Day 7 - 212 -- Not Really Alone

Another hot day but with less humidity and a bit more breeze -- so I'll take that one as a win. I spoke with a research colleague in the afternoon and then went out to run two errands. I then rushed over to the band shell in the park to meet a friend for a picnic supper. It was pleasant sitting by the brook under the trees. We had a good visit. It has been a about three weeks since we met last, I think, though I do lose track of time at present. We talked of many things -- laughed a lot and marveled at the weird place the world is right now.

I'll admit to feeling a bit alone most days. Some days this becomes more acute. Well, 136 days ago, I would have called a friend to go for tea or lunch or supper or to come by to chat over a glass of wine. I might have made plans to go to visit friends or family by driving down the highway or flying off somewhere. Those things are more difficult to do now. What I have done often, is met with friends over various platforms. This has been covered in the blog before, but it bears revisiting. Such visits on a screen or even the low tech telephone, do bring us together. Yes. It is not the same as being in the same physical space. But it really can help on those trickier days. Don't get me wrong, I miss hugs at a level that I'm not sure I can even explain -- but virtual visits is all we have for those further away at present. I have two people with whom I've done face to face visits as the isolation bubble was expanded by provincial public health. As of tomorrow, we will be required to wear masks when inside any public building. That makes the smiles a bit more difficult to communicate, but we can work those eyes a bit more so people get the point. <smile>.  I saw an ad shared on social media of a a pullover with a matching mask -- so it has begun -- the mask will be with us for a while, so making statements with them or adding them to our accessorizing seemed inevitable. I'm don't care beyond having fun with some patterns and such, as long as it helps people see these as a social norm.

When listening to a virtual concert tonight, I heard a song that spoke directly to me today -- one of those days with more than its share of 'lonely' moments. I knew it was the song to share here tonight. When searching for a rendition to include with the blog, I found that someone else had already noted the way in which the song fit the isolated feelings. (BTW this is further evidence to support my thesis that there really is very little original thought in the world <grin>). The singers in this version performed virtually much as the singers at the concert this evening did. Stay safe. Enjoy!

You will be found -- Ben Platt (from Dear Evan Hansen)

Day 7 - 211 -- Innovations

The air in the house cooled and dried a bit overnight making the morning feel comfortable. By early afternoon, though, things had changed in response to the extreme sauna outside the window. Humid, wet air was clambering to find a way into the house. Again, the hope is that there will be a slight cooling inside in the overnight. This excessive heat and humidity is supposed to break a bit in the next 24-48 hours. At that point, it will just be hot, not smoking hot. <smile>

The culmination of a project that began a year ago occurred today. My colleague from BC and I presented a session at the virtual conference held by the professional association. Viewership was over 200 people, which is larger than often seen in concurrent sessions when we are all in person at the same venue. It felt good to have the presentation done today. There is still other work to consider, but this major step is completed. I'll admit that the setup in the living room was very warm, but I survived.

A song came to mind while reflecting on the past months of working through lock-down on this project. We would have met virtually anyway given our bi-coastal locales, but I did find that there was a different feeling to the work process when dealing with the pandemic situation. As a professional association, the 'summer of conference' which occurred every Wednesday for 9 weeks, worked amazingly well.  Without a model from which to work, organizers found innovative ways to bring the group together -- and it worked so well! The song shared today reminds me that the way we have worked over the past 4 months is different than the lyrics of this song, but the outcome is much the same. Stay safe. Enjoy!

Takin' Care of Business -- Bachman Turner Overdrive

Day 7 - 210 -- Sweltering

The day began with what are called sharp showers in the UK -- major downpours that last only a few minutes. As the temperature climbed and the sun arrived when clouds moved on, the humidity became oppressive. It was very sauna-like by late afternoon when I headed out to run a couple of errands. I again was very glad for an air-conditioned vehicle. I went to the office to print the speakers notes for the presentation tomorrow. The evening will include several run throughs in preperation.

As the evening wears on, I am expecting the humidity in the house to increase. It was cooler and drier this morning. This will change once the sun sets, but at least we started somewhere more bearable. A heat advisory is in place for tomorrow and the next day or two. Little cooling overnight will happen. While the ambient temperature will be cooler, the humidity will be very high, so opening windows is like letting a river of wet air into the house,which only adds to the discomfort. It will pass with time -- just another thing we have to abide. <smile>

An upbeat song seemed reasonable tonight. Some of the lines describe the discomfort of summer heat. Stay safe. Enjoy!

Summer in the City -- The Lovin' Spoonful

Day 7 - 209 -- Recognizing Positives

The day was cloudy but humid with a cooler breeze in early evening that made a longer walk doable and comfortable. I visited a beautiful little memorial garden. The plants are at the height of beauty with flowers and blossoming shrubs resplendent. The place is peaceful though tinged with a bit of melancholy. I was pleased to visit since it has been months since I was last there. During the winter, plows leave huge piles of snow by the entrance pathways, so late spring through fall are the only times when one can walk or sit and reflect there.

Moments of peace can bring perspective -- a way to let go the fear and recognize the positives in the days. I found myself walking and smiling. That felt so good. People I passed nodded or said hello. That brought further smiles -- or perhaps just bigger smiles. <smile>  Getting outside for exercise helps reduce stress and greeting other people shows we are still socially connected. Recently, psychologists have reported that the weaker social connections with those we don't know well, actually play a major role in maintaining mental health. This is an interesting finding since we often don't recall such socially distant interactions. No smile is too small, it seems.

While walking a song came through the ear buds. It fit my musings well today. Stay safe. Enjoy!

Heal the World -- Michael Jackson

Day 7 - 208 -- Dialing back

The day was cloudy, so more comfortable outside without unrelenting sun beating down -- a break of sorts in the continuing summer heat. I had stopped by a friend's home to chat from a distance. The gardens of flowers were beautiful. Wonderful birds stopped by to feed -- a pair of waxwings and many ruby-throated hummingbirds buzzing about. It felt to calming -- so another break of sorts. So, the rest of the day dealt with low key efforts <smile>.

Taking a break from the non-stop stresses in our days can provide some renewed energy. This hit home again when I pulled back into the driveway to the song shared here today. Stay safe. Enjoy!

Peaceful Easy Feeling - The Eagles

Day 7 - 207 -- Lassitude

I was woken suddenly by a smoke alarm that lasted only long enough for me to get upright and heart racing. I had been in a deep sleep so was disoriented. I checked through the house to see if anything seemed off and found nothing. I wasn't sure if it there would be a repeat concert, so-- resettling didn't happen. Two hours later there was a weird noise outside the house, that turned out to be the landlord trying to seal the leaking gutters (eaves trough in some regions). I learned this when he rang the doorbell. He was back unannounced in the afternoon, once the area had dried, which made me look around again to figure out what the noise was. So, the rude awakening followed by other stress-inducing noises led to a bit of anxiousness on and off all day. Never a dull moment, it seems.

For my outing, I headed to Main Street for quick errands. I purchased some disposable masks as back ups and to have around should a someone come by to work inside the house but not bring their own mask. Other items were grocery in nature -- eggs and cookies and such. <smile> The air was wet and heavy while the sun was very strong and hot. The next week will be pretty much like today with little cooling overnight. Summer in the Maritimes. <smile> Laundry was completed along with a couple of other weekend chores, which leave lots more for tomorrow. Just living the dream <grin>.

The world weariness of late has been telling in people all around -- but this misery isn't happy to have company <sigh>. The selection today describes the feeling well. <smile>  Stay safe. Enjoy!

I want to be sedated -- The Ramones

Day 7 - 206 -- Recharge and Refuel

The day was lower key with one appointment by phone and three small errands. The weather was warm and sunny with cooler breezes, which made it very pleasant outside. In the car, it was good to have air-conditioning -- a black interior gets warm in the sun.

I had hoped to do some chores around the house and yard that have been waiting for some time and maybe get some 'fun' things set up for the weekend -- well, things that have been enjoyable in the past that may constitute me time or fun time. Much of this didn't get touched today. Some days everything feels like a chore. So, I will try to switch my mindset to get back to a less stressed space over the weekend.

A song title fits my feeling for the past few days. Definitely time to recharge. Stay safe. Enjoy!

Running on Empty -- Jackson Brown

Day 7 - 205 -- Finding Calm

Ever have a day when everything seems like an effort -- even the 'fun' things? It is difficult not to feel defeated on such days. And, yes -- that is war or competition imagery there, which I generally work hard to avoid. <sigh>  On such days, I need to find something that can bring normalcy and a sense of peace -- a soak in a tub (only if you have a/c these days), listening to music (may need to carefully curate the playlist to avoid triggering images or ideas so classical or instrumental may be better choices), talking with a friend or family member, going for a walk when weather allows this (could do an indoor walk at mall or larger building adhering to distancing and mask guidelines), doing a jigsaw puzzle, or watching a movie.  The goal is to find things that can help you to decompress -- this will be different for each person. We will each have days that are more challenging than others.  Recognizing the feelings and going with them is important. Activities should help to work through the feelings not to ignore or bypass them. Feelings need to be expressed not hidden.

One melody that got me through the writing of a doctoral dissertation is shared here tonight. I have included two versions from differing eras. Stay Safe. Enjoy!

Adagio in G Minor -- T. Albinoni -- The Doors AND the Berlin Philharmonic

Day 7 - 204 -- Returning

Today was spent mainly indoors. A virtual meeting and online conference session were at the centre of the action. In the late afternoon, I walked out to campus to find paper files in the office. The walk felt pleasant even if a bit on the warm side; it wasn't as horrible as the heat yesterday. While on campus, I picked up the two masks provided for returnees. My approval to return is at the end of phase 1 opening, with phase 2 beginning in the coming week or two. Anyone on campus will be required to wear masks indoors and outdoors except when alone in a private office. The masks add to my growing collection. these two were solid colour - one black and one white -- that will go with any outfit. Perhaps this requirement will help others in the area to wear masks when out and about town.

Wearing masks along with distancing helps us all be safer. This also reminded me of a song title. Imagine. <smile> Stay safe. Enjoy!

Walk of Life -- Dire Straits

Day 7 - 203 -- Hot, Hot, Hot

Today felt hotter than Hades as the day progressed. Temperatures did begin to drop around 6PM -- it will be cool enough to sleep well tonight. Warmer days are expected for the rest of the week, but not the low 30s temps with higher 30s feel like temps of today. So, it will be hot, just not smoking hot. <smile>

My day was mainly indoors with two online meetings to deal with the presentation for a virtual conference being held next week. Lots of work and practice left to do in the next week. My only outing was an errand that involved no encounters with people and a drive in a car with a/c. 

Summer heat has never been my favourite time of year. I like warm days (about 24C) with cool nights (mid-teens). I have encountered the tropical heat and humidity in New Orleans, Washington, DC and even NYC. Each has reminded me of Bangkok or Singapore -- too hot and way too steamy. Living by an ocean as I do now, similar type of weather descends during July and August. Growing up on the prairies, the air was drier. Wind often accompanied hotter weather such that going outside felt like entering a blast furnace. Overall, I find heat uncomfortable, which is why I love the transition seasons of  spring and fall.

I'm sharing a song with a title that fits the weather today. Stay safe. Enjoy!

99 in the Shade -- Bon Jovi

Day 7 - 202 -- Conversations

A heat advisory led the day. Cloud cover prevailed until mid-afternoon, which slowed the heat infiltrating the house. This evening holds promise of a hot and humid night -- less than ideal sleep conditions. It should break a bit in the next 36 hours with overnight lows a few degrees below the forecast for tonight. It is July in the maritimes, after all.

While visiting with friends by phone, video chat or in person over the past couple of weeks conversations has turned to several local and global responses to many different situations. In all cases, some reactions struck us as odd, bizarre, nonsensical or scary -- or all of these at once. I found myself often articulating the same idea in different words. To paraphrase, these statements went something like, "People are weird." or "That's too bizarre." --  and other similar phrases. Attitudes, actions and convictions left us wondering. Were we losing faith in humans? Not fully. I found it interesting that from the best of human kind seen in a tragedy --think March with the global pandemic -- it seems that if things go on too long, human attention is turned inward rather than outward.  Fear, uncertainty and disrupted routines may have left many people unable to keep up a positive and helping attitude. We see more negativity in society whether in person or on social media. This spread seems to be outpacing the positiveness of the earlier days of isolation. Working to send less negative messages into the world takes effort, but I encourage us all to try.

When thinking through the similarity in responses to recent conversations, a song title came to mind.  Stay safe. Enjoy

People are Strange -- The Doors

Day 7 - 201 -- Heat and History

The heat is returning. Today was sunnier and warmer than the past few days. The trend forecast is for higher temperatures with feel like temperatures into the high 30s (100+F). A week in July in the Maritimes, I guess. <smile> I did some housework before it got too warm, ran out for milk, and visited with a friend. The bit of breeze that passed by every few minutes was pleasant. It took the sting out of the heat.

Today marks the 73rd birthday of a major rock guitar player -- Brain May. He is best known as lead guitarist with Queen, but has also written may songs and had a music career after Queen. When I hear his name, I often think of him playing God Save the Queen from the rooftop of Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Queen's golden Jubilee. Or I see him on stage with Pavarotti playing guitar and singing Who Wants to Live Forever.  There is much more to this man, though. May completed doctoral research work and received a PhD in astrophysics. He was chancellor of a university. He also contributes his time and efforts to several charitable organizations to forward their advocacy efforts, particularly in the area of animal rights.

May had many wonderful guitar solos with Queen. He has called the one I share here his favourite. Say safe. Enjoy!


Was it all worth it -- Queen

Day 7 - 200 -- Searching and Seeking

Today I spent time hunting for things -- files, objects my sanity <smile>. For whatever reason, some objects have squirreled themselves away somewhere bizarre, since they are not where expected and even in many very unexpected places. The files meant searching drives to no avail. One hard copy of a document was not on the shelf or in the file cabinet where it should have been BUT this one had been scanned earlier and with a huge search of the hard drive, the files were found. So -- one out of many with a happier ending today.

Searching for items that should be where we expect them only to discover they aren't there can be maddening. I've hunted for books on the shelves sure that I knew the colour of the binding only to discover that the binding was white and the cover -- which can't be seen when lined up on a shelf -- was the colours I was hunting for. Memory plays tricks. Some things I've had at home and we all know I haven't been going elsewhere very often and certainly not with research papers. So why are things not where the should be? It is one of life's mysteries, for certain.

A song lyric came to mind that deals with items we have determined to be 'lost'. Stay safe. Enjoy!

Where the Lost Things Go -- Emily Blunt

Day 7 - 199 -- Something and Nothing

I visited with a friend later today. While that may not sound noteworthy, it is. I'm not sure we've had an in person visit since March 12 or 13th -- just when this whole pandemic was just being recognized. We have tried to keep in touch online and with video chats, but sitting in person in the park today was lovely. The day was sunny, warm with a great breeze -- and it wasn't too hot (that will return next by Sunday). We talked about many things, laughing as we always do. We marveled at how much has happened since we spoke online just last week. I felt a bit rejuvenated after that.

Other than running some errands and working on a couple things at home, I did little of note. Interesting how one can be busy but not seem to be doing anything. That reminded me of a silly ditty that I'll share here. Stay Safe. Enjoy!

Busy Doing Nothing -- Richard Sherman

Day 7 - 198 -- Surprise Sunshine

The forecast for today was clouds with some sun peaking through. As I made breakfast, I looked out the window and saw nothing but bright blue sky -- no clouds anywhere. So, it was a surprise sunny day. I did a quick walk out to the drug store to pick up some staples. It was pleasant walking in the sun for a change. Plans altered mid-day, so I didn't get as far with projects as hoped. As Scarlett O'Hara said, "Tomorrow's another day."  <smile>

I completed the  two online courses and quizzes required before I can return to campus with some regularity. It took some time, but has been completed. hopefully, the final approval will arrive quickly. By the end of the afternoon, I found myself nodding off a bit and by early evening could scarcely keep the eyes open. Rest will help, I'm sure.

A song about sunshine seemed in order today -- mentions sunshine and surprise. Hope this one works for you all. Stay safe. Enjoy!

Sunshine of your Love -- Cream

Day 7 - 197 -- Get Cooking

Overnight it cooled even more and the house now feels comfortable again. This meant that I could cook without fearing heat stroke <smile>.  So, I took many green things from the fridge -- all that wonderful produce I got at the market on the weekend. I sauteed rainbow chard with garlic scapes, green onion, with thyme and dried chili flakes. So wonderful. This goes well with poutlry, meat and eggs or just on its own. YUM. I added it to Thai chicken burger  and perogies. All so very tasty.

The strawberries I got from the store have been mascerated and mixed with balsamic vinegar and a dash of fresh ground pepper before serving as a type of shortcake made with sponge cake. I also had them last night with Grande Marnier, in a type of strawberries Romanoff. Again, all so very yummy.

The song for today was chosen for the name of the band performing. Interesting lyrics from the psychedelic era. Stay safe. Enjoy!

Incense and Peppermints -- Strawberry Alarm Clock

Day 7 - 196 -- Future Hope

Imagine -- 60 years ago Jane Goodall arrived at Gombe with her mother, a second hand army tent, a notebook and a pencil. Today she was on her 5th Zoom call of the day when I heard her speak to her 60 year long research project with chimpanzees. The project has expanded to deal with sustainability of natural spaces in this world, but chimpanzees remain the central aspect of the studies.

I have admired this woman for some time. She spoke in Saskatoon when I lived there. I stood in line to have my book autographed. She was so gracious with her time and took time to greet each of us in that long line. From her time as a young woman who hadn't been to univeristy, finding her way through the bush to find and observe the chimpanzees, she has demonstrated tremendous bravery, as well as faith and belief in the project and humanity. As a female researcher, she challenged commonly held beliefs when she wrote and presented about apes making and using tools. She did go to school and obtained a doctoral degree, helping many other young research students along the way. Dr. Goodall looks forward with hope -- something our world could use at present. She is generally away from home doing presentations and meetings for over 300 days each year, even now into her 80s. We can learn a lot about living from this woman -- kindness, positivity, determination, creativity and so very much more. I recommend the videos on the Jane Goodall Institute web site and the newer documentary Jane Goodall: The Hope. 

The song for today deals with hope for the future. Stay safe. Enjoy!

Hope of Deliverance -- Paul McCartney

Day 7 - 195 -- stronger together

Tonight I headed out to a grocery store I haven't been to since February. I went late in the day to avoid crowds. There were maybe 30 shoppers there. When I entered the foyer, a huge sign proclaimed "sanitized carts here" A sea of carts were present. I got one, looked around for hand sanitizer and finding none, swore under my mask, used my own sanitizer and entered the store. Shoppers and workers were wandering around, ignoring arrows and distancing for the most part and doing so mask-less. I did see one other person with a mask -- a fellow health professional. I wondered to myself what that might show.  My take on this is that public health messaging may need to be revised a bit. Recommending masks, distancing and hand washing after saying no new cased have been identified may send an unanticipated message -- that there is no disease, so we really don't need to follow the guidelines closely. That all people are not being tested, should be part of the message -- to make it clear we don't know how many are infected. There disease is not 'there', it is 'here.'

Fear has made social media become a bastion of ugliness. Aggressive rudeness to anyone outside of the area inhabited by posters are told to stay away and not contaminate the posters' surround. Is the fear behind such posts being dealt with by following public health guidelines. Even when regions open up to people from outside, continuing to mask, distance and hand wash will go a long way to minimize spread. Infection can be reduced dramatically with such measures as we've seen around the world and the closer neighbourhoods. If this doesn't occur, further lock down and major disease spread is likely. When border close or travel is curtailed, families and loved ones are caught on opposite sides, not being able to see each other except through a screen. It behooves us to remember this when we become a bit panicked. Think of who we are as a society and be kind to others. Practice kindness and never assume as we are often incorrect when we do <smile>.

A song came to mind when i was thinking of how all people on this planet are facing the same fears. Working together from a place of kindness and love can help us all get through this so we no longer have to remain separate together, but can be physically together again. I chose the original version for the bright young faces of the artists <smile>.  Stay safe. Enjoy!

We are the World -- USA for Africa

Day 7 - 194 -- Cats, Dog and Take Out

Grayness greeted the day with sun making a brief appearance just in time to set. The brisk wind brought moist warm air, that increased the feel-like temperature considerably. tomorrow is to be extremely hot and then we may get a break with some cooler nights and cloudy days.

Indoors I worked on some housekeeping projects and some small tasks for uncoming research presentations. By supper the kitchen felt a bit humid and I wanted something light. I decided to walk out to pick up some Chinese food -- a wonderful won ton soup filled with vegetables and some steamed dumplings. The walk was pleasant, meeting the neighbour cat and dog for a chat along the way. They each bring a smile whenever we meet.

I'l admit that the choice of song tonight is likely the worst song that I've posted in this blog in 6.5 years! However, it covered the topic of my major outing to Main Street for take out (or take away in some parts). If this is your first blog visit, trust me, they are generally better <smile>.  Stay safe. Enjoy!

Chinese Food -- Alison Gold

Day 7 - 193 -- Farmers Market Day

The day started with curbside pickup from the local framers market after an early phone chat with a friend. As the season progressed, the produce selection expands. I came home with mixed baby lettuces, great green onions, garlic scapes, and amazing rainbow chard -- full grown and gorgeous. To top it off, I got a package of oat cakes. It is wonderful to order online from all the local vendors and then chat with them when they load the items into the car. it is different that a wander around the market with conversations with several vendors and customers, but this iteration meant local growers still have an income and customers still have the great foods.

Many people get weekly or bi-weekly boxes of produce through local food stores or community supported agriculture programs. Many vendors are small or even micro-operations. Such enterprises don't have enough output to sell to usual food retailers. Farmers Markets and CSAs provide a viable economic opportunity for smaller growers. Shopping at the market reminds me of the agricultural area that I grew up in and lived in until I moved to Atlantic Canada. There is still much agriculture here, but not the larger operations found in the prairies.

The song chosen to share today is a tribute to farmers. There are several good songs out there like this, but this one always comes to mind first. Stay safe. Enjoy!

Farmer's Song -- Murray McLauchlan

Day 7 - 192 -- Empathy

Hope, compassion and respect for the future -- some people have noticed the lack of these ideals among many others lately. While it has always been there, we might see more right now due to the social isolation many of us have been experiencing. Fear, frustration, and feelings of deprivation and  uncertainty may lead to expressions of self preservation and entitlement. Much research on impacts of isolation over the past decades indicated changes in personality among some individuals. It may be difficult at present to be compassionate and kind, but it is important to continue to do this. Such actions can help with a the lost sense of social connection which can release neurotransmitters that make us feel calmer -- a warm and fuzzy feeling <smile>. 

Feeling part of a larger group brings many positives. Perhaps such connections could act as a form of community building while distanced -- a group working towards increasing empathy in lives both close and distant. Focus on acts of kindness and advocacy. This may help build a future we can all enjoy. A song that calls for people to join forces came to mind today. Stay safe. Enjoy!

Join Together -- The Who

Day 7 - 191 -- new beginnings

An interesting aspect of the day involved completing an application to return to my campus office more regularly. This is required as the campus plans to reopen. Once approved, this will eliminate e-mail messages to security office each time I enter and leave my office. I haven't been going often, just once in every 10 days or so for about an hour or two at most.

In the late afternoon and early evening, I spoke with two friends -- one online and one by phone. I does help to see and hear friends and find things that make me smile. It helps me be more positive about things. Even a few minutes with smiles means a lot with the global news being what it is. I then ran a couple of errands and had a late supper. I used the oven today, since it is unlikely to be done for a several days due to the heat wave expected to begin tomorrow. I really have enjoyed the 'cool' days of this past week and hope that extreme heat doesn't stay too long before we get a bit of a break again.

So, it seemed that things are changing or beginning again -- the heat and campus work spaces. The journey continues <smile>. Stay safe. Enjoy!


Everyday is a Winding Road -- Sheryl Crow

Day 7 - 190 -- Greyness

I spent much of the day in front of a computer screen. We had a research meeting and virtual conference presentations. The pile of 'need to do' items did not change today. There's always tomorrow <smile>.

In the early evening I went for a walk in the cloudy grey light that had been with us all day. Rain began mid-evening and will become steady overnight and into the morning. Hotter temperatures are forecast for the end of the work week into next week. So, I chose to enjoy the cooler breeze in a walk today while I still could. Much of the day felt as grey as the cloud cover -- just blah and in some spots a bit sad. The whole COVID situation can become overly trying some days, yet, we've made it through 116 days give or take, so we can do this. Loss of impetus is present more than earlier in the process. Again, with some work, we'll get through it.

The song chosen for today contains lyrics that reflect the greyness of the day and note the loss of perceived simplicity of something we knew to something less well known. Stay safe. Enjoy!

Shades of Grey -- The Monkees

Day 7 - 189 -- Bumps in the Road

Today I filled the car with gas for the first time ever. It came to live in my driveway in late December with a full tank of gas. Obviously there was limited driving since then. From January to mid-March my arm was healing so couldn't drive during that time. Then cam lockdown with no where to drive to anyway -- other than picking up groceries every 10-14 days. With the heat and humidity recently, I've driven places I usually would do in a longer walk So -- yesterday on the way home I heard the notification 'bing' telling me fuel would be needed soon. <smile>

The sun shone today which helps with overall feelings about things. A major report was mailed off today -- a bit late, but it should be fine. A meeting about a research project left me with more questions than answers. We will get new directions sorted out in a meeting later this week. A quick call with a friend brought news of further lock downs after 'opening up' led to lack of adherence to public health protocols. <sigh> So, new directions on many fronts today.

Interestingly, Ringo Starr celebrates his 80th birthday today. That number surprised me for some reason. <smile> That led me to choose one of his songs to share today. This one seemed to fit the many situations encountered recently. Stay safe. Enjoy1 (and for the birthday boy -- Peace and Love!)


It Don't Come Easy -- Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band

Day 7 - 188 -- Communication Barriers

It has been a grey dismal day in terms of weather -- heavy cloud cover and showers throughout the day. Temperatures have been cooler than normal for this time of year. I will admit to enjoying the cooler evenings and nights, which are much more conducive to sleeping <smile>.  I made a visit to the office on campus to print some items and to pick up a couple of things stored in another office. The latter will be moved to my current office -- mainly decorative things to make the place look like mine <smile>. While in the other office, I had a great visit with a friend and former colleague. It has been a very long time since we have chatted in person. We followed protocol and wore masks and distanced during the visit. It was so difficult to refrain from hugging as we parted. <sigh> Some days the lack of human contact is so overwhelming.

As social animals, it has become clear that seeing people in three dimensions is so very different from the 2-D on screen. However, I wouldn't trade the online visit capability for anything short of being in the same place. As I've said before, I feel mental health would be worse for everyone if we only had telephone calls and mailed letters for communication. That said, being able to put a hand on someone's shoulder, hug them or kiss them would help get us through these isolating times. Researchers have found that touch is key to human well-being. Not only does this ability affect the way we communicate and demonstrate our bonds with others, touch also has profound affects on mental and physical health. Psychological research over the past decades has determined that touch communicates many emotions. Touch soothes and shows compassion. This can reduce stress and anxiousness with positive impacts on cardiovascular stress. Touch shows love and leads to the release of the hormone oxytocin, the love or cuddle hormone. When under threat or extreme stress, touch can reduce these discomforts. A touch by one person can lead to reciprocal touching. In short, touching communicates feelings even without seeing facial expression or hearing vocalizations.

That brings up another aspect of communication that is challenging humans these days. Smiles and facial expressions communicate many concepts, but with masks these are hidden to some extent. People have to work harder to use vocal inflection and eye expression to send intended messages. The recipient also has to work more to interpret the reduced visual, aural and touch cues. Some of this has been written about recently with the use of online meeting software, where viewers have to work harder to find these communication cues. All this extra work in communication makes people very tired since it is a huge job for the brain to parse the bits and pieces.

Over the past 111 days, I've contemplated getting a hazmat suit and hugging all my friends. <smile> The premier has told people to enjoy that  first hug when their household bubbles increased and then when those increased further. I'm still waiting with less patience each day <smile>. There are some great lines to this upbeat blues tune -- lines that fit how I feel quite well. Stay safe. Enjoy!

Hug You, Squeeze You -- Stevie Ray Vaughn

Day 7 - 187 -- Paperwork

Today household paperwork filled the afternoon. Some items completed and a couple others are almost done. Things took longer than expected, so other tasks on the infamous list will get moved forward into the next few days.

The items on the list for today have been hanging over my head for some time. I'm not sure why, but they seemed to huge to tackle. Getting down to it today took a lot of emotional energy. To finish one of the major items didn't provide the relief I'd expected, but perhaps once the other bits are done, I'll feel that. During a walk in the early evening, I listened to a playlist. Several songs in, the lyrics made me look up at the sky -- blue with wispy clouds. Then I saw a shrub that had deep red buds that were opening into tiny white flowers. Not sure what it was, but it was gorgeous. That is when I realized that I'd been looking at the ground as I walked and not paying attention to what nature had to offer today. That song lifted a weight and helped me feel a bit perkier <smile>

Today is the 77th birthday of Canadian Robbie Robertson. In the 1960s, he was part of The Band and toured with Bob Dylan. I'm sharing one of my favourites written by Robertson. It is sung by a great voice -- Levon Helm. The title reminded me of what music had removed for me today. Stay safe. Enjoy! 

The Weight -- The Band

Day 7 - 186 -- Summer Saturday

Another cooler summer day with cool nights that help with sleeping. Many housekeeping chores were attended to today. In the afternoon, I had a lovely visit with a friend. We were outside in comfy patio chairs in a park-like area of the long term care facility down the street. We placed our chairs so they were distanced. The day was perfect to sit outside and chat -- so pleasant to catch up in person and not only on the phone or social media. In the evening, I attended a virtual concert that brought some smiles and had me singing along with a couple of the more familiar songs. A couple of things that created stress occurred, but I found ways to begin to manage it all. One of these was a walk where I saw some great flowers along the way. So, the day feels fairly good day overall. 

A song that came to mind for the first line of the song. I then laughed as the second line ran through my mind. That clinched it -- this was the song for the day. Several of other lines fit the thoughts of the past few months. Stay safe. Enjoy!

Saturday in the Park -- Chicago

Day 7 - 185 -- A Mixed Bag

It cooled overnight and was a pleasant sunny day today. I went for a mid-afternoon walk down Main Street. Seeing some stores and offices opened again felt good. On the way home, I stopped at the library to pick up books that I'd ordered on Tuesday. It turned out that these volumes are new to the shelves at our local branch, though the online system doesn't show this clearly. So, no need to order these particular books online anymore or place them on hold  (unless checked out by other patrons). Cool.

I spoke with a friend by Skype before supper. This helped me to laugh and relax a bit. I had been feeling sad earlier in the day. Now, I am still sad, but a happier perspective is present. We truly are social beings and when not interacting with other people for long stretches of a day, mood can become altered a bit. Now, I've mentioned the power of small things -- things we might have taken for granted before all this began. Well, tonight the house was cool enough that I could do something that is rare in summer months. A bath! This isn't a usual evening event like it is in the winter simply due to the relative temperature rise in the summer season. Showers take over when temperatures soar.

A song lyric that mentions taking a bath seemed fitting today <smile>. Stay safe. Enjoy!

Bath -- Harry Nilsson

Day 7 - 184 -- Smooth and Rocky Paths

Today I have a new hot water heater. A new kitchen faucet and tap set was installed, too -- a good one to replace the cheap one <smile> and no more incessant dripping. It seems the hot water heater had rusted on the underside and was likely to burst anytime soon. That the element blew before this occurred can be termed a very good thing. Having a new faucet with a lever water control instead of little taps is delightful!  Things like this help me find positives in the days -- small things that may have been overlooked a few short months ago. The plumber and landlord each wore masks when working and walking upstairs.and even had disinfectant wipes to clean after the work -- other actions with large impacts. A warm shower this evening was a delight. Two days washing from the sink completed! Meteorologists forecast that there will be a brief cooling trend before the next heat wave descends. This, too, is a good thing -- well the cooling trend, at least. <smile> I'm liking this trend.

Having one positive in a day can help manage the less good things that arrive daily and add to the heavier burden we carry at present. Lately I've felt deeper in the liminal space that arrived March 11. Hope -- since certainty is impossible -- has helped me feel that I'd found a smoother path through the untrodden terrain. Unlike the fire swamp, we don't know what dangers lie on our journey through this space -- at least Westley and Buttercup knew of the lightening sand, flame eruptions and ROUS. <grin>. Sadly, we have to encounter things to be able to communicate to others what to expect. As with any communication, the messages get garbled or outright rejected due to personal experience and beliefs. The bizarre things encountered are unbelievable, which opens the door to cognitive dissonance and the refusal to accept some truths as such. Personally, when I think I have a plan to traverse this unknown territory and something new pops up, my hope is quashed briefly and sadness, anger or fear take over. I work to regain some footing that can be somewhere along the continuum of easy to excessively complex. That depends on many factors only some of which I can control (very few actually). While it may be that all of life is a liminal space as we transit from one point to the next through uncharted lands, the path we wander will have smooth and rough areas. When thinking of the process of being knocked on my butt and desperately (sometimes) trying to find a sliver of hope made me realize that this fits within the definition of resiliency -- a key component of health and wellness. Interesting-- I hadn't thought of it as anything beyond distress; yet this included a problem solving approach.  Hmmm -- another learning only achieved through reflective (and reflexive) thinking.  More pondering will occur with this one, I'm certain.

Thinking through this current journey left me with the idea that it is all about how I react to the barriers thrust into my path. To this point life has had ups and downs, as expected. Many current events are unclear so all feel like downs. They may not be, if we examine them a bit more closely. Nothing is ever a dichotomy -- at least in my postmodern world <smile>. Often events are both and everything in between the two anchor points. So, if I look for the positive in anything I encounter, I may find that glimmer of hope hiding where I least expect it to be. A song that alludes to some of this journey and personal reactions is shared here today. Stay safe. Enjoy!

Shambala -- Three Dog Night

Day 7 - 183 -- Strange Celebrations

Happy Canada Day! This was different from any July 1 I recall. For starters, I was by myself in the house most of the day. Often, days were filled with barbecues __ and more recently at make-your-own pizza parties -- and visiting friends and family. Evenings would be trips to see fireworks -- again, more recently this was in the yard of friends. Today, celebrations didn't seem right. The past six months have brought so many nasty events. There have been some great things happen, too. Focus on these brings smiles, but often mixed with tears. The noon hour show from Ottawa was not the same and the Town and County had a virtual celebration recorded complete with fireworks accompanied by Handel's music for the royal fireworks. Celebrations are rarely solitary in nature. Sharing the joy with others works so much better.

Today I traveled down the rabbit hole. I read a few things online that I generally just pass by in order to remain calm and sane. Even headlines were a bit much. I work to find the hope in each day, yet some days all the uncertainty stomps over the faint glimmers I've uncovered. Today was such a day. I found smiles with a call to a friend. Another friend called me and we chatted a bit. I went for a walk and felt frustrated by the number of loud inebriated people I encountered with extra loud music inundating the neighbourhood. Parties are fine. Inflicting this on others all day long and into the early morning hours, is not fine.<sigh> The curmudgeon in me perhaps.

Well, sorry that isn't really uplifting. Some days are like that. The song that I thought of earlier in the day still feels right to share tonight. It holds hope. Stay safe. Enjoy!

Give me Love, Give me Peace on Earth -- George Harrison