Another warm day with some writing done in the office until the head-banging fairy visited. I'm not sure that a migraine during a heat wave is worse, but it felt like it tonight. I'd like to run this thing out of town! <smile> I'm hoping for some reasonable sleep so that I feel better in the morning and more rest makes me more prepared to deal with residual pain tomorrow.
One song title incorporated a good way to run someone out of town. I smiled when I recalled hearing this one on the morning show. Just perfect. And if a fast car works better, have at it! It is a unique pairing. Enjoy!
Clearly a weather event was headed our way. From mid-morning onward, darker clouds were blowing through the sky. We had warnings of potential thunderstorms. The wind felt good and counteracted the wet air feeling. After a great lunch with friends, I headed into the office. I drove since I didn't want to find myself drenched in a downpour should that finally arrive. Wile working away in my office with no windows, I heard louder sounds. I decided that this was a rolling thunder outside. The clouds were very dark and threatening. That began about 1.5 hours before I left the building. I put on my rain jacket, expecting that with the thunder there would be rain. The pavement was only partially damp and no rain was present as I drove home. Yet, the thunder continued. Almost two hours after I'd noticed the beginning of the thunder sounds, the skies opened up and it poured rain. Lightening flashes were noticeable and at times the thunder was very close and the house shook a few times. I sat and watched the rain since anything I needed or wanted to do dealt with electronics (which I was not going to plug in) or using water in sinks (not going to do that either). About an hour later things wound down, with only distant thunder heard for a short while longer. Warnings and watches continue for the region this evening and then re-emerge tomorrow morning.
For a Monday, there were many good things happening. The foreboding sense of the impending storm created a feeling akin to anxiety. It was going to happen but when became the larger question. This is not unlike emotions. Something can trigger a feeling -- often negative, but not always <smile> -- and the feeling grows a bit and lingers before something eventually bursts forth. Then, just as quickly it fades away -- until the next time. <smile>
A song that fit perfectly for the events of the day is shared here. The song was written by a major blues artist, T-Bone Walker. Here it is sung by a favourite singer and guitarist, as part of a Pavarotti and Friends concert. Enjoy!
It has been a quiet day. I managed to get through some household chores and even wrote a note to put in the mail and prepared an invoice that is behind schedule. So -- some good came of the efforts today. Other than this, I did some reading and listened to a movie. The sun was intense today, but when I ran an errand the wind was delightful and made things feel cooler. The air felt dry today, too. In the coming week, forecasts tell us that temps will be very high tomorrow along with the arrival of a humid air mass. The highest temperatures appear to be for Monday through Wednesday when they will drop in just hot on the scale rather than smoking hot. <smile>. Humidity will hang around for the remainder of the week and weekend. That is based on a computer model that may change as we get closer, so this could last much longer than the current forecast predicts.
Making plans to go to a cooling centre as necessary and thinking through meals that will require little heat or physical energy to prepare have been part of the past two days. I've ensured that supplies are in the house for quick uncooked or microwave reheated meal items. Salads with protein and cold noodle bowls come to mind. Variety becomes a challenge, so pre-planning is a must to avoid boredom or less nutritionally balanced choices. When already too hot to move, simple meal preparation can feel overwhelming. Best not to make cookies and muffins the stars of the show <smile>.
Lyrics that match the preparation for extra hot days is shared tonight. The genre feels a mixture of dance and pop with a slight synthpop feel. Enjoy!
The highlight of the day was seeing colour in my front yard where there has been little in the past few years. A large bank of day lilies lies between two large maple trees. 20 years ago, it was ablaze with colour. Recently, there have been zero to 5 or 6 blooms. This year there are 20 flower spikes. This variety only last for a couple of days, but the colour is a bright orangish red with petals that curl slightly at the ends. They remind me of my mother's tiger lilies in the garden of my childhood home. The mass of plants in the front yard, likely needs to be split a bit and fertilized next spring. One items to add the distant 'to do' list.
Speaking of those infamous lists, the coming week has some major scheduling changes needed in order to complete a couple of projects with time deadlines. The plan has been to work no more than half time during this unpaid retirement activity. For the most part that has worked. Next week will see me working closer to full time. There are several social outings planned, to help ease the frustrations that I expect to encounter. The projects involve items that I want to address and some that landed in my personal sphere without much warning. So, even in retirement intrusions occur in a well laid out timetable plan. Imagine! <smirk> Looking for an upside, I realized that there will be major heat and humidity beginning Monday and continuing for some time. So, being in an office with air circulation will bring some relief not found at the house.
While working through the change in plans and my reaction to the change led me to a phrase a friend of my mother's used to say. Lo and behold, a favourite song has that very title. Serendipity of sorts. <smile>. Enjoy!
Reading through the email today, I found a wonderful photo taken earlier this week with a fabulous quote. The photo showed the meeting of an icon of nature advocacy who was visiting a workshop for youth, where she met a young man involved in several different advocacy programs. The quote was:
"As my grandmother the Queen once said, "Sometimes the world's problems are so big we think we can do little to help. On our own we cannot end wars or wipe out injustice, but the cumulative impact of thousands of small acts of goodness can be bigger than we imagine."
-- Prince Harry to Jane Goodall and students at the JGI Roots and Shoots program.
This sentiment has been stated in many ways by many people and is one I firmly believe. As Jane Goodall once said, "Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference." Now, we likely never fully realize the impact we have on others and the world around us, but that doesn't mean nothing is happening. If all we seek is admiration or a pat on the back, we've lost site of the reason for doing good in the world. Working in the background may lead to feeling ineffective, bu t that should not result in giving up. Keep believing.
The song that came to mind today covers the acts of goodness referenced in the first quote. the version shared brings a new arrangement to this song. Enjoy!
I accomplished a few major things on the list for the day, but several others will not see the same fate. I suspect this is due to a couple of other things that I added to the activities today. Just after noon, I headed out to get groceries. I did most of this at a single store, when I'd originally planned to go to two. Fatigue played a role here. No enthusiasm remained once I'd left store #1. Nothing else on the grocery list is a necessity, so I won't feel stressed about missing that visit. I still hope to complete on further list item by searching through some photos -- the paper kind -- for ones to scan and send to friends. That should fit into the evening hours.
While at the grocery store, I chatted with my next door neightbour. We don't see each other often, other than to wave as we leave our driveways with the cars. <smile> She told me that there had been a bear sighting in the neighbourhood. That got my attention, since we'd just been noting that life was moving along in a usual monotonous way. I've never heard of a bear in the middle of town. People on the edge of town or into the rural areas see them often. This is a first for me. It was likely an adolescent that was sleeping on the front lawn of a house across the street and 3 houses up. The home owners were away at the time. The sighting was early morning about dawn and there was no further reports by the time the neighbours began their days. Our street is about 3-4 blocks in length. Within less than a block of either end lie a brook and a river -- common freeways for wildlife making their way through their home. It is most likely this fellow came from the river to the east, which is closer to the forested rural areas. It is common to see these creature on the other side of the river behind the hospital and former mother house for an order of nuns (who moved to a new digs last year). This exciting sighting <smile> made me reconsider what I'd felt was a commonplace month. I need to look around a bit more to see the exciting things in my immediate surround.
A song came to mind when I heard the bear news. I smiled when I realized that the lyrics also fit my choice to not go to store #2 for further supplies. I'm sharing a newer version. Enjoy!
Bare Necessities -- Bill Murray & Kermit Ruffins (from Jungle Book)
Wednesday -- another midweek as we seem to be rushing through July. August begins in a week. Time roars by. Yet there are times when it seems to drag. Waiting in airports. Trying to sleep an a sweltering summer night. Working through a long typed report. So, that passage of time seems to go by at different rates depending on the situation. Today went well with a productive meeting in the morning and a good conversation in the afternoon. Several items moved off the 'to do' list for future fun events and some writing bits.
Weather has cooled a bit so the house is cooling. That makes sleeping go better. This will continue for several days and then be followed by the August heat wave of temps and humidity. So, I'll enjoy the cooler evenings while I can. I even turned the oven on to make supper tonight! The things we take for granted. <smile>
I was awake later than I'd wished to be last night, so feel a bit tired this evening. I'm ready to get my chai and snack and listen to something relaxing. The chosen song has lullaby qualities and even manages to touch on the concept of time when asking how long its been since yesterday. The voice is one from a long way back, one that has always sounded like a friend. Enjoy!
Rain has been in the air for about 24 hours now. It is much lighter and almost drizzle now, with forecasts noting that this will likely end into the early morning. There were small ponds in my driveway as I walked out to retrieve the green composting bin from the curb. Once at work, I found my socks were a bit damp. As I type this, heavier downpours have descended. It may be time to stop putting off the purchase of waterproof runners. <grin>
A colleague once coined the term, jumping to hyperbole. I love it and have used it often since her first use of it at a conference. When things go unexpectedly, we sometimes feel that may be the new normal, rather than a passing phase. Living in the maritimes, I understand that rain comes and can stay for weeks. In the summer, this isn't the usual pattern. While the up side of the rain is that the air mass is cooling for a few days, a nagging feeling exists that this weather phenomenon may continue and steal more of those precious few sunny summer days. If you've read my past diatribes on weather, you will know that I like moderate to cool weather, so this rain is delightful for me. Well, minus the damp shoes and socks at least.
A band name came to mind when I was bemoaning the damp socks this morning since it described my encounter with the ponds earlier today -- A Foot in Cold Water. None of the song titles I found fit for me. So, I chose something else entirely -- a song title with definite hyperbole. <smile> Enjoy!
Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore) -- The Walker Brothers
I love music, which should be no surprise to anyone here. I also enjoy movies. When the two come together, what more could I hope for. There are movies about music or musical personages. Here, the music is expected and focus lies with the actor playing the musical role. What really surprises me are movies where previously recorded songs becomes a key character. One movie that did this was The Big Chill. That mixed a number of Motown and other music of previous decades -- the soundtrack of the college years of the characters. Another movie of this genre that has become a favourite of mine is Love, Actually. Again the movie would be much different without these particular songs. Directors spend much time listening to music to find just the right song for different scenes. I listen to the movies for the music as much as the acting when I re-watch my favourites. The soundtracks become a unique 'mixed tape'.
While doing household accounts today with a movie (Sleepless in Seattle) in the background, one song caught my attention. It is one my mother and I sang when I was a toddler. Our rendition was much more traditional than the one shared here. This one fits the style of the artist so well -- very bluesy. Enjoy!
Yesterday and today have been hotter than others this summer. Temperatures rose into the mid- to high-30s both days with humidity making it feel in the high-30s or low 40s. For those where the Fahrenheit scale is still in use, that is actual temps in the upper 90s and feel like temps closer to 110+. Yucky. Just before supper time today, the sky turned very dark with heavy, angry clouds. I heard thunder in the distance, so unplugged the electronics and such. Rain began a bit later and is still falling. Temperatures outside have dropped to low 20s (low 70s), but without much breeze to capture cooler air in the house. I've opened a door to see if any cooler air enters or if it just lets in wetter air. The latter creates hotter feel like temps in the house -- not something that is needed. It is 30C in the house at present with a warmer feel like temp. So -- summer has arrived in all its ferocity.
I felt uninspired to do much inside or outside due to the heat. People I know headed for the beach. I'd do that for a quick cooling dip late in the day, but sitting in the sun and heat all day would be wicked. As I've said often, we are not all the same and being different is acceptable. I wish I could accept this season (and the icier one) with grace. I love the transition seasons for their milder temps. Finding something that helps me to see the positives of summer would be beneficial. That will require much further study. My descriptions present spring and fall in calmer words, while harsher phrases are sued for winter and summer. Do I see the latter two seasons as more gregarious and 'in your face' while spring and fall seem to be more affable friends? Hmm. Interesting.
A song that fits the weather of the day was chosen. The lyrics note some positive pastimes for summer for the singers. I'm trying here <smile>. Enjoy!
Hot Fun in the Summertime -- Sly and the Family Stone
Where were you 50 years ago today? For those of that certain age, most of us were seated in front of a television -- most likely still black and white. The lunar landing was underway along with the walk outside the lander. It was surreal to see this happening on our televisions. The journey to get there took the work of hundreds of thousands of people. The narrow windows of time and area necessary to land, redock with orbiter and re-enter the earth's atmosphere required infinitesimal attention to detail and lots of practice in simulators that were making educated guesses as to what might be encountered. I have been a space junkie since the earliest missions when I was a small child. As an adult, I've been in a mock up of the Russian capsule in which Yuri Gagaren orbited the earth and seen miniature models of lunar landers, the shuttle Discovery complete with Canadarm, and sat at mission control in Houston at Johnson Space Center, I've met a Canadian astronaut, Roberta Bondar. I've spoken with nutritional biochemists and food scientists working in the space program. It all still creates feelings of awe and wonder for me.
As an educator, students often heard of the things we've learned from research occurring in space. We've learned much about bone density by understanding the workings of the various cells and hormones involved. This has helped with newer ways to treat osteoporosis. Foods eaten in space have changed dramatically from the toothpaste tube purees in the early Mercury missions. At the ISS, foods eaten at home have been sterilized and packaged for space travel and rethermalizing on the station. Astronauts can personalize their food choices, making longer missions more bearable. From early missions, we learned that protein metabolism was altered is micro-gravity. Ensuring adequate protein intake to avoid tissue breakdown came from the information gathered in the research during flights. Similarly, providing adequate energy and fluids for space walks and working in the conditions of space flight was paramount. While this knowledge helped with the success of flights, it also informed medical and dietetic treatments for disease or plans for athletic endeavors. Food safety in space became a major concern, but this also helped control potential problems on earth. In an ideal world, I might have put a course together dealing with space program technology and its impact on nutritional wellbeing of all people.
Many songs about the moon exist, of course. I wanted one that fit with the anniversary noted today. So, one song rose to the front of my mind. Enjoy!
Today involved many short trips to do errands -- banking, bills and groceries. I found that points hadn't been added to the account after purchasing things that should have given about a $4 rebate. Today customer service told me that they could do nothing. I had to call the points company. I was told the number was on my receipt. I asked that they highlight that for me. It wasn't there. Well, then it must be on the back of my card. I still haven't looked. In the past this has been rectified at the customer service desk. There was a relative newbie operating that service today -- someone who did not have the information necessary to 'serve' customers. The only way I could deal with this in my mind would be to return the items and then repurchase them. What a pain that would be. I'd already made a second trip out to the store. To be honest, I was so frustrated, I chose to just leave it and write something online about the lack of service.
Other encounters today renewed my faith in those in service positions. I've worked there and understand the 'power over' felt by customers, too. A smile and checking with a supervisor when things get tricky really help. Even if there really was nothing that could be done without resorting to my cumbersome solution, if it had been handled with a degree of assurance I would have trusted the information more. Training of new staff appeared sadly lacking in this situation. Even if tasks are simple, the need for clear understanding of customer service should be instilled in all workers. I am not there to conform to some arcane code, but they are there to assist me to purchase what they provide for sale. From that viewpoint, customers have far more power than many feel. I know folks who won't return food in a restaurant or correct pricing at the register in a store. They must feel disempowered -- like a guest at the store who shouldn't be rude to their host. That doesn't mean I want to be rude -- far from it. But I do have the right to get the product and service that I pay for.
A song that seemed to fit the musings today contains lyrics that borrow heavily from many pop culture statements. It addressed the need to become empowered and not concede to those trying to hold power over others. Enjoy!
Do you have a safe place or happy place in your mind? Its somewhere to go to when things become overwhelming. Such imaginary places make me think of online spaces set up for various gaming. What does the farm or city look like as it is developed? A mind space holds many similarities. I find going to such a space trickier than emptying the mind as part of meditation. Neither is easy, but practice should help to find that space to be still.
When what goes on around a person becomes too frenetic, the ability to find a calm spot in one's mind can help get through the situations. Each of us needs to find our own way through the sink holes along life's road. Building an imaginary spot to feel safe and sound should help. Practice accessing the space will make it easier to find when needed most. The mind is an amazing thing, filled with powerful ways to impact daily existence. Interestingly, it can be trained to work for us rather than against us. Like anything in life worth having, this does require a fair amount of work.
Finding a song brought many different themes to mind. I settled on a song with lyrics that discuss the power we each have inside to manage negative situations. Enjoy!
It was a day of mundane routine -- dealing with e-mails, gathering reading for a writing project and a weekly meeting with a writing colleague. My mind kept wandering elsewhere, but I pushed to find moments of focus. In those brief times, further work became clearer.
Finding those magical moments involves concentration. One things feel better and appear clearly, forward movement becomes possible. With a few short bits of clarity through the day, I hope tomorrow brings further and longer moments of progress.
As I still work to catch up on rest -- something that becomes more difficult as we age -- like after the age of 30 (not a typo) <smile> -- focus returns, though more slowly than I'd wish. Thinking of the magical moments brought several songs to mind. I chose one with lyrics that integrated magic and music. Enjoy!
I woke to the sounds of hammering and nails being removed on the side of the house. It was a bit of a jolt. This was the last of the exterior work -- replacing the mailbox, installing a new light fixture by the front door, and replacing the hose reel with a basic holder at the back. Further work was done with the leaky area of the eaves by the front door. There is still about 2 inches where sunlight is visible between the eaves and the roof -- right where the water runs off the roof onto the porch. That will need to be fixed still. I headed to campus and spent much of the afternoon on an informal walking tour of the two newer buildings -- one refurbished and the other still in the midst of construction. Each was filled with natural light -- very refreshing. Working and classroom spaces seem a bit small, so it will be interesting to see how these work in the long run. Many standard procedures will need serious rethinking by those whose offices inhabit the spaces. But, new always brings the disruption of change.
Changing routines takes effort. Getting back to the writing work after several days away with friends will take time. I managed to get the email sorted but little else completed. Giving myself permission to not work every day is still difficult. I'm getting better at taking the time, but wake in the night often worrying about self-imposed deadlines. Others whose daily routines have been disrupted with a move to a new office area will also need time to adjust. Frustration and anger can be the result if one does not reflect on personal roles during change. Simply blaming others will not help with a journey through disruption, but instead will ensure one remains stuck in a negative space. It isn't easy, yet taking the time to develop functional procedures in a new space will help with the move forward.
My evening ended with a clear sky filled with a great view of a wonderful full moon. The moonlight lit the hallway. A song jumped into my thoughts when I saw this. Many covers exist. I've chosen a favourite duet completed in an unplugged format. The voices blend well. Enjoy!
Wow! I just crashed in the hotel room last night. It felt like being in a fog when I checked in, showered and then reheated the supper I'd purchased at the airport. It is a good thing I didn't drive down as I'd not been alert enough to drive the 2+ hours home. I made some oatmeal in my room and then caught the mid-morning shuttle back to the airport to catch the bus home. The walk home from the bus stop on campus is mainly downhill, so pulling the suitcase behind me worked well. The workers were still putting the final touches on the new back porch when I arrived at the house. The next few hours involved unpacking and doing a couple of loads of laundry -- since I missed the weekend washing routine <smile>. I found myself still very tired, and was ready for bed by 7:30 PM!!
Being away from home brings many adventures, yet arriving back home always feels positive -- a place of safety to relax or to sleep in your own bed. Home is a feeling as well as a place. I often think of my childhood home town and province as my real home; however the place I live at the other end of the country is also home -- for now <smile>. Many poets and songwriters have written about the basic instinct that is home. I certainly won't be nearly as articulate. Of several songs I chose one to share due to some of that poetic eloquence. Enjoy!
On the road by 7:45 AM today. While heading to the airport, the playlist was in Christmas in July mode. It was an album I hadn't heard yet, so my friend played it for me. For some reason I was pre-approved to go through the priority security line. Now, I discovered this after waiting in the longer line. Even so, the priority line was quicker -- no removal of shoes or belts and no removal of all the bits from the carry on bag. This let me find time for a rest near the boarding gate. I spent much of the time thinking how nice it would have been for us all to have more time to visit together. I slept little being anxious about getting to the airport on time and replaying the many stories told and ones we didn't have time to get to yesterday. I found myself tearing up often -- happy tears for our visit and sad tears for having to go our separate ways -- all likely exacerbated by the inadequate sleep <smile>.
Revisiting past adventures can be such fun. Hearing of the same escapade from all involved provides a broader view of events than with a single storyteller. Much laughter can be involved, too. Such opportunities provide a sense of belonging and evoke past experiences like they occurred just a day or two ago. Gatherings of friends and family generally involve much of this activity along with telling of new adventures. Even when short in duration, I am happy to have the chance to be part of these storytelling circles.
A song that came to mind when I was thinking over the past two days deals with a form of remembering. The tempo and melody sound upbeat with lyrics that note further adventures and memories will occur as people age. I like that sentiment <smile>. Enjoy!
Well -- this is Saturday's Saturday post written on Wednesday. The catching up is slower than I'd expected mainly due to fatigue and an evening event last night. All my notes are ready to turn into full blogs, so never fear, they will all arrive as time allows. <smile>
What a day Saturday was! It began with an early breakfast with friends as we awaited the arrival of two others. Anticipation continued as with yesterday. We had a great chat and then began our journeys to a surprise birthday event for another dear friend. We arrived in pairs about 20 minutes apart. We did create surprise in the guest of honour. Fantastic food, conversations, fun and a couple of song lines sung throughout made for an excellent afternoon. The weather brought excess heat and humidity, but we managed well.
In the evening six of us went to a fun diner -- silver metal exterior with the neon 'eat here' sign. The menu has all sorts of wonderful choices and a list of a couple of dozen sides that could replace fries. I went with broad beans and corn -- a form of succotash. Love this and haven't made this at home for a while, though I use limas. That will be on my list for this summer with barbecued main dishes. After the diner closed at 9 PM (so it isn't a real 24/7 diner), we spent a couple hours visiting at the hotel. It felt sad leaving when we wouldn't all be together again before I had to leave for the airport around 7:30 AM. Back in my room I repacked the suitcase and felt that the adrenaline of the day may impede a good sleep. I vowed to try my best, though.
Visiting with good friends that are seen less often than one might wish is a true gift. This group met online before face-to-face meetings. That daily contact over 25 years afforded us the closeness of family -- seeing each other through the highs and lows of life. The in person gatherings have been filled with great memories complete with musical accompaniment <smile>, much laughter and definite new adventures. Watching and participating in the development of this tight-knit group has been very interesting from anthropological and sociological standpoints. Yest, I am a bit of a geeky academic at times <grin>.
Two songs are shared today. The first song came to mind when a friend stated the title phrase when arriving at the festivities. It is by a singer-songwriter musician extraordinaire known by many in our little entourage. The second selection was sung at the festivities while recalling when we'd first sung this in a group road trip. The key here lies in the line mentioning pyramids. That one is a long story -- maybe someday <smile>. Enjoy!
The day began very early with a ride to the airport. Next there were two flights headed south complete with border crossings. The latter involved walking down back hallways for what seems like 2 km -- a good 15 minute walk. The final destination was new to me -- an airport and a state I'd never visited before. At the carousel I met a friend I hadn't seen in 7 years and then we met two other friends at the curb for the ride to a hotel about 40 minutes by the urban area and well into the countryside. Once settled we headed out for supper across the street. Conversation was easy, as if we'd only been out together a couple weeks ago. Tomorrow we will meet up with four other friends. The excitement reminded me of a feeling I'd had as a child when something big was just one sleep away <grin>.
Excitement is somewhat like anxiety -- lots of adrenaline, difficulty sleeping and likelihood of tears. Yet, this surrounds something fun and not as scary as situations that bring anxiety into focus. Perhaps these are related emotions. Each needs a bit of management to avoid their becoming overwhelming. After long days of travel for the four of us, we chose to rest instead of heading into a lengthy chat session. I admit that this was a good decision since fatigue is major at present.
A song that ran through my mind often today outlines the anticipation I experienced. I love the tempo and rhythm changes. Enjoy!
I noticed the power of a smile again today. I was worrying about numerous things as I headed out to do an errand. The person behind the counter was familiar and has the most amazing smile. I noted that I needed some of that today. I try to laugh and find absurdities when things don't go as expected. Yet I fear I've smiled less recently as my mind gets so wrapped up in itself. When the errand was completed, I felt much better. We'd had a fun conversation that made me smile -- and made plans to get together later for a chat. When worry returned briefly again, a good friend offered to help -- totally unexpected and so appreciated. Later in the day, I encountered another acquaintance who is a true curmudgeon. I cracked a joke and he just looked at me without a hint of a smile, which I said and had to watch carefully for the tiniest of smiles.
Life doesn't go according to our plan. As I've said, I try to see the positives or at least the absurd. Others seem stuck in a rut of constant sighing and seeing only negatives -- even inventing negatives where there are none. Encountering a person like this, made me realize that I'd been doing some of that recently. I don't want to be that kind of person -- always angry, frustrated, put upon. I will do my best to catch myself on those days when things are less than perfect. Taking time to find three positives in such a day can help. For even the darkest of days have some moments of light waiting to be recognized.
An older song entered my head when thinking about smiles today. The lyrics point to the infectious nature of a smile. Many covers of this song exist and I enjoy several of them. The version chosen to share today is a newer swing style cover by a wonderful Canadian vocalist. Enjoy!
The day involved dealing with a couple of truly silly situations. I tried to purchase a product online, but the website refused to process the payment. I checked the credit card and nothing had been charged -- thankfully. I called customer care to hear that I'd have to complete some form -- that had been online -- and return it to the speaker -- then the payment could be processed. It seems the file sent to me is a pdf format, meaning I have to print, complete, scan and return and then chat longer to provide my payment information. I chose to purchase this from a different vendor with functional online purchase. I will explain to this large (as in international) company that their lack of concern over the website had me move elsewhere. I suspect i'm not alone. <sigh>
Other things went well through the day, yet I continued to feel like I was on a hamster wheel or something going in circles -- something unsteady from which I couldn't escape. Perhaps there are just too many balls in the air (to use a different metaphor) that any semblance of control has vanished. When new tasks enter the periphery or are rude enough to place themselves within my personal place only inches from my face, dealing with these can make a person a bit cranky as well as frustrated. To regain control of just a wee corner, may mean giving oneself permission to deal with what is directly blocking the way, but recognizing that something less urgent will have to wait. Expecting to continue to do things as originally planned may be part -- a big part -- of the emotional response. How to recognize this need will take some work.
A wonderful song with fantastic poetic lyrics fits my feeling today. The metaphor of going in circles in an unsteady vehicle certainly works <smile>. The song merges folk with a type of calypso percussion and a sitar to produce a trippy type of psychedelic sound. Enjoy!
Woke way too early today. I felt hungry so had breakfast very early. Often I can then relax and get back to sleep, but not today. So, I did some of the things that were flying through my head -- sort some files to make writing more organized; sew up the catnip toy that is leaking all over the kitchen floor; recharge the devices. Throughout the day, there were moments of frantic feelings. I'm sure it would feel better if I just stayed home and didn't plan little jaunts away. But, staying in place gets old so a brief sojourn is good for the mind and soul. I know I feel better once I get on my way. Whether it is a trip far away or to the next town to shop, the feelings are similar. Once I am heading down the road, something calmer than the planning period arrives. Thinking processes are not the only effects; the body feels the stress, too -- nausea, reflux, and other GI symptoms can come along with muscle tension and headaches. People report numerous physiological symptoms. Learning to keep these in check can be burdensome at best.
A great song that addresses signs of stress fits this topic. The lyrics note the need for a single action to help reduce the effects. It should be a mantra to help release tension. The singer has often sung about various mental and physical health issues. Enjoy!
It was an early start to the day. Two workmen arrived before 8 AM and commenced demolition of the back porch. I went for groceries and it was down when I returned an hour later. The remains lie in the backyard in a deconstructed mass, waiting for the trailer that will take them away tomorrow -- after dropping off new wood for the replacement. Some of you may ask, "Didn't you just go through this last summer?" Indeed, I did. This year it will be the back porch since the front porch was completed last year. I worry that the noise will be disruptive -- taking apart any semblance of peace inside the house. Time will tell.
I headed to the office for part of the day, where I worked on a writing project. The task involved was reviewing the analysis of combined data from three studies. The methods used for this qualitative process involve deconstructing the data by breaking it apart into smaller chunks of information -- exploding the data as it were. This data expansion process is the opposite of that found with quantitative methods where statistics are used to collapse the data into fewer parts. Now once the deconstruction has occurred in qualitative methods, those smaller groups of related ideas are grouped together into categories and then again into larger themes. That is what I was reviewing and reorganizing today. This process is not unlike learning any new skill or information. First an old skill or idea must be recognized and looked at carefully. Then the new skill or idea is examined and worked into or replaces the former -- unlearn and relearn.
On the theme of deconstruction followed by reconstruction, one song might fit the beginning of that process. It certainly fit what happened in my back yard today. <smile> Enjoy!
Technology changes how we access information and entertainment and how we communicate. Today I thought about the radio. This was part of each day as I grew up. The old black bakelite radio sat on the counter in the kitchen. We listened to weather and local news at breakfast, farm reports and market prices at noon, and more weather and news at supper. Music was part of each mealtime, too. I recall getting my very own transistor radio, which represented a type of freedom. I could sit in my room and listen to music from local or distant stations, while the rest of the family was watching television. By the time I was in high school, we would call in for quizzes and to request songs sometimes dedicated to a friend. As I left high school, I received a component stereo system to take to my residence room at university. Needless to say, car radios played a huge role in music access through teen years and it still does today -- though I do plug in an iPod to hear 'my' chosen music at times -- recognizing that even this format is used much less often and now replaced by blue tooth. Satellite radio packages seem to be part of most new vehicle purchases, thus allowing us to pay for what could still be pulled from the air for free -- much like television programming now. <sigh> Regardless of the instrument or technology, we still rely on these for the same reasons as in decades past.
Newer technologies may often shrink selections available with the narrow-casting instead of the former broadcasting formats. Streaming or specific satellite channels serve to play only our favourites, thus we don't encounter newer or different music or programming genres. That makes me a bit sad. Granted, I listened to stations that played the type of music I wanted, but had to tune in at particular times in the evening to get what I wanted. At other times, a wide range of music styles would be available. Listening to those programs or stations let me hear different artists and even if not my favourites, I could hear bits that would allow me to converse with peers with some sense of what the 'other' was all about. Knowing what else is out there helps us to understand different perspectives. And yes, I still love radio.
A couple of songs came to mind to go with the pondering of the day. It didn't take long to settle on one with lyrics that describe the usefulness of music distribution technology. The band and lead singer brought us different music styles and major audience participation. Now, while I've chosen one song, I'm going to share two versions <smile>. The first is the LP version and the second is a live version that demonstrates the audience role in the show. Enjoy!
Radio GaGa -- Queen (from the album The Works 1984)
Radio GaGa -- Queen (LiveAid performance) NOTE: you may want to search foe the version from the movie Bohemian Rhapsody to see how well the choreography was reproduced.
Mercy -- it is so hot outside and consequently inside as well. The thermometer inside is 27 in kitchen and 30 in bedroom. Outside was just over 30C feeling like 40C (105ish F). The forecast notes this will break overnight and provide cooler -- while still summery -- temperatures and dryer air mass. I do hope this prediction is correct. This type of weather makes it difficult to do outdoor work and reduces the heat producing indoor tasks like vacuuming or cooking. I was happy to do laundry as the basement is cooler than upstairs.
Music history began 62 years ago today, when Paul McCartney met John Lennon at a church outing. Lennon's skiffle band (The Quarrymen) were playing. They were still in high school. Legend has it that McCartney impressed Lennon with his guitar skills and showed the band members how to tune their own guitars. Imagine what the world would be like had these two not met. Many songs would not have been written and the Beatles would not have evolved. It wouldn't be just music that suffered, this group provided global culture, style and thought impacts.
There are so many potential songs to share today, but one spoke to me more than others. Since these songwriters were introduced to each other, this song fit that time and some of the future changes as well. Enjoy!
Tonight the waiting ended. The Canada Day festivities postponed twice due to rain this week were a go. Now, I only knew this when someone I passed on the stairs at work mentioned the day would be perfect for the concert and fireworks. If not for that random moment, I would have missed the event as with past postponements. After working through organization of parts of a writing project all afternoon, I headed home for a light supper. Walking out the door into the mugginess and heat was a bit overpowering. It was definitely hotter than it had been yesterday with more humidity, as well. The fireworks scheduled for dusk, did not occur for almost 30 minutes later. I stood waiting and felt I might fall asleep on my feet. The display was pleasant, but a bit underwhelming. That feeling could be due to postponement, fatigue or repetition of patterns in the explosions. I wasn't as 'wow'd' as I've been in the past. Don't get me wrong, they were enjoyable, but different than the last time I'd seen the July 1st display in town.
Waiting can build up expectations such that disappointment seems inevitable.Some excitement ahead of time seems reasonable. I'm not sure why happenings become inflated in one's mind -- especially smaller events. Resulting letdowns can colour perceptions of other related or concurrent activities. The emotions felt vary from anger to sadness and many others in between. I felt something I'd describe as dismay on the walk home. That walk took more than the usual 10 minutes due to the amount of foot traffic along Main Street and encountering a friend with a quick chat along the way. About halfway home while waiting for the walk light, I was reminded of walking in a much larger crowd -- hundreds of times larger -- while in Hong Kong. To my surprise, I heard a voice behind me comment. "This is like Tokyo." I laughed out loud. By then, the minor negative feelings had left. Yet, there are much larger events that can leave lasting disappointment. Interesting.
Lyrics that came to mind note the excitement of anticipation albeit in a very different situation that I've described here <smile>. Those I heard come from the chorus. This is a favourite artist of mine. Enjoy!
Two days rolled into one here to make the numbers match up. Seems I added an extra day somewhere along the way -- must have been a very long day to lead me to that. <smile>. We are now two days into the second half of the year. Where does the time go? It seems that these last six months moved way too quickly with goals set still not met. How does that happen? It isn't that I'm sitting like a lump -- things are happening, but several are not moving along as I'd expected (and hoped) they might. This includes research projects as well as house and me projects. Perhaps even the 'to do' list for the year is overly ambitious just as those for weeks, weekends, and days. More questions to ponder before I find answers to this phenomenon.
Listening to the morning 'talk-sprinkled with news bits' show today, I heard the announcer note that playing music could ward off mosquitoes. Being a person who will get several bites when no one around me even notices a single mozzie in their vicinity, I'll admit my ears perked up. This tidbit came from a 'research' study with no details provided. So, I hunted up a news item from Smithsonian.com It seems that playing a single song by an Electric Dance Music artist on repeat for 10 minutes will reduce the females having sex which leads to biting for blood. Now, this was shown with one species of mosquito, the one responsible for yellow fever transmission. It also appeared that one song was more effective than others. Sound does have an impact on sexual activity in the insects, but more work is needed to determine if this works for other strains and how to put this into more practical use. Imagine everyone in their back yards playing the same song over and over. For me that would be one more reason to head indoors. I share that Grammy winning song here. Enjoy!
After a slow day at the writing tasks, I planned to head out to see the town fireworks postponed due to weather yesterday. An hour before my departure, I read that the event was postponed again due to weather. It is damp, but forecasts noted rain was likely. Other times when this has occurred meant a later date that I've always missed hearing about in time. I hear the fireworks and can see those very high in the sky. It is an 8-10 minute walk, so by the time I got there, it would be over. Hopefully, this year I'll hear when the event it planned next.
When thinking of the lack of explosions with the liver rattling concussive nature, a song came to mind -- really it did <smile>. This one was first released decades ago and I've loved it since grade school for its poetic aspects and lovely melodic arrangement. Today I'm sharing a more recent cover version here -- one that does not disappoint even while putting the group's own spin on things. Enjoy!
Happy Canada Day! The weather here led the town to postpone fireworks until tomorrow. The possibility of showers or drizzle did not deter a small group of us, though. It has become an annual tradition to prepare pizzas and watch a fireworks show in the yard of a rural abode. We were a smaller group this year, but there was no shortage of pizza. I tried a perogy pizza for the first time at this even. Others included interesting mixtures of vegetables (including fennel). Once darkness fell, all attention was on the sky in the yard. We were not disappointed with some of the wonderfully named fireworks.
Earlier in the day, I listened to the events from Parliament Hill in Ottawa. An eclectic mix of pure Canadian music was featured. I want to share some of those choices here today. The first is an upbeat power song sung by a mid-twenties trans artist who grew up in Halifax and Antigonish (in the summers when his parents directed and acted in the summer rep theatre in town). This artist and song come from the televised reality talent show, The Launch. The second is by a singer-songwriter from Petty Harbour, NL. This upbeat song had the crown singing and dancing, as did the first shared here. The third -- yest its a three-for kinda day -- has a great beat, too. The Mntreal -based singer-songwriter's style was much different than the other two shared. In this song, the metre and rhyme play a huge role and are presented so well by an iconic voice. In Ottawa today, Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal performed a piece choreographed to this song. Just a bit of diversity for the day. Enjoy!
