We had another sunny day with warm temperatures and a touch of humidity. I used the stove again today -- two days in a row -- without overheating the house. I made a big pan of onions and peppers that will ensure I get some vegetables in the diet on warmer days. Salads get old quickly. <smile> I even used the oven last night. That felt freeing <grin>. Why is it that we crave things that produce extra ambient heat when it is sweltering already? Perhaps the knowing that such foods will be off limits for a while creates the felt need.
I headed out just after lunch to get some groceries -- mainly fresh veg with a few other items. I managed to get two full bags for $40! It has been a while since this happened. Some housecleaning got done and I folded the last of the laundry. How cool is that? <grin> Cooking and cleaning helped me feel productive. I went for a short walk just around sundown. That felt good, too. So, today was better than yesterday -- lots more action today.
Craving foods that require a lot of stove top work or oven use took my brain to a song that fit my thoughts. It made me smile. It is about something else entirely but still fits a bit. Keep safe. Enjoy!
The day felt rather dismal. There was sun amongst the clouds outside and I felt rather down inside. The usual Saturday stuff happened -- well some of it at least -- laundry, and some cooking and sweeping. I watched three movies -- The Queen, HP Deathly Hallows pt.1, and Fantastic Beasts-the Secrets of Dumbledore. I couldn't find a comedy and these were rather dark but on the TV. So, I"m not sure that helped my mood elevate much.
Days like this aren't the greatest, but they don't occur regularly. So, there's that <smile>. A walk often helps, but it didn't happen today. I expect tomorrow will be somewhat better. A good night's sleep could help, too.
I was reminded of a song today and recognized it as fitting my thought processes today. The melody is amazing and the harmonies in this version are so beautiful. It helps with relaxation, too. <smile>
I Shall be Released -- Cass Eliot, Joni Mitchell, Mary Travers
It was a day of appointments. In the afternoon, I went to a medical appointment and then to the physio. I had very good conversations with the professionals involved. It made me feel positive and brought laughter and smiles. I also made two appointments for next week to deal with future planning
In the evening, I went to a friend's for a visit. We listened to play lists from our early university days mixed with more recent selections. It was very relaxing to just stop and listen to a song that brought back such great memories. We had a wonderful wine and fun snacks. Again, there was much laughter and smiles. The walk there and back created less pain than other walks this past week -- Something else to make me smile. <smile> The lyrics spoke to the power of music and friends and seemed to fit well with my thoughts today. I very lucky to have a wonderful group of friends who help me me in many ways as I travel my path. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Today some things finished and others continue to drag on. The slip and fall injury at a local store has been settled. The customer service for the crushed pet food cans in the latest shipment managed to help. A replacement shipment is on its way. Now the only thing left is to clean up any unopened cans from the damaged shipment and empty the others for the compost and recycling pickups. The temperature remained hot and another issue added to the stress level again -- or still. I went for a short walk in the evening when it got a bit cooler. I enjoyed being out moving, but the Achilles heel created some pain. I plan to see the physio again tomorrow, so that should help thing feel better for a while.
On an up note, I spoke with my travel agent to look at trip planning for the fall. Flights are sill presenting a challenge. It is difficult to get anywhere without one or two stops -- or in some cases three -- such that a 7 hour travel time stretches into 12 or even over 24. Some stops involve an 8 hour sit at an airport. These convoluted routings also cost 2 to 4 times the price for a one stop trip. So we pay for inconvenience. <sigh> I will make an appointment for next week to speak with the agent again to see what we can finalize. The expectation is that several changes will occur between booking and travel -- the agent said 4, 5 or 6 for each file seems the norm. <sigh> Getting things back up and running smoothly after the pandemic will take some time since people who had been laid off seem to have found other jobs and aren't ready to return to their former jobs. So, airlines and airports will continue to run short staffed.
Lyrics from a song came to mind today that note the possibility to see positives all around even when something negative rears its head. Take care. Enjoy!
Today I received a shipment of pet food. It was delivered within 48 hours of ordering. Amazing. Sadly, when I opened it, the top layer of the case of food was badly crushed on one side. Four visible tins of the top layer of the case of food had lids popped open. The delivery box was not damaged in any way, so the product was damaged when packed -- despite the note that it was 'picked with love by someone'. I didn't open the box until later in the day, so the toll-free number was not answered because it was an hour past their work times. So -- I will call tomorrow to determine what needs to be done to get this replaced. The last order had some minor dents in one-quarter of the cans and those previous were undamaged. Not sure what is up in the warehouse.
I had wondered how the furry one recognized the one box as his and paid no attention to the other box that arrived with the case of food. Once it had been opened, it became clear that there was likely an odor he detected -- one I couldn't smell through the cardboard and plastic and packing paper. I suspect that is a good thing <smile>
One song seemed fitting for the day. Receiving the parcels and cans that didn't remain sealed brought the title and chorus to mind. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Guess what? It was sunny and hot again today <smile> with thunder overnight and into the morning -- very little rain, though. It felt a bit cooler inside -- just a bit. I did cook a quick one pan dinner for the first time in several days.
I finished a writing project and got it submitted by late afternoon. Several business calls were made, with one leading to a meeting later in the week that should wrap up that topic -- finally. I went for a short walk just before sunset. I hadn't gotten out to walk for the past few days due to the heat. I find it difficult to call this a productive day, when it was on many levels. I'm not sure what I expect to happen but it is obviously unrealistic. There are many things that need doing in the next week or so, yet I expect to get through 'more' daily. <big sigh>. Getting to a less punitive space in my thinking will take some work. Success isn't always measurable -- as in how many things did I finish today. Nor do they have to be tangible -- or at least something one can hold in your hands. For years projects have been countable -- how many papers did I grade today? A lot of thought goes into many items on the 'to do' list before they are completed. I often omit this progress as part of productivity in a day. Hmmm. Lots to consider here.
Thanks to a wonderful friend who has been sharing performances from the Newport Folk Festival this past weekend. There were many great collaborations between older and younger artists. The song shared today is part of a full set with this icon and Brandi Carlile. Other recognizable faces are on the stage that is arranged to be like a living room jam. My friend shared this one with me knowing somehow that it might find its way to this blog <grin>. Of course it would fit here. The topic fits the overall weather issues and the artist -- who now sings in my range -- lived in Saskatchewan for some time as a youth. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Summertime -- Joni Mitchell at Newport Folk Festival July 24, 2022
The weather remained hot and humid today -- 31C feeling like 41C; 88F/106F -- though the outdoor thermometer showed higher actual temps in early afternoon. Severe thunderstorm watch and warning were issued in early evening. We could hear thunder for at least 20 minutes before dark clouds, rain and wind arrived. Luckily this lasted for only a 10 minutes or so. Other regions likely got strong winds, hail and big rain. Further west and north had risks of tornadic activity. More storms are forecast for overnight.
The up side of this mess is that cooler air is arriving. Now 'cool' is a relative term. <smile> Temperatures will still be hot, just not hot enough to trigger a heat advisory. The a/c unit and fans will still be necessary. If temperatures dropped into the mid-teens (low 60sF) overnight, it would promote sleep. Not only would this occur due to temperature, but the lack of loud motors running fans would not interrupt sleep cycles. Lack of decent sleep leads to mood disturbances and a lot of cranky people out there. Hopefully, the next week will bring more restful overnights.
Thinking through many songs that deal with sleep and with heat made me feel a bit disheartened. I do find this type of weather unpleasant. Being somewhere with central air conditioning helps a lot. So, traveling to hot locales is fun as long as I can cool off in a nice house or hotel. <smile> This got me thinking of more upbeat songs. One that came to mind made me smile at the title and the lyrics. Keep safe. Enjoy!
The blog is beginning to sound like a stuck record. It is hotter today than yesterday -- 35ish feeling like 43ish (95/109F). <sigh> Even the basement doesn't feel much cooler than the main floor -- so laundry isn't even a respite today. This reminds me of days in the tropics -- just above the Equator in Singapore, Bangkok and a beach south of Bangkok Even the waters of the Bay of Bangkok (a little bay off the Gulf of Thailand) felt like a bathtub -- just too warm to help one cool. I have experienced similar temperatures along the US Atlantic coastal regions -- Washington DC, New Orleans and the Research Triangle in North Carolina come to mind. Walking outside a hotel in these places took me into a solid air mass that made breathing difficult. Carrying a machete might help cut through the humid mass. It is very similar here today as the tropical air mass passes.
So, what am I doing today? Not much that takes any exertion. I'm taking my cue from the furry fellow. <grin> I've been up and down stairs as I finish the laundry. Working on the laptop works for several tasks. I signed up for a MOOC (massive open online course) last week. The six segments will be available until beginning of September. Each takes 2-4 hours to complete. I hope to learn more about recent research concerning nutrition and mental health outcomes and treatments. I'm doing the free version, so won't get a certificate, which I don't require. I picked up some takeout for supper rather than use the stove or stand outside to use the barbeque. And hey, there's always some online shopping to get things that aren't available in this little town. <smile>
I was reminded of a song today -- one that contains the sound of a skipping (or stuck) record. The recording also includes a lot of background noises common with well used vinyl records. <smile> It is an odd little tune, but listen for the stuck record sound closer to the end -- it can be nostalgic for some readers and informative for others. <grin> Keep safe. Enjoy!
Wow! Hotter today than yesterday. Who'd have thought that was possible! Temperatures hit low to mid-30s (mid to high 80s F) with feel like temps about 10 or 11 degrees hotter (105 F or higher). Inside was cooler -- technically -- but still felt warmer than is comfortable. The a/c unit was pressed into service as was the bigger oscillating fan. I feel sorry for the furry one on such days. He can only sweat through his toes and nose leather. He has become an expert at transferring heat to the tile flooring. Walking down the hall I find very hot spots on the floor where he had been lying only moments before moving to a new and cooler section of floor. I guess we all find our own coping strategies.
My appetite isn't in full force, but I will get something from the deep freeze and reheat it in the microwave. No cooking today. The forecast states that this heat will be with us for another two or three days. I plan to purchase takeout over those days. I did cook breakfast today, but things had cooled a bit overnight so that was possible without making us all wilt more quickly.
I'll admit that I thought of little else than the heat for most of the day. A friend shared some lyrics on their social media site and I've had those lines running through my head all day. It seems only logical that I share them with you all. <smile> Keep safe. Enjoy!
It has been another hot day, with even higher humidity than yesterday. It felt like walking into a sauna when I went out the front door today. Really! I dislike saunas. I know people who enjoy sitting in a sauna and have one in their home or cottage. That just doesn't work for me. Maybe it has to do with lowering blood pressure that feels uncomfortable. Maybe not. Either way, to me it is just plain yucky.
I spent an hour or so at the grocery store today. There was a very long lineup to checkout this afternoon. Exchanges between customers waiting noted that at least it was cool where we were, so fewer sounds of discontent were present. I had a late lunch and then headed out to the physio office. It, too, felt wonderful due to the air-conditioning. I do have a portable a/c unit in the living room, which helps a bit.
A dear friend reminded me of a parody that seems to fit the current weather situation. It does make me giggle, which takes my mind off the temperature and humidity. Keep safe. Enjoy!
A heat advisory was put in place today due to expected high temps with high humidity for at least the next three days, but it may be closer to 5 or 6 looking at the long term forecast. It became smoking hot as a friend and I walked out for lunch. At the last minute, I chose to make a reservation inside to avoid over-heating on the patio today.
Even a short visit with a friend from home felt wonderful. We haven't seen each other for almost four years. We had each planned to be in the respective provinces, but the pandemic changed those plans. We do chat by phone and get caught up on each other's lives, but sitting across the table from each other made me smile. Seeing people in person is so different than hearing a voice or seeing a face on a virtual platform. I know I've said that before many times, but each time I see someone in person, I'm struck by the truth in that statement. I expect that is part of the reason behind so many people travelling this summer -- more on airlines than during 2019. Hotels are booked solidly. Rental vehicles are fully booked and have been for several months. This is good from an economic and mental health standpoint. Long overdue trips to visit family and friends or to take the trips that were postponed due to COVID are underway. Perhaps others have realized the importance of seeing each other in person, too. I know today made a difference for me.
A song came to mind today that dealt with flying. I know I've used this here before, but the lyrics are a great metaphor for getting used to travelling again with all its newness. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Learning to Fly -- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Today I had a virtual meeting with a colleague and friend as we are discussing possible publications. It feels good to get back into the writing processes for several projects. I do have a number of places to contact to assist me with planning the next information gathering phases of a large project. With time, this should all work well.
The day was sunny, warm and windy. A friend and I ate supper on a restaurant patio. It was lovely -- a nice light breeze by then and wonderful food and wine. So much fun to visit with people over a meal again. I'm still feeling a bit cautious about being out and about knowing there is a lot of omicron everywhere these days. I wear my mask inside unless eating or drinking and will continue to do so for some time to come, I'm certain. I guess it all comes down to safety. People are out again and want life to just be like it was before this all began. Sadly, it isn't the same and a little bit of caution could keep us all safe again. I was a public health professional for many years. The knowledge of how disease makes its way through a population, may be what makes me more cautious. I'm not the only one at the stores wearing a mask. I still carry hand sanitizer -- and have been known to mutter rudely under my mask when a business has a dispenser by the door but never fills the blasted thing. <grump> We as a population have entered a new phase. Some of the measures in place during the past two years will need to remain with us. I've been to Asia where people wear masks daily when outdoors as well as in crowds. Some do this due to pollution and others are avoiding transmissible diseases. They are there. Many more than we have had to face as individuals. So, wearing a mask at present seems less problematic to me.
A song came to mind today. It is an odd one in some ways, but some lines can be interpreted as our need to navigate safety.The metaphor of dance fits much of my thinking today. <smile> Keep safe. Enjoy!
Clouds predominated today with windy periods. By evening it felt decidedly cool outside when the wind picked up again. Rain appeared through the day as big down pours to misty drizzle. In short, the day was a movable feast.
In many ways, my thoughts moved off in many directions today, just like the weather -- never quite sure what the next corner might bring. Emotional ups and downs added to the unsettled day. It all ended on a positive note. Four of us headed off for dinner to say farewell to a friend moving elsewhere at the end of the week. Conversations were fun. We tried a new wine that was very enjoyable. Sadly, for the first time in forever, the food was disappointing for three of us. I will make a point to chat with the manager about this. As with many food service operations, finding skilled staff has been a major difficulty this spring and summer. New staff members have been hired recently, so may still be in training, but the quality of the food should be checked better before it leaves the kitchen. <sigh> We had a short visit after dinner and then said our good-byes. It will be different without her here, but is time for her to pursue a different course.
A song I've used here over the years fit my thoughts well today. Saying goodbye is not easy. We will keep in touch, I'm sure. <smile> I'm very glad we had this evening to get together. Stay safe. Enjoy!
HOT! Wow! What a day! We had slight respite from the breeze and intermittent cloudiness. I was inside, which wasn't cool, either. <smile> A late afternoon visit to the physio got me to a place with central air conditioning for almost an hour. The forecasters suggest we should expect some rain overnight and into tomorrow, which will make tomorrow even more humid <sigh>. It appears that the next couple of weeks will be stifling.
I'm not someone who enjoys major heat or humidity of any sort. Yet, here I am living by the ocean <smile>. The lack of a good sleep when the overnight temperatures don't drop to cool the air for a brief few hours makes me very cranky. I need my sleep <sigh>. When I complain about summer heat and humidity, I feel like a CFA (come from away), yet many locals who were born and raised here feel just as cranky about such heat waves. So, I'm not alone. Somehow company in this misery doesn't help.
I kept hearing the title lyric line from an older (from the 1980s <gasp>) song throughout the day today. Be forewarned. I share it here with the warning that this may turn into an earworm for you as it did for me today. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Another mostly sunny day for us today. Temperatures are creeping upwards -- so for that the next week we expect heat and humidity. I worked indoors doing some household chores and revising the writing that I worked on yesterday. The project is nearly at the point where I will resubmit it to the journal. That makes me feel positive. <smile>
For the most part, it was a quiet and almost lazy day. This one did not come with feelings of being less than useful, though. These thoughts brought to mind a song -- imagine?! <smile> The short but fun selection made me giggle. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Today I devoted time to working on the writing project. There is still more to do, but I need to let it sit for a day and put fresh eyes on it tomorrow. The information is there, but the flow will need some tweaking. The other major task undertaken today was laundry. For some reason, I still seem to relegate this one to Saturday. Having a semblance of a regular schedule can help keep one linked to the calendar. When retired, this can become a challenge since all days have the potential to feel the same. So, I choose to do this one on the weekend. <smile>
Keeping a rhythm to life has been disrupted by the uncertainties of the past two years. Purpose can be lost. I've been working at re-establishing these two aspects of daily life. The one other daily routine that I'd like to alter is meal variety. Most people rely on only 10 to 12 recipes, with many using less than that. Routine is great, but mealtime can add some variety to the days and to the overall dietary intake. So, I will need to look through my recipe box and hand-written book and peruse the many cookbooks to look for new -- or renew -- ideas. Cooking provides a creative outlet and sense of accomplishment. the stepwise process brings a sense of calm. So, cooking not only results in great tasting meals, it also helps address stress. Cool, eh?
A song that fits the direction I'm heading with the rhythm of life is shared tonight. The lyrics are about rhythm and the production demonstrates rhythm in multiple ways. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Today the sun shone but some clouds moved in and out through the day. No rain or thunderstorm occurred, though we did have a power outage for a couple of seconds just before supper time. As one does when such outages or surges occur, I reset the many electronic clocks. <smile> I had a nice phone visit with a friend and we made arrangements to go out for supper next week. During my daily walk, I made the reservation. I also got back into a task that has been waiting for me for a while. I read through my notes for revising a possible publication and have been thinking of specific ways to address the comments provided by the journal editor -- hope to get to that tomorrow.
So, it has been a reasonable day with some plans for the next few days taking form. Getting to focus on something like the writing, requires a clearer thinking pattern than the fatigue I've dealt with over the past while allowed. Making plans to do things that have been put aside takes some effort. I want to get back to doing more than I have been doing recently. I'll let you know as the plans take shape and how they are set into action. I will address the many tasks slowly rather than all at once, in hopes of being more successful with the changes. <smile>
The chorus of a song ran through my mind a bit today. When I stopped and looked at all the lyrics, some of the other lines fit, too -- like turning to face myself <smile>. Keep safe. Enjoy!
A high point of the day was getting back to put gas in the vehicle. I know; I need to get a life <grin>. Being 14.5 cents per litre less than last time I added to the tank, the pre-authorized amount put more than expected into the tank. Very cool. Who knew that 184.5/litre (5.31 US/gal) would sound better? I've also found it difficult to estimate how much of a tank a given dollar amount will provide. The price goes up and down so often that time doesn't allow for us to get used to one amount before it changes -- often dramatically.
Little else has been accomplished today. I slept solidly last night and well into the morning. I even had a short nap before supper. The excitement around the furry fellow's allergic response to something -- likely a critter bite or sting -- took a lot out of me. Things are closer to normal today, though.
As the price of fuel fluctuates, we hear more concerns about how to manage household budgets, It isn't just filling up the car, it involves prices of all goods shipped or even grown close to home. The song chosen for today speaks to some of these same concerns from over 40 years ago. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Today was sunny and much warmer than the past few days. It came with the added bonus of major humidity. <sigh> It is the kind of day to hide indoors. So, I had a phone meeting and a did some chores.
When clearing up from lunch, the furry one came into kitchen with a swollen right side of his face -- likely a bug bite or sting in the mouth. I called the vet and was told no one could see us today and that I should try for Saturday! Really? I re-explained the situation and was then told to give him an antihistamine. How much? After being on hold the person came back with a number that is over half a tablet. I erred on the low side and gave something closer to 1/3 tablet. That process involved a major struggle. He spit it out twice but seemed to swallow it on the third try. <sigh> He calmed a bit after 20 minutes or so. It took a couple of hours before he slept some. Swelling is still visible, but not as much as earlier. So, the med seemed to help somewhat. I'm hoping things will continue in this vein.
The challenge of dealing with an unknown allergy brought to mind all of the things that can cause allergic responses. The song shared today notes the plethora of culprits and reactions. Keep safe. Enjoy!
I spent most of the afternoon running errands at different places. I began on campus where I checked my mail site and visited with a friend and colleague. I also met the newest department member and we had a great talk. She is a former student and was in some of my early courses. It is so good to see former students return to work on campus.
I then picked up a few needed grocery items. One thing on the list was actually in the store this visit. There were two in the frozen food section at the very back of the top shelf. I could see them if I took a step back and stood on my tiptoes. Needless to say, there was no way for me to reach them. I looked around and the one staff member in the area was very busy with another customer. There was a very tall man whom I know by name, but I wasn't feeling brave enough to ask this distant acquaintance to retrieve the things for me. So -- I will do without until they have them in stock again with boxes closer to the front of the shelf when I am there. Next, I went to have the wheels retorqued. I'm not driving much at present, so it takes time to get the requisite kilometers before this visit to the service department.
The other planned stop involved attempting to get some gas into the car. I visited twice. Once on my way into the grocery store and one on my way out. The first time, I pulled into the one open bay with the pump on the correct side of the vehicle for filling. I went into the kiosk to put a limit on the credit card and was told by the clerk (new) that 'there is no 'regular'. I sounded a bit shocked when I repeated this. Thankfully the usual clerk heard the exchanged and clarified that that pump was broken and would not pump regular gas today. So, I said I'd be back soon. I got into my car, noting that the difficulty wasn't noted anywhere I could see. <sigh> There were two cars lined up behind me, so they had to move to other lines. When I returned, one other pump was open, but there were orange cones in the way, so that wasn't open at all. That left one other spot with a pump on the passenger side and there were 3 or 4 people using or waiting for that pump. I turned around and went home. Maybe tomorrow, things will be better. I may try an evening visit instead of late afternoon.
On the next trip to the gas pumps, I will have to be more patient and just sit and wait. I needs to be the next trip since the dashboard shows only two bars before the big red E <smile>. I smiled when a song title came to mind on my way home today. I hope you get a smile, too. Keep safe. Enjoy!
The day was sunny and warm. Again, the breeze made walking in the heat more bearable. I had a visit with the physio later today and two phone visits with friends. It felt good to get time to visit with people today. At home, I spent time trying to find things that aren't as easy to purchase anymore -- vacuum bags and pen refills. The first was easy to find at a sensible price. The second -- not so much. I may need to make some phone calls to the pen company and check more office supply stores tomorrow. I found it frustrating that I can't find refills for two high quality pens with lifetime guarantees. One I use daily. The other was my mother's and I use it less often. I expect this could be more of the ongoing global supply chain difficulties. <sigh>
While outside between online searches, I reveled in the air movement. This brought a song to mind -- the lyrics of the chorus mostly running through my mind. This has a gentle feel to it, much like the breeze today. Keep safe. Enjoy!
It has been a quiet day doing next to nothing Sometimes one needs a day like that. I did little chores but nothing big. My big outing was a longer walk than I've done for a while. My leg felt a bit better today, so I headed up to the gardens at the hospital just as twilight arrived. It is a peaceful place and was extra quiet since visiting hours were over. I was the only one there. That was a small gift for the day. <smile>
Small things can make a difference in the day -- both on the positive and the negative sides. A couple of tiny things irked me today, but when reflecting on the day, there were more positive bits. Not only could I sit in the gardens for a few minutes by myself, but the breeze helped to keep me cool as I hiked up the big hill to get there. The neighbour's dog and two cats each made themselves available for a greeting as I headed out on my walk. They always make me smile. A couple of smiles and one 'hello' from fellow walkers that I don't know brought smiles to me. The town is friendly -- much different from larger cities I've lived in where eye contact is discouraged when walking and one rarely goes for a walk without a purpose and even more rarely after dark. The moon rose early, so I could see it before the sun set. Once it was dark, the moon shone brightly and could be seen out my window. This is a bigger gift since we have had cloud cover often in the past couple of weeks and celestial bodies have not been visible much. Flowers continue to bloom in the yard and the neighbourhood. These change weekly -- nature putting on a great show this year. My tomato plant has recovered from the major transplant shock. This was a gift from a woman I don't know but had a short conversation with one day. How often does a stranger offer you a plant -- and one with the potential to feed you? I've felt the caring in that plant often. So, all in all the day brought small reminders that the world is filled with good -- even when it seems otherwise.
Pondering today pointed to the caring and love that exists all around. That may sound a bit sappy, but I believe it is an evidence-based conclusion -- the scientist in me coming out there <smile>. Lyrics of the song that came to mind to share today speak to this concept. Take care of each other. Keep safe. Enjoy!
The early sunny start to the day was replaced by stormy-looking clouds around lunch time. I had two afternoon appointments so I wore a rain jacket just in case. While driving to a meeting, there were a few raindrops on the windshield, but that was all I encountered today. I have boxes to place on the porch for charity pickup in the morning. I may wait to take them out early tomorrow morning since there is still a slight risk of rain overnight. Wet cardboard doesn't hold things well <smile>
Many people are in town for the Highland Games. Traffic is a bit congested for a small town and people aren't sure where they are going. It made getting to one appointment difficult when it took much longer than usual to get through town. When out and about this week, there are also many kilted men around town. Often they wear the full regalia and look quite sharp, but even the casual dressers add to the flavour of this town in an area where many Scots settled over 200 years ago. Bagpipes can be heard around town, too. I enjoy the music and find it difficult to stand still when a pipe and drum band marches by -- my feet start dancing <grin>. More of that tomorrow at the parade <smile>.
Thinking of bagpipes today had a song swirling around in my head. It includes bagpipes in a wonderful way. I find the whole song relaxing. Keep safe. Enjoy!
I got up early for a Saturday. <smile> I took the boxes to the front porch and then headed over to Main Street for the Highland Games parade. It was fun to have this event. The Games were not held over the past two years, so the last time I was at a parade in town was three years ago in July 2019. There were a number of pipe and drum bands in the parade -- about 7, though I did lose track of counting. Some years more bands have attended from further away than the participants today, but those who marched today made me smile. There were a few floats and a number of vintage vehicles along with fire crews and equipment from the surrounding area. There was an ambulance that passed by before the street became full with the parade. During the parade, these go past on semi-parallel streets or the highway and then enter Main Street further down. Contingencies are in place for emergency vehicle passage, of course, but this is the first time that I've seen one.
While standing and waiting for the parade to commence, I noticed something -- something that I'm sure I ignored in past years. The sound of the crowd was amazing. I haven't heard the buzz of people talking and laughing. They were lined up all along the street for several blocks. Since 2020 I haven't been anywhere with a large crowd of people waiting happily for an event to begin. I am not counting the two times I went through Pearson Airport in Toronto last fall. Those crowds were not as animated nor did they seem pleased with the prospect of waiting to get through security and customs <smile>. Hearing the crowd today was special.
The most common song heard from the bands today is shared here. The video shows a massed bands at the opening of a Highland Games in Scotland. I love the massed bands event here which often is at the close of ancient heavy games, and the band and dance competitions. The one in the video begins with the song heard many times today. It ends oddly, so forgive them that <smile>. Note that there are eight drum majors -- one from each of the bands in the group. Many spectators join the band so it has it's own little parade group. <smile> Keep safe. Enjoy!
Scotland the Brave -- Massed Pipes and Drums (to open Ballater Highland Games, 2018)
It has been a sunny warm day with a pleasant breeze. I headed out for a small grocery run and to pick up some odds and ends. Main Street was closed to traffic for the Highland Games week street fair. This was supposed to be held yesterday, but was postponed due to rain. Today was a nice day for the event, but I wonder if attendance was affected -- how many people found out about the date change? I stumbled upon the news about midday when I read a note on social media from a vendor who was present. By the time I was back from the errands, people were clearing out. When out for a short walk later in the afternoon, I stopped to catch up with a neighbour. I enjoy keeping in touch with local happenings. <smile>
I've had to hunt for items that have been misplaced recently. Just small things that I hadn't used for some time and then had a need for their use. Places that seem logical for holding such objects inevitably do not lead to finding the lost. I'm quite certain when things are put away, my mind did not actively choose the most obscure, illogical place for safe keeping. <smile> Yet, often when I find things, I wonder aloud what made me think this was the place to store said item. Now, these are not items that I use with any regularity, so most were put away years ago. Often while doing a deeper search for such things, I find things that I didn't think were still part of the household inventory. So, it seems that things get put away and then I can't find them when I need them, and things are put away that I'd never hunt for as I thought they'd left the house long ago. Intriguing.
The search process is interesting -- to say the least -- since the item in question may not be found but so many others are discovered along the way. The experience hunting for a misplaced item today left me smiling when a title line from a song ran through my head repeatedly. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Rain and heavy cloud cover made it dark outside and indoors all day long. Days like this leave me feeling drowsy. Is it the lack of light that affects the perception of the time of day? Does the brain react differently to a twilight day than a sunny day? I'm not sure, but I do know that getting up and going doesn't happen well on these darker days.
When it looks like sunset all day long, I kept thinking about what to make for supper <grin>. All about the food here <G>. I kept checking my list of things to do today to stay on track and not just sit down and fall asleep. A phone meeting, a call with a friend, and a discussion about the slip and fall two weeks ago took up most of the afternoon.
While making supper, I thought about sunsets since it had looked like twilight since I'd gotten up today. A few songs came to mind, but one sounded more upbeat than others, so I share that here. I chose a cover of the original by another truly original artist. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Today brought a sunny and warm day with light wind and low humidity. I walked out to the library and picked up milk on the way home. I had great conversations with three friends this afternoon. It's always great to keep in touch even when we can't meet in person. Today we met by Skype, Zoom and phone. That's nothing if not flexible. <smile> Varied communication technologies are one plus that came out of the pandemic -- multiple virtual platforms to add to the traditional formats.
In the evening, I found seven bug bites on my right leg. I went outside without bug repellent for a short walk to Main Street. The breeze was brisk, so I didn't think I'd have any problems. Wrong, obviously. <sigh> By bedtime the red welts turned hyper-itchy. I used the topical antihistamine ointment that helped for an hour or two at a time. I plan to go out tomorrow -- covered in repellent -- to get some lidocaine cream to numb spots when necessary.
Tonight, I chose a silly song to share my feelings. <grin> Hope it doesn't create problems for you. Stay Safe. Enjoy!
Today, temperatures dropped a few degrees and the air was less humid than the past several days. While cleaning up after lunch, I noticed activity in the cemetery behind the house. The central stone, a Celtic cross, was mounted on a two tiered stand. Many people were gathered to watch this process. I went over later in the afternoon to have a look. It has no engraving or plaque, but perhaps that will come later. The Highland Games begin this week, which may explain the timing of this installation.
This is the day that my dad and my maternal grandmother celebrated their birthdays. I recall one year when I was almost 4, we visited my dad's sister in Seattle. On the fourth we went to Bainbridge Island where her in-laws lived. We spent the day at a beach. I was amazed that everyone was celebrating my Dad's birthday. <smile> Fireworks even! <grin> I'd like to share one of his favourite songs here today to celebrate his love of music. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Temperatures were hot again today with a hefty dose of humidity into the afternoon. Just before sunset, we got the first of two major downpours -- short but intense. This is what they call 'sharp showers' in the UK. Small puddles appeared after the first of these events, so it really did pour.
I spent most of the day doing household cleaning chores that felt long overdue. The sweeping needs doing almost daily now due to the furry one being in full shed mode. I swept the porches again trying to remove the blossoms before the rain. Clouds came and went throughout the day, but no rain until mid-evening. I took some time to get all four past blogs completed. Each had good notes with song ideas, but it took until today to get these polished to post. I also did another peer review report -- this one took only two-ish hours to type the notes. So-- a productive day all around. especially sweeping out the cobwebs -- literal and metaphorical. <smile>
Removing the fur clumps, dust and webs (those critters are way too industrious) had me humming a melody and moving to the beat -- love that bass riff. It also helped me to smile and even to laugh a bit. Keep safe. Enjoy!
The day was cloudy and twilight-ish until just before sunset when a bit of blue appeared through the cloud cove. Not more than a few rain drops fell, though. I spent the day doing laundry and paying bills. I have a lengthy list of household chores and other tasks that should be done this weekend. I felt that the expectation of rain outside matched the expectation of work inside the house today -- much less than expected. <grin> Now, I'm sitting here catching up on blog postings. <smile>
Managing expectations can be tricky. I've always made a long list of things to do over the weekend. It generally turns into a list for the next week. I understand that there are too many tasks to fit into the hours in each weekend day. A friend who has been retired longer than I have noted that expecting to do things on the weekend can add more pressure than necessary. They suggested that I relax a bit and do the tasks during the full seven day week as I get the chance. The freedom of not scheduling things was termed exhilarating. That does sound inviting, but I am afraid that if I don't schedule it, sweeping, cleaning and such might not get done -- mainly since they are things I dislike doing <grin>. I know other folks who do laundry when they get the motivation rather than doing it on a particular day. Housecleaning could be spread over the week with shorter time periods devoted to it on different days. This is something that I will need to ponder more. Letting go of the schedule -- or at least a rigid one -- sounds very challenging but I may find a hybrid of my current practices and something else with time.
The song line I heard in my head today fit this conversation well. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Happy Canada Day! Today marked the first time I attended a celebration of this day since 2019. It was a smaller gathering with friends. We did our annual pizza making party that ended with fireworks. We've been doing this since 2007. Each guest made a pizza to share with the group. This year I made my version of caprese in a pizza format. It was pretty and got compliments on taste -- where it matters. Dessert was local strawberries and homemade vanilla ice cream. Fireworks were fun, as usual. All in all, it was a tasty evening with great conversation and fun watching the sky displays.
Fireworks can be wonderful to watch. The noise can create havoc for animals. It also can trigger many people. In a conversation earlier this week, a colleague noted that quiet fireworks exist and should be considered as the norm if such displays are to occur. This made me think of the many people who have moved to our town from war-torn regions of the world. The explosions and concussive waves may create a very different outcome for some of them. That idea made me think of an incident in a department store in the mid-1970s. The store was decorated with balloons for a big sale. One or two of these popped and a mother and her younger children dove to the floor and got tucked up close to the display counters. This family had recently arrived from Northern Ireland. That experience provided a new perspective for me.
I chose to share the music we listened to tonight. This is the overture, so a bit shorter than the full piece. It sounds happy and becomes something that one could dance to even <smile>. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Music for the Royal Fireworks -- Overture -- Handel
The day felt hot with strong sunshine. I went out to an appointment early in the day, but was glad for the air conditioning in the car. I was indoors at home for the rest of the day. I had a peer review due before midnight, so had to settle into typing the report for submission. This process took four hours. The earlier reading, thinking, and note taking took another two or so hours. I was surprised at how long this took. Again, this is me recognizing that I expect to be able to do things more quickly than humanly possible <grin>. Some papers will take longer than others and a superficial overview is not my style.
I enjoy the opportunity to participate in research publication and peer mentoring in this way. It keeps me 'in the loop' so to speak. <smile> While making my tiny contribution to science today, I thought of a silly song that made me grin. Keep safe. Enjoy!
It was a sunny and warm day with clouds arriving into the late afternoon. I spent much of the afternoon running errands to the grocery store, post office and such. Most things on the shopping list were available, but some key grocery items were not. Most of these were store branded products, so even more baffling.
Travel news has been grim recently with the increased cancellation of flights globally. Today a major Canadian carrier announced that they would be reducing scheduled flights to many destinations and may even remove some destinations for the present time. The hope is that once the industry can get up and running with adequate staffing in airports and for airline crews, things may slowly open up again. Interestingly, airports have reported larger number of daily travelers than occurred in 2019 -- before the pandemic. People are traveling in droves -- not just for specific holiday weekends, but in general. Some will be business travelers, but non-business travelers are flooding out to visit and vacation away from home. Things will settle and they won't be the same as before the pandemic. Fuel costs have already had an impact on ticket prices, but the lack of supply -- fewer flights -- may also increase costs. We'll see. It is enough to make one choose to drive even with the higher gasoline prices. Though, this wouldn't work well for overseas destinations <grin>. Last minute travel may not be as available as it has been, so planning ahead will be necessary. Media sources are rife with speculation. A wait and see approach makes most sense at present, I guess.
I've thought for some time that we may need to adapt to the altered travel industry systems. The title line for a song ran through my head today. While there may be some trepidation to moving to a new way of doing things, with patience things will work out. (I know -- that's a lot to ask of people <smile>). Keep safe. Enjoy!
