It has been a busy day for a Sunday. I had to head to the office to pick up some files I'd left behind on Friday. When home again, I took some time to pick up tree twigs from the recent windy days. Much garbage blew into the yard, too, so that was dealt with -- everything from a small rug to a huge cardboard box. I wonder that no one seems to miss these items. <smile>. Several pieces of correspondence have been dealt with finally and the laundry was completed. Not bad for a weekend day.
It appears that March is going out quietly, though rain, snow and wind are in the forecast for tomorrow -- though maybe that is just the weather folks playing an April fools joke early to get us all concerned <smile>. Very little snow and ice remains in my yard after the past two warm days and the winds. I've said it here often -- I like spring. I like warmer days, but not hot days. Feeling the cooler breeze as it blows over the ice on the straits north and east of town can be pleasant, though I may be a minority on this topic. Reading back in the blog, there have been big snow storms often at this time of year, so we have missed those and still people are cranky and want to see things be like July NOW <sigh>. Why wish away one's life like that?
A song came to mind today that made me giggle. The lyrics mesh with the saying 'in like a lamb, out like a lion' -- at least in my mind that is what is happening weather-wise today. <grin>. Enjoy!
This evening contained Earth Hour, a day when people are encouraged to shut off electric lights between 8:30 and 9:30 PM. This is meant to bring awareness to the need to change human habits to reduce carbon emissions that result in climate change. I find it frustrating to still read media stories noting that shutting lights off for 1 hour will make no difference whatsoever. Yet, this is not the goal of the event. Noting that we can show solidarity and raise awareness is central to the hour of darkness. Without further action after this evening, no change will take place. I suspect that many others who participate are like me and do many things to reduce carbon and water footprints and reduce waste and recycle as much as possible. Reusing recyclable items as much as possible, reducing excess recyclables in the home (e.g., reusable shopping bags) (e.g., plastic sandwich bags), and refusing to buy over-packaged items (e.g., over-the-counter drugs in foil and plastic pouches when a bottle of loose tablets would work well). When items for purchase don't meet these needs, then an e-mail or social media message to the company concerned can't hurt. Be proactive. That is the message I get from World Wild Life's Earth Hour project.
There are many songs that would work for the thoughts of the day. I chose one that has been used in the past on the blog. I find the imagery of the lyrics contained concern and hope. Enjoy!
Weather brought a grey start to the day. Even as temperatures rose into double digits above freezing, the very strong north wind brought a bite from its journey across the ice on the strait. Rain is expected overnight. All of this fits the beginning of the spring well. By afternoon, sun shone between the clouds as I ran a few errands. At the end of the day, I met two friends at a local pub for a Friday beverage. <smile> Fatigue described our general feelings well. Too many things had been crammed into the past five days. Conversation felt relaxing. I had been pondering what to have for supper. On the walk home, I chose to stop for takeout Chinese food. Now there are leftovers for tomorrow, so time to cook won't be needed. There are a number of writing project activities needed for deadlines next week. The altered plans for the past week put me behind on those schedules. Not a bit issue.
I've found it interesting that while retired I've encountered fatigue in a rhythm similar to that encountered over the past 20 years. My work load is far less and the stresses come from different areas than friends in the midst of teaching. Is the rhythm so ingrained that it will take longer to break free? I expect this will change, regardless of continuing with research and writing. That is a thesis that may need testing so the information gathering will continue <smile>.
An older Gershwin tune seemed apropos for the pondering of the day. The cover chosen is by a younger voice of a grand dame of jazz and soul backed by a big band sound. Enjoy!
What a week -- and it isn't Friday yet, either! Three days of unexpected stressful events. Sleep disrupted twice in a major way, but things seemed better last night. I was so tired at the office today that things took more time that expected to complete. I finally brought the handwritten pages home to type as it was taking longer than I wanted to spend there. I finished them tonight after eating supper and feeling a bit more relaxed in my comfy clothes. I expect the usual routine to return tomorrow.
Finding oneself in the midst of an uncontrollable situation can elicit stress responses. Knowing calming techniques can be useful, but only if able to wrest control from the emotional part of the brain. Anxiety alters eating and sleeping habits further disrupting any sense of routine, which can negatively impact the feeling of having any control whatsoever. Today the ability to breathe deeply more often reappeared -- or at least I became aware of it again. During times of stress, breathing patterns change -- more shallow and rapid. I've often noted that I need to put notes around the house that simply state "breathe" <smile>. I do find myself almost sighing when I go for a walk. Perhaps that is why walking helps me to feel less stressed.
A song lyric that fit these thoughts came to mind today. They present a great philosophical approach to life. The melody and arrangement facilitate relaxation. Enjoy!
Another bright sunny day with cooler air temperatures -- perfect for walking. Attended a great pair of student research presentations today and attended a medical appointment. A major startle appeared in the afternoon -- one that had me a bit panicked. It all worked out well, but took a while to ramp down afterwards <smile>. The second last music class occurred tonight. We looked at Modern popular music from 1980-2005, including punk, heavy metal, country pop, country rock, and the rise of female artists. Much remains to cram in next week <smile>.
Reflecting on the anxiety of the day made me realize that being tired didn't help the brain to think clearly at the time. I'm aiming for a good sleep tonight -- time will tell if this actually happens. After having time to decompress in the afternoon, I headed out for a walk to the bank machine and someone noted that I'd be walking in the sunshine on that side of the road. That made me smile a bit, which, in turn, helped me to relax a bit more.
When I was headed out for the walk, a person at the office sang a line of a song that had come to my head, as well. I share that song here in a cover sung by a long time songstress and actress with a lovely voice. Enjoy!
The sky remained clear blue without clouds all day, though temperatures felt chillier than expected for many. I didn't get out of the house until late afternoon, with an unexpected trip to the vet --nothing major, but a second visit tomorrow for a minor procedure that couldn't be done as late in the day as the appointment provided earlier in the day. I expect the trip will provide some degree of stress to the furry one, but without the trauma of some visits <sigh>. I hope we both sleep well tonight so I'm not half asleep for the long day that is Wednesday -- meetings and a night class, so it goes until 9:30 PM.
I wonder why unexpected changes or intrusions on plans can throw us off so easily. I'd planned to work on an application that is due the end of the month. While some work on this did occur, two other shorter tasks never hit the radar. While not a complete washout, it did put some things behind schedule. As noted, Wednesday is already a full day, so adding in the leftovers from today may not work. We'll see. To be honest, some things are more important than the plans <smile>.
I thought of a couple of songs and settled on one from a band often seen in the blog. This song has unexpected changes to tempo and melody. This songs adds a touch of prog rock to the usual roots rock focus of the group. The result formed something quite listenable and almost relaxing. Enjoy!
The day was spent doing household tasks and some reading for research projects. the highlight of the day was having a friend over for supper. I made a simple meal of double-mustard coated chicken breasts, roasted carrots, a vegetable and gnocchi saute and blueberry crisp. It was fun to have someone over on a week night -- something that rarely happened before retirement.We had a good visit and spoke about a number of happenings in the world and our daily lives. I enjoyed the evening very much.
I often wonder why we don't do such relaxed evenings with friends more often. It need not be a fancy dinner that takes days to prepare -- unless we want to try such a menu. Simple meals that focus on friendship rather than just on the food work so well. I think about doing this far more often than it actually occurs. Perhaps I need to find a way to stop procrastinating and just do it. <smile>
A song that has been used in the blog a couple of times over the years fit well with the focus of the evening. Enjoy!
Temperatures warmed a bit today with full sun throughout the day. It will cool below normal for several days, so I expect the mud to become more solid. Going out for groceries felt wonderful in the warm sun -- not overly warm air, but the sun was comforting. I continue to be amazed with the total at the register -- groceries have increased a lot. The amount I pay for a regular visit is the amount I used to pay for a bigger restocking trip. The cost increased by 30% or more. I'm not sure how people access food at these prices. I haven't purchased many luxury items, though I did buy chicken breasts this week along with a couple of items from the pharmacy area. Still, prices of these items seemed small. Not the end of the world, just something to think about.
I've enjoyed the day even with the impending evening work on documentation for professional license re-application. I hope to read a bit of a book borrowed on Friday with content that will assist in writing a current paper. The author writes with humour while ensuring a clear evidence base.
The song selected for today comes from a new album presented in a television special last week. I've enjoyed this song by other artists and it has been covered by many people over the years. The two voices in this selection blend wonderfully with the strings in the orchestra. Enjoy!
For a Saturday, the day was filled with fun things. -- and laundry <smile>. I worked on an upcoming presentation to begin to organize the thoughts and choose the best words. We will be working on this as a trio over the next month. I have so much to say -- far more than will fit in the alotted time <surprise!>. It will come together with time, thought and practice.
In the evening, the annual Department year-end banquet took place. Laughter filled the event. Discussion topics left on the tables, helped us to discuss food experiences and laugh while eating the meal. Students had asked me to present the Home Economics rings again this year. I love the significance of this professional ring -- circular to emphasize the need to collaborate, gold for hearth and home, facets and etching to demonstrate the expertise areas and the work done at graduate level as they enter the profession, and how these wear down over time that represents the work of a career. So much fun to see the excitement of those who chose to wear this symbol of the profession. Two major awards were presented, as well -- always a gratifying moment. Even the rain on the trip home did not deflate the happiness tonight.
I thought of several songs that might fit the day. I settled on one with a title that made me laugh. I hope it might bring a smile to you as well -- and the costumes should elicit a giggle for sure! Enjoy!
Plans changed this morning, so I missed a student seminar. My achilles tendon has been creating small issues until yesterday when it hurt more. This morning didn't change anything, so I headed to the physio for some treatment that has helped in the past. <fingers crossed>. I did some short tasks around the house and then headed to a seminar by a visiting English professor. When I left that, it was pouring -- as in POURING -- rain. It almost looked like pellets at times, but it was just large drops. I had all my rain gear on to walk to the parking lot or I'd have been soaked through to the skin. Drying items took a lot of space in the bathroom and along baseboard heaters elsewhere. Dryness has returned while rain has subsided for now -- more expected overnight.
Even with the cloud and rain and ankle pain, life felt good. I found myself making wise cracks to the furry one, smiling at comments from others, and enjoying the walk in the pelting rain and wind. While still tired, I felt positive. Projects came together this week and I wanted to enjoy that feeling before the heavy lifting for two of these begins in earnest. Today was my day to do things for me. I even found a book that I have requested at the town library that was available at the campus library <yay>. Reading the foreword made me laugh out loud. That is a good sign for the rest of the author's writing for the book.
A friend shared a new video that was released today. The lyrics make me smile with their strangeness and fun imagery. The group singing brings perfect arrangement. Link for lyrics here as they go by quickly <smile>. Enjoy!
For yet another night, I struggled to get to sleep and woke tired. The sun was shining much of the day. A very productive meeting helped to move a presentation project forward together. Much work left to do, but it felt good to pulling things together.
I've been working to understand why I'm not sleeping well these days. No single thing seems at the crux of the sleeplessness. One night maybe, but not the other nights. This conundrum began an examination of evening habits. It doesn't seem that anything major has changed over the past few weeks. Other than the time change, nothing external has appeared in my environment. My usual evening routine has not changed, either. It may be that there has been a migraine this week -- some symptoms encroached on my days earlier in the week. Perhaps this may impact my sleep patterns. The detective work will continue, while I focus on relaxation techniques in the evening and include a daily walk -- though most days do have this, there are occasions when this is missed. Another work in progress. <smile>
A song from the dim, distant recesses of my brain surfaced tonight. If the environment isn't the cause of wakefulness at night, and it might be my habits, these lyrics fit perfectly with these thoughts. This was originally part of a movie staring the singer and Mary Tyler Moore. I recall that I liked the movie when I was a kid. It might be worth seeing if it available to stream somewhere <smile>. Enjoy!
The was filled with research meeting and reading, followed by studying for the listening quiz in class tonight. A highlight occurred at 6:58 AT when spring arrived. 🙌 The quiz in class was challenging, but fair. On the walk home after class, I had a wonderful view of the last supermoon of the year. The bright light lit up the world around me. It was fantastic to see this full moon and the stars for a change.
In class this week, discussions of the cultural movement of hip hop began. Understanding the progression of this form of music from the 1970s onwards was fascinating. Even more interesting was that the first rap song that reached #1 on the charts was by a trio of white, Jewish artists -- The Beastie Boys. We touched on the differences between east coast (NYC) and west coast (LA) hip hop styles. Again, this helped situate many of the selections that were included on the listening list this week. Next week we will look closely at lyrics to describe rhyming schemes and styles over time and between artists. Cool!
A song from one of the videos from class sounded familiar. It showed two types of music artists working together -- a hip hop group covering a hard rock tune. This worked well for both groups and revived the rock band during the 1980s. This one makes me smile for a number of reasons. Enjoy!
Some of the meeting tasks for this week were completed today <yay>. I spoke with several people by phone -- all pleasant conversations. After supper, I did further reading for an ongoing project. While this may sound rather dull and mundane, there were many emotions experienced throughout the day. I hope to sleep well tonight and move into a sunny day and new season with a smile. <smile>
A view out the kitchen window made me smile and feel peaceful. The moon is nearing fullness. For a change, the skies have been clear last night and tonight allowing us to gaze up at the bright moonshine. An obscure song highlights the feelings manifested by the moon. Enjoy!
Insomnia visited again last night. This time the cause was unclear -- as in no single issue that seemed to be poking at me. I slept through the alarm this morning and then carried on with the plan for the day. I went to campus to speak about questions from the midterm in the course I'm taking -- just to help me see where I might be going wrong. In one case, I over-thought the question and knew I'd chosen the wrong answer. In all other cases, I hadn't fully read the question before choosing an answer. In one case it was about an album release but I read it as record -- these two albums were not released in the order they had been recorded. Had I read more carefully, that would have been clear to me. So -- I learned that I should take the same advice I've given for years -- read the question, read it again, choose the answer and read the question on more time to be sure. Odd how my words come back to bite me <smile>. I then had a nice visit with a friend where we sat outside to chat -- as that is where we met. I was cold when we went on with our days.
After a late lunch, the plans for the day disintegrated. I checked the e-mail and responded to several. A headache was trying to force its way into my skull by mid-afternoon, so I did very little. I was still cold, so went to soak in the tub and read a novel. Supper was uninspired and the weariness of inadequate sleep took its toll. Garbage made it to the curb for early morning pick-up. It is 9PM and I'm in bed with my chai.
I'm unsure why, but lines from a song have flitted through my head a lot during the day. I don't feel grumpy or frustrated, just tired, which makes the song even more of a mystery. <smile. I'll share it with you. If it turns out to be an earworm, I apologize in advance. It is a rather perky song -- almost unbearably so <grin>. Enjoy!
Today is St. Patrick's Day, a day when I celebrate the majority of my familial roots. It is a day when the 'culture' is appropriated by many people with no Irish roots. Sadly, this seems to involve major intakes of alcohol, something that makes me a bit sad. This isn't the way I'd like to celebrate since the stereotype at its core is derogatory -- the drunken Irish. There was a time in the 1840s, when the Irish famine was in full swing, that those suffering from long term hunger staggered and stumbled down streets. Those in the English parliament -- the wealthy landowners -- termed these people drunkards. This ensured there was little support for relieving hunger from those in charge. Today, I'm making stew. I am using beef rather than lamb, but the mixture contains a lot of turnip and potato, both items familiar to my Irish (and the Scots) ancestors. I'm also not wearing green as it represents to me the years of fighting between the orange and the green.
May the dreams you hold dearest
be those that come true,
And the kindness you spread
keep returning to you.
A favourite song of my Dad came to mind today. The lyrics note the wish of those who emigrated to be able to see their home again. They also note the external attempt to acculturate the Irish.The melody sounds wistful and often brings a tear. The singer is another favourite of my father -- a great baritone. Enjoy!
Saturday brought the usual weekend household chores, which I completed earlier in the day. By mid-afternoon, I settled into my homework from the music course. The next listening quiz occurs on Wednesday. This listening list contains 63 songs. The first two quizzes had fewer songs -- 20 and 30. These quizzes remind me of the television program from eons ago -- Name that Tune <smile>. We hear a segment of the song and have two questions to answer -- generally the artist name and the song title. It is possible that there would be a question about a group to ask who played which instrument or which name wasn't part of the group. Happily, the questions are multiple choice. I've always said that if life were multiple choice, I'd be fine. I've had difficulty with nouns and names since early adulthood but can recognize the correct name when I hear or read it. Fill-in-the-blank questions would be disastrous <smile>. The afternoon, then, was spent listening to the 50 songs I hadn't yet played. I knew half of the songs and could hum or sing parts of them. The other half were from artists I recognized yet were in genres that weren't in heavy play on the music players of the days. Today listening included heavy metal, hip hop (and several subgenres), funk, disco, soul, and punk.This will be more challenging since there will be about 10 songs chosen for the quiz. Further listening of those that are unfamiliar will occur in the next few days.
Listening is an interesting process. I often hear things I hadn't realized were there or recognized differences between artists in similar genres -- guitar styles of Clapton, Hendrix, May and Townsend. That helped when guitar solos were part of the second quiz <smile>. Listening to the world around us and to the person speaking to or with us can benefit from similar attention and skills. This helps us to understand what is happening around us. People use the same words and phrases in different ways. If we've paid attention to communications, we can begin to identify the key messages those words carry for different people. Hearing the words alone may lead to interpreting these through our personal filters. When this happens, we may read the message very differently than intended. Listening to the other verbal and body language cues of others can reduce misunderstandings.
Lyrics from a selected song describes music as a communication device. These words match the concepts I've been pondering today. The music brings an upbeat happy feeling that matches the bits of sunshine that tried to shine through the clouds today. Enjoy!
Quiet and calm filled the day. I read and watched recorded shows. Some sun appeared early in the day, but clouds filled the sky by late afternoon. Winds have increased and some rain has begun to fall. Forecasts suggest about 15 mm by morning with smaller amounts falling tomorrow. This is part of the huge storm that swept across the continent over the past couple of days. This massive storm currently stretches from Texas to Greenland. I suspect this warmer pattern is a sign of the transition season of spring.
I discovered another sign of seasonal change today. When brushing the furry fellows fur, I was left with a handful of hair almost four times the amount from days last week. So, spring shed has begun. Today is the day we celebrate the 8th birthday of this little guy. So, we had a spa day with brushing, nail attention and bit of back rubs. I cooked a nice dinner for me -- my version of a gnocchi dish I encountered seven years ago when visiting friends and attending a conference. The food today brought wonderful memories. Later this evening we'll have a little gifty and a piece of cake from a 4 inch single layer -- the perfect size if only 2-4 celebrating. I will eat this, too, while he will get his usual wonderful dinner.
I've enjoyed the day sitting with my furry friend. I thought of a song that fits the celebration today -- well the number anyway <smile>. Enjoy! Eight Days a Week -- The Beatles
Today is Pi Day -- March 14 or 3.14. Mass media tell me that to celebrate today, one must eat a piece of pie. If I recall correctly, the Math students had a bake sale today. I was occupied moving papers around my desk to prepare for next week, so I totally forgot about the opportunity.
I thought about the kind of pie I'd make if I were so inclined. The first one that came to mind was a delight called flapper pie -- an old prairie custard pie with meringue topping. I haven't had that for years and making one for myself would be silly as it can't be stored long or frozen successfully. I'm not a true fan of pie crust, preferring crisps or crumbles instead. Therefore, I make fruit fillings and prefer those usually for pies -- single crust if possible. Deep dish plum pie is stunning. Sweet potato pie tastes spicy and feels silky. Raspberry pie reminds me of my grandmother. I recall a raspberry-blueberry blend that was truly amazing. What is your favourite -- if you can narrow down to one type?
As a child, we grew a lot of rhubarb so often had pies and crisps made with it. I've been lucky to have rhubarb patches at several places where I've lived. I had one here until a kind neighbour soul pulled every stock (many, many pounds) thus killing off the plant for the year. The next year was touch and go, but I nursed it along, pulling bits each week over the summer, until I came home one evening to find someone had availed themselves of every stalk again. It has never grown back. I tried to restart one area with new roots, but they just wouldn't take. So, I now rely on the kindness of others for my annual fix. It isn't quite the same as having some regularly over the summer months.
The song for today relates to those pies from my childhood. The singer belonged to a band often featured in this blog. This song is from his solo career. Enjoy!
Interesting day from a communications perspective. Most encounters went fairly well at meetings and in the night class. The first meeting of the day got confused through electronic communications. I hadn't read my e-mail before heading out -- I should know better as I've found plans change and I don't always check early in the day. After returning home a while later and checking e-mail, I realized that the meeting had been pre-empted. I responded to the e-mails before realizing that the recipient was in another meeting or on the road. So -- I sent a text for when the person was free. I should have started there earlier in the day. We managed to work through the task planned without meeting in person. I had organized some different errands to do on the way to the early morning meeting and the sunshine was delightful. So, the day provided a great start even with changed plans.
Later in the day, I heard a song in my head that made me giggle. The title reminded me of the many ways we can communicate that may not work as planned. Love the singer-songwriter -- a true classic. Enjoy!
It's been a day. It began with a bit of sunshine and solid plans for the day. As I finished what I'd planned, a major deflation occurred. That mood crash left me trying to describe it. On the outside, it would appear as anger, yet that didn't describe fully what I felt.-- bits of frustration, disappointment, confusion, feeling cheated along with other bits that I couldn't name. I tried to do some cooking and baking for supper, but then had to run out for milk to finish things. I hoped the walk would help alter the mood. I'm not sure it did. The jugs of milk -- all four of them in the cooler -- were streaked with mud and displayed major dents in the plastic cartons. These looked liked they'd been bounced off the back of the truck into a mud puddle. I was most worried about a large dents becoming a crack and leaking milk all over. So -- I carefully chose the least battered of the bunch. Supper was completed and it tasted good <smile>.
Reflecting on this later, I may have felt like those milk jugs looked -- beaten and muddy. The emotions could lead me to crack if not managed well. I did stare down a car while crossing the street, after all <grin>. This reminds me of advice I've given and received. Just like me inspecting those jugs, I knew I needed to handle the things with care to avoid breakage. Being kind to myself could be similar -- though I find it more difficult to be nice to me than to care for a milk jug or be kind to others. That still brings confusion -- why can I care for the feelings of others and not do the same for myself? Interesting point to explore further.
Song lyrics that reflect the thoughts of the day deal with the need to be alone to work through the emotions. They also note that there may not be an identifiable reason for the feelings. The vocals and complex rhythms brought interest and some relaxing at my end. I hope they can do the same for you. Enjoy!
The effect of time change hit me today. We lost an hour sometime overnight Saturday into Sunday. Even with almost usual amount of sleep, waking an hour earlier than my brain usually hears an alarm was a challenge. Added to the lack of adaptation to the time change came the clearing of ice and snow piles from the streets. That began about midnight and went on for several hours in the vicinity of my home. I'm sure it continued down the main street, but was further away so less audible to me then. Scraping of buckets against ice and pavement, back up beepers and rattling of dump trucks occurred in the background of my sleep for some time -- so not in the REM sleep that helps one to wake rested. Whatever the cause, today felt like I'd not slept for days -- perfect for a Monday.
A song that bounced around my head today emphasizes the passing of time through amazing percussion from start to finish. Lyrics appear to be disjointed phrases, but contain many wonderful metaphors. One of my favourites states, "My soul has been psychedelicized." <smile> That pretty much fits with the discombobulated feelings of the day. Enjoy!
This topic has likely hit the blog in the past, ince I do think of it often -- the human propensity to see the world through dichotomies. From my philosophical stance -- my personal ontology and epistemology -- I tend not to see things solely as opposites but rather as continua with concepts holding aspects of the two anchor points. So, instead of black or white, I tend to live in the grey zone. Strict binary definitions of socially constructed concepts can be more rigid than reality. As someone who skews strongly towards postmodernism, I understand that there are others that see the world and what is known in a much narrow way than I do. I can accept that without badgering people about how wrong they may be -- most of the time <smile>. Sadly, I've found the stricter the ontology, the less accepting of difference folks can be. Simple right-wrong, yes-no, left-right do not allow existence of anything that blends the two -- so no middle ground. Overall, this can make me sad as the variety and difference between the two absolutes can be filled with wonder and challenge. Perhaps some of us thrive in that environment more than others who choose not to be challenged.
While reading and doing housework today, these ideas whirled around in my head for the umpteenth time <smile>. This may have begun after hearing a song that outlines this middle territory so well. The song was part of a online FM radio tribute to a wonderful human and musician who passed a couple of weeks ago. In this selection, he plays piano and sings one of the verses. Listen to the lyrics and relax with the music. Enjoy!
The pattern seems to be bright sun in the morning and clouds by afternoon. While temperatures are mid single digits below freezing, the dampness makes it feel much colder. It would appear that it will warm to above freezing into next week, with some rain and mixed precipitation expected. The transition of spring seems to be in the early phases. Others have made this bold suggestion, too. <smile>
Today involved housework and some time spent reading and thinking. Even the TV had little on that seemed interesting to me. Really, it has been a quiet day to cocoon or just to be alone with my thoughts. I had a good sleep last night and hope the same occurs tonight.
A song by a Canadian indie band seems to fit the day somewhat, though the title may overstate things. It was just a day to recharge. Enjoy!
A day late posting this. Yesterday was a very full day. I woke after 2 hours of sleep. Yes -- that number is a two. I was awake all night with me falling asleep just before the alarm went off. I headed to campus to do an early guest lecture dealing with the nutrition aspects of anxiety and depression in aging adults. We had great discussions there. After the class, I was an invited panelist to provide feedback to student presentations. Their projects dealt with developing, assessing, and recommending solutions to extremely complex (termed wicked) problems. It was a fun process. After lunch I tried to focus on e-mails and paper work, but productivity was waning due to fatigue. A friend called just as I was thinking of heading home and we went for a quick supper instead. I needed that bit of relaxing and conversation. When I got home, I went to bed with a recorded TV show -- a show that I had to replay today as I just fell asleep when I laid down.
Emotional episodes can impact sleep. The frustrations of a day may lead to disrupted sleep or can result in mainly wakefulness. This happens with major stresses and with lesser ones. The latter may even trigger memories of past stresses or trauma. As the brain ages, it is less and less able to adapt to such losses of sleep, leaving individuals in a fatigue filled fog -- operating heavy equipment is not recommended <smile>. The older brain cannot recover from the loss of REM or restorative sleep as readily as a younger brain. In many cases, it can take several nights to begin to recover.
Yesterday was the 74th birthday of a singer and actor. The song shared here is sung by him. It was written by a Brill Building duo, Goffen and King. The lyrics speak to the time of day I spent too much time with recently. <smile> Enjoy!
Bright sun and cool met me for my walk to campus today. I met a brave and strong young women outside the building where we had spoken last night. She has such a positive view of life. That made me smile. I had to revisit that moment tonight to help me come to terms with other interactions of the day. Some discussions did not go as expected. Feeling less strong to begin with today didn't help me to react the way I'd wished I could. Sometimes saying what you feel can create further difficulties. The goal wasn't to make anyone else feel uncomfortable, but to let them know how the situations impacted me. Past agreements for plans appear to have been bypassed, which left me confused and frustrated and wanting to explain but without being able to get thoughts into words.
A long walk to the physio office didn't help me relax as I'd hoped it would. On the way home from the appointment, I encountered a man wearing one glove and searching through his bag and backpack for the other. We were walking in opposite directions. About a half block later, I saw his glove on the sidewalk, so turned around and walked back to where his was digging through the backpack. By this time of day, it was cold with light snow flurries, so a longer walk for him with a bare hand would have led to frostbite. He said he'd just prayed to St. Anthony and there I was with his glove. <smile> That encounter along with the one from earlier in the day helped me relax enough to see some aspects of the misunderstanding in a different light. I wouldn't say it is "all better" but I'm trying to see the situation through other possible lenses.
Taking walks down unintended roads and meandering pathways today brought a song to mind. I enjoy this singer-songwriter musician. particularly the work from his solo career. Enjoy!
The day began with bright sunshine and very cold temperatures. Nonetheless, the walk into campus felt great. These days often bring happy feelings -- perhaps for the way they remind me of life on the prairies -- crisp, cold days. A stellar seminar on weight bias was presented by a dynamic speaker and colleague. Later in the afternoon, a weekly meeting helped me to laugh while discussing topics of importance to a research project. The evening brought with it another class in the history of popular music. I so love this class <smile>.
This week in class we covered the pre-punk 1970s which included glam rock, soul, funk and a new iteration of protest music. The genres are intriguing when situated within the social and political issues of the time. There seems to be a circular process in the development of existing and new genres over time, each tied closely to major social, political and economic issues. Soul and Funk were no exception, with messages of equality common. Interestingly, these genres formed the basis of Hip-Hop in the following decades.
Since this week is marked as International Women's Week culminating in the International Women's Day on March 8, it seemed fitting to highlight a woman in the blog. I've chosen a woman with a 60 year career in music. In 1987, she was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -- the second year that a group of inductees was named. She carried the moniker 'The Queen of Soul" for her amazing vocal abilities in this genre. I've chosen a song that speaks to women's rights to share here today. Enjoy!
Today was an 'all clear' -- at least for today. The driveway was cleared by my plow guy. I cleaned up after he finished. It seems that someone with a snow blower redid part of the walk way I cleared yesterday -- it is wider in places and has tire tracks and packed snow. I did my best to re-clear the packed snow to get closer to the ground. Otherwise, this will be a solid ice. Not sure who did that -- just wish they'd let me know and I could have done the re-clearing before it all froze overnight. and thank them.
The rest of the day involved reading for projects and few other household chores. Supper consisted of cranberry pancakes with local honey and applesauce made from local apples. Yummy! It is Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday, after all. <smile>
While getting ready for bed, I looked for a song that fit the day. Love the visuals in this one, though there isn't a king cake or other celebrations foods shown. <smile> Enjoy!
Today I tackled the 'to do' list and won. <smile> Each item on the list was managed -- reading and writing bits for three projects underway and completing two neglected and overdue tasks. Not only did I manage those five items, but I managed to find time to soak my sore legs in the tub while reading a fun book. Legs were tired and sore due to shoveling snow yesterday and again today. Snow fell furiously for several hours this morning and turned to rain by mid-afternoon when I headed out. I had to move the stuff before the freeze occurring overnight. If this sounds like other blogs of the past month or so, I apologize. Actually, the weather should apologize <smile>. Forecasts suggested we'd get 10-15 cm of snow. What I encountered was closer to 20 cm (10 inches) and it had drifted. Much of it was very fine snow -- the kind that accumulates quickly and seems to pack itself densely. Both of these along with the falling rain made the snow very heavy to push and lift. I took my time and dug out a walkway to the back of the car, leaving the rest of the driveway for the plow -- which I forgot to call so will need to do this in the morning. I also left the back porch for another day. Overall, it felt like a good day.
Today brought a feeling of elation from accomplishments. I enjoyed the work, so find it odd that some days I feel disinclined to begin. Being in the right frame of mind certainly helps work go smoothly. When feeling disheartened before beginning, completion of the task becomes unlikely -- at least on that particular day or time. It is rarely clear what might be at the root of the inertia. Does this lassitude require time to dismiss? Learning to accept that some planned activities may need to be carried forward has been difficult. Forcing enjoyable tasks, though, may turn them into something akin to 'work'. Understanding that a mind may need to read, watch a movie, or engage in some other leisure activity before being ready to tackle activities will take some effort to address.
Lyrics from a Canadian band song cover the positive outcome experienced for the day --
"Celebrate the moment./The measure of the moment/is a difference of degree/Just one little victory/a spirit breaking free/One little victory."
The music carries a strong back beat with heavy guitar and drums -- a bit on the metal side for this one. The remixed version shared here does soften that a bit and clarify the lyric line. The vocals show the wonderful range of the lead singer. Enjoy!
My day began with shovelling snow after breakfast. Several inches fell overnight -- 4-6 inches (12-15 cm) in most places. While the bright sun brought great warming effects, the snow remained light and dry -- until I reached the end of the drive with the salt filled snow left by the street and sidewalk plows, that is. The process went fairly smoothly with just a bit of heavy lifting nearer the street. I then finished the laundry and made two recipes for the freezer, which is a bit low on variety at present. I made red beans New Orleans style to have tomorrow, which is Lundi Gras. A one-pot meal from childhood was made as a comfort food -- a ground beef, tomato and noodle dish. That one will be easy to tote to campus for the days that I eat supper there before my night class. I then chose to make a blueberry crisp for dessert or bedtime snack during the week. I'll be testing that one very shortly. <smile> A televised movie and a great book were also part of the evening.
The day felt fairly calm, despite not completing the planned items on the Sunday list. Two of these can be easily moved to tomorrow. Perhaps today was like the calm before the storm. Some nasty event that will bring snow, freezing rain, ice pellets and wind is headed this way. I plan to stay at home for the day. Depending when the onslaught moves on, I may need to move the frozen and wet gifts left by the storm. So, adding two smaller tasks to the Monday list should not create difficulty, since the planned outing to do an errand will now be pushed to the Tuesday list. Now I just need to try to stick to the lists <smile>
A song title fit the cooking part of the day. The lyrics carry an upbeat message along with the uptempo rhythm. The singer-songwriter has been featured here before, but not for a while. Enjoy!
Saturday was filled with the usual weekend chores. Slides for a guest lecture next week were completed, as well. By suppertime, the bright sun had been replaced by cloud cover. Snow is expected overnight and into tomorrow. So -- I may need to add shoveling to the work list tomorrow.
On this date 115 years ago, Theodor Seuss Geisel was born. He became known for the many children's books he authored and his recognizable rhyming schemes -- couplets with internal rhymes. We likely each have our favourite titles. One that I borrowed from the local library many times was 'The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins'. I loved the story and the illustrations of the fantastical head gear. So, the song to day is in honour of this wonderful author. A great quote from him -- "Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!" Enjoy!
Full bright sun today seemed blinding at times. But it felt wonderful, especially knowing there is a storm in the offing -- tomorrow night into Sunday. I did a quick grocery run and two errands, each of which involved gently pointing out potential difficulties for customers. At the grocery store, I spoke with the manager about the cart upset and resulting damage to my shins. I asked if he might be able to put a marker or pylon near the small hole so no one else need be hurt. As I left the store, he was doing just that and had a supervisory person with him who had tested the crack with a cart. Interesting. Glad to see they really did listen and act. Another stop was at an office where I got a note written on a piece of scrap paper from their front desk. When I got home, I realized the reused paper actually had someone's medical information printed on the back. They added this to their communication binder to ensure that used printer paper was checked before use and if personal information existed, it would be shredded and not reused. So -- I felt I'd done my best today to ensure that others wouldn't be hurt in any way. It was good to find people heading for problem solving rather than defensiveness. <smile>.
At a lovely lunch with a friend, we spoke about people stating that they want to be happy. I've often wondered if this is something that people expect to be a constant state of mind. Given the myriad emotions we have in this life, I'm not sure constant happy feelings are possible. Is it possible to miss the moments of joy or happiness while searching the future for something constant? Living in the moment can be challenging in the hubbub of work and personal life. As a society we seem focused on what needs to be done for tomorrow or next week, along with the plans for a vacation away from the responsibilities. We focus on the next two things that need doing while in the midst of the one in front of us at the moment. This can impair our ability to see where we are right now and realize that some of the happenings do bring a smile -- short bits of happiness, joy, peace or contentment.
I was reminded of a song that addresses some of these thoughts. It asks the questions in a much more eloquent and poetic way that I just did <smile>. It was written by the friend of the singer. Enjoy!
