Well -- it is the penultimate day of year. I spent 1.5 hours running errands at two stores on Main Street -- right behind the house. I did stop to chat with a neighbour for 20 to 30 minutes and converse with the dog, but the whole thing took longer than I expected. I did have to wait at the checkouts at each place, but I got all things on the lists -- a good thing. I made a batch of red beans to have on New Years Day. I will make a spinach dish, too. Red beans, rice and greens are said to bring good luck in the new year. I'm doing all that I can to help make this a great year. <smile> I did some final edits to the book review that was due today. The online submission process was a bit confusing. I submitted the file and answered questions that seemed not to be focused to material reviews but to original research articles. I also sent a note to the Book Review Editor to say that I will happily provide things that may be missing when they are back in the office in the New Year. All that typed here to say that I got one more large item off the 'to do' list <smile>.
Many months back, I read a statement that has stuck with me. It sounds like it might have been from a year ago, but it could have been less -- time being as fluid has it has been for almost two years. Anyway -- the message stated -- "Last year she survived. This year she will live." Yes! That is what I have been more than ready to do. I got some bits of life into the past year and hope that the next year will allow for more of the same. COVID is with us for the long haul. Learning to live with it in our surround is necessary for any of us to move forward.
The song that came to mind today is by a Canadian singer-songwriter who plays piano and is from western Canada -- Winnipeg actually (where I went to grad school the first time). The lyrics present a positive point of view about the future -- a great mind set. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Sun appeared with minor flurries or rain throughout the day. A dusting of snow arrived overnight again, and was gone by midday as temperature rose and sun emerged intermittently between the clouds. I headed out early in the afternoon to get some mask liners and do curbside pickup of groceries. While unpacking items at home, I found the soup and onions had been packe on top of peppers and bread. <sigh> To add insult to injury, the soup can was dented. I took a deep breath and called the store to explain my issue and ask that they be careful when packing other orders. They also offered to credit me for the damaged items. That was more than I expected. In the past, I've always had to return things in-store, but the curbside program appears able to to credit items now. Making another trip to return items has always been bizarre when one is doing curbside to avoid going into a store. It was good to see that this has been altered.
The brief moments of sunshine helped bring short smiles today. Several things have piled up and some days I don't feel I have the energy to address them -- even one at a time. Plans are put into the calendar only to be shifted to a different day. Being in the midst of further viral outbreaks creates a degree of sadness and a feeling of defeat, which may lead to deferral of plans. This lack of action can be seen as inertia -- something that leads to feeling badly about oneself when it is seen as apathy or some other form of avoidance. Being less occupied at times may be what a mind or body require, so putting extra pressure on one's self is unlikely to help the situation. The power necessary to overcome the resistance to change -- to move forward from a static position -- perhaps should be a positive force, not a form of self deprecation. It is all very Newtonian in nature -- Newtonian psychology <smile>.
A song came to mind as I thought of the major thinker responsible for basic theory and laws of physics. Again, I can't always control where the thought processes go <grin>. This version recorded about 1942 is by a group of artists that I heard a lot as a child since they were some of my dad's favourites. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree -- The Glenn Miller Orchestra ft. The Modernaires, Tex Benike, & Marion Hutton
Above freezing temps arrived again today. My late afternoon walk felt cold though, due to the dampness. The world turned white briefly overnight last night and the night before. Much of this melts to reveal the green again during the day when the temps rise just enough for snow to disappear.
I've written about liminality often -- the concept being between two spaces and needing to find our way from one point into another. While reading Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love, I came across another term for a similar journey. In Sanskrit, antevasin refers to a person living on a border. In earlier times, a person who chose to move towards a more spiritual state of being, would move out of the village and live on the edge of the forest. In the forest lived the wise ones. The antevasin lived on the border between the known -- village -- and the unknown -- forest and wisdom. I found the author's presentation of this concept extremely interesting. It fit the introspective nature of moving into a new year. At this time, many people take stock of where they currently are and where they are heading. That journey runs through the liminal space between here and there. An antevasin makes a decision to move forward with greater self awareness and understanding. Now, these are deeper goals than the lose weight, healthy eating, physical activity goals that are often undertaken around the new year. Those are often more superficial than understanding what one really wants to change. So, while there may be a border to cross, finding a route through to that imaginary line is also necessary.
Lyrics of a song from a musical movie fit much of the concepts pondered today. This version has a different orchestration than that from the movie. There is the hint of a rock sound to it. Keep safe. Enjoy!
It was a quiet day filled with laundry, cleaning chores and household account tasks -- all of the things that I shifted from the two day holiday on the weekend. I had a good chat with a friend in the afternoon, cooked a nice supper and finished a book I've been reading bit by bit.
The day was productive and relaxing -- two words that I don't usually feel go together. Yet, it is possible. Cool. <smile> Perhaps this has to do with mindset while doing the chores. Or it might be that I gave myself permission to sit and enjoy reading for a while. It isn't wasting time, is it? Why are enjoyable things sometimes seen as a negative way to spend time? What weird work ethic brought that into our minds? Self care is thought of as selfish when there is so much else we could or should be doing. Taking an hour a day to do something for oneself doesn't make one self-centred. Life isn't all drudgery <smile>. In fact, some 'chores' can be quite enjoyable and even therapeutic. Cooking, baking, cleaning and laundry can be relaxing. For each of these visual evidence of having accomplished something is present. Compared to what my grandmother dealt with in a two-room shanty in the middle of wild prairie, my work is really nothing. There is a rhythm to the day and each task that can bring some relaxation. It allows the brain to focus or wander as needed. The rhythm helps to breathe deeply -- in and out. Cleaning the house can clear the mind, too, I guess.
Music accompanies housework well, much like workout tunes. Song rhythms help keep one moving along with a task. Shared here is a song with lyrics that refer to the rhythm that keeps people going. Keep safe. Enjoy!
We were blessed with a green Christmas, though the skies were grey. Temperatures rose to freezing point into the evening so it felt warmer. It was also the first day in three or four that didn't have major winds. All in all a great day. I spent a few hours with a small number of friends. It was pleasant to be out in a social setting, thought the specter of viral transmission was never far away.
While preparing a vegetable dish for dinner, I pondered the usual Christmas movies. Yes, as I chopped vegetables, I was doing a thematic analysis of sorts <grin>. Two traditional movies, A Christmas Carol and It's A Wonderful Life (and the many bastardizations of these two movies) contain themes of transformation, but only after learning of the lead character's impact on the world and people near to them. I've always believed in the power of one and these stories demonstrate this well. My favourite Christmas movie is Love Actually. This begins and ends with scenes from an airport arrivals area. The ensemble cast portrays many individual story lines. The key to the stories and characters lies in their interconnections both known and unknown. but mostly unknown. The airport scenes emphasize that we should look for signs of love not hate in the world -- there are many examples of both, but only one will keep us living a kind and caring life. The interconnectedness of characters in all of these movies is powerful. It is the perfect message for Christmas and all other days.
A lyric that fits with my thinking today comes from an indie rock group. The production is a bit plodding in places, but the lyrics say a lot. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Today contained sunshine amide light clouds and slightly above freezing temperatures. While making lunch, there were very light flurries in the air at times. Overall, it was a pleasant and quiet day.
Boxing day is celebrated on December 26th in some of the Commonwealth Nations. The history of the day is somewhat murky. One suggestion is that on this day, alms boxes in early Christian era churches involved special collections and then the boxes were opened and funds distributed to lower income individuals. Queen Victoria gave the day it's name. During the 1800s, wealthy home owners provided their servants with boxes of food and gifts to share with their families. The workers were also given the day off. At some times, owners and workers or officers and enlisted personnel exchanged places for the day. Sadly, the day has become less about giving and more about getting with Boxing Day sales that rival Black Friday sales in the US. It has been suggested that due to the pandemic over the past two seasons, many of the sales have gone online and have started the week before Christmas -- hence Boxing Week arrived as a term for crass commercialized sales. I have gone out in past years to procure holiday cards for the next year. To be honest, I found the craziness of the shoving and pushing and such way more than I was ready to deal with. I have avoided these sales events for decades now. <smile>
Given the usual silliness of crowds on a 26th sales day, one might think the name came from the physical nature of shoving and such in crowded situations. That idea brought a song to mind. Just my quirkiness coming through again <grin>. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Today was brought to you by the word WIND! Sunshine and blue sky accompanied colder temperatures and the wind seemed to want to argue. When I went out for a quick errand and short walk at midday, the temperature was -11C/12F and the wind made it feel like -21C/-6 F. I bundled up big time and stayed warm. I didn't remove my mask as I left the store because I didn't want to expose my hands to the cold air. The mask helped my face stay warm -- a good thing. <smile> The wind created some major waves north and east of town today -- not a good day to be on the water.
I spent time in the kitchen readying things for dinner tomorrow and putting cabbage rolls made yesterday into the freezer in single meal containers. I saved a couple to sample for supper with perogies. YUM! I also added some shiny ornaments to the tree to reflect the lights. I don't want to disappoint Santa when he arrives <grin> And, I'm keeping track of him with the NORAD site. 😉
The selection for the day seems fitting for tonight. The three big names sound wonderful together. Keep safe. Enjoy!
The Old Man's Back in Town -- Kenny Rogers, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood
The sun shone this morning! It was delightful to have sun streaming through the kitchen windows with large patches on the kitchen floor. Most of the remaining snow left with the rains overnight. Temperatures will fall with below freezing levels as daytime highs over the next few days.
The day has been reasonably productive. Most of the day was devoted to writing a book review that is due soon. I have a solid draft that I'll now let sit for a couple of days before revisiting it for further edits. Into the evening, I made a batch of cabbage rolls that will sit in the fridge to let the flavours mature. Tomorrow they will be portioned and put into the freezer for future dinners. I may even have them with some perogies for Christmas Eve dinner. Between these two major activities, I did some small cleaning chores. It felt good to get some major things struck off the 'to do' list today. <smile>
A favourite Christmas song is shared tonight. I love the a capella format. The harmonies are lovely and the singers may surprise some readers. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Wicked weather seems to be bearing down on Atlantic Canada. Snow, freezing rain, ice pellets and rain are expected depending on the locate. We will have less than others and it looks like mainly rain -- at least at present forecast. The dampness of the air made things feel cold. My mood felt a bit grey today which matched the colour of the day outside my window.
I dug out a few ornaments to add to the tree -- pewter and silver ones with a few from places I've visited. Many ornaments are key chains or actual ornaments picked up during travels. When they are all placed on the tree it becomes a mini-travelogue interspersed with characters from the nutcracker that I've made or picked up along the way and a collection of pewter ornaments made here in Nova Scotia. The latter come from four different pewterers -- two small cottage industry operations and the other two larger businesses. The final decorated tree will not be full as it is sometimes, but will look like I at least tried to get beyond lights this year.
A song about weather-related changes of winter is shared tonight. This one had some narration, but there is a longer poem that fits with the full stage performance. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Wizards in Winter -- Trans Siberian-Orchestra (with narration)
Today was the first day of winter. The good news is that days now get longer. <smile>
This afternoon, I went for a curbside grocery pick up. The online process worked for the most part. One exception involved my order for three baking potatoes. I noted these could be replaced by bulk white or red potatoes. The person working the pickup area noted the original order was replaced by 'red potatoes.' When I got it home to unpack, I discovered a 5 pound bag of red potatoes!! Guess what I'll be eating for all meals everyday for sometime? Bizarre substitution. I sat in my car for 30 minutes waiting for the delivery to the car and finally called back when all others waiting had left. I received a gift card due to their error. I didn't expect that. The sun was shining while I waited, so I got to enjoy that.
While waiting for my groceries and during a quick late afternoon walk, I pondered how lucky I was to have a vehicle to drive to a curbside pickup.those who don't either have a long walk to the grocery store or risk taking a taxi -- something I'm still not comfortable with -- a taxi, that costs money that could be spent on food and household needs. While one can walk up for curbside pickup, few people do this, opting instead to shop inside the store. Looking at the grocery tally today, I became acutely aware of the difficulties many people in my community area experience. During the holidays, this must add extra strain to an already tight budget. All of these thoughts came from a recognized place of privilege. Be aware of programs in your communities that provide supports for people struggling this month. The pandemic continues to affect work as several businesses have cut back or closed due to the current outbreaks. Buying gift cards to local businesses can help them meet their bills right now as their sales expectations have dropped precipitously this month. Several programs distribute the gift cards to those whose jobs have been affected by closures. In any way you can, consider supporting a local project.
A song lyric came to mind while pondering these points today. I particularly like the line that contains "share your joy". While the lyrics note the need to think of others at this point in the year, I would suggest that we need to think of others with kindness throughout the year. Keep safe. Enjoy!
I began by moving snow from yesterday and clearing off the car. From my long list, I made an online grocery order to pick up tomorrow. I kept adding things to the order as I realized other items were needed. It is large, but it is almost two weeks since my last pickup and will be another two weeks before the next big one. My afternoon walk took me to the mail box. Then I arranged for neighbour's family to park in my driveway while they visit for the holidays.
I was pleased to see that family had arrived for my neighbours. It is difficult to be away from loved ones now, so good to see them together. We've been through much this year and are not ending on a high note. I heard a lyric line in my head -- "It's been a long hard year." The kind sentiments we encounter should last all year and not just one day or a couple of weeks. The song lyrics cover this concept well. Keep safe. Enjoy!
A gentle snowfall left about 5 cm (2 inches) of snow covering everything today. Little wind was present so the large fluffy snowflakes fell almost straight down. Staying warm inside, I finished the laundry and the Christmas cards. The cards will be late, but should be to people by New Year or Julian Christmas. It feels good to have that finished. It will be wonderful to drop them in the mail box tomorrow.
I enjoy receiving cards and love sending them. I thought when I retired that I'd get things done 'on time'. A friend and colleague noted that even when retired, there are still only 24 hours in the day. <smile> So very true. Managing expectations can be difficult. I often under-estimate how long a task will take. Then when I find myself only getting through one or two items when I thought I'd do three or four, leaves me with a feeling of ineptitude. Even tasks that I enjoy, get shoved aside some days as I tend to do nothing on my list. Now, I recognize that the infamous list does not contain all that could be done. so why do I feel frustrated with myself when I did something else instead? Some days one needs to just relax and unplug. Even when retired <grin>.
The selection tonight goes for a deep dive into past recordings. The song may be a bit trite by today's standards, but the sentiments fit what I was thinking as I worked on the Christmas cards today. It is a wonderful time to share best wishes with friends, family and community verbally, electronically or with a card. The lyrics also mentioned softly falling snow -- just what was outside my windows today. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Technology has been doing odd things of late. Video platforms have acted weirdly freezing up or disconnecting. A friend sent an errant thumbs up to me by direct message today. We had a conversation when she apologized for the error -- that made me laugh. I told her of my confused, semi-awake experience this morning because her mistake was nothing in comparison. I woke this morning in response to message notification sounds -- then when checking the message something happened and the tablet made a video call -- woke the soul at the other end. I wasn't even awake enough to stop the process. Feeling inept, frustrated, mortified and so much more. <sigh>
After some indoor household chores, I went for a walk. It was ... brisk -- that's the word. The chilly air gave me a cold nose and cheeks. The walk was invigorating, but very quiet -- few other people were out walking and not many cars around, either. It reminded me of the first few weeks of the pandemic, when I often encountered no one else when out for my daily constitutional. Today people must be hunkered down waiting for the current outbreak to pass. I fully understand that. I'm planning a couple of curbside pickups next week, but am hesitant to go into a store right now.
I've been looking for glimmers of hope these days, particularly as case numbers rise. This season brings much forward looking thought with hope as a central component. A beautiful melody line ran around in my head today. The lyrics describe hope for all. Keep safe. Enjoy!
It was warmer today with some rain that went from spitting to pouring to nothing during the afternoon. I had good conversations with friends today, which helped with the negative events in our community. I started writing holiday cards. I have no letter this year due to the absence of a working printer at home, and my decision not to go to campus to print. I will write a few smaller notes by hand this year and plan to get a working printer in the new year <smile>.
The current COVID wave produced record highs for daily numbers of new infections in the province -- 285 or so yesterday and 394 today. Cases have been rising by over 100 for each of past three days.There are about 174 students isolating in town and on campus after testing positive. The anger and finger pointing surrounding the recent outbreak is oppressive. I understand that it comes from a place of anxiety, fear and frustration. It felt like this year holiday celebrations might not be fraught with worry about transmitting the virus. Instead, travel advisories have been put in place along with reduced gathering limits, increased mask mandates, and reinstated distancing. In addition, a new tool to help contain the spread has been implemented -- self-administered rapid tests. These are distributed through local libraries in our province. Public health officials recommend that people test before gathering for holiday meals and such. For those hoping to travel home, testing should occur before travel begins. Those who have contracted the illness and are in isolation until testing negative after symptoms dissipate, may not be able to travel for the actual calendar dates involved. I imagine this will be very challenging. I recall having to work over Christmas and Boxing Day during my first Christmas away from family. I didn't get to fly home until New Years. It just wasn't the same to celebrate on a different day. Luckily, I had an aunt and uncle closer to where I was living, so was able to have dinner with them on Christmas day. I appreciated that more than I think they will ever understand. Technology might help them to participate from a distance in the family traditions. So, virtual may replace in person again this year, but it will help keep everyone safe.
A few lines from a song ran through my head today. This song was part of the season for many years. It felt like Christmas was really here when this was sung on television annually. I chose a version from 7 years ago. It may be a tad over-produced as it was the final performance, but it is great. I loved this spectacular performance -- and brave to stand on the grand -- at 73! <smile> Shows that age in just a number. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Baby Please Come Home -- Darlene Love (final performance of this song on Letterman, Dec 18, 2014)
A morning phone meeting began the day. After that I headed out to Main Street for a quick stop at the pharmacy to get bread and such. The temperature warmed through the day and are expected to continue to rise overnight. Tomorrow we should hit double digits (Celsius) and then we will head back to more seasonable temperatures closer to the freezing point. I took a quick walk this evening since the dampness shouldn't turn to frozen ground cover or slick sidewalks when it is warmer. That can be difficult to detect in the dark. Trust me on this one. <smile>
In the background this afternoon was one of the many versions of A Christmas Carol and different version of the Nutcracker with a story narrator and a symphony orchestra. That was interesting. It got me humming some of the dances from the ballet. The orchestra played parts of the ballet score and other compositions by Tchaikovsky. To me, this sounded like Christmas. <smile>
I baked some muffins this evening and thought of one or two other sweet items I would enjoy making for the holidays. That brought my head back to the ballet, so I chose to share a segment from the larger production. However, this version does not involve a symphony orchestra <smile>. Keep safe. Enjoy!
A major wind blew throughout the day bringing occasional flurries again. I walked to my annual eye exam, since with dilated pupils driving is not advised <smile>. The walk is 30 minutes in each direction. On the way home I headed into the wind -- the first touch of winter coldness this season. Once back home, I moved the small covering of snow from the walkways and porches. I had a late lunch followed b and unplanned nap -- must have been all that fresh air making me tired <smile>.
When I finally checked in with online media, I learned that bell hooks died today. She was an amazing feminist scholar, advocate and author, one I've cited throughout my academic career. Her thoughts on education as a doorway to freedom helped shape my classrooms. I wanted them to be places where critical thinking reigned, where education became transformative rather than simply memorizing various facts. This meant challenging ideas and perhaps unlearning accepted knowledge. It isn't a comfortable process, but it can lead to change within the individual and their near and far environments. It transformed my world view. As an educator, I worked to make the classroom a place of learning for everyone in the room -- me included. It took time, but I'd like to think I participated in learning more about ourselves and the world around us -- and that I tried to lead with love. hooks stated that love was an action, not a feeling and wrote of love as central to living, learning and transforming. Luckily, hooks wrote 30 books about many subjects, so she will be with us always in that way.
A song that deals with a theme of the holiday season seemed appropriate today. It also speaks to a major theme in hooks writing. Keep safe. Enjoy!
After two early phone meetings, I headed to the library to pick up a couple of rapid tests. It will be good to have these for gathering times over the holiday. It provides another layer of potential security -- not 100% accurate, but it does help.
Major winds arrived overnight and brought intermittent snow squalls blowing in of Northumberland Strait area about 15 minutes north of town. The walk to the library felt good. Sun shone on my way over and snow pellets swirled around me on the way home. Either way, it was good to be outside in the fresh air. Being inside these days feels like being trapped again. I've encountered anger in people I've spoken to over the past couple of days. No one wants to be worried about the virus and having increased restrictions for the short term again appears to be seen as just too much. Our small town hasn't had to deal with an outbreak locally until last week. We have been part of blanket restrictions for all three previous waves. Now we find our community under siege as it were, with business closed and people not getting paid. The steps being taken will help restrict disease spread. This must be understood since all of the rapid self tests at the library were distributed today. So -- mask, distance, test, and keep washing and sanitizing hands. The last one has been lost in much of public communications. It is still very important.
There are many wishes for the world at present and not just because of the holidays. Pondering the recent outbreak brought thoughts for health and safety for all. A song lyric shared tonight touches on this type of holiday wish. Keep safe. Enjoy!
The beginning of the week brought more news of positive test results on campus with a total of about 172 cases all told to date. Many restaurants and businesses on Main Street have closed during this outbreak -- a time of year when they rely on increases in sales <sigh>. Some slight changes to masking, distancing and gathering limits will come into force at the end of the week. Rapid test kits will be distributed through libraries across the province. The Chief Medical Officer of Health strongly encouraged people to do a rapid test before traveling elsewhere during the holidays. It was reported today that the new cases included both delta and omicron variants.
On the plus side, it was a lovely sunny day. I did a curbside pickup for groceries and went for an early evening walk to see holiday light displays around the neighborhood. I thought about the positives of the past year noting that the current situation will pass and that we have done all of this before and it does curtail spread of the virus.
While walking, a song came to mind that fit my situation a year ago. I did get what I wanted with four new items rather than two. <smile> This thought made me laugh. I like the song version shared for the smoothness of the voice and the soothing rhythm. Keep safe. Enjoy!
All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth -- Nat King Cole
After temperatures rose last evening, wind arrived overnight. This combination helped to melt snow cover. This morning the yard was green again with only small bits of snow remaining from where the plow and I had piled snow earlier this week. Out west, such winds blow from the Rockies and are called Chinooks -- a Cree word for 'snow eater'. Here, people note that fog is a great snow eater. This time the wind took more snow than the rain yesterday and overnight. The long term forecast seems to have small amounts of snow falling on several days. Whether it will stay, we can't tell. So, it could be white or green for Christmas. The odds seem to be for a white one this year. Most years we have a 50:50 chance of snow. I like these odds better than other places I've lived where snow is pretty much a guarantee. <smile>
I bit the bullet today and put lights on the tree -- other tree decorations will follow. I added a few other deccies to the living room to make the entrance to the house a bit more festive. I seem to have something in each room now, so I could stop now and still see the festive items. All I may add is a bit more tree trimming. We'll see.
The Google doodle today celebrates pho -- that wonderful Vietnamese noodle soup. This spurred me to make some faux pho for dinner tonight. I haven't done that in years. I think I've missed it. We have no where close that serves southeast Asian dishes. I used live a few blocks from a wonderful place in Saskatoon that I frequented often. I often recall sitting in a noodle shop in Hong Kong where all customers sat at long tables together. We looked at what others were eating before making our choices from the photographs that served as a menu for those who don't read Chinese. It was a fun place filled with business men all with the huge cellular phones from the early 1990s. It was a happening, for sure. Tonight it all felt comforting and tasted wonderful. I did a quick version, hence the 'faux' appellation, rather than simmer stock for a couple of hours. It worked well today.
We don't know if it will be green or white in two weeks. Today, though, is definitely green. I chose a song that reflects this aspect of the season. This version is from a year ago. The bounciness of the song helps me to smile. Keep safe. Enjoy!
It has taken some time to write this blog. On Friday, an actor, singer-songwriter, musician, producer, author, communications visionary and so much more, left this plane of existence. Michael Nesmith, affectionately known to fans and friends as Nez, has been a part of my life since September 1966, when the first episode of The Monkees aired on television. Following him since that early part of my life has brought me to a greater understanding of the breadth and depth of this man's talents and passions. He was not easy to label or pigeon-hole.
The Monkees served as his major introduction to the show business world. As a musician, the television process and fantasy might have been difficult to grasp. His wit and sense of humour came through in the acting. Of the many fun episodes, Fairy Tale epitomized the silliness and fun with Mike as his character and as Princess Gwen. It still makes me giggle to think about him calling for help as the princess <smile>. He advocated (though that may not be a strong enough word <grin>) for the group to play the songs they were singing and writing. This did work by their third album, Headquarters. When the show ceased filming, Nez moved on to an amazing musical career with the the First National Band and then as a solo act. Two dear friends introduced me to his solo work with the album TropicalCampfires -- still one of my faves. I love the country and calypso rhythms that weave throughout this album. He also embraced working as a music producer for the Pacific Arts label. I never expected to see him perform live, since his small shows were not close to where I lived and due to his other enterprises, he didn't tour with the other Monkees. Yet, in 2012 he joined Dolenz and Tork on a tour. I attended two of those shows. The first night when he walked out on the stage, I was unsure if this was real. Then he played the Gretsch and began to sing and I knew it was not a dream. His humour showed throughout the shows, but was especially hysterical when he imitated the moog synthesizer for one of the songs. I still giggle over how deeply into that role he dove.
As an author, Nez wrote the autobiographical Infinite Tuesdays and the amazingly mythical, mystical The Long Sandy Hair of Neftoon Zamora. His use of words had become clear in his song writing, so finding the wonderfully lyrical prose of his books and poetry was not seen as a surprise but as another gift of his attention to communication details. I found his writing and word choice inspiring.
This man was a visionary. The First National Band played and recorded country rock before The Byrds, The Eagles and The Flying Burrito Brothers. Nez introduced a video short to go with a song, then promoted the idea of broadcasting videos for songs -- and then MTV was born. With the inheritance from his mother, the inventor of Liquid Paper, Nez hosted annual think tanks to address global issues. During the early days of the internet, Nez wrote Neftoon online with daily sections being made available to readers for feedback. By early days, I mean before interactive web platforms existed. This crowd sourcing feedback for writing was done by other authors later, but he was the first. Watching his writing process for large sections of that book was fascinating -- to see the crafting of a phrase and a story line felt so intimate. It showed huge vulnerability. So very cool.
Overall, Nez was a fascinating human being. I will remember him for his great sense of humour, critical thinking with a cerebral bent, and as someone who understood how to use words to explain, entertain and provoke thought. Many of his lyrics are deeply poetic. I share two of these here tonight. The first is from a live performance that shows his delivery of the lyrics well. The second, from the psychedelic era, uses words to paint the most dazzling pictures. This link includes the lyrics, which were sung by Micky Dolenz. I've also included a poem written several years back. I love his poem Cool -- and he was definitely that -- so infinitely cool.
Cool (For clarity -- Dale was a canine companion) -- poem by Michael Nesmith
Note to self this morning before heading off into the
studio:
Pray for cool.
So cool. Way cool. Totally cool.
Not the word for temperature.
The word for “how cool is that?”
I cannot replace it with chill.
Chill is not cool. It is too cool for cool. It’s one step
over the line.
It is not “the cooler the better.”
Once it’s cool is when it’s cool.
Any cooler than that is not cool. By definition.
Cool explains something in the universal order.
It does not mean “relaxed.”
It means “just enough.”
No more and no less. Supply meeting demand in perfect
balance.
It can mean acceptable.
It can mean safe.
I pray for cool as Miles played it. Those notes he chose
to play over those key signatures and those scales were unheard before he
played them.
They were always there, but he heard them and played
them. That was part of why they were cool.
They provided an expanded and more enlightened sense of
harmony.
Cool can also mean placid, unperturbed, unthreatened,
peaceful.
I pray for this cool as well.
It is a word that speaks to part of the world that has
very few words to describe it.
We are all cool, but many do not accept this part of our
self.
Fortunately the overarching power of cool is that
it expresses itself.
Dale slowly walked up the driveway yesterday side by side
with a young deer, both just hanging out and enjoying each other. They were
both cool.
Amazing displays of generosity, virtuosity, humility,
peacemaking, unselfishness and love have many times made me turn to a companion
who was watching with me and I could only say, “Cool.”
It’s a universal approbation.
It points to something with us at all times. Dependable,
embracing, everything we need all the time, just at hand.
It is there, always reachable in our continuous
ever-presence, just off to the side, hanging out, showing us how to say, play or
sing exactly the right note whenever we need it or want it.
We had wonderful sunshine for the early part of the day. I even saw part of the moon behind clouds this evening. My big event was to move the snow off the car. I thought this would be relatively quick, but no, it wasn't. There was 15-18 inches of snow on the car from nose to tail. It felt like so much more work than moving all the snow from porches and walkways yesterday. Likely, this was due to having my arms above heart level while moving all that stuff off the car. Once that was mostly done, I had to move the piles off the ground area I'd cleared around the car yesterday. It was invigorating, but I will really hurt tomorrow, I expect.
The big news in town involves an outbreak of COVID-19 cases among mainly university students. There was a major event with school rings distributed a week ago followed by some parties. Most new cases have been fully vaccinated, so symptoms are like a minor flu and can be dealt with at home. The university has had programs in place since last year to assist students on and off campus when they are isolating. At present it appears that most transmission occurred in smaller social groups in private celebrations, though this could change as more contact tracing occurs. So, we are hearing of possible places where people might have encountered someone who has since tested positive -- university library, study halls, dining halls, and several restaurants in town where celebrations occurred with family and friends from out of town. The first cases were reported late Monday. By Wednesday there were 21 cases. As of today, the total number is 112. Epidemiologists suggest this might be near the peak of the outbreak and we should begin to see lower daily numbers of new cases (today there were about 55). We are told that vaccines have helped disease to be less virulent and that they do work as over 2000 people were part of the ceremony (which required proof of vaccine with photo ID and masking for all attendees) and the celebrations. Today the university cancelled all in-person exams. These will be postponed to January, or provided in a take-home or online format in the coming days, where possible. This comes during a time of heightened anxiety surrounding end of term, exams and major assignments, and preparation for the holiday break and potential travel home.
I plan to stay home as much as possible for now. I'll get my groceries by curbside pickup and will have to make do with what is available at that one store -- for now. I wanted a soothing song for today for the local news and another item that I will move to the blog for tomorrow. The song that came to mind first is one that I play here every December. It is an interesting pairing of singers and songs in counterpoint. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Peace on Earth (Little Drummer Boy) -- Bing Crosby & David Bowie
A very snowy outdoor scene greeted me this morning. We received 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) -- at least -- overnight. Winds did not pick up until mid-afternoon today, so things did not drift badly last night. I shoveled the porches and a pathway to the street. Luckily, the wind didn't start until the last few minutes of that endeavor. I called the plow guy to push out the end of the driveway. There is just too much from the street plow left there to clear by hand. This seems early for a huge snow fall, but checking past journals shows that it often occurs once in late November or early December. So, this must be that.
I dislike shoveling -- not for the physical exertion, but for the arrival of snow that reminds me that it is winter -- my least favourite season. That said, there are aspects of moving snow that I enjoy. The rhythmic nature of the process can be calming. I tend to move slowly, breathing as if doing weights at a gym as I push and lift the white stuff. That same rhythm allows me to check in with myself and explore emotions that I'm walking with in that moment. The past several days have been challenging as I've encountered less than helpful people in positions where one is expecting assistance. Naming emotions helps me understand where they originated and can move thinking into a place of adaptation to changes in the world around me. Much like the snow fall determines which shovel to use and if the plow man needs to be contacted, I can rework plans and keep moving forward.. In short, the shoveling helps me to process events, accept them, learn from them and move ahead -- just like each shovel full of snow gets me closer to the goal. <smile>
I chose the song today for its title <smile> and the lyrics that point to introspection -- different than my thoughts today, but just as self-examining as mine were. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Customer service encounters today went well, save the one in-person experience. That one seemed reluctant to tell me the options for shipping, while that is part of their SOP. The first good encounter came from the agent at that company's toll free number. He listened and found ways to laugh at the absurdities of the in-person clerk. He explained the different levels of shipping options completely so I will know what to ask next time through the process locally. I called two other companies -- one for a missing order item and one for a warranty replacement item. The first went quickly with pleasant conversation. The second was stellar <smile>. The service rep asked if I wanted to sing a Michael Buble Christmas song while waiting for the software page to load. Then, while waiting for the final processing of the return and replacement, he sang part of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. Between the musical interludes, he spoke of Canadian actors that he admired. When I asked where he was located, he told me he was in Tennessee! So, perhaps we are turning the corner on the negative service experiences -- or the stars are aligning in my favour for a change <smile>.
Lately, I've been meaning to write a note of explanation for readers. Each day I write notes and parts of a blog. These don't always get polished and posted on the day. There are unremarkable days that don't lead to writing something cerebral <smile>. In fact, I feel there have been more of these type of days recently. Often a song hits my consciousness during the day, which sparks an idea for the blog. On other days, I find I've focused on a particular idea and have to ponder the right song to fit with that day. During December, this can be even more challenging, since I challenge myself to share seasonal music selections. All this is to outline why some days several blogs appear and on other days none appear. I apologize to anyone looking for the daily blog only to discover that it wasn't finished on that day. I will promise, though, that it will be posted as soon as possible. <smile>
The chosen song came to mind when on the phone with the musical customer service agent. I like this one for the Canadian connection -- artist and the lyrics about tickets <grin>. It is a fun song with altered lyrics that helped me to smile more today and the rhythm helped me to relax. I hope it can help you, too. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Today, the sun appeared late morning and stayed until sunset. That was splendid. My walk out to do two errands was very pleasant. Temperatures were warmer than the past few days. All in all, it has been a great respite from the cold and wet weather of late. We had pouring rain last night with some stronger winds than I'd expected. Today, it is very muddy in the yard.
Today I met difficulty with online software to send an e-transfer and to ship a parcel. One added unnecessary requirements that prompted me to go to the bank to straighten it out. The other refused to treat the shipment as a gift insisting that I include a commercial invoice. <sigh> Tomorrow there will be another trip out to a different shipper. I did try to call the customer service number but a lengthy discussion left me no where I hadn't been before the 30 minutes of waiting and listening to statements that did not address the situation. <bigger sigh>. Things will get on the way tomorrow, but it will take longer than if I'd had things in order yesterday or today. I also need to check in with something that was promised yesterday that seems not to have been completed for me. I tried to call that office, but only got a busy signal. Again, I hope to meet it tomorrow will new resolve. Right now, I just feel frustrated. That office has been working short-staffed for a while, so it was unlikely an intentional decision to make me wait <smile>, but I dislike having to remind people that I'm waiting -- and not very patiently I fear.
This time of year can be challenging for many people. There is so much to do all for specific dates. That is a lot of pressure to place on oneself -- and on those around you. Delivery persons are being inundated. The doorbell rang as I was getting ready for a meeting yesterday, and I found a parcel on the porch. The fellow who dropped it by had done the same with two parcels last week. I called out to thank him and wish him a good day. I've always thought that job could be isolating and not always recognized by those waiting for parcels. Given the excessively long delivery times we're facing this season, I expect recipients can be grumpy. I was just happy that this one arrived a week earlier than promised -- a good business strategy actually, eh? <grin>
In keeping with the parcel delivery theme, a song came to mind that relates to a major parcel delivery entity. It made me laugh when that song popped into my mind. I like the video with the artist playing several instruments. Keep safe. Enjoy!
I had a short meeting outside the house that was canceled as I got there. Once we found an alternate day and time, I headed out to get milk and eggs and then home. I had a good chat with a friend today. We've been doing weekly catch up chats for a couple of years now. It does help to keep in touch when we live so far apart. The cloudiness turned to rain and wind by late afternoon. It isn't certain how much rain will fall. I'll judge by the mud tomorrow. The snow will be gone by bedtime, I'm sure.
I have been thinking of clearing out some old and unused items. Thinking hasn't gotten me too far, but I feel I'm a bit closer to doing some of the work involved. When searching for something I misplaced in the past month, I found another item that I'd looked everywhere for last winter. Several times. I did not look in the closet where I found it today, as I was searching for the most recent thing to go walk-about in the house. I don't need the item I found today right now, , but now I know where I squirreled it away. The other item remains hidden. Frustration looms when I know that an object is in the house, but isn't anywhere that seems reasonable to me at present. While items are not lost, only misplaced, it does make moving forward tricky when key pieces can't be put in place. I believe that all will be revealed in due time. If this time doesn't fit the current deadline, then I will need to find an alternative or simply do without. I often feel when you stop looking -- and may no longer need an item -- it wondrously appears. <smile>
I heard a song that made me think of the holiday season and brought a smile. That helped me with the currently 'misplaced' issue <smile>. I love the pairing of these two artists. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Today was an indoor day. I'm still not used to seeing the absence of colour outside my windows. Among a number of household cleaning chores, I began the indoor holiday decorating. The tree is up but without lights for the next day or two. A few other bits of decor have found their way out of boxes, but more will move from storage spaces in the coming week -- almost like an archaeological dig.
I don't go all out and cover all surfaces with holiday themed stuff. I have Christmas towels for kitchen and bathroom, a gorgeous embroidered luncheon cloth to put on the dining room table and a fun runner for the buffet. A Christmas themed cushion cover that I got in Thailand years ago, fits into the living room decor. Poinsettia glasses that were my Grandmother's are put to use at this time of year, too. It can be fun to get the place decked out a little bit -- Cool even.
A song ran around my brain today. It is one that brings a smile. I chose a version by one of my dad's favourite musicians with a very distinctive singing voice. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Surprise! When I looked out the window while making breakfast, I found a the world had turned white overnight. On shore flurries a left 5+ cm (2+ in) covering on everything in sight. This amount meant it needed to be moved. Since temperatures did not get above freezing today, the snow was lighter than I expected it might have been. It is far from my favourite job, but at least for this first of the season sunshine was present with just a light breeze. The main difficulty I had was pushing through areas with mud or leaf cover under the snow. The ground is so saturated and a couple of storms are in the offing to bring more rain.
Much of my day after shoveling involved household tasks. The colour outside the windows, though, dominated my thoughts. This part of the world has a 50:50 chance of having snow cover on Christmas. I freely admit to enjoying the years without snow best. <smile> A song came to mind, but I chose a great cover of this one -- unexpected cover, in fact. This one is fun. Keep safe. Enjoy!
My outing for the day took be to do a curbside grocery pickup and a visit to my MD. I then picked up four items that were in the store but not on their online database -- so frustrating. That was a quick stop on the way out of the MD office in the same building. The wind was wild today and temperatures dropped as the day progressed. The forecast includes a threat of on shore flurries overnight due to the winds and colder air. I wore extra layers for my evening walk tonight, which helped a lot given the wind chill factors.
In the afternoon, I hung the wreath I'd purchased a couple of days ago. It resides between the mailbox and the porch light fixture. It dresses up the front just a bit and makes me smile. So, the decorating has begun. There will be more decoration added over the next few days, but that is indoor work. Adding some of the traditional decor mixed with some of my personal items gives the season a festive feel -- albeit rather eclectic in places. <smile> It can brighten a mood and help ground a person.
I thought of a song from a musical that addressed the role that decorating can play in lifting spirits. I chose a fun cover by a great acapella group. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Pewter clouds predominated the skies today. Temperatures rose and intermittent rain arrived into the evening. More rain is expected tomorrow. At least it is a smaller amount and doesn't require shoveling. <smile>
After an afternoon meeting, I headed out for errands at two stores. I decided to walk home the long way to get some exercise,. As I entered the house, my phone binged. While I was hanging up my coat, I realized I had missed a planned chat with a friend -- by 30 minutes! I forgot that I needed to be home quicker when I decided to take a longer walk. Despite the delayed start, we had a great talk today.
The greyness of the day brought to mind the title of a song that I share here today. I enjoy this cover version. Keep safe. Enjoy!
The sun came out in the afternoon making it a glorious day. When making breakfast, there was some snow covering the ground and porch. That disappeared before the sun burst forth, which made the day feel warmer, until any errant clouds traveled in front of the sun at which point it felt chilly again. I had an appointment and then headed to get a few items at the hardware store. At home, I finished reading a book that I am reviewing for a professional association newsletter. I'll sit on it all for another day or two and then begin to cobble my ideas into something understandable to others.
Today was the first of December. It seems unbelievable that we are here already. Time still moves quickly when it seems to drag concurrently. That is a conundrum. Days still melt into each other, so keeping track of what day of the week it is becomes a challenge at times. Not knowing the date or noticing the end of a month may not be as surprising at it feels. That I am making appointments and meetings for January now feels odd -- a new year will begin before these occur. A friend noted that the current month is the final one of 2021 when she felt that it was still 2020. The pandemic has messed up the perception of time passing, for certain.
Today also marks the first day of my December musical selections. This blog was born from annual social media posts with seasonal songs chosen to share each day. I wrote things in this format for a few years, before moving to the everyday format of the past eight years. Yes, eight years! On my errands today, I stopped by the tree lot in town and got a wreath for the front of the house. Seeing that place up and running again brought the opening lines of a song to mind. The full lyric may be a bit on the sadder side, but I love the imagery that comes with the lyrics and the melody is unmistakably by this amazing singer-songwriter. The season is definitely underway. Keep safe. Enjoy!
