The cooler temperatures today were delightful and the air was much dryer than the past few days. I went out for two shorter walks to enjoy the temps and the sunshine of later afternoon. I worked around the house a bit and thought through activities of the coming week. My goal for today was to do things that helped me remain relaxed as we launch into the real classroom work of the term. For the most part, this worked, with a few intrusions from louder neighbours <sigh>.
Sundays have always felt like they should be calmer and I've worked to find a way to deal with the anxiety that begins to rise knowing that the following day is an office day. Luckily, the fall term seems to be a bit slower off the mark than the Winter term. So, I'm determined to take advantage of that. Life will be frenetic and over the top soon enough. The chorus of a song ran through my mind from the moment I woke up today -- my subconscious at work, it seems <grin>. There are some great words in the second verse that I take to heart, too. It has a slow, calming tempo and a singer with a soothing voice. Enjoy!
Today the son of a friend of mine -- and someone I call a friend -- is getting married. I have so enjoyed the posts from his parents and the couple. There is such joy in the photos of the preparations of the past couple of weeks. I do look forward to pics from the event itself. The weather where they are appears to have provided a wonderful September day.
Weddings are one of the many life events that give us time to pause to celebrate and immerse ourselves in the joy of beginnings. Each wedding I've attended has been unique, reflecting the personalities and interests of the couple. I've been a bridesmaid 4 times and twice acted as surrogate mother of the bride or maid of honour when brides were planning far from home. I've even visited the famed Kleinfeld's with a conference colleague a couple years ago. I do love the planning and gatherings before the wedding -- showers, stagettes and the more traditional trousseau teas (haven't been to one of those since I was very young). The day itself has always brought surprises and fun -- great dances, outdoor venues, wonderful dinners and receptions. The wedding breakfast the following day can be a calmer time to chat and eat -- I do enjoy food <smile>.
So -- in honour of the couple being married today and all my married friends, I have two songs. If you read this blog with any regularity, you know I have trouble sticking to the one song a day rule <g>. The first selection today is specifically for the newly weds -- a song I've always loved. The second song is for them and all others. Enjoy!
Well, a less than auspicious end to the first week of the term. Having a beverage with colleagues on the deck of our local bar only to be physically attacked -- by a bee. I was the second person stung while several others at the table have been close. It was a large bumble bee, usually very docile creatures. The thing flew out of no where, landed on my upper lip and stung me before I could even react to remove him from my face. What an intense pain! Luckily I was sitting beside a friend who had just recertified for first aid and emergencies. She took me inside and got some baking soda and ice and made a poultice for me to apply as she walked me the couple blocks home. By then, the pain had left and the swelling began. The wound is just at the margin of the upper lip. I do look like I've been punched.
I was very concerned and semi-panicked as the one and only other time I have been stung led to major swelling. The first time was not a bumble bee, though, so luckily no major allergic response to this species. Still icing it every few minutes and it seems to make if feel better -- likely numbing it <smile>. Smiling hurts as does opening my mouth wider to eat -- but that did not stop me from downing some pizza and salad once I rested and felt a bit calmer. Another 'first' for me -- a bar brawl with a bee. Luckily, I think I got the best of the deal. After I left the table, he bothered another couple of people and then one of them dispatched the insect, putting it out of its crazed misery. Not that I like to see bees die, but this one was in some type of distress, having bothered several and stung one before being shooed away across the brook, only to fly directly back and begin landing on everyone. It wasn't after the food or drinks as wasps tend to do, but was bent on attacking people.
What sort of music might begin to fit this situation? Two songs came to mind while walking home after the incident -- so a bonus day for us all. <grin> For me they each fit in slightly different ways, though the second one is off a bit in a calendar sense. Enjoy!
Last weekend, a small group from my high school graduating class met for lunch in Moose Jaw. I had been home in June, so didn't head west again for a weekend. Several people sent notes when they were unable to attend. Most attendees were from around home with a couple travelling in from a day away. There was an evening event in town to remember a dance hall that had stood for decades and has been a gravel parking lot for the past 20 years or so. I wish I had been there in person, but I was there in spirit. Thinking of all the oddness of high school -- some really fun memories and some less than wonderful ones. Being a nerdy science geek, I was hardly part of the 'in' crowd, but I did have some great companions.
High school is a proving ground of sorts. Even coming from larger elementary and junior high schools, high school is like being thrown into the deep end. It seems to value homogeneity, and any one not meeting the decreed norm can be ostracised. I went to the same high school where my parents met and most of my aunts and uncles went.(there were 3 others schools in the city). I even graduated with my dad's youngest brother. Few people believed the truth about how we were related and chose to believe were just cousins. This is a great example of the narrowness of thinking in high school when frontal cortexes are still years from fully integrating their circuitry in the brain. <smile> Others were just plain unkind. The group of us who tended to be outside that 'norm' spent time together and helped each other through the unpleasant social aspects of high school. My dates in those years were from elsewhere -- other high schools in town or even other towns. There was acceptance, I just had to search for it. All that being said, I think many of those I graduated with have come a long way and attending a reunion is not outside my idea of something that would be fun to do. However, I do think that any planners will need to consult a mathematician because I am certain that the math was wrong on how many decades it has been since we walked across that stage. <grin>
One song line came to mind when I knew this lunch was going to occur. I wrote a short note letting folks know what I've been up to over the years and that I wished I could be there visiting and reminiscing with them. Today I'll share that song with you all. Enjoy!
In early June, I slammed my finger in the door when leaving my office. Now, I do know how to close a door. However, on this day, I was using my left hand due to an injury to my right wrist and just didn't have the spacial distance clear in my brain as I closed the door behind me. At the time, I could not breathe -- not even enough to let loose with some word or phrase that might seem appropriate to the situation. The base of the nail was bleeding, so I went to hold it under the cold water tap. I wrapped it in paper towel and went to ask the admin assistant if she could put on a bandage for me. It felt sort of odd, since it was the middle finger of my left hand. I will admit I giggled many times when I looked at the bandaged hand.
So -- 3 months onward. The blackened nail is still half there. It isn't fully attached to the skin and moves oddly -- semi-nauseating to be honest. I've taken to wearing a bandage most of the time to avoid catching the nail on something and tearing away what is left. The nail will leave, but I'd rather this happen without external assistance to avoid further pain and bleeding -- go figure. <smile> New nail is growing underneath, but it isn't a full nail yet so hasn't detached the old nail completely. The blackness of the old nail has pretty much gone so it isn't too ugly to look at now.
For listening to what some might feel is an overshare, I have another treat for you. A rather obnoxious song that has run around my head for three months. It just seemed to be the appropriate song for this situation and made me giggle -- well for the first line or two and then it can become a bit much. I've heard some people say that music from the 1960s really was music -- well, this may be the exception to that thought. (dare I say it?) Enjoy!
Anticipation -- the past couple of days have been filled with various feelings about the oncoming academic term. For the most part, it is exciting -- seeing returning students, meeting new students, and catching up with colleagues. Some of the feelings aren't as filled with excitement -- worry about performing adequately as course instructor, fear of embarking on a new course, concern over the number of things that need doing this week. Luckily, the positive outweighs the negative for most of the day <smile>. As the work pace ramps up, the balance does tend to shift, though.
Several people asked me today if I was 'ready' -- not sure what that means -- or 'excited' about the new term. The latter question was answered by my colleague's next sentence. "Well, we should be excited because we'll be doing it for the next 8 months." Well said. I laughed about the anxieties we all feel at this time of year. Today, I chose not to let it all collapse in on me quite yet. Sort of a 'don't bring your negative stuff my way today' type of feeling. This thought could be directed to me as much as anyone else.
A couple of lines ran through my head from a great song that speaks to me about relaxing and not obsessing on things beyond my control -- for now. <smile> Enjoy!
Traffic in town the past few days has been wild -- so many cars, trucks and trailers filled with everything a person needs for the coming eight months. My street has many new cars parked on the street and filling driveways. I made a quick stop on campus to pick up a flash drive I'd left on my desk, and the parking lots are filling up there, too. The days of parking beside my building are gone until end of term, but that does mean that I will get some exercise by walking up hill or across campus each day <smile>. The frosh welcome events began this weekend and everyone will be on campus by tomorrow.
This time of year always reminds me of going back to school as an undergrad. My Dad would drive me up each year with everything I needed packed in the car. Each year there were a couple more boxes to pack. I remember us driving home at the end of my final year. We laughed as the headlights pointed skyward with the huge weight of books in the trunk. This was a special time. Dad and I had time for just ourselves. Once at the residence, there were all the other returning students to greet and get filled in on their summer events. The campus was pretty in September and walking and talking was easy and pleasant. I've always had 'that' feeling when I walked onto any campus. It is a comfortable and welcoming feeling. Guess it isn't a surprise that I ended up working on a university campus, eh?
In honour of the students building their school spirit and the practicing varsity teams, one song played over in my head today. It's a fun tune that speaks to loyalty to an alma mater. Enjoy!
