Have you looked at the clock today? Do you know what time it is elsewhere? We have the 24 time zones to help us determine if we should make that long distance call now or later. Today is the 190th birthday of Sir Sanford Fleming, a Scottish born Canadian. He developed standard time so that each little town and city didn't set its own time. When they did it made it difficult to do business. I suppose this wouldn't have made much difference when few people traveled from one city to another with any regularity. Once they did, though, knowing the time in some sensible format surely would help. Flemng also proposed the 24 hour clock to avoid confusion between AM and PM. He played a major role in surveying for the Intercontinental railway and the Canadian Pacific Railway. His likeness is forever bound in the famous CP Rail 'last spike' photo. He is standing directly behind Lord Strathcona (Donald Smith), who drove the last spike.
Time took on a major role for me today. I awoke 2 hours before the alarm and didn't get back to sleep. When I got home again after the exam, I had a late lunch and prepared slides for a Monday class, after which I promptly fell asleep for a couple of hours. I missed time to call another time zone since it was past the end of the work day there when I was up and moving again. I can plan to call the UK or Australia or the Pacific coast of North America since we have the standard times -- I just have to stay awake or not get deep into another task and find more time has passed than I'd intended. <smile>.
The song for today has a few lines that might have been uppermost in Fleming's mind when he strove to fix the time anarchy that ruled in the late 19th century. Enjoy!
A long day arguing with software -- several times the files didn't save correctly, causing me to have to redo the documents. Frustrating. It was a quiet day. Outside snow began to fall in the afternoon -- the small fine snow that can accumulate well. There were about 5-7 cm when I moved it after 6 PM. It was very light snow since the temps had dropped throughout the day. Snow was still falling lightly when I finished the main clearing. Another 2-3 cm fell but it looks wetter and heavier, though temperatures did not really change. We'll see in the morning when I head out for work. Yes -- work on a Saturday morning. This is the exam that was postponed when the campus closed in a storm in December. Mine is just one of many happening tomorrow.
Today is orthodox Christmas Eve. With the cloudy skies, we weren't able to see the first star. It was a quiet calm evening though. I'll have to remember to wish the students merry Christmas when they write tomorrow morning. <smile>. A song that came to mind today reflects the calmness I encountered outside. The arrangement of instruments and voice is lovely. Enjoy!
Where to begin? Some wise soul has said start at the beginning. But where is the beginning? I'll just start. I woke for no known reason at 4 AM today. When it became clear I wasn't going to get back to sleep, I'd turned on the TV and listened to the late night news rerun in the early hours. There was no further information on the death of four family members in a nearby community than there had been earlier yesterday. When the morning show began at 7 AM, the lead story on the national news was this story. I was listening - sort of -- and heard what I'd felt the outcome would be yesterday when the police had noted there was no danger to the public and they weren't looking for any suspects -- murder suicide is suspected. That was heartbreaking -- a young man who appeared to have killed himself after shooting his wife, daughter and mother. The reports noted that he was a veteran from Afghanistan, who had been struggling with PTSD. Reportedly, he had presented to our local hospital within the past week and was told there were no beds. His wife had been only recently hired as a newly minted RN at this same hospital. That is when I really became alert. I'd vaguely heard the name, but then it all clicked. Thankful for my pvr, I was able to rewind to check. I taught his wife 2 years ago and had spoken to her last when I saw her working at the hospital -- about 6 months ago.
As the realization that I knew one of the four people flooded in, I began to cry. Heartbroken seems an understatement. Sadness, anger, confusion, disbelief. Multiple systems had failed to help this veteran. He'd been in care when he returned from his tour of duty several years ago. He was then mustered out due to illness, and struggled to find the help he needed to move past the psychological damage of war. Today the Premier called for an investigation of what exactly occurred at the hospital when he had sought assistance. Veterans groups have again emphasized the need for all care and needed services to be in place prior to discharging personnel. Grief counselors have been called in for his daughter's school, the university, and their community. There seems a touch of irony there.
Choosing a song for today was challenging. I settled on one that seemed to carry the main message that I heard in my head today. I'm sharing the audio only version. Enjoy!
Weather ruled the day. There had been some freezing rain overnight after a small bit of snow. I waited until mid-morning to walk up to campus. By then, it was raining lightly and the frozen ground cover had begun to melt. It was a bit slushy and on the cement could be slippery if one was not watching the ground. With the temperatures above freezing during the day, the walk home was better. There are still frozen slabs of ice in all driveways -- caused by the melting of the snow banks created when the drives were cleared of all the December snows. Pools of water at the end of my drive will be solid by the time cold temperatures return on the weekend. Today most of the ice slabs had a thin layer of water over the top. This is what creates the slippery surface. I stood on the sidewalk choosing my path over the ice slabs carefully. With my first step, my foot moved down hill. To remain upright, I brought my other foot onto the ice slab muttering the whole time. I moved about a foot downhill before I stopped enough to take the next step. It took 3 steps to cross the 3 foot icy area. Each step had less gravity effect, as the slabs flatten out once into the driveway. I have stood on the sidewalk after a melting day once things had frozen over again only to go in slow motion down hill several feet, so the driveway was minor -- still with danger involved, but minor in the grand scheme.
Three winters ago I bought new winter boots -- for walking not haute couture <smile>. They have big treads with a type of sticky rubbery sole. I still wear ice grips on really bad days, which help even more. I have referred to these boots as my Herman Munster boots due to the thick soles -- they keep me upright most of the time and keep my toes warm and dry, too. They don't look bad or too goofy, though they were made to be functional, they look like hikers. I wonder at the leather soled boots or low end runners worn by many people through the winter. How they remain standing and not broken is amazing. Perhaps that feeling comes from aging -- the desire to not fall and break something <smile>. I like to think of it as wisdom rather than fear, though. <grin>
A song hit my consciousness today as I was muttering "just keep me upright" over and over as I walked along. It is a song that has made me smile if not giggle many times before and today was no different. Enjoy!
It is now about twelve hours before my first class of this term. Today was spent trying to prep the slides for tomorrow and Thursday (all three Day 1 intros). The second lecture for two courses was completed. The third is partly done.So, these will be done by end of day tomorrow. This will leave me with time to deal with exams from Saturday morning on the weekend and know that I have lectures ready for Monday and Tuesday next week, at least. Grading won't be done in one day, but hopefully I can get a good start with the pile of paper. Trying to mete out the time to ensure all bits get done for students to do the readings before class may be tricky, but I'll find a way to get things somewhat together on time. It may not be perfect, but it will be functional. <smile>
A major wind and precip storm is headed this way overnight tonight. We expect 15-20 mm rain, but will have ice pellets and the potential for freezing rain briefly prior to temps rising above freezing to turn to rain. It may be a day for walking to avoid driving on hills and bridges with ice coating. I'll need to dig out the ice grippers just in case, it seems.
The anticipation of classes beginning and a storm blowing in brought some lyrics from a long ago song racing through my mind. Love this singer who left the world way too soon. Enjoy!
The routine is back in place. I finished some household chores and prepared things to head back to the office tomorrow. Seeing the end of the break arrive brings mixed feelings. I look forward to seeing everyone after the holidays. Yet, anxiousness descends as the sheer amount of work needed in the next few days -- and the following weeks -- rises in front of me. Two courses have a previous rhythm that one can try to re-establish. The third course has never been offered, so this one brings further anxiety. The main map of the term exists, yet putting the trip into action means a few more details are needed. Side trips can be fun and interesting, but seeing the main sights and getting to the destination on time is key.
Getting back into the swing of things takes some work. A lot of energy and focus are required. Managing time, health routines and sleep patterns are keys to success. These will also assist with keeping mood and attitude in check -- never an easy thing in times of stress. September term seems to have a week or two to get up to speed. January term seems to begin in the middle of the race -- no time to adapt. All the more reason to find ways to take those few moments throughout the day to care for oneself. I plan to put break reminders into my schedule software -- at least a notification will be sent to the screen. If I'm in the office, I'll see it. If I'm away from the desk, it will be visible when I get back. It may be a help, but it may turn into just one more demand. We'll see. <smile>.
A couple of songs were in my head today -- at least a line or two of each. I chose one to share here. It often makes me think of all the people working away in many worksites on any given day. Some of the lyrics bring to mind places of education and training, too. The video reminds me of the times I headed to work on public transit buses or subways. (Gotta smile at the '80s Jersey girl hair styles, too) Enjoy!
Well day one of a new year was spent doing very ordinary things -- not a lot of work or chores, but still ordinary things. Watched a movie, folded laundry, did some social media catching up -- almost boring one might say <smile>. It was pleasant to have a day to do nothing in particular. Tomorrow the world will begin to encroach again. Things will need to be readied for work the following morning. Lunch will need to be packed. Papers and e-files will need to be organized for transport back to the office. But today, none of that or anything else seemed to enter the day.
Taking some time for oneself is important. I've pledged to make some room for 'me' things everyday of this coming year. That may be difficult with the four classes (two large, one medium and one small) that I'm instructing, but that may be the reason that this time is necessary. Without some time to recharge, I'll be of little use to the 400+ individuals who depend on me to deliver the course materials. If I don't take care of me, that delivery will not lead to student success -- the goal of any course. I'll be a cranky person filled with frustration and will begin to feel work is an imposition -- not a good road to walk down. So -- I'll try to remember to pause during the day rather than become overly stressed out. I will take a longer break by ending earlier in the evening rather than working through what should be bedtime. I have good intentions. We'll see how well these are met as the world swirls in ever compacting and faster circles. <smile>
The selection for today presents the newness of this first day of the year -- something unwritten ready to unfurl. Enjoy!
