Day 7 - 60 -- Quadrennial

Leap Day assists with keeping the calendar in alignment with the earth's journeys around the sun. Every four years this occurs to help keep our days and  years on track. in previous centuries, Leap Day had been declared a day when women could propose marriage to a man rather than the other way around. This is said to have begun in Ireland. Laws even existed stating that men had to pay a fine should they refuse the proposal. The fine could be money or in some countries it consisted of giving 12 pairs of gloves to t he woman who had asked the question. Rumour has it that these gloves served to hide her embarrassment at not having an engagement ring on her hand. While such strict gender roles have softened a bit in some regions, it seems difficult to understand that there may have been a need for such traditions.

The selection for today plays on the name of the day and the traditional role reversal. Enjoy!

Jump Right In -- Zac Brown Band

Day 7 - 59 -- Seasonal Changes Arrive

This morning, ice greeted me as I left the house. The porch had a very thin layer of ice left over from the freezing rain overnight. Parts of the walk to the street involved grass and mud footing, but the majority required a slow penguin walk. Once to the sidewalk, things were clear for the walk into campus. When I got home this evening, salting the remaining icy bits took precedence. I'm hoping that some will melt over the next couple of days, though more snow is forecast for the weeekend and much of next week. Not oodles all at once, mind you, but enough snow to be measurable and moved.

Throughout the day, the sky changed every few minutes. One minute there would be snow and overcast sky and then in just a couple of minutes blue sky with next to no clouds. Major winds blew the cloudy parts across the sky and moved any falling precipitation sideways. Very little accumulated, but there were moments of near white outs when snow fell briefly. By evening that calmed considerably. It truly feels like spring even with storms. The feel of the wind, smell of the air and fluctuating temps signal a seasonal change. Meteorological spring occurs this weekend -- March 1, while astronomical spring falls on the 19th of March. So -- it seems change is afoot.

A song about the changes of spring seemed apropos today.  Lyrics of the one chosen, note the hope heralded by spring changes. It encourages us to look around, see differences and understand our place in the larger change process.The singer did an amazing job with this one. Enjoy!

Season suite: Spring -- John Denver

Day 7 - 58 -- Need Time Expansion

The day has been filled with working to catch up and meet deadlines looming ominously. One report was sent off a day ahead of time <smile>. Practice for a seminar presentation occurred throughout the day -- I present that tomorrow. Edits for a submission needed for next week continue and I feel quite behind in edits for two other writing projects. I hope to get to one of these tomorrow afternoon.

Feeling behind schedule or worse yet, that I am holding up the schedules of others brings stress. There are only so many hours in a day and much as the Beatles would like us to believe, there are not eight days in a week. Having extra hours magically appear would be useful at times like these.  Either extra time or house elves that could help with some work to free up time for the writing work. Yes, I am retired, and chose to work a couple of days a week on research projects. There will be times when deadlines overlap for multiple projects. There will be times when I am away for holiday or health reasons. Such situations will require me to spend more than the usual time allotted to project work. I must remind myself of this regularly. Otherwise, I find that I am stressing about the household and personal projects that I want to spend more time with -- not being kind to myself, but expecting that I can be some type of superhero or magical creature and get it all done. <smile>

Lyrics from the song for today make me wonder what a little extra time would bring. Would I get more done, take more down time, or make projects expand to fit the time? In all likelihood, I would get about the same amount of work done <smile>. Enjoy!

Eight Days a Week -- The Beatles

Day 7 - 57 -- Repairs, and Replicas

Yesterday went well. The first phase of dental repair occurred this afternoon. Chips were repaired as was the broken tooth. It looks OK, but doesn't feel quite like it should. With a bit more polishing things may feel a bait better. Chewing is working better than it has since the injury. So the replicas are not quite as the original -- yet.

The evening brought the night class I'm taking. This week we covered 1966 in the life of the Beatles. The instructor noted that it would have been George Harrison's 77th birthday today. A limited number of Fender stratocasters were released for sale. These are careful reproductions of the day-glo paint job Harrison gave his strat -- often referred to as Rocky. These sell for $25,000USD. Previously the company had made reproductions of his rosewood telecaster.

In class we examined the songs from Revolver. This album showed the growing independence of the group members, developing and recording songs without the full group being present. To honour Harrison's birthday, I've chosen one by Harrison, that showcases his growing interest in traditional Indian music. Enjoy!

Love you to -- The Beatles (George Harrison)

Day 7 - 56 -- Mardi Gras

Laissez le bons temps rouler! Today is Mardi gras. I made these great vegetable pancakes for supper -- flour, milk, egg with grated potato, sweet potato, onion and mushrooms. Cranberry chutney accompanied these -- yum.

This day takes me back to my two visits to New Orleans. As a city that runs on unique food and music traditions, it is no wonder that I feel drawn to the place <smile>. Food styles of cajun, creole and European, Caribbean and indigenous peoples combine to form something so very amazing. Red beans and rice are a favourite and while I've mastered the dry roux without burning it, I don't make gumbo as often as I should. I did get it to the colour of a copper penny, though, the last time. <smile>. I had the most amazing alligator andouille sausage last time I was there. along with callas, gumbo, red fish, catfish, and so many other delights.

Music fills the air no matter where you are in the Quarter and into the Garden District. Every corner has a different sound. Today I narrowed the huge number of potential songs down to two. The first is by a Jersey girl )currently 62 <smile>) who can do a mean zydco beat.  The second is from a New Orleanian. He organized re-homing musicians who lost everything in the flooding after Katrina and Rita. The Musician's Village is located in the lower ninth ward -- all very brightly coloured houses. I had purchased a t-shirt to support the musicians relief fund on my first visit there and was pleased to see this community rebuilding. The t-shirt has a print of Fats Domino's piano -- the keyboard after it was destroyed in the flood. I was drawn to that since that is how my piano died, but in a very different location. Enjoy! 

  Down at the Twist and Shout  -- Mary Chapin Carpenter

Something you got -- Harry Connick, Jr.

Day 7 - 55 -- Relaxing Outdoor Activities

The day began with feeble sunshine through cloud cover. Nearer to noon, the sun became more visible as the cloud thinned. By early afternoon, the sun was blindingly bright.I enjoyed all of these stages of sunshine while outside today. I walked to campus in the early morning and then out to the optometrist to pick up contacts before noon. After lunch, I headed out to an appointment downtown. When I arrived home by mid-afternoon, the icy bits were melting in places. Temperatures felt very spring like. I spent some time encouraging the melting ice to move along elsewhere.

I listened to music most of the time while walking and shoveling today. It helps me to gather my thoughts and feel a bit calmer when things seem a tad overwhelming. Today was a great day for this. The weather brought many smiles and walking helped with deeper breathing. All of this helped me to manage the stress of a pile of items on the desk that need to be addressed this week. <smile>

Today marks 45 years since the release of an album -- the sixth by this band and their first double album. The song chosen for today was on this album, not an earlier one with the same title. <smile> Enjoy!

Houses of the Holy -- Led Zeppelin (from album Physical Graffiti)

Day 7 - 54 -- Staying close

Dan Rather's post today got me thinking about staying in touch when geographically separated. I'm building on his ideas here. Staying connected in such situations can be challenging, especially with flaky technology connections or loss of battery power. On more recent trips overseas, I've checked in with folks back home while traveling. With earlier trips, I had to rely on leaving an itinerary and sending the occasional post card. At that time, even telephone calls became a major production. Often hotels did not allow direct dial to an operator back home. I recall sitting in a small windowless room with a counter, chair, and an ancient metal phone, while trying to make the local operator understand the number I was trying to call. I shared this room with an enormous beetle who seemed as lost as I was. After many failed attempts, we gave up. the operator never did reach a north american operator. Access to wifi in a hotel room has made the process of updating people at home much easier -- as long as the signal held and was strong enough to send the messages.

I've found it comforting at times to know what people are doing throughout their days. Imagining them at work or doing errands can make me feel a bit closer. Luckily current electronic platforms can help with sharing our daily plans with others, which facilitates knowing where they are at specific times during the day -- not stalker-ish, just a feeling of closeness when not really close at all. <smile>

The song suggested by Dan Rather in his post is shared here today, and it is the version he stated was his favourite. Lyrics relate to a serviceman away during WWII when global communication was much less agile. Even now when traveling in parts of the world with sporadic or non-existent access to the internet, the solution noted in the lyrics might help people feel closer together. Enjoy!

Each night at nine -- Willie Nelson

Day 7 -- 53 -- New Ways to Talk

The day was filled with ordinary activities. The laundry was finished, including folding stuff from the dryer. More folding awaits when the items air drying are indeed dry -- more fun for tomorrow. <smile> I did a bit of hand laundry, too. Some light cooking occurred to help make supper more interesting. During the day, I spent a couple of hours completing a peer review of a manuscript submitted to a European journal. The topic was fascinating. During the evening I spoke separately with two friends on Skype. I enjoy such conversations. Seeing and hearing those on the other side of a conversation makes all the difference. Reading messages works fine, but seeing body language and hearing inflection is a gift. While such video calls are not perfect, they are a far cry from the days of letter writing, when a conversation could take up to two weeks to get the next installment. In the days before emojis, actual meaning could be obscured. Even with emojis, actual intent could be masked.

I often think of Marshall McLuhan when I participate in electronic communication formats. In many ways, this conversations are more part of an oral history than a written or printed one. Does this mean we've taken a step back while thinking we moved forward? Hmmm.  Will need to do further reading with current media theorists to see where they net out on this concept. <smile>

The song chosen for today is from an album released in 1984 -- so not as current as the newer technologies I've mentioned. It has a distinct techno sound and the lyrics note the foibles of such modes of communication. Enjoy!

Communication -- Janet Jackson

day 7 - 52 -- Sunny Calmness

What an amazing weather day! We had full bright sun all day. I spent the afternoon walking in it. I headed to the physio just after lunch and then walked up to a friend's place in mid-afternoon. The solar loading felt warm on my back, though it was very bright when walking into the west. I had to take off the sunglasses to avoid major reflection and be able to see where the icy patches were on the sidewalk. In one place, what looked like a puddle was a semi-solid that felt odd to walk through. Temperatures remained very cold with a light breeze adding a bit more cold to the 'feel like' temps. It was bracing <smile>.

The day reminded me of home -- a clear, cold, sunny day with less moisture in the air. Such days bring extreme clarity and sharper colours. Several times,  I stopped walking and took a good look at trees, sky and views of town. The beauty was all around me today. <smile>  The sunshine on the kitchen floor in the morning felt very warm -- something both the furry one and I enjoyed. The warmth of the sun was evident when walking, so that my cheeks might be cold, but my back or arms felt warmer. Days like this can be treasures when living in a part of the world where cloud cover is most common.

Lyrics from a song ran through my mind as I walked along today. The words and music bring a feeling of calm -- something I welcomed today. Enjoy!

Sunshine on my Shoulders -- John Denver

Day 7 - 51 -- 41 and counting

Well, today marks 41 days since I fell and created the physical damage, along with what I've come to recognize as a certain anxiety that has been living in me leading to fear of falling again. Given the freeze-thaw cycles we are currently in, there is much ice around, so walking brings further stress than usual. <sigh>  As for the recovery, the arm still has a ways to go, though today has been one the best days in terms of pain frequency and level. I'd felt little change since last week, but today there was a difference -- a good thing <smile>. The mouth is another story. I think the puffiness of the gum around the broken tooth is subsiding. I see the dental surgeon again next week and he will determine if it has reduced enough to do the repair of chips and the chunk of missing tooth. If not, that will take a bit longer. There is no pain around the teeth, but there is a nerve feeling -- not pain -- running from the jaw joint to the ear -- a TMJ (tempero-mandibular joint) thing, I think. I will check in with the physio about that one as he does such adjustments. I do feel that the jaw has to shift a few millimeters to the left in order for the lower incisors to fit behind the upper ones -- this is the only way for the molars to work to chew and grind foods. Leafy things like lettuce still create an issue, and I do eat salads often. Other foods get stuck in the lower molars when they would normally be ground further and swallowed. (Sorry for the visual image of that <smile>).

I do know things will continue to improve, it just takes time. Patience isn't my best thing particularly when it comes to me things. Learning to manage the challenges without frustration is a steep curve. I am working on it and trying not to do the 'pitiful me' dance too much. Some days I succeed better than others. <smile>

The song chosen to share comes from a singer-songwriter featured here recently. This selection deals with healing. The singers bass juxtaposed with the female singers is lovely. The poetic lyrics are included below the video. Enjoy!


Come Healing -- Leonard Cohen

Day 7 - 50 -- Resiliency

Health researchers have linked the construct of resilience with improved health outcome. It plays a central role in recovery from acute illness and management of chronic illness. It is often seen as the ability to recover from any adverse life event. Some health research highlighted the resilience of women, who are socialized to support each other -- a coping strategy for dealing with negative stresses. That doesn't mean that men do not exhibit resilience -- quite the opposite. All adults exercise a certain degree of action to protect themselves (and others) from adverse outcomes of crises. The skill and ability involved in practicing resilience are learned early in life and honed as we age.

Resilient people are often called strong, tough, or adaptable. They recognize the need to accept challenging situations and work with, not against, the threat. Addressing such crises in this manner should lead to learning to live constructively with change. A quote by the German philosopher, Nietzsche -- 'That which does not kill us makes us strong' -- clearly notes the strength that can come from managing adversity well.  Some days the necessary problem solving skills may feel inadequate but equipping oneself with the necessary knowledge and behaviors can mitigate the negative outcomes. It helps us to do our best, even should things not go the way we hope. Myriad emotions converge when one is threatened in some way. Resilience helps us to work through these emotions and focus on the problem at hand rather than how it makes us feel. We do need to acknowledge those feelings, but not to allow them to drive the bus. It can take a lot of fortitude, which could be behind the common synonym "strong" for someone who manages to survive life's nasty episodes. We should understand though, that even 'strong' people need some support from their friends and family. <smile>

A song that fits the topic today is by a wonderful vocal group. Their harmonies are wonderful, much like those of their famous musical parents.  Enjoy!

Hold On -- Wilson Phillips

Day 7 - 49 -- Cross-eyed from Tedium

I was immersed in the cross-eye nature of formatting and editing a series of short articles for a larger project with a looming deadline. Now -- there was a lot in that last sentence, wasn't there? <smile> A productive meeting helped clarify some of the very few content edits needed. Much of the afternoon was devoted to formatting the articles for style, font, and such. The heavier details involved formatting the references and in-text citations to ensure each and every one of them conformed to the citation system chosen today. This means assuring correct syntax and format -- finding errant commas and periods -- those teeny tiny things that can easily be missed when skimming through on a screen. I formatted text to be bold or italicized as required. URL inclusion for online references must follow specific rules of form. All in all, this could create dry eyes, crossed eyes and one hummer of a headache.

This is just the beginning. Once I get through the edits for the larger project document, I will begin formatting a research article for submission to a specific journal. That will bring a different set of rules for the citations -- thus, I will need to learn a different format in very intimate detail. Yay! <smile>. While this sounds like complaining, it is part of the process. It feels wonderful to be at this stage -- that is, near the end of submission preparation. That will clear a big chunk of my desk real estate for the third project underway -- at least until editors return the two submissions with further editorial requests <grin>.

The song today deals with the little things in life. Enjoy!

All the Small Things -- blink-182

Day 7 - 48 -- Award Winning Singer-Songwriter

Today was a quiet holiday Monday. I finished some household chores, dealt with household accounts and cooked a big pot of spaghetti sauce. The latter will age for a day in the fridge and then be part of supper tomorrow. It is a recipe from my mother, who got it from a woman in her church group. I've finessed it along the way and have even had it published in a professional association cookbook -- as a basic tomato sauce with a three or four recipes that used that sauce as a base. It is yummy <smile>.

Lots of things on the to do list for the week ahead. Weather is all over the place. It was sunny and well above freezing most of the day, but the overnight will see double digit temperatures below the freezing point. Mid-week should have warm temps with some rain possible, followed by extra cold days again -- though the cold will be accompanied by sun. So -- one will need to check outside before dressing for a walk this week, it seems. <smile>

An indigenous woman has been honoured with a humanitarian award to be bestowed at the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards in May. For six decades, she has been devoted to music, education, and social justice. As a music legend, her songs have had a political slant. I was privileged to see her live on campus a couple of years back, where she spoke about reconciliation. Her message clearly showed how anger would not help, and how all sides of the conversation could begin to understand each other. Energy emanated from her that evening. She is one of the many 'older' women who travel much to deliver messages of hope.

The song today is by this singer-songwriter. It was from 49 years ago, but the words still fit today. Enjoy!

Soldier Blue -- Buffy Ste. Marie

Day 7 - 47 -- Generational musical differences

While wandering through the household chores today, I pondered how central to baby boomer culture the guitar has been. This generation may have been the first to widely idolize men with guitars. Country and blues players from the early 20th century did have a following, but this wasn't anywhere the size of the global rock guitarists that grew with the boomers. The blues and country genres are still going strong with the original acoustic guitars being replaced by electric and acoustic with electric capability. Other generations of the later 20th century such as the early gen Xers, might have been exposed to some of the rock genres from the 1980s where guitars predominated, but millenials may be less exposed to stereotypical rock band styles as they stream music from many genres. Those exposed to the music of their parents -- the retro crew -- will have heard a very different sound than is common today. The music industry is heavily influenced by electronic music and the takeover of the hip hop scene -- each with far fewer guitars on stage.

Boomers identified themselves through the electric sound. It formed a soundtrack to life. When speaking with others of this generation, a song, and often just a guitar riff, can bring back memories of time, place, sound and emotion. In effect, the music helped to cement memories and now can help to recall memories years down the road. Huge stadium concerts became part of the boomer experience, something that may not translate well to newer generations. Music continues to be part of life for younger groups, but the way it is used has changed dramatically from that of the boomers.

I chose two songs to go along with the musings of today. The first describes the influence of a guitarist and the solitary aspects of the life of an artist. Since not all guitar players are male <smile>, the second song was chosen from a band fronted by sisters with singing, guitar, and song-writing roles. It contains some great guitar work. This song was the first US top ten hit for the band, and for some obscure reason has been stuck in my head of late. Enjoy!

Guitar man -- Bread

Magic man -- Heart

Day 7 - 46 -- Changes in Small Things

The day warmed into the afternoon leaving the frigid feel behind with full sun throughout the day.  Mixed precipitation is expected for tomorrow, so temperatures will remain at or just above freezing for a couple of days. Several people, including me, have noted that the weather feels much like the beginning of a seasonal transition. Spring is still officially about five weeks away, but things seem to be starting that change. Now I do understand that winter will be with us for some time yet -- this is Atlantic Canada after all. Yet, I take hope in the small signs of weather patterns, animal shedding, and migrating birds. Little things can mean a lot <smile>.

Past conversations with friends helped me through the small rough patches of the day. I will need to thank them for their assistance today.<smile> While feeling a bit down in the afternoon, I recalled a comedy routine recommended by a friend. It brought much laughter as promised.  While wandering through music videos, one from a good friend reminded me of an older song that brings hope with the lyrics of a wandering soul working to find itself. I loved this when it first came out and still find it can bring a sense of calm. Enjoy!

As long as I can see the light -- Creedence Clearwater Revival

Day 7 - 45 -- Celebrating Canadian Songwriters

A truly frosty morning greeted me today. A colleague from home said she thought of me today when the temperature dropped. It is cold like Saskatchewan cold today -- high of -10C that dropped into late evening to closer to -20C with feel like temperatures at least 10 degrees colder. There was a bit of blue sky and lighter cloud cover -- so almost sunny during the day. It cleared well by evening with stars quite visible for a change.

A friend and I went to a fund raiser for the summer live theatre season. The plays were announced yesterday along with the actors from here and away. It looks like an interesting mix. The event tonight included a silent auction and an evening of musical performance by local talents. The theme of the evening was Joni loves Leonard, which included some of the well known standards of these two talented Canadian songwriters. I was pleased to hear many wonderful less well known songs. The house was sold out for this Valentine's Day event.

The selections for today come from those covered this evening. The first song contains a favourite line about imperfections -- "there is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." The second song has been recorded by several artists, but I chose one by the songwriter to share today. This one deals with the passage of time. Enjoy!

Anthem -- Leonard Cohen

Circle Game -- Joni Mitchell

Day 7 - 44 -- Pausing

Guess what? There was more snow to move today. It was less than expected and much compacted as temperatures rose. It did need to be moved as there will be a major drop in temperatures overnight and stuff will just freeze solid before morning. Can anyone say ice? <sigh> It is mid-February so spring is getting closer <smile>.

This was my 'me' day -- a 'take it easy' kind of day. It isn't one designed to be selfish, but rather to take some time to rest and recuperate. It is designed to help me focus better at the office tomorrow and actually get some work completed. My big outing was to the store for muffins and the drug store for assistance with the sinus congestion. <smirk>

Today marks the 70th birthday of a singer-songwriter who began as lead singer with a prog rock group in the '70s. During February of 1974, the group had their first charting single. That song is shared here today. An interesting title and metaphor throughout the lyrics make this one a bit more cerebral. Enjoy!

I know what I like (in your wardrobe) -- Genesis (with Peter Gabriel)

Day 7 - 43 -- Not a morning person

The big event of the day involved having my teeth cleaned before repair work starts next week. Much snow fell overnight and had begun as light and fluffy but by morning became heavier, wetter ground cover. My walk to the dental office was like walking through very wet sand -- little traction and much effort to move forward. When I got home, I moved the snow from the path to the street. It was slow work -- heavy and sticky snow glued to the gound in places -- and all with one arm. After lunch wind arrived with sow falling and blowing a bit. Some of the snow blew off branches but much is still stuck there -- looking pretty. <smile>

My afternoon work produced minimal results. One task completed and a couple of others nudged forward. I felt so tired. Early mornings are so not me -- a friend noted that it was good that I was an owl being on the east coast when we need to have a meeting -- as a lark on the west coast of the continent, our meeting times work very well. I can meet later in the day with someone just starting their day. The four hour time difference might be crippling if our locations were reversed. <smile>

A song that the concept of time fit with my trans-continental meetings as well as those within closer time zones. It also was how I felt when waking early for the morning appointment. Some days time speeds by and some days it drags along. Clocks can help to orient people to the current time, regardless of what time we think it might be. Enjoy!

Does anybody really know what time it is? -- Chicago

Day 7 - 42 -- Self Care

That birds of worry and care fly about your head, this you cannot change; but that they build nests in your hair, this you can prevent. -- Chinese Proverb

This proverb came to mind today as I walked along the street going to an appointment. Many surprising things recently occurred or are occurring now -- some positive and some not so much. Managing to problem solve these stresses takes immense energy. Being kind to yourself is extremely difficult at times, but self care is necessary to keep afloat. For example, I forgot to buy new contacts as planned in January, likely due to the sequelae of the fall in mid-month. I'm not driving now and walking is a bit treacherous with the icy sidewalks. So, as I tend not to do often, I may need to take a taxi <grin>. There are solutions.

A song that I enjoyed when I lived in Toronto decades ago, came to mind today. The Goffin and King song is from a few decades earlier, but was covered by a new local group -- one that soon began touring more widely. The video shows the original members; there have been several iterations over the years. The song helped me to relax as I got home from the very busy big city to my tiny apartment in a high-rise building -- the first time I'd lived in one. Looking out over the city from my balcony window, this song fit so well. Enjoy!

Up on the Roof -- The Nylons

Day 7 - 41 -- Managing Pain

The day began with an appointment with the physio. The arm pain was so bad yesterday, that it was clear I needed to go for help. I didn't go last week, as things felt like they were moving towards improvement, even if ever so slightly. I had tears while walking to the appointment and a few more while I sat with that amazing whirlpool bath. When asked what was new with me, I just choked out that I was so tired of this thing hurting. That made me feel self-centred -- I know several people struggling with physical and emotional (or both) pain. My arm pain will pass in the coming weeks. Other's pain will improve with time, also. Having the patience and belief that things will improve helps, but it can be difficult to hold onto that feeling. I've worked hard to notice any minor improvement in arm function or feel, but the remaining pain often wants to take over and drain all energy I have. So working to improve or believe doesn't go as well as planned when there is little energy to muster. Now that is battle imagery, the type of metaphor that I dislike using, but maybe that is what is needed in this case.

Working through the emotional flotsam often occurs in dreams -- places of metaphor, emotion and confusion. The song chosen for today uses amazing imagery in the lyrics. I find this one almost relaxing. Enjoy!

River of Dreams -- Billy Joel

Day 7 - 40 -- Bright Spots in the Day

Today was filled with bright sunshine that was almost blinding by late afternoon. The angle of the sun is very low, so it hits you in the eyes no matter what. Looking at your feet helps when walking. If driving, this won't help much. <smile>  This is in no way a complaint. It was great to see the sun for two days. By evening, clouds were setting in and the north wind picked up just a bit. It had been almost dead calm all day.

A friend took me to the grocery store again this week. What a gift that is. When I can't drive or carry heavy items except with my left hand, this is so wonderful.  It definitely brightens my day. The walk to the street has several patches of smooth, clear ice. Not slipping or sliding today as we walked groceries to the house, was also a blessing. The temperature dropped into the evening, and the house felt so warm as I entered it from outside. Another thing to be thankful for today.

Today is the 78th birthday of a great songwriter -- one who recorded songs and wrote for so many other artists that her songs are part of the lives of most boomers <smile>. I chose a favourite of mine with lyrics noting the importance of friendship and caring. Enjoy!

You've got a friend -- Carole King

Day 7 - 39 -- Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

today was brought to me by the word 'sleepy.' I was up later last night, but had a great sleep and slept in later than my usual waking time. I felt somewhat refreshed when I got up. This helped me to work through the household chores of the day. When I paused for my mid-afternoon chai break, I turned on a recorded program from last week. My next memory was seeing that the program was past the midpoint. Seems I fell asleep -- and I'd only been up for a few hours! <sigh> So it was indeed a sleepy Saturday -- with a planned lie in and an unplanned nap.

Many songs could fit the tenor of the day. I chose one from the debut album of a super group -- chosen for the simplicity of the lyrics, the amazing bass solo and a stellar lead solo with the musician's famous psychedelically painted Gibson. Fantastic listen with this one. Enjoy!

Sleepy Time Time -- Cream

Day 7 - 38 -- Remaining Upright

Several hours of freezing rain overnight and continued freezing drizzle this morning left the world a bit slick. I shoveled early yesterday, so that two to three inches that fell later remained. That was deliberate. With an inch of ice on top of the snow, the snow underneath would provide some tractionable material for walking. On the porch, I stomped through the top layer -- an action that made the most amazing sounds of shattering glass -- very musical. <smile>. Once down the stairs, I stomped my way out to the sidewalk. Luckily the plow had not gone by yet, so there was some slush in areas that gave more ability to walk well.

I decided just after opening the front door that the goal for today was to remain upright. Walking carefully on the icy sidewalks meant watching where my feet were being placed, moving slowly and ensuring the centre of gravity was over my feet and not behind them as is usual on dry surfaces. This took much care and attention, but it worked; I did not fall. The workshop material today was intense. It felt a bit less stressful since the group familiarity brought a sense of comfort. Along with the lecture material were many discussions and several small group activities. The need to ensure self care after covering challenging topics in this mental health first aid course became clear last week. I felt a bit more prepared to deal with things this week. I met friends and went for supper at the pub to catch up on their news of the week. In the evening, a good talk with a dear friend helped me to decompress. All of this helped me to remain upright emotionally, not unlike physically walking on the ice. Cool!

The selection for today deals with another aspect of being upright that came into play when speaking with friends today. Enjoy!

Stand Up for Something -- Andra Day ft. Common

goal to remain upright -- ice and emotions

Day 7 - 37 -- Day of Wonder and Caring

The day revealed some wonderful things -- friends care and asking for help can be beneficial. <smile> Lunch was spent with a great friend as we discussed a number of things. Encouraging words arrived just as I needed them. A couple of online messages from a local friend contained mini pep-talk phrases that helped me to focus and move into the discomfort to take steps to deal with an unwelcome situation. As part of this issue, I took a deep breath and sent a note to a former colleague and acquaintance who could shed some light on technical aspects of the issue. That information was most helpful.

So what did I learn? Asking friends for help can bring positive results. Friend reactions were not negative in any way, with all wishing to help within their expertise area. Requesting help feels like imposing on the time of others. I got none of that today. Friends show concern when things are making one's life difficult and express happiness where things are going well. I came across both of these reactions today. It can be a bit overwhelming, but in a good way. <smile>

While at lunch, a song from the overhead speakers had both of us humming along. It has become a bit of an earworm today <grin>. I've heard it several places recently and can see why this singer-songwriter has captured the attention of many people. The lyrics are poetic and the melody beautiful. The arrangement was left somewhat simple to help focus on the beauty of words and music. Enjoy!

Perfect -- Ed Sheeran

Day 7 - 36 -- Feeling Hopeful

Today was the second day this week that I spent time at the office. Research meetings, finding references for writing projects, and planning schedules for the next few weeks helped me begin to reestablish that part time working rhythm. Granted, the days not spent at the office have held other meetings and project work. I expect this for the short term, since I was away for a length of time since I damaged myself in a fall injury. Things are improving, but we have a way to go -- with both physical damage and finding the old rhythm. I'm feeling hopeful that things will continue to move forward smoothly. 

Feeling optimistic can be challenging for me, though not impossible. Some days it is difficult not to expect everything to go sideways on me, but recognizing that that is an unlikely scenario requires a change in thinking processes. Again, challenging, but not impossible. It does take work to keep that focus, but it will be worthwhile.

The song for today speaks to following your heart -- being brave and believing in yourself. All worth the effort. Enjoy!

Faith of the Heart -- Rod Stewart

Day 7 - 35 -- Online Friends

Twenty five years ago this month, I met an amazing group of music fans -- online. This was during the rudimentary Internet access through newsgroups. The group migrated to different platforms as technology developed the broader Web and then social media. We used various chat rooms with very basic software. Luckily, we had several techie wizards who could help those of us with less programming background to navigate the pages and communicate with our friends.

I have met many of these people in person over the years -- often at concerts, but also when I was at professional conferences in the area where some group members lived, such as Washington DC, New York city, Philadelphia, and Colorado Springs. I met three more for the first time, just this past year. Even when meeting in person for the first time, I know these people well and they spoke and acted just as I'd expected <smile>. Many of these folks have become family -- by choice. We have shared life experiences from the highest highs to the lowest lows. The support from this group is amazing. Among those I know and communicate with regularly, are so many more I would love to meet.

My onscreen nickname came from the song chosen for today. Enjoy!

Saturday's Child -- The Monkees

Day 7 - 34 -- Walking and Talking

Bright sunshine filled the day. After so many grey and cloudy days, this felt amazing. The sun was warm on my back as I walked to an appointment. That was very pleasant and offset the bit of colder wind. Temperatures rose to the point that melting was evident on streets and sidewalks. I spent about an hour moving snow from behind the car -- the small pile left by the guy who plows my driveway. He opened it up to the street. Along the street, the piles from sidewalk and street plows is close to shoulder height. I now have an iceberg about that size in the middle of my front lawn from the relocation of the snow.

Emotionally, it has been an up and down day -- one where I feel like I'm scaling icy mountains or being trapped by them. Some very good perspectives arrived that helped me to see things in a very different way -- positive instead of negative. There are still other negative things to tackle, but this was a beginning. Walking helps to figure things out it seems.

The song chosen today deals with walking. It has a tempo perfect for pacing a brisk walk, too. Enjoy!

I'm Walkin' -- Fats Domino

Day 7 - 33 -- Which will it be -- Sun or cloud?

Today seems to be dominated by videos of rodents across Canada and the US predicting the weather. That meteorologists are reporting this weirdness only adds to my wondering about what predicts long term weather patterns better -- a groundhog seeing its shadow or a meteorologist with a computer modeling program. I hazard a guess that it might be that these two items provide similar levels of prognostication certainty.

I shoveled snow to clear a narrow path to the town sidewalk. The plow man received a call from me to request removal of the piles of wet snow and ice left by the street and sidewalk plows. Once that is completed, I will need to head out again to move the bits left behind the rear bumper of the car. I still am not driving, but feel the need to be ready in case there is an emergent reason for me to leave. I can drive, but choose not to with any regularity until the arm can do what a right arm should do when driving a vehicle. Removal of the piles also means that I can get to a car or taxi that might pick me up without me wading through knee deep -- or deeper in places -- slushy snow. A fun event today was to help a colleague pilot a research questionnaire. The topic is very interesting and I enjoyed the methodological discussions as well as being able to speak to someone who lives a distance from here now. 

The antics of humans partying around groundhog enclosures today made me think, If the animal doesn't see its shadow, spring comes early. If it does see a shadow, winter continues for six weeks more. So, much as I'd like to see the sun, perhaps clouds is what we want on this hopeful day. That brought some songs to mind. I chose one by a woman from Saskatchewan. The album cover shows Saskatoon in the background with the Saskatchewan River as the artist holds a prairie lily, the provincial flower of Saskatchewan.<smile>  Enjoy!

Both Sides Now -- Joni Mitchell

Day 7 - 31 -- Looking Up

The day began very early as the all day workshop starte at 8:30 AM.  The day was sunny and bright, so I was pleased to see the room we were to be ensconced in until 4:30 PM had a full bank of south facing windows. The workshop is for Mental Health First Aid training. The focus is on young adults, being offered through the health and counseling centre of campus, but the principles will cross adolescent, emerging adults, and adults of all ages. It was a long day, with some very difficult topics addressed this week. The second half will occur next week and will include a number of other topics -- all serious in nature, but somewhat less so than what we covered in great detail today.

I felt rather overwhelmed at the end of the workshop. Luckily, a friend had invited me out for pizza and wine with another friend. I was so tired I considered not going, but I headed out. We had great conversation about many topics. When getting ready to leave, I felt less stress from the workshop topics. I recalled walking down the sidewalk yesterday when I had to stand in a driveway as the sidewalk plow went by. The operator and I waved and smiled to each other. Getting back onto the sidewalk I encountered a woman walking a happy little beagle who had chosen to walk in the clean white snow beside the sidewalk instead of the newly cleared pavement. That gave me a big smile to see the dog enjoying the snow -- not something that I tend to do or feel <smile>. I was surprised when I noticed I was smiling and thought to myself, "Oh, there I am." This helped me to begin to find a way to look up instead of down more often. Finding the things that make me smile by looking around me instead of staring only inside myself might help reduce the less happy feelings that we carry around with us at times.

An upbeat song seemed to fit the end of day musings well. The artist is one featured here often. As a fellow keyboardist, I love his piano work as well as the songwriting and singing. Enjoy!

Looking Up -- Elton John

Day 7 - 30 -- Re-learning old Skills

I've been getting used to the new ergonomics of health the dominant arm. It will be several more weeks before the tendons and ligament tears heal. There is improvement each of the past three weeks, but so much more is needed. When moving snow, I've switched to a narrower shovel and use the non-dominant arm to push and lift -- both actions the dominant arm cannot do yet. Challenges exist when working with a new weighting of the shovel and dependence on only one arm to do the work creates need for different posture and balance of the body -- as well as balance of the shovel <smile>. It will take practice, though I'd just as soon not see any more new snow in the front yard this year <grin>.

Learning new skills can be difficult. I suspect my situation is similar to other alterations in ergonomics outside of an injury such as getting used to the weighting of a new kitchen knife or even a new guitar. All require balance and retraining the brain to understand how best to used the new item in a functional and comfortable manner. Practice and patience become necessary traits. Tedium or boredom can set in as patience with the practice wanes. For some items, one can simply return them and try a different new item. In an injury situation, one can't return the dominant arm, in this case, and move on to old routines. I'm attempting to see this as a challenge for the brain -- to stick with the process and learn to do something in a different way.

When heading out for dinner, I came upon a sub-group of the large contingent of crows that gather for their evening discussions of their daily escapades. As I stood on the road and watched them in the trees, as a single entity they rose up and flew off towards the larger group. The rush of wings was amazing to hear overhead. It made me smile and feel privileged to have been a witness to this group thinking process. That led me to a song that fit with the musings of learning to shovel differently -- odd but it worked. <smile>

Learning to Fly -- Tom Petty

Day 7 - 29 -- Mental Health Conversations

Today was the tenth Bell Let's Talk Day, which addresses issues of mental health. This year decreasing stigma and emphasizing the need for improved access to service were heard a lot. Far more youth and young adults are self-identifying with a mental health issue than seen a decade ago. More conversations about such issues occur, particularly with younger age groups. With the growth in recognizing the importance of dealing with issues, comes the concern that available services cannot meet the increased need. Locally we often have a minimum two week wait for seeing someone for initial assessment and treatment plan. Newer online chat based programs exist for students in the province, with a toll-free phone number to speak to someone right away. These are great beginnings, but more health professional positions are required, which may require more training of counselors. Both program expansion and training avenues require funding and time. Efforts are moving in the right direction. It can't be an instant fix.

Sadly, hearings began this week as part of an investigation into the accessibility of services for a person with post-war PTSD who killed his family and himself. This is not an isolated situation. For many, such hearings can be major triggers that add to existing mental health challenges. In a small community such as ours, having people available for talking could address the mental health needs of the town and county residents.

In a 1-hour special about Bell Let's Talk Day, one statement really stuck with me. To decrease stigma, Howie Manell noted that we have to begin with 'baby steps and the first are words." Talking about this is what can legitimize the existence of mental health issues and the need for adequate support services. Two songs came to mind today to address the issues surrounding mental health. The first is a young Canadian artist who wrote a song to describe his experience with anxiety. The second is older, but was written when the artist was a younger man. It describes his early struggle with depression and feelings of worthlessness. Enjoy!

In my Blood -- Shawn Mendes

I'm a Loser -- John Lennon & Paul McCartney (Lennon's experience)

Day 7 - 28 -- Changes in Song Development

The day was grey with just a skiff of snow. A research writing meeting occurred. We are nearing completion of this first phase of the project. After supper, I headed to my night class. Tonight we covered the period from the making and release of the film Help! to the release of Rubber Soul a few months later in December 1965. Between the two albums (Help! soundtrack and Rubber Soul), changes in how music was developed occurred. Rather than polishing songs on stage, Rubber Soul saw the beginnings of songs developed in studio -- from concept to arrangement to recording. Something new had begun. The songs moved from being fairly formulaic to to  a broader variety of song types. They all did not sound the same. This was the starting point of albums with wider range.

I chose to share two songs today -- one from Help! and the other from Rubber Soul. The first is one that may not be known by everyone, but is a great song. The second has been noted to be one of Lennon's finest. Enjoy!

I've just seen a face -- The Beatles (Help!)

In My Life -- Beatles (Rubber Soul)

Day 7 - 27 -- Foiled Plans

Checked in with the dentist today. Repair work will begin next week. There is a certain level of anxiety that comes with that plan. I fear things will look and feel different than they have for my life thus far. Learning to chew differently will not be welcomed. The day ended with a great visit with a friend over wine and cheese. Such fun to do that in mid-week -- something that working didn't always allow.

Several plans were foiled today. I went to the hospital auxiliary gift shop for an item I'd seen last week The place was closed -- the shop, not the hospital <smile>. I've never seen it closed during the day before. Another woman had items to drop off and was unaware of this closure. She also works as a volunteer at the shop. No signs or even notices on social media could be found. So, I'll have to try again next week when I'm up for a meeting. One other store didn't have the products I'd hoped to find, even though their social media sites noted these items were available. Go figure! Instead of shopping, I stopped for a cup of tea and a bowl of soup and attempted to relax and regroup with new plans for needed purchases.


Bad Day -- Daniel Powter

Day 7 - 26 -- Conversations from an Empath Perspective

Laundry done in mid-week instead of weekend feels odd. I spent some of the day catching up on the blogging. So far behind, I'm not sure when I'll get all the drafts turned into real posted blogs <smile>. It will happen, just need to persevere. I had two great chats with dear friends today. From these I received reassurance, support and laughter -- all things I was in need of even if I hadn't quite realized it yet.

Good friends are amazing when they know you and what you need even when you haven't figured it out yourself. How cool is that? While I speak a lot in such conversations, I am the empath with great listening skills. An empath often hears things from people that no one else knows. I've likened it to a confessional situation in some cases -- not all. This means empaths need to find some solid self care and learn to let go of some of the ugly stuff that people need to bring into the light. When in conversation with oral processors -- often extroverts -- who need to talk through their many thoughts to begin to put them order of priority, an empath -- often an introvert -- makes a good pairing. We listen as others process verbally. When I speak, I've generally given a lot of thought to all the options and what comes out is the upshot of much time and effort. It is just a different way of processing ideas and new information. It is a good thing that different processors exist or the world would be very noisy or very quiet <smile>. The mixture is a lovely balance.

One song came to mind when thinking through things today. The title fits the topic well.  (NOTE: At this point, 70 seems it should be a larger number <smile>) Enjoy!

Thinking out Loud -- Ed Sheeran

Day 7 - 32 -- Exciting Outing

Cloud cover reappeared today as a major storm passes along the Atlantic coast. There will be snow and likely other types of precipitation overnight ending tomorrow. It seemed by mid-day that the snowfall amounts had been downgraded locally. We'll see what arrived when I get up tomorrow. I wa doing household chores when the phone rang and friend offered to take me grocery shopping. Still having difficulty driving with the injured arm. I was so excited, looking forward to a trip to the store and to be out in the community. We had a great chat while driving back and forth and as we met throughout the store while filling each of our lists.

I worried a bit that I might need to think about a new perspective -- that 'get a life' concept -- when I was excited to get groceries. There were items that were needed now and not next week, some of which were heavier than I could carry in from the car with any degree of comfort -- such as cat litter. While I often stay in the house all weekend, this showed me that there are days that I do need to head out to clear my mind of the detritus that can cause moodiness. <smile>  Whatever the reason, I maintain that my trip out today improved the 'happy' neurotransmitter levels in the brain. I smiled a bit more than I had earlier in the day. <smile>

The selection today came to mind as I was pondering the trip to the grocery store. It is from the early punk movement in the UK. Enjoy!

Lost in the Supermarket -- The Clash