It is an interesting Saturday. This year, both Lunar New Year and Robbie Burns Day fall on this date. What an intriguing mix of cultural events are occurring in town! My celebrations involved take-out Chinese food for supper and a wee dram when chatting with a friend later in the evening.
The poetry of Burns caught my attention years ago while still in high school. Yes, I was the nerdy type -- still am, actually <smile>. I loved the cadence and language of his writings. So, in honour of this esteemed Scot, I chose two songs to share with you all. The first is from a wonderful poem that is said to have been written after Burns disrupted a mouse nest when walking outdoors. Set to music, the poem is presented by fellow Scots. The second selection speaks to the day on which we celebrate Burns works this year. It, too, is sung by a group from Edinburgh who were really into tartan clothing. Enjoy!
I returned to the office for the first time in almost two weeks. Getting back into the rhythms of writing, reading and responding to e-mails created much turmoil today. The arm doesn't keyboard as well as usual. The forearm entered spasm a few times. This could be due to the amount of typing or the angle of the keyboard drawer on the desk. At home I type on a laptop, which hadn't created much distress, but I typed much less than I had to today. In the e-mail were several items that made me feel grateful, such as the offers of assistance given my physical damage from the fall. Others brought major stress from feeling pushed to do something that isn't necessary. <sigh> Just a usual day at the office, I guess, but I am out of practice. I had just been recovering the beat from the holiday break, when I fell and have had to deal with a different type of break from the office. It will all get back into the swing of things, I'm sure. I just have to find some patience -- really not my strong suit. <smile>
I felt the need for a pep talk but found great motivating lyrics deep in the recesses of my brain. The lyrics explain the need to focus on the goal and determine that a way will be found around the road washouts. wild fires and floods. Working to the goal with a positive frame of mind may minimize the nasty fear that lurks in all of us. It does take work to find the rhythm again but it will happen. Getting past the nasty bits will occur, too. The song shared has a wonderful beat. Enjoy!
Today involved running errands and attending two health appointments. The last of these found my damaged arm immersed in a whirlpool bath. That felt so very very good. The current, warmth and buoyancy re leaved the pressure and pain in the forearm from the elbow to the wrist. I could have stayed there for hours <smile>; it was just so relaxing. Some ultrasound and massage finished that appointment. It should begin to feel much better in the next week -- not perfect yet, but less painful. Again <smile>. At home I cooked some simple supper items and had a couple of good chats with friends -- always a great way to end a day -- checking in with others.
The whirlpool bath reminded me of the way life events often swirl around us, sometimes pulling us under and sometimes buffeting us about. Yet, I found one that is soothing, so perhaps others could be viewed differently. Something to ponder further, I think.
Since the highlight of my day was the arm whirlpool bath <grin>, I chose a song that fits at least the concept of a whirlpool. It is from the early career of a current artist. The voice is unmistakable even if the face is younger and the hair there. Enjoy!
In class this week -- I'm taking a course titled 'The Beatles' offered by our Music Department Chair -- we covered aspects of 1964. The video for the week was to watch 'A Hard Day's Night.' It had been a while since I'd seen the film from beginning to end. I found it intriguing to watch with only the professor and I having been around when the original was released. Now, I didn't see it until a few years later, but I have seen it a few times. The corny humour seemed to hold up as many in the class giggled at at the silliness. Some students even brought movie snacks with them. It was a fun event followed by a great analysis and discussion.
I chose a song from the movie to share here. This song was written by Lennon and McCartney, but was sung by Harrison. It is one of only two songs by the songwriting duo that Harrison sang in his time in the band. All others he sang lead on were his own compositions. Interestingly, the song began with the last few bars of the bridge rather than the verse or chorus which was more common. Enjoy!
The day began very early. Bright blue sky and sunshine greeted me. Temperatures were colder than all season thus far but very little air movement, so wind chill was manageable. A friend headed off today. This had me pondering the nature of having those close to us be far away instead of within arms reach. While the individual involved will return, there will be some time before we are able to sit together and talk or eat. In the meantime, I recognize that we are luckier than just a couple decades ago. Technology allows us to keep updated in real time with instant messaging systems. Beyond the written messages, we also have access to video chatting platforms. These technologies allow us to be present in the key moments through which we each are traveling. As well, we can be part of the mundane rhythms of being in different spaces. It all sure beats the letters penned in decades past. <smile>
Maintaining friendships via electronic means allows us to be part of daily lives of those we care for. How cool is that? <smile> Little things that may seem insignificant are well worth sharing. Life has highs and lows, but the middle ground is just as important. Keeping in touch helps us to share it all. Typing or video chats aren't perfect by any means, but it does add to shared experiences -- keeping friendship safe and nurtured. Lyrics of the selection for today highlight the importance of recognizing the small things in life. Love the voice involved in this one. Enjoy!
Physical activity today was the same as the past several days -- moving snow around in the yard. A friend assisted with moving snow out of the end of the driveway -- all the heavy wet stuff. We then tackled the removal of snow from the car. There was a lot there, complete with a layer of ice adhering to the windows from the freezing rain several days ago. Once most snow was on the ground, I ran the car a bit to melt the ice from the windows. That worked wonderfully <smile>. While working, a neighbour who was out walking offered to assist with the snow removal processes. It was a kind gesture and much appreciated. Again, gratifying to encounter good and kind people. Good news -- there seems to be little snow expected for a few days. Woo hoo! After all that hard work, we went out for a pleasant dinner -- a great way to finish the day.
While shoveling we noticed that a dog had been by and anointed the snow bank where the sidewalk plow had carved out a pathway for walkers. My friend sang a silly song that fit the situation. It made me laugh and I hope it does the same for you. Enjoy!
Surprise -- more snow and shoveling done today. I with my one working arm and a good friend doing heavier lifting. A neighbour used a snow blower on the driveway behind the car -- about a car length -- and the boulevard with all the stuff left by the street plow. That was a very sweet gesture. A highlight of the day was watching the new Doctor Who episode with a fellow Whovian. Sheer delight.
I am surrounded by good people this week. That makes the invalid feeling less pronounced and shows me that the world is a good place after all <smile>. A song from a new-to-me artist contains lyrics that highlight the need to pay attention to the mundane events to see the joys in every day. Enjoy!
The day began with some snow shoveling. I expect you are beginning to see a pattern here <smile>. More snow expected to arrive tomorrow. A good friend drove me out to their place in the county for tea and a visit. I can't drive without full use of my dominant arm right now, so getting 'out' was a joy. We had a delightful visit -- very relaxing and good for healing. Cooked some supper and watched some TV in the evening. All in all, it has been a wonderful calming day.
A dear friend introduced me to some new singer-songwriters. Today I will share a song from a Maritime artist whose repertoire is filled with amazing songs. I chose this one due to the focus on relaxation and enjoying life. That is how I felt with the events of this day. Enjoy!
What a weather day this has been! We got some snow overnight and as the day wore on the winds picked up. This resulted in blowing snow -- new and what was already on the ground. There were moments of whiteout conditions where we couldn't see the houses across the street. Luckily, the temperatures were not too cold. I headed out to supper with a friend. The restaurant was quite lively but that could be explained by the fact that it is a Friday evening. We had a great meal and wonderful conversation. I found things that were soft enough to meet the level of chewing I am capable of at present. Had a fantastic spicy tuna tartar and tuna carpaccio. Yum! The main meal involved a great shellfish pasta dish that was scrumptious.
Walking home brought me face into the wind with mist and tiny frozen pellets. The wind roared into the later evening. The world was whiter that it had been. There will be oodles to move tomorrow, but temperatures will drop a bit so the snow should remain light and fluffy and very easy to move. Now the end of the drive may be another story, but we will see. Total snowfall levels have been downgraded, so it should be easier to get out and about tomorrow.
Looking at the white world from sky to ground outside the window brought an older song to mind. Love the keyboards in this one. Enjoy!
Activities today included those of day-to-day living. I checked in with the dentist to ask a couple questions about the healing process. A couple of errands were completed and supper was cooked with a friend. In the evening, we watched a movie. Nothing that would make the evening news, but it was all good.
Daily life involves many activities that might seem underwhelming, when, in fact, they are the moments that we treasure. Some may find these to be rather pedestrian and mundane or even prosaic. They aren't. These are the stuff of life. Living within such moments might seem monotonous, but such times are those that fill our hearts with those tiny moments of joy. If all we think we'll find is something tedious, then we risk missing those little bits of laughter, calm and caring -- again, the items that add depth to our life experience.
While chatting tonight, my friend shared a couple of wonderful videos by a group from Winnipeg. I want to share one here tonight. Being open to new things made this moment one to preserve and remember. Enjoy!
Snow shoveling occupied part of the day, moving the lighter upper layer before the next snowfall. It was challenging with only one arm working. The right arm will not lift or push without pain. I used a smaller shovel and pushed and lifted with the left arm only, using the dominant arm only to guide the shovel while lifting. Thankfully, a good friend helped with the process. A visit to the physio involved massage and whirlpool therapy. There latter felt so wonderful, I could have stayed there for hours <smile>.
I attended a memorial service for my uncle Len via live streaming. It was held in Kelowna. A first for me, this technology worked very well. Seeing my family members there felt so comforting. I only wish I could have been there in person. <sigh>. My cousin did an amazing job with the eulogy, covering Len's career in the Canadian Forces (Army) and some of the family stories that have reached the status of legend <smile>. Each of the two daughters-in-law presented one of the readings. A wonderful photo montage with some of his favourite music showed many highlights of Len's life. The selection for today comes from that video. It was one I heard often as a child and loved as a teen and adult. The Glenn Miller Orchestra was the one we heard most often. I couldn't find an arrangement by that band that fit what I recall, so I went with a different orchestra with a singer. I like the arrangement better, though the tempo is a bit slower than any Glenn Miller version I've heard. Either way it is a great tune. Enjoy!
Sentimental Journey -- Les Brown and his Orchestra ft. Doris Day
The day was filled with anticipation, mixed with bits of trepidation, which made managing expectations tricky. All of these thoughts flying around my head were for something good. <smile> Once I started talking things through with a dear friend, it all felt so normal. I wasn't sure why so much effort had been expended in 'what if' scenarios. Worrying over things can bring a level of fatigue. Excitement for a new experience may be a better way to go -- placing the focus on the positive rather than potential negatives. This change in perspective will help to manage outcomes much better. It also makes discussions easier due to much less 'guess work' put into conversing. Another cool learning that will need to be recalled as life moves forward.
The song chosen for today contains a positive focus on ways of thinking or perspective. The music brings a sense of calm when I listen to it. Enjoy!
The day began with a visit to my dental surgeon. The news was better than I'd expected. He moved the incisor that had been pushed back in the fall to a position closer to normal. I have to work at getting it the last bit forward and sideways. Lisping was reduced, but is still present. Molars don't yet meet as they should, but I may be able to chew softer foods. That is a victory today. <smile> I then went to the physio who looked at the arm and will address the pain in a couple of days once the swelling reduces. Throughout the day at home, a number of chores were tackled and I managed pasta and sauce for supper. It was a challenge but with the 'almost' chewing ability of molars, it worked albeit slowly.
The music world lost an amazing drummer recently -- to that horrible beast cancer. Neil Peart of the Canadian band Rush, has been hailed as one of the drumming greats. I chose two songs for today with meaningful lyrics. The first fits much of the world situation -- both large and small issues. The second selection reflects the emotions expressed by many on hearing of this loss. Enjoy!
I woke later than usual today after a very good sleep last night. My arm doesn't hurt while sleeping, but gets sore as I move it or use it. I added a stretchy stocking support that I had from the physio from when I broke my left elbow a few years back. A friend came by to assist me with some household chores that required two functional arms along with some encouragement to get things done. I also realized early in the afternoon, that I need to stick to the schedule for the anti-inflammatory meds. When I don't, like this morning, things hurt more and sooner.
I have new bruises present today in a circle around my mouth -- no surprise. Just a hint of pale blue above and below lips where teeth would have impacted the soft tissue. The road rash is much less of an angry red and moving to a darker reddish shade. That bruise is still dark blue. Other minor aches seem more pronounced today than earlier. These things do come along in 48-72 hours after a trauma. So I expect more to appear before they begin to disappear.
Overnight we had rain, freezing rain, ice pellets and some bits of snow. it is slushy on the sidewalks and roads. Mixed precipitation and snow are expected overnight with some cloud with flashes of sun tomorrow. That will be wonderful. Temperatures will remain below freezing, so it may be slippery. Most of where I need to head will mean walking main sidewalks that are regularly cleared and salted, so that should not present a problem.
For this overall quiet day, with some productive moments and others that were very inactive, a silly song came to mind. It comes from an historic album that had prog rock influences. Enjoy!
Arm was very painful today. On top of that. I have personal evidence to support the research noting that fluid calories don't attenuate hunger like solids. <grump>I am so hungry. A friend took me out for groceries to get pudding, yogurt and soup. Other than that, I rested most of the day. It was good to get some soup, even if I needed to puree it; the flavour was a pleasant change from sweeter fruity things. I also managed some fruit bread that I could dunk in hot chai to help it to dissolve.
Again today, I marveled at my support systems. One friend who called and took me for groceries and another who helped me to laugh in a longer conversation. I am so very lucky. That brings some happy tears amongst the frustrated tears of the day. Not being able to fully use the dominant arm is frustrating. I can't grasp and lift something so the connective tissue and bone movement in the forearm feel angry right now. I am also lucky that this accident did not crack my skull, break my jaw, break my arm, or create a concussion. It could have been much worse. Don't get me wrong; it is bad, but easily could have gone another direction.
Well, the meteorologists seem to have been correct last evening. Tons of snow fell and blew around overnight. I shoveled out to the car again today. There was about as much snow as I moved last night to move again today. Behind the car where I hadn't moved a shovel width for a pathway yesterday, was waist deep. That snow was heavy and wet as it was thrown by the street plow and the sidewalk plow. I didn't go near that. My plow guy dealt with that around dinner time.
I headed out for dinner with friends. It was fun, but we were the only table in the place. Weather must have many people staying home or digging out. After dinner, I shoveled the bits behind the car after the plow guy pushed the deep drifts onto the front lawn. I also did around the side of the house, but still need to do the back steps and porch. It is one large drift that will need to be tackled from the top down rather than the bottom up. In my best Scarlet O'Hara, I noted that "tomorrow's anothah day,"
and walked back to the front and into the house. <smile>
The song chosen for today fits well with my reaction to the snow today. <smile> Smaller bits are quite doable, but big falls are so difficult. Enjoy!
A winter storm was to drop 6-8 inches of snow today and by early evening instead of tapering off, far more snow was predicted than had already fallen-- another 16-24 inches! Winds are to pick up overnight and blow the light, dry snow into drifts. I did shovel much of what was down in early evening, before the next deluge appeared. My theory is that if I moved what was already down, there would be less tomorrow to move even with drifting. It often has worked like this in the past. At least I know I should be able to open the front door tomorrow with less accumulation on the porch.
Much of town was closed today. The university emergency system called at 6 am to say campus was closed for the day and will open at 6 am tomorrow. I spent the day working on office writing, presentation preparation, and a phone meeting. It was a quiet indoor kind of day.
The song choice comes from the desire to be somewhere warmer without the frozen precipitation. The term for Canadians that winter elsewhere came from the song title. It was a major early hit for the singer from Nova Scotia. Enjoy!
The day began early with a guest lecture in a class dealing with agism, which was followed by an interesting seminar that explained the dissertation research of the two new tenure stream faculty members. In the afternoon, I had a productive meeting to review the writing project that should be ready to submit in a couple of weeks. Things are looking very good there. <smile>.
After supper I headed out for tea with a friend. A block and a half from the house, I fell -- face-planted on the pavement. I walked back to the house and called my friend to come over. Major road rash on and under the chin along with a bit of bruise beginning. Another bruised area on the left knee appeared by later evening.Three incisors are affected -- one two-thirds broken off, one pushed slightly inwards and behind the third. The last two were majorly chipped. My right arm was hurting badly, too. I must have tried to break my fall. We headed to emerg on Friday night -- a real happening place. The chairs were fairly full with 6 or 7 people ahead of me. Four hours later we were called in to see MD since the X-ray tech would be heading home in 20 minutes at midnight. He check all of the skull and jaw as well as the arm and said we needed pictures of the arm. Off we went to x-ray, after which we were asked to sit back in chairs. Over an hour later my friend walked outside to see if there were ambulances in the bay. There were two, which explained the delay in getting results of pictures. We were seen later. Radial head does not appear broken or cracked, but will be very sore for some time. MD noted that they don't have dental people on call, so I'd have to call my dentist to see when they could see me. Remember, this is Friday night so no offices will be open until Monday morning. Because the one incisor was pushed back, the lower jaw cannot close so I can't chew with molars as they can't meet to grind food. <bigger sigh>. Looks like the dreaded 'blended up a straw' diet I had to provide in hospital foodservice years ago. Six hours after arriving, we left for home -- 2 AM.
The song for today just seemed to fit the absurdity of the situation AND it made me laugh. <smile> Enjoy!
Well, today was orthodox Christmas and I still haven't sent letters or notes to people -- either e-notes or real mail notes. I hope it will happen soon. I wrote a generic letter to send out, but need to add some individualized messages for some. I hope it will happen before lunar new year. <smile>
At the office, I celebrated with a colleague who delivered her retirement letter yesterday. While there still is a whole term to go, she sounded very excited about the prospect of the research writing projects she hasn't been able to get to for a long time. I understand the situation only too well. Her research is very interesting -- tracing the etymology of French words in Acadian communities in Atlantic Canada. Very cool.
Tonight was also the first night class that I am taking this year -- another music course -- The Beatles. Tonight we looked at their childhood years and the beginning of the music groups. We stopped at the beginning of 1962 -- when the whole thing really began to explode. The instructor truly loves the topic and told me he didn't even consider this course work. That is wonderful to here. He has a great delivery style with facts and humor interjected. It bodes well for the term. <smile>
The selection for today is from the earliest recordings of the Beatles. It was written by Lennon and McCartney and was part of many on the infamous Decca records audition tape. A Decca Records executive refused to sign the band, which led to the songs being shopped around and the group picked up by Parlophone Records, a subsidiary of EMI. It was here that Ringo became the permanent drummer when Pete Best was ousted by George Martin. And the rest, as they say, is history. Like Dreamers Do -- The Beatles
The day began with more snow shoveling. Smaller amount to move around due to shoveling completed last evening. During the day, I worked through e-mails from over the holiday period and got things fairly well caught up. I spoke with several colleagues after their return to campus after the holiday break. It was so nice to see and chat with them after being away for a couple of weeks. Most look rested and ready to tackle the term ahead of them -- as do the students I encountered. I do miss the daily contact with the work colleagues, but having a moment or two throughout the term to chat with one or two always makes me smile. They are more than colleagues, they are friends.
Outside my office window as the sun went down, I saw the almost full moon and I heard the local murder of crows. Not sure if the sheer number constitutes more than a single murder, but I'd be comfortable noting this was likely multiple murders gathering together. This group is huge. They gather in different areas along the brook each evening at sunset. Tonight, they seem to have been in the large conifers in front of the cathedral, on power and telephone lines along the street, other trees in the vicinity and on building rooftops. The sound is nothing if not a cacophony of individual voices that almost sound like a large crown of humans -- greeting each other, telling tales of the day, and likely stretching the truth just a bit within all the humour that seems to be part of their encounters. We can learn much from nature. Crows have significant intelligence and are clearly very social creatures. Their gatherings at end of days reminds me of being at a local pub after work. There is clearly importance and collegiality attached to communication -- something we could all benefit from.
Thinking of a song brought a few to mind, several came to mind. I chose one due to several lyric lines that highlighted the importance of friends, colleagues and acquaintances. Enjoy!
Outside the window, a snow storm rages. Most snow fell by early evening, but that is when the winds picked up. All should dissipate into the morning tomorrow. I did move some snow after supper, so there might be less to move tomorrow. That's my theory anyway. During a phone call to an older uncle today, he asked if I was done with the research yet and was really retired. I took a deep breath and spoke about it as a passion -- something I love doing and always have done this in my spare time when it wasn't part of my paying job. We noted that there is a need for a transition to work out what retirement will be like -- that first time in life when days have little structure other than the parameters we ourselves set for the time.
After the call, I continued to work through his questions. I was reminded of a quotation from Winston Churchill. "Never give up on something you can't go a day without thinking about." Isn't that an amazing thought? So many passions fit with this statement -- professions, hobbies, relationships (in no particular order <smile>). It is similar to the aphorism about doing what you love and the rest will fall into place. Definitely something that needs further pondering.
Parts of a song fit portions of these thoughts. The lyrics address the need to pay attention to one's heart and follow one's passions. Enjoy!
Support from friends can save the day or help save you from yourself some days <smile>. In person or online their virtual or real hugs can help enormously. I've mentioned the concept of social support in this blog often. It is one of the social determinants of health. Simply having friends to rely on and to help when they need you can improve health status. Interesting.
I am gifted with friends and family (and the difference between those blurs the lines of difference) who are there when I need them. We have seen each other through many lows and highs in life. Many live great distances from me, yet through e-communication platforms we are able to be together at any point in time. This is amazing and fascinating in an academic sense -- all in all, so very special on a personal level. Thank you to those who support me when things go sideways. You know who you are. I love you for your caring natures.
I thought of a few songs that almost fit the topic of the day. I settled on one. It might be better with the use of a plural pronoun (we, us) rather than sounding like a singular take over (I). This would support the reciprocal nature of social support well. Enjoy!
I ventured back to the office to clear up e-mails and print some items for meetings next week. There were no others on the floor. It felt quite peaceful, something I appreciated today. After finishing the key bits of work necessary, I headed to another building, where I found colleagues in offices and labs. We headed to a local pub for a supper. When doing my errands this morning, I hadn't made a lunch and didn't realize this until late afternoon when a check in with myself noted that I was hungry. <sigh> The companionship over supper was appreciated today, too.
It became quite clear by the end of the day that there would be great effort needed to get back into a rhythm that fits with the rest of the world office hours <smile>. Over the past two weeks or so, I have drifted into staying up into the early morning hours and sleeping later than usual. Getting back into a usual routine will be the focus of the next few days. Luckily, no meetings or appointments occur until early afternoon this week, so this will help with the time adjustment.
The selection today highlights the crazy rhythms that I expect when moving from where I am today to where I need to be. The singer is a master of scat technique. Enjoy!
While working around the house today, I worked away on a mental review of the past decade. It wasn't a tally of how many of this, that or the other I encountered, but more a look a the overall direction that things moved. There were highlights such as the birth of this blog, career achievements and building of wonderful friendships. With that came some deep lows -- the loss of dear family members - blood and chosen. Realizing the balance of gains and losses provided perspective for the years. It wasn't all bad nor all stellar, but as a dear friend has said, it is the mundane in-between times that we treasure -- the stuff that we often ignore on our way to the pinnacle. Being mindful of where we are at any given moment, can provide an appreciation for those things we often refer to as 'small' -- but they aren't. That is my challenge to me and to each of you. Be in the moment as much as possible. There is such beauty and peace to be found there.
Thinking of a song for the topic, dredged up a title from the distance recesses of my mind. It says what I had been thinking -- that we need to just keep moving forward even when the road isn't smooth and multi-laned. Enjoy!
Today our Gregorian calendar marks the beginning of another year. Many see this as a time of new beginnings. I'd prefer to see it as 366 days to continue with the work and successes we are in the midst of at the present. There will be new beginnings, but much of the heavy lifting we've been doing should be carefully transferred -- seamlessly if possible -- into this new year. After all, this artificial construction of marking time is just that -- an arbitrary point from which to count our journeys around the sun. And there will be two more such points in time in January alone.
This blog will head into year 7 to continue the learning in progress and to explore new experiences that life presents. The hope is that a new year will bring something better than the past year. While there have been some untenable woes, there have been some fantastic positives. Finding the balance can be extremely challenging some years. I have found this blog to be a wonderful creative outlet to help process the emotions and ideas life presents along the journey. Learning more about myself and the world around me comes from a place of hope. I'd like to share two quotations from a playwright and a poet that deal with the idea of hope.
"Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come,
Whispering, "It will be happier."
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (Act I, Scene III, The Outlawry)
"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all."
Emily Dickinson (from poem "Hope" is a Thing with Feathers)
Lyrics from the song chosen today deal with hope. The title seems a bit redundant to me, since hope generally deals with a future timepoint <smile>. I'll give that one to the songwriter, given that he is one of the true greats of my generation. Enjoy!
