Well -- another year almost over. This marks the seventh year of this blog. Wow! I never thought it would continue when I began over 2500 posts ago. Who knew? <smile>
While there were some good moments during the past year, there seems to be a resignation that this year needs to end. My hope is that the new year will see us sustain the hope we have for something better in 2021. This will require supporting each other as needed to keep the hope front and center. Being kind and being brave will help us all through this transition.
A traditional song seems to fit the wishes and the night. I chose a version by a modern Scot <smile>. Wishing you all a wonderful New Year! See you here next year <smile>. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The penultimate day of the year brought colder temperatures with big fluffy flakes of snow in flurries this morning and again in the afternoon. Before sunset, I shoveled the light snow. The colder air kept it cold and dry so much easier and quick to move. We may have warmer days ahead with rain and rain-snow mixing. We'll see what transpires.
The dizziness has not left, but meds seem to be doing the job well today to hold it at bay. Luckily they work within 20 minutes of taking a dose. I suspect that taking it regularly will keep blood concentrations at a level where things don't get too bad.
A highlight of the day was chatting with two friends to catch up on the happenings over the past holiday week. These regular check-ins are fun to do and help to make things seem less alone. We are all in similar situations feeling separated and anxious. At present, there is hope with the new year arriving -- one that will see major mass vaccinations and hopefully the ability to travel a bit to see loved ones.
A song about the hope for better things to come is shared tonight. Stay safe. Enjoy!
It has been an odd day. I woke with a lot of dizziness so rested until our trip to the vet for an annual check. Much of the rest of the day was spent sleeping and resting. Meds help with the vertigo feelings, but add fatigue. So, very little thinking happened today <smile>.
A song about the main physical feeling of the day is shared. It does come from the Bubblegum era but used production by the Wrecking Crew. A silly song, but it fit the bill today. Stay safe. Enjoy!
This week an increase in saturation of ads that focus on usual resolutions has appeared -- diet, activity, self improvement products. Perhaps this is the year we should be kinder to ourselves and others and just accept that we have made it this far in the pandemic and will continue forward as a community. I guess this is a resolution to be kind to self and others. Many people have added weight during the past 9 months, and clothes don't fit like they used to. Putting the extra burden of weight loss on top of everything else may add to the negative emotions. Kindness could be a sustained change and may be a better goal than short term cosmetic changes. This doesn't mean that we should ignore overall healthy behaviours, but that we focus on the larger picture.So let's work on our inner selves instead of obsession on shape and size of our outer selves.
Many song lyrics deal with body image and being kind to ourselves. I chose one of these to share today. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Bright sunshine greeted my morning. Clouds had begun to arrive by early afternoon when I headed out for a walk, but blue skies still were visible between the clouds. I planned a quiet day catching up on household chores and cooking a dinner that will provide a couple of meals and then allow me to make another main dish from leftovers -- one that brings comfort in memories of childhood dinners, so a comfort food.
Holidays bring past memories along with newer traditions. This year, I made turnip puff, which has become a new tradition for me. I also made a new vegetable dish to try and it will be part of future holiday meals -- spinach Madeleine. Both are so yummy and colourful. Ornaments that go onto the tree at my house are from places I've visited in my travels and represent memories with friends and family. Some are older from trees of family members no longer here. While it may seem maudlin or sad to some, I find these bring smiles. Some years, like this year I don't put many ornaments on the tree other than the lights and the woven wheat angel. It is still a wonderful presence -- the lights bring feelings of peace and calm. As the years progress, the circles of celebrants has gotten smaller, but the celebrations are no less meaningful. Even this year, when separated from others with a distanced celebration, chatting in person or virtually made the days so very special. We are lucky to have each other for certain.
Finding a song lyric that mentions several holiday 'traditions' took some thinking, but this one seemed to fit my reflections today. This is one from the '50s sung by a fresh new voice of a 14 year old. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Boxing Day -- traditionally celebrated on December 26, this holiday began in Great Britain. It still is celebrated in the UK and some members of the Commonwealth. It is purported to have been a day when gifts were given to the poor and Christmas boxes were given to household servants, who had the day off to spend with family. This year, Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, so many shops are closed, but will be open Sunday or Monday. Government offices will be closed on Monday, since the statutory holiday falls on a weekend day. Sadly, in current times this tradition of gifting has descended into an adulation of commercialism. Sales abound in stores and online. Perhaps this does exemplify the more combative sound of the day's name. I tend to avoid both venues on this day and do my shopping in the days that follow.
I spent today cooking and watching a couple of movies. Housework will wait for tomorrow. Happily, I also had short visits with good friends. The day was warmer than normal again, though temperatures dropped a lot by early evening. Winds were vicious with major gusts most of the day, too. This major air movement heralds the colder air moving into our area for the next several days.
The song chosen for today has been used before on this day. Using it makes me smile. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The morning got off to an unexpected start. The green Christmas day was warm and lovely, yet I was outside waiting for the town bells to ring and heard nothing. I'm not sure what happened there, but even with cloud and wind, the air was pleasantly warm. They tell us we are far warmer than the southern US where temperatures have dropped dramatically and snow has fallen where snow rarely is seen.
After a yummy breakfast, I opened a couple of gifts. I tend to spread them across today and Boxing Day (tomorrow) just to have something fun to look forward to. <smile> I felt like a kid this morning and expect the squealing with delight at the gifts opened caused no end of concern with the furry one <grin>. I watched a Christmas episode of Father Knows Best (old time TV show <grin>). The family was stranded on the mountain when snow interrupted their quest for a tree. They found shelter in a cabin but were anxious to get back home or "we won't have any Christmas". Their host paused and replied, "Did you ever think that it is Christmas up here, too?" That struck me as a perfect way to look at the altered Christmas many are having this year. All the trappings don't really make it Christmas. Having a different celebrations is still a celebration. I hope people don't lose hold of that this year.
A Christmas wish for everyone in the form of a Celtic blessing
May you be blessed with
The spirit of the season, which is peace.
The gladness of the season, which is hope
and
The heart of the season, which is love.
Now, while I didn't hear the bells today, I chose a song about that very thing. The lyrics are a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (whom some of the family have jokingly called Uncle Hank <smile>). The story behind his writing this song is filled with family tragedy. It is worth a read if you Google it. Stay safe. Enjoy!
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day -- Frank Sinatra
Christmas eve is upon us. The day was sunny -- the first clear, sunny day in a very long time. The skies were clear into the evening, so the planets were visible in the sky, just not when they were the closest in centuries earlier this week. Final preparations for tomorrow were completed. Gifts wrapped. Vegetable dish cooked and delivered. A glass of wine with a good friend.
A theme of this time of year deals with peace -- both inner peace and freedom from conflict in the world around us. While introspection has been a major part of the past 9 months of semi-isolation, the struggle of acceptance makes inner peace less common. There are moments of great hope and peace, though. The year has not been all bad, though it has had more difficulty than usual. A favourite quote of mine about peace contains much hope, as well. It is from Anton Chekov's play Uncle Vanya. It is my wish for each of you.
We shall find peace.
We shall hear angels.
We shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds.
When I think of peace, the Christmas truce of 1914 comes to mind. Along the Western Front, French, British and German soldiers left their trenches. In some areas this was only to retrieve bodies, while in others they sang Christmas carols, played soccer, chatted and exchanged souvenirs. This was not a sanctioned truce, as the Pope had hoped would occur, but rather a spontaneous and localized decision between soldiers on both sides of no man's land.
The song chosen for today deals with the break in fighting during World War I. Some of the phrasing is a bit overstated for the size of the truce, but the gist of the story is true. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Christmas eve eve seems to be a 'thing' now. Interesting. The theme of the day again has been flexibility -- physical and mental. I walked up to campus to collect the office mail. There was a bit of a breeze but stronger gusts coming from the north. These pushed me slightly on the way uphill but nipped at the exposed facial skin on the way back home. Sidewalks were wet in places, so I was skirting those areas in case they became slippery after sunset -- like dancing down the sidewalk <smile>. Some new information required nimble thinking to work around -- not the end of the world, just a different outcome than had been envisioned.
Nimble thinking hasn't been the easiest of late. The brain works differently these days. Focus seems difficult almost daily. Forgetting a thought or planned action seems common. Today I planned to be home earlier than when I actually arrived. I was 40 minutes late for an online call that I remembered as I walked in the front door. Adding something to the grocery list can be an exercise in frustration as I walk from wherever to the kitchen to write on the list, only to be unable to add anything. It all comes back-- just minutes later. This is common among many people during the social isolation of the pandemic. Working from home and having limited contacts outside the household reduce social contact. As humans are social animals, isolation can bring negative mental health impacts. It is used as punishment after all <sigh>.
Christmas has become quite commercialized and romanticized. For many it isn't the 'happiest time of the year' as we hear in music and advertisements from sometime in October. The song chosen for today notes the hollow promises or expectations but hangs onto the core of the holiday wishes -- fitting for this current year. Be resilient. Stay safe. Enjoy!
I had a long start to day -- 25 minute walk to hospital and realized during check in at the front door that requisition was sitting on the kitchen counter. I checked to be sure -- and yes, they needed that in hand or I had to get someone to fax it over. Now, as I'd stood waiting, the woman in front of me at the lab had forgotten her req, too, and she knew the admin person who called the MD office for a fax. I wasn't so lucky <sigh>, so I walked back home. I was ready to just cancel and re-book sometime three weeks from now. Keep in mind that I had been fasting for almost 14 hours by this point. No caffeine and lack of glucose for the brain -- together these likely affected forgetting the req and lacking the energy to do another set of 25 min walks up and back. When I finally checked in, the admin person told me that I didn't need to fast. I've not come across research to support this, so I asked the tech who noted that fasting was the right thing to do, but some MDs were now doing random blood collections for serum lipid levels and others still asked for fasting levels. Until convinced otherwise, I will continue to fast. thought I hope to be able to have breakfast before 1 PM like today (original appointment was for 11:30 AM).
Later in the day, I checked in on the order that was to be ready Monday morning 'or earlier' and by late afternoon today (Tuesday) I had not heard from the store. While out for an errand, I stopped in to ask why the 'same day' service had now gone 3 or 5 days (if you include weekends, which apparently they don't count <sigh>).When I politely challenged them, they completed the item while I waited! Happily, this was one more item to cross off the 'to do' list <grin>.
Pondering all of this today, patience came to mind. I'll admit that I didn't feel angry at either situation, just tired or weary of all the goofiness -- whether from my actions or those of others. Forgetfulness happens -- more during the pandemic perhaps -- and prioritization may be challenging during the holiday rush with product orders. The key to getting through today without major upset was kindness and forgiveness for those I encountered and for myself. There is enough stress and trauma swirling around this year that these small moments didn't amount to much. The song chosen for today deals with the need for kindness and love in our actions. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The shortest day of the year is now over -- well in terms of the shortened daylight hours. Here we had about 8 hours 20 minutes between sunrise and sunset. The day has been very cloudy so it felt like twilight all day, so not very bright. While the winter solstice marks the beginning of the winter season, it also marks the time of year when daylight time begins to expand. With that I find a positive in the impending cold and frozen precipitation. It brings hope.
Today also begins the ancient season of Yule -- the start of a new solar year. This year, for the first time in almost 400 years, the Great Conjunction appeared in the sky just after sunset. This is the alignment of Jupiter and Saturn that we see as a larger bright celestial body. The next time this will happen will be 60 years from now. Sadly, dense cloud covers the sky outside my windows today, so this event was not visible.
I chose a song that makes me smile and fits the day -- well, sort of <smile>. I recall meeting the singer-guitarist at a wedding years back. He is from Regina, Saskatchewan -- just and hour down the road from my home town. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Two major projects were completed today. A peer review was submitted to a professional journal. This happened once the cabbage rolls were simmering. The savoy cabbages at the store were enormous -- so much so that they had been cut in half for sale. When I say big, there were much larger than a basketball size! Having a halved cabbage to work with made some leaves only portions of their former selves. I had to try to combine two pieces often. We'll see tomorrow -- after they age in the fridge -- how well they held together. This food is traditional for a turkey dinner where I was born. We had German family members and German and Ukrainian friends, so this was a learned or borrowed tradition. <smile>
I chose to share a traditional song done in a non-traditional manner -- like my cabbage rolls. The video for this one is a fun claymation story <smile> Stay safe. Enjoy!
The day began with a plan. This went sideways slowly <smile>. I expected a workman to arrive to attend to two items. We had set Saturday as the day. Well, the person did not arrive and chose not to respond to a text asking when they expected to arrive here. I had rearranged some things so the day would not be too messed up. When no one showed up, a couple of larger projects did not happen today as planned. These will be pushed into tomorrow's already full schedule. What will need to be ignored tomorrow to make today's things fit are the fun things I had planned for some 'me' time. It happens.
I was surprised at my response to this situation. I felt quite frustrated. I do like to follow the schedule planned. I even felt energetic and ready to do things today. The thought that something likely came up at their end crossed my mind, but why I didn't get a quick text to say we'll try for another day? Being thoughtful of others seems important to me <smile>. I did go for a short walk. This exercise helps me to relax a bit with the rhythmic breathing and movement. I felt better by early evening and continued with some of the things on my list. The tree now has lights and an angel. More may come later but this looks great given the darkness of the cloudy days and the shortness of available light at this time of year. So, in the end the (in)action of another did not ruin my day. <smile>
The chorus of a song came to mind while reviewing the day. It came down to waiting <smile>. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Overnight snow fell, leaving 4-5 inches. By the time I got out to move the snow, temperatures had risen above freezing. Sporadic drizzle appeared in the afternoon. My snow moving involved heavy lifting since it had become slush during the day. Into the evening, light snow returned as the temperature dropped a bit. I expect pushing wet snow will create some residual muscle pain tomorrow. It will take time to break into this new seasonal routine. Inside the house, I did some deeper cleaning than usual. Again using muscles differently than usual. This will almost guarantee that lactic acid build up pain.
Changing routines requires adaptation. The plus to such situations comes in keeping mind and body nimble. Many people found the pandemic isolation led to reduced physical activity routines. Without my working at the office a few days each week, I replaced that uphill walk with many stairs with a routine brisk walk on more level ground. A steeper hill is included occasionally, but not as regularly as nine months ago. Many people also have reported weight gain over the same time period. The cause may be a combination of reduced activity levels and increased comfort food consumption. Some took up baking, which can be relaxing to do. Eating it, though, may bring added calories. Perhaps the changed routine to working from home may have affected how we eat. During work days, meals become more regimented or routine. Weekends often contain a more relaxed approach to food choice, with many 'treats' incorporated. Perhaps being at home more regularly led to more weekend style eating than the usual weekday eating routine. Just a thought. This may be answered by the many health and nutrition researchers currently looking at the impact the pandemic has had on diet, body weight and physical activity.
Thinking of routine brought to mind a song that was sung by an artist on Letterman for 29 consecutive years of the show -- 28 done live and one recorded due to the writer's strike of 2007. For many, this was part of the Christmas tradition. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The day began with me clearing snow off the car and heading to a store to straighten out an online order problem. The software didn't allow me to pay for the product, but a store employee managed to over-ride that. It did take them three different back door tries to get there, though. This made me feel better knowing that it wasn't me doing something incorrectly. The employee kept things light and ensured me it would all work out well. That helped me smile through the process. It seems online tech support is very busy at present, so they have stopped answering phone calls or doing live chat. If you e-mail them, they will get back to you within 48 hours -- not the service that the technical support terminology implies <sigh>. I appreciated the effort put forth by in store personnel yet again today. Later in the day I had two weekly visits with friends that help me remain centred and positive. I even made supper without reheating something from a batch cooking day! Gnocchi with balsamic veg -- YUM.
While thinking through the support received from the sales person today a song line repeated in my mind. The lyric dealt with problems and solutions recognizing the state of confusion that exists during such processes. Sta safe. Enjoy!
The day began with a major covering of white everywhere outside the window. Temperatures were the coldest so far this season. Even the house feels cooler than usual. I shoveled the snow for the first time this fall from the porches and made a path to the town sidewalk. When I came back inside, my hands were very cold. After a meeting and some phone calls, I headed back outside to move the snow piles from the town sidewalk plow at the end of the driveway. It is my hope that I can clear off the car and run a couple of errands tomorrow before the next nor'easter arrives in early afternoon. <fingers crossed>
Feeling cold outside and inside today ensures I understand that winter is almost here -- Monday next being the solstice. Windows seem to leak cool air into the house. This is the time of year that I especially enjoy a warming bath at the end of the day. I admit that the music we seem surrounded by at present is bound to convince me that the whiteness is a wonderland or that storms are in some way romantic. I've had to drive is such weather and it is flat out nasty. Here, we have a 50:50 chance of having a white Christmas. Those that were green have been fantastic. Travel -- even within town -- to dinner with friends or family becomes so much easier than when that romanticized covering of snow appears.
While shoveling a song came to mind. I may put too fine a point on my feelings but there's nothing I want to hide. So, here goes! Stay safe. Enjoy!
In 1984 on this date (December 15), the song "Do they know it's Christmas?" was released and hit the UK charts. This song was followed by two others by artists in Canada and the USA. What initiated this outpouring of charity? Earlier in Nov, CBC network news aired the first ever images of the famine in northern Ethiopia. This story was heart-wrenching. With the Marxist regime of Mengistu in place, reporting internal situations was forbidden. Journalists often had tourist visas. One of these men left the country with the tape strapped to his back. Luckily, he got through security and the story became part of history.
Advocacy and charitable work via music had begun a few years earlier with George Harrison's organizing of the Concert for Bangladesh. Others have followed this major outpouring of 1984-85. At the time, I was a grad student who worked on data analysis for a large national nutrition survey of Ethiopian households. I did this from Canada while my supervisor worked with a UN joint task force (joint between WHO and FAO) in Ethiopia. During the time before hard-drives we worked through letter mail where each outgoing or incoming letter had to go through government censors. It was a slow process, but it worked. <smile> The level of global donations from countries and individuals had never been seen before and were never greater until 20 years later with he Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004. This global collaborative work seems to be happening to some degree now as the vaccines are being produced, transported and administered. Communications between nations have shared best practices throughout the pandemic to date. I find it heartening that we can come together in times of crisis.
Since much of the global response for Ethiopia began during the holiday season 36 years ago, I chose to share all three songs here today. The first of these may seem ethnocentric in current times, but I include the original here for historical reasons. The video quality on the second one is not great, but one can still recognize the singers. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Another grey day, but this had an upside <smile>. Today I had the annual eye appointment and pupils were dilated. Generally the day is sunny when this happens so the walk home carries vision issues <smile>. I found it interesting that I was hoping for a cloudy day. The long string of days with heavy cloud makes one wish for some sunshine to help boost spirits. But, today I hoped for cloud at least for a few hours this afternoon.
A conversation about the negative way of viewing the past year along with my wish for cloud made me think about perspective. A cloudy day can be good -- in moderation. A year cannot be entirely bad. Even those with an abundance of negative happenings do have some better moments and some outright good events. Painting everything with the same brush interferes with the happy moments we've experiences leading us to forget about them while we concentrate on the other pile of things. Often I've heard people who have been inconvenienced in a minor way -- in the grand scheme of the global situation -- complain the loudest. Many others have had much greater changes to their lives this past year. Now this doesn't mean I am promoting social comparison, but perhaps we each need to put things into a broader perspective. If we can't travel to be with family this year, technology exists that can help us to see and hear them. If we can't travel for vacation, maybe we can revisit past trips or narrow our list of where we will go when travel opens up a bit more. If we can't eat at our favourite restaurant, we might be able to support the business through takeout orders. How are our neighbours doing? Should we offer to help those who need decorations put up or leave a food gift on the porch for those whose families won't be with them this year. I guess these thoughts led me to look outside myself. If it had been sunny today, I would be fine and would enjoy the sun, just with heavy sunglasses and a ball cap pulled low. <grin>
Clouds are often used as metaphors for several negative emotive states. These lyrics do the same, but I chose the song due to its lyrics that encourage a change of perspective. Stay safe. Enjoy!
To perk up this grey and wet day, I shopped for a few things on the list and managed to find all of them. the warmer temperature today was not the only positive. I encountered great customer service people in all three places, who helped me find items, determine which option fit best, and manage through the checkout process -- all with a smile. On top of all that, Two items were deeply discounted by 50-70% <smile>. Rocking this!
The tree is up with lights and ornaments to follow soon. It brings many memories of past Christmas seasons with decorations from travels and those that mark happy events. Some items purchased today will be 'under' my tree -- things for the house or me that were on the 'get sometime' list. In some ways it reminds me of an incident from years past when a preschool-aged relative was concerned that nothing under the tree carried their name. To remedy this, they wrapped a favourite toy and placed it under the tree. While mine are not placed for fear of no gifts for me, it is nice to include a few things nonetheless.<smile>
A seasonal song that ran through my head today is shared here today. I like the rhythm and upbeat melody. Stay safe. Enjoy!
It's Christmas all over Again -- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Over the past week the winter clothes found their way to the closet -- sweatshirts, sweaters, hoodies (bunny hugs <smile>). These along with flannel sheets, scarves, mitts and winter weight pjs are all designed to help keep us warm inside and outside during the colder season. Sometimes these feel cozy while at other times the multiple layers can be suffocating and impair usual movement. Colder weather requires full winter gear just to take the garbage and recycling to the curb <sigh>. To be honest, I could deal with the cold if it didn't come with snow and ice, which further inhibit movement -- exception: when digging out after a snowfall <smile>.
Most clothes may not be worn much as I tend to stay at home most of the time at present. I suppose that dressing as if I was heading out for a casual chat over tea might boost spirits, but the bottom line is that jeans, sweatshirts and hoodies are the usual indoor garb these days. For the virtual meetings, gift exchanges or meals, getting dressed up a bit may be a good idea. Little things can mean a lot. Lyrics of a holiday song I heard today note the small things that we find important -- especially in this year when we aren't able to have those bits in place. This has the potential to change of perspective about what we miss the most -- being with those we love. While we may not be able to be with those people this year, we can still keep the spirit of the season going until we can all be together again. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The university chose to use a team bus to gather food bank donations using the tag line - "Stuff the Bus". What a very cool idea. The demand this year is far greater than usual due to the financial pressures of the pandemic. We often think of donating to food banks around the major holidays, when demand exists all year long. I'd love to live in a world where all food banks could be closed and the root poverty had been dealt with through policy on multiple levels. People would have far more dignified ways to feed themselves if this were the case. Happily the bus was fairly full when I stopped by with my bag of goodies.
While at grocery store later in the day, I found myself near tears as I heard the lyrics of an older holiday song -- heard in a very different way -- "through the years, we'll all be together, if the fates allow" -- made me think of this year and hope that next year will be together with friends and family in person rather than virtually. The lyrics have a strong 'next year' theme. it was written as a hopeful piece for the movie musical Meet me in St. Louis.
I've chosen to share two songs here. The first one from the movie, and the second a song that fits the idea of the pandemic Christmas. It will be different this year and one line said it all for me "we'll cherish all these simple things wherever we may be." This one also has a delightful video. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas -- Michael Buble
Cold, cloudy and rainy were the words of the day. I puttered away most of the day picking at the 'to do' list. An online purchase took much longer than necessary with phone and live chat unavailable even with 30 minutes of waiting. The digital assistant could not even understand the question I asked regardless of how many times I rephrased so it might be clear to this poorly trained bot; no matter what I tried it couldn't be remotely helpful. I finally had to click on the 'never mind' button -- so very frustrating and not a great customer service experience. I was amazed that this large national company even used the dismissive phrase 'never mind'. That showed me that they obviously understand that the bot is semi-useless. Luckily, after that experience, I had a great weekly chat with a friend and then headed out for a short walk in the early darkness. Drizzle with the occasional snow flake fell from the sky. It was cold. I will need to move to heavier gloves or go with mitts in the near future. <sigh>
I chose an instrumental song today because I find it relaxing. Peaceful, in fact -- since I know the words as many people do. Stay safe. Enjoy!
News from today noted the first vaccine approval by Health Canada. Delivery is expected by Monday with first vaccinations occurring by mid-week. This brings some smiles and hope, but it will still be into the third or fourth quarter of 2021 or thereabouts before most of the nation will be vaccinated.
The push-pull continues between hope and trust -- when, who, how, what if...? vs. safety? what about allergy potential? keeping it cold, transporting across a huge nation and so on. Many questions deal with the "I want it now" and the mistrust of protocols and science -- all in the same breath. It seems the fear and hope are juxtaposed in the anxiety witnessed during question periods with persons in charge of COVID and vaccine management. We simply don't have all the answers. The age-old concern of public health presents itself here -- when is there enough information to act? We appear to be there for vaccines.
Listening to the excitement among media spokespeople today mixed with a heavy dose of skepticism pushed the anxiety buttons in my head. I do understand this is a potential turning point in the pandemic -- hopefully -- though it is not really a new beginning. We still will need to mask and distance for another year or more and some of this may stay with us beyond that, since there are people who will choose not to be vaccinated. This won't be the story of eradication of polio or smallpox, but it will be similar to the continued efforts to vaccinate for measles, mumps, hepatitis, tetanus, diphtheria, pneumococcal pneumonia and others. It is another weapon in the arsenal, but it isn't the bomb that will end the war. (that sentence is problematic for me since I truly dislike the war metaphor here <sigh>). So the next phase begins. We are not 'there' yet, but we are taking the next step in the journey.
While thinking of this next step in our new way of living, a song came to mind. I find the lyrics bring hope. This version, one of many covers, feels calming. Just sit back and listen. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Today bought cold and wet weather again -- still actually, with another similar system heading this way by the weekend. When I went out for milk, I took the long way around to get some exercise. The lights along Main Street and decorated trees in apartment windows and on balconies brought smiles.
On a heavier note, forty years ago today, John Lennon was killed outside his home. I've visited this area twice and walked the teardrop shaped piece of land in Central Park, NYC. The landscaping and maintenance come from an endowment fund donated by many nations with a large donation by Yoko Ono. A beautiful circular mosaic with the word 'Imagine' in the centre sits along the pathway near the entrance. It is a peaceful place -- very fitting as a memorial.
The song shared today was written as a tribute to Lennon. The singer-composer has chosen not to perform this in public due to his emotional response to the subject. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The day was rainy and much colder than it has been of late. I spent the day inside working on household chores and preparing my holiday cards for mailing. I send far fewer than I used to do. This is one way to keep in touch with people I don't see online. Electronic notes are sometimes sent, too. Around the house, I put out the Christmas linens and will get the tree up later this week. The handmade wreath has been up outside for over a week. So -- things are moving in the right direction. <smile> I'm not sure what might get baked this year, but a list of potential items is being considered. There won't be lots, just one or two favourites.
Lyrics of the song chosen for today sound somehow soothing -- using song as a way to perk up a bit. <smile> Stay safe. Enjoy!
I've been pondering the nature of trust for a few days. Last week Dr. Tam (national Medical Officer of Health) cited Dr. Rishi Manchanda during her daily COVID update -- "Public health moves at the speed of trust." Wow! That made so much sense. As a public health professional for many years, I have first hand experience in the slowness of behaviour change. Often this requires a change in beliefs or values, which take a very long time. Think of changes in smoking in public, wearing seat belts, using helmets for cycling, hockey and baseball. Each of these took one to two decades to alter public actions. We are now trying to alter social norms and mores to accept wearing masks, keeping 6 feet apart, using hand sanitizer, and washing hands often. The urgency of such behaviours cannot wait 20 years to develop a major change, but trust does need to happen.
Whether we are building trust in self or others, this generally needs removal of armour or brick walls built around our beliefs and values. This reminded me of another quotation by Marc Carney (former governor of the Bank of Canada) as cited in former Governor-General David Johnston's book -- "Trust arrives on foot and leaves in a Ferrari." I love this statement. It takes much time and effort to build trust, but can take mere seconds to destroy trust. At present, when the world is in a major state of flux, the confusion and fear get in the way of developing trust. It is not an impossible task, but it takes time and patience by all sides.
The song shared today came to mind when thinking of the second quote. It is a fun song. <smile>. Stay safe. Enjoy!
As I was reading tonight, I heard a voice from outside that seemed to be coming from a loud speaker. When I stopped to listen, I realized it was Santa! I could see him from my kitchen window as he drove down Main Street. The town and county organized a drive by visit from the man in the red suit. The caravan drove down Main Street in town and in the county by parking lots and areas where cars could gather to see him drive by -- not the usual parade, but a wonderful alternate for the current phase of the pandemic. A friend from away noted that other areas had a flipped parade layout. Floats and music were set up in a stationary display and cars could drive by to view them. That is similar to the annual televised parade from Toronto, which was located at a theme park this year with musical guest attending virtually. The light displays were fantastic. Santa and Mrs. Claus were masked on their floats. One news cast noted that Santa was immune to COVID-19 so would not be at risk or put others at risk during the annual trip around the world <smile>.
The usual events are not what the holiday is all about, though they have become traditions -- still not essentials. The changing format of such events shows that the spirit of the season can be maintained with alterations. Just as group gatherings may only occur virtually this year, parades and shopping trips to the big city turn into on screen activities, as well.
The song chosen for today
The Old Man's Back in Town -- Kenny Rogers, Garth Brooks & Trishs Yearwood
I realized today that background Christmas music at the grocery store began in early November. Holiday movies and commercial began a month before that. Commercialism of the holidays has always felt overdone. While the decorated store windows on Main Street bring a smile when I go for an evening walk, the crassness of accumulating things brings a frown. Giving for the sake of giving and not expecting to receive something seems lost in the cacophony of marketers telling people they deserve and need more stuff. Somehow the spirit of the season becomes lost in the noise. This part of the days leading up to the big days is something I'd like to avoid, though without fully unplugging from the world, this just isn't possible. There are moments of quiet, but that calmness is fleeting.
The first lines of the song chosen for today bring to mind the holiday season. While the story is more a love story gone wrong, the chorus visual of solitude feels peaceful -- the sentiment similar to the need to reduce the rampant commercialism <smile> The singer-songwriter is known for sadder songs and song of protest, but all are beautifully composed in her unique style. Stay safe. Enjoy!
It was a day of unexpected events. I headed to the post office outlet later than planned. It was nearly noon, so I was prepared for an hour wait in a long line to mail holiday parcels. When I arrived, not a single person was waiting for service. Processing my two parcels went smoothly and cost less than expected. After a quick lunch and dealing with emails, we headed to the vet to determine the cause of the current situation. The cause remains a guess. I have new food to try and some anti-inflammatory -- one that was very difficult to get into the furry one in the past. I will try both altered daily protocols and will need to keep a watch for an escalation of symptoms. Later in the evening, the shower failed to work as it should, which made washing my hair a challenge. One more thing to add to the 'must do' list tomorrow. <sigh> So -- unexpected events fell all along the continuum from good, to bad and to somewhere in between with a couple clearly tinged with some apprehension.
Moving things from the 'to do' list to the 'must do' list requires resetting priorities. All things on the 'to do' list generally need to be completed, though some lean towards aspiration -- well, until they're not. The 'must do' list carries with it major urgency -- like the plumbing issue encountered this evening. Items on this list require immediate attention and jump the queue of all the 'to do' list entries. In fact, these items begin a whole new list. For people, this new list can add a greater sense of anxiety as things must be done NOW. The challenges of such unexpected events are magnified during our current global situation.
Several songs with lists came to mind today, but I chose one that reminded me of the urgency of that 'must do' list. Stay safe. Enjoy!
A mid-week, rainy day, but with wind that greatly reduced to a light breeze by late afternoon. I put on the rain gear and walked up to the office to print a file and discovered that I couldn't access the internet by hardwire or wifi <sigh>. So, I walked back down the hill. It wasn't a total waste since it did get some exercise and this time only had 104 stairs and these were much closer together than the walk two days ago. The wood on the bridge I crossed today -- different from the larger one I use most days -- was wet and almost slimy. If it had been cold, I would have thought there was frost, but temps were into the mid-teens, so way above freezing mark. I did slip and managed to right myself but will have a bruise on the arm where it hit the barricade part of the bridge along the sidewalk. <sigh> Will need to let folks at town hall know about this situation.
I got some things ready to hit the mail tomorrow. I'm all prepared to be in a lengthy line of others with the same task on their to do lists. <smile> A couple more things have to be sent either electronically or by mail. Then decorating will commence. It won't be over the top, but a tree with lights and maybe a few ornaments added, and some holiday linens will be the minimum.
After a late supper tonight, I attended an incredible streaming holiday concert featuring a singer/cellist and a pianist. Their delightful jazz arrangements of holiday classics helped me to relax. Their banter brought laughter. A recording should be available so I will likely listen to this one often through the next month. Seeing the artists enjoying their art form felt almost normal -- but we weren't there in person. The singer noted that we needed more connections -- likely virtual -- and kindness -- "especially this year." She was so right. One comment from a viewer noted their tree went up October 1 and would remain up until the pandemic is over. I can understand this, since my tree stayed up until into April. The lights bring a feeling of peace and beauty -- something that one really has to search for at present. I look forward to seeing the lights again in a few more days.
The song that opened the concert tonight had a superb arrangement. Since that isn't available online, I will share a different jazz rendition of the same song. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Today marks the first day of a new month -- December. This year this falls on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the US, which has been dubbed 'Giving Tuesday' -- a day meant to counter the spending of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. For 32 years, the first of this month has been designated World AIDS Day -- a day I have marked since having the privilege of working with so many superb people on a project directed to community based HIV/AIDS organizations in Botswana and Rwanda.
The philanthropic aspect of Giving Tuesday not only involves monetary donations to not-for-profit organizations, but volunteer time and assisting those in the neighbourhood fit the concepts espoused for this day. This may be particularly important this year with financial barriers arising where they may not have been before.
Since this blog ends with a musical selection each day, it seems apropos to note the many philanthropic ventures of those in the musical industry. The first of these efforts that hit my radar was in 1971 when George Harrison and Ravi Shankhar organized the concerts for Bangladesh -- to address poverty and famine. In 1985, Bob Geldof organized the Live Aid concert to alleviate famine in Ethiopia. This one is still very close to my heart. Canada broke the story to the world and led the international efforts to provide aid to the area. This was one of many international development fundraising concerts that involved Geldof. These concerts set the stage for musicians to donate their performances at concerts or proceeds from recordings to causes such as poverty reduction, farm crisis, and medical care and research. Lending their voices to the need for equity globally has resulted in many millions of dollars donated by fans.
It doesn't take much to search for songs or full concerts online that have been part of this collective giving. I waded through many great performances that support AIDS projects and found one that is a treasure -- four great artists together singing lyrics that speak well to the concept of the day. Stay safe. Enjoy!
That's What Friends are For -- Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight
After an early morning MD call for the annual lab work order, I was off to run errands before the storm descends on us overnight. This involved two stores for groceries, a stop to fill car with gas, and a visit to the MD office to pick up the hard copy of the lab requisition. That took longer than planned due to several delays along the way with lineups to pay. A chat with a friend was a nice break in the day. In late afternoon, I walked up to campus where I was able to check mail, drop off mail,, chat with friends (hadn't done this since beginning of October) and print a few files. Along the journey around campus, I climbed 178 stairs -- not all at once, mind you <grin> but along the way (27 + 44 +30 + 11 +12 + 54) --I expect to feel that tomorrow, but was pleased that I was able to do this. Shows that there has been some recuperation from the 3+ week head cold -- part of which is still hanging around, much to my displeasure.
The stair climbing done today is not out of ordinary when moving around a campus built on a hill. When I totaled the number of stairs, I felt a bit like a superhero -- well, aging superhero <ggg> This thought reminded me of a quote from a musician and philosopher.
"'Be a hero to yourself''. By that I mean, regard your life's story in the same light as those tales of Greek and Roman heroes, who were born to kings and queens and found their lives dashed down to humble circumstances, and who redeemed their lives through heroic deeds (with a lot of help). Those heroic stories, it turns out, are everybody's stories, and it's deeply useful, I am convinced, to regard ourselves as that kind of hero. Hang in there, and don't quit just before the miracle." -- Peter Tork, From Ask Peter Tork, April 2008
This quotation has always spoken to me about being kind to ourselves. It took on a different meaning in these strange and isolating times -- being heroic as we travel these untrodden paths BUT recognizing we need others to break trail together and complete this journey. While we can feel alone along the way, we aren't. We need to recognize that others around us are struggling on their paths. We can be heroes to others, but we need to treat ourselves in a similar kind manner. The words to a song -- whittled down from several great lyrics -- could speak to others, but becomes stronger when we speak those words to ourselves. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Sunny Sunday morning. Clouds moved in by later afternoon so much so that the clouds brought full on twilight earlier than expected. At this time of year, darkness creeps into our days slowly. Before we know it, the sun sets before we can get out for that afternoon walk. Heading home at the end of a work day occurs in the darkness. At times, if feels as if we should be heading off to bed, when it is only time to start supper preparation. <smile> I find myself thinking of heading to bed earlier than usual. Yet, I fight to keep the established schedule. Thankfully, electricity provides lights and even entertainment. Television researchers who looked at this medium in anthropological terms noted that the stories told on the flickering screen were similar to oral societies sharing stories and wisdom around a fire. What wisdom or stories have you found broad- or narrow-cast on this medium? There are many. If we look below the surface, many involve classic legends told across cultures. Rather than vegging out while streaming a full season in a single day, take the time to look closer at the stories. Some may bring surprise. We'll get address the intricacies of sociological underpinnings of stories told on another day <smile>.
The darkness of the colder season can become oppressive. Culturally, darkness is a metaphor for things scary, cold and several other negative concepts. We are on the downhill side of the growing darkness with about three weeks left before the days begin lengthening. So there is a light at the end of the season <smile>. When the darkness becomes overbearing, dancing can help bring back a smile. Lyrics of the song for today note this -- at least on the surface. They may mean something very different, too <smile>. Stay safe. Enjoy!
I chose to look for smiles along the way today. My trip to bakery found all items on my list on the 'day old' rack at 30% off -- bread, rolls and cheese biscuits. Score! Then just seeing the tree lot set up in the mall parking lot from up the hill made me smile. That they had the wreath size I was looking for made the smile wider as did the great chat with the lot attendant. While at the office I found most of what I was looking for in the files and despite leaving the stick at home with the file I wanted to print, it was a good visit. Quiet in the corridor but I heard one door open and close a couple of times -- likely a colleague hiding away on the weekend. So, I will need to return tomorrow or Monday to print the needed file, but I tried to focus on the smiles rather than not. It was raining lightly when I left the building and intensity increased on the drive home. Another thing to smile about. All planned errands were finished before the rain -- no standing in the rain at a tree lot <smile> or having to sit in wet denim in the car or the office.
Smiling can help move bluer feelings along. Shared with others smiles may lead them to smile and feel better, too. Lyrics from the selection today cover how a smile can make things feel 'right for a little while' <smile>. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The week ended on a rainy note. The day was grey, but warmer than usual for the end of November. I headed out in the morning to run three quick errands. Picked up a product from the vet with no other customers out front. The library had a few visitors, but only one client ahead of me, so things went quickly. The postal outlet in the drugstore had one woman at the counter. I smiled until I rounded the corner and saw six people waiting in line -- taking up most of the cosmetic aisle. I waited. It was near lunch hour, so I expect that several folks were doing this on their break time. Several other people joined the line as we steadily moved forward. At the counter to pick up a couple books of stamps, I found they'd run out of the newer stamps with images painted by an artist from the province. If I'd gone to the main post office outlet, I doubt it would have made a difference and online orders might take a while. So, I took what they had from a previous Christmas.
In the afternoon, I listened to a two student seminars online and then placed a couple of gift orders. Online orders that are shipped directly to recipients seemed the way to go today. There are others that will require that I stand in line again next week -- not an issue <smile>. As I sat with the computer, I found myself listening to the light rain on the roof. I do love that sound -- so soothing. It made me feel the need to take a nap, but I pushed through noting I could do that after supper <grin>
A song using a rain metaphor came to mind today. I find the poetic nature of the lyrics fascinating, particularly those about clouds of mystery and confusion, and the bayou rock style is a fave. <smile>. Stay safe. Enjoy!
It has been a day of drizzle and mist. I spent part of the day at the car dealership getting the winter tires installed. This preparation for colder weather is a sign of things expected to arrive in the near future. In this case winter, but other changes are underway in the news in terms of pandemic planning. The UK vaccination plan has job postings out for December hires and the beginning of clinics held as 12 hour days, 7 days a week until March. Much vaccine policy discussion and planning is underway in other nations around the globe. While this is a glimmer of hope in a darker world, there is a healthy dose of trepidation that comes with this process.
These actions and many others keep us moving forward regardless of what is going on around us. Communication is key to planning and transparency of process. Listening to the daily updates from provincial and federal governments today, I was reminded of the need for clear speech and straight-forward messaging. This further reminded me of a song. <surprise> There are many covers of this song. I chose a more recent one. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The province has moved closer to full lockdown in the largest urban centre. Two island provinces have withdrawn from the 'Atlantic bubble'. Many venues have been listed as places of potential exposure to positive COVID-19 cases. So much so, that long lines of people who had been in these restaurants and bars now wait to be tested. Students who plan to go home at the end of term in early December, may now need to leave earlier to deal with the required quarantine in their home province and again upon return to this province. Due to the expected increase in online shopping this year, mail and order deadlines will likely be in the next week in order to ensure delivery by Christmas. Even if things get where they are headed earlier or later, it will be part of this new more relaxed (maybe?) season. Community members have begun considering what a virtual holiday celebration might look like. Shared meal times, gift exchanges and conversations can be done online. This will take planning that could be fun -- just like the usual plans would be. Letting one's thoughts roam free might lead to something interesting for the day(s).
I hope to get some decorations up in the house over the next week. That will brighten the darker early evenings. <smile> The song shared today brings a wish that we can find the core goodness in each of us during the many holidays of the next few weeks. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Today the concept of the day was transitions. Changes are happening all around us. The world is in a constant state of flux, but current events globally provide us with alterations that we may not be fully ready to embrace. Not that humans adapt well to change. Much as we might hate to admit, we are creatures of habit. When presented with a change outside our circle of control, we balk somewhat, often due to fear. What will this new way of doing things be like? I like the old way, it worked well, so why change? Even with a cogent reason, there is still push back. Perhaps it is because we are individualists and dislike external controls -- even though there is no way around them.
So, what brought this on? Major centres in this province and others are moving toward -- if not fully into -- lockdown mode. This has altered protocols for annual events -- no Santa Claus parade in town, no in-person ceremonies on campus, no travel within the broader region. It made me think about doing new things. Adding something new into the tried and true tradition may help us to recall "the year when we tried [something new]" -- a group experience of something new can be fun regardless of the outcome and will bring new memories. Doing new things is a challenge I make to myself so I don't get too mired in a rut or become to complacent. It challenges me to see things differently, be brave, find things I like or don't like,and keep up with the world around me. While those are things I've chosen to do most of the time, others were visited upon me due to circumstances -- delayed luggage, broken bone, damaged vehicle -- but I learned many things from each of the less desirable -- sometime more than with the desired outcomes.
A song lyric that fits the goal of purposely doing new things is share with you here. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The concept of boundaries entered my thoughts today. We are surrounded by all types of boundaries in our daily lives -- doors for only going in or going out, international and provincial or state borders, limits of a tank of gas, what we like or don't like. Are these constraints put upon us by others or are they limits we've set for others? Lots to think about there. <smile>
My mind then headed into a gratitude exercise. When feeling pressures from outside forces on our comfort levels, there are still things for which to be thankful. I often try to end the day by naming three things to be grateful for from that day. I have become distanced from this for a while, and want to re-establish this practice. So, I will list the things that helped me through my day.
-- The soothing sound and vibrations of a purring cat who chooses to sit closer as days get cooler
-- Technology that keeps me connected -- TV for entertainment and information, virtual platforms and wifi in my own home to keep me connected to people outside my home
-- Friends and family willing to share the ups and downs of each day
-- Music, especially musicians, who share such wonderful thoughts through song
-- Mail and parcel delivery to my front door
Well, there are more than three there <smile> I dislike being constrained by rules and boundaries, it seems <grin>. A couple of things came to mind while thinking through this concept of constraints. One is a saying I've heard since childhood -- "Good fences make good neighbours." There is much buried in those few words. The other is a quote attributed to Pete Seger -- "Songs are sneaky things; they can slip across borders." Again, from a folk-singer advocate, that speaks volumes.
The song for today got stuck in my head during my cerebral meanerings today. It was one my dad enjoyed, so I've heard it a lot and know all the words <smile>. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Fifty-seven years ago today JFK was assassinated. The television images are fresh in my mind even now -- seeing the replays of him dying over and over in the grainy greyness of the huge black and white screen in our living room. For perspective, this was the first time as a student in grade 1, that I had seen someone die on the screen -- really die.
Many years later, when I began my PhD research I chose to study the impact of televised images on viewers. The early images of the death of JFK played heavily into my choice of study subject, knowing it would be central to the rest of my academic career. Granted, I studied images of food and body image then and others related to social, political, psychological, and economic impacts to our food choices and the ability to access food. The power of the medium had been with me since my early years. The moving image has such great emotional effect. Think of the images that you carry with you -- assassination of the Kennedy brothers, unfolding of the Quebec crisis, explosion of the shuttles Challenger and Columbia, embedded journalist views of war in Viet Nam, famine in Ethiopia, and Columbine. It isn't all bad, though. I also recall being introduced to Baryshnikov, George Balanchine, the Beatles, Jane Goodall, Louis Leakey, and the Monkees <smile>. Each of these images -- and so many more -- had a role to play in shaping who I am today.
The JFK images marked a loss of innocence of sorts. From this came a rise of conspiracy theories -- who killed JFK, was McCartney dead, was Elvis still alive and so much more. This day in 1963 was a watershed moment on many fronts and shaped the world around us in unexpected ways. The song shared today speaks to the history and the theoretical underpinnings that have been a big part of my life. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Today began with bright sunshine. By early afternoon when I thought I'd go for a walk, cloud cover predominated. In another hour, the sun reappeared through the clouds, so I headed out. I hadn't gotten out for a walk for several days, so this was invigorating. Temperatures were warmer today -- into double digits, but will be just above freezing at best for the next few days. We are seeing fewer warmish days as we transition into the colder season.
At home, I busied myself with household cleaning chores and laundry. Bet that brings envy when you read this <grin>. Time was spent getting the annual holiday letter together. I didn't get one out last year and had planned to do this during the first lockdown in March. It just never happened, so the letter today covered two years. I even managed to keep it to the usual double sided page. <smile>
An upbeat song came to mind while walking this afternoon. The lyrics mention a number of things I encountered during the day. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Temperatures rose a bit today but clouds remained. I spent much of the day working on the submission of a research manuscript for publication. Once the process was finally completed, I realized I'd left out one needed declaration. I don't seem to be able to access the files to alter just the one, so fear I may have to delete the whole thing and start the submission process anew. It took about an hour once I'd gotten all the files ready -- well not all ready, obviously. Redoing this will not be onerous, just pick and somewhat tedious. <sigh>
For supper I made a batch of sweet and sour sauce that I served over meatballs. The rest will go to the deep freeze to be used in the days to come. This recipe was from a friend. It uses cranberry sauce and tomato juice as a base. It is really yummy and I'd not have guessed it was cranberry based when I first ate it. Very, very yummy. As I was dishing up supper, the door bell rang. It was another friend dropping of a lovely smaller pumpkin and a big bag of apples. I plan to roast the pumpkin and freeze it in batches for use in soup, muffins and curry. The apples are destined for spiced applesauce. I've been out of this for some time, so replenishing that shouce will give me something fun to put on pancakes, French toast or gingerbread cake.
It was a great day with a food focus. Cooking can be very cathartic. I do enjoy it. All of the items today were linked to friends -- something that brought smiles and happy thoughts. Even the research paper was about food choice behaviours and written with a friend and research colleague. Not only will I be cooking recipes for cooler days, but the friend-related recipes and ingredients feel like a major bonus -- a windfall of sorts.
The thoughts today brought a few songs to mind, but one rose to the top. The version shared involves many artists that help each other to perform a great rendition of the song. Watch for many familiar faces beyond the two main artists. Stay safe. Enjoy!
I Get by with a Little Help from my Friends -- Ringo Star and Paul McCartney et al.
The day was sunny and cold. The walk to the store for milk was brisk. Indoors I discovered the water had been turned off, which must have why I could hear heavy equipment a block away. Once back up and running, I was glad I wasn't doing laundry today. The water is always a horrid rusty red from sediment. It takes some time to get that mess to turn back to clean water. It can make a huge mess in a load of laundry and make a shower less than desirable.
Cold temperatures with frozen bits on the porch have arrived as a way to herald the approach of the winter season. It isn't my favourite season, but it will arrive regardless of my opinions. There is the hope of spring, though, as the seasons have shown us that they keep changing even with a global pandemic. News of potential vaccines by then can also keep spirits up.
A song about the changes of fall into winter came to mind with my meandering thoughts. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The past few days have brought thoughts about the upcoming holidays. Things will be different this year. We are encouraged by mail order and post office to get things into the mail earlier than usual. December 4 has been suggested for some online orders. More people will be shopping online than in bricks and mortar stores this year due to the pandemic. It is likely that many areas across the country may be under lockdown again in the coming few weeks. Celebrations will be different with smaller groups gathering and many people being alone. Virtual mealtimes have been suggested. Again, something very different. It may be the year to begin a new tradition with an online group movie viewing, gift exchange or sing-along. Finding a new recipe to add to the usual fare could perk things up a bit.
This next phase of COVID and planning for an altered holiday celebration create a different type of anticipation -- one heavily tinged with trepidation. How will this feel? The expectations may be worse than the actual events, but that stress of the unknown remains. Uncertainty can be powerful. A blues song came to mind today due to my mood <smile>. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The Blues had a Baby and They Called it Rock and Roll -- Muddy Waters
Today I felt totally unfocused and maybe a bit lost. Add being tired to the mix and it is no wonder I seemed to forget many things that I meant to say or do during the day. In an online interview, I felt I lost focus with some answers and had to ask for a repeat of the question involved. I've always been more than a wee bit tangential when speaking. I tend to start with a huge ball of ideas, wander about a bit, and finally make my point -- that is unless I've gotten myself lost along the journey <smile>. Today things didn't go well.
I suspect that I am not alone in this feeling. The stresses of the pandemic, particularly as we head into the 'second wave', can create stress. The symptoms are there, even when people don't fully understand where it all originates. The days often begin with good intentions and reasonable energy, only to disintegrate sometime in the afternoon. Again, I find myself trying to figure out what I'm doing that causes this when it is likely something outside of me causing the stress. Learning to give myself a break is not easy. I'd do it for others, so am not sure why I expect myself to be different. Perhaps I need to build in self check in times during the day, to see how I am feeling. Maybe this would help me take a break or go for a walk to refresh. By supper time, I often don't feel like cooking. I have ingredients and plans for a couple of large batch dinners that will go to the freezer so there is a choice for days when I'm not up for cooking. I could take a break from cleaning or whatever, early in the day and get recipes started that need a long time to simmer. It may be as simple as understanding when the energy ebbs and flows during the day and then taking advantage of that knowledge. So -- working to be self aware goes to the top of the big list. <smile> There is also a need to understand that other people are in the same situation. Just because I am alone a lot more than before this all began only means that I don't see people as regularly and interact with them -- all of which helps to see that others are under stress, too.
A song from decades past rolled around in my head today. It is about finding a place of comfort and thinking through events of the day. The album title sounds enticing -- Endless Summer. <smile> Stay safe. Enjoy!
It was a Monday. I didn't get much accomplished today. I had a good phone chat with a friend but didn't get to the dreaded list. To be honest, I feel like hiding form the world. Sadly, I'm not sure where to go that lets me run away and hide form this disease. So, not only do I want to run away, it appears I am trapped and really can't do that. That feels horrible. The uncertainty of when the world will open up enough to let us move around again hits hard at times. Not knowing when I can run away, even if not to hide, seems unbearable in those moments.
We are destined to continue isolating in the home with only a few essential trips out of the yard. While it bears all the marks of hiding, it really isn't. It feels more like force confinement. Actually, it is just that isolation that I want to run and hide from. <sigh> People with experience and knowledge of the impact of such situations warned us that the three or so months after the six month mark would be difficult. It is also the time when winter sets in for the northern hemisphere bringing the shorter days and increased darkness. This is a time of semi-isolation for many people, since weather conditions do interfere with movement and travel. I fear this will only add to the that anxiousness to get away. If I recall correctly, the experts noted that while we have made some significant alterations to daily life, we will need to be prepared for other changes over this time period. Adding yet other layers, are the increasing infection rates and walking back openness in order to address the rising case numbers, which are worse than we had in the first wave of this beast. For those with anxiety prior to this pandemic such events and feelings only add to the loss of control. For everyone else, moments of rising anxiousness may be a new and scary feeling. We do need to support each other and ourselves -- emphasis on ourselves there. Find the moments where we can 'escape' briefly. I have found spending 5-10 minutes with a jigsaw puzzle can help calm the noise in my head and help with focus. Find whatever might work for you -- within reason of course <smile>.
A song played in my head today as I was thinking of the need to get away and to hide. A perfect lyric line notes "I could hide in a crack in the road" and clearly notes the mixed up feelings. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Another day that dawned with bright sunshine and ended with more cloud. Cooler temperatures prevailed and daytime highs and overnight lows will be much colder in the next few days. Nature is at work to prepare us for the colder couple of months ahead of us.
Highlights of the day included making a yummy supper that included a great apple-cranberry crisp. Yum. <smile> There are other items that do need to be made to refill the deep freeze, but those will wait for the next few days. The rest of the day was spent in house cleaning and catching up on writing. I found myself thinking about the upcoming holidays and planning to put up some decorations, maybe get the cards out on time, and planning gift buying ideas. We are told that this year will be even busier than last December for online orders and parcel mailing. I would like to get those things completed earlier than my usual, which is close to the last possible day to get things where they need to be on the day they need to be there. <shaking head> No reason this year for me not to have time to do this.
So, starting with some decorations might help lighten the concerns with the pandemic. That reminded me of a song from a musical with a similar sentiment. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Saturday was spent doing laundry and housework -- a very mundane type of day. Now that doesn't mean that it was boring or frustrating. It was a positive day filled with contentment and smiles. I will admit to feeling a bit tired by evening. This may be part of recuperating from the worst of the sinus infection. There is still congestion but not all the other symptoms I had. The 'to do' list is affected by the weariness that remains, which also puts the blog writing behind schedule. Rather than berating myself for not getting things done or not getting over some infection as quickly as earlier in life <smile>. Practicing being kind to myself isn't easy, but I'm am learning to recognize a bit better when I get in my own way. It takes time.
The opening lines of a song came to mind while thinking through the tired feeling today. When I listened to the lyrics again, I found that it could be applied to a person caring for themselves and not just for a person caring for another person. I chose a cover by a band from the '70s rather than the original recording. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Today I went for a drive to Cape Breton. The day was a mix of sun and cloud and was much cooler than the rest of the week had been. It was invigorating to go for short walks along the way. I discovered some wonderful beaches -- places to return next year. The rural nature of the island brings a relaxed feeling. I've been to most areas of the island over the years and today went back through a favourite area along the Margaree Valley and western side from Inverness back to the causeway. There are many new-to-me places to explore with others. Missing the Celtic Colours music festival this fall, makes me want to experience this with friends that much more.
I haven't done a trip like this for over a year. Being retired, I'd thought there would be more day trips around, but the pandemic has limited that ability. Just being out of town today, seemed to increase a feeling of calmness -- just seeing different surroundings was amazing. My shoulders dropped an inch or two <smile> and I smiled a lot during the drive. I felt like I could breathe better. That amazed me. I knew being semi-isolated for months had created some stresses -- what some might call 'cabin fever' or 'shack wacky'. Going for a walk around the neighbourhood helps most times, but even though walking feels good, at times it just is going by the same places repeatedly.
A song that fit the day well is shared here. It made me smile. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The day began very warm and the temperature dropped sharply by mid-afternoon. We are now back at the usual temperatures for this time of year. I did enjoy the brief summery respite, though. My day was fairly uneventful. One telephone meeting went well and I was able to book two other appointments -- one for me and one for the car -- before the end of the month. I had two short outings. The first was to the drugstore to get some antibiotic ointment. When I unboxed it at home, the tube was leaking around the crimped end. So, out I headed again to get a replacement. Sadly the entire shelf stock had the same issue. It must have been a mechanical issue during packaging. They refunded my costs and I walked down the street to the other drug store, where the tubes showed no sign of leakage. It was a different expiry date, so a different production time. I then headed out to the bakery for a loaf of bread and a half dozen rolls. Yum. <smile> It wasn't a wasted day by any stretch, just a bit quieter than some.
Today Neil Young turned 75. In honour of the birthday of this Canadian, I chose to share a song written and performed by Young. This version is from a concert so it is longer than the more commonly heard recorded version and contains more guitar work than usual. Stay safe. Enjoy!
A day of tears, smiles, and stories -- Remembrance Day 2020 and 75 years since WWII ended and 70 years since end of Korean conflict. We marked the day in a different way this year wit far fewer people at the national war memorial and elbow bumps instead of hand shakes and all dignitaries carefully distanced.. Fewer veterans were invited due to their high risk with Ontario areas having huge numbers of new cases daily in the second wave of the pandemic.
I've been to ceremonies in areas where I have lived and usually watched the national ceremonies from Ottawa. Once I participated in the national ceremonies in Ottawa followed by a visit to the National War Museum. While downtown the artillery gun salute continued throughout the ceremonies.. I've visited the books of remembrance when in the Peace Tower and now while temporarily housed in an area close to the temporary home to the House of Commons. These are very moving and the pages are turned each day so different names are visible in the glass cases.
During the national ceremonies today, the chaplain noted that COVID isolation can give us an understanding of being separated from loved ones. We didn't choose this, but many people had chosen to leave families to join armed service -- often to be separated for years and in the midst of increased peril. Many indigenous veterans chose to join armed services when they were not yet citizens but wards of the state -- an amazing commitment.
I tend to spend this day thinking of the situations that many people I've known had found themselves -- the mud and freezing temperatures in the trenches in France; ambushes on the roads of France in WWII[ in the north Atlantic during the long Battle of the Atlantic; in the fields of Korea; boarding ships in the Gulf during the Iraq war; In the Gulf during the in Cyprus and Egypt on peace keeping missions; domestic service in Canada including the recent Operation Laser in the midst of the pandemic. So many family members and friends have served in the regular and reserve forces. For this reason the stories of those I know and the many I never met are a focus on this day. The song shared today was written to commemorate the Battle of Beaumont-Hamil in WWI, where most of the Newfoundland Regiment was killed or injured over the brief melee. This day changed the direction of Newfoundland forever, eventually leading to their joining the Dominion of Canada in 1949. The song shared here is sung by Newfoundlanders. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The day was amazing for almost mid-November. Temperatures sored into the 20s with humidity, so the air felt much warmer. I needed different clothes for my mid-day walk, but still felt overdressed for the weather.
I finally got into the see the dentist to determine what next steps will be for the teeth that were damaged in a fall last January. This should have been completed by now, but like so much else, this, too, was postponed while offices were in lockdown. It will be into next year before we move forward -- thought that really is only 6-8 weeks in all likelihood <smile>.. The wait now lies with insurance to assess the procedures and give permission to get something more permanent in place. Patience is needed. The dentist did do some minor adjustments to the temporary fix that was done late February. I was to check in after two weeks, but by then the world was in lockdown. The adjustments feel odd, but will work somewhat better. when chewing. <smile>
One song cam to mind when thinking of eating difficulties of the past few months and the idea that things can be improved. stay safe. Enjoy!
What a lovely warmer sunny day! I walked out to pay bills and get an item from the drugstore. I encountered a colleague and we chatted for a while to catch up. It was such fun to speak with her as it has been months since we have done more than wave from a distance. The front yard has been transformed into a grass green ground colour. The leaves were blown and removed -- a giant pile was visible out front for a while -- so amazing. A weekly phone update with a friend went longer than usual, but we had lots to say, it seems <smile>. Always a great time to check in.
During the day, I did laundry that just didn't get done over the weekend as other activities interfered. A couple of other 'must do' items will have to be pushed to tomorrow after the meetings and appointments of the day. Winter readiness for feet and the car needs to be addressed soon. With some concerted effort and needed energy, these might occur soon. I wasn't procrastinating today; the activities I did took a little longer than expected, but this wasn't a problem. Being flexible is necessary. The challenge has been to understand that a fluid agenda can work. Just because the key items planned were not completed, does not mean that the day was wasted <smile>. I felt this way often when working, so need to find a way to alter the outlook when retired. <grin>.
The song for today was chosen for the title, which fits my thoughts of the day. Stay safe. Enjoy!
