Day 5 - 59 -- Early Start

The middle of the week is almost past. I was awake for about 2-1/2 hours in the night, so getting up to the alarm was difficult today. Clear thought was tricky a couple of times, but overall the day went well. I walked into the office in falling snow -- big, fluffy flakes that turned my black parka white. The ground cover became slushy by the time I headed home in late afternoon. I did manage to catch up with a friend during part of the walk home. We work in the same building, but our schedules are such that we don't seem to be free at the same times -- well not until the month after classes end. That was a bright spot in a monochrome day -- light grey skies and snowy ground and tree branches. The dampness of the day made the air feel much colder than expected. If all goes well, the sun should shine tomorrow and change the look of the day, at least.

Keeping a positive view can be almost impossible when feeling so tired. Working through the fatigue can help. While productivity may be a bit less or things take a bit longer to complete, accomplishing something can add to the positive feeling. As I've noted often here, being aware of internal feelings can help manage external pressures more positively. Pleasant interactions with people around you can help, too. It pulls us outside ourselves and forces us to interact in a socially acceptable fashion <smile>. And maybe that is what it is all about -- smiling.

The song shared often comes to mind when feeling a bit less than perfect. It might have been the time of year and not just the events of the day. Six years ago the singer of this song died (Feb 29, 2012). The songwriter was also a favourite of mine. So listen to the soothing lyrics and voice. Enjoy!

Early Morning Blues and Greens -- The Monkees (sung by Davy Jones and written by Jack Keller)

Day 5 - 58 -- Plans Go Off the Rails

Where to begin? The day began with sunshine followed by meetings that helped move things forward for others. A few odd occurrences landed on my desk in the afternoon, but they were manageable. In a group meeting in late afternoon, technology created major barriers to getting things completed as planned. A call to the IT people brought a tech to us who helped with one major technology difficulty. The software issues seemed not to be resolved during the meeting time, so one presentation had to be delayed until our next meeting. Other online information was accessed and we moved forward -- a bit.

Remaining calm seemed to help get through the mini-crises that piled up together compounding the effect. I looked at the absurdity of the situation and that helped me from being overly frustrated. Finding the upside in a negative situation that could go sideways quickly can help set the tone for the others who might feel frustration. Things did work, just not on the schedule we'd started with today. Learning from the situation helped to see what to avoid for the next time we meet -- things that might help avoid the same problems from recurring -- no guarantee that new problems might not choose to appear, though. <smile>

I thought of a few songs for the day and ended with one that has an upbeat melody that makes it sound better than the the words alone might <smile>. The lyrics fit with my end of day experience -- "sometimes the system goes on the blink and the whole thing turns out wrong" <smile>.  Enjoy!

Bad Day -- Daniel Powter

Day 5 - 57 -- Re-Centering

An odd day began with my startled reaction to the alarm. Granted 6:15 AM is earlier than I've been waking during the week with no classes, but I can't recall the last time I literally jerked awake when the news started. I felt tired throughout the day -- world weary tired that made feeling enthused about anything a difficult task. With some work, I expect that can change -- it just takes energy that I couldn't muster today.

Feeling like one cares about things does take effort, but for the things we enjoy it would seem this would be with us at all times. Yet, it isn't. Some days are more melancholy than others, I suppose. Working through that feeling and trying to get to the root of it isn't always easy. Was it a dream from the previous night, a fleeting memory or something that hasn't even hit conscious thought yet, that set the tone? For those who enjoy puzzles this one can be a real brain twister. Generally finding something that can begin to move you out of the mood like going for a walk, listening to music or whatever helps you to recentre can be worth the few moments that might take from the day's events. Often, the result can be worth it.

A relaxing song melody came to mind to share today. The lyrics speak about perseverance to move towards one's dream. The singer's voice is ethereal at times adding to the dreamlike state conjured by the song. The visuals for this version made me smile -- places I've been and places I want to see again. Enjoy!

Empire State of Mind -- Alicia Keyes

Day 5 - 56 -- Singer-Songwriter Remembered

Today's focus centred on cooking. A large pot of chili found its way to the freezer (and supper tonight). Spiced apple sauce sits cooling and will be put into jars in a day or two. Apple crisp for weekday desserts resides in the fridge. By then, I'd run out of steam. Even at the end of Reading Week, I still feel overly weary physically. Mentally, I am in a slightly better place but not as on top of things I'd like to be. The next 8 weeks will be interesting, intense, and sure to bring emotions of all sorts. <smile>

Seventy-five years ago today, George Harrison was born. As the 'quiet' Beatle and later in a solo career, he wrote many introspective and thought provoking songs  -- a true deep thinker, certainly in touch with his spiritual nature. Later in his career, he was integral to the founding of the Travelling Willburys, comprised of Harrison, Petty, Dylan, Orbison and Lynne. Something truly amazing occurred when their jam sessions turned into recording sessions, sharing that sound with us all.

Choosing just one song was impossible for today, so there will be two. The first was a melody that George had written without lyrics -- those came after the murder of John Lennon. The second is a  song he wrote during the Beatles era. The beautiful melody and thoughtful lyrics always give me pause. The video for this one is from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction of Harrison in 2004. Enjoy!

All Those Years Ago -- George Harrison

While My Guitar Gently Weeps -- Tom Petty, Prince, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne, Dhani Harrison (and others)

Day 5 - 55 -- Celebrating Heart Month

A usual Saturday was spent doing laundry and such at home. Skies looked threatening in the afternoon with deep grey-blue clouds, which usually means snow in about 5 minutes. Yet nothing seemed to happen as the clouds blew over. In the evening, I met a friend for a concert to benefit the Heart and Stroke Foundation -- February is Heart Month. The concert was called -- Won't Back Down, a tribute to Tom Petty performed by many local groups and individuals. It began with I Won't Back Down and ended with Learning to Fly. In between were many songs. The amps were cranked on a few tunes and others were softer. All in all, it was an enjoyable evening.

Listening to the music tonight I knew it would be difficult to choose something to share here <smile>. Petty's oeuvre contains such variety. I chose two played this evening. The first gives a bit of background to his pronunciation <smile>. The second contains some wonderful metaphors and leads one to ponder about possible isolation in our lives.

Southern Accent -- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Walls (Circus) -- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Day 5 - 54 -- Olympic Vertigo

Like many people around the world, I've been watching the Olympic Games for 14 days. I do love seeing the athletes do their best. I will admit feeling disappointed when the commentators focus on medals and gold medals only. Not every athlete will win a medal, but they are all part of the games and should be recognized for making personal and national best scores. At the same time, I am delighted for those who do win a medal. (And just to show my grammarian roots -- they do not medal or podium -- those are not verbs but nouns. <sigh>)

Watching most sports I realized how few there are that don't induce vertigo for people like me. Wow! The dead drop from the start gate to the run in ski cross, the jumps and maneuvers in freestyle skiing and snowboarding, the heights of ski jump, and the spinning and jumping in figure skating -- and so much more -- all could make me feel queezy watching them. Yet, I do find myself watching and trying to avoid the parts that create the vertigo -- helmet cams are horrendous for this. Needless to say, I am not an athlete and have had motion sickness and vertigo since I was a young child. I did not grow out of it as the MDs of the day suggested. It is just me, which is why I am here and the athletes are there <grin>.

A song came to mind while watching the ski cross yesterday followed by the women's free skate. It is an older tune from about 1969 that made number one in UK, Canada, and USA. It is a light bit of fluff, but it is fun. Enjoy!

Dizzy -- Tommy Roe

Day 5 - 53 -- Finding New Viewpoints

Thursday of Reading Week signaled the diminishing time to get through the 'to do' list. Some items left that list today, but it still contains some major items. Tomorrow will bring some serious efforts to make a large dent in the remaining items. I also took some time to cook today making a big pot of curried carrot soup and some sweet and sour sauce -- all to fill the deep freeze and provide some choice when coming home late. I still have two other recipes to execute on the weekend. Then I'll be set for the next 8 weeks or so. Six weeks remain for classes and labs with another couple for exam period. It will be a flurry of activity. Being well nourished can be difficult with lack of time and energy, so the deep freeze greatly helps.

While cooking, I made some alterations when I discovered that I didn't have one ingredient and when I wanted to change the final product a bit. Being flexible -- not a slave to the recipe -- made the process move more smoothly. Learning to find alternatives in a daily routine or project tasks could benefit both the final product and stress levels. Creative problem solving skills take practice and learning to see things from different angles. Use of lateral thinking exercises might support this creative process for individuals and groups. Facilitating problem solving with small groups requires strong communication skills of everyone involved.

A song with lyrics that fit my activities today shows some creativity. A sign in a kitchen sparked an idea. While not a song that would win awards, it does bring some interest and fun. The lyrics have been criticized as being sexist, but I'm not convinced that it refers only to the singer -- trying to be less literal with this one. The 'chip pan' sound at the onset is unique. Enjoy!

Cook of the House -- McCartney and Wings (sung by Linda McCartney)

Day 5 - 52 -- Early Rock

Being outside made me think I should have a ball cap on -- the sun was blindingly bright and the temperature climbed to the mid-teens (Celsius). Activities involved a couple of errands, a meeting and working on an online learning course. When I took a break, I watched a movie that I'd meant to see for some time -- Nowhere Boy. The story presents the early days of John Lennon in Liverpool with the beginning of the bands before the Beatles. It tells of his living with his aunt and uncle and meeting his mother when he was a teenager. The wild antics of a teenage boy and the emotions of coming to terms with his family life made a great back story for the person the world came to know. The movie portrayed the story with compassion and a sense of veracity. It is worth a view.

Early rock and roll began in the UK with adoption of rhythm and blues from the US. I've heard an historian note that the UK then brought this sound back to the US where a whole segment of the population heard it for the first time because it was sung by "white boys." Up to that point, it had been termed 'race music'. If you listen to the very early recordings of The Beatles and the Rolling Stones and others who were part of the British Invasion, it is clear now that much of this was from R&B style. The simpler tracks became more elaborate as music and technology expanded and it all split into the many sub-genres of rock.

Pondering all this while walking to errands today, I kept coming back to the same song. The music and lyrics express some of the angst and growth from Lennon's formative years. So, while it may seem a no brainer from the title, there was some thought that went into this one <smile>. Enjoy!

Nowhere Man -- The Beatles (by Lennon and McCartney)

Day 5 - 51 -- History Made Today

I've seen bits of the Olympics over the past many days. The time shifting over the time zones creates either late nights or watching highlights after the outcome has been announced. I'll admit to falling asleep before the end of many events -- ones that go to 2 or 3 AM on this side of the continent. Watching on the weekend during the day helped me to see some interesting newer sports and the old standards. I've enjoyed figure skating since I was a child when they still had compulsory figures to do for judges. Those sports have come a long way over the decades.

Today I rewatched the pairs ice dancing final -- just to see the amazing skates again. In a surprise ending, the Canadian team of Virtue and Moir took the gold while setting a new world record for their total score. They just squeaked past the French team who had a wonderful program and a record setting free skate score. Emotions came from many directions for the Canadian pair. It was likely their last competitive skate. This medal put them in the unique position of being the most decorated Olympic figure skaters in history -- 3 golds (2 in these games, 1 in 2010) and 2 silvers (in 2014 Sochi). This is the culmination of a 20 year partnership on the ice. Their delight at the end of the skate and their story-telling ability on ice were mesmerizing, pulling viewers into the story flowing flawlessly across the rink. Their performances are so in sync and show such trust, strength and caring. Virtue and Moir are a treasure to the skating world.

Thinking of a song for the day brought me to the video produced by CBC for the day. The song is by a Canadian singer-songwriter from Blue Rodeo with words that speak to how invested partnerships can be when they work. The video includes edits from their full career dancing together. Enjoy!

Pull me Through -- Jim Cuddy (by CBC as tribute to the competative skating career of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir) 

Day 5 - 50 -- Strength and Perseverance

Today is a provincial holiday in Nova Scotia -- Heritage Day. The goal for each year honours a person, place or group. Past honourees include Viola Desmond, Joseph Howe and the Mi'kmaq culture. This year we remember a woman from the Annapolis Valley, Mona Parsons. She trained as an actress and later as a nurse. She married and moved to the Netherlands just before the start of World War II. Once the occupation by Germany began, she became part of a local resistance movement. She helped allied airman evade capture by Nazi forces, even hiding them in her own home. An informant led to her arrest by the Gestapo. At a trial before a military tribunal, she was sentenced to death. Parsons responded with such dignity she was afforded an appeal of the sentence, which changed to life in prison with hard labour. She was the only Canadian civilian woman to be imprisoned by the Nazi regime. For about four years she was shuttled between prisons often working while unwell and undernourished. She escaped near the end of the war, walking for three weeks through the countryside much of the journey without shoes, before arriving at a camp of Nova Scotia Highlanders. After the war Parsons received commendations from the British Air Force and US President Eisenhower. Today we recall her bravery, dignity and desire to fight for freedom. A true hero.

It is difficult to understand what she must have gone through during her imprisonment. To survive though, she must have had amazing strength to work to survive through all the adversity. To walk about 125 km after escaping took perseverance. One song came to mind for the topic today. It is by a British singer. The lyrics discuss a way to continue to move forward in less than positive times. The melody is lovely and the voice strong and encouraging. Enjoy!

It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow -- Vera Lynn

Day 5 - 49 -- Working Rhythms

The day was filled with one major activity -- grading midterms. I feel I'll be checking, making notations and adding numbers in my sleep now. It is a long process and can become tedious. That, of course, is when I need to get up and do something else for a few minutes. No use feeling angry, frustrated or petty when grading -- no one wins there. So, between questions I made snacks and supper and folded the last of the laundry. So much else to do, but that will wait until into the next week when grades are all calculated and I can move on to the next items on the prioritized list.

I found a song that notes the need to recognize the ups and downs of necessary work tasks. It even notes the need for a calming concentration exercise -- get the frontal lobes involved to bring back the reasoning processes. Enjoy!

Give and Take -- Santana

Day 5 - 48 -- Concentrating on Rest

The world had a thin coating of white this morning. Nothing needed to be moved, though. Instead I spent time grading a midterm and dong laundry. The turkey breast I cooked earlier in the week was turned into a la king and served with warm biscuits -- a comfort food with family memories. More on the 'to cook' list for the weekend, but that will wait for tomorrow.

Working away with my red pen today, I enjoyed my breaks to see the bright sun outside the windows. My mood brightened a bit today, though the fatigue is still all consuming. I'm hoping it recedes a bit over the next week. This break week brings time to recoup and refocus -- time to take care of body and mind. Time is necessary for examining thoughts and feelings to ensure they can be redirected to more positive lines as needed. Sleep helps the brain to function effectively and efficiently. Without adequate rest, self reflection just won't work the way we expect. Thus, it appears that dealing with the fatigue comes first in the equation. Efforts will concentrate on this in the next few days. Perhaps this will assist with banishing the over the top anxiety dreams of late <smile>.

This line of reasoning brought a song lyric to mind - one that suggests the removal of a  negative part of one's days. It is an older song from an album that I'm sure I nearly wore out. The video clearly shows the fashion of the day. Enjoy!

Go Your Own Way -- Fleetwood Mac

Day 5 - 47 -- Relaxing Evening

Finally managed to get to the grocery store for some things that I'd run out of in the past two weeks. I should be able to do some large batch cooking to refill the deep freeze. I headed into the office for a meeting this afternoon. Once over, I worked on sending files to those I'd promised information for projects and general interest. Midterm break is next week, so no classes and few meetings. I hope to work on exam grading and course preparation as well as reading drafts of two works in progress. It should be a bit more relaxed feeling even with the long 'to do' list.

The evening included a great fund raising concert with a friend. The theatre was sold out for the Whiskey Smoke Blues Band, a group of local musicians. I was blown away by the wonderful rhythm guitar (also played a superb harmonica), great bass, stellar keyboards, solid drums, and outstanding lead guitar -- I mean I stopped breathing a few times. They had a guest saxophone player who brought tears to my eyes with one amazing solo. Like I've said many times before, for a small town of 5000 residents (plus 4500 students during 8 months of the year) we have some exceptional talent. Three of the guys ably shared the vocals with backup from three music students from campus. Two band members teach in the music and jazz studies programs and one in Earth Sciences. I loved the whole evening and was sorry when it came to an end. They were playing the music of Eric Clapton from early days with cream and Derek and the Dominos to his prolific solo career.

With the many wonderful covers of Clapton's work, I had difficulty choosing only one <surprise> so I'm sharing two tonight. The first is from a 1971 album and brought back visions of wide legged pants of yesteryear and is purportedly written about George Harrison's wife. The second is an older song covered by many artists including Clapton. Enjoy!

Bell Bottom Blues -- Derek and the Dominos

Hoochie Koochie Man -- Eric Clapton

Day 5 - 46 -- Needs and Wants

Bright sun greeted me this morning. It was strong and warm, though the air felt cool. I did get out for a short walk when I went over to pick up exams from the accessible learning centre. It helped me recentre a bit. Uncharacteristic episodes of communication with others filled the day. I was so tired that I couldn't put a coherent sentence together as the afternoon wore on. The lab sessions went well with many smiles and work on projects due after the break week. That helped me to keep a clearer head, too.

When everyone around appears tired and on the verge of madness, the support each of us needs simply can't be found. Taking a few moments to take stock of what might be going on in the lives of others, may help with how we respond. Rather than confusion and anger or frustration, trying to address things with compassion would serve us better. When everyone is overwhelmed and over stressed, this becomes much more important -- communication disintegrates without the extra care and effort. It takes so much more effort when exhausted, yet without that things can descend into negative areas way too quickly. Stepping back to look at things from a different vantage point might help one to see the absurdity of situations -- leading to a smile or a laugh, which might defuse a tense moment.

Yesterday in a conversation, I quoted a song title. The lyrics clearly note that we can't always win, and that needs and wants aren't always the same things. This is from a band that has been together for almost 56 years. Enjoy!

You Can't Always Get What You Want -- The Rolling Stones

Day 5 - 45 -- Seeing Red

I wore red today -- the sweater for Valentine's Day and the mitts to cheer on the Canadian Olympic team. The latter are the Vancouver Olympic mitts from 2010. The day was full. It began with a midterm. It is one of the few days of the week that I often have time to sit away from my desk for lunch, so I spent some time with colleagues today. Meetings with students followed along with working on the midterm from today while getting the one for tomorrow ready to go. I'd hoped to get home to begin grading earlier than I did, so I haven't gotten as far as I wanted to be by bedtime. There are not enough hours <sigh>.

Valentine's day has not been one that I've ever gone all out over. Like many 'holidays' it seems to be overly commercialized -- expectations set in place for many people of what a perfect day looks like and it just never appears. So, I've not even tried to find the myth promoted by marketers. I'm not a chocolate fan, so that part of the day isn't missed. <smile> Today was warmer with sunshine in the morning. That made the day work for me.

Listening to the morning show today I heard that one song was rated highest as the most romantic song. It is OK, but I had another in mind. Today, I'll share each of these with you. The first is the one that was mentioned by broadcasters today. The two singers produced this song quickly for a movie of the same title. It began as an instrumental, then a solo song and ended as a duet. The second song was the theme for a movie, too. The female singer co-wrote the song. I'll leave it up to you to determine which is better or maybe you have another that checks all the boxes for you. Feel free to share. Enjoy!

Endless Love -- Lionel Richie & Diana Ross

Evergreen -- Barbra Streisand & Kris Kristofferson

Day 5 - 44 -- Celebration Day

Laissez les bons temps rouler! Today is Mardi Gras, also known as Shrove Tuesday. In New Orleans this is a special celebration. This year marks the city's tricentennial, so the event has been termed Mardi Gras 300. My day was cold with biting northerly winds that nearly froze my fingers inside the usual mitts as I walked from the fa off parking lot to the office this morning. The class and lab went fairly well. It is 11 PM and I've just finished the work for the day -- having to get things back to students quickly this week so they can submit reports before the end of the week. Next week is break week and they are all heading out by then. I also went out for lunch today -- a truly decadent activity in the middle of term on a day with classes and labs <grin>. I had a great lunch and fun conversation with a friend who retired from full time teaching some time ago yet still teaches an introductory course online each year. It only added to the delightful sunshine of the day.

Getting home about 7:30 PM does make a long day. With the larger lunch I'd had, I wasn't as hungry as usual. I did make a large cranberry pancake filled with cranberry chutney and topped with honey. It is the day for pancake dinners after all. <smile> Midterms begin tomorrow, so I do need to get some sleep. I'd like to be sharp when it comes to answering questions. <smile>

Sharing something you might hear in New Orleans today. Enjoy!

Mardi Gras Zydeco -- Clifton Chenier

Day 5 - 43 -- Food, Tradition and Comfort

While the day hasn't been one for celebrating, I managed one food tradition for the day. It is Lundi Gras today -- the day before Mardi Gras -- when the King and Queen of Mardi Gras arrive in New Orleans by boat on the Mississippi. Knowing my penchant for sweet rolls, one might think I made a King Cake, but it was nothing that fancy -- very plebeian in fact. I made lundi beans for Lundi Gras. These are New Orleans style red beans served with rice and greens. These are referred to as lundi beans as the were generally made on Monday -- wash day.  With large kettles of water boiling on the fires, it made sense to use a smaller kettle to cook some dried red beans with salt pork and seasonings. Rice was cooked similarly. Interestingly, leftover rice was often used for breakfast the next day. It was rolled in balls and fried -- like a fritter -- and served with dark corn syrup. There is one place that makes them in the Quarter and I've never gotten there for the breakfast rush. Some day.

Food and history bring calm to my crazy days. Today, this comfort food did just that. While my mind is elsewhere with people in the midst of loss, I felt the tradition behind the supper meal helped to ground me. It is a meal I wish I could share with those in my thoughts today -- and in the coming days and weeks.

On the weekend, an album that I nearly wore out turned 47 years old. The album sold 25 million copies globally. It won a Grammy for album of the year. The songs were all written -- solo or collaboratively -- by the singer. I've always loved the album cover with a young singer and a gorgeous tabby named Telemachus. I chose one from this album to share tonight. Enjoy!

Way over Yonder -- Carole King

Day 5 - 42 -- Weekend Movie

This weekend, I watched a movie I hadn't seen for some time. The film released in 1983, tells the stories of college friends reuniting after being established in their lives. The Big Chill is a wonderful ensemble film. It included many actors who went on to become well known.-- Kevin Kline, Jeff Goldblum, Glenn Close, William Hurt, Tom Berenger, Meg Tilley and others. It was one of Kevin Costner's first movies, though his scenes were largely cut. We only see him as a person being dressed by an undertaker -- no face shots. It is an interesting beginning to the movie. The story examines the angst at facing mortality and recognizing lost dreams. Life doesn't always turn out the way we'd imagined. The music for the soundtrack played a major role -- a character if you will. It was music from their college days and carried as well as set the moods for the scenes.

So many wonderful songs to choose from with this movie that it was difficult. I did manage to pick just one <smile>. The lyrics represent the love the friends have for each other. Enjoy!

When a Man Loves a Woman -- Percy Sledge

Day 5 - 41 -- Online Communication

At the end of last week, I had an interesting conversation with a colleague. We were wondering about written and verbal communication skills in a different generation. I'll admit there were moments when I felt like some inflexible old fogie grammarian. Yet, the need to communicate clearly to different sub-groups of society is indeed a necessary skill for the professions the two of us represented. Trying to work with writing skills in classes means stating that the use of online abbreviations don't fit in professional forms of writing. They have their place, but not in a scientific paper or book review. I've learned to understand many of these terms and if all else fails, I search online to get the point -- though this is rare. We noted the use of emojis in writing, recognizing that a string of such characters carries a distinct message. My colleague noted this may not be different than hieroglyphs. That made me laugh, but it may not be far from the truth.

I've often felt that social media messages use few words and more images to convey feelings and ideas. Think of memes, gifs, photos and emojis as the start of a message or in response to the message of an another. These add to our communication abilities through the written word by noting the intonation, facial expression or body image that is missing when we aren't face to face. To me it seems that emojis are becoming a language of sorts. They are far past the emoticons that were typed online, though the new emojis take away the creativity that came with making our own symbols. Now we wait for someone else to add more symbols to the bank for choices. For example, someone was quite happy last week when a red-headed emoji was finally released. Interesting to watch this new set of communication symbols grow in number and meaning.

A song that came to mind is from a favourite New Orleans artist. Lyrics cover the differences in spoken language. Enjoy!

To Love the Language -- Harry Connick, Jr.

Day 5 - 40 -- Moving On

The morning air was amazing! It was cold and dry and smelled like winter on the prairies. Along with the bright sunshine this brought a feeling of comfort and a degree of positivity. I stopped at the campus post office to mail some things and found that my printing for next week was ready today -- wonderful start to the work day. We had a great lunch with a professional association colleague who was visiting for the day. The conversations were uplifting and productive. Another meeting went fairly well and had much laughter and smiles throughout. The day ended with a reception for a colleague and friend who is leaving the university to take her seat in the Senate in Ottawa. It was held in an amazing gallery on campus with the current installation being works by several indigenous artists. That was breathtaking.

For a Friday I admit to being very fatigued. The day's events helped move out the dismal feelings that tend to set in when tired. Frustrations with things that don't go according to agreed upon plans seem a little easier to accept when the mood lightens. There are projects that need to be addressed in a more serious tone next week, but for now they can be placed in a cupboard that I don't need to open for a couple of days.

A song came to mind that fit a number of the feelings I ran across today. It was in very heavy play a couple of years ago and birthed many parodies. The lyrics really do have some interesting things to say, though. So -- here goes -- Enjoy!

Let it Go -- Idina Menzel

Day 5 - 39 -- Needing a Break

Thursday is a  busy day filled with classes and labs. It can be rather overwhelming. Today left me feeling a bit lost when not all activities went according to plan. I can only control my activity, so when others may not measure up for whatever reasons, it can be rather disappointing. My intervening couldn't fix things, so I had to change direction and hope things would work out at another point in time.

Walking home was reinvigorating with a biting north wind -- I live north of campus, so got the brunt of it for much of the walk. I had chosen to order take out supper to pick up on the way home -- an amazing spicy pizza that warmed me through and perked me up a bit. Everyone is so terribly tired these days with many dealing with winter colds and worse infections. The time of year and time of term don't help much. One more week left and break week begins. Between now and then, there are many projects that need to be graded and returned and new ones that will be submitted for grading during the break week. I feel stretched to near breaking point and I am not alone when I look around at the faces of others. This is the time that I often wonder why such extreme stress levels seem to be accepted. It doesn't seem conducive to the learning process. I have little to offer as an alternative.

A song that addresses the need to take time to recenter is shared today. It is by a favourite artist who has been featured in this blog many times. The lyrics seem to offer good advice. Enjoy!

Vienna -- Billy Joel

Day 5 - 38 -- Time for a Break

This morning I cleared away the couple of inches of snow that fell overnight. I wanted to be able to see where the ice was lurking below the white covering so that myself and others would be able to walk through the driveway without peril. Where the driveway meets to sidewalk, there is a sheet of clear ice the full width of the drive. Salting will just get washed away or buried under snow. The next messy event is to drop snow followed by freezing rain and rain. That is overnight into tomorrow. The next one begins about 24-36 hours later. It has been every 2 to 3 days for over a week. Today was the calm before the storm. The sun shone a fair bit, there was little wind and nothing fell from the sky -- all pluses in my books.

Winter can wear a person down. The non-stop series of storms from the Atlantic coast of the US, Texas, Colorado or Alberta -- they all bring disruption. Living any form of orderly life can become extremely difficult in wintery weather. The difficulty of dealing with snow removal and travelling on icy roads leads to fatigue. Add to that the approaching midpoint of the academic term and the assignments and midterms that go with that, and people take on a dazed, haggard look. Layer on the multitude of viral and bacterial hazards encountered in the dead of winter and things unravel quickly. The traditional midterm break -- actually reading week -- is needed to catch up with all the work while not having to be in classes or labs. This provides a break from the madness of the routine while affording the time to focus on larger projects. The hope is that one can be semi-rested and ready for the final push to the end of term. At present, that is the carrot on the stick -- still almost 2 weeks away. Learning to take things a day at a time and sometimes an hour at a time could help the journey through the mountain of tests placed in our paths.

A song that came to mind while pondering this made me smile and almost giggle. The lyrics fit some of what I'd been thinking, though written in a more defiant mood than I had today. I found the way the song wove together many individuals with different stories using similar words -- not unlike what I see in the hallways and public places these days. Enjoy!

One Day More -- from 10th Anniversary concert for Les Miserables (ft. Colm Wilkerson, Lea Solanga, Phillip Quast and many others who made the characters so great in different casts)

day 5 - 37 -- Heading into Midterm

Sun and colder air met me as I left the house today. The 2 inches of water standing at the bottom of the porch stairs last night had disappeared. I'd expected to find a sheet of rink ice but it was clear concrete -- a good start. At work I had my times mixed up for class, lab and meetings. Two other people experienced the same things with different meetings and classes. One online meeting was not even today and yet people from across the region felt it was today. There must be something with the alignment of the planets since it was so widespread -- can't blame it on the local weather, water or air <smile>.  By the end of the afternoon and the beginning of a late lab session, things seemed to have improved. I felt less confused and stressed. I'm not sure what made things turn around, but I've decided to accept it and not question things too deeply -- just yet anyway.

Feeling out of control of the smaller details of daily living can be very disconcerting. I've questioned my sanity some days <grin>. We are approaching midterm exam time, with many of these occurring next week. I'm surprised that midterm is so close. I still feel like I am just getting things started in the two courses - and we should be halfway through the content. Fighting potential viral threats seems common, with many contacts losing that battle. Physical exhaustion coupled with mental fatigue can make the brain lose hold of those smaller details. People show up for class at the wrong time and realize this only when they notice the sea of unfamiliar faces. Meetings get booked on top of meetings already scheduled. Panic sets in when thinking that there isn't time to prepare for a meeting or class when it is actually scheduled for two days from now not 30 minutes from now. The brain's ability to focus on the swirl of events and details that expand and self-replicate, diminishes. Looking up from the work and noticing others are in the same situation can help -- though that nagging idea that there is something wrong refuses to let go during this moment of weakness.

Song lyrics that fit the experience with internal and external noise creating further confusion might seem difficult to find. Not really -- seems many people write about such encounters. One set of rather poetic words expressed things very well. Enjoy!

Carry On Wayward Son -- Kansas

Day 5 - 36 -- Win for the Day

The weather was wild today. Temperatures were record setting being close to 12C at the peak. It poured rain -- almost 2 inches overnight and during the day. When out this afternoon, the wind drove the rain in almost solid sheets against the car. I was glad not to be walking far in the mess. Rain stopped by late afternoon. So much water and it is freezing again overnight, so I'm afraid of how much ice will be around tomorrow.

I feel that I'm stuck in a repeating loop -- in the weather experienced and in my thought processes. I was chatting with someone today about my worry that I was in a rut. She changed the metaphor and stated that being on a plateau wasn't a bad place to be -- no sliding downwards or struggling to scale the cliffs ahead. That made me think of a lovely alpine meadow -- truly a lovely place to spend time. That short conversation made me feel more positive despite the confusion of the day. Confusion over day and time was everywhere I turned so I wasn't alone. I'm going to take that and the plateau metaphor as win for the day <smile>.

Last month, I missed the 75th anniversary of the birth of Janis Joplin. Her ability to interpret the blues brought a powerful, emotional style. Lyrics of one of her songs state that we all have a fire inside us that we need to nurture as we push onward -- paraphrased. I share that song here. It was recorded on her first solo album after leaving Big Brother and the Holding Company. The song has been called one that defined her short career. Enjoy!

Kosmic Blues -- Janis Joplin

Day 5 - 35 -- Weather Routines

Today has been cold, wet and grey. Snow fell into the late morning, leaving an inch or so on top of the ice again. Once it began to rain, I headed out to move the wet snow before it, too, turned to ice. We are expecting an inch or more of rain by early evening tomorrow. There is no place for the rain to go, so further ponding will occur followed by a flash freeze. Again, temperatures will drop about 20 degrees in 2 to 3 hours. Everything will freeze solid -- again.  Indoors laundry and grading for return tomorrow were completed. I'd hoped to cook a few things, but the sinus problems made me feel a bit nauseous so couldn't face that task. maybe next weekend.

I've used the word 'again' repeatedly in the previous paragraph. The weather seems stuck in a pattern that repeats every 3 days or so. It is tiresome. This led much of the day and activities to feel quite blah. The song that seemed to fit this feeling is shared with you all. The lyrics and music support the mundane nature of the day -- though I'm not feeling sad or waiting for a knight on a horse <smile>. Enjoy!

Another Day -- Paul McCartney

Day 5 - 34 -- Frozen Out

Bright sunshine greeted me this morning, filling the kitchen with warm light shining through the thick frost on the windows. By early afternoon, the cloud had returned. Temperatures remained in the minus mid-teens with windchills in the mid minus 20s.  I moved the light dusting of snow off the ice -- leftovers from the inch or so of rain yesterday. Salt was liberally sprinkled for grit today and some ice breakdown tomorrow when the temps are to rise again. It would appear from forecasts that this freeze-thaw cycle will continue for the next couple of weeks at least.

In the evening a friend and I attended the annual community theatre musical. This year they produced an excellent version of Oliver! Players included community members from aged 6 upwards. The choreography and singing were wonderful. A colleague presented a stellar version of Fagan. The story left me with much to think about. The social commentary addressed by Dickens in this story sadly still fits today -- nearly 200 years later. The lower income 'working' class received minimal income while the wealthy remained very comfortable. The middle class would not emerge for another few decades. The entitled people within the class structure of Great Britain ensured their station remained firmly intact. They did this by oppressing the lower classes. Particular views of women's roles in society were denigrating at best, with domestic violence an accepted norm. Again, it would be over 70 years before women's suffrage addressed the inequities. Children of poor families were treated similarly to livestock. No social policy legislation was in place to ensure the safety of workers of any age. Many of these attitudes still exist in this world, sometimes closer to home than may be comfortable. Much work has led to policy that addresses these issues, yet negative attitudes remain. 

One song from the play that brought me back to my early morning feelings is shared here. The lyrics could also be read as a way to change attitudes and lots in life. Enjoy! 

Who will buy? -- Oliver (film cast) (sorry for the subtitles in this video)

Day 5 - 33 -- Foreshadowing

What a day! Rain has fallen since late evening yesterday. Today it was pouring when I ran out to do two errands. The slush from yesterday has turned to ice under a layer of an inch or more of water. Roadsides were filled with huge puddles and on the hills these were streams. Around supper time the temperature plunged to below freezing and rain turned to ice pellets and snow briefly. The wind has died down during the evening. Tomorrow is to be double digit cold so ice will be the word for the day. The ponds in front and back yard will be large enough for skating. The walkway and town sidewalks will be thick ice. I'm hoping they put salt and sand out so walking outside will be semi-manageable. I'll get some grit onto the walkway in the yard, too. Fun!

Staying indoors seemed the best choice today. Work on midterms and grading forms took the whole day and much of the evening. During this time, the television weather station repeatedly told of the news from various groundhog burrows. The regional rodent did not see his shadow due to the heavy cloud and rain, but most seem to have shadows. Technically, even six more weeks of winter isn't out of the ordinary yet at this time in the season, most people are ready to see the backside of winter weather -- well the major storms and hyper cold at least. The fascination with disrupting some hibernating beast to foreshadow weather patterns has always seemed odd to me. It is something that people celebrate -- something that takes their minds off the dismal weather for a day or so.

All of the prognostications of the day brought the memory of a song from my childhood. When looking for a version to share, I found a wonderful duet with counterpoint melodies and two superb voices. Enjoy!

Me and My Shadow -- Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Day 5 - 32 -- Musical Messages

Today went fairly well. Lectures seemed OK and the labs were not as smooth as I'd hoped, but technology wasn't fully with us, so we had delayed starts. In the end, things worked well and all concerned seemed to be happy with the process. Weekend plans include getting midterm exams together, organizing course evaluation and presentation schedules and preparing lectures. Cooking for some further choice in the frozen dinner department should also occur.

When I woke today, I thought about driving into the office, but quickly recalled I hadn't removed the 8-10 inches of snow off the car last night. So, I walked again. We did get snow overnight but just a cm or so. It snowed again in late morning. which turned to rain by 2 PM. When I headed home tonight, the rain had stopped leaving the snow -- now a couple of inches on sidewalks -- rather slushy. I spent another hour shoveling tonight to clear the end of the driveway -- AGAIN -- from the street plow and moving half the snow off the car. Part of the stuff on the roof remains, and it is to remain above freezing for much of tomorrow. I'll head out earlier in the day to remove the rest of the snow. I may then head out for a couple small errands before we get a major hard freeze into the evening hours.

I wear an iPod while shoveling. As I began moving the heavy wet stuff tonight, the song in my ears made me stop and wonder if I should laugh or feel angry. It seems the universe was either trying to provide a glimmer of home or was being wildly sarcastic. Looking at the forecasts for the next couple of weeks, I'm going with the latter. <smile> The song has a great tempo and positive sound to it. The main line and title seemed a bit odd today, though the lyrics and visuals do deal with non-summer weather, too. Enjoy!

You Bring the Summer -- The Monkees