician friend. It is a beautiful glimpse into the ups and downs of grief from the viewpoint of the singer. Enjoy!

Cryin' for Me (Wayman's Song -- Toby Keith

Day 4 - 305 -- Rushing, Rushing

Imagine! Today was November 1st. How did that come around so quickly. The term is 2/3 completed and still so much left to do. Wasn't it just recently that we began this circus? September seems so close and yet so far in reality. Time can be a wonderful concept to ponder. I do want to read Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time, but that, too, must wait for time to pass. I fear that one won't occur until I retire and have time to read about and ponder the passage of time. <smile>

During the day, time seemed to pass quickly. I was sure I was going to be almost 10 minutes late for a meeting as I hurried down the street, having glanced at the clock tower on the way. When I arrived the clock showed I was only a minute or two past the appointed time. I was hungry before it was lunch time, but didn't eat until noon due to people dropping in during office hours. I went to get groceries at 5 PM and was starving by the time I got home at 6. I ate and am now feeling the need for a substantial bedtime snack to deal with the hunger that began long before actual bedtime. Internally, time seems confused. Externally, clocks everywhere tell me something different. It seems the best I can do is to check my watch, which keeps reasonable time, and ignore the many other time keepers in my surround, since they seem destined to give me an incorrect reading of the actual time. One would expect clocks in public spaces to be set to the correct time and checked regularly. Isn't that why these items are posted around us? Or is it to give us false sense of security if time pieces are slow or a sense of urgency when they are fast? Is the goal to mess with the inner time sense we all have? Hmm. Just wait until time change this weekend. That is sure to have everyone not knowing when it is.

A lovely song about the passage of time seemed appropriate today -- a song that brings with it some relaxation and a sense of calm in a world rushing by us. The vocalist is amazing -- her voice is perfect for the selection. Enjoy!

Who Knows Where the Time Goes -- Judy Collins