Day 2-45 -- For the Love of Hockey

St.Valentine's Day is today. It is a non-event for many of us.  I wish people happy Valentine's day and even send a card or two.  Other people I spoke to didn't have anything major planned for the day either. Some noted they'd be home watching a movie -- waiting for that next storm to arrive overnight perhaps <smile>.

Another event today is seeing a lot more action -- Hockey Day in Canada - though an unofficial designation. Saturday night has been hockey night in Canada since the original 6 -- those pre-expansion days when one knew every player of every team. Today games involved all 7 of the Canadian teams -- Leafs, Habs, Sens, Jets, Oilers, Flames, & Canucks. This past week there have been many events across the country including the International Pond Hockey tournament in New Brunswick.  I understand hockey and can follow a game, I am a Canadian after all; yet it isn't my favourite sport so I don't follow it with weekly fervour. I do know who is in the playoffs as they work their way down to only two teams that will meet in the Stanley Cup. I do have a favourite team, the same one since the days of Jean Beliveau. 'Nuff said. <smile> I've been to an NHL game complete with two overtime periods and sat right behind the glass on the blue line. It was an exciting evening. I also enjoy women's hockey, but see this less often.

So for those who love hockey and are celebrating Valentine's Day with the multiple games today, I share a song -- a truly Canadian song from the lyrics to the singer-songwriter. Enjoy!

The Hockey Song --Stompin' Tom Conners

Day 2-44 -- Triscaidekaphobia

Today was Friday the 13th.  Since I was 10 this day has held some degree of dread for me.  I've only broken one bone in my life thus far <touch wood> and that was on Friday 13th in a freak incident. As a child, this did create some anxiety and I will admit to still having some residual angst these many years later.

I suspect some of this comes from growing up with a superstitious Irish-descended grandmother. I loved her dearly, but some of those OCD-like habits seem to have transferred to me <smile>. Spill salt -- it goes over the shoulder. Tempt fate --I touch wood like an old druid. Snag a nail on Sunday -- it waits until Monday to be filed. I could go on, but that might seal my reputation as being an odd person <smile>.  I am a scientist but as I often say, knowledge does not lead directly to behaviour change. I often find myself doing or saying something without even thinking about the background of the behaviour -- superstition. It seems to be well ingrained and I'm not sure how difficult that change might be. Some day, perhaps. <smile>

A song for today came to mind earlier this week when I thought about the fact that a Friday 13th in February means another one in March <yikes>.  The song is another from the '60s performed by a stellar group. The lyrics deal with superstitions so seemed to fit the day. Enjoy!

Run, Run, Run -- The Who

Day 2-43 -- Pains and Pearls of Life

The week has one more day -- not that I want to wish my life away, but I so need it to be midterm break. That is still just over a week away. The faces of those around me -- and in the mirror -- look so tired. I often feel like I'm walking through water and am not fully aware of what is going on around me. If I stop, I will fall asleep in place. I heard someone else say today that they wanted to go home and sleep for a month. So, I know I'm not alone. It would be great to hide from the world and sleep at will with nothing or no one expecting something from me. That is a fantasy, but getting to some recovery would be so pleasant. There are bright spots in the days, without doubt. But I just need more time to rest so I can enjoy the good bits even more <smile>. This isn't a new theme for this blog, but it is a fact of academic life, it seems.

There definitely are some thoughts rattling around inside my head this week -- wondering about life with all its pains and pearls. This time of year is a struggle at work, which affects all aspects of life. I suppose one might not take a job if people were truthful about the impacts it might have <smile>.  Having worked in several jobs throughout my career, I can say that they all have a down side. As long as that side is outweighed by the other sides, things will work out.

For a song today, I chose an older tune <surprise!>  <smile>. The lyrics clearly fit my thoughts of today. Enjoy!

Life ain't easy -- Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show

Day 2-42 -- Gotta get a life

Two events today made me think about normalcy in a life.  One colleague noted that planning social events was difficult for 'us' but not for others who have a 'normal' life. I've often felt a twinge of envy or jealousy when work becomes all consuming. I wonder what I am missing that other people have, though I'm sure this could be noted in reverse, too.  It's not that I dislike my life, but one wonders some days about other routines.

In the afternoon, while talking to another colleague, she noted that she was going out for groceries. I immediately asked if she wanted a tag-along.To be honest, I was almost giddy. I told her I really needed to 'get a life' being as excited as I was with a trip to a grocery store. It has been two weeks between shopping trips and I so needed to just get out somewhere for some produce and a few other things that we'd run low on at home.  I met another friend at the store, as well, who was shopping before the next expected storm coming tomorrow into Friday. There are two others in the offing for the weekend and into next week -- maybe.

What song fits that sort of feeling? One did come to mind from a Lerner and Loewe musical.  It does need some clarification, though, just to be clear on the motivations behind this choice.  This song came to mind when thinking of songs that talk about understanding others -- one societal sub-group wondering about another sub-group.  This song portrays a major hierarchical difference between royalty and commoners. I in no way feel that I am in a sub-group that is better than any other -- just different. So, I don't see myself as a put upon queen <grin>. The lyrics are questioning and wondering how others cope with daily life events. It is light and upbeat. I've chosen a version of the original Broadway cast. Enjoy!

What do the simple folk do? -- Julie Andrews and Richard Burton

Day 2-41 -- Paying tribute to a musical icon

Yesterday saw the 73rd birthday of Carole King. In the past, this blog has featured songs of Carole King and Gerry Goffin -- a song writing power duo of the 1960s -- the hit songs recorded by King and many others. These songs stand the test of time. Some are fun and somewhat frivolous while others made bold statements or presented deep thoughts.  I will admit that the melodies often grabbed my attention, while the lyrics seemed inviting and often said what I felt or thought as a youth. The fact that many of the recordings had a keyboard playing a key riff or background caught my attention, since that was the instrument that I played. A look at my iPod and my CD collection shows many albums that feature songs written by this duo and by King herself.  So, it is no surprise that I find myself drawn to her songs regardless if the original hit recording or a cover. So many singers and groups have recorded from this prolific song collection, it is very easy to find a multitude of songs without much effort. The effort comes at having to pare down the list to share here today <smile>.

I have settled on three songs to share today -- a very difficult task, but a wonderful chance to revisit so many favourites.  The first presented a song that was distinctly from a female perspective sung by a powerhouse. The second is a cover by an early group new to the pop scene in the early '60s. This one was one of the first roles as lead vocalist for one group member in a group dominated by two other key leads.  The last for today still is a favourite of mine in all its iterations, but I'm going with the early recording with the fresh young vocals for today.  Enjoy!

You make me feel (like a natural woman) -- Aretha Franklin

Chains -- The Beatles (with George Harrison as lead vocalist)

Some time in the Morning -- The Monkees

Day 2-40 -- Remembering a Friend -- Music, Metaphor, & Philosophy

Where to begin -- early today I received news of the death of a friend, colleague and co-author.  She had been struggling for a long time with a rare chronic condition and her struggle ended last Friday.  Oddly, I had been thinking of her a lot over the past week as I was putting together materials to introduce metaphor in writing qualitative research findings. You see, she studied metaphor, once writing a wonderful piece called "What's a Meta for?" <smile>. That title alone tells you something about her keen wit and sense of humour. I was also thinking of our January conference visit to Honolulu over the past few days as I've dealt with all the snow from the latest storm. I often think of the evening we spent with two other friends from Nova Scotia at a small outdoor bar on Waikiki beach -- watching the sun set as we drank mai tais. It was 27C even as the sun set and the internet had told us it was -25C back home.  If the time change hadn't been 7 hours, I'm sure we'd have made a call to our colleagues just to say 'hi' <smirk>.

Her mind was sharp up to the end -- filled with creative ideas and deep philosophical thoughts. I loved spending time chatting with her as it was never dull. She enjoyed music and loved to socialize and discuss all those questions about life that arise with a table full of academics <grin>.  I recall discussing a research question with her and I used the term 'deconstruction' which perked up the ears of a positivist at the table who wanted a definition. I gave a basic definition which was met with a bit of scepticism and she rescued me by pulling in the philosophical underpinnings of post-modernism and post-structuralism. It was then we decided that we would write something together. I still love that piece, though it isn't easily accessible from the conference proceedings 10 years later.

The world is different without her in it.  I take heart knowing her family, friends and one of her cats were with her at the end. I smile thinking of her now having those philosophy discussions with some of those she studied. Finding a song wasn't easy -- so many ideas came to mind. In her honour, I settled on one that uses metaphor in a fun way. Enjoy!

Everything -- Michael Buble

Day 2-39 -- Escape Routes

Time went by too quickly today.  The 'to do' list wasn't completed. Almost, but not fully finished. The grading was finally done in early evening. The shovelling of the last of the snow-filled areas from the last storm of the week was completed today, which ate into the time for the regular Sunday activities.

In the bright sunshine early this afternoon, I shovelled a path alongside the house and then tackled the huge drift up the back stairs. The basement door was cleared, too.  I've often felt stressed when there was only one exit from the house.  As of mid-afternoon, I had all three escape routes open should the need arise.  The remaining snow duties involved clearing the huge drift off the front of the car and shovelling that debris onto the growing piles at the side of the walkway.  The car started with no hesitation and with a bit of rocking it moved backwards about 2 feet.  I hate leaving the car sitting in the same spot when there is ice and potential melting.  It is unpleasant to have it sink into the slush and then freeze to the ground. The sidewalk plow cleared a path earlier today and did not refill my driveway. <smile>  So -- I now have a way out of the driveway, too.  You'd almost think I was planning on escaping somewhere <grin> -- heading through the furrows of walkways.

While shovelling, I reflected on these small escape routes and pathways used by the neighbourhood. That led me to pondering the underground railroad that had end points within Nova Scotia. Those were elaborately planned routes that used musical signals to travellers.  Music played a major role in the freedom trails. Today, in honour of Black History Month and African Heritage Month, I share a song about the many people involved in travelling and assisting people wishing to escape the slave trade.

The Ballad of the Underground Railroad -- by Boyer-Alexander -- sung by Armstrong School