With the mixed sun and cloud of the day, staying inside to do the usual weekend chores seemed doable. So, laundry and cleaning moved forward.
In between the cleaning bits, I watched a few documentaries. that I'd recorded. One caught my attention in particular. It dealt with the history of the royal train from the first with Queen Victoria to the current version for Queen Elizabeth II. The older trains are housed in York at the train museum. That is something my dad would have loved to visit. He was a fireman -- the fellow who shoveled coal -- on steam engines just before the diesel versions arrived. Earlier in the week, a social media group had been discussion travel on iconic vintage trains -- most of which are no longer in operation. The old world charm and opulence certainly was found in the older royal trains. The current one is less ostentatious than those from the first half of the 20th century. I found it interesting that both the conversation and then a documentary on a similar topic occurred within a few days of each other.
I have traveled by train across the Canadian prairies and in England, but nothing with Pullman cars and fancy dining cars. I try to travel on trains that I think my dad would have wanted to try, such as the high speed train into London. <smile> Given the topic, I've chosen two songs to share today. The first was one of dad's favourites -- this by his favourite big band and a favourite singer. The second is a great folk tune about a particular train. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Chattanooga Choo Choo -- The Glenn Miller Orchestra with Tex Beneke and the Modernaires
The week ended with a rather grey day that turned to rain early in the afternoon. Wind had been predicted, but none was present by early evening. The day was another quiet one spent at home doing a few small tasks around the house.
A friend shared thoughts on an album that was released last week. I read lyrics and listened to some of the songs and agree that it is worth a listen. The singer-songwriter chronicled the early Boomer experience way back in the day. This recent album continues his examination of the world around us in his usual poetic style. I share the title track here today. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Sunny blue skies filled the day along with moderate temperatures and lower humidity. It was a perfect day to be outside. A friend held a garden (and deck) party today. It was a fun day with loads of great food -- cheese and crackers, potato salad, fruit salad, crudites, shrimp, smoked salmon, crab spread, cake and so much more. Most people were retired faculty from the past many years. I knew a few peripherally, and a handful as acquaintances. I stayed to chat for a while after helping a bit with set up and then had to head out to a couple of urgent errands. I did go back early into the evening to help with cleanup.
When I got home, I went for a short walk to enjoy the cooler evening air. On my way home, I met the new dog on the block -- a 30 lb ball of fluff -- only 8 weeks old. He is the grandson of the dog that passed in March -- it will be nice to see a new fellow there and what he can bring to the block. That house also has a new kitten who has grown a lot and is filled with amazing energy and stunning vertical leaps. The older cat (3 or 4 years old) keeps an eye on the young ones to make sure they are safe. Had a great chat with their person, too. <smile>
As I was helping setup things at the party, a song line ran through my head. It seemed like the perfect song to share today. Keep safe. Enjoy!
The day appeared with cooler temperatures, but with little to no breeze so little could enter the house. Humidity still rules, though, so maybe not getting the air into the house is a good thing <smile>. It was a quiet day. I spoke with two friends during the day by video meetings. It does help to see and hear people when I'm home for the day. I did some prep for appetizers I'm taking to a friend's place tomorrow and cooked something simple for supper.
Quiet days at home can be relaxing, but recent world changes have made such days feel a bit more challenging. Too much time alone doesn't feel great. I have been able to arrange virtual meetings over the week days to help with the isolation that is present still. Days like these leave me feeling like I haven't accomplished anything and looking back over the many months since the first lock down, those feelings only deepen. So much could have been done, yet dealing with the stresses of being holed up in one place seemed to paralyze productivity. I was only a year into retirement when things changed -- before a retired routine could be established. I have always loved to be alone to work on hobbies, read, watch movies, cook and such. When i felt the need, I would go shopping to see and interact with people, or call friends to go for tea, a meal or a walk. That rhythm from over the decades has been disrupted and I'm not sure how to re-establish something for the way the world is working now. I know I am not the only person dealing with such challenges. It just feels that way sometimes due to the isolation of the times.
As I ponder my way through the newness today, a song came to mind. This title song from a movie holds a double meaning based o n the premise of the storyline. It made me smile, but then the words seemed to fit much of what I've been trying to work towards. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Today brought much warmer temperatures than we've had for a week or two. The humidity was high with a risk of thunder storms. An air quality advisory appeared due to the approaching smoke from fires west of this coast. I headed out after lunch to run errands and took my rain jacket since it had gotten darker and the sun disappeared. Once I got up the hill and out of downtown, it became clear that is wasn't rain cloud, but heavy smoke hanging over the hills right down to ground level -- like I was walking through it. I sneezed once while in a store and several times once I got home. It doesn't smell like smoke, but the particulates were everywhere. There is hope that rain might help to clear the humidity and some of the smoke.
The selection for today came from the streaming celebration of life I attended this evening. I hadn't heard the song for years, but knew all the words. The opening riff is unmistakable. It was a great recessional. And, it dealt with the sky as did my my outing today. Keep safe. Enjoy!
An interesting Monday. In the afternoon, when walking upstairs from the basement, I heard a banging noise outside. When I got to the living room I realized it was something hitting the roof of the house. I headed out to see what was going on and found nothing. There were a number of crows in the vicinity today, so it was likely on or two of them dancing on the roof. Being larger birds, they can make a big noise. This sounded for all the world like a basketball against the side of the house -- only on the roof. Surprise! <grin>
I did an online grocery order today and had a later pickup in early evening. The woman working the shift was wonderful to chat with on the phone and when putting groceries in the trunk. As I had left the house, I got a text from a cousin about meeting for a chat. That happened after my shopping trip and we each had our respective evening meals -- mine very late and theirs at a more usual time since they are in a different time zone. It has been a few years since we conversed, so this was a great surprise added into the day. I found this greatly improved my mood -- which has been a bit on edge of late. It is interesting that one or two events -- in this case unexpected interactions with people - can have such a profound effect. I guess this goes to something I've always thought -- what we say and do with others can make someone's day without us realizing we had done anything significant. Cool, eh?
Based on the mystery noise this afternoon, I chose a Goffin & King song sung by a group that began in Toronto when I lived there. Their a capella style gives a great rendition of this song. I loved listening to it as I looked across the city at night after a tough day at work. It helped me to relax, and still does! <smile> Stay safe. Enjoy!
Today consisted of much down time. I have slept poorly for the past few nights and woke today with a slight headache. I did some small household chores, but spent most of the day resting. I listened to some recorded programs and an older movie. For the second night in a row, major fireworks exploded somewhere close to the house. This was a huge display, but I wasn't aware of anything 'official' happening this weekend. It likely affected several animals adversely.
Feeling fatigued and yucky created frustration at not being up to doing the few items that needed to be attended to today. They can be done later in the week, but doing so little just felt wrong today. We all have days when we are mentally or physically under the weather. These shouldn't be seen as personality flaws <smile>. Being kind to oneself can be challenging when there are places to go and things to do. I'm still learning this one. I did hear an odd little song in my head today that I'll share here today. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Another Saturday almost over. With it came the usual laundry and house cleaning tasks. Sun shone most of the day but with moderate temperatures. I hate being in a rut, but this has been part of my Saturday activity for decades. I listened to parts of a couple of movies while doing other things. This evening, someone outside has been setting off fireworks from about 10:30 PM onwards. The furry one jumps at every bang. Poor baby. It is close by, but difficult to see any flashes due to all the trees. Just as well -- since then I won't know who to give the evil eye to as I walk down the street tomorrow <grin>.
One song came to mind and made me giggle when I was listening to the booming sounds outdoors. Hope it makes you smile, too. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The sun shone most of the day with moderate temperatures and light breezes. The highlight of the day was time spent visiting with a friend over tea this afternoon. The rest of the day included mundane work around the house and completing responses to several e-mails. While not overly excited these activities led to me being able to see the backyard at night. I had to replace the bulb outdoors. When did a light bulb become a major investment? <grin> One of the email responses was accepting the one year renewal of my research position (unsalaried) with the university. Hopefully. this year will see me able to travel internationally to complete some necessary data and information collection to complete the major project. It had been my hope that this would be winding up right about now, but the pandemic halted travel which slowed and then stopped forward progression. <fingers crossed>
A short song came to mind when thinking what might fit for the blog today. It made me smile. the artist remade the album for the 50th anniversary last November. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Rain continued to fall overnight and all day. Cooler temperatures accompanied this weather change. My day involved a meeting with a research colleague and a virtual visit with a friend. Both were uplifting, even when trying to solve the world's problems. <smile> I've been excited to start a book for a review project. I almost got there today, but found other things that needed doing in the house. In the end, there wasn't the longer time slot I'd hoped to have for the start of this read. The book deals with the role food played in WWI. Some of this builds on work I've done about food and nutrition during the Crimean War. It also expands on the social and scientific aspects of the beginning of the 20th Century -- so about 60 years after the learnings from the Crimean War. While not the usual summer read, this book does build anticipation for me. It would make a great rainy day book and we do have some of that type of weather in the offing. <smile>
Listening to the rain falling over most of 24 hours reminded me of a song that my friend used when she practiced her drums. We were kids and I would listen to her and sing along. This selection brings feelings of relaxation and happiness somewhat like the rain sounds today. Keep safe. Enjoy!
It was a busy mid-week day. After a phone meeting, I headed to the dentist for the next steps in preparing for the big repair -- two sets of impressions, photos, and a temporary cover for one of the canals to hold the anchor posts. More than I'd expected for the day, but it went quickly. When I left the office, there were a few sprinkles of rain. I stopped at two stores trying to find spongecake rounds and ended up with an angel food cake as the only available option. Weird. When I left the second store hoping to head to the third and final planned stop, it was steady rain. By the time I got to the car, it was pouring heavily. The bottom 6 inches of my jeans were saturated. I used the beach towel I keep in the car to dry off me and the car seats. Driving through town required wipers to be on high speed just to see a little bit of the road ahead. Needless to say, I headed straight home, wrung out my jeans and hung things to dry. The other shopping stop was completed later in the evening.
Growing up on the prairies, I am no stranger to downpours often accompanied by thunder storms. Living on the Atlantic coast introduced me to full days of pouring rain -- sometimes two days in a row that dropped more rain in a day than we got in a whole summer in my childhood. Monsoonal rains were new to me. I kept thinking we'd quickly drive out of the rain, which never happened. Highway travels on such days become impossible. I've driven to and from the airport (2+ hour drive) in major rain. Often these were part of post-tropical storms and in a couple of cases were part of hurricanes. To be frank, I'd rather stay home on such days and just experience things by looking out the window or listening to the sound as it hits the house.
On the drive home today, I found myself asking if the rain might stop before I got home. Even if the intensity of the deluge lessened, it would help. That reminded me of a song -- imagine that! <smile> Keep safe. Enjoy!
Who'll Stop the Rain -- Creedence Clearwater Revival
The day felt warm and humid with menacing clouds all day. Lights were required inside the house due to the heavy cloud cover outside. By mid-afternoon, I headed out for a walk to the pharmacy carrying my rain jacket 'just in case'. I took a detour on the way home, stopping a law office to check on status of documents in preparation. We spoke of a couple of small bits and will meet again to review drafts in a couple of weeks.
As I walked home, I felt the first little raindrops when I was three doors away from home. By the time I was in the driveway, the drops had become more intense -- greater frequency and larger in size. Luckily, the clothing got slightly damp only. There was no need to run, though I may not have since standing in the rain might have been calming and cleansing. The small bit of rain that did fall wouldn't have soaked clothes anyway -- just a wierd day where major rain was expected but didn't arrive.
Rather than sharing another song about rain, most of which are sad, I include the title song from an album released on this day over 50 years ago. Much has been written about the origin of the title. <smile> The lengthy song led the way for future extended play songs. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Today felt hot and humid again -- 28C (82F) feeling close to 38C (100F). I was indoors most of the day. I called to make an appointment to pay a bill, but had to pay by phone since a 'no walk ins' policy is still in place for the office. So even with opening up, it will be the decision of each business how they wish to conduct business. I really miss speaking with the agents that I have known since I moved here 22 years ago.
The major news today was the opening of the Canadian border to fully vaccinated US citizens and permanent residents living in the US. This is the longest undefended border in the world and it has been closed for 16 months. The new regulations take effect on August 9 -- three weeks from today. On July 5, fully vaccinated Canadians abroad could enter the country with proof of vaccination and a negative pcr test 72 hours before entry without the need to quarantine for 14 days or waiting at a quarantine hotel for 2-3 days for a negative test on entry. That requirement will be gone for all travelers on August 9, too. Since early July, many families have been able to visit for the first time in a year or more. Now other family members and friends will be able to reunite by air or land crossings. These are the hugs that many people have been waiting for. While such travel is deemed non-essential, the question has been 'to whom'. I've heard many people say that mental health is essential to individuals and families, yet this is not the definition that has been in place for the past many months. I expect there will be many happy people after these announcements today.
Phrases from a song lyric have been running through my head today. This deals with people celebrating together. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Hot and humid describes the early afternoon well. I ran a couple of errands and did a bit of house work. My late afternoon, I headed out with friends to attend a barbecue (grill for some of the readers here <wink>. This was my first time seeing this friend's new home since she moved in a year ago. It is a lovely peaceful location with water frontage out in a small village in the county. We spent time on the deck. The temperature had dropped a bit by late afternoon and was a bit cooler by the water. We viewed a variety of wildlife. My favourites were the bald eagle, gold finch and hummingbirds. We could see a fish jumping at one point -- the water is quite a distance away, so to see this fish meant it was very large.
Dinner was cooked on the barbecue (grill) -- more food that the four of us could ever consume even over a whole day <grin>. We had great conversations on the deck and indoors once the mozzies got vicious nearing sunset. We all felt tired by the time we headed back to town. I posited that this could be due to being out of practice with in person social interactions -- much like the zoom fatigue experienced when we first began virtual meetings. Psychology papers have noted that while we have had to learn to read people in two dimensional close ups, the brain moved our usual social interaction skills into deeper long term memory. With time and practice, we'll manage to switch back to in person skills. In the meantime, we may feel fatigued after such events.
A humorous song presented itself today, one that deals with the difference in terminology of a dinner such as the one we had tonight. I do call this barbecuing since that is what is commonly used in this part of the world. I have eaten barbecue (a noun not a verb) and hope to try other styles in future travels. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Saturday has been mainly sunny and warm with ghastly humidity. In the house, the dehumidifier on the main floor reduces moisture by 10-15% but at the cost of increasing ambient air temperature by 3-5 degrees. this creates a battle with the a/c that is trying to cool the air <sigh>. The dehumidifier in the basement works almost constantly on days like today. It does keep the cooler air drier and more comfortable. I took advantage of this air as I went up and down to complete the laundry today. Cleaning tasks upstairs were spaced out so that I didn't overheat. <smile>
My major task today was to write and submit two peer review reports for two professional journals. I enjoy being part of this process. Though there are times when it brings back memories of grading papers -- usually when I encounter poorly written or conceptualized manuscripts or the research designs lack expected rigor.It happens. Regardless of the mechanics of the papers, the ideas and content can be very interesting. The variety of questions addressed by studies is fascinating. The time spent keeps me engaged with the wider professional community and allows me to assist authors and editors to communicate relevant information clearly and succinctly -- and I learn something new in the process. Now that is a great way to spend a few hours on a summer afternoon -- feeling connected with the great big world! <smile>
So -- no song came to mind as I was cleaning and writing today. But, I did hear that today marks 40 years since the release of the seventh album of a band that has been around longer than that in one form or another. Stay safe. Enjoy!
With a cloudy start to the day the heat did not feel as oppressive as it could have had the sun shone all day instead of sporadically in the afternoon. I was glad for a/c in the car when I headed for a grocery curbside pickup. Waiting for the delivery to the car was a warm wait. I opened windows so the air at least moved, though the breeze was warm and humid. I refuse to sit while the car idles just to get the cooled air. For the 10 minutes it takes, there was no need to do this. If it had been hotter, I might have considered it. <smile>
For the first time in a long time, this online grocery order was frustrating. Basic products that tend to be always in store showed up as 'out of stock' -- things like cherry tomatoes and strawberries with the latter available locally at this time of year. I chose to go a bit early and head into the store to see if those two items were available. This is always by the entrance, so no major searching necessary. Voila! Both items were present. I then got four other things that I'd thought of after the online order was submitted. Once I checked out, I realized that the cost of those few items added to the online order would have gotten me $15 in points. When picked today, there were no Roma tomatoes or salmon portions available even though they had been online a day ago. Bizarre. I noted the issues in the responses to the 'how did we do?' survey. Too weird. And frustrating. After all, isn't the purpose of getting curbside pickup to avoid going into a store?
The checkout system has changed. Instead of dedicating a staff person to direct people in line to an open register, they now have an automated sign that directs traffic. The older man in front of me who had two items in his cart kept gesticulating with muttered WTFs and heaving huge loud sighs. He kept looking at all the registers and was about to leave the orderly line and head off to a register. Luckily, a manager level person noted that the rope had been unhooked right by where he stood. She quickly darted in front of me and close the gap -- all without making eye contact with him. Now, she and I had a bit of a nod and giggle, though. The line moved quickly. All registers were open. It was 12:30 PM. What did he expect the store to do? And since he appeared to be in a huge hurry, why did he choose to shop at lunch hour? He desperately tried to make eye contact with me so he could spew whatever vitriol he was carrying around. I made sure that didn't happen. I chose not to have that dumped in my direction.
I felt that I handled my frustration better than the man in front of me in line. I have no idea what else was going on in his day, so I'm not saying that I was a better person in any way. What I found interesting was that my feelings didn't become full blown anger that needed to lash out at someone. I've been there, but I knew I could send a note online to express my disappointment in the curbside process this week. No one at the store or those delivering the groceries have any control over the inventory or online database issues I encountered. So, to me there was no need to complain to them. They were doing their best, which I appreciated. I laughed at a title that I encountered while thinking and waiting in line. It made me think that even though long lines are rarely seen as great ways to spend our time, we each deal with this in different ways. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Cloudiness filled most of the day with only sporadic sunny moments. No rain began until mid-evening. It was warm and humidity grew through the day, too. I walked out Main Street to do two errands. The breeze helped things to feel comfortable. I found myself in the pharmacy getting a few items. As I walked away from the checkout I nearly stopped dead in my tracks. I had forgotten to put my mask on when I entered the store and here I was exiting. I felt mortified. No one said anything or even motioned to me. That surprised me.
Not being 'covered' while in public brought interesting feelings. I am so used to wearing a mask, that when I didn't have one, I still felt comfortable. Once I noticed that I wasn't wearing one, I felt 'uncovered' and a deep sense of shame at being seen in this way. I also felt empathy for others I see around without a mask, thinking that they may have forgotten like me and necessarily be anti-maskers. This experience brought great perspective. I still chastised myself since I know better and had the mask in a pocket readily accessible.
As I tried to come to terms with this breech of public health requirements, the repetitive chorus of a song entered my head. Now the song is about something very different, the chorus clearly notes my feeling that I should have done better -- so that says it all for me today. <smile> Keep safe. Enjoy!
It has been a day with a mix of sun and clouds. I had a phone appointment and a zoom meeting this afternoon. It is good to talk to people and discuss necessary topics. Besides, it is pleasant to be able to check in with people when we aren't close enough to meet in person. The province opened up to phase 4 today, which means larger groups can meet indoors or outside, businesses are at higher capacity, restaurant and bar hours are back to usual times, and live music is allowed in bars, breweries and such. Masking and distancing are still required indoors when not actively eating or drinking. To reach this phase of opening, the province had to be at 75% eligible people with at least a single dose and 45% with second dose. We need more people to book appointments for the second dose and others that still need to receive their first dose.
I'll admit that I feel a bit hesitant at the pace of the opening. Part of this means people are getting vaccinated, but I'm not sure people are ready to keep the masking and distancing requirements. I want to be positive but have been disappointed before. We'll see how things go.Waiting for summer happens every year -- an expected feeling of freedom. This past year has added layers to that expectation. As restrictions ease, it may be difficult to rein in one's anticipation. It can work but will take some self discipline <smile>.
Lyrics ran through my mind while thinking through this change in daily living. I love the poetic nature of the lyrics. Keep safe. Enjoy!
The upper right jaw is a bit tender today, but not so painful that a basic pain reliever won't tough it. I spent most of the afternoon reading two manuscripts as a peer reviewer. This volunteer activity helps keep the research part of my brain stimulated and I can feel somewhat useful. <smile> I walked out to Main Street to do an errand. On the way out and back, I encountered a new neighbour -- a little marmalade (or ginger) tabby bent on running into the street once and then wildly jumping and leaping into the yard. He could be from either of two homes, and today was the 'woo hoo let's explore' day for this little one. That made me smile and inpired me to find that part of me that wants to run around and do stuff. <smile> Soon.
Watching the little one enjoying the day and being crazy active made me think of a song. I love the opening guitar riff. <smile> Keep safe. Enjoy!
Each year on my birthday, I challenge myself to do the same number of new things as my age. Being in lockdown and isolated made me think that I wouldn't meet the requisite numbers over the past two years. As with last year, I will exceed that number again this year. Some things are planned, but many just present themselves. In most cases these are positive, but as with life new things come in all flavours. When first doing this 15 years ago, expectation were not what today held. We are finally getting to work towards a more permanent fix for the three teeth damaged when I fell back in January 2020. Three times now we have been in lockdown or strongly encouraged to avoid non-essential outings. So, today we did the first major step -- a root canal. The freezing was the worst part. The process was not pleasant, but at least it was not painful. In the end, there seemed not to be a nerve present, so the process was stopped.
There may be another such experience in the future depending on the outcome of preparation for caps. I'll be sure to keep you all apprised. <smile> The song shared today speaks to the need to keep moving forward. Doing new things regularly keeps me from getting stuck in a rut, which would impede motivation and momentum. Keep safe. Enjoy!
It has been a quiet day. I wrote and submitted a brief report. Some housekeeping chores were completed. I tried to find something interesting on television, but there wasn't anything that caught -- or rather 'held' --my attention. The sound played in the background for brief periods when I was working, but most of the time quiet prevailed. That helped keep the annoyance level to a minimum. <smile>
The song that swirled around in my mind during the day deals with muted aspects of the day. This version is from a famous outdoor concert. Keep safe/ Enjoy!
Sun arrived into the late morning with clouds and rain again by late afternoon. The winds overnight were not huge, but there were many small branches down. I took time to gather up the largest of these in my favoutite game of 'pick up sticks'. <smile> Inside I completed the laundry for the week, got some floors swept and managed to do a chunk of the household account pile.
This week I've been pondering three states of being -- angst, weltschmerz and ennui. So -- some quick definitions here come with the understanding that books exist covering each of these terms. Angst manifests as a bit of frustration or anger mixed with tedium. Weltschmerz refers to a pain for the world around us. Ennui can present as a feeling of unrest due to lack of inspiration. Kierkegaard defined this as a feeling of nothingness. I've thought about these before and still came to the same conclusion. The three concepts are clearly related, though somewhat distinct. They all deal with aspects of world weariness and a sense of boredom or unease. Of the three, I prefer the term ennui even if it covers aspects of the other two ideas. It is interesting that many philosophers have spent much time thinking of and naming the nebulous feelings. In some way, that can be comforting since these are clearly felt by many other people. Having words to describe it all can be useful and may help to move focus to being kind to oneself.
A song I have used in the past has been running through my mind this week. It is one of many that deal with aspects of the feelings pondered. Keep safe. Enjoy!
The morning brought pouring rain. I dashed out between downpours to finish the errands for the week. The rain diminished during the afternoon. This was a low pressure system from Quebec. Overnight we will get a bit more rain with some winds. This will be the edge of the low pressure system that was Tropical storm Elsa. This seems to be the first storm of the year to have an effect on this area. We will be east and south of the major rain events expected -- unless things move a bit on the approach to the Maritimes.
I also did little today other than the two necessary errands. I had prepared to do a bit of reading for the professional volunteer work, but lost all energy into early afternoon. Again. I am trying to be kind to me about this continuing fatigue that is best explained as post-vaccine effects. Appetite disappeared during the day, too. I was hungry but there was nothing that enticed consumption. I ate, but nothing balanced or exciting. <smile> The greyness of the weather didn't help energize me, either. The twilight or dusk levels of light left me flat.
The break in the greyness occurred as I drove home after the outing today. There was a brief moment of sun shining through the heavy cloud. That gave me a moment of hope in a metaphorical way. It was a short respite from the oppressiveness of the heavy cloud and semi-darkness of the day.The chorus of a song came to me in that moment. I share that with you today. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Have you Ever Seen the Rain -- Creedence Clearwater Revival.
I had two wonderful online visits with friends today. I headed out for errands in between the meetings. Sadly, I had to go back to one store afterwards to return one product I got earlier. This size usually lasts about 3-4 months once opened. It will replace the one that I expect to last another week or so. The reason for return involved the expiry date -- August 2021. The one time I don't check the date before purchase and it turns out to be 3.5 weeks from now. <big sigh> The clerk that processed the return didn't address me directly ever. I said I expected the others on the shelf had the same date and she did respond with a muttered, "I wouldn't know." Nor did she ask the other one flitting about and trying to carry on a personal conversation while the cashier was ringing through the person in front of me and me. This isn't the first time this one person has disrupted actual customer transactions in this way. She socializes more than anyone else I've seen there. She may even be an evening manager. <yikes> I had expected the cashier to ask someone to check the dates on the shelf for me. I know. I really do expect too much. Service is not a word that could be used for anything I encountered today.
Encounters like this can leave me feeling old. <smile> I've worked as a sales clerk when I was the same age as the cashier in question today. We were trained and checked on regularly to ensure customer received the care and attention expected by administration. I fear training and supervision focus on a much different level than when I did similar work. Yes. There were times when time moved slowly and I approached something close to boredom. I was encouraged to be active even if it meant dusting shelves or cleaning checkout area counter tops. If I had stood there with a far off gaze and heaving huge sighs, there would have been a work conversation to deal with that. <smile>
While I may feel a bit impatient with this at times, today I felt a type of sadness for the cashier. It took me some time to unpack that feeling. Where I netted out was that her distance looked like a desire to be elsewhere or hating what she was doing -- at least to this outsider. That thought reminded me of the phrase from an older friend -- "don't wish your life away." A song title and a line of the chorus came to mind. Now the whole lyric deals with a different story, but the main thought suggested that a different way of thinking or seeing the moments in our days might be worth finding. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Again, cloudiness filled much of the day with sunshine peeking through by late afternoon. Humidity is very high and temperatures were higher today, too. I went to an appointment this morning and headed home for lunch right after that was completed. After eating, I felt a bit tired, so sat down to listen to a program and found myself nodding off. I reclined for a few moments and woke up two hours later. I'm putting this down to a less than comfortable sleep last night mixed with post-vaccine fatigue.
Waking later meant the other two planned errands would need to wait for tomorrow. This has been the rule rather than the exception lately -- pushing things from one day to the next and to the next. I do have good intentions, but that isn't enough to actually get things done. The goal is to break this pattern and keep moving forward. Things seem stagnated most days.
I share the song that just seemed to fit the past few days. <smile> Keep safe. Enjoy!
Today began bright and sunny but clouded over into the early evening. Little rain is forecast, but the humidity will be high overnight as temperatures tend to remain high.hot and humid feeling again tomorrow followed by a couple of days of cloud and rain. Part of that should be the remnants of Tropical Storm Elsa. I did a couple of errands and found one office closed up, which is unusual. I will try again tomorrow but begin with a phone call. Another call found no answer at a second office. These are small professional business owners who employ one other person, so not finding folks at work is odd. This means two phone calls for tomorrow.
Several household paperwork projects need my attention this week along with one work report to submit. I expected Monday to be a day to deal with any possible effects of the vaccine. Today I felt a bit perkier, but had no luck with errands. There is a degree of fatigue still hanging on, but the arm felt almost usual. There is a bump at the injection site, but next to no pain. The first dose left the arm sore for about a week. The second dose has been different. If things improve into tomorrow, I should be able to tackle some of the computer work that has deadlines looming. Besides, I would like to see the piles of associated papers moved into files and out of sight. <smile>
On the weekend, a friend who was ahead of me in high school and who later married into my best friend's family, passed away suddenly. When thinking of some of our many meetings over the years, I smiled when I recalled a conversation about music. The selections for today are by the favourite artist that this friend noted. The first is a song that makes me smile and was one mentioned in our conversation that day. The second is less well known, but a great cover version of another song with a Canadian connection. Keep safe. Enjoy!
She Came in Through the Bathroom Window -- Joe Cocker
Slept fairly well last night considering the arm was sore from shoulder to fingertips last night. Today, the discomfort is more localized to injection site, but left side of neck and head hurt now. Meds seem to have eased that well. Fatigue is major as expected based on the reaction with the first dose. So, today was a quiet day at home watching recorded programs, eating several small meals throughout the day and keeping hydrated. My only outing for the day was to take the green bin and garbage to the curb for pick up tomorrow morning -- not a bit effort but the biggest for today. <smile> Tomorrow I have to be out to an appointment Just after lunch and to run two small errands earlier in the day. I do plan to take it easy and do only what feels right. This may be me being kind to myself, though the voice in my head seems to think it may be an excuse for being lazy. <eye roll>
I heard that today was the 70th anniversary of the bikini. When looking at that first version shown in Paris, it looks like it has 2 to 3 times the material even a regular two piece has today. As for bikinis now -- far less coverage than in 1946. The song was put into my head by the site where I heard about this auspicious anniversary. It is like an ear worm -- no it IS an earworm -- so be forewarned. Stay safe. Enjoy!
The deed is done! It took a 1.5 hour trip down the highway, but it is over. I received the second vaccine dose today. As the arm is starting to feel like something attacked it, I wanted to write this before the left hand makes it difficult to type. <smile> The feeling is surreal. Walking back to the parking lot, there were tears -- of relief, hope and seeing my part in this process finished for now. I expect there may be booster shots needed in the future, much like other vaccines. But, for now I can lay this one to rest. The focus of anxiety can move elsewhere <smile>
I took a lot of people into that cubicle with me today. My parents, grandmother, lifelong friend, close friends, loved ones and my professional family. They were walking with me. I wore jewelry that was theirs or gifts from them. There were even a few hairs donated by the furry one on the black shirt I wore <grin>. That shirt was a gift from a good friend, too. I chose it for the simple phrase it bears -- ShainteMhath -- a Gaelic phrase that translates to 'Good Health' or as a toast, 'to your good health'. That seemed appropriate for today. One good friend came along for the ride and provided support and great navigation as I drove.
The song chosen for today may be seen as a drinking song, but the lyrics do note the importance of kindness -- seeing it from a 'what goes around comes around' perspective. That also fit the pondering I did over the last few days in preparation for this day. Stay safe. Enjoy!
It was another cloudy and cool day. I did some laundry and household chores with one outing to fill the gas tank. The price was an amazing 1.35/L! Luckily, there was just the top 1/4 to 1/3 of the tank needed. Still -- that number is staggering.
I listened to the bio-documentary "Life in 12 Bars" while doing stuff around the house this afternoon. Lots of amazing music -- Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominoes, and a solo career. The life story is filled with tragedy, but he would translate the myriad emotions into the music.
I chose a song that is different from much of his earlier work. This has a more pop sound, but the lyrics of the chorus (and the title) speak to me <grin>. I also included a song with an amazing opening guitar riff. Stay safe. Enjoy!
It rained on and off most of the day. I did a drive into the county to put some kilometres on before getting the wheel retorqued. It would have been nicer to see the views without the rain, but it worked. After the visit to the dealership, I picked up a half-dozen things at the grocery store. The lineup for checkout was longer than I've seen it. there were 20 or so in line when I joined and then another 15 or more behind me. It was early afternoon on a Friday and it was the first day open after the first of the month when cheques and pay roll arrive. So, many people were stocking up. I had a late lunch and sat down to listen to a recorded program only to fall asleep. I did not sleep well last night, so it was no surprise. I had a decent nap and then carried on into the evening.
A rainy day can be relaxing. I enjoy the sound of the rain on the roof and windows, which feels soothing particularly in the night. This feeling coves with gentle rains and not the horizontal rains of a hurricane or post-tropical storm. <smile> Perhaps that soothing rhythm helped me to nap today. Most songs about rain use this as a sad or lonely metaphor. There are a few out there that have a more positive sound to them I chose one from a long while back to share today. Keep safe. Enjoy!
The small town of Lytton, BC was in the news this past week when for three days straight -- Sunday, Monday, & Tuesday -- they set records for highest temperature recorded in Canada. Tuesday was 49.6C (121.3F). Wednesday around supper time brought a mass evacuation order of the village due to raging wild fires. Today, the village is gone. Estimates say 90% was destroyed by the fires. I have no words here.
The country has be grappling with the truth of deaths at residential schools. Today involved a more reflective approach nationally. As a friend of mine noted, feelings of pride have been mixed with shame. Taking steps as individuals and communities towards reconciliation can help to re-establish a reason for feeling proud again.
So -- the usual Canada Day celebrations have been different this year. Given the pandemic, large gatherings would not have been common. Many communities chose not to have fireworks as part of the celebrations due to the call for a more reflective day -- and the need to not have large crowds.I spent some time listening to the words of indigenous leaders and the stories of people of colour. I watched a concert on film and heard the words of a well known song differently. This is the first choice shared today and one by a Canadian band. This version is from the filmed concert I listened to this afternoon -- some great guitar work and stellar drums on this one.The second selection was new to me -- one a dear friend noted I'd like and that it had a strong message. Lyrics of each song brought me to a more hopeful place today. Keep safe. Enjoy!
