Day 311 -- end of week/beginning of break

The end of a long week -- and thus begins the 4 day Fall study break. Much of the time will be spent grading to get the many papers and assignments completed. It is a needed time to recentre for everyone in preparation for the final push to the end of term. Today most people seemed almost giddy.

The weather brought more rain -- as in MORE rain. It poured overnight and rained most of the day. There were several episodes of torrential downpours. As I left the building this afternoon to get to the car, it was a fine steady rain. This changed quickly once I was about halfway to the car. I left a puddle on the car seat and my jeans were soaked through from the rain running off my rain coat. Wet denim is never a comfortable feeling <smile>.

The day ended with a lovely dinner out with friends to celebrate the birthday of one friend's mother. It was a delightful time together. I realized that I'd seen one of them for a few minutes at the photocopier this week and we generally cross paths more often. We all have been holed up madly working to get things done for deadlines -- just heads down and ploughing forward. Not the healthiest situation.

Today's song speaks to a type of ending. The relaxed style of the Canadian songwriter can bring a feeling of peace. Enjoy!

End of the Day -- Doug Paisley

Day 310 -- Repetition

Today began at the office with a notification that the software program I'd used to enter requested data (using the link in the request) doesn't actually work. I got no error messages yesterday in the hour it took me to find and enter all the bits of information needed.  Others seem to have had difficulties opening the program and some got error messages saying data had not been saved. For me, it opened and noted it was saving information, but no indication that it wasn't actually doing so. <sigh> So, I had to find the bits all over again and send it all in an e-mail <smile>.  Thus began a day of repetition.

Technology and I have been having run-ins all term. Things that should work or say they will work in a particular way, seem not to work for me. I sometimes feel like I'm turning into a luddite. I really enjoy newer technologies and would love to try them, having often been one of the innovators -- those people that try things before the early adopters choose to move things forward. <smile>. I will admit to having inadequate time to learn and re-learn as new iterations arrive on the scene. It has nothing to do with not wanting to keep up; there just isn't time in the current job environment where 50 hours/week can be a slow week. That is not a complaint, just the fact. I would like to move forward to newer devices, software upgrades and apps. I hope to be able to move in that direction soon before it is too late to catch up.

There really was only one song that would work for the tone set early today  It is from the psychadelic '60s, and the lyrics say it all. Love the singer, too. <smile>  Enjoy!

Long title: Do I have to this all over again? -- The Monkees (Peter Tork singing)

Day 309 -- Struggle to be less confined

Today, I finally got to do a bit of shopping for groceries and some household items. I still need to do the shopping for winter items and get things prepared for the winter season. That may be another few weeks before time frees up to do it all. The afternoon was a bit warmer than this morning but still very grey skies. Rumour has it the sun will shine tomorrow.

I tend to be a non-conformist, liking things not piled up inside neat little boxes, but more in an organic or amorphous format. Yet, having a bit of a routine that allows time to run errands can be helpful. Little conflicted me <grin>. Some people stick to a rigid routine that means spontaneity is impossible, but everything else has its time and place. There are times that last minute plans don't fit for me -- when tired I do need a bit of time to adjust. But, it isn't always a definite 'no' as it is for some people. I am working on finding a way to react more positively while I take a few minutes to determine if a change in plans will fit into my day. Being mindful of the needs of an introvert and not giving in to 'the feeling pressured to make an instant decision' will help.  Again, successes appear more on days when I am less fatigued or already overwhelmed by other events. I try to ask when a response is required or ask if I can get back to people once I get through the current item that was interrupted to ask if I could add something new to the mix. Many days this is working better, but there's always one of those off days to keep me humble. <smile>

The song I had thought of for today fits with my desire to be less regimented in how I do and what I do. I laughed when I realized that today was also Guy Fawkes Day (from the Gunpowder Plot of the beginning of the 17th century). So, the song seems to have a bit of meaning for this historical day, as well.  This is sung by one of my favourite country artists -- a true poet and philosopher.  Pardon the subtitles in this video but it was the only one of reasonable quality. Enjoy!

Standing Outside the Fire -- Garth Brooks

Day 308 -- Advent of holiday stressers

Is it just me or does it still seem a bit early for Christmas shows and commericals? The first show I noticed on the schedule was on Saturday -- the morning after Halloween, with the first commercial earlier in that week. The marketing of the holiday seasons seems way out of control. Halloween treats were in the stores since early September -- that is 8 weeks early. Anything purchased that early would never make it to the end to October. What a great way to justify over-consumption  -- eating and purchasing <sigh>.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy holiday specials, even repeats of movies and such from previous years. It just seems a bit early to start the movies now -- that means they will be played many, many, many times before Christmas. Another of my pet peeves.

The days seem to be so filled with pressures for everyone -- buy this, travel here, eat this, think that. The mass media follow us everywhere trying to get us to conform to help someone make a profit. The Christmas shows can add pressure making people feel they are behind schedule -- need to buy gifts, decorations, treats, cards, and  so on. So, the earlier this begins, the more anxiety that can be induced in viewers. I choose not to watch holiday specials until at least mid- November, but generally not until closer to US Thanksgiving. That is enough time to begin to get into the spirit of things. I don't want this to sound like a big 'bah humbug' just that I feel it may be healthier if we pace ourselves a bit.

Today's selection talks about the external and internal stresses we are subject to. I enjoy the repetitive melodic aspects that seem to embody the stress. Enjoy!

Pressure -- Billy Joel

Day 307 -- Finding Warmer Clothing

The warmth of the Sunday weather changed dramatically today. In the region yesterday it was about 20C (68F) with a feel like temp about 25C (77F).  Today it was 3C (37F) around 4 PM. The drizzle was cold and I expect it to be a solid form of precipitation this evening, at least while it is in the air.  Regions to the west of here got measurable snowfall today, but that isn't in the forecast so far for here. The wind chills were below freezing today making me wish I'd worn a heavier fleece under the rain coat.  Periods of sunshine appeared early in the day, with clouds arriving later in the afternoon -- enough clear sky so I could see the moon as I arrived home tonight.

It seems that the transition season of autumn is heading into more cold days and fewer warmer days. We have had a very warm and dry October, so it makes sense that as we head into November things might be wetter and cooler. For some reason this always seems to surprise people. I heard the hyperbole this morning when a news reader stated that winter had officially started. <sigh> Really? November 3 and winter is 'official'? It is the transition season, so some wintery weather is expected and does occur every year -- sometimes even earlier on the calendar. So, why are we surprised? We don't seem to be as surprised to see a warm day in the Spring, but winter weather seems to be less valued. I dislike the heavy snows any time of the year. I'm sure I could deal with cold, but snow and ice are less manageable. It inhibits our ability to travel and move about for daily activities. Digging out the warmer set of clothes and reluctantly storing the summer clothes seems almost traumatic <smile>.  However, today was not that extreme -- it was just autumn letting us know what was coming and helping us to get used to finding mitts before leaving the house in the morning -- perhaps trying to break us in gently.

The song today reminds me of the thoughts I had about needing the heavier fleece layer tomorrow. It is an upbeat song that is an ode to an article of clothing. Imagine <smile>. Enjoy!

An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down -- Rod Stewart

Day 306 -- All souls day

Time change makes such a difference. I knew that we'd moved an hour and yet when working on a time sensitive document, I was worried when I looked at the clock and thought I had 30 minutes to deadline. In actuality, I had 90 minutes. <smile>  Needless to say all went as it should, and I 'found' that mythical extra hour. All this reminded me of flying back from Asia where we left at noon and arrived in Vancouver at 6 AM on the same day.  What does that do for aging, I wonder <smile>?

The weather here consists of pouring rain and climbing temperatures.There was a loud thunder storm late this afternoon. It will be much cooler tomorrow. Looking at the snow out west, I'm not going to complain about the rain.  There are major pools of water collecting in depressions in the yard and around the neighbourhood. This is definitely rubber boot weather.

The selection for today deals with the final day of the hallowmas season, All Soul's Day. The lyrics have a very Celtic feel. The singer has a wonderful soprano voice and the musical arrangement is delightful. Enjoy!

All Souls Night -- Loreena McKennitt

Day 305 -- a Saintly Day

November 1 -- where has the time gone?  It seems as if it were just September -- this may be due to the academic term being so full, but I suspect others find it difficult to realize that a new month has arrived already. Overnight tonight, Daylight Savings time ends. While I feel that time change may not be as useful as it once was (for farmers before electricity and mechanized farming as we now know it), fall is easier to manage than spring for me. Getting an extra hour of sleep on the weekend is a dream <smile>. Adjusting to getting to sleep will be challenging for the coming week particularly if one watches evening news or an evening drama. It does all work itself out, but not without mental and physiological effects.

Today is also All Saints Day in some Christian denominations. It is also the Celtic festival of the dead -- Samhain, and in Mexico, Dia de los muertos (Day of the Dead). There have been religious festivals around this time of year for centuries and across belief systems, all dealing with remembering those who have died. I find this commonality or convergence of celebrations quite interesting -- similar, yet each unique.

The selection for today seemed to fit with the theme of All Saints Day.  This version of a traditional spiritual is one of many done in a secular format. This particular version is unique in many ways dealing with musicians and composers. It is great to watch the two singers having fun with this one. Enjoy!

When the Saints Go Marching In -- Danny Kaye and Louis Armstrong (from movie The Five Pennies)