Day 8 - 271 -- Without Power

Rain fell overnight and on and off during the day. It felt cooler than it has been, but should get a bit warmer in the next few days.  I had one phone meeting today and then worked on a peer review for a journal. Once this was completed and submitted, I edited slides for the guest lecture at the end of this week. All the indoor activities worked well with the rainy weather. 

A friend had a power interruption to their home today that lasted a few hours. I haven't experienced one for some time -- that was with Hurricane Dorian and lasted 27 hours. Generally even in storms, if we lose power it is for 3-4 hours. That alone can be disruptive if it is during waking hours or one is not equipped with a battery operated alarm clock. <smile> Few things that I do during the day do not require electricity. On darker days like today, lights need to be used just to do basic cooking and cleaning. I do spend more time than I think I do online with social media, this blog, email and such. I use my devices for journaling, record keeping, and virtual meetings. I feel that I use electronics more now than I did before the pandemic. I know I do more online real time connecting for sure. Even my home phone -- the new name for what had been the landline -- requires power since it is now a VOIP device. Without a cell phone, we'd be cut off from the outside world in a power outage. When in the midst of an outage, I look for things to keep me busy. I love board games, but need more than me to play them. <smile> So, I read -- often aloud as this seems to help calm the furry one when the world turns dark. I have to use a flashlight to do this, so am still using battery power. Texting can keep me in touch with the outside world. By the time even a short interruption has ended, all I want is a hot cup of tea and anything but a sandwich -- something heated. <smile> 

I guess I can take many things for granted until I'm challenged to work around their absence. Finding different ways to fill my time may help me to see things differently. I don't want to feel upset or angry over something beyond my control. That brought a song to mind <surprise!> by a band with a name that fit the thoughts of the day. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Don't Bring Me Down -- Electric Light Orchestra

Day 8 - 270 -- Required Weather Statements

Today I had two meetings with friends and a colleague by phone and online. Some sun showed up early in the morning but clouds increased as the day wore on. We have a rainfall warning for the next 48+ hours. The forecast calls for 40-75 mm (~2-3 inches) before the system moves out. I've been watching Sam, the major hurricane out in the Atlantic. It is unlikely to make landfall in the US, but a small chance exists that it could brush by or hit Newfoundland. One of the plots in the spaghetti plots even shows it coming over Cape Breton. Most cones of uncertainty aren't showing such impacts, but we are still 5 days out from such potential events. 

Since to be a card-carrying Canadian, one is required to be a weather watcher and to bring all knowledge to conversations regularly <smile>, a song that deals with this topic should be part of the blog today. <smile> I thought of one featuring backwards lyrics by an iconic group. A little ditty that doesn't condemn rain as a metaphor for all things negative. <smile> I like the rain, too, in most situations. With the right gear, even monsoonal rain can be fun to traverse. One of the songwriters noted this song was his response to people always complaining about the weather. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Rain -- The Beatles

Day 8 - 269 -- Puppy Viewing

The sun shone today and it felt warmish -- not hot like last week, but still pleasant at 20C/68F. I headed for a walk in the early evening with great cool air. I saw the Pyrenees puppy from three doors down the street. I hadn't seen him up close for over 2 weeks. He is now 4 months old and has grown a lot -- like a real lot. Last I saw him he was about 35 pounds. He is now 55 pounds! He is taller and a bit longer -- at that gangly teenage stage. His person noted the vet stated that this is about one-third of his expected adult weight!! He will be a very big boy -- topping out in the area of 150 to 160 pounds. YIKES. He was happy to see me and wanted to play but I stood and talked instead, so he found something else to amuse himself. <smile>  

A song about a dog seemed to fit the encounter I had today. There are several, but this one seemed more relaxed with its bluesy nature. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Seaumus -- Pink Floyd 

Day 8 - 268 -- Need to Take Control

On this rainy day, I finished the pile of laundry from the past two weeks, along with a couple other household chores. I also worked to catch up the writing for the blog after I took some time away from computer connections. So, with this post, I am officially back on track. I have a couple of tasks that have deadlines next week -- a peer review and a guest lecture. I have found the requisite materials for each and will work more diligently with those over the next few days. I also will need to check in on my e-mail after finding a way to block the multitude of messages from an online course that I was registered in for some reason. When I returned from my break, there were almost 2300 messages waiting for me! I had to delete them in chunks and blocked all new ones from landing in my inbox. I just have to empty the Junk folder daily to banish the things to some e-mail purgatory. It is a legit course, but I don't recall registering. Any MOOC I have done in the past had all communications done through a virtual MOOC platform. This one has everyone e-mailing each other and there are thousands in this global course. Any attempt to unsub from the course has been met with difficulty as my username and password -- as noted in the welcome email -- are not recognized. <sigh> I hope to attack it with renewed vigor this week, since this is now week 1 of 9 or more and I can't deal with all that landing in my email account. Weird. Technology can be our friend, but it can become uncontrollable -- well it appears to be in control of me rather than the other way around. <smile>

The need to take back control of online accounts brought a song to mind. The chorus says it all. <smile>. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

People Have the Power -- Patti Smith 

 

Day 8 - 267 -- Reclaiming Home

It has been an overcast but seasonable warm and even a bit humid today. I didn't open windows or doors today due to the dampness in the air. It was a huge laundry day as I missed doing this last weekend. Most of the day was spent indoors with a quick refreshing walk early in the evening.  

The big news of the day dealt with the graveyard behind my house. The fence was removed three weeks ago and today maple trees were being removed. All the smaller ones as well as two large ones along the property line were felled. There are still two or three others on the other side of the graveyard to be removed. I was upset when someone called them weeds <sigh> The pines and larch will remain and a new fence will be added along with lighting (which I hope will not light up my house the way the light installed next door does). 

This house has been feeling less and less like home and for the first time ever in the past month, it has felt like a prison. That feeling came back again today. The trees have provided a type of comfortable seclusion. They are not all gone, but there are big open spaces in the canopy and at trunk level that provided a degree of concealment. Earlier in the confinement of the pandemic, it felt safe and cozy to be home. That changed recently. The idea of sorting through things and downsizing has returned, too. So much of that could have been done during the past 18 months, but there were so many other emotional aspects to the isolation that sorting through a lifetime of stuff just couldn't happen. The growing feeling that this place may not be 'home' anymore, begs the question -- then where will that feeling be found? Not only is there a feeling of imprisonment, there is a distinct feeling of being alone -- something that I've rarely felt as an adult. I find it intriguing that such feelings are occurring as the world is poised to open to a new way of interacting. I'm not sure I'm ready to go to larger gatherings or to eat inside a restaurant without major air circulation and hepa filters. It is a huge conundrum for certain.    

Perhaps the first step is to take back my space by sorting through all the boxes and stuff that has accrued from other households over the years. I have gathered a fair amount of office things over the years, too. Much from each of these stashes can be either donated or disposed of. I had been doing at  least one extra recycling bag for the pick up every other week. Then the pandemic arrived and my momentum left. A few extra bags have found their way to the curb, but not a continued process as I'd begun after retirement. I thought of a song chorus a bit differently today. I can do this for myself though I may need to find some outside support at times to keep the process moving forward. I have some connections that could help with this, I'm sure. The song involved in that thought process is shared here tonight. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Home -- Phillip Phillips

Day 8 - 266 -- Surprise at the Door

The day was sunny and warm again after a slightly cooler overnight. I worked around the house today. Into the evening, I decided to check the outside air to determine if it made sense to open windows. In the darkness, I opened the front door holding the inside door close behind me to keep the furry fellow inside. To my surprise for the first time ever, I felt a furry being around my ankles. I reached down to move it back into the house assuming my fellow had joined me, only to feel a tail that was smaller than expected. I quickly stepped back into the house and turned on the porch light. The little ginger tabby, Lucy, from three doors down was on the front walkway and then as I chatted to her, she rested under the huge maple in the front yard. She has been seen sleeping on my front porch in the past, so I expect this time she was doing just that but in front of the door rather than over in one of the corners. I guess I will need to turn the light on from now on when checking the weather in the front yard. <smile>  

I chose a song in honour of my surprise visitor. It seemed to fit as she may need to add a light or something luminescent to her collar <smile>. The lyrics even note a sky coloured in her ginger shades. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds -- Elton John

Day 8-265 -- Autumn is Here

Today was the first full day of autumn. I went to an appointment, had a virtual chat with a friend and walked out to Main Street to do errands. The day was sunny and hot feeling -- 24C (75F) feeling like 30C (86F). I like this part of fall when there are warmer days and cooler nights. Often humidity is lower, but that depends on weather patterns from the tropics. Hurricane season goes into November, so there is still time for some of that type of weather. 

I love the colours of leaves as they change, especially in the middle of the Acadian Forest with tons of deciduous hardwood -- maples and oaks. I don't like that this season ends in winter -- my least favourite season. If spring followed fall and trees became clothed again, I'd be very happy. Is there a place where this happens? Hmmm Will need to consult Mr. Google. <grin> 

It isn't easy to find an upbeat song about autumn. It is a major metaphor for darkness and endings rather than a time to rest and enjoy harvested food and accomplishments. Making plans to visit loved ones or travel to favourite spots may lighten moods. These song lyrics hit the high points of the next few months. Keep safe. Enjoy!

Autumn Song -- Van Morrison 

Day 8 - 264 -- Finding Clarity

Today was mainly sunny and warm -- a great example of wonderful late summer weather -- though autumn did arrive in late afternoon. My main outing was to the optometrist office to pick up new glasses. These are for wearing around the house and are for computer and reading activities. I do like them. The frames are an ombre purple going from dark to lighter shades from top to bottom of frame. The frame is plastic and the arms are metal. They feel comfortable and light. I may need to get the bits over the ears readjusted as they feel a bit tight there. I'll give it a week or two and go from there. 

The song shared today ran through my head into the evening. I like seeing things better than I did with the older pair of glasses. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

I Can See Clearly Now -- Johnny Nash

Day 8 - 263 -- Hunting

While getting dressed this morning, I dropped one of my rings. It hit my foot and bounced twice on the floor. Under the dresser seemed the most logical place for it to be. I got a flashlight and began to search. Nothing. I got a dust mop and carefully moved things around to dust around and behind. Nothing. I looked in areas it could not possibly be. Nothing. I finally had to just leave. At the grocery store, I felt not fully dressed given the empty finger. The grocery trip was a major purchase event -- lots of staples and some fresh dairy and produce. It was the first indoor shopping that I'd done for some time.  

I'll admit to having tears when I couldn't find the ring today. It has to be in the room somewhere, but where it has chosen to hide may take some time to determine. Tears are interesting. They appear for many reasons such as a reflex response to cold, wind, rain, nasal pain (like a pcr swab test <smile>) or an emotional stimulus such as being happy, sad or scared. Chemical composition of tears even differs by what type of tears are falling. That is just so cool. Most tearful episodes provide a degree of catharsis that can help us to relax after major stressful (positive or negative) incidents. 

As I thought through how I wanted to control things and just look and find the ring, a song line popped into my head. It did make me smile. <smile> This one has a shuffle beat -- kinda cool and different for this band. Stay safe. Enjoy! 

UPDATE: The ring was found the next day when I looked in a place I swear I looked on the day it fell. There it was -- siting on edge behind the rear dresser leg up a bit from the floor. How it got there in that position remains a mystery. So, now I feel less lost when I go our with an empty finger. <smile> 

Everybody Wants to Rule the World -- Tears for Fears

Day 8 - 262 -- Brilliant Moon

Technology issues dominated the early part of the day. E-mail would not let me login. An app needed to move forward would not accept my username and password. Stress expanded to fit the enormous space around me. There was a deadline, which only exacerbated the anxiety.  With the help of a good friend things were resolved, though we were unsure why things didn't work and then magically did work. <sigh> It took some time to de-stress from that but things worked out in the end. 

Later in the day, I witnessed the moon rise. It rose as an orange-red and turned to a bright golden colour that lit up the sky. It was splendid. This is the Harvest Moon -- the one closest to the autumnal equinox. This replaces the usual September full moon known as the Corn Moon. At this point in the year, the moon rises shortly after sunset -- 10-25 minutes after for points in the northern hemisphere. 

Two songs kept swirling around in my head, so I'm sharing both today. The first is much older than the other having been first released in 1908 by the Ziegfeld Follies. The second was released much later in 1992. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Shine On Harvest Moon -- Leon Redbone

Harvest Moon -- Neil Young

 

 

Day 8 - 261 -- Cats of All Sizes

The quieter day was sunny and warm with a touch of humidity. A highlight of the day was seeing a presentation on wild cats. I've lived with a cat since around 18 months of age. While these are called domestic cats, they hold much of the wild within them. One point of interest involved the definition of small cats and large cats. It really doesn't have to do with size of the beast, though it is anatomical. Differences in the hyoid bone determine which is which. Small cats have a more rigid hyoid which allows them to purr. In large cats the hyoid is more flexible allowing them to roar but not purr. Not only domestic cats purr. Cougars, lynx, bobcats and ocelots purr, too. Roaring occurs in lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars. So, its not all about size. 

A line from a song ran through my head today. It isn't very original, but that is what was there. <smile>  Keep safe. Enjoy!

Eye of the Tiger -- Survivor

Day 8 - 260 -- Some Down Time

The day involved a lot of down time. After some time on the porch looking at the yard, a movie filled part of the afternoon. Then a walk around the neighbourhood gave time to soak up some sun and enjoy the greenery at the summer peak. The day felt lovely and warm with a slight breeze that helped cool the skin when there were no trees for shade in parts of the area. Again, it was great to be out in nature and to see neighbours out in their yards. 

After a yummy supper, a search found a movie that I hadn't seen for several years. I love the music and dance sequences. The movie is filled with many well known actors whose work was fantastic. Each time I see this, I am struck by two particular dance bits. One shows two dancers doing the same steps, but in different styles due to their training and backgrounds. The other is so filled with emotion -- anger, frustration, and maybe a bit of oppression or pain. Each of these stay with me for some time after each viewing. I couldn't choose one over the other, so I share both of these today. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Prove me Wrong --  David Pack (Mikhail Baryshnikov & Gregory Hines from White Nights)

Koni Priveredlevye (Fastidious Horses [sometimes seen as simply The Horses]) -- Vladimer Vysotsky (Mikhail Baryshnikov from White Nights) 

Day 8 - 259 -- Promoting Change

Intermittent rain filled the day. A couple errands were completed early in the day with a quick medical appointment later in the afternoon. While overall, I'd rate the day as very good, there were moments of melancholy. This does happen on cloudy and rainy days, so the weather may exacerbate slight poignant moments. Or is it like the line from Men in Black II -- 

    Agent K: "When you get sad it always seems to rain." Response: "Lots of people get sad when it     rains."

    Agent K: "It rains because you're sad, baby." 

Now, I don't feel that I have the kind of power that can affect weather patterns, but I've always liked that line. To me it points to our interconnectedness with the world around us -- not only the people, but flora, fauna and climate patterns. I've been aware of these changes for decades from my time on the prairies where droughts and floods affect food crop production. Now from a maritime standpoint, I see the changes in sea life and the reduction of coastal lands as the polar ice caps have melted. Many scientists and political leaders have spoken of the impacts -- positive and negative -- that humans as a group and as individuals can have on the planetary climate changes. They stress that we are nearing a tipping point that will require major public policy to drive the changes needed to support the life on this planet. Unlike the character in MiB II, we don't have another planet to head off to. This is it. 

So, maybe in a way, I do have some power to affect weather patterns by translating and disseminating scientific knowledge about how as individuals and societies we can promote positive changes. I share a great song with you all tonight. The lyric is wonderful and the accompanying video is telling. Keep safe. Enjoy!

Truth to Power -- OneRepublic

Day 8 - 258 -- Sun, Wind & Water

Today was a lovely warm day with clouds and sun. There was wind from something out in the Atlantic. Days like this can lead to greater waves -- the kind that surfers enjoy. And yes, there are surf areas in Nova Scotia as well as the rest of the coastal world <smile>.  The wind affects the waves as they reach the shore, too. It is easy to be caught off guard by a larger rogue wave if walking too close to the line dividing wet and dry sand regions. It makes sense on such days to carry not only a towel but a change of clothes -- just in case. <smile>

I've watched surfers on Pacific and Atlantic coasts. While I'd never try this sport, watching those who do is amazing. They make it look easy, which it definitely is not. There must be a sense of freedom when riding the crest of a wave as well as the exhilaration of shooting the pipeline curl fully surrounded by the wave. I can partly understand the former, but the latter is not at all understandable to this claustrophobe. It won't make me stop watching, though. 

A song worked well with my thoughts today. It fits both intentional and unintended wave encounters. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Catch a Wave -- The Beach Boys

Day 8 - 257 -- Celebration Day

I woke to great cloud formations as the sun rose today. The sky was very interesting to watch as the golden sun shone in the bright blue sky. Today was my birthday and it made me wonder, "what's in a number?" Age numbers bring rights and privileges -- school age, right to vote, legal age to drink, drive, work and draw a pension. Age also has a psychological component. I rarely think of myself as being as old as I really am -- a good look in the mirror or glimpse of some errant 'age' spot or hands that look older than I could possible be <smile> will startle me into a reality check. It is good that we have the ability just to be us rather than what we or others might perceive as a societal norm for what a certain number might look or act like. I recall an older family member who walked downtown well into her late 80s. She was always thinking of others and would see things while shopping and get them for others. I noted that as a kid -- being engaged with others in the world around you is important to keep living and not just sit in a rocker for the rest of your days. Another couple of female relatives never told anyone their true age.  In fact, birthdays were difficult for them as they didn't want others to know if they hit a milestone year. Each number made one person feel particularly vulnerable and 'old'. One lived well into her 80s and another into her mid-90s. 

So, I celebrate every birthday. There is a lot to celebrate. I re-read the list of new things I've done from the previous year and start the next annual list on the birthday. A goal of not getting stuck in a rut leads the way for each year. I act like me and not what some number might dictate. Life continues with so much to offer for experiences. Why sit and stare into space unless you want to relax for a day? <smile>  Today I woke early to make the most of this day. Anyone who knows me understands this is not common. I am not a morning person. <smile> It was a wonderful day. The song shared here is for the title and chorus line that ran through my head when I realized that I'd woken earlier than usual. Stay safe. Enjoy! 

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

Day 8 - 256 -- A Calm Place

Took a drive out of town today. I spent some time listening to the relaxing nature of waves and enjoying the ocean view. I live right by the ocean, but rarely get out to learn more about it all. The rhythmic nature of the waves and tides moving in and out must be buried deep inside each of us as a distant memory or something. The soothing aspects of watching and hearing waves has a major impact on stress reduction. A friend noted that it soothed the soul as well as the mind. I would agree. 

The opening lines of a song came to mind as I sat and watched the water move. Much of the remaining lyric is sad and not what I'd like, but the melody and tempo are restful if you don't listen to the words in the middle part <smile>. It was quite relaxing and no lonely or sad feelings passed through my head at all. 

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

Day 8 - 255 -- Learning to Relax

Today involved a couple of errands with much of the day spent relaxing. That felt a bit different. I keep trying to make room for time to do nothing, as it were. In actuality, relaxing isn't doing nothing, but doing something purposefully to restore some calm into our daily lives. Spending time with nature can help this process. This has been noted often during the isolation of the pandemic. Paying attention to nature can help us reset our focus. Listening to the breeze rustle leaves, hearing birds, insects and frogs, seeing the growth of plants and the fruits ripen and flowers bloom, watching the stars, planets and moon go through the phases -- each of these can help physiologically to improve relaxation. Muscles relax, shoulders drop into their normal position and breathing returns to a slower and slightly deeper rhythm. I find myself smiling without even noticing. <smile> Days where you can share all of this with a friend bring smiles when we see them smile and relax. 

I had a song run through my mind that feels peaceful, but the lyrics remind me of the feelings that we might be getting to a place where our new way of daily life begins. That thought and sitting on the porch watching the world of nature brought smiles today. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Here Comes the Sun -- The Beatles

Day 8 - 254 -- Anxious

Ponderings today focused on impacts of stress and anxiety. When you feel anxious or excited where do you feel it? There are many physiological responses listed in textbooks, but each person has a particular set of symptoms. Is it the abdomen -- nausea, 'butterflies,' constipation or diarrhea? Might it bring on chest tightness, urgency and frequency of urination, muscle tightness in neck, shoulders or jaw, or a headache? Do you tap feet or fingers, fidget, or pace? Is this when all the cleaning jobs get done by putting that nervous energy to use? Some of us might say yes to all of the above -- hopefully not all at the same time. <smile>.

So -- when any of these symptoms arrive, how do you handle them? While there are medications, there are also many techniques that can help with relaxation and bring things back from the limbic system to a more cerebral thought process. Breathing sounds simple, but a focus on breath intake and output helps many people. I enjoy walking since it brings a rhythm with each step and regular and deeper breathing follows. Some find meditation or music can act similarly. Grounding may become necessary if emotions take over and try to lead one into a panic zone. We don't all recognize this as it is ramping up and heading into bizarro land. Those we work or live with can help to bring people back to a logical thinking place. Self-grounding can be difficult for some people as this means noticing the chain of events before it gets out of control and then working to regain control. Such techniques bring back usual breathing, heart rate and blood pressure -- things we can't see, but may feel. 

Song lyrics reminded me of much of the thought process today. The song is by a young award-winning artist. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Breathin -- Ariana Grande

Day 8 - 253 -- Anticipation

Recently, I've been thinking through the feelings of anticipation. These involve excitement, which is generally seen as a source of positive stress and trepidation, which includes negative stresses. The combination brings butterfly sensations and may escalate to more severe abdominal symptoms. Yet, anticipation is part of looking forward to some future event. Now it is that future forward process that means events will not happen in the present, thus ensuring extended periods of time between now and when the thing we are anticipating actually occurs. This involves waiting, something I do not do well or with any degree of patience. <smile> 

As I have been thinking of this process, a song ran through my head -- one I have used here in the past. The artist and band present a song that speaks to the whole concept of process of anticipation. Keep well. Enjoy!

The Waiting -- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Day 8 - 252 -- Busy All Around

My day was filled with many things.The first outing was to vote. In the first 2 hours they had 100+ people. It seemed steady with only one or two people in line for the single voting booth. Most people I know have been voting in the advance poll for the last few elections. It is great to see this civic engagement and for me, great to miss the larger polling venue on election day. I had to make a quick trip to the store when I discovered that there was no shampoo in the cupboard. Later I visited a friend to use their printer and scanner. I do need to get one of my own soon. I planned to do this in the spring of 2020, but life had other plans. I wanted to do some online searching and then go to speak to someone at a store to discuss the various features between similar machines. Maybe I will get in to do this in the near future. <smile> In the early evening, a major task took a bit longer to do than I'd hoped and it left me feeling fatigued, but it is done and that is great. 

I went for a short walk in the cooler evening air to mail a letter. Lots of student activity in the houses throughout the neighbourhood. It is the end of the first week of classes. Most were smaller gatherings with mild noise as you passed by, but there were a couple that were out of the comfort range <sigh>. It is their way of dealing with all the pent up emotions of the week. Looks like a night for ear plugs. 

Trying to find something to make me smile about the noise factor brought a song to mind. I imagine the lyrics could match the ideas the partying crews had in mind tonight. Stay safe. Enjoy! 

I Gotta Feeling -- Black Eyed Peas 

Day 8 - 251 -- Peering into Darkness

The weather turned humid and grey today as the outer bands of hurricane Larry brushed by today. There was some rain this afternoon that will continue into tomorrow. Newfoundland will get the worst of this one as it is poised to make landfall on the Avalon Peninsula.  A 3-month process to revise the will ended as we signed it today. There were a couple tricky parts, but it all came out well. A couple of further documents remain to be finalized, which should happen in the coming month or so. It just felt like time to be an adult and get things like this done. <smile> 

I woke at 5 AM today with a loud shouting man out back. It wasn't clear if he was in my back yard or on the other side of the fence in the graveyard. It was too dark to tell. There seemed to be a second quieter voice, but only this fellow was yelling in an unintelligible way, so I don't know what was at issue. I managed to fall back to sleep, but had weird dreams about people and police in my front and back yards -- so not overly restful. Later this morning while making breakfast and looking out the kitchen window, there seemed to be something on the ground out by the fence. A walk out showed me that there was a pair of gold sneakers, a blue and red ball cap and a matching blue and red jacket. All were clean and new-ish looking. I'm not sure where they came from, but it is likely related to the episode with the loud dude. I moved them to a different area outside my yard but still clearly visible to anyone who might come hunting for them during the daylight hours. 

The song shared today came to mind as I thought about me peering into the darkness in the early morning. It made me smile as what little I could make out in the black of night could be just as sensible as what the lyrics present <smile>. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

 Looking Out my Back Door -- Creedence Clearwater Revivial

 

Day 8 - 250 -- Micro-Moments of Peace

The day was sunny and warm. Just after lunch a house up the block began a blow out. There was a table with drinks and papers and such in their front yard. As more people arrived things got louder, including the need to begin to shout over the dialed up music. I could feel the bass beat through the furniture I sat on. I even heard it while having a shower. I do like to see students back for school and the positives that they bring. It is very difficult to get over the numerous negatives. Few seem to be masking or distancing. This group doesn't seem to care about the other people who live around them. I'm afraid this doesn't bode well for the next several months. I guess curmudgeon mode is on for the foreseeable future <grump>.   

I headed up to campus to drop off some things and do a bit of printing. It was quiet in the building, though it was closer to 6 PM. I saw a couple of people and had a quick chat with each of them. That alone helped me feel calmer. Juggling the many anxiety inducing bits of life seems tough and one or two additional things can make it go in all directions. Finding the things that help -- chatting with friends, going for a walk, listening to music or having a bath or shower -- can move us into a slightly better place. Those micro-moments of peace are treasures. 

I was thinking of songs that bring a calming feel. There were several that came to mind quickly. The melody is often the calming part and the lyrics are secondary. One had a great melody with words that painted a great picture in my mind. I'll share the first of these to enter my mind today. I guess it is great that there are a number of songs that can help ground me on stressful days. <smile>. Keep well. Enjoy! 

Rocky Mountain High -- John Denver

Day 8 - 249 -- Corporate Encounter

Today was bright and sunny and slightly warmer than past few days. The insurance adjuster phoned to complete the information gathering -- much of which they should already have as my insurer <sigh>. Then I had to upload photos of the car from each of the four corners, the damaged area, the VIN (even though this was found on the registration form I had to upload), and the odometer reading. Now mine is an LED, so taking a picture wouldn't work no matter what angle or degree of brightness I tried. So, I uploaded a photo with a bright white light patch on the instrument panel. <sigh>. Once all items were uploaded, there was nothing to say submit or finish or in some way notify the user of the software that it was OK to close the window. So, I just closed it and then left a text message with the number used by the the adjuster to send the link. Now, tomorrow an assessor will be appointed and they will look at the photos and provide an estimate for repairs. I told them which autobody shop I wanted to use -- the same as any other time someone has driven into me in the past. It seems the insurance company will not  warranty the work (a lifetime warranty) from this shop, though it has in the past. It is an independent and I suspect the large corporate beings chose to do a deal with only specific other large corporate chains -- the nearest of which is 45 minutes down the highway. Goofy. So, we sit and wait for yet another person to contact me and tell me that I can take it into the shop. The adjuster also approved a rental while the work is being done. I'm not sure how long things will take, so until then I won't make arrangements for the rental since there is a dollar cap on it. The story will be ongoing for some time, I can tell. <sigh> 

The song chosen for today may be a bit over the top but my interactions with a large corporate entity left me a bit out of sorts. This made me smile albeit in a rather satirical or sarcastic manner. <smirk> Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Take the Money and Run -- Crosby & Nash

 

Day 8 - 248 -- Feeling Confined

The holiday Monday wake up temperature was about 9C/48F! Wild! In just over a week we've gone from feeling over 38C/100F to being 48F. Just another sign that autumn is approaching. Warmer temps generally appear for a week or two in September. This week is forecast to have some warmer feeling days in mid-to high 20sC (high 70s to low 80s F) with cooler overnights. I enjoy days like that. Today, though was heavily overcast all day with light rain beginning early evening and pouring rain by bedtime. 

I did some inside chores today -- cleaning and getting recycling ready to take to curb. For the first time it took an effort to walk up the stairs into the front door as my brain noted that the place felt like a dark prison. All the remote living and isolating of the pandemic and the lack of a social workplace now that I'm retired, has me longing to be elsewhere doing things with people. That wouldn't have sounded so huge 18 months ago, would it? The weather today may have played with my mood a bit, too. At one point, I thought it would be great to just live in a yurt in the woods. I'm not sure how that deals with the isolation and prisoner feelings since it seems that this might make my life even more isolated <smile>. Perhaps I just need a change of pace and place. I'm still thinking of research trips for spring 2022, at present. We'll see what the next few months bring. In the meantime, there are friends I can visit and stores that provide medications and groceries, so I do have places to see and interact with people. I could drive to the cape and watch the sky and water for while, too. All of these would be therapeutic. Now I just have to get my butt in gear <grin>. 

Based on the intense feeling of being jailed, I chose a song about impending freedom. There are a few covers of this song and I've chosen one for the exquisite melding of voices. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

I Shall Be Released -- Cass Elliot, Joni Mitchell, & Mary Travers 

Day 8 - 247 -- Pervasive Smokiness

There is a pervasive campfire odour in the kitchen area today. While making breakfast today,  a bottle of liquid smoke fell out of the cupboard and the plastic lid broke, spilling the pungent yellow liquid all over the counter and wall. The rag used to clean the area was rinsed multiple times and now rests downstairs in the laundry room. A great start to the day. <smile>

After several small household tasks, I settled into a a long wait on hold with irritating music with incessant repetition -- though I hesitate to call it music. There were many messages of what one could easily do on the website. My request could not be readily managed on my own, though. At least no voice lied to say how important my call was to them <grin>. I was given seven options at the beginning none of which applied to me. The system was going to kick me into a repeating loop of simply repeating the options. So I chose '0' instead. They warned me this would a lengthy wait and that I really should just use the options they'd suggested. I just hit '0' again. Then I heard that the expected wait times would be 47 minutes to 70 minutes. We got through about 80 minutes into holding and things were finished in about 6 or 7 minutes of conversation. It was a big wait, but worthwhile in the end. 

Long wait times are still being blamed on the pandemic. I do understand that this is a moving target. i thought that phone services could be provided from anywhere, though there may be a problem with getting staffing back to where it needs to be as larger companies 'open up' more. It won't be a simple process and patience will be needed on all sides of this one. I worked on supper prep and cleaning and reading and responding to email. Listening to a TV program was out of the question with the mind numbing attempts at tunefulness, though. I have another big wait later in the month when I have to speak to someone at a government agency. That one is usually an hour wait, but without the semi-useful messages I heard today -- well useful the first or second time around. <smile>. 

I find the smokey scent irritating. It will go away with time. Between now and then the counters will be cleaned many times, so that may help the scent to dissipate, too. I have cleaned with three different products so far and all visible splashes of the liquid seem to have been addressed. Another item that requires patience. <smile>  A song line ran through my head -- the title line of a song. It made me giggle, so I'll share my warped-ness with you all here. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Smoke on the Water -- Deep Purple

Dy 8 - 246 -- Promise & Anticipation

A moderately cool day as loads of first years and their families arrived on campus to settle into residence. The fall influx of students makes the town much busier than usual -- lots more people on Main Street and tons more traffic. I spent the day at home getting some needed cleaning and laundry completed. More of same for tomorrow and maybe some time for a movie or something for the holiday Monday. We'll see what transpires. 

Seeing the photos of students, parents, sibs and friends posted on the university site reminded me of my many years heading to Saskatoon for the school year. For my first year, mom and dad both accompanied me. In subsequent years, dad and I did the trip alone some years. There got to be far less room in the car for three people as the accumulation of books and papers expanded. The quality of the light at this point in the year along with cooler overnight temperatures remind me of being on campus -- whether that was undergrad in Saskatoon, masters in Winnipeg, doctoral work back in Saskatoon or teaching time in Nova Scotia. There is something in the air that you can see, feel and almost taste as a new school term begins. 

Much excitement was clear in the photos online, which reminded me of wondering how I'd make friends or later the excitement of getting to see friends again  and hear of their escapades over the summer. This time of year can hold much promise -- perhaps a mix of hope and plans. The excitement consisted of loose plans, expectations, trepidation and hope. There were tears -- both sad and happy. I still get a subtle reminder of those feelings every September -- a wistful thing. Seeing a new crop of people arrive on campus each year, makes me smile. They have so much ahead of them that will challenge every particle of their beings,but it will be such a fantastic learning journey -- and not just academically <smile>. Discovering who they are and what is important to them will be amazing. There is so much left to be added into that self portrait that is only a charcoal sketch a present. These thoughts bring me hope for the future and remind me of the rhythms of life.

A lyric that expresses the concept of personal discovery is shared tonight. It has an electropop feel with the upbeat messaging. Keep safe. Enjoy!

Where We Come Alive -- Ruelle 

Day 8 - 245 -- Unexpected Event

On this Friday before a long weekend, I did errands early but the grocery store was still very busy. As I pulled into the town parking lot to head to the pharmacy, someone backed into me -- not going fast, so denting is not noticeable but scratches run from the driver door to the rear fender. <sigh> My insurance agent had things under control and sent info off to the insurer. I haven't heard from them by end of day. That means I will need to contact them on Tuesday. <sigh> So -- the claim has begun and repair will happen whenever it can be done as damage does not affect drive-ability. 

When the accident occurred there was a flurry of emotions tumbling over each other -- anger, sadness, irritation, disbelief, a tad of fear and something akin to nausea. I didn't cry until I was walking down the driveway to the house. A cry in the house seemed to help relax some of the tension. I still see this as a new car since it was purchased about 20 months ago. Within 3 months of purchase we were in our first lockdown. I have done two out of town trips only -- one last October to visit a colleague and one in July for the second vaccine dose. The odometer reads about 2400 km. Added stress and anxiety was not needed, but I'm working at it. Feeling out of control and 'attacked' while inside a piece of home doesn't work well. I will practice my breathing, have a cup of tea and sit with my furry friend for a bit. That should bring things down a few notches. 

This whole episode reminded me of a song a friend and I had discussed recently. That did make me laugh -- a good thins any day, but a great thing today. The video is older here, but the audio sounds great. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

I'm in Love with My Car -- Queen 

Day 8 - 244 -- Storm Remnants

My day began with a mid-morning appointment. Walking out to that meeting the rain was very light. When I moved on to the shopping errands, there was a steady light rain but deeper puddles to navigate around. I got home for a later lunch and then the rain picked up. By supper it was much heavier -- soaking rain at times versus the type I'd met earlier that left wet spots on my jeans but didn't soak the material. Into the evening there seem to be intermittent heavy rain moments with more light and very light between these. The rain originates with the remnants of Ida, strong hurricane that devastated the southern US and flooding rains that have been moving across the eastern states and provinces as things head out to sea. Newfoundland and Labrador may get a blast of rain as the system brushes by in the next couple of days. 

Storms that originate in the tropics and move through the ocean currents generally make landfall somewhere in the Caribbean or North America. My first encounter with a hurricane was a couple of months after I moved here 23 years ago. Over the years, many small branches and three trees have come down in the yard. Preparing for a storm is different than the tornadoes that occur on the prairies. Tropical storms are tracked for a week or more before they potentially create havoc. That gives us time to pack a 'go bag' and bring possible flying objects into the house or shed. Tornadoes, on the other hand, have very little warning time before they arrive. I've been on the highway driving during the outer rain bands of a hurricane and just behind a tornado. I don't recommend either.  

I've used this song before, but I do love the tempo and positive feel to it. I love what the lyrics speak to, also. It just fits my thoughts that tonight will fit the bill perfectly. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

I Love a Rainy Night -- Eddie Rabbit 

Day 8 - 243 -- Positives Crush Negatives

Overall, the day brought many positives in the tasks completed and more information gathered for the next items on the big list. As I was preparing for a virtual meeting, the doorbell rang. I was surprised to see a familiar face at the door delivering a gift card to my favourite local restaurant. The chef himself completed this errand. The gift was from a friend and research colleague -- the person I met with online moments later. That made me smile. A major favour by another person helped me to breathe again. A call to a business about online purchase site helped me to find what I'd wanted but couldn't find online. Another weight lifted.  

A flurry of small positive events can improve mood and reduce anxiety. Sometimes, even one positive works. At times, seeing the positive in an otherwise 'blah' day presents a challenge. Negative perceptions can increase anxiety and climbing out from under that becomes more difficult the longer it visits. Good things that happen gift the moments that help us see things in a happier light. Looking forward and making plans are easier to do with a positive outlook. I hope that others are able to move in this direction. 

A song came to mind because of the core activity involved in the lyrics. The two singers bring smiles. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Dancing in the Street -- David Bowie & Mick Jagger