11-121 (30/4/24) -- It's Amazing

Very strong, cold wind from the west overnight and during the day. When I headed out mid-morning, there was some rain and some snow in the air. The latter only lasted for a part of a minute at a time, the former was always around in a light drizzle way. Temperatures were cold even without the wind. By mid-afternoon, a mix of sun and cloud replaced the precipitation. April chose to exit with a reminder of winter. 

I had my first post-surgical checkup today. Healing is moving along as expected. In another four weeks, we decide on what type of prescription lenses might be needed. I'm expecting that this will be for reading and computer work -- close and mid-range vision. At present I'm wearing readers from the drug store. They work for short term stuff, but have created eye strain headaches when used for more than a quick vision job. I've had these readers for a while to use overtop of contacts that I needed for distance. I look forward to glasses that will correct for the slight differences in each eye. 

Again, I amazed myself when I could read the 20/20 lines -- such a huge difference over what I was able to see before -- and that was the corrected vision. Uncorrected, I could see nothing. So, this is a wild change. With ongoing healing and brain adjustments to changes, today was a good reminder that the process is still underway. Things will continue to change and the brain will continue to adapt. It all takes time and energy. 

The chorus lyrics of the selection for today say a lot of what I've felt recently. It is also an uplifting power ballad. If you listen closely you can hear Don Henley singing along with the lead singer in places. <smile> Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Amazing -- Aerosmith 

11-120 (29/4/24) -- Environmental Thoughts

Today I went to postal kiosk to mail the tax return -- in just under the wire. I then walked down Main Street to the bank to pay the taxes owing. Along the way there and back to the car, I walked by the town library to admire the magnolias. These white ones are just starting to unfurl. there are many fuzzy buds (like pussy willows) left to open in the next week or so. The large white one by the bank has more blooms than last week, though some have been scarred by the frost over the past few mornings. This left brown streaks on some blossoms. More buds remain unopened, so that will be with us for the next week, too. 

At home, I did some online catching-up with email and social media. I then organized the recycling, compostable waste and the bag that goes to landfill. I am happy to live somewhere where this is picked up at the curb weekly (recyling every other week and compost and garbage weekly). Very cool. It has diverted a large chunk of stuff that used to head to the landfill. We also are able to take bulkier items and excess cardboard or hazardous waste directly to the solid waste management facility outside of town. AS a province, we have done more than many others do to minimize landfill waste.

Having missed Earth Day in the blog last week, I dedicate the blog today to that day. I chose a song by a Canadian songwriter to share today. It was written in the 1970s and the singer-songwriter-lyricist has updated the lyrics to state 'in the 21st century'. I chose a cover with lovely harmonies from three gifted singers. Keep safe. Enjoy!

After the Gold Rush -- Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, & Linda Ronstadt 

11-119 (28/4/24) -- Overwhelming Tasks

I took a walk around the block to help me move between tasks.  Sometimes I just stall. The temperature was surprisingly warmer with less wind than has been usual. The sun felt warm, so some folks were sitting on their porches to enjoy the afternoon. I think we still need to wear something to keep warm, but it was a pleasant day. 

The main tasks today involved work on household accounting -- end of month stuff. It is always a chore. Days like this, I think it would be nice to have an assistant to do such things for me. They could also arrange appointments and meetings and remind me of such. Some days it is more than I care to do. <smile>  I did manage to get things completed as per plan -- for a change. <grin> 

Again, chorus lyrics caught my mind today. When I work on such household projects I can feel overwhelmed. The chorus and title of this song fit perfectly today. The music itself brings a feel of too much going on making it difficult to focus. Keep safe. Enjoy!

Too Much Information -- The Police

11-118 (27/4/24) -- Cleaning Corners

It was a day for cleaning out the corners. The fancy baseboards have less dust now <smile>. They look nice, but the many grooves and ridges attract dust and such way too well. A longer dusting implement will be needed to reach the ceiling corners. Nine foot ceilings are wonderful, but getting to the inevitable cob webs is very challenging. I will add that to my shopping list. I did not vacuum but will do some sweeping instead. Upon re-reading the instructions from the surgeon, it seems I should be doing less intense stuff for another week or so. I must admit that I am pleased to have a reason not to vacuum <grin>. Laundry is also underway as is usual for a Saturday at my place. 

While cleaning the house, I took some time to reflect on my moods and attitudes lately -- sort of clearing the corners of the mind, if you will. Getting some good sleep and seeing the sunshine and blue skies out the windows can improve my approach to the day. It is cold outside with a strong north wind today. Given the work inside today, I chose not to go for a walk. Next week there should be some double digit highs, though it may only be 10C. Overnight lows have been below freezing for the past few nights and will continue until mid-week. At that point, I plan to put out my perennials that over-wintered in the garage. Having some things growing on the patio, will help my outlook, too. 

One song title seemed to fit with the work and the pondering done today. The lyrics speak to why I tend to only read scrolling headlines these days. <sigh>  Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Dirty Laundry -- Don Henley

11-117 (26/4/24) -- Spring Flowers

We had sunny blue skies again today, with cold temperature and wind that made it feel cooler. I did a walk along Main Street and stopped to do a couple of errands along the way. I stood and gazed at the magnolia that often is the first in town to bloom. The blossoms were just starting. It should be in full bloom in a few days. It has lovely creamy, white flowers. I really love these trees. The blooms are large and arrive before the leaves are even in bud. My favourite are the pink blooms. There are some of those on campus along with some yellow and different whites. I should take a walk up there next week to see the trees. Several smaller new trees were planted a year ago, so there are more pink trees around. 

I love the flowers of spring. They bring a feeling of hope. Trees will soon be budding and late spring and early summer flowers will arrive. Yet, spring holds my favourite changes. Making plans for the next few months helps me to maintain the hope and enjoyment of the warmer season. I've maintained that Canadians try to cram 12 months of living into the three months of summer. <smile> We really should find things to enjoy in the other seasons. Spending nine months wishing it would be summer seems a waste of much of one's life. A friend who lived to 100 often said to me not to wish my life away. I expect she meant that living in the present while looking forward to the future was best. We can miss so much if we are only future focused. 

The selection tonight has a relaxing sound and lyrics that reference the flowering tree I love at this time of year. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Magnolia -- J.J. Cale 

11-116 (25/4/24) -- Self-Talk

The sky today was a bright cloudless blue with great sunshine. Air temperatures were in the single digits for a high today (and for the coming week or so). The sun helped the car interior feel warm, though. I did a quick trip out to get a few groceries and then to a store for a few non-food items and their senior's discount day at a store. Hey, there are some perks to getting older <smile>. I had an eclectic list for that store,  where I got a few things like batteries and teabags and saline spray

In the afternoon, I tried to finish up the tax return forms. I didn't get things fully completed, but will do that tomorrow. I might head out to photocopy a few attachments and do an errand or two while out. We'll see. I do have time to get this done before the deadline, I just have to remain calm <grin>. More working on being kind to myself is underway. Many things need attention, but one can't do it all at once. Prioritizing the list can be challenging, but is worthwhile. I think that is how my 'to do' lists have been working. I make the list for the weekend and then it becomes the start for the weekly list. There are some 'nice to do' things added to the list that may or may not get done, but they are there for future moments when I need something fun to do. 

A song chorus came into my head today. It said what I needed to say to myself. <smile> The whole song makes me want to dance around the kitchen. <grin> Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Don't Bring Me Down -- ELO

11-115 (24/4/24) -- A Bit Defeated

On my brief outing to the mailbox at the end of the street, it was windy and felt cold. The sky was mainly cloudy. I did very little today. I felt very tired. I had very little planned for the day, and certainly nothing strenuous just some household accounting. After lunch, I laid down for a short nap that lasted a couple of hours. Granted, I had less sleep than usual last night as I didn't get to sleep until much later than usual. The nap helped me feel a bit more 'awake', but emotionally I felt defeated. 

I understand that the medical procedure a week ago would leave me feeling a bit fatigued for a while. I haven't had a nap any day since then, though. Why today? Did I do more than I should have yesterday? Or was it just the lack of usual sleep last night. Today I'd planned a very sedentary day, yet even when doing almost nothing, fatigue overtook the day. I've found that my eyes get tired more easily, which can give me a headache from eye strain. That makes planned activities move along more slowly. I keep thinking I should take off my contacts and let my eyes rest, but there are no contacts to remove anymore. This is a great thing, but it will take time to get things settled. I have a two week check early next week and the 6 week check at the end of May. New prescriptive lenses are not advised before the six weeks, since the implanted lenses take a while to connect in the eye. I can see well, but they are still settling in and the brain is working harder than usual <grin>. 

I guess the bottom line is patience and being kind to myself. Neither of these are easy for me. I guess on days like this, I need to sit with the feelings before moving forward. A phrase often used when someone is feeling down came to mind. It is also the title of a song that I share today. Some of the lines fit my thoughts today. The title is the reminder that some days or times of day may not be great, but that doesn't mean that things won't improve. I'll get some sleep and try to do the paperwork tomorrow. <smile> 

OK not to be OK -- Demi Lovato and Marshmello

  

11-114 (23/4/24) -- Out of Stock

I went for lunch with a friend today. We had great food and a good visit. I checked the grocery store for lettuce again and had to get a rain check. There was very little lettuce of any type there again today -- after a supply truck had come overnight. <sigh> The lettuce was on sale (until tomorrow), but they had been shorted in their stock for the past two shipments. Other produce was available for pre-covid prices this week, too. I'm not sure where things are being sourced, but I will pay more attention to that in the coming weeks as local salad greens will be available. 

I called a local store about something I'd seen in their window display last week. It was sold. <sigh> The manager said she would check if there is another in stock or would try to get another when she sees the supplier again. I hope she can find one as it would fit well in the décor of the new place -- most of which is all a plan on paper. Soon, things will go up on the walls and new furniture will replace the older pieces. 

We had another bright blue sky day but still cooler with temperature and breeze. It froze overnight, so it felt colder in the house. Odd that this happens even when the temperature is set much warmer inside than it is outside. Hmmm.  There was a slight expectation of frozen precipitation later in the week, but that may change as we get within 24 hours of the day. 

My attempts to spend money today only to find the items I was looking for were not in stock brought the first verse of a song into my head -- where it has been playing over and over most of the afternoon <grin>. I love the title of the song as it pays homage to my favourite piece of clothing. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Forever in Blue Jeans -- Neil Diamond

 

-- checked grocery store and fourth item from yesterday's list was not in stock today, so I got a rain check for next time I am there.  

11- 113 (22/4/24) -- Overdoing It

 I drove for the first time since surgery. It felt good to get out in this way. I picked up a phone order in store and went to grocery store for four items. They only had three in stock. I will check when up this way tomorrow. 

I then went to Main Street for a couple errands. I walked to the library to print some forms for the tax return. I had parked at one end of Main and walked to the other end. I was very fatigued when I got there and would have had to sit down even if there wasn't a computer terminal open at a seated desk. I did much more than I should have. I find it interesting that what seems a smaller surgery still has full effects on the body. Taking it easy was recommended, but I thought I felt well enough to do a longer walk only to find I wasn't. Such is the story for most people who try to do something sooner than medical wisdom suggests. <sigh> Any recuperation involves multiple body systems. To heal one needs to build new cells which requires nutritional inputs such as protein, vitamins and such. The body is focused on healing as well as the usual daily maintenance, so can be a bit overwhelmed. That is why advice involves caution to avoid major physical activity for a while after treatment. So -- I should remind myself that this will take time and patience (not my strong suit <smile>).  

Once home I had a cup of tea and rested a bit watching a recorded show. As the evening wore on, I was full on sleepy earlier than usual. I did fall asleep before an evening virtual chat with a dear friend. It was a short chat, but still pleasant to see each other. 

My overdoing things today brought a couple lines of lyric to mind. The chorus of the daily selection made me think of how I tend to go further than I should at times -- like today <smile> Keep safe. Enjoy! 

I Go to Extremes -- Billy Joel

11-112 (21/4/24) -- Transitions

I finished the laundry left from yesterday. I also went for a short walk around the block. It had been sunny and warm today. By the time I got out in late afternoon, the sky had clouded over so less sunshine was present. I spoke with a neighbour who was outside working and noted that I may have to move my walk to earlier in my day just to see the sun. Many folks are out walking early in the day -- alone or with their dogs. I'd get to see more locals if I got out before 4 PM, I expect. I met many people when out walking in the summer and fall. Once the snow arrived in February, walking wasn't something that happened as much or when it did, I didn't meet too many other people. The spring is moving towards more sunny days and temperatures are moving upwards. Granted, the wind will be cold until the ice over the straits leaves. 

Spring is a time of transition. Weather moves towards the summer and plants that have been dormant reappear showing the many shades of green and marvelous colours of spring flowers. I spent time today thinking of the cycles of seasons and how they serve as a great metaphor for personal growth. A song from an animated movie came to mind. I share that song here today using the recording made by the songwriter. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Circle of Life -- Elton John

 

11-111 (20/4/24) -- Moving Slowly

I took things easy today -- actually more than I'd expected. Being Saturday, I did two loads of laundry. One moved from the washer to the dryer and another made it to the washer. They sit there waiting for me to move them to the next steps. <sigh> There are two more full loads to do tomorrow. 

I ran out of steam early in the day. It has been only three days since surgery, so I know the body systems are still sorting out the healing processes and coming to terms with the physical insult to the body. I keep having to remind myself of this even for the small area at the centre of the disruption to body routines. They tell you to take it easy for reason. <smile> 

My pondering recovery brought lines to mine from a favourite band. Keep safe. Enjoy!  

Take it Easy -- The Eagles

11-110 (19/4/24) -- Aftermath

My first full day at home after surgery. It seems like someone turned the lights on. I'm seeing details that I didn't see before -- places that I need to dust or clean better <smile> and still finding the colours and clarity amazing. I went for a walk today and stood and stared at the crocuses -- so gorgeous.  As I walked around the block, I heard birds and stopped to try to locate them.  As I followed the contrails in the sky, I found the teeny tiny images of three eagles riding the thermals way up in the sky. It was wonderful to see them. I'm not sure I would have seen them before. 

I feel very fatigued as the body and brain work overtime to figure out what happened and how to make the vision work. The ceiling lights in the house are all LED, known for being extra bright. They seem to create starbursts when light hits the eyes at just the right angle. I may have to wear a ballcap inside for a few days. <smile> 

I know the title of the selection for today may seem trite. However, the gratitude I feel for being able to see things in a new way makes some of the lyrics of this one take on a new meaning. So, I hope you will forgive me using this song. <smile> Keep safe. Enjoy!

I Can See Clearly Now -- Johnny Nash

11-109 (18/4/24) -- Clear Sight

Today began early again. I'm not a morning person, but managed for  yesterday and today. <smile> The post-surgery check was this morning. When I woke, the brain had sorted out some things and I saw only one image rather than multiples. The vision test went well. And less than 18 hours after surgery, the surgeon noted I was good to drive whenever I was ready! I will wait a few days to let the brain continue with its reboot before I head out for a drive. When riding back home, I saw further than I ever remember seeing -- reading signs 2-3 blocks away. Cool. It will take some time to get used to not seeing clearly up close and having to distribute reading glasses all around the house <smile>. 

I felt very hungry and was eating more than usual after the checkup -- a big breakfast and a chai latte and oat bar just over an hour later. I guess that makes up for not eating well for a few days due to nerves. The wort part of the whole thing was having the eye shield removed as the tape had industrial strength adhesive. It was a major facial. I had the tech do that as I didn't want to stretch eyelids or end up poking an eye. I plan to wear these for a few more nights. The eyes feel scratchy, dry and itchy at times, and I don't want to rub them while I sleep. The shield will help me avoid doing damage.  

I had a nap once I got back home. I expect to feel rather tired for a few days as the body adjusts to the trauma of surgery. The surgeon said to take it easy and not do anything strenuous for a week or so. I said to him that this was great -- I have a medical reason not to vacuum. <grin>. 

A bit of song lyric came to me as I kept wanting to look at everything to see how the colours pop more than before and the clarity of distance vision. I wandered around the house just looking at things and noticing things I couldn't see well before. So cool. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Can't Take my Eyes Off of You -- Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

 

11-108 (17/4/24) -- Social Support

Today began early. A friend picked me up about 8:30 am and we headed to Halifax. Just past noon, I checked into the vision centre surgical clinic to have my cataracts dealt with. One was very bad and the second eye had begun to encroach on the visual field, so my optometrist referred me to the surgeon. I had both eyes done today. Surgery began about 1:30 and by 2 PM, I was walking out the door with my friend. Thankfully the eye shields they use are transparent, so I could see though it was rather blurry.  They provided a sedative that helped me relax a bit but it hung on for longer than expected. I was very sleepy from that and from the less than restful sleep I had last night. This day has been creating major anxiety for some time. 

During the early evening, I wasn't seeing very clearly. I had a brief virtual visit with a dear friend. I saw multiple images on the screen. Covering one or the other of the eyes provided fewer images, but still at least two of everything on screen. I headed to bed early for a very early risng again tomorrow. The follow up with the surgeon is 8 am tomorrow. 

The support received from wonderful friends provided a sense of calm. They checked in with texts, messages and skype ahead of and after the surgery. These communications helped me know I wasn't alone when I walked into the OR suite. I also appreciated the calm voice of the surgeon and his sense of humour. When he came to get me in the prep area, I was a bit wobbly when I stood up. He took my arm saying he was good at fixing eyes but wouldn't be much help with a hip. That made me laugh as we entered the cold scary room. 

The song chosen today highlights that we are part of networks that provide social support as we need it and allow us to help carry the loads of others on their journeys. It is reciprocal in nature and means so very much. I share the original recording by the singer-songwriter. It has been covered by others over the years. Keep safe. Enjoy!  

Lean on Me -- Bill Withers

 

11-107 (16/4/24) -- Unfocussed Circling

Clouds and spitting rain greeted me on my journey to the mailbox today. By supper time, the rain clouds were fewer and portions of blue sky were visible. Not seeing sun or blue sky for days can create negative emotions in people. I met a man walking a poodle named Elvis while out. The man agreed that sunshine would help elevate feelings. 

I've been dealing with anxiety and fear lately. It affects me in interesting ways. I often feel cold. A soak in the tub can help warm me again. I feel tense, so muscles hurt. My jaw can be sore from clenching. I find myself pacing -- something that can help to reduce anxious feelings. Nausea can be part of the process, so I tend to drink ginger tea and eat crackers. Both are known to help ease nausea. Getting adequate sleep can help reduce symptoms, but sleep can be disrupted by the symptoms, so it becomes a circuitous plan that doesn't always work to reduce the anxiousness. Today I felt slightly better, though the butterflies, rapid breathing and muscle tension were still with me and were at a lower level than has been usual. The issue at the core of the anxiety will end soon, which should help me to feel less weird. Chatting with friends lately has helped me to refocus somewhat. 

Lyrics of a song speak to the circle-like process of anxiety. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Going in Circles -- Three Dog Night

11-106 (15/4/24) -- Rainy April Day

We had yet another grey and drizzly day. We need moisture to get plants and crops growing, but it is tiresome to have more grey days than those with any visible sun. I did a short walk when I went out to get the mail. No wind blew me around today, but the drizzle made things slightly damp along the way. I spent time indoors doing household paperwork and gathering together the garbage, compost and recycling to go to the curb tonight. Oddly enough these two tasks took me most of the afternoon. <smile> Living the dream <grin>. 

The reputative weather led me to a title and lyric that fit well. Stay safe. Enjoy! 

See the Sky About to Rain -- Neil Young

11-105 (14/4/24) -- Challenging Walk

At a meeting with a research colleague yesterday, we submitted the manuscript to a journal. It feels quite good to have the this off our desk for now. Now I'm working to get the taxes completed and off to someone else to review. In the past two or three years, their reassessment of my calculations led to a bill for a smaller amount. The explanation for last year seemed odd as it referred to a tax credit that I don't qualify for -- so not sure why that was disallowed as I didn't claim it. There was also a calculation error that changed the overall tax due figure. That is more believable, though I check the software calculations when reviewing things before submitting. I've come to expect such missives now. So, once I get through the check and re-check, the package will be sent and I just wait to hear back from the agency -- cheque book at the ready. <shaking head> 

I went for a short walk today. There were moments of bright sunshine but lots of clouds flying across the sky with the strong westerly winds. Walking into the wind was somewhat uncomfortable. With warmish temperatures the winds made things feel much cooler. That was the main reason I took a shorter walk -- walking into the wind was challenging as it pushed back a lot. It made the quads work on the uphill into the wind portion of the walk. 

After working against the wind and against the software calculations, I chose a song that addressed the difficulty of such experiences. The songwriter had been a cross-country runner, so understood the extra effort needed to move into the wind.  Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Against the Wind -- Bob Seager and the Silver Bullet Band

11-104 (13/4/24) -- Altered Routines

I spent today doing the usual Saturday laundry and household tasks. The less usual item involved me entering figures into a software program for income tax calculation. Just like last year I seem to owe more than I expected. <sigh> It may come to paying quarterly, but I will let them make that decision. I will take time tomorrow to review the worksheets and ensure that everything is in place -- at least as far as I can tell. Then get ready to submit next week. I can pay electronically but have attached a cheque to the paper copy in the past. I miss the days of a refund, though understand that was my money to begin with <smile>. Paying a large amount all at once feels more painful than the smaller amounts that left with monthly pay periods while working. Just one more thing to get used to as a retiree, I guess. 

I've pondered the new routines that are being developed post retirement and post-covid a lot recently. I like some of the reflection of these lyrics by and older artist. "You might get lost, but you'll find a way." <smile> Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Hell Yeah -- Neil Diamond

11-103 (12/4/24) -- Memories, Smiles & Tears

There was a knock at the door just before I started supper. I was two young girls selling Girl Guide cookies. Delightful! This was the first time I recall having them come to my door since I moved to town 25 years ago. I have been able to buy them from colleagues whose daughters were selling cookies, though. So, I had my evening chai last night with a couple of cookies. <smile> 

This reminded me of the many years that I toured the neighbourhood with my best friend as we sold these cookies. They were much less expensive back then -- 50 cents a box (I  paid $6 yesterday). That may seem like a large increase, but that same 50 cents could get me into a movie at the theatre and the $6  won't do that for me now. <grin> 

You just never know when grief will broadside you. I was laughing about being so excited about the cookies and the next instant I was crying as I recalled a memory with my best friend. I do miss her a lot. I share a song about missing someone. The second verse says a lot of what I've felt for some time now. 'I don't know how to do this'. Keep safe. Enjoy!  

I Still Miss You -- Keith Anderson

11-102 (11/4/24) -- Unplugging

Today was filled with bright blue skies and sunshine. Winds were less cool than the past few days, so walking was less intense <smile>. I spent much of the afternoon uploading files to a journal template. We've worked on this article for some time. It will be nice to see it off to a potential publisher. Each online submission platform I've encountered has been different. They are consistent in the vagueness of what is expected for the different sections of the platform. Grad school didn't hone my clairvoyant skills adequately to complete the submission processes. <sigh>  I will discuss this with my colleague and co-author tomorrow and we will make the joint decision to just click on submit. <grin> 

The other online task today was to download tax preparation software. The paper submission I still make comes from the calculations done by the software package. The mailed package I received this year does not have the detailed discussion and explanation for each line of the tax form. I used this often to ensure I was doing things correctly -- or that the software had the correct figures with which to calculate. Apparently, the federal taxation gurus asked people who submitted on paper  if they used all the of the taxation package and they concluded that few people used that part of the package. Odd. My return is likely a bit more involved than some people using the simplified package. I can find online some of the information and extra forms that we used to receive in hard copy. I'm hoping the explanation booklet is online for assistance when things get murky. I do have someone I can call for clarification, but given this time of year is insane for people who do this for a living, I hate to resort to that. We'll see.

So -- with all the uploads and downloads involved in my day, I need to walk away from the laptop for a while. Unplug as it were. There still is a lot to do for both projects, but I need time to clear my head. Several songs come to mind when I need something to sooth or calm me. I chose one of those to share tonight. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Peaceful Easy Feeling -- The Eagles

   

11-101 (10/4/24) -- A Lovely Day

This morning I headed up to campus with a laptop to get the office suite working again. Some system update created an issue -- again. <sigh>. I then printed some files, but pdfs would not print due to 'paper size' error. In the past these often insist on being printed on document size paper -- huge! Today it wouldn't even do that. So, I will leave those two files for another day. I had a good visit with a colleague I hadn't seen for a while. I miss being next door to her during work days. Retiring has some up sides, but the social networks from a worksite are lost -- well not entirely, but they aren't daily connections. 

It was nice to be outside walking and doing stairs as I moved around campus. The day was bright and sunny with few clouds. The wind was very cold, though. The walks were 'brisk' <smile>. The songbirds back from their southern vacations could be heard as I walked around the block at home. I enjoyed hearing them again. More will arrive soon. Hummingbird sightings have begun in the southern part of the province, so they will be back here soon. I hope to get some feeders up on the patio for this summer. I would enjoy watching them out the windows. 

An older song came to mind today when I was out walking in the sun. I enjoy the upbeat lyrics and the easy R&B rhythm. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

A Beautiful Morning -- The Rascals

11-100 (9/4/24) -- A Nation Remembers

Today is Vimy Ridge Day in Canada with remembrance ceremonies held at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, on a piece of Canadian soil in northern France. The battle began 107 years ago on a cold snowy Easter morning. Men had huddled in the trenches overnight knowing they would head over the top in the early morning hours. It couldn't have been a comfortable or relaxing night for them. On that fateful 1917 morning, the battle to capture the ridge began. It lasted for four days. Men fought forward through the mud carrying huge packs weighing about 36 kg (about 80 lb). Of the 100,000 Canadian troops that fought there, about 11,000 casualties occurred with around 3600 of those fatalities. 

This battle was the first where all Canadian divisions fought side-by-side with a Canadian commander. The expeditionary forces to that point had fought under British command. This battle served to define the Canadian troops and a young nation. The Vimy Ridge area was gifted to Canada by France in perpetuity. Some areas have been rebuilt to help visitors understand the nature of trench warfare there. I hope to visit this area. My grandfather participated in the battle and made it home to build a life on the Canadian prairie. 

I chose a song that tells a story from this historic battle. The artist has a wonderful voice that is well suited to the haunting sound of the work. She has also worked with baroque music and has trained in opera. This particular song placed her as a finalist in two major songwriting awards, while the video won 10 international video awards. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Vimy Ridge -- Lizzy Hoyt

11-99 (8/4/24) -- Totality

From the Google doodle wearing eclipse glasses to every news channel on the TV, it was all about the eclipse. We all have a new word to use in our vocabulary -- totality. <smile> We were not in the path of totality, but those not far away were in PEI and northern Cape Breton. I did not have special eyewear, so I spent the time inside the house with a cup of tea watching out the window. The shadows seemed more distinct. The light had the quality it has before sunset in the summer. As I sat there, I realized that less light was getting into the house. I had been reading the flyers in the kitchen and a few minutes later it was too dark to read. Had I spent the time outside, I wouldn't have really noticed much. The light was still bright, but not as bright as before or after the event. I will admit it was surprising to be in the dim light inside. We have big windows and lots of light except on cloudy days.  Many folks took time to view the eclipse partial or complete.  Meat Cove a fishing hamlet on the northern tip of Cape Breton was a place of total eclipse -- it consists of a few houses and a large wharf area where the fishing fleets moor between trips. There isn't a lot of room there or along the narrow two lane road from the highway down to the wharf. I haven't seen any news footage from there. Perhaps something will be on the late night news.  

I chose a song with a great line about the skyward event of the day. <smile> One line from the last half of the song has been in my head for the past few days as the news amped up over the potential to see the eclipse. If you listen closely to the chorus parts, you can pick up the voice of one of the backup singers -- Mick Jagger. Keep safe. Enjoy!

You're So Vain -- Carly Simon

You're so vain -- Carly Simon

11-98 (7/4/24) -- Sleepy Feeling

It was a quiet day. I did a few things around the house, finished some blogs and cooked a bit. Each time I thought of going for a quick walk, the wind picked up and rain arrived. Each time that was a brief set of events, but by the time it cleared up, I was into something else. So, no walk today. I will make up for it when downtown tomorrow and park at the far end of Main Street and walk to the other end where my errands are situated. 

Watching the shrubs out the patio window demonstrated the strength of the wind. This has become my way to gauge the winds -- severity and directionality. It is easier than finding local measurements online. The area forecasters use is larger than just the town area. Measurements are taken down the highway a bit and are much closer to the straits than we are here. So, it is always a gamble as to what will actually occur in town. The app on the television will be removed by the end of the month since they seem not to be able to get the software working consistently and often the wind speed is provided but not the direction. That was the closest we had for local weather. So, with it gone, my information sources will diminish if not disappear. I think there are online apps that will work, but now I have to search and determine which is worth keeping on the devices. One more thing for that lengthy list of chores <grin> 

It was a lullaby sort of day <smile>. A dear friend went to a concert of big band tunes recently, which got me thinking of some of my faves -- Glenn Miller, Goodman, the Dorsey brothers and so many more. All of these folks got there starts in a band with Red Nichols called The Five Pennies. A biopic of his career was released in 1959. We watched this when I was a kid every time it showed up on TV. I own a copy of the dvd and cd. The music is wonderful. A favourite is a round (though Youtube posts insist on calling it a medley <smile>). The counterpoint is amazing. It could easily lull someone to sleep. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Good Night, Sleep Tight; Lullaby in Ragtime; and The Five Pennies -- Louis Armstrong, Danny Kaye, & Susan Gordon

11-97 (6/4/34) -- Seeking Courage

It was another cool, damp, grey day again.  That is what April is all about, though. More sunshine will begin to appear with time. Today I found myself contemplating courage. I haven't felt very brave lately. Some tasks bring anxiety in the form of fear. Some life events have added to that emotions, too.  

I was reminded yesterday of the words of Maya Angelou when she stated, "Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.”

From this quotation, I realized that everything we do requires a degree of courage. It also made me see that to be living life in a positive way and being kind to others, also means that I need to be 'kind, true, merciful, generous and honest' with myself. Now that was an interesting realization. I'm working on the fear, but I may need to be kinder to myself and recognize that I need support from inside as well as outside. No small task, but one that should bring some positive outcomes.

Words from a song on my physio playlist came to mind today. This list was constructed when I was going through extensive work to get a broken elbow back into full working order. I've used it often when out walking and thinking -- something I have to do more of. Anyway, back to the point <smile>. This song encourages me to see how big my brave is. Keep safe. Enjoy!

11-96 (5/4/24) -- Deconstruction

Well -- no snow on the ground and only drizzle in the air today. Winds are less than last night. The forecast is for more mixed precipitation, but it looks like it will be less than original forecasts suggested. 

I worked on one of the writing projects today,  readying a manuscript for submission. So much small detail work required for this process. It takes much longer than one thinks -- even when I've done this many time before, I still expect it to take an hour or two. Just pulling the full manuscript apart to be submitted to an electronic template took longer than that. <sigh> So, next step is to begin uploading to the publisher's platform. 

Scheduling things from the 'to do' list into a day can be difficult when things take longer than expected. I have set alarms when getting into a major project that can't be finished in a day. This helps me get things moving in smaller chunks. I may have to resort to that with several items on that infamous list. A friend has been organizing projects using a series of 'to do' lists in journals for every few months. We each have to find a way to organize what needs to be done. It feels different when retired -- being one's own boss isn't all that easy, after all <grin> 

Lyrics of a song reminded me of my activities today deconstructing lists and manuscripts. This selection fits my thoughts of how nice it would be to have the steps needed to complete a task laid out for me -- or at least some of the steps that would get me to that destination. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Gimme Three Steps -- Lynyrd Skynyrd

11-95 (4/4/24) -- Perseverance

Well, the spring storm has created havoc in Quebec and Ontario with heavy wet snow that caused numerous power outages. By late afternoon, we had some snow flakes intermingled with lots of drops of rain. Around midday, snow was falling in the Valley west and south of here. So, we may get more frozen precipitation overnight. 

While I had the electronics charging in case of power disruption, I had a meeting about a writing project. We walked through a couple of short documents. Then I sent out a message to the publisher for input. So, this project sits elsewhere -- for now. It is gratifying to have something off my desk and onto someone else's. It will return to me for further input at a future point. So, at present, I can focus on moving another item or two elsewhere. <smile> While not completion, it is progress <smile>. Perhaps its all about perseverance -- moving forward at any pace. 

A song lyric that encourages positive movement is shared here. Hang in there. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Don't Stop Believin' -- Journey 

11-94 (3/4/24) -- Decisions! Decisions!

The day began with a phone call returned from over a week ago -- a delay that only added to the anxiety around an upcoming event. I'm not great at making decisions -- part of the anxiety I live with. I second guess things over and over before settling on something that feels comfortable. And yes, I am one of those travelers that has all hotel rooms and transport booked long before a trip. I am not as rigid when I get where I'm going. I have a list of things to see and do and work from that when deciding what to do on any given day. I don't get to everything in a trip as that wish list can be rather lengthy. <smile> But I cover a lot of things and enjoy doing it. I also don't feel that when traveling with someone else that we have to do all sightseeing together. I do have trouble making the first steps in the planning process -- when, where, how, etc. It does take a long time for me to find the right flights and such -- thankfully I have a great travel agent who helps me through those decisions. <smile> Ins short, decision fatigue is a real thing and is exacerbated by higher anxiety levels. Discussing decisions with others can help a lot. 

And to follow up on yesterday's post -- Today was sunny from morning to sunset. I was pleased with this since it still looks like everything is going to break loose tomorrow and into the weekend <sigh>. Forecast seem to have a bit more confidence that reported in yesterday's forecast. We'll see what transpires. 

Today's selection challenges listeners to face the fear and move forward -- that's what decisions are, after all. <smile>  Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Dar You to Move -- Switchfoot

11- 93 (2/4/24) -- Predicting Futures

This busy day began with physio appointment And was followed by shopping errands. I visited both grocery stores and three other stores to get the items needed to refill the pantry staples. I had planned to do this on Thursday, but a special weather statement warned of impending doom -- well some type of nor'easter actually. The days involved have low confidence levels for the forecast. How much precipitation will fall and in what form also has low confidence. What has high confidence level is that something is approaching Atlantic Canada. Storm track and strength will become clearer as we get closer. The storm should begin overnight tomorrow and could last up to four days after than start. Rain and snow mix is most likely, but how much could be a little or a lot at this point. So, shopping on Thursday seemed unwise at this point and I had much of the afternoon available today. 

Special weather statements are indicators that something is brewing. Watches and warnings may follow if things appear to have high winds or major precipitation. The forecasting of something vague can let people know that weather might interfere with plans. At the statement phase, though, the computer models are all over, so nothing definite can be shared. Sadly, some forecasters report the worst case scenario more than others, which increases anxiety among people who have dealt with major storms in the past. We noticed this after Hurricane Fiona. This past hurricane season brought a lot of anxiety and fear about 'what if' forecasts. The huge snowfall we had two months ago will make the current potential numbers for the next storm very triggering. So, if they could find that happy medium when communicating a forecast, we'd know something was on its way without the hysteria of 'it could be huge' statements. 

When listening to weather forecasts, I often think of the same thing. I found a great collaboration on a song that fits my thoughts well.  Keep safe. Enjoy!

Fortune Teller -- Robert Plant & Alison Krauss 

11-92 (1/4/23) -- Small Things

It is just that time of year. We had yet another cool cloudy day. March left like a lamb, though <smile>. I  worked on writing projects and got a couple of smaller tasks moved along to the next phase. It feels good to get things moving after they've sat waiting for a while. The greyness of the day was countered by such positives in the day. I spent some time thinking about that. Little things mean a lot -- those brief moments of sunshine in a cloudy day; a quick e-note from someone special; a smile; a laugh. These things bring moments of positivity into the day. Sometimes these arrive just as one is feeling low. Those are special gifts. Look for the small things. 

While thinking about the topic today, a title line from a song stuck in my mind. There are more covers of this than I expected. I chose one that sounded cool in a golden oldie way. <smile> Keep safe. Enjoy!

Little Things Mean a Lot -- Patti Page