There was much time wasted this afternoon with online application software that was unable to let me add information to what they noted was a required field. <sigh> I sat on hold for an hour and forty minutes -- the system message told me it would be longer than a 10 minute wait that I expected to be 20-30 not 100 minutes. The fellow on the line was helpful and added the phone number from his end. He also recommended that I wipe the cache, reboot and start the process from the beginning. Odd -- but there had been a hack of some parts of the site a week or two ago, so they shut a lot down while they work to fix it. I just noted to the guy on the phone that today was certainly a Monday. He agreed. <smile>
Early evening was spent getting groceries. It was challenging to go into the store. Got most things on the list. I headed to the other grocery outlet for a couple of items not carried at the first store. I rejoiced when I was able to buy 'real' grapes and not the hybrid varieties carried exclusively at the first store. I also encountered an amazing rainbow within a stormy looking shelf cloud formation. Seeing that led to a feeling of hope -- like a reminder of something I know, but can be buried with all the excessive detritus that flies my way daily.
A song about rainbows seemed to suit the day. I love this version by a Canadian singer-songwriter. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Twenty minutes I'll never forget -- Sitting at Mission Control at Johnson Space Center in Houston, watching the shuttle fly from Newfoundland into the darkness over Asia. Yes. I'm an unabashed space junkie. I grew up during the race for space. I've seen on television missions from the early Mercury to ISS -- seeing the ISS and Space Lab with shuttle fly over the house. Research from these missions have affected daily life for many of us. Corningware cookware from the heat shield tile technology, medical technology to treat osteoporosis and the muscle and protein loss of aging and acute and chronic illnesses. We learned how to tweak metabolism to mitigate and even reverse such losses. I included such projects in course lectures whenever possible. Food technology in preservation techniques such as freeze drying have affected shelf life of many products. Foods on missions moved from the pureed foods served in toothpaste-style tubes of the earlier missions to the favourite, and holiday meals included in current missions -- including birthday cakes made by astronauts' mothers taken in shuttle missions and beyond.
A treasured photo of me with Dr. Roberta Bondar, Canada's first female astronaut (MD, neurologist, pilot, space medicine scientist, nature photographer) who flew in shuttle Discovery and worked on the Spacelab. In my living room, I have a framed photo of me holding the picture of Dr. Bondar and me as I stood beside that same shuttle (complete with Canadarm) at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, VA My mom had that photo in her living room, too.
The song today addresses space travel by us and others <smile>. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Fifteen years ago today, Katrina (followed by Rita) descended on much of Louisiana and Mississippi, with catastrophic effects in New Orleans. I recall the news reports and images of people sitting on rooftops, standing on the access roads to the double span bridge, and wading through chest deep water to get to the shelter. The homes marked by rescue and recovery workers were haunting, as were the wrapped bodies by the side of a road. Dietitian colleagues shared their experiences in hospitals where power was severely limited. One woman slept by the only freezer that made the ice needed to keep food cold. Kitchens were flooded since most are built in the basements. Food service administrators scrambled to move food items to a higher floor where emergency food provision could occur for the patients and staff not evacuated.
Nearly three years later, I attended a conference in New Orleans that dealt with the resiliency of local food systems. This was the perfect place to hold such a meeting. Tours of the area still showed the many areas still in need of clean up and rebuilding. The majority of people who had been evacuated outside the state were not returning. The anger and grief was palpable. The populace still felt abandoned and ignored. I returned two year later for a conference on rebuilding economic systems. A different attitude was present. The term 're-birth' had been adopted for the rebuilding of a city that would be smaller than it had been in 2005 -- most of the people evacuated out of state were not returning at this five year mark. Recovery at this time point included greater flood protection and infrastructure refurbishing. The east side of the city was beginning to rebuild homes. The Musicians Village was taking shape in the lower ninth ward -- a colourful cluster of houses. Other houses included a group of green buildings -- sustainably built and managed. Things were looking up, but it took several years to get there. I own a t-shirt that helped fund the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fun. It holds an image of Fats Domino's piano after being flood ravages. It brought tears the first time I saw it as I'd lost my piano in a flood. I could never bring myself to see his actual piano remains in a New Orleans museum.
The selection today is a song written based on the songwriter's personal experiences during the catastrophe. He was also instrumental in getting the Musician's Village project underway. Stay safe. Enjoy!
All These People -- Harry Connick, Jr. ft. Kim Burrell
There is a feeling of fall in the air today. Lower daytime high and overnight low temperatures give a different feel to the air. The light quality of the sunshine has changed slightly so the colours are more muted. All of this signals the nearing of a new season, one that involves transitions in temperatures from the extremes of summer to the extremes of winter.
Autumn is a favourite season for me. The passage of time has been odd this year. Not only does it move by quickly due to age, but it both drags and flies by simultaneously due to the pandemic world. That August is nearly over means nearly two seasons have passed since we began a more isolated way of living. I find this difficult to fully realize. One thing that has become patently obvious is that time and who we spend it with are most important -- particularly as we age. Time becomes a precious commodity -- something that the pandemic helped to emphasize for me.
The song that came to mind today fits with my thoughts of time passing. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The day was sunny with a cool wind. I worked on household chore catch-up and spoke with two friends. It is great to share what has been happening in over the past week in each others lives.
I planned to go for a walk at the end of the afternoon.By then the sky was overcast and spitting rain welcomed me as I headed out to the drug store. I chose to take the long way home so that I did get to my daily walk. Once home, I decided to order a take-out supper. I have not been feeling like cooking recently. Whether this is due to feeling tired, unfocused or just not sure what I feel like eating remains unclear. I have done this a few times in the past two weeks, though. This could be more of the inertia that seems to have built since March.
My mood by supper time matched the change in the sky -- a bit grey with cloudy thought processes. Walking does help most days, so I aim to walk most days with only very inclement weather stopping the plan. This led to a song from the dim distant past -- great harmonies <smile>. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Today I had a great long phone chat with a friend who is out of 14-day quarantine after traveling outside the country. We will meet soon to celebrate their homecoming and end of isolation. I look forward to that.
In other news, I returned items to grocery store due to poor quality provided by the curbside pickup program. This is the second week when this had to happen, which defeats the purpose of not going into the store <sigh>. I decided to pick my own replacement items since I was already in the store and it wan't too busy. I stopped to get fresh bread and biscuits at a local bakery and then went to campus for another 'get ready to return' item -- a bright green wrist ribbon that will alert security that the person wearing this has completed the requisite steps to return safely to campus and to buildings. In the parking lot, I met a colleague wearing a superman mask -- definitely something that fits as he is in the admin group working overtime since March and now is getting things ready for the return of students, staff, and faculty ahead of classes. With protocols being tweaked daily, the weight must be oppressive. He does approach things with a smile and a calm manner that helps those around him breathe rather than launch into panic.
The day had some moments of calm and some that were just frustrating. This song came to mind as it emphasizes the need to find something good along the path each day. Stay safe. Enjoy!
I am expecting a parcel on subscription for repeated delivery every two months. yesterday and again today, I received an e-mail warning that it may not be delivered by the estimated time -- Monday next. This occurred with the last delivery, too, which was a couple of days later than expected. I checked all tracking and it seemed to be stuck two provinces away -- about a 14 hour drive from here. Yet, this updated as I was speaking to customer support to note the parcel had been picked up yesterday from a town 3.5 hours from here. It likely goes to Halifax for resorting and then will be out on an overnight truck for delivery here during the day tomorrow. YAY.
While checking the credit card bill that came in today, I discovered that my online payment (through the company 'my account' site) earlier this month for the communications bundle was processed twice! No wonder the credit card bill looked larger than expected. I called customer support (guess they've all stopped using the terms 'service' or 'care' <sigh> I'm not sure 'support' works, either) and was told my options were to leave the credit on my account to be applied to the account balance at the next billing date. Or, they could process a cheque for me that would take two weeks or more to arrive at my door. <sigh> I let it ride and headed to the social media page to make a post about the ongoing issues with internal software over the past 3-4 years. I got an immediate response from whoever keeps an eye on social media, who then forwarded a request for a refund to the credit card to be processed immediately. This was done via phone by the other department. I asked the social media watcher why I hadn't been provided this option the first time and she sent a note to the manager of the person who had been on the first phone call for 'coaching' purposes. I appreciate that and asked that they could do this for the IT dept, too. The social media person sent a message to someone in the company to contact the external IT contractor. So, at least things were sent along. Whether this will change anything remains to be seen. I'm not sure I'll notice it. I've decided not to use the software on company page and will not do automatic payments for a number of reasons, not the least of which is a lack of trust in software used by the contracted payment company. So, I guess that means I have to go into the world and make a direct payment through the bank. Or get the online banking stuff set up fully. I will deal with the latter when I'm at my banking appointment next week.
It is time to move into the 21st Century, though speaking to a real person while paying bills is very comforting. My dad would walk around the downtown core to pay utility bills, property taxes, car and house insurance and such. He knew all the front office people by name and had a good chat with them on these regular visits. I often went with him whenever I was home visiting on such days. All along the street, he'd greet people with a nod, a 'how are you doing?' or a slightly longer chat. He was born in that city and lived there his whole life, so he knew a lot of people. I've found that being in a smaller town has allowed me to get to know people in a similar way. Home was about 35,000 people and here is about 5000 (before students arrive for the academic year). It is comforting to know that if you need help along the way, there will likely be someone you know walking or driving by.
All this had me feeling nostalgic or perhaps homesick. There is an online concert tonight from a folk singer who grew up just southeast of my hometown. Maybe that has me feeling this way, too. It might be that friends spent time recently in a favorite area several hours north of home. Or most likely, it is a bit of all of along with the need for a bit of comfort of home. I've chosen two songs to share today -- one about the area closer to home and one about the region in the northern half of the province. Both are by the singer in the virtual concert this evening. Stay safe. Enjoy!
While in the shower, I felt a major vibration through my feet and then it felt like it was above my head. The house was shaking. I shot out of the shower to turn off the jet-engine sounding ceiling fan. Then, I discovered that the sound did not emanate from within the house but came from a low flying helicopter above the house. I'm in the direct path to and from the helipad at the hospital. Needless to say, that got my heart pumping.
I mad a quick visit to campus today to pick up mail. I managed to chat with a couple of friends to get a bit caught up. At all entrances to campus, there are new signs noting that campus is a mask-only zone -- outside and inside. Without masks, one cannot walk around campus. Most buildings are still locked, so only those with keys can enter. This procedure will change in the next few weeks since classes begin again in mid-September. Again, the uphill walks up and back got my heart rate up again.
I chose a song that contains a heartbeat in three parts of the song. It seemed reasonable given the events of the day <smile>. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Recently I picked up a parcel from an online order. Clothes are not usually ordered online due to fit issues. This time, I used sizing assistance on the website and chose the size suggested. With great trepidation, I opened the package and tried on the item. It fit! Imagine.
I had a wicked silly grin on my face for three reasons.
1. An online order that actually fit -- This is a rarity with me. Even when shopping in a store sizing is iffy. No one uses standard sizing anymore, It's all vanity sizing. This clothing item is really two sizes (at least) larger than the number on the tag <sigh>
2. The item is made of denim with lots of spandex, so it moves well when I do. Denim can be stiffer and stay in place when the body moves inside the clothes. With this item, movement feels more natural.
3. Memories of childhood were conjured up when I put the item on. The last time I wore a skort -- interesting combo of shorts and a skirt -- I was a whole lot younger. This one is a more age-appropriate length than the one I had as a preschooler. That one was shorter like a cheerleader skirt with similar flare and ruffled hem -- fine for a 4-5 year old but not at this point in life <grin>.
Denim has been a favourite of mine since childhood. This led to lyrics that ran through my head, and, in turn, led me to the song choice for the day. Stay safe. Enjoy!
I woke to a sunny day -- after sleeping late. Household chores were interspersed with moments spent the the jigsaw puzzle on the dining room table (which is in the kitchen as this house doesn't have a dining room). That activity helped me feel calm and provided a feeling of accomplishment even if a small item. In early evening, I did a pick-up and delivery for friends in quarantine. It is always fun to help where I can. There may be a day when I have to isolate and will need help.
Helping others and having others there to help me is the definition of the reciprocity of social support. It has to go both ways in order to work. This aspect of social relationships has been defined as part of the social determinants of health. This means that health outcomes improve when there is support for each of us AND when we feel we could be there for others.
A song that describes this determinant of health is shared here today. Stay safe. Enjoy!
I seem to find myself in the midst of lethargy and restlessness these days. I have a list of things I want to do, but getting started seems almost impossible. I've taken time away from research writing and planned three things that generally give me a feeling of enjoyment and even accomplishment. I finally got to one today, but did the first step and had to walk away. The disquiet felt too strong to continue right now. It will be a long project, as was a similar one in late spring. This involved me starting a new jigsaw puzzle that had me intrigued in terms of subject of images and the sheer number of images combined. A few minutes at a time can help me feel calmer. So, I will not push this, just do some of this while waiting for water to boil or supper to cook. <smile> The other two projects may begin or have smaller parts of the whole addressed. We'll see.
I'd pondered this general sense of unrest a lot over the past few weeks. I felt much of it fell out of the pandemic situation in the world. Today I read another article about the listlessness felt by many during this protracted health threat. (By Tara Haelle Your Surge Capacity is Depleted) Ideas that I've discussed with other health professionals were included. The constancy of the "indefinite uncertainty" (as the author termed it) causes major fatigue, listlessness, discontent, and inability to focus. The 'solution' proposed by the health professionals she interviewed were many, but one resonated more with me today than the others. They suggested that we not only be kind to ourselves, but that we expect less of ourselves. We are in a very different situation than usual, and our productivity simply can't keep up while we deal with threat mitigation. That one really made me stop and think. There are days when I feel I haven't done anything at all. It may be that I really needed to just stop for a bit and learning to allow ourselves to do less and to stretch deadlines for projects will take some work. This flies in the face of all that we've learned and heard throughout our lives, so will not change quickly. If we can support each other with reminders that it is OK to expect less, that may help to 'normalize' such a change. This article also explained my anger over the new grape varieties at the grocery store -- just one more change to my environment requiring adaptation.
A word used by the article author reminded me of a song -- one I've used before. I have also been using the word to describe the weariness I feel. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Today was sunny with a medium heat and a nice breeze -- an all around pleasant day weather-wise. I headed out for errands. I picked up an online order delivered to the local store outlet and stopped by a local bakery for a loaf of bread -- the last of the previous loaf was used yesterday. I have had bread on the errand list for a few days, but today meant there was no time to put it off again. In late afternoon, I had a weekly chat with a good friend. As always, it was great to catch up on happenings of the past week and find things to laugh about.
Over the past almost 2.5 weeks, I've noted mask wearing almost to a person when indoors and a few wearing them on the street as they go from store to store or are in an outdoor social gathering where 6 feet separation can't always be maintained. This coincides with making masks mandatory in public building in the province. This has renewed my faith in humankind. There are many other events that make me wonder just what some folks are thinking, so finding something positive brings a bit more balance to the days. There have been some situations where masks were not present. I've decided that in such cases, I will just leave the area or if a small area to begin with, just leave the building. If building personnel choose not to monitor mask usage as they do with distancing, it seems leaving the establishment would work best. It is a frustration, but I won't be able to change anything, so I just need to walk away -- and maintain some sense of calm. <smile>
Lyrics about standing up for yourself seemed fitting today -- even if you are protecting yourself quietly by leaving an unsafe area. A few lines from the selection of the day ran through my head. The tempo might help with commitment to follow through with a decision. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Today dawned sunny and hot again, but there was rain late in the day - but just enough to tease the plants. I visited the physio again today for ongoing issues. Things generally feel better after the appointment. I visited the Farmers Market for a pick up for friends. Menacing clouds raced through the blue sky then with the bit of rain starting an hour or so later. Before sunset, the skies were again mostly blue. Overnight temperatures are to be in the mid-teens Celsius. That will keep the house cool for sleeping.
There seems to be some changes in the weather patterns that herald the ending of summer. There will be more very warm days and less cool nights, but cooler patterns will prevail as we move into autumn. For those who enjoy swimming in the ocean, the warmer gulf stream waters off our coast stick around into October. Even on cooler days, the water remains warm. This is also the reason that hurricanes strengthen in this part of the world during August through October. Earlier in the season, the cooler waters defuse the strength of tropical storms that head north. This year a large number of storms has been forecast, so we must wait and see what lies ahead in that domain.
Many people enjoy the low pressure systems associated with tropical weather. In this region, surfing is a beloved pastime. That thought brought a song to mind. <smile> Stay safe. Enjoy!
Outside was misty drizzle mixed with bits of larger rain drops, so a rain jacket was necessary while walking and deck sitting. I had a quick in person visit with a friend and another one by phone. Late in the afternoon, I joined a masked deck visit with colleagues to wish one of our own farewell. It was the first time I'd seen most of them since March 17. Even masked, it was a pleasant visit. By early evening, it was time to pick up the grocery order. I had to return one item that was not what I'd ordered. I replaced it with something else. Grapes seem to be new varieties that are bagged in store branded bags -- red ones were not the flavour or texture of a grape -- well a traditional grape. The green ones are new, too, but a bit more flavour than the reds. I may need to try a different store for this 'must have' item in my fridge. <sigh>. I also received a badly dented can of tuna. I will need to carry that back someday. Generally things have not been overly problematic, and if things were not right, it was made so by great staff members. For some reason, the one on the phone tonight made me go into the store -- the reason for curbside pick-up seemed lost on her. <sigh>. I will write the company and let them know of the oddities this time around. I also was at a drug store that has always had paper products on hand. Today, there was no toilet paper in the whole store. I have no idea why. <sigh>
The rain made the day grey but as a group we found somethings to laugh about. It took some work to get past the grocery debacle but I did find a song that seemed to fit the weather and laughter. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Today was a cooler rainy day. In fact, we expect rain until tomorrow evening -- not torrents, but a steadier light rain. This should begin to help the water shortage in the area. This afternoon, I visited the physio for the first time since February. We had a good chat about the current challenges of life. Wehn I got back home, I managed some housework, a grocery order, and setting out an ammonia soaked rag in a plastic container with holes in the lid. This, after a visit from Rocky Raccoon and friend in the mid-evening. The adolescent-looking pair scurried away when I shouted out the screened door for them to move along, though one waited until I looked it square in the eyes before leaving. Around midnight, I heard the sound of something hitting metal. I walked to the front room and opened the inside door where I saw one raccoon standing up against the screened door. I shouted for it to leave and noticed that there were THREE others there now. So, the first pair went to get reinforcements. In 22 years I have not seen such antics and never more than one at a time in 2 or 3 times one has ventured onto the front porch. Needless to say, the furry one and I were both a bit on edge after that encounter. So, a search of the interwebs found that ammonia odor will deter the critters. I'll let you know if the attempted break-ins continue. For now, I hope the soaked rag inside an aerated plastic yogurt container will do the trick.
Well, given the big excitement of the evening, this song title says it all <grin>. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Overnight temperatures dropped a bit lower than they have been for the past several days. This meant the house was cooler, too. Tonight the expected low is below average for this time of year. Again, this will help to continue to cool the house before the next onslaught of tropical air expect in the next week. The day has been sunny with a light breeze -- closer to usual for this time of year -- just over a month to the start of autumn. -- one of my favourite seasons. Spring is the other. Love those transitions <smile>.
Scurrying around doing housework today gave me time to ponder the passage of time. Being is semi-isolation since March has made time move oddly. The days don't have the same rhythms as they did before the pandemic. Days melt into each other making them indistinguishable. I've tried to keep weekend days somehow different -- doing laundry and household chores more than during the weekdays. Even then, the exact day of the week can be ephemeral -- just out of grasp as I wake each morning. It seems like time is moving slowly until I look at the calendar and realize the number of months that have passed. Such a paradox seems puzzling yet comprehensible. Maybe that concept is why doing jigsaw puzzles has become a craze over these past few months -- working to make order out of chaos. Hmmm. Time to get the new puzzle piece laid out on the dining room table, perhaps <grin>.
Today's selection includes paradox in the lyric related to age -- seemed to fit the thoughts of paradox and time passing. <smile> Stay safe. Enjoy!
My Back Pages -- Bob Dylan ft. roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, & George Harrison
There are days when I wake with a smile and days when I don't. Today was the latter -- a day marking a decade since one difficult decision that still haunts me. Today it hit me harder than it has in a very long time. Perhaps this had something to do with the swirling anxiety of the pandemic that seems to accentuate much in life -- past, present and future. Either way, it got me thinking today.
Have I not yet forgiven myself? This is a difficult thing to do, but to be honest, I think I have. That doesn't mean that there won't be moments when I feel the guilt and sadness strongly again, but most days there is acceptance. From that reflection, I think forgiveness has occurred. I certainly haven't forgotten my decision, though. Recognizing that such moments or days will arrive when we weren't expecting them, can help us understand such times and focus on acceptance. Getting here does take time, so we have to be kind to ourselves along the way. Focusing on who we are and letting that kindness for others reflect back to ourselves can keep us moving through life. There is still more to unpack with this one, but some cool revelations appeared today.
A song lyric that contains some of the ideas that surfaced today is shared here.I would note that we might need to treat ourselves better rather than depend on others for this. Stay safe. Enjoy!
It was somewhat cooler overnight, but we have a way to go inside before it cools well. Over the next few days, we'll have cooler overnight temperatures, so things should get better before they heat up again. I found a post that noted we've had more than the average days over 30C temperatures so far this year -- so it isn't my imagination that this seems oppressive particularly with the humidity pushing the feel into the high 30s or lower 40s. For activities today, there was a monthly meeting and I read one shorter item for research even though technically 'away from my desk' for the rest of the month. This one had a deadline.
A phone conversation brought much information to answer the questions I'd been trying to find from government web sites. LSS things aren't quite a they seem -- imagine! <shaking head> The information was much appreciated, especially when from a non-government bureaucratic rule-governed standpoint -- liked the no-nonsense practical approach. <smile>
My conversations today helped me to look at things from different angles -- getting outside my head, so to speak <smile>. That thought brought me to a couple of lines in a song from my youth. While the lyrics deal with a very different situation, the idea of viewing any situation from a new venue is central to the lyrics. Take care. Enjoy!
Giant Step -- Peter Tork ft. Owen Elliott & MacKenzie Phillips
Shopping online still isn't my favourite activity, but some things that aren't stocked locally have to be obtained elsewhere, While we are traveling less outside of town, online seems the way to go. I've come to terms with the imperfections of online grocery orders and curbside pickup. I'd prefer to be in the store, but still avoid this as much as possible. While I've been using e-mail and electronic written communications (like this blog <smile>) for decades, I still find speaking to someone works much better. Telephone, video chat or in person conversations generally yield better results. Seeing body language and hearing vocal inflection helps avoid many of the misunderstandings of written communication. While people may feel overburdened with video conferencing with work and personal meetings these days, it still is better than texting or e-mailing. The flickering screens of electronic devices and computers have become de rigueur over the past months and are likely to be with us into the foreseeable future. Many businesses are moving to 'work from home' models for the longer term. Traveling to see others has been minimized and will be continue for the near future. So, online shopping and video chats need to be accepted as part of daily life.
The changes precipitating the increased reliance on electronic communications are based in risk reduction. Managing known risks has been part of daily life forever. We plug in a kettle and assume we won't be electrocuted. We get in the car expecting to get to the grocery store. We go for a walk thinking we won't encounter something that hurts us. Dealing with the novel corona virus is the new risk in town. We are learning more about what and how it affects us. As more knowledge is gathered, we can alter our daily practices to avoid this new risk. Two things that research repeatedly points to as mitigating factors in spread of the virus are wearing masks and maintaining 2 m (6 ft) distances. This means that what we do each day needs to be altered to reduce this new risk -- wearing masks, washing and sanitizing hands regularly, limiting face to face contact to a small group of people, isolating after travel. Thankfully, we have technology to help us reduce the risks by reducing contact points. It is definitely different -- helpful but different.
The bottom line may be that we feel vulnerable with the new risk and the unknowns involved with it. As we go along, we will begin to understand more about the chances we take in daily activities. There might be further safety measures we adjust to -- learn to accept this new degree of risk in our lives. We aren't so much waiting for a change as we are living through a change. This is the nature of change in our world -- it is a process not a singular event. This older song encompassed the concept for me today. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The heat wave remains for another 24-48 hours. I did some online communications and chatted with a friend by phone. Both helped me look up. <smile> At supper time, I headed to the Farmers Market to pick up my order -- sugar snap peas, broccolini, red onions and the most amazing orange cherry tomatoes. Yum! I was surely thankful for the a/c in the car today. It helped keep me a bit cool while charging about town. In the evening I listened to a streaming concert with a bluesy soulful sound -- wonderful relaxing time.
Working my way through the tiredness that comes with a heat wave takes effort. I not only feel fatigue, but am a bit frustrated. Confusion reigns. What was I going to search for online? What was I going to get out of the fridge? When I pause to think it through, things do become clearer. I've wondered if it comes from the sameness of the days -- that lack of stimulation or enrichment. Enrichment is a term used in classrooms and even in animal rescue facilities. Each deals with the need for a way to challenge the brain with a new puzzle or activity.This could be addressed with planning things that provide something new for the brain to work in different ways each day. I will need to ponder this one to develop a reasonable plan -- maybe dancing would be a place to start?
The song that came to mind while thinking about this tonight uses dance as a metaphor for life. Cool. <smile> Stay safe. Enjoy!
Another hot day. Luckily, there was a mix of sun and cloud through the day leaving the inside temperature less oppressive. No rain fell, though it looked threatening enough. With the current water shortage and restrictions, a pouring rain would be great, but little rain in the forecast for the next few days. While out running errands on Main Street and a couple larger stores on the outskirts of town, the wind helped evaporate seat and provide a faux cooling perception.
Messaging electronically and through telephone remained problematic. I did manage to get a live voice on the phone for the office I'd called many times yesterday only to hear a busy signal. So, one appointment is set but for later in September due to office vacation time. Email conversations got no where when the office I'd contacted for some input on clarification of obtuse web documents and language. I was redirected to a web page of another agency, which led to a blank page -- even when I started on the other site. There is one other person that I can call for advice and interpretation so will begin that process tomorrow. Someone has to be able to answer my questions <sigh>. I'm not asking anything deep and philosophical -- would likely have better luck if I were. <smile>
A line from a song explains how I felt today and yesterday -- and may still feel tomorrow -- as I search for clarity in the bureaucrat-eeze. The lyrics are very intriguing as a whole, too. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The day was HOT again, even though forecast temperature was a bit less than actual temperature. I worked on the 'to do' list and got a couple of key things addressed. One phone call -- called repeatedly -- resulted in busy signals over and over and over again. This has been a problem at this office for years. I may just head up to the building tomorrow to stand in front of them to make an appointment. So frustrating when we are all trying to minimize the number of contacts we encounter weekly. I will try phone again but if no response after two or three times, I will drive up.
A major event for me was picking up a grocery order for friends who are returning from overseas tonight and will be in 14 day quarantine (federal and provincial requirements). Everything is set for them to have what they need for the first few days. A larger grocery order will be made and I'll pick that up to leave on their porch or deck. I can hardly wait to wave to them through the window.
A song that deals with comfort of home as well as the discomforts of uncertainty -- both concepts that appear regularly at present -- seemed to fit my musings today. For some it will bring visions of a major telecommunications company, but try to get past that to the full lyrics. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Wow! Another extremely hot day -- about 38C and feeling over 40C this afternoon -- like a summer much further south than here. I spent the day indoors working online and watching a couple of movies playing in the background. Even with the heat later in the day, I cooked supper on the stove -- a burger with a great green salad. I also made a fun breakfast -- or brunch -- hash brown potatoes, zucchini and tomato saute, with poached eggs and prosciutto on English muffins. Yum!
A friend mentioned that if it exists, she's in the summer doldrums. It is odd this year. The east coast of North America has had intense heat and an unheard of number of named tropical storms for this point in the hurricane season -- which began in May instead of the usual June. Add this to the isolation in the present pandemic, and things weigh heavily on us all. Becoming disengaged can be easier than feeling or facing the feelings that have been around for months with no way to deal with the uncertainty driving the negative emotions. So, calling it doldrums seems fitting. I fits with the general inertia, ennui and low spirits experienced by many people.
A concept from a song lyric seemed to be a potential solution to the feelings noted by several folks I know. <smile> Stay safe. Enjoy!
Sun and cloud mix through the day, but it remained warm. As most Saturday's, household chores were the centre of the day - laundry was the major one. I also placed my order for the Farmer's Market next week. My favourite sweet yellow cherry tomatoes are back! <smile> An errand took me to the pharmacy for a number of items, including great date-filled oat cookies. Yes, I am all about the food since "Food is my Life [TM]. <smile>
After supper, I went for a walk and encountered a sunset with the most gorgeous pink shades. I could see the higher parts, but living amongst trees and hills, the full view is not generally available. What I did see, though, was stunning. That made me smile.
The song today deals with a similar highlight of the day ---a feeling of peace. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The day began with a phone meeting -- the last until September. Others seem to be planning to be away from work during August, too. <smile> Activities of the day involved searching through a hardware store for a number of items. Luckily, I found a very helpful staff person who took me to the aisles and discussed pros and cons of different items. Most times, I've only been directed to an aisle number. We had a good chat as we walked around the store. I left feeling like a valued customer. <another smile>. At the next store, I found most of what I hadn't found elsewhere. One exception was canned soda. This store had a sign noting that there is a shortage of aluminum cans, so companies are only making their most popular flavours in cans. Sadly, my diet ginger ale isn't one of those. I was pleased that the company had put a notice up for customers, since no where else had an explanation for empty shelves. I topped off the outing by getting some take out for a quick supper.
After supper I fell asleep for a couple of hours. I was fatigued much of the day. Hotter weather messes with my ability to sleep well, it seems. Taking a walk later in the day did not happen when I fell asleep instead. Maybe tomorrow. <smile>
A song came to mind that fit one of the learnings of the day. It brought a smile, too. Stay safe. Enjoy!
It was another sunny and hot day in the Maritimes. NS has been hotter than the Caribbean often over the past few weeks. Humidity adds to the tropical nature of the days. Forecast indicate some pleasant by less hot days in the near future and then a return of the super-heated days. As long as there are some cooler nights that help the house to become more comfortable in between short spurts of hot and humid, I will survive. I'll complain, but I'll manage. <smile> The evening cooled a lot with cooling west winds -- sadly no west windows in the house but some will lead in through other windows.
I chatted with a dear friend and discussed conundrums in our days. We spoke about our desires of 'getting away' for a day trip somewhere -- always somewhere rural -- so with much less disease risk. I have a couple places in mind that I could go in an afternoon, just need to be brave enough to venture forth. <smile> It isn't the same as sharing the experience with someone else as I've often done. I fear it will further the feelings of isolation from the world that pester me some days. There are a few peaceful places that I could try and see if it works for me. There is no way to understand the impact without trying first.
I heard song lyrics in my head as I pondered it all today. Imagine! <grin> I used it as part of my physio rehab playlist a few years back -- something to inspire forward movement. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Today was a fuller day than the last few. One online meeting led to some organizing of future work to complete. I then headed up to campus to pick up my mail. This involved redistributing two copies of the same text book that had arrived from the publisher. I won't be needing texts and others may find them useful -- or know someone else who might want a copy for their reference shelf. I chatted with a friend I hadn't spoken with for a few weeks. Then had to print some things for review, comment and edit processes. The clock got away on me, and I realized as I was printing that I had 20 minutes to pick up the Farmers Market order. Luckily, I live in a small town and this is just down the street from campus.
The order looked great -- broccolini, zucchini, green onions, heritage tomatoes, dinner rolls and a new mask. I sauteed half of the broccolini with garlic scapes and a bit of lemon juice. This tasted amazing! I served it alongside an Asian chicken burger and perogies -- definitely a multicultural influence in dinner tonight <smile>.
I decided recently that I would take most of August off from research work. this will allow me time to do nothing, tackle some things that need doing around the house or try a day trip or two to see new (to me) beaches and vistas. I hope this time will help me feel less oppressed by the uncertainty of the time we find ourselves in at present. It may also help me to establish a schedule that works again. Earlier, I had a day map that seemed to work for a while, but it needs some revamping to get things moving with some predictability -- something we are all missing at present. So -- that is where I'm heading and I will be sure to report on any progress here <smile>.
Hunted for a version of this song, and only found this one that has a lot of extra stuff after the song ends. No need to listen to the recording outtakes unless you are so inclined. The song is first on the the longer track shared here. Stay well. Enjoy!
While working online today, I read news of the loss of a wonderful songwriter -- Michael P. Smith. He was big in the Chicago folk scene and wrote and recorded many songs. Many other artists covered his songs. I knew of this man mainly through another singer-songwriter, James Lee Stanley, who wrote an amazing tribute to Smith in American Songwriter.
In honour of this man, who didn't want online eulogies, the selection today is one of his songs -- filled with tenderness and spectacular word pictures. He sings this with a friend. Stay safe. Enjoy!
For a Monday, this was a not a bad day. I did a few household things, then focused on a peer review for a journal and submitted an order to the Farmers Market for pickup at the new Wednesday evening market. Some great produce starting to arrive at this point in the season. I ordered a good selection of vegetables. Looking forward to pick up day.
With the day being very warm, I went for a walk in the evening when things were cooler -- still very humid, but cooler. I planned a usual route down Main Street and through the neighbourhood. As I walked east, I decided to walk up to the hospital and back. That hill can be a challenge, but it helps get calves and quads working well along with lungs and heart. <smile>. It felt very humid and sticky by the time I got home, leading to a much needed shower.
Given the bouncing around between many disparate activities today, a song title went through my head. Now the lyrics are clearly a love song, but the title still sounded like how I felt the day was put together. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Today had me doing a whole lot of nothing. There was some work with a hobby and the last laundry folded. How exciting is that?! <smile> At times, the day felt relaxing, though this was mixed with moments of anxiety -- smaller moments than in past days, however. So -- for that, I'll call it a win.
While making supper, a song came to mind. The lyrics highlight things that might easily be overlooked -- those things to recognize and be grateful for. They may seem small, but they constitute much of the good in our days. So when I thought there was a whole lot of nothing in my day, when I looked at it from a different perspective, I found a lot of somethings. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Another new month. I turned the page of one calendar that told me that the Olympic Games end on August 9. That brought a flood of 'things that would have been' which were accompanied by tears. In some moments, the feeling are so acute -- that lack of hope or belief in moving towards being able to do what we'd planned but in a different way. Waiting for the world to change can be excruciating. I realized that I may need to change, too. Hmmm. The overpowering feeling of loss can take over without a positive forward thinking mindset. Yes -- there will be moments with sadness and tears. The goal is to find a way to acknowledge those feelings while managing the self talk, which may help improve the hope.
Changing one's mindset can take time and much effort. Learning to take what had been planned and finding a new approach are worthy goals.Who I am should not change, so I need to find a way to be me even in this uncertain new swirling surround. It may mean embracing the current world situation -- something that has felt like admitting defeat. It may not be defeatist, though. Continuing to be who I am with the same aspirations should help me find that hope that seems so tenuous right now. I definitely will give this one a try. It can't be done alone, so support from others will be included.
When I turned a second calendar today, I recognized the portion of song lyric as one that should be part of the blog. It is from the final album release of an iconic band. Stay safe. Enjoy!
For the weather update today -- drier air is present again but unrelenting sun kept the house overheated. The evening is cooler outside than inside and with windows open the hope is that some of that air will leak indoors overnight. there is very little air movement outside. With the cooler evening, I went for a wonderful walk at dusk -- so many lovely flowers and lots of people dining al fresco or going for an evening stroll.
During the day, I met with colleagues that I haven't seen since March 16 when I said good bye to them as we all headed into lockdown. It was great to see their faces and have a good group chat. I walked out to Main Street twice -- once to hit the post office and later to pick up take out supper. I'm hoping that the weekend will allow me to do the usual household chores, but also let me do a couple of fun things. A couple of hobby activities could occur along with watching a movie. We'll see what transpires. <smile>
The goal of this long weekend, is to infuse some 'fun' into the days -- do things that I haven't done recently. This reminded me of a song title and then of a cover of that title that might be unexpected (see that -- having fun with it already <smile>). Stay safe. Enjoy!
