Grading topped the list of activities for the day, interrupted by brief trips to the laundry room. The sun was out part of the afternoon, but temperatures were rather cold being in the minus teens. By supper time, the exams had been completed with grades calculated and entered -- the main goal of the day completed. That left some time to address other household chores and a bit for relaxing with a movie this evening.
Some positive feelings in a day can help, even when it seems there are too many things settling on one's shoulders. Life is filled with all types of emotions. Focus on the positives or negatives may not be possible, but taking each as it comes may work. Trying to let the negatives not take over can be a challenge, so moving through each emotion as it arrives worked today. In the end, I'm left feeling reasonably good. This may not happen every day, but it did today. Interesting.
The song for today has a title that reflects the emotion for the end of today. Many covers exist for this one, so I tried this one which is different to me today. The video is a little playful behind the power of the song. Enjoy!
Feeling Good -- Michael Buble
Saturday, 14 January 2017
Day 4 - 13 -- New Beginnings
The day has been filled with many tasks and events. Much of the time was spent grading the final exams from the December re-write. I got through the majority and will complete the makeup for this rewrite tomorrow -- the final four exams for last term. After several hours of this grading process, I headed out to a retirement event for a colleague and friend. There were many speeches from near and far celebrating the careers of two women. I was glad I could attend and provide congratulations in person.
I was surprised when I went outside this afternoon. Much more snow had left since last night. Most of this would be due to the wind that accompanied the temps just above freezing. As the day wore on, it got colder and wind direction switched to something more northerly in nature. Things will freeze tonight, but with very little precipitation expected for the next few days. Happily, the large slab of ice at the end of the drive is far less prominent, so walking to the street will be much easier for now.
Today is also Orthodox or Julian New Year's Eve -- another reason to celebrate -- a new day, a new year. The wind is blowing in a change. Two colleagues are beginning a new life phase. For all this newness, I chose a song with an interesting melody and rhythm. Enjoy!
Unwritten -- Natasha Bedingfield
I was surprised when I went outside this afternoon. Much more snow had left since last night. Most of this would be due to the wind that accompanied the temps just above freezing. As the day wore on, it got colder and wind direction switched to something more northerly in nature. Things will freeze tonight, but with very little precipitation expected for the next few days. Happily, the large slab of ice at the end of the drive is far less prominent, so walking to the street will be much easier for now.
Today is also Orthodox or Julian New Year's Eve -- another reason to celebrate -- a new day, a new year. The wind is blowing in a change. Two colleagues are beginning a new life phase. For all this newness, I chose a song with an interesting melody and rhythm. Enjoy!
Unwritten -- Natasha Bedingfield
Thursday, 12 January 2017
Day 4 - 12 -- Wonderful Visit
It was a slippery walk into work when it became clear that the scraping the heavy frost from the windshield would take me half the time it would take to maneuver the streets on foot. The rain from yesterday froze overnight leaving much black ice on the roadways and even thicker ice build up on the sidewalks. I remained upright through the many walks around today - a good thing <smile>. The three courses went fairly well -- some parts better than others, but they were not total disasters, so I'll take that for today.
A former student visited campus doing some guest lecturing today. It was wonderful to see where they've come over the past several years. We are connected by social media, a great way to keep in touch, but seeing each other face to face is so much better. We went to dinner and had catch up and enlightening conversations. I was privileged to meet and get to know the fiancee as well. What a great couple. <smile> I'll admit to having a huge smile on my face as I walked home from dinner. I really enjoyed myself. As an educator, some students keep in touch and others don't. Regardless, I always wonder how life is treating them. I don't take credit for them getting where they do -- I just want to hear how life is moving forward for them since the time we spent together in classroom and office. There are a small handful of those special students -- the ones that made a major impression during the education process. Tonight's student was one of that group. That made catching up even more valued.
A line of music and a single word of a lyric ran through my head this evening once I returned home. While the full lyric deals with a different type of memory process, the main concepts of my reflections seem wrapped in the single word of the title and chorus line. This soft rock selection by an Australian group has an easy-going, conversational melody to it, which also fit our visit today. Enjoy!
Reminiscing -- Little River Band
A former student visited campus doing some guest lecturing today. It was wonderful to see where they've come over the past several years. We are connected by social media, a great way to keep in touch, but seeing each other face to face is so much better. We went to dinner and had catch up and enlightening conversations. I was privileged to meet and get to know the fiancee as well. What a great couple. <smile> I'll admit to having a huge smile on my face as I walked home from dinner. I really enjoyed myself. As an educator, some students keep in touch and others don't. Regardless, I always wonder how life is treating them. I don't take credit for them getting where they do -- I just want to hear how life is moving forward for them since the time we spent together in classroom and office. There are a small handful of those special students -- the ones that made a major impression during the education process. Tonight's student was one of that group. That made catching up even more valued.
A line of music and a single word of a lyric ran through my head this evening once I returned home. While the full lyric deals with a different type of memory process, the main concepts of my reflections seem wrapped in the single word of the title and chorus line. This soft rock selection by an Australian group has an easy-going, conversational melody to it, which also fit our visit today. Enjoy!
Reminiscing -- Little River Band
Wednesday, 11 January 2017
Day 4 - 11 -- Cause for a Smile
Isn't it always the little things that seem to mean so much? They can change your mood or direction between heart beats. Today had several of these moments, each involving laughter. I managed to get people to laugh in class a few times as we discussed how the brain perceives things -- optical illusions about portion sizes. In a meeting that had a fair amount of work completed, we had time to be tangential (where I have been living the past few days), often laughing as we explored situations from differing viewpoints. Lateral thinking can bring creativity to a topic when two seemingly unrelated topics are brought together. I expect the current concept of a mashup is quite similar to what occurred today. So, while we were working on major concepts in the classroom and in the working meeting, we were able to enjoy the process and laugh.
Later in the day, I had to run to see someone I'd promised to chat with today and found that their office had closed at 4 and I arrived at 4:15, thinking they were open until 4:30 today. Luckily we were able to connect as she left the office and solve an issue that had arisen this week --again with a bit of humour and a smile. Heading home in the rain, I noted that when I left home this morning, it was still too cold to wear just a fleece liner and rain jacket, so I wore the parka. I fully expected to gain several pounds along the short journey home as the parka soaked up the rain -- more laughter. The huge murder of crows passed along the way seemed to be recounting their day's events with what really sounded like laughter and some incredulous tones to the storytellers. These birds can vocalize so differently, that they can sound like a crowd of people from a distance. Another smile.
The song selected for today is from a singer-songwriting duo from New Jersey. Their first releases occurred three years ago. The lyrics to this song fit my meanderings since it notes that the small things are important and will be remembered. I guess it is like the scene in Thornton Wilder's Our Town, where a character chooses to go back to relive a particularly happy day, when it might have been wiser to revisit a nondescript day and focus on the smaller things. Enjoy!
Little Things -- This New Day
Later in the day, I had to run to see someone I'd promised to chat with today and found that their office had closed at 4 and I arrived at 4:15, thinking they were open until 4:30 today. Luckily we were able to connect as she left the office and solve an issue that had arisen this week --again with a bit of humour and a smile. Heading home in the rain, I noted that when I left home this morning, it was still too cold to wear just a fleece liner and rain jacket, so I wore the parka. I fully expected to gain several pounds along the short journey home as the parka soaked up the rain -- more laughter. The huge murder of crows passed along the way seemed to be recounting their day's events with what really sounded like laughter and some incredulous tones to the storytellers. These birds can vocalize so differently, that they can sound like a crowd of people from a distance. Another smile.
The song selected for today is from a singer-songwriting duo from New Jersey. Their first releases occurred three years ago. The lyrics to this song fit my meanderings since it notes that the small things are important and will be remembered. I guess it is like the scene in Thornton Wilder's Our Town, where a character chooses to go back to relive a particularly happy day, when it might have been wiser to revisit a nondescript day and focus on the smaller things. Enjoy!
Little Things -- This New Day
Tuesday, 10 January 2017
Day 4 - 10 -- shiny things
The morning greeted me with bright sunshine that shone through the most amazing frost crystals on the windows. This was a thicker coating than in past cold nights. We generally get some frost buildup at about -14C or colder. It had been -18C yesterday morning and the frost then was thinner. Pretty, but thinner. Today's covering was thick with crystals on top of crystals. The sparkling was breath-taking. What a great way to start a day! The secret to the heavier frost fall came late n the day when speaking with a colleague who noted the temperature early this morning in town was -26C! No wonder the frost painting was so intense this morning.
The day was jam-packed with back to back to back class, meeting and makeup exam. Refocusing on the early morning frost helped me to recenter during the frenetic pace of the day. I walked more again today -- I love walking but it can aggravate a chronic pain condition. That along with another hour of shoveling at the end of the day, left me rather fatigued this evening. Thankfully, tomorrow is not an abrupt early start, so I should have time for a decent sleep. I find when tired like today, my focus leaves entirely and I'm more easily distracted than usual -- which is really saying something <smile>. I often feel I'm in kitten mode -- Ooo shiny things. Oh wow another shiny thing, ad infinitum.
A song that came to mind when looking at the sun illuminating the frost today, made me think how lucky I was to have this lovely force of nature to greet me. The lyrics paint an interesting picture. Enjoy!
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes -- Paul Simon
The day was jam-packed with back to back to back class, meeting and makeup exam. Refocusing on the early morning frost helped me to recenter during the frenetic pace of the day. I walked more again today -- I love walking but it can aggravate a chronic pain condition. That along with another hour of shoveling at the end of the day, left me rather fatigued this evening. Thankfully, tomorrow is not an abrupt early start, so I should have time for a decent sleep. I find when tired like today, my focus leaves entirely and I'm more easily distracted than usual -- which is really saying something <smile>. I often feel I'm in kitten mode -- Ooo shiny things. Oh wow another shiny thing, ad infinitum.
A song that came to mind when looking at the sun illuminating the frost today, made me think how lucky I was to have this lovely force of nature to greet me. The lyrics paint an interesting picture. Enjoy!
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes -- Paul Simon
Monday, 9 January 2017
Day 4 - 9 -- Flat Out Busy
It has been a non-stop day and the next two look similar. The day began with a walk into work in very cold weather -- -16C. Luckily there was no wind until later in the morning when I headed out for class and gasped as the air hit my face. I was reminded of home today -- the cold, crisp air even smells different. It isn't -30 or lower, but it was cold. Forecasts tell us that it will warm to single digits below freezing by tomorrow afternoon. Another low pressure system sits behind this warm up, so we'll get rain and mixed precipitation over the following days. Once into the office, there were many small tasks that had to be completed for lectures this week, setting regular student meetings for the term, trying to get my head around a proposal that is due by the end of the month, and finding ways to deal with potentially difficult discussions that need to occur this week. Once home I moved the snow off the car, moved that snow off the walkway I'd already cleared, pushed the snow left behind early today by the sidewalk plow, reheated supper and moved on to grading the final exams that I retrieved today from accessible learning. I got those up to date with the other pile, completed another couple of questions and set them all aside for the day.
By the time I was settled down to evening grading, I realized that I had a tune stuck in my head. This became clear as I heard myself muttering 'grading, grading, grading' to the tune of this song. That made me smile -- and laugh a little. It is a song from long ago -- the theme song from an early television program -- but I do love it. I shared the full song recording and an abbreviated version that ran at the beginning of the show. Gotta love all those fresh faces from long ago. <grin>. Enjoy!
Rawhide -- Frankie Laine
Rawhide -- program opening them
By the time I was settled down to evening grading, I realized that I had a tune stuck in my head. This became clear as I heard myself muttering 'grading, grading, grading' to the tune of this song. That made me smile -- and laugh a little. It is a song from long ago -- the theme song from an early television program -- but I do love it. I shared the full song recording and an abbreviated version that ran at the beginning of the show. Gotta love all those fresh faces from long ago. <grin>. Enjoy!
Rawhide -- Frankie Laine
Rawhide -- program opening them
Sunday, 8 January 2017
Day 4 - 8 -- Swirling Thoughts
The storm last night was quieter than expected. There was wind, but it wasn't the howling suggested by forecasters. The ice pellets and freezing rain lasted for a short period of time characterized by the pelts blown against the windows. I laid in bed for a while after waking deciding when or if I should look out the window. I knew I had a date with a shovel, but wasn't sure how much work was out there until looking. There was less depth on the porch than often occurs with nor'easters. Had the wind been stronger and more prolonged, the drift would have been nasty. As it was, the snow seemed to be mid-calf level in most areas. The shoveling took me about an hour to reach the car -- about 75 feet from the house, though the steps and small walk way parallel to the house did take longer than usual. Once I started the long walkway to the street, I managed a rhythm that helped things move along. I paused often staring at the sky and the whiteness falling out of the grey clouds. I had another 45 minutes later in the day where I cleared out behind the car after the backhoe had come to clear the driveway. Sadly, the street plow went by after this, so there was a lot of ice stuff to move before it froze solid with the major temperature drop overnight. This stuff was 2 feet wide and at least as high. The sidewalk plow wasn't out today, but will go by around 6-7 AM, so there will be more of the same from the knee-deep snow laying on the sidewalk. It seems to never end -- moving snow from the same place over and over. Then I still have to do the back porch and stairs and clear a path around the side of the house -- oh, and clear off the car for a Tuesday outing.. So -- at least two more sessions involved to clear it all. Some rain is expected for Wednesday, so this other has be to done prior to that.
Shoveling allows the mind to go to many of the corners that are often ignored -- all those 'elephant in the room' topics. There are several items that bring stress, so tucking them away can help. When one or more are uncovered, they need to be faced head on. It doesn't mean that a solution comes to mind, but acknowledging the clutter and the need to deal with it are part of these sojourns. The physical labour of moving snow can help with those topics that bring on frustrations. The rhythm of muscles and breathing help, too. Between shoveling bouts, I spent time finishing laundry and grading final exams from yesterday. Lots more to do with those papers, but at least the process has begun.
I'm sharing a song that fit well with the thinking that accompanied the snow moving. The song builds, crescendos and ebbs in a complex manner -- much like the ideas swirling in my mind today. Many singers have covered this one, so I chose one that seemed to be interesting to me today. Enjoy!
The Windmills of Your Mind -- Petulia Clark
Shoveling allows the mind to go to many of the corners that are often ignored -- all those 'elephant in the room' topics. There are several items that bring stress, so tucking them away can help. When one or more are uncovered, they need to be faced head on. It doesn't mean that a solution comes to mind, but acknowledging the clutter and the need to deal with it are part of these sojourns. The physical labour of moving snow can help with those topics that bring on frustrations. The rhythm of muscles and breathing help, too. Between shoveling bouts, I spent time finishing laundry and grading final exams from yesterday. Lots more to do with those papers, but at least the process has begun.
I'm sharing a song that fit well with the thinking that accompanied the snow moving. The song builds, crescendos and ebbs in a complex manner -- much like the ideas swirling in my mind today. Many singers have covered this one, so I chose one that seemed to be interesting to me today. Enjoy!
The Windmills of Your Mind -- Petulia Clark
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