Day 6 - 364 -- Seeing Out Another Year

Well, here we are at the end of another year of blogging, and it appears that I missed a day somewhere along the way <sigh>. Sorry -- but I'll aim for 366 next year <grin>. Much introspection occurs at this time of year. To me, it makes sense to look back on the experiences of the past year in all their naked pain and pleasure. How have these occurrences changed us? What have we learned about ourselves? Have we changed as a result?  Granted, there will be events that we never want to encounter again in life. They are part of us, yet we can learn much from them. We need to look at successes and failures.I dislike that word, since not all things that don't go according to plan are failures, as long was we choose to grow in their wake.

We can choose to be gentle with seeing out some years and see other years passing as good riddance. The song I chose for today fits the latter. The lyrics note the regular change that occurs around us. It also irreverently bids adieu to the past with a somewhat rude hand gesture. <smile>  Enjoy!

Two Fingers -- Jake Bugg

Day 6 - 363 -- Find the Beauty

Some days we struggle with negative feelings of all types -- some from clear sources and others from no where in particular. The former can be justified, while the latter lead to further distress from trying to figure out why that one day brings on challenging feelings. Either way the feelings are valid and yet humans seem to compare themselves with others, trying to feel better or worse about themselves and their feelings.

Noticing the wonderful things in our days, even the bad days, can show us that there is beauty in the world around us as well as within each of us. Just a thought. A song by a favourite singer-songwriter contains lyrics that might help with seeing that beauty. Enjoy!

Beautiful -- Carole King

Day 6 - 362 -- Thoughts of Travel

Today saw one extra blue bag ready to take to the curb. That is the goal I set as it seemed manageable. When I have exceeded that number of bags, it has felt great <smile>, but getting a single extra bag out feels good, too.  That was the highlight of the household cleaning today.

In a conversation with a friend about the desire to travel, got me thinking of the places I'd like to see fir the first time, those I'd happily return to again, and the many things that I'd like to see and experience. Food. Art. Museums. Architecture. History. Culture. There is no shortage of places even on a short list -- shorter might fit better as a modifier there <smile>. The urge to travel isn't just superficial ticking things off a list. In past travels, I've learned to see the world and myself differently. I've learned new things and new perspectives. Traveling augments the journey through life. Hopefully, the next year will bring some wonderful travel adventures.

One song ran through my mind today. It fit the idea that we join many bands in our lives, as presented by Mitch Albom (The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto) and Mike Nesmith (Infinite Tuesdays). Travel is also central to the lyrics.  Enjoy!

Travelin' Band -- Creedence Clearwater Revival

Day 6 - 361 -- It's all about the music

I finished reading an amazing book this week -- The magic strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom. The story, narrated by the talent, Music, explores the impact of talent in changing the lives of those with the talent and those surrounding talented people. Interwoven throughout the story are fictional encounters between Frankie Presto and actual people in the music industry from 1940s onward, which included how meeting Presto transformed their lives. The intricacies of the life of the main character are fascinating and did not fail to surprise at points. I'd recommend this book to anyone ready for a story about a journey through life with all its ups and downs -- all told through the lens of music, talent and fame.

I want to share three of the many points made by the author that spoke to me -- particularly in terms of why this blog exists.

"What would you give to remember everything? I have this power. I absorb your memories; when you hear me, you relive them. A first dance. A wedding. The song that played when you got the big news. No other talent gives your life a soundtrack. I am Music. I mark time." (p. 371).

"Music tells the truth." (p, 423)

"I am Music. And Music is in the connection of human souls, speaking a language that needs no words." (p. 489)

How cool are those quotations? In this blog, a musical selection has been used for each of these reasons -- to tell the truth, produce memories and connect readers by speaking a universal language. Today the song chosen thanks Music. Enjoy!

Thank you for the Music -- Amanda Seyfried

Day 6 - 360 -- Banality and Pedestrianism

The morning was sunny, but clouded over by the time I headed out to pay a bill. I met a friend I hadn't seen for some time as I walked through the parking lot. It was great to have a few moments to exchange the latest news and provide best wishes for the new year. I had plans to do some overdue housework when I got back to the house. I ate some lunch and then did very little of note. I did have a nap and then I made supper and washed my hair. Mudane seems an understatement <smile>. 

There is much cleaning to do and I need to get on this while I'm not working on writing projects over the next week. It is definitely time to declutter in several areas, but one at a time should help things move out or into more organized storage. The goal has been to get an extra bag or two of recycling out to the curb on pick up days once every two weeks. The larger goal is to help the house look less like a hoarders training ground. <sigh> As an adult, I moved house every 1-4 years. I have now been in the same space for 21 years. When work hours were so intense, clearing 'stuff' just didn't occur. Repurposing items and downsizing makes sense now before a move might present itself. Such physical work might help to declutter the mind, too. The key here may be finding the impetus to propel me forward into the work. <smile>

The selection for today deals with the banality or pedestrianism of routine in life. This isn't always bad, but looking around and being a bit more mindful could provide a different perspective to life. Perhaps this is why I challenge myself to do new things each year -- even small things indicate life isn't stuck in a rut. The lyrics are quite telling in this song with interesting melodic and rhythmic components. Enjoy!

The Day before You Came -- ABBA

Day 6 - 359 -- Countdown?

Boxing Day in Canada -- businesses and government offices close for the day, but retail outlets are open for major sales. I have avoided such crowds for many years as it can be so frustrating and hateful to see people at their worst. The crass commercialism of the season seems to end here or when 'boxing week' -- a purely marketing invention -- comes to an end. Chocolate hearts and eggs will be front and centre in the coming week, I expect <sigh>.

A friend often does a turkey dinner on this day, so I prepared turnip puff. A second day of feasting adds another bright note to the holiday -- all part of the 12 days between Christmas and Epiphany or Christmas celebrated on the Gregorian calendar with that celebrated on the Julian calendar (Old Christmas in the Maritimes and Ukrainian Christmas in western Canada). It seemed fitting that a song dealing with this time period be shared here today as my celebrations continued. This is a fun one <smile>. Enjoy!


A Moose in a Maple Tree -- Chris Murray

Day 6 - 358 -- Everywhere Translations

Christmas Day brought cooking a vegetable dish for Christmas dinner at a friend's home. This dish deconstructs Brussels sprouts, removing the individual leaves and sauteing the quartered cores with shallots and garlic; the leaves are added and steamed after the first mixture begins to carmelize. <yum>. The walk to dinner was not overly cold, but the wind was biting for the couple of blocks headed into the westerly breeze.

Dinner was a multicultural and multilingual event -- mainly Spanish and Chinese with some English and a smattering of Portuguese. The almost 3-year old speaks the first two with a bit of English thrown in. His English 'thank you' is impeccable <smile>. Translations between the three languages became interesting and I had a friend turn to me, say something in Chinese and then say, "right?"  Others laughed whenever that happened, too (my Cantonese is limited to thank you, I'm afraid). It was a lively evening, to say the least <smile>. Our usual hosts were away for the holiday, so we gathered at the home of another one of the usual crowd this year.

Gathering together with friends and family can bring positive emotions. Yet, not everyone can be together at this time, so there may be a bit of wistfulness added to the mix. A few lines from a song ran through my head today about gathering together and working towards harmony. Enjoy!

Christmas is my Time of Year -- The Monkees

Day 6 -- 357 -- Peace

Christmas Eve day was spent in the kitchen. I made a pot of cabbage rolls. The first time I've made these. The result was passable, but the filling needs more seasoning to be like what I recall from childhood. I'll dress it up with more sauce for flavour. I got the veggie dishes for Christmas and Boxing Day pre-prepped, which will make those days go more smoothly. So, not surprisingly -- since 'food is my life' [tm] -- today was all about food. A long-standing friend -- as in the longest friendship I have -- called for a chat today. It was great to get caught up on the plans for the holiday week.

A favourite theme of mine at Christmas involves peace -- freedom from conflict and the just as elusive inner peace. The musical choices today deal with this concept. The first selection is an amazing duet with counterpoint melodies. And just for the record, I do recall seeing the original airing <smile>. The second selection covers an historic event that occurred on this night 105 years ago. Wishing you all a peaceful holiday season. Enjoy!

Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy -- Bing Crosby & David Bowie

It could happen again -- Collin Raye

Day 6 - 356 -- Begin at Home

Some errands were done this morning, but by evening no card or cooking completed. After an appointment this afternoon, I did two blogs to catch up to today. I also ensured that everything is ready to cook early in the day and then focus on cards while things simmer for a few hours.

I realized today that being kind to myself is challenging. Simply acknowledging what I've accomplished can be difficult and never feels like enough. I need to learn to accept the many things I've done. Not to brag -- but to note that I've managed a successful career, mentored many students and peers, and can problem solve wit the best of them <smile>. A friend noted recently that I also need to learn to take a compliment with grace instead of contradicting the giver. Again, a difficult thing for me, but I'm willing to work on it. This may be a way to improve inner peace. It also involved taking my own advice for others <smile>.

The song for today speaks to the dream for peace, kindness and love for everyone. That should reflect to the individual as well as those around them. The duo in this version sounds amazing together. Enjoy!

Someday at Christmas -- Stevie Wonder and Andra Day

Day 6 - 355 -- Working Through the Holidays

Mundane things filled the day. More laundry, minor bits of cleaning (and there are big bits needing my attention), and small attempts to address the mountain of correspondence. It was a teary kind of day -- some for reasons and some for no reason that I could put a finger on. This time of year often brings on sadness. People that were the centre of the holiday season have left this world while others are a great distance away. Maybe sadness isn't the right word; it could be more a feeling of being alone. Now, that isn't the case, either; new traditions have been made involving other people and telephone and electronic communication media can connect us with those further than a short drive away.

Today, a call from a dear friend helped us both to move out of the blue funk and laugh at some of the absurdities of situations we each face. An electronic conversation with a loved one also helped to get past the tears and smile more. So -- again, I am not alone -- not at all. <smile>  Having people who listen when there is a difficult day is part of the construct of social support. We know we have people who can assist when things go sideways for us. When they contact me to chat just when I need them, saves that difficult part of having to contact them when I feel down -- that is, asking for help <smile>. But, I know I could and they would be there. The other part of this construct is that I know that I can support the friends when they are having a bad day or week. In order to improve health, this relationship must be reciprocal. How cool is that? <smile>

A song that came to mind expresses some of the feelings of the day, clearly noting that others may not understand the effect of the sparkly holiday season. Now I need to dig around and find those stars for my shoes. <smile> Enjoy!


Christmas Blues -- Dean Martin

Day 6 - 354 -- Last Minute Shopping

Saturday on the weekend before Christmas.-- definitely a day to avoid stores and shopping districts in general. So where was I? Exactly!  I got groceries yesterday and got home to realize that I had forgotten a key ingredient for a dish I planned to make over the weekend. I found two or three other things that I could pick up to make a trip worthwhile. Wondering if I could wait until Monday, I realized that it would likely be even worse since people feel the need to buy enough food for two weeks if the stores are closed for a day. So -- off I went. To say it was busy is an understatement, but I managed to maneuver through the aisles with little frustration. When I headed to the check outs, I had only five items. The less than 5 aisle was closed, but no one was at the under 15 aisle. Score!  On my way home I stopped at a friend's place and shoveled the snow from yesterday. At home, I tried to sweep the bit that fell overnight. In both places, the heavy wet snow sat on top of a bottom layer of ice crystals that must be crazy glued to the sidewalk and pavement. It will be slippery tomorrow when it freezes more. I guess I'll have to find the salt and grit to put out on the worst areas.

I found two songs that reminded me of being out and about with everyone else in the county today. <smile> Each brings a smile if not a laugh with the tongue in cheek lyrics and mental visuals. Enjoy!

Christmas Can Can -- Straight No Chaser

Christmas Shopping -- Buck Owens

Day 6 -- 353 -- Being Vulnerable

Surprise scattered itself throughout the day. I began by paying a bill for a reassessment of the tax return -- it appears the software package didn't fully populate a line in the income section, but included it in deductions. Lesson learned -- never trust software to do your job for you <smile>. A quick visit to the physio gave me some new exercises to do to ward off future difficulties. In the evening, I got the lights on the tree, but not without incident. While trying to untangle the string of lights in my hand, I stepped sideways while focused on the mass of cord I held and managed to fall over the footstool -- I'd moved it from its usual spot and forgot it was there <sigh>. Pulled a muscle in the shoulder and have pain on the opposite shin, but nothing really huge. Heat and ice will be my friends over the weekend. <smile>

While sitting at a restaurant for lunch, I asked myself how I was going to be brave today. I thought about several things that could have me walking into my own discomfort. A pep talk for myself was the result -- a talk that I'll share with you all. Do something that scares you or takes your breath away -- makes you stop breathing when the feelings get so intense that you simply hold your breath without realizing it. Put yourself out there -- be vulnerable rather than in such tight control. I'm not advocating you try cliff diving or bungee jump off a bridge, but rather that you face something that seems difficult to you from the emotions that it can bring -- the emotions that take you out of that place of control. Address the thing(s) that may stop you from experiencing all life has to offer. Perhaps it means that you have to take your own advice <smile> and just go for it and don't fear that experience <smile>. I believe that taking control by giving up control could bring happy, peaceful feelings. Wow -- that may be a lot to digest. <grin>

Well, a song for this pondering was a challenge especially given the holiday theme used this month. One did present itself, though. The lyrics speak to anticipation that comes with facing something new to you, and they note the gift of positive emotions such forays into vulnerability can bring. The singer, a Canadian from Scotland, has the perfect voice for this song. Enjoy!

Waiting for Christmas to Come -- Johnny Reid

Day 6 - 352 -- Celebrating Together

While walking to do errands this morning and to visit a friend, I finally broke out the Christmas and holiday tunes for my ear buds. In the evening, I put up the tree -- an artificial due to allergies. It is just the tree today. I'll tackle the lights tomorrow and we'll go from there if inspired. <smile>. This part of the country has a 50:50 chance of having a white Christmas. My preference would be green, but we do get those often. This year, it is likely to be white since there is a bit of snow expected most days between now and New Years.

This week involved a lot of catching up with colleagues as their grading duties ended. With this came greetings and well wishes for the holidays and the New Year. I enjoy that part of the season. Now, my paper cards to those not online, will be New Year cards if we're lucky. I'm still working on that. As a friend noted recently, even in retirement there are only 24 hours in the day. <smile>

A song that seemed to suit the day speaks to celebrating together through song. The harmonies are wonderful. Enjoy!

The Christmas Sing-Along -- Pentatonix 

Day 6 - 351 -- Fight, Flight, Freeze

 A couple of phone and e-mail messages today led to increased hovering anxiety -- like something hanging over my left shoulder just waiting to strike. We have been in flux as the landlord has been trying to sell the property. Closing should be this week, so there will be a new landlord. The lease goes with the sale, so nothing can change until next summer on the lease anniversary date. Until then, so many 'what if' questions arise that make it easier for that anxiety to hover in place. There will be a final walk through tomorrow and then things will finalized by end of the week.

When threatened in some way, we naturally head into fight, flight or freeze mode. This threat to the comfort and feeling of home feels huge. I've found recently that I tend to head to the freeze mode while my mind races wildly to the worse case scenarios. Luckily, there are people that have helped me manage such fears. It seems to be all in perspective <smile>.

While I'd love to hide and ignore such intrusions on my feelings of safety and security, that isn't the best way to deal. There is a great song, though, with lyrics that describe that need to hide. The singer is a Saskatchewanian like me, so the song does deal with cold weather events. The piano is amazing in this one. This is from the album "Songs of a Pairie Girl." <smile> Enjoy!

River by Joni Mitchell

Day 6 - 350 -- Noting the small things

The weather today was less windy and cold feeling. My main event involved providing a talk to a 55+ Lunch and Learn group at the Town Library. For this Department of Extension function, I spoke to one of my major research projects as part travelogue and part research methods. It was fun to do. I knew 9 of the 12 attendees by name <smile>. Later, I took my first trip with the new car heading to the grocery store -- .  The last trip to the store ended with the exhaust pipe falling from the older vehicle <smile> Small things can mean a lot. <smile>

Some days the small things are all that keep us afloat. That smile from a stranger as you pass on the street, hearing an uplifting song, or having an uneventful trip to the grocery store with a new vehicle. Even when other events may feel less positive, the small things can turn the day into something better than expected. Generally this requires some reflection over the events of the day, but there are moments throughout a day that just hit you with the fact that others are there and you aren't really alone. Some days it can be difficult to notice the small things. For this reason taking a few moments at the end of the day to think through the events of the day may highlight the small things that made the rest bearable -- for you or for someone else. It doesn't take long to do, but the benefits are that it can change your outlook on the whole day. <smile>

A song that came to mind today isn't technically a holiday song, but it comes from a movie that plays most holiday seasons. The lyrics are an ode to small things. Enjoy!

My Favorite Things -- Julie Andrews

Day 6 - 349 -- Newness or Neophobia?

The wind today was strong in the morning and just increased in strength as the day progressed. By my walk home tonight, the wind buffeted me around quite well. It was certainly cold with the wind. The big event for the day involved a major purchase -- a new vehicle. I'll admit that writing a cheque for this was a bit surreal. Prices have gone up since I last bought a vehicle in 2007. I've also discovered that the electronic nature of these items has exploded since my last new car. So, I will need to read the Owner's Manual to get a handle on what is where and how to make the bits I need most to work for me. The keyless entry will take some getting used to and beyond that I'm left feeling like a Luddite. All information needed is on the touch screen, so another item to learn to communicate with. With time and practice things will work. Right now, I need to figure out how to play a station on the radio once you've selected it. There will be a trip back to dealer ship to reset two items that are not functioning as they should be -- minor stuff, so I'll add the radio functioning to that list, too. <g>

Technology is part of our daily lives. I've learned to use smart phones and tablets and many other electronic devices and software. Finding yet another electronic hurdle to decipher feels daunting. This newer one doesn't seem very similar to other devices, which makes the learning curve a bit steeper. It will all come together with time and patience -- neither of which I feel I have in adequate amounts at present <smile.>.

A song that came to mind today brings with it a peaceful feeling as the lyrics deal with peace. That is what I needed to come to terms with cost and electronics. The counterpoint melodies are so soothing. Enjoy!

Dona Nobis Pacem -- Julie Gault

Day 6 - 348 -- Seasonal Thoughts

Many tasks on the 'to do' list for the weekend were completed today, while many more were left undone. A friend recently reminded me that even in retirement the days are only 24 hours long <smile>. I did get the presentation together for the public lecture through our Extension department. It felt good to get into that one, since the topic deals with my research process. I look forward to this one. Other household chores were tackled, though still little in the form of Christmas decorations up, thought many boxes sit on the dining room table waiting for this very task. Soon.

I do enjoy Christmas decorations once they are up. It seems to take a long while to get some things up, but it feels so good to sit and stare at the tree lights late at night. So, it will get done. Perhaps it wouldn't seem so onerous if I were to do 15 to 20 minutes each day instead of needing several hours all at once. Now I don't put up everything I own, but I do like some key changes to the usual living room decor. Most towels and linens are out already, so we are not devoid of cheer <smile>. I wrote the annual letter today that will be send in cards to friends and family without electronic communication access. These will be New Year cards since they will hit the post office after the mailing deadlines. It is a season and not just a day, so I hope the greetings will be accepted later.

The song today contains lyrics that describe great winter visuals. It has a softer peaceful sound from both the melody and the artist's voice. Enjoy!

Aspenglow -- John Denver

Day 6 - 347 -- Need a Strategy

Woke earlier than planned and began the household chores -- laundry and superficial cleaning. I tried to focus on a project that is to be presented early next week. I was tired, so found myself napping instead of working. I tried again after supper and got a good start on populating the outline made in my head earlier. Hopefully, tomorrow will see this completed so it can be printed on Monday. I find myself concentrating on things other than the tasks at hand -- not sure how to alter that, though. Just need some strategy to be less distracted and apply more attention to a project  for shorter time periods. Taking breaks and seeing some progress might help with the degree of momentum needed. If it helped with reducing the stress level over this project, that would be good, too. <smile>

Rain began around noon today and continued into the early evening. Warmer temperatures are blowing in but will drop by end of day tomorrow. After that the forecast notes frozen precip almost daily for the next two weeks. Not huge amounts, but a steady addition to whatever has already accumulated. So, while it isn't yet past the solstice, winter is setting up residence outside my windows.

The selection for today has a wonderful message wrapped in a relaxing sound. It produces a feeling of calm for me today. Enjoy!

That's What I want for Christmas -- James Lee Stanley

Day 6 - 346 --Work Flows

Another sunny winter day is over and clouds are rolling in for a storm tomorrow. For us, it will likely be a large amount of rain followed by a big temperature drop on Sunday. I headed into the office this morning to deal with the software issue that arose yesterday. The system worked exactly as expected today, so all files got uploaded on time. I spent time with one of the writing projects working to get concepts clear and the flow straight, building from one concept to the next. We are getting close to completing this phase of the project and it is rather exciting. <smile>  At the end of the afternoon, I headed out to brush snow off the car and get a box from the trunk. Both plans were thwarted when I found the doors frozen shut. I'll have to do this tomorrow when the temperature rises above freezing. That might mean being out there in pouring rain, but I have the requisite gear to keep me dry.

I look around and see bits of Christmas showing in store windows and lights on houses. My plan for the weekend involves getting some bit of the season into the house. I do love having some of the decorations around to make things feel more festive and fits with family tradition. I do have a couple of items that I need to pick up next week for gift-giving with friends on the 25th. These won't be difficult to find, so all the last minute shoppers should not create difficulties for this single shopper <smile>.  Cards and letters to those without electronic access will need to get out very soon, too. Looks like another lengthy 'to do' list this weekend. <smile>

Tonight I'm sharing a song that highlights the personal meanings of the Christmas season. The video clearly shows the childhood roots of the holiday feelings in a unique way. The harmonies of this group have been amazing since the first song I heard from them. This is another relaxing selection. Seems I'm in that groove at present -- just needing to sit, breathe and move through the plan <smile>. Enjoy!

That's Christmas to Me -- Pentatonix

Day 6 - 345 -- Sunshine and Irritations

The day was filled with many great things as well as a couple of irritations. It began with an appointment, followed by a dash to the office to type, print and scan a document that needs to be sent off today. That didn't happen as the scanner at work failed to send the e-mail to my inbox. So, when dealing with this later, I realized I have to head into the office again tomorrow to get the silly thing to send as it should have today.  Lunch involved a gathering of retirees from the campus. There were nearly 80 of us present this year for the wonderful turkey dinner and visits with people we don't see too often. This is the second luncheon I've attended and it is always lovely to chat with everyone.  After that, I met a friend for tea and a chat. Lots of laughter as usual when we are together. When I got home, I checked e-mail to see where things were with a planned purchase, only to find a flurry of messages that I felt made little sense. One clearly noted that an error had been made on the seller side and I was being asked to suck of the excess funds necessary from an inaccurate estimate. A somewhat firm no was sent and then followed by several other silly questions. By the end of the evening, I finally made a phone call to ask what it was that I still needed to do and why I was being asked this stream of questions. My suggestion for 'fixing' the problem had been accepted earlier but the questions had continued. I think things were straightened out when we hung up, but I'm not 100% certain. Just so awkward. <sigh>

The air was colder today with a deeper wind chill, but the sun made the day feel bright. The snow that fell from tree limbs created a sparkles in the air. This reminded me of the ice crystals found in the air when below -30C on the prairies -- air filled with sparkles. Despite the technology and communication snafus, I tried to focus on the positive. I did grump and felt unsettled for a while but am trying to move those feelings elsewhere. Breathe, relax and smile. Sometimes that helps. Some days, it doesn't. I think it is heading in the right direction for now.

The song for tonight has a relaxing sound. I was struck by the age of the band members -- when did that happen? <smile> Enjoy!

Christmas and You -- Los Lobos

Day 6 - 344 -- Holiday Fete

Today began earlier than usual in order to address a number of items that desperately needed attention. Even so, I seemed to be out of sync with the real time and confused the times twice when trying to get to a meeting too soon and then too late. All worked out in the end. Work on the major purchase seems to headed to a successful conclusion. Will know for certain early next week. Several small tasks were completed and sent off for deadlines. Two more need attention tomorrow to get things off on time.

At the end of the afternoon, the first holiday fete of the season occurred on campus. There was a small turnout, which could be due to too much grading on desks of attendees or the snow that was falling with vigor by that time of day. Earlier in the day, it was warmer so the snow melted on contact with roads and walkways. By the end of the  afternoon it was sticking to all surfaces. We walked home in the picturesque snow covered world. A friend was taking pictures for her winter greetings letter. It did look festive with snow and lights. I love the dampening effect snow has on sound -- like walking in a muffled world as the snowflakes hold sound between the flakes and the sound rises with the temperatures. The physics behind it all is very cool and I've not done it justice here. My evening consisted of a longer than usual nap. Guess that is a message that I better and more sleep might be in order. I hope to take a couple of weeks to do little research work -- though I know some will be done since it does bring a good feeling. During that time, I want to do some work in the house and think more about the quilting pattern I have in mind as my winter project -- like I was busy doing noting or something <grin>.

so, I've been trying to do something different for the holiday season blog selection this year. While some traditional songs will be included, I've been looking for and listening to many 'new' songs -- brand new to me or a new twist on an older song. Tonight I share one that has a relaxing sound from a great artist. What is better than one artist? Three artists! The video brings a smile for this effort. Enjoy!

I'll be your Santa Tonight -- Keith Urban

Day 6 - 343 -- Snow Eater

Much of interest filled my day. It began with good news from a friend -- always great to start on a good note <smile>. I headed out to discuss a major purchase with sales people. This took far longer than anticipated and still I'm no further ahead that I was when I started. So --I see more discussions and online searching in my future. Weather was a surprise as it was warmer than had been forecast -- 14C when I headed out the door in late morning. Wild. The winds overnight had managed to devour the snow and ice, leaving behind the green grass and bare ground. Rain is expected overnight and then there will be a hard freeze later in the day tomorrow accompanied by snow -- shovel-able amounts. <sigh> This will be followed on the weekend with warmer temps and more rain. It feels like a recipe for an icy winter.

Where I grew up on the Canadian prairies, there is a wind that blows from the west out of the foothills of the Rockies. The winds are called Chinooks, though local indigenous peoples referred to such winds as 'snow eaters.' I've seen the warmer winds eliminate snow piles many feet high in less than a day. It creates a form of winter thaw. If I was living in the west, I would have termed today a chinook wind. There isn't a name for this type of wind locally, though. We could just call it the 'wow' wind, since that is the reaction it provides most people.

The song today deals more with the holiday season than the weather or the events of the day. I like this newer song by a singer with a great smooth sound. Sit back, listen and relax. Enjoy!

By Christmas Eve -- John Legend

Day 6 - 342 -- Finding the Calm

Temperature increased overnight to be well above freezing by afternoon. Rainfall forecasts call for about an inch of rain by end of day tomorrow, followed by -- ta da -- a flash freeze to ice up the world for Wednesday. We are moving quickly into the next season. I'm still not sure I'm ready for it all. <smile>

After some work at home today, I headed out to the post office desk at the drug store to mail Christmas parcels. When I got there, ten people were ahead of me in line. When my turn came, the computer chose to freeze, so we couldn't go forward or back. I quietly said that I feared the 15 or so behind me in line might riot it that happened. The clerk responded that they could get me out the back way if need be <smile>. I found our ability to hang on to the humour in the situation was great. Deadlines happen later this week, so there will be long lines for the next several days. Finding a way to focus on something positive while waiting in lines at this time of year, is a challenge, but one that can be done with a bit of preparation and a positive outlook.

A fun song came to mind for today. The video showed one type of animal known to help reduce stress in people. It involves a partnership with an animal rescue organization. Enjoy!

Christmas Kisses -- Serena Ryder

Day 6 - 341 -- Recalling a Major Thought Leader

The sun shone most of the day. Clouds are to arrive into the overnight and remain for a few days. These will bring rain and snow by mid-week. Some of the household tasks were completed and a couple of feeble attempts at reading and reviewing for two small writing projects. One is due the end of the week and the other is needed for the following week, but would be best if completed by weekend to allow for practice time. The latter is a public presentation about my research process with historical documents. It should be fun and not require heavy thinking from the audience. That is my plan.

Today marks the 39th anniversary of the murder of John Lennon. While far from perfect -- and what human being is? -- his life had a major impact on the world. This was a thought leader for a generation. His music reached everywhere. His clothing choices set fashion trends. His advocacy for peace received global media coverage. He had impact in all spheres of daily life. One can only imagine how those major ideas might have developed had he been in this world longer. His music alone is wonderful to have, but might there have been even more? Yes, this does sound a bit selfish, but when a leader is removed from the sphere of influence in such a violent manner -- when peace was on of the leader's main messages -- it is difficult not to continue to wonder how things might have differed.

The two selections for today fit with the memories of this amazing leader. The first is a seasonal song that builds on the advocacy for equity and peace that occupied much of his time. The second is one of the best tributes to Lennon by another artist, one that refuses to play this song in public as it still makes him cry.  NOTE: for the second song, if you click on the album cover thumbnail it should disappear. Enjoy!

Happy Christmas/War is over -- John Lennon with theh Plastic Ono Band and The Harlem Community Choir

Empty Garden -- Elton John

Day 6 - 340 -- Saturday Smiles

Saturday has been rather calm. Some bits of housework were done and work files organized for the tasks that need completion by early next week. Sun shone early in the day with cloud returning by evening. I attended a Christmas radio play on the theatre with a friend. Many familiar faces and voices on stage. The script was written by a local playwright and incorporated many inside jokes with a cast of characters similar to those in town. The musical breaks were wonderful with a bell choir, women's a Capella choir, and a couple of solo and duet numbers from the amazing voices in town. The instrumentals were provided by a geology professor who played an acoustic guitar and flute as well as singing the final number. A harpist and the handbell choir added to the festive tone of some scenes and songs. It was sold out for the two nights it played.

From the laughter of the evening, I felt positive. I chose to walk the 10 minutes home rather than take the ride offered to me. There was a bit of snow falling and the wind had died down so it fell in a vertical manner rather than something more akin to horizontal snow <smile>. It was a peaceful walk that maintained the smiles I had from the play and visiting with a friend. Now that we are both retired, we don't see each other daily as we did for years. This part of the new retirement normal requires that we make concerted efforts to maintain those relationships that have been at the core of our work lives. Another challenge of change. <smile>

The song that closed the play tonight made me smile. I found a cover online by a musician from just down the road from home. I met him briefly at a friend's wedding when he'd played a concert in the hotel gardens that had have a 20 minute intermission so the vows could be exchanged. <smile> Enjoy!

Cool Yule -- Colin James

Day 6 - 339 -- Shifting Tempo

Sun shone again today. It still brings surprise as it is December and somethng is to fall from the sky in the next 24 hours, so every moment with the sun is special. I ran errands on Main Street and met a friend on the walk back home. Then I headed up to the office, only to discover after climbing a gajillion stairs that I did not have the office key with me. A colleague down the hall called Security for me and from there the writing process was to begin. A video chat with my co-author left us discussing pertinent issues that had little to do with the writing project. We did get through parts of the reading for flow and clarity, but not everything. The goal is to complete that for the project admin meeting next Tuesday.

After getting as far as I could with the reading for revisions, I headed to a small fete on campus for the holiday season. It was a lovely gathering with lots of chatting and laughter. I spent time discussing favourite sci-fi franchises with upcoming debuts in the next few weeks. It is always fun to find someone who enjoys the same quirky movies and series. That made me smile. To be honest, I seemed to smile a lot today. <smile>  In the evening, a friend who is heading out for the Christmas season with distant family members, stopped by for a chat before he departure. More laughter and smiles there, too.

While things didn't quite go according to plan today, there was little negative reaction to that. The Rhythm of the day did shift regularly, but in a good way. A song with several tempo changes is shared here tonight. The voices and harmonies of this group are stunning. Enjoy!

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen -- Pentatonix

Day 6 - 338 -- Reliant on the Kindness of Strangers

While getting ready to leave the house this morning, I found the limbic system had cunningly taken hold when I looked in the other direction for a moment. Trying to regain control by the logical thought processes I prefer, I found myself yelling something at the air. Then I laughed, for the negative emotion had been identified and it wasn't just the anger that the limbic crew hoped I'd grab hold of. Once I had a handle on that, I could begin to deal with the root of that outburst. It took most of the day, just working away at it while going about my business. Lunch with friends brought me to a happy place. After a few errands, I drove up to the grocery store. On the way out of the parking lot onto the main road, the muffler assembly chose to finally drop away from the front end but remain firmly in place at the back end. I pulled off the road into a gas bar where I planned to call CAA. As I got out of the car, a man walked over to me and asked if I planned to drive far like that. He then looked under the car where the pipe was clearly hanging. I asked if he had any wire to reattach it to something so I could get through the 5 minute drive home. He checked the huge trailer he was hauling, found twine and tied it up. I tearfully thanked him for being so kind. He said humanity had to take care of each other or what kind of world would it be. More tears. I then realized the keys were inside the car and the doors were locked <sigh>. I went around to the other side of the car, called the dealership just down the road and made arrangements for them to bring me a door key. While standing there behind the car, I hid a bit and cried -- tears of gratitude, not frustration anger. That surprised me. The helpful man had walked back over to assure me I could drive the car to the house. I explained the key issue and he said I definitely had had a bad day and then offered to stay with me until the new key arrived. I thanked him but said I'd be fine and off he drove. Another man had been part of earlier conversations and he, too, stopped to chat a bit before leaving -- just to make sure I was OK. When the mechanic from the dealership arrived, he, too, was so kind. I made a point of thanking each of these people and letting them know how much I appreciated their kindnesses.

Needless to say, the ride home was a bit louder than usual <smile>. I had to go for a walk to deal with the adrenaline and  tenseness that had settled in on the drive home. I walked up to the mall, did a bit of shopping for gifts that need to get into the mail, and walked home. A shower helped the muscles relax a bit more. Reflecting on the day showed me what challenge I was facing early in the day and provided hope in humanity from the caring of strangers. Not bad for a Thursday, eh?

I instantly heard the song chosen for today when the first man offered to help. Guardian angels were at work for me today. The story at the beginning is a bit schmaltzy, but the lyrics say what I felt today. Enjoy!

Angels Among Us -- Alabama

Day 6 - 337 -- Followed by Sunshine

Today began well and continued in a positive vein. I spent some time visiting and chatting with colleagues, who were working on grading and exam prep for the next couple of weeks. It was enjoyable to catch up a bit. The sun had been vaguely visible when I walked up to campus today. I had to find my sunglasses. As the day progressed, clouds separated to show blue sky and more direct sunshine. Walking home this afternoon saw a largely clear blue sky. The moon was visible when walking out later to supper with a friend.

The ability to see and feel the sun today seemed to affect people as they chatted and walked down the street. Many smiles and addressed people they didn't know to remark on the delight of seeing even a bit of sunshine after twilight like days for over a week. I even felt a bit lighter as I walked along.

Local trees are lit in the park and on campus. Street lamps on Main Street are decorated and store windows have become curated winter and holiday displays. I plan to try to get the tree up this weekend. and head out for a wreath from the tree lot at the mall. Mailing dates for parcels and cards is looming, so getting packages together may also be part of the weekend.

The song today comes from my favourite Christmas movie -- Love, Actually <smile>. It is heard everywhere as we walk through stores and malls. The power of this young voice always amazes me. Enjoy!

All I Want for Christmas -- Olivia Olson

Day 6 - 336 -- Time and Tide

I'm under no misapprehension that as we age changes will be the norm -- physical, financial, health and such. Today found me doing firsts that pushed one's age up into one's face <smirk> more than usual. To be honest, I rarely think about my age, so when something forces me to do so, it can be surprising. I haven't felt like what I thought might occur at certain ages. I am not hiding from it, I just have to stop and think when asked how old I am. I'm trying to do mental math and finding that difficult; none of my three degrees was in math <smile>.

As a health professional, I've been acutely aware that research in gerontology and geriatrics has been sadly underfunded for decades. This, despite knowing that a large wave of Baby Boomers was headed into retirement age. There have been some heartening beginnings in the past few years, but this is far too late, when the middle of the boomer cohort is about 63 (range about 53-73 depending on the definition of the years involved -- if the definition of boomers couldn't be agreed upon, no wonder we couldn't get clinical, social and psychological research up and running <sigh>). Some wonderful research into aging had been part of the NASA shuttle missions and lab studies at Johnson Space Center. These studies help with understanding of bone, muscle and fat mass changes with aging and with being confined to bed -- even for a few days for an infection. So, now we see people up and walking to the bathroom just hours after a hip replacement. New biologic medications are treating many difficulties common in older aged adults. Very cool, indeed. I didn't mean to make it sound hopeless, but we could have been much further down this road if we'd stopped arguing about who was going to be navigator and just started the journey. <sigh>

Lyrics from the selection of the day address how time can pass by while moving forward. Enjoy!

Fly Like an Eagle -- Steve Miller Band

Day 6 - 335 -- Power in Words

Words hold power. There's a word bandied about in general conversation that can diminish the power in its meaning. Love. I love cinnamon buns. I loved the sunshine today. Ooo -- I love that song. <smile> Yet, I would posit that we tend not to use it in a more personal way nearly as often as we should. In a social media post based on the fragility and foibles of life, a good friend challenged readers to tell the people who mean something to us just how much they mean. Those someday promises we make to ourselves may never appear and the chance to say what needs to be said disappears.

I've been working at letting people know how important they are in my life. A favourite teacher who taught me much about walking through this life received a letter years ago. He still carries it with him daily. It is quite tattered, but obviously meant a lot to him. When I wrote the letter -- yes, on paper with a pen <smile> -- I just wanted him to understand the difference he'd made in my life. I had no idea the difference it would make in his. So, find a way to say what you want to say face to face, through electronic media or in print. You and the recipient will be the better for you efforts.

Lyrics of a song came to mind while pondering this topic today. These words clearly note both the casual and the deeper ways in which a word can be used. The melody and vocal delivery provide an upbeat happy way to communicate a message. I love the banjo and keyboards <wink>. NOTE:  The video is odd, distracting and out of sync with lyrics, so I suggest just listening with the screen off or eyes closed <grin>. Enjoy!

The Most -- Jon Troast

Day 6 - 334 -- Heavy Lifting

Waiting until the snow stopped overnight was a good plan. A fair amount fell leaving 4 to 6 inches on all surfaces. I shoveled the front porch and a path to the town sidewalk out front. The snow contained much water given the temperature sitting around freezing making for heavy wet slogging. The worst was the inch or so at the bottom of the piles where the slushy snow glued itself to the ground. A jarring experience -- literally and figuratively <smile>. I left the side of the house and the back porch to do tomorrow. The end of the drive wasn't tackled given the weight of the snow. If these chunks of snow and slush don't shrink quickly, then I'll have to call a guy with a plow <smile>. The day eneded with a great chat with a friend.

I listened to music and watched the blue sky and birds in the trees as I worked through the snow. Those pauses helped me to finish without being overly winded. Shoveling snow can be damaging if not done slowly and with care. I chose a song with a title that fit the main activity of the day. the lyrics feel reflective, something shoveling always moves me towards. Enjoy!

While I shovel snow -- The Walkmen