Day 8 - 181 -- Circuitous Routes

 The saga of the non-functional ID card continued. Call #1 made in mid-morning did not get back until late afternoon and was not much help having suggested ways to send documents to printers. This could not be done due to the card and login information not being accepted by system. Call #2 made a couple of hours after the first involved a missed deadline o my part that will be OK if I get documentation submitted i the next week <smile>. They could not do anything about my card, but suggested I can #1 or #3. So, call #3 stated they didn't deal with printers so they missed the whole issue the the card and account seemed to be blocked. They have ability to look at the account online. Instead they sent me to another place and again noted I should contact #1. <sigh> Call #4 suggested I call #1. When I noted I had, the person asked me to wait. When he returned, he noted that he'd checked the account and reset the expiry date. I asked what it was set as. Apparently it had been set as September 1, 2020 and he changed that to 2021. old accounts usually aren't purged until sometime in June, so the first call I made was the office that should have been able to fix it all since they were the ones that blocked my access. I'm glad I called rather than having to chase around campus. The printer responded and printed the files I'd tried to print last night, so all is well with this issue. It did take most of the day, though. 

While on campus, I had a good chat with a friend that emphasized how we are all in some place of stress. I found the second major lockdown difficult to contend with when it extended far longer than we had expected -- just like last year. Was this some sort of 'ground hog day' phenomenon -- repeating ad insaniam? We may actually see the end of the tunnel, yet trust remains elusive -- fool me once and all that. It becomes difficult to even make potential plans when we are uncertain if they will come to fruition at the appointed time and place. We've had that football yanked out from in front of us too many times so just can't seem to get into some type of planning mode again. It all comes down to fear of letting oneself trust. For anyone who already had difficulty trusting, these past many months have only exacerbated that difficulty. 

For a day when pondering and experience took me in a circular route, the song shared today seemed to work well. The questions asked in the chorus are very apropos. Keep well. Enjoy! 

Will it Go Round in Circles -- Billy Preston

Day 8 - 180 -- Just Breathe

 The outdoor temperature was cooler today, but the humidity remained very high. This made the house feel warmer than was comfortable, but it was really the sticky, dampness that was making things feel yucky. The difficulties with technology continued today. I headed to campus to print a couple of documents and the printer would not accept my key card. When I typed in the userid and password, the error message said it did not recognize either. <sigh>. I was able to login to the system for email and other programs, so it just seems to be the printer. Now, I generally head up there after 5 or 6 PM so I don't run into a lot of people. This also means that other offices where I could figure out why my access to the printer has been denied. The IT desk will be my first call in the morning. I probably need to present myself in person, but I'll start with the call. Either way, I do need to get the printing done so have to be there to do that anyway. 

Since there is a holiday on Thursday and most places will be closed Friday as well to make a four day weekend, I have several errands that need to be done around town before end of day tomorrow. I hope to get out and about before noon. Thunderstorm risk arrives mid-afternoon, so I would like to be home by then. I hate driving in a torrential downpour. 

Thinking of a soothing song that might help me relax and clearly plan the route for all small tasks tomorrow, one rose above all the others. I like the simple message -- one that fits my sense of frenetic-ness over such small things. Hope it helps you relax, too. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Let it Be -- The Beatles

 

Day 8 - 179 -- Hot Stuff

The day has been HOT and steamy. Heat alerts and warnings have popped up across the country and into the US. The high pressure system in the western part of the continent will hold the heat in place for a week or so. Yesterday a record high temperature was recorded in Lytton, BC -- the hottest temperature recorded in Canada at 46.6C (115.9F). The previous record of 45C (113F) was recorded in Midale and Yellow Grass, Saskatchewan in 1937 -- around this same time of year. Forecasters suspect that the new record may be broken as temperatures soar during the coming days. On the east coast, the temperatures are hot with high humidity making the air feel much more stifling. Heat warnings, though, cover a smaller area of the province. It is still June and this is far from usual for this part of the country. We expect such temperatures into July and August. So, it may be a very hot year. 

The best that we can do on such days is to remain indoors. Find somewhere with a/c like a mall or large building. Cool off at the beach but not during the hottest part of the day. Hydrate. Wear sun screen and a brimmed hat. The discomfort will pass with time. 

In my head, I hear one song more than others today. It is the older one of the bunch that have swirled around the heat addled brain today <smile>. It was written by Irving Berlin for a musical back in 1930s. Enjoy this rendition by a wonderful jazz singer. 

Heat Wave -- Ella Fitzgerald

 

Day 8 - 178 -- Carrying On

I finally broke down and purchased a portable a/c unit. The first one purchased had been returned and did not have all the parts or instructions in the box. So, I returned that -- not easy to do with something that is 50+ pounds. Thankfully, I have some great friends. Today, we installed the one I purchased from a different store. It still needs something more to secure it, but is in temp working mode. installation was not easy as instructions indicated, which stated to simply cut the window insert and then the instructions moved on to the next step. Cutting was not easy at all.  We went to a local hardware store to ask what we needed to cut the heavy plastic frame. The fellow at the projects desk said he'd do it with a chop saw and went off to the back to provide a great clean cut. Wow! I still need to learn to use the remote control. 

On another note, after having the car in for tire change and charging start/stop battery, the settings I had made in the instrument panel had been reset. I prefer the digital display of the speed in the centre of the panel. The speedometer with a regular dial arm pointing at the numbers is off the the right. The steering wheel obscures visibility for this, so the larger digital numerals work so much better. I know I've altered this once before, but haven't been able to get the computer system to show me how to alter display settings. There are days when technology becomes more useless than useful. <sigh> How to set this isn't covered anywhere in the owners manual or quick start guide. I will try one more things tomorrow and it does not work, I'll head back to the dealership to get them to show me how to get the dash set up the way I prefer.

Why do things that seem simple have to be so complex? Computerized appliances, vehicles and telephones (and other digital devices) can do so many things, many of which I may or may not use. The addition of more and more technology to our everyday lives brings some fantastic supports. However, things become orders of magnitude more complicated with each iteration -- annually or more frequently even. Keeping up becomes a major challenge. Constant (re)learning becomes exhausting.  To be honest,  many people have had more than enough to contend with over the past many months. Keeping up with the technology upgrades or new purchases seems huge at times. Yet, at times like these I think of my grandmother who traveled west by train with her parents and siblings to a homestead on the prairie. Their main mode of transport was horse and wagon. Before she passed, she flew in a large passenger jet to visit one of her children. She saw humans on the moon. She saw hand-held calculators. At that point in time, micro-circuitry was in the early test phases, so many other things hadn't made it into daily life. Imagine how overwhelming that might be! So, when a new version of the phone, software or operating system arrives, I just need to breath and carry on. <smile> Thanks, Gram. 

Lyrics of the song choice of the day provide some support for those moments of grappling with new tech stuff. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Carry On Wayward Son -- Kansas

Day 8 - 177 -- Road Worthy

It has been an interesting week -- and I use that word in the way of the old Chinese curse -"May you live in interesting times." By the end of the week, I had removed the studded winter tires and had the summer radials mounted. This is the latest ever for this action to occur. It is usually done in April, but due to lockdown, many of us are just getting to this now.  

Bit by bit, I have accessed stories of truth from residential school survivors. I've chosen to follow a few key individuals who share truths of themselves and others in a way that helps me understand better. 

Helping someone to access an earlier second dose helped me smile. I simply connected two people, but it was good to be part of this. 

I got out to three stores yesterday for in person visits. Luckily, they are all in a row, so it was easy to do. Two items had been missing from the curbside pickup due to none available in the store. Leaf lettuce and grapes. I added those to the single item I needed from another grocery store. Each of the next two stores had only one item to purchase and it was a discount day at the one with the pet food <smile>. 

I will need to go for a drive over the coming couple of days before going to have wheels retorqued. I'm not sure where to go, since I haven't been anywhere outside of town since early November. This should bring smiles just to get out into the county for a short tour around. 

I chose a song about a car since tire change was done and driving outside of town lies ahead. This song has a fun tempo to go with the lyrics. I share an acoustic version which focuses on the singer. Stay safe. Enjoy!  

MGB-GT -- Peter Tork w/ James Lee Stanley

  

 

Day 8 - 176 -- Listen, Reflect, Act

The news for the past month has brought up a question of who I am -- challenging my identity as a Canadian. I've been aware of residential school practices for decades. Inquiries into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls addressed something that had been on my radar for a long time. Going to school in Saskatoon and Winnipeg brought these stories to light from news reports to community stories to indigenous stage plays as a form of story and truth telling. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission report was tabled in 2015. While gathering information from survivors, we heard parts of the larger story, part of which was included in the report. The section of the report that stood out for me was the list of 94 Calls to Action -- not vague things to think about but actual concrete examples of how to acknowledge and provide indigenous rights. Here we are six years later. It took a news report of 215 unmarked graves in Kamloops for these stories to sink in for many people, despite the report estimating 3000 to 5000 died in the school system. This is likely a very conservative estimate of the true toll. Hearing today of 751 unmarked graves found in Saskatchewan clearly shows the enormity of the truth. 

So -- back to identity. Revisiting my personal identity as a citizen of this country means that I have to acknowledge and accept the truth of the dark history of my nation. I have known of many of the injustices for years, but the sheer size of it has been difficult to grasp -- until now. To work through the personal identity question requires that I reassess the role I play in the system at the root of these atrocities. I need to reflect on my settler view and the privilege that comes with that. When making a land acknowledgement, I challenge others to be less perfunctory. Learn the correct pronunciations of the nations to whom we pay respect in this way. I've added some personal phrasing from past reflection on my family's impact on the lives of indigenous peoples. For example, my ancestors cleared the tall grass prairie to make way for farms and ranches that provided for their families. Three generations of my father's family worked for a railroad company. Building those rail lines involved clearing more land from east coast to west coast. Since the building and running of the railway would be negatively impacted by the huge herds of buffalo that roamed the prairies on both sides of the Great Medicine Line, people were hired to exterminate the herds. These animals were central to the daily life of many first nations -- food, clothing, shelter, tools, fuel and a sense of community. More travel lies ahead of me as I continue this journey to understand who I am and how my actions and those of my ancestors have affected the lives of others. 

So -- what can we all do now?  Listen. Listen to the truth and reflect on it. Then we will be in a better place to speak truth to power. Listening to the stories will not be easy, but it must be done. Seek help with the emotions that are sure to arise. 

I'd like to include the words of Gord Downie, front man for the Tragically Hip. Telling the truth as a pathway to reconciliation was a major undertaking for him that became a 10-song album, a graphic novel and an animated film. He stated, 

    "The next 100 years are going to be painful as we come to know Chanie Wenjack and thousands like him -- but only when we do can we truly call ourselves 'Canada'." 

The selection for today is one of the ten written by Gord Downie that introduces the animated film telling the story of Chanie Wenjack an Anishinaabe boy who escaped from a residential school in 1966. The film, The Secret Path can be found on CBC site. Stay safe. Enjoy! 

The Stranger -- Gord Downie

Day 8 - 175 -- Vivid Music Memories

Today a social media post about a song caught my attention. Funny how a song can bring such vivid memories of time and place. This one reminded me of times past when a group of high school and early university friends gathered at one home most weekends. Music was central to these evenings. New albums were shared and live music played. The song in the post figured prominently since it was one of many in heavy play back in the day. 

This song has been noted as one of the most played songs over many decades of choices.  It is one of less than 30 singles to sell over 10 million copies. Obviously, I share this selection here today. <smile>.  Many people will recognize the classical inspired organ work on this one. Stay safe. Enjoy! 

Whiter Shade of Pale -- Procal Harum

Day 8 - 174 -- Impediment to Progress

My grand outing for the day involved grocery curbside pickup. At home I worked to organize household files. If I'd only do this monthly, it would be a smaller task. When left for a while it takes several hours. This makes it a prime candidate for procrastination. 

My avoidance behaviours expand as anxiety grows. Anxiety grows when items I cannot control pile one on top of the other. Sleep helps reduce anxiety symptoms, but when things feel overwhelming, sleep is adversely affects. Procrastination is a symptom of being overwhelmed. Inertia rules at these times. Ignoring things that need doing usually only impacts my forward movement. Occasionally, though, this lack of action may affect the progress of others. This brings guilt that can morph into shame -- how to explain this lack of movement leads to a type of paralysis. And so the circle continues. Actually, a vortex is a better metaphor here since it is not only circular movement but another force exists that pulls one down and impedes escape -- more anxiousness and stress that enhance the inability to tackle even small tasks. 

A couple of lines of lyric entered my consciousness when I actually heard the music in the background.  "I'm wondering what I should do?" and "Trying to make some sense of it all, but I see it makes no sense at all." These struck me as descriptive of feeling stuck with anxiety. The full lyric speaks to something quite different, but those lines stood out for me today. Stay safe. Enjoy! 

Stuck in the Middle with You -- Stealers Wheels

 

-- Wednesday -- weekly curbside pickup for groceries -- moved an issue up the line to someone who knows more and access needed information about the situation -- cooler rainy start to day with some sun later in the day but cooler temps remained -- another similar day or two and then heat and humidity appear poised to strike by the weekend and run for the better part of the next week in an earlier than usual heat wave

-- working on organizing household accounting information -- take longer than it should when I leave it for a few months instead of doing this each month -- more on procrastination or ignoring or avoiding things 

-- did curbside pickup -- but things missing

song about procrastinating or ignoring or avoiding -- stuck in the middle with you -- cite lines about can't get up off my chair and the one prior to that line

Day 8 - 173 -- Musical Anniversaries

Today marked two musical anniversaries.Fifty years ago fellow Saskatchewanian,  Joni Mitchell, released her album titled Blue. A half a century ago -- wow! This album has been lauded as one of the best albums ever. Rolling Stone ranked it as third of the 500 best albums ever. NPR ranked it as the #1 best album of all time by a woman. Many other publications have included this album in their 'best of' lists. Many familiar songs comprise this amazing collection of Joni's songs.

Today also marks the 85th birthday of a country-crossover singer-songwriter, Kris Kristofferson, who holds writing credit for many huge hits. He was also a member of the country super-group, The Highwaymen, with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash. Kristofferson was a Rhodes Scholar and studied at Oxford before his songwriting career took off. 

I chose today to share two songs from Kristofferson, since I have included Joni Mitchell in the blog much more often. The first is one of his major writing hits that has been successfully covered by many artists. I also have included the cover that may be best known -- one that highlights the amazing voice of a young woman who died before the song was released. The second selection is not as well known, Kristofferson performed this song as the male lead in the third iteration of A Star is Born. I like it since it is well out of his usual recording choices. Stay safe. Enjoy! 

Me and Bobby McGee -- Kris Kristofferson

Me and Bobby McGee -- Janis Joplin

Hellacious Acres -- Kris Kristofferson 

Day 8 - 172 -- Summer Arrives

On this first day of summer, I made an appointment for vehicle spring check,  clarified and completed online document approval, did a few household chores, had two great phone visits, and walked out to the drug store to pick up a refill. Temperatures were hot today with hotter 'feel like' temps. It may be less cool overnight but we are to have cooler daytime highs and overnight lows beginning in another 36 hours or so. Knowing this helps to navigate the heat.  So, no cooking for supper, just reheated pizza from the take-out yesterday with a lovely green salad. 

For the first time in 84 days, we have had no new cases in the province. There are 3 in hospital, 1 in ICU and 79 active cases. These are numbers I wasn't sure we'd see for some time. National vaccination rates are rising daily with many provinces well into the second dose appointments. Provincially, our percentages are higher than the national figures. 

Overall, the day was a good one even though I didn't get to all I'd hoped for today. The sun shone brightly and the sky was clear to see the moon into the evening. These are great things for this solstice time of year. The song chosen deals with sunshine. I enjoy sun -- just not the searing heat that we will get over the next couple of months. Stay safe. Enjoy! 

Soak Up the Sun - Sheryl Crow

Day 8 - 171 -- Role Model

Sun visited all day today. Some mundane household chores were executed. I also took some time to relax a bit and watch a couple of recorded cooking shows. I thought it would be a nice Fathers Day for families to gather for an outdoor meal, something we did often on this day when I was a child. 

My dad has been gone for 15-1/2 years, but it seems like yesterday. I think of him so often. He would have the answer to many of my queries of 'how do I . .." or "where should I go for ...". He was always just a phone call away. he had infinite patience for a little girl who always asked 'how does that work?' and the ever-present "why". I wanted to be his helper as he undertook all the repair and building projects. When he borrowed the wheel barrow from the man across the street, I went along to get a ride home in the barrow. I was there when he was working to pour the cement for the floors in the new addition to the church. I accompanied him to his parents home when the old black iron stove was replaced with a new electric one. I was there when he laid cement for our sidewalks and patio. So many other memories -- putting in the picture windows, anchoring the wrought iron railing in molten lead, putting up the winter storm windows every year. We spent time together in his gardens -- roses, lilies, vegetable and my favourite -- the gladiolus. We picked the colours together at the nursery each year as we added to the colour palette and plants in the different garden beds. Many of you won't believe this <smirk> but by high school and university age, I even got up on Saturday mornings to go for groceries with dad. We left the house between 8 and 8:30 AM! As an adult home to visit, I would walk with him as he paid utility bills all over downtown. I always smiled when he knew every person in the offices by name. Even walking down the street, it was difficult to have a conversation since he was greeting so many people along the sidewalk. Dad lived in the same city all of his life in about 5 different houses -- all but one of them in a 3 block square. I laughed whenever he and his older brother (by 1 year and 3 days) got together and giggled like little boys finishing each others sentences -- right to the end. 

My dad modeled so much positive behaviour. He was great in a crisis and was often the one that communicated bad news with his siblings (he was one of 9). He loved to laugh and tell stories from childhood escapades. But Dad also listened well and offered advice when requested. He gave the best gifts -- since he took the time to know and understand each person and what they enjoyed and found important. I still aspire to be a better person and be more like my dad.    

There are so many songs about fathers. Many are rather maudlin. The one shared here contains lyrics that are more positive and from the father's viewpoint. Keep safe. Enjoy!

-- Father and Daughter -- Paul Simon

Day 8 - 170 -- Dinner under an Umbrella

The day began sunny and warm. By late afternoon heavy cloud arrived threatening rain later in the evening. I worked at laundry and spent some time outside dead-heading day lilies, irises and chives -- such pretty flowers. Peonies will join this group soon, too. One of the trees is blooming right now so with the wind of the day, there are white petals covering porches, steps and walkways -- oh, and the windshield <smile>. These blossoms all herald the beginning of summer which arrives tomorrow. 

I spent this evening with three friends for the first time since late January. We were elsewhere around Easter, but elsewhere with one other person. It was an enjoyable time. We had a lobster boil with all the trimmings -- potato salad, rolls, and a green salad. All was wonderful. I managed to get away with only one tiny gouge on my finger from the sharp shells. We had great appetizers of vegetables and a caramelized onion hummus -- all accompanied by a wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon. We ate dinner on the deck under the sun umbrella due to the sporadic light rain of the early evening. That was fun. Temperatures dropped a bit so that it felt a bit cool. We ate dessert in the house as a more steady rain began. It was an enjoyable evening. It felt good to be together again after so long in isolation but it also felt a bit weird at times -- not quite right. I expect that it will take a while to begin to feel more comfortable unmasked indoors with others -- yet another learning curve. <smile> 

The selection for today is a fun jazz tune by two great artists. It is from several decades ago and was recorded as part of an early television variety show. Quality isn't stellar, but the performance is amazing. Stay safe. Enjoy! 

Umbrella Man -- Dizzy Gillespie & Louis Armstrong

Day 8 - 169 -- Decisions

The week ended with a sunny day and warmer temperatures. Luckily, it got cooler overnight -- great for sleeping. My day was spent online trying to find an earlier booking for the second vaccine dose and reading documents that require my approval.  Finding an open date, time and place isn't easy. Booking the first dose went so smoothly. The second dose was booked automatically the requisite 105 days later. Now, second doses can be booked earlier. I suspect this has something to do with supply increases. As I scrolled by locations that were fully booked, I recalled that this province opens appointment times only after knowing the quantity of vaccines that will be available. This means that appointments run out 1 to 2 weeks only. While seeing the notice that most locations were fully booked feels disappointing, in the larger picture this means that people are choosing to be vaccinated. A good thing. <smile> In the other project, I edited files to send out for input. I also had to read and approve two longer complicated files. Tedious, but things are off my desk for now. 

Why are decisions so difficult to make? I hate to go on my first impression. I need time to think through things before agreeing -- an introvert mind at work. For important decisions, there are so many 'what ifs' to consider. I'd prefer this to the "woulda,, coulda, shoulda' syndrome of a hasty decision that can't be readily undone. I find such situations emotionally exhausting. I dislike haggling through negotiations like when purchasing a vehicle. I never feel that I have gotten the best of a deal <smile>. 

Today I share a song about choices and decisions. Stay safe. Enjoy! 

Any Road -- George Harrison

Day 8 - 168 -- Hunting for Patience

The sun shone all day but many rain-filled clouds blew by, too. High surf occurred in the southern part of the province due to the remnants of tropical storm Bill. No wind or rain reached the mainland as this system moved by while well out to sea. This forecast caught me off guard, as I don't recall the first named storm this season. There will be more as the season wears on -- June through November. In this part of the Atlantic coast we see stronger storms arrive in the latter half of the season, once the water temperature has risen. 

I met with a friend in person this afternoon. We went for a short walk and paused for a visit over tea. It is great to see people other than on a screen. I am happy to be able to meet with more distant friends virtually, but I can't wait to see them when we are all in the same place. At present, the first step towards that end that I have some small degree of power over, it to get the second vaccine dose. I received notice yesterday that I could now rebook an earlier date, if I wished. I have had major issues even finding an appointment available. A friend noted that perseverance would work. Keep trying and something will open. Patience -- not something I encounter very often these days <smile>. 

A song came to mind that matched the feeling of waiting for an appointment to appear. It isn't actually wasting time, but it seems that many other things are not being done, or done well, while I check a few times daily.  The song has a great relaxing feel to it, so perhaps that is what I should be doing more -- relax. I have an appointment; I'd just like an earlier one. Now that shows a position of privilege doesn't it? <sigh> Stay safe. Enjoy! 

Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay -- Otis Redding

Day 8 - 167 -- Mystery and Memories

It rained overnight and into the day. We do need the moisture having been in a extreme fire risk with a ban on open fires and fireworks and such. The temperature was pleasant when I went out to pick up two items from the grocery store. As with yesterday, I found another wonderful local-ish product -- asparagus. These will be part of dinner tonight along with the strawberries from yesterday -- just not mixed together <smile>.  I occupied myself this afternoon with responding to emails and messages, following up with an online order, and other online activities. One mystery was solved with a phone call. When checking the information for one of my club member cards, I noticed that it stated that the card had been used at a gas station (that isn't anywhere close to here) at the end of May. Now we were in lockdown, so I wasn't traveling outside of town at all. Turns out, the annual summary had taken the information for somewhere I was in the past year and just added it to the recent activity. It took a while, but the customer service rep dug into it to find the answer. We had a good laugh knowing that the software program appeared to be as confused as the rest of us at present. <smile>. 

Another online activity involved making a memorial donation to a professional foundation. A colleague from 25 years ago or so, passed away yesterday. We served on the executive of a professional organization and often met in her rec room. She had a wonderful outlook on life and I recall smiling and laughing with her a lot. She had been dean of the college where I got my bachelors degree -- some time after I graduated. She was retired when we were on the executive together. I will miss knowing that force of nature and 'tell it like it is' approach were active in this world. At some future date there will be a celebration of life. Her daughter noted that anyone who knew her would not be surprised that she had planned every detail herself. <smile>  

I thought of a song that I think my colleague would accept -- nothing maudlin and a bit tongue in cheek with the title. It was the late '90s when we worked together just before I moved down east. So -- this song will do. Stay safe. Enjoy! 

When We was Fab -- George Harrison

 

Day 8 - 166 -- Berry Season is Here

Today was mainly sunny and a bit warmer into the afternoon than I'd expected. The lawn mowers arrived this morning -- two instead of one so things went quicker. The main guy sometimes will bring family members with him to speed up the process. The lawn looks so nice when it is done -- all fresh and new. it looks great the rest of the week, but those first few hours really shine. 

My outing for the day involved heading to three stores for one thing at each. At the grocery store, I got the one item needed, but found that local strawberries had just been added to the shelf -- well local as in from the province not from the growers just outside of town quite yet. The Valley (Annapolis) is  usually a couple of weeks ahead of growth in the immediate area here. So, I had to buy those, of course. The second place was to get an item for friends, but I bought two -- one for them and one for me <smile>. The third place had most of what I wanted, but I will need to go to the main Post Office for one item not at the kiosk downtown. I know, I said one item at each place but this was a package of newly released stamps and a first day cover so it seemed like one thing to me <smirk>. 

I found a song by a psychedelic rock group with a name that fits part of my shopping purchases today. It is about agricultural pursuits. I do hope that the recent late frosts have not badly affected local growers. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Mr. Farmer -- Strawberry Alarm Clock

Day 8 - 165 -- Balancing the Day

Monday began cool and the temperature rose over 20C by mid-afternoon. It also began cloudy around dawn but soon became mainly sunny for the rest of the day. I visited with a friend by phone which gave me some helpful information to deal with household issue. A virtual business meeting later in the afternoon left me with more paperwork  -- too much already on the plate <sigh>. In the cool of the evening I went for a pleasant walk to mail a letter. Yes -- an actual paper letter to a friend. <smile> While much was left undone today, I did get three things knocked off the list and another couple moved forward a bit. All in all, I'll take that as a win today. 

Often when looking at weighing pros and cons, the metaphors used are those of  winning or scoring. These are based in battle and sports and are not my favourite ones to use due to their violent nature. so, today was not all positive, but there was enough there to make it feel okay. The song chosen deals with the concept of winning, but seems to use fewer fighting metaphors in its survival messaging. To me much of the lyrics sound more up than down <smile>. Stay safe. Enjoy! 

I'm Gonna Win -- Foreigner

 

Day 8 - 164 -- Pressurized

When trying to meet expectations set for several smaller goals , sometimes I feel so inept while at other times, so uninspired. Recognizing that my skill sets require input from someone else can be challenging. Asking for input or assistance can be so very difficult. I wonder at times if there is some type of shame involved in having to depend on others. Where would that have come from -- the need to be independent or a fear of loss of independence or what? This could stem from feeling that I have gotten myself into a situation and should have known better. <sigh> As for feeling uninspired, the source may be more nebulous. Ennui is difficult to pin down. Perhaps the world-weariness from global, local and personal situations begins to weigh heavily -- all those impediments in the way of reaching goals. This could affect problem solving abilities that lead to a feeling of being ineffectual. So, that could mean it is one giant circle -- or vortex even <smile>. Either way the pressure can be overwhelming. 

To help me move forward today, I admired the first bloom on the irises that I've had for over 5 years. It is a lovely lilac shade and huge. And of course, there is music, which helps me in all kinds of conundrums. A song from a favourite band fit my thoughts perfectly today. Love the opening guitar riff. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Under Pressure -- Queen ft. David Bowie

 

Day 8 - 163 -- Quirkiness

Another odd weather day -- lots of clouds, no rain and sunny breaks just before sunset but not clear skies after dark. I just seems weird to me. As for me? Just living the dream doing laundry, making list for outing to two stores tomorrow and trying not to just take a nap. <grin> 

Let me tell you of a very strange encounter I had last evening. I went for a short walk just to feel the cooler night air. As I rounded the corner onto a usually busy street, I heard music getting louder. I expected it was from a house, but it didn't seem to be. Then it just stopped and I heard voices from one of the back yards. Once I got to the end of the block, I turned around to return home when the music began again. The source? Something I've never seen -- two teenage girls one on a child's pink skateboard and the other on a bike decked out with bluetooth speakers. These two came from one of the driveways and were heading down the middle of the street. I just kept moving. They began singing along at the top of their lungs -- at least on key. Now -- this was happening just before midnight. I'm not sure where they are from as I've not encountered them anywhere. I could hear the music and voices all the way back at my place -- about half a block from them as the crow flies. They seemed not to be going anywhere -- just hanging in the middle of the street with no reflector tape or lights or anything. That reminded me of walking out of a small grocery store in New Orleans and seeing a man dressed as a wizard riding a bicycle complete with twinkle lights. We stopped, stared,and shook our head. We looked for him over our next week -- apparently he was a local -- but we never saw him again. There are others I could regale you with, but I'll leave those for another day. I guess these encounters indicate that we just need to be ready for anything -- especially the quirkiness of the world around us as people enjoy being themselves. 

The main chorus line from an earlier funk song ran through my mind when thinking of such encounters. It seems to summarize the thoughts nicely. Keep safe. Enjoy!

Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) -- Sly and the Family Stone

  

Day 8 - 162 -- Taking Back Control

For a Friday, it was a mixed up sunny and cloudy day -- figuratively and literally. In the afternoon, I made muffins while waiting for the call from a courier to pick up the offending box in my LR. For those following the continuing saga of the Great A/C Debacle of 2021 -- today was to be the outside guess as to when the pick up would occur. On Monday I was told 2-3 days and on Wed I was told it would be Thursday or maybe Friday. Today was 4. I left a note on the Facebook page of the company the box must return to for a refund. No message response arrived, so I headed back to the company website and tried the live chat feature again. It had been difficult on Wednesday when I tried last. Everything worked well today. The live person I got to after the 4-1/2 minute wait was great. They canceled the return process, which I'd been told couldn't happen with the live person on the phone Wednesday. That took seconds to process. I can now return the unit to the store for a refund. I wonder how many days I'd have had to wait for someone to arrive for the pickup. This customer representative also connected me with someone I could lodge concerns with over the disastrous phone call earlier this week. I should get a phone call from them within 24 hours. I really will think multiple times before I order something online from this company again. Delivery to the store might be a good option for most items, but this one was so blasted heavy. Oh well. The return should be completed soon. I will then head to a different vendor for a similar cooling unit. 

It was amazing how much better I felt with a customer service rep who listened and answered my questions -- and in a pleasant and efficient manner. I understand the person I had on the phone on Wednesday likely experienced something upsetting and should have taken a moment. Handing the call to another person would have saved us both a world of frustration. As a customer, I felt odd trying to deescalate a situation. That just isn't my job. Mirroring her negativeness would not have helped with communication and would add to the frustration and hurt. It will be good to be able to describe the episode to a supervisory person. 

Taking back control of this issue today felt positive. I thought of the phrase -- 'don't suffer fools' and this brought a lyric into the brain -- 'the power to redeem the work of fools'. This song was written by an early punk artist and was included on a later album. It highlights her vocal range and strength. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

People have the Power -- Patti Smith

 

Day 8 - 161 -- Cool Friends

<gasp> I woke this morning feeling chilly.<smile> Imagine -- after two days of extreme heat, the house finally cooled. During the day, a strong wind with stronger gusts blew the cool air into the house. This helped me to spend the afternoon cooking pasta sauce, red beans and rice.  I ate the latter two items for dinner tonight -- Yum. The rest of all items will reside in the deep freeze so I can have something healthy and tasty the next time the weather turns hellish. 

I enjoyed a weekly catch up chat with a friend. We have always had much to talk about and can talk for extended periods of time easily. We laugh a lot when chatting. Finding the absurdities in life can help release some of the tensions events and thoughts cause. We even have a friendly wager for a glass of wine. Hopefully, we will be able to see each other in person soon. Winter and then lockdown have made it a while since we've seen each other. 

A song came to mind while typing this blog. It made me smile and laugh, since it is so perfect. <smile> Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Good Friends and a Glass of Wine -- LeAnn Rimes

Day 8 - 160 -- Finding Calm

Software for the weekly meeting created a new glitch today. A couple of extra or repeated steps fixed the issue. An afternoon call with customer care left me shaking my head. The question I asked could not be answered by the assistant, despite their insisting that they had answered it. I remained calm and found a different way to ask the question to clarify the question and hence the answer. Each time I tried to speak, she would speak over me, insisting that she had answered it several times already. She hadn't. I still do not know how long from pickup at my home, as how many days,  the return to the warehouse and processing of the refund will take. Five days from when it arrives at the warehouse seemed to be what she said the third time around, but would add nothing to let me know average expected time from my house to the warehouse. So -- it is anyone's guess. <sigh> She did snap at me to tell me the call was being recorded -- not sure what that was about. I responded that I expected that. I did ask if there was anyone else I could speak to, but that was ignored. The experience today left me no wiser and a whole lot more frustrated with the situation. Other customer care people had been delightful and very understanding; this one not so much. Sadly, it is difficult to not have the negative experience colour the entire experience. <sigh> I have arranged with a friend to go to a different store in town and pick up a replacement since none of us could heft the thing on our own. 

Temperatures today were much cooler than the past two days, but with minimal breeze, so the outside air didn't enter the house easily. Now opening the windows to allow air inside to cool the house, which is far warmer than outside, it seems noisy outside from the house next door. Hopefully, this will not last long. This house holds heat for a couple of days. I'd love to get it cooler so we all sleep better. I need to feel less cranky. <sigh> 

While looking through social media, a memory from five years ago appeared with the set list from my cousins for a concert they attended. Just reading the that listing helped me to relax. Hearing bits of songs in my head brought calm. So, I decided to share one of those here today. Stay safe. Enjoy! 

Copperline -- James Taylor

 

-- James Taylor -- copperline 

Day 8 - 159 -- Musical History

We survived record setting heat again today. The temperature has been dropping  since late afternoon, so will be 20+C lower overnight. Then several cooler days. I'm very happy for this as will be the furry one.

While waiting for the start of a virtual national meeting today, I listened to the end of a documentary, Once Were Brothers. I've seen this a few times and love the music. It tells the story of The Band with a focus on how they formed, how they grew and how they took a break and never came back together. Band members, other musicians, and Martin Scorsese (director of The Last Waltz) provide commentary throughout the film. The drama from their beginnings through the sessions completed at big pink -- a house -- to their final big show with many others they'd encountered along the way, bring to light the difficulty of sustaining a group with the pressures of the music industry and individual needs and wants.The music works to underpin the main story. It is well worth the time to watch and listen. 

I was reminded of many things listening to the large catalogue of songs created and performed by this group. So many of the songs are tattooed in my heart, it was difficult to choose. I ended up with two to share today. The first is by Robbie Robertson and has a great rhythm. The second was a perfect song to end their public performance life. It was written by Bob Dylan. Such history there. There are many faces on stage for this one, and Robbie adds his ideas about life on the road at the end. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Ophelia -- The Band

We Shall be Released -- The Band ft. Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Woods, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Ronnie Hawkins, and a few others you may recognize <smile>

Day 8 - 158 -- Heat and Frustration

The heat alert for the day was right on point. It was a scorcher. Early evening the temperature sat at 36C (97F) with a feel like temperature of 45C (113 F). Wild. Around 7 PM I headed out to get some milk and do some printing on campus. It didn't feel as humid as I expected, but a light breeze might have helped that a bit. Tomorrow will be like today with risk of thunderstorms that will usher in cooler drier weather overnight into Wednesday. So, another 24-36 hours and things will return to more seasonal temperatures, if not slightly below average. I will welcome that weather and get some major cooking done those days, so I have things in the deep freeze for the hotter days that will arrive in July and August. 

The other frustration of the day involved a portable a/c unit that was delivered today. I unboxed it only to discover that there were no set up instructions, manual or warranty information. It also looked as if I wasn't the first one to open the box <sigh>. I called the company I purchased from and they arranged for a return with someone coming to the house to pick up the beast. It is about 50 pounds. Once that had all been completed, I headed back to return the unit to the box. Now, these repacking things rarely go smoothly and this was no exception. I got it into the box and then the second foam container with everything except the actual cooling box refused to fit. It sat 6 inches above the top of the box. I removed everything again and tried to get the a/c unit to fit into the base of foam at the bottom of the box. Everything went back inside but still wouldn't fit. By this point, I was sweaty and cranky and exhausted. The furry one now avoided the room entirely. <smile> I felt so disappointed since much excitement preceded this delivery. 

There were tears, swearing, and feelings of needing to give up. I knew I needed help, so I phoned a friend. The first one was not home and the second one was at work, but called as soon as there was a break in the action. The two of us problem solved the puzzle of foam packing pieces shapes and sizes. After two attempts, it all fit perfectly! A while later the first friend returned my call and offered to help carry a similar unit from the store to the car to the house and assist with set up. I have wonderful friends <smile>. So, sometime in the next 3 days a courier will come to take away the first box and I will head out to find the same or similar cooling product in the two major stores we have in this little town. Luckily, both have online searching of local store inventories. I plan to leave that chore until tomorrow. I've just had it today. 

The song title and lyric line that was stuck on repeat in my head today is shared here. It may actually be burned into my neurons due to the heat of the day. <smirk> Given two members had birthdays over the past week, one turnng 80 and the other turning 74 (how did that happen??), it seems apropos to include one of the band's songs here. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

You Can't Always Get What You Want -- The Rolling Stones

Day 8 - 157 -- Garden Bounty

 What a wonderful sunny but cooler and drier day. It was a respite offered to us ahead of the mega-heat coming early this week. We expect highs of 33-36 C (91-97F) puls humidity to push it up and other 4-6 degrees Celsius in the 'feel like' temperatures. That will be our Monday and Tuesday with something hot but cooler arriving on Wednesday.

I had two surprise visitors today. On began with a phone call from a friend who I haven't seen for two months due to lockdown. She was making a rhubarb pie and wondered if I'd like some rhubarb. Now, I never turn down the offer of rhubarb. <smile> She brought me enough to make a great crisp for supper and into the week. With the oven on and the cool northerly breeze coming in the front door screen, I cooked all of supper in the oven, including enough for leftovers tomorrow. Those will be heated with microwave so no heat added to the house temperatures. As I was waiting for supper to cook, I noticed someone walking up my front porch. I said to the furry one, "Someone is on our porch." Again, we've been in lockdown for some time, so other than the letter carrier and the one delivery person, no one has been outside my door for weeks. Then I realized it was a colleague who had offered rhubarb from her garden to several of us in town. I wasn't sure when that would arrive, but here it was -- glorious rhubarb and enough to make the conserve spread my mom always made. The upshot is I now have enough for jam in the freezer since the weather won't accommodate making jam and processing in a boiling water bath. I will get to that on a cooler day, which forecasters suggest will occur by next week. The only downside is that cutting all that rhubarb created an abrasion on one knuckle that dragged across the cutting board as I chopped the stalks. Nothing major. It will be gone in a day or two. But I have rhubarb!  

I feel honoured to have the bounty of someone else's garden in my kitchen. Soon, I will be sourcing produce from the local farmers' market. I used to have my own rhubarb until it was destroyed by persons unknown -- as long as they used all the stalks for food, I suppose I can live with that. So, I really do appreciate food shared by friends and colleagues. A song that addresses local food production is shared here tonight. This is a great down to earth version. Stay safe. Enjoy! 

Homegrown -- Neil Young

Day 8 - 156 -- Annual Onslaught

Today was sunny and HOT with heavy humidity so feel like temperatures are ridiculously high. I was indoors working on weekend chores like laundry and cleaning followed by organizing some household accounts papers.  

June bugs have arrived, those giant walnut-sized beetles that bang into the side of the house or the windows making an unholy racket. Then sit on the window ledge buzzing wildly. Thankfully the invasion of these creatures lasts a very short time. There are many different insects that bear this appellation depending on where one is located. The local variety are truly grotesque mainly due to their size and bizarre behaviour. I heard the first one outside the window on June 1 -- the same date as last year -- so they are true to their name. Just as with cicadas, social media explodes with ways to cook and eat the critters, but that will not be happening here. I will try to remain calm when it sounds like someone is outside the window trying to break in, safe in the knowledge that the beetles will be gone soon. This is their mating season and they die in a couple of weeks, so are a bit frantic perhaps. They are far from aerodynamic and their wings don't help them fly well. They will bang into porch lights or windows (I've had this happen even in an unlit room). Apparently, they do this repeatedly and become exhausted and fall to the ground where they flail a bit on their backs and then become snacks for birds and things like raccoons and skunks. Yay -- like I want to attract more of those little mammals to the yard. <sigh> It appears that patience will help wait out the attacks to the house -- I'll just have to hunt around to find the patience that always seems to be misplaced. <smile> 

The song chosen to share today is an odd little tune that seems to take place in a bayou area. It isn't about bugs but a person with what I hope is the nickname, Junebug. The tempo is a bit wild and reminds me of the frantic flying and attacking solid objects of the insect that share this name. Stay safe. Enjoy! 

Junebug - B-52s 

Day 8 - 155 -- 'Almost Summer' Flowers

The big event today was curbside pickup of a smaller grocery order. Everything on the order was available today. That is rare. One small issue involved providing five medium tomatoes on the vine instead of the three tomatoes I'd requested. This is the first time the number of items has not matched the order. I wrote details in the instruction box for this item. I have heard from friends who have had this occur regularly. I will be able to find something to do with the extra two tomatoes, so no worries. I worked on email and some efiles in the afternoon. 

Clouds were present most of the day, with some sunshine appearing just before sunset. The forecast states we will have some hot and humid days over the weekend and into next week. The dehumidifier runs often even now, but should be going full time over the next few days. The warmth and bits of rain led to major plant growth over the past week. It is amazing! I've see so many flowers in bloom wherever I've driven or walked this week. Today, I saw Rhododendrons -- little bushes of bright magenta. These make me smile. I first saw them as great outdoor plants in California many many moons ago. At home, we got azaleas as potted plants that didn't last too long. Neither of these plants grows outside on the prairies due to the harsh winters. I enjoy living with these and so many other plants and trees that grow here. 

The song today is a cover from one of the early Rogers & Hammerstein movies, Carousel. A friend mentioned this song when posting beautiful photos of the flowers in her garden today. It seemed to fit my views from around town. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

June is Bustin' Out All Over -- Bing Crosby

Day 8 - 154 -- Mired in Minutia

The sun visited again today. A breeze cooled the air while I walked this afternoon. I had a meeting downtown, so very close to home. The walk felt pleasant. I noticed that the lilacs are in full bloom around the neighbourhood. The different shades of purple were delightful. 

I've been focused on future planning these days by working through revising several documents. The process involves much reflection on past and present. At times it feels very odd, but knowing a good map exists to move things forward clearly brings a feeling of calm. In the meantime, the details needed make my head hurt a bit. <smile> There is so very much to take into account when planning -- much of it known and a whole lot that isn't. I find it an exercise that gets me mired in the minutia of it all. With some external input, this will coalesce well and soon.  

As I walked along today, I heard a song title line on repeat in my head. The full lyric deals with something so far from the project I'm in the midst of, but that one line said it all for me today. Keep safe. Enjoy!  

I Don't Want to Miss a Thing -- Aerosmith

Day 8 - 153 -- Admiring Changes

We had a sunny warmer Wednesday. While I was doing a couple of small outdoor tasks this afternoon, I enjoyed a long look at the honeysuckle in all its deep pink glory. I noticed a few lily buds in the backyard but none in the front bank of greenery. Sadly, there have been few blooms there for several years. One of the irises that have been there for several years finally has a flower bud emerging for the first time. That is exciting. 

Seeing the changes in the plants almost daily, brings hope and reminds me of the consistency of the passage of seasons and time. Somehow that is comforting. The fleeting beauty of the various blooms nudges my mind to note the importance of paying attention to the changes. Stop to look around or we might miss something wonderful. 

A song came to mind as I was admiring the flowers today. It was one of my dad's favourite jazz tunes, composed by Fats Waller.. 

Honeysuckle Rose -- Sarah Vaughn

Day 8 - 152 -- Expected Changes

Wow! Another month has been and gone. I know I've said it often, but time seems to move quickly in some ways and in others it seems to creep along slower than a slug. I celebrated the day by changing my calendar pages. I even  managed to get some editorial tasks completed and submitted in the afternoon. The sun emerged in mid-afternoon after we'd had about 24 hours with intermittent rain. Things are looking very green out there today. 

This month of June will mark the halfway point of a year when it completes its visit. Other changes are expected as locally we begin the first phase of reopening -- the first of five phases so it won't be as quickly done as elsewhere. Moving between phases will be based on data on dates, as our Premier Rankin has noted often. Metrics will include the percentage of the populace who have received at least one dose of vaccine. By the end of the process, the proportion fully vaccinated will come into play. The number of hospitalizations, people in ICU and new case counts will be taken into account in decisions to move to the next levels. Nationally, we have 65% of eligible people with at least one vaccine dose. Vaccination rates remain high and second doses will begin here this month. Other provinces and territories have or will soon begin with second doses, too. On a side note, by mid-month there will be  major heat and humidity -- not my favourite weather. So, the month should bring some wonderful positive movement in managing the pandemic, but that will be tempered by scorching weather. Life is a balance of the ups and downs and all the in betweens. Today I will try to focus on the middle to up part of the equation. <smile> 

While there are many things we expect for the month, it will unfold in its own way. That reminded me of a song about a journey or tour. <smile> Stay safe. Enjoy!

Magical Mystery Tour -- The Beatles

Day 8 - 151 -- Atrocities

The past few days brought a lot of hard thinking dealing with residential school atrocities. This thought process will go on for a long time. I will need to listen more than talk. Learning and then accepting the truth in all its ugliness is necessary so that we can move towards reconciliation -- as individuals and as nations.  

Today I have two unconventional links to share. The first is a spoken word with no music from an indigenous band. For me it sets the scene. The second brings together multimedia and musical styles. This recording occurred in March of this year so all are distanced and masked as possible. The event was called the Fusion Sessions and involves an indigenous band and members of a symphony orchestra. Indigenous artworks and spoken word story-telling play a major role. The latter is about an hour in length and brings a calming feel -- it might help us to deal with emotions and prepare to listen. The main artist works to use his artistic endeavors to move towards reconciliation. Keep safe. Enjoy!

Before -- The Haluci Nation (A Tribe Called Red)

The Fusion Sessions -- Alan Syliboy and the Thunder Makers with Symphony Nova Scotia