9-165 (14/6/22) -- Rainy Day

It rained all night and throughout the day today.Some areas have warnings about potential flooding since there will be 1-2 inches accumulating in most areas with some spots getting more than that. I was going to head out to the grocery store, but decided to stay inside today and do my errands tomorrow once the rain stops. Due to the heavy cloud cover I expect we won't see the full moon tonight. I did see it a couple of days ago and it was big and bright. Hopefully, we'll get to see the moon tomorrow, though. 

While inside today, I had a phone meeting and a chat with a friend. While paying my telecommunications bill, I noticed an odd item included, so I called the carrier to sort it out. Their system was down so they were unable to look into my account to see what was up. I called back a few hours later -- as suggested by the first agent -- but the system was still down. This agent offered to call me back once the thing was functional again -- likely early evening. That conversation took five calls each wading through the myriad menus only to get to the end and be disconnected -- once just as an agent answered. <sigh> I noted the absurdity of calling a phone company only to have the phone call be incomplete. <rolling eyes loudly>.

Rain often appears as a metaphor for sadness or difficult times in life. While the day was like twilight at the brightest, the rain is sorely needed for gardens, crops and flowers. With over 24 hours of rain, we should be OK for a while, depending on upcoming temperatures. One song came to mind today for the positive way it presents rain -- something that helps things -- including us -- grow.  Keep safe. Enjoy! 

The Rain Song -- Led Zeppelin 

9-164 (13/6/22) -- Cathartic Time

Clouds filled the sky for most of the day. Rain is expected overnight and into tomorrow. The air cooled dramatically by late afternoon. A friend and I went for a walk and planned to have tea on the patio, but since it looked like rain, that wasn't open today. So, we walked back down Main Street and got something to takeout from a coffee shop. We had a great chat over tea and goodies. I took out some more bags of magazines for the recycling pickup tomorrow. I encountered a few small raindrops during the process, but had to wear a light jacket as it was quite cool by then. 

The tea break this afternoon marked the first time in a few week since my friend and I got together to chat. The act of sharing a cup of tea (or coffee for those so inclined) can be soothing. It provides time to talk about life with all its pearls and foibles. It brings catharsis.It cements friendships. There is great power in the social ritual of sharing food and beverages. 

This pondering brought a song to mind -- one that extols the virtues of tea. <smile>  Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Have a Cuppa Tea -- The Kinks

9-163 (12/6/22) -- Flower Connection

It was another sunny and warmer day. The sun was very hot when outside and the humidity made it feel hotter. I had a look around the yard, though. Several plants are over-achieving this year. The peonies have several flower buds on each plant after a couple of years without any blooms. The day lily in the back yard has more flower stalks than one can count. It was inadvertently trimmed by the yard care service over the past two years, so I wasn't sure it would come back at all. I can't wait for those two to bloom. The iris in the front has more leaves in more bunches than ever. There is one flower stalk that has three flower buds. I can't wait to see the lovely lavender blooms. The honeysuckle is nearing the end of the blooms, but that had one of the greatest years I've seen -- all the deep fuchsia pink was stunning. 

Today I noticed how much I was watching the daily growth and development of the plants in the yard. This brings some calm along with hope -- both useful feelings. The connection I feel with the plants is interesting. I care about them. Their power to make me smile helps deal with the frustrations that appear along the journey. Maybe that is why flowers and plants are given as gifts and mark life's ups and downs. A plant is cool due to seeing its growth. Cut flowers show the beauty of nature. They help us feel connected to the greater world around us. Take time to notice is all happening around us. 

A song lyric reminded me of the connection between people and flowers. I like the gentleness of the music and lyrics for this one. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

San Francisco -- Scott McKenzie

 

9-162 (11/6/22) -- ... Perchance to Dream

I woke very early today after a fitful sleep overall. The house felt a bit humid making me uncomfortable at times. I also woke from dreams that created some negative emotions. The last one was quite vivid. I don't recall much of the others. So, I was up early and ate breakfast while listening to a recorded program.  While listening to the television I fell asleep again. I didn't sleep for long but after a couple of naps, I felt up to doing laundry and some household stuff. 

Out my back window today a group of workers planted about a dozen headstones in the cemetery. I can't clearly see all of them from the kitchen window, so will have to walk out tomorrow for an accurate count. It is wonderful to see this happening. The project will have a park area on the opposite side from the house, but that may not get done for another year. The fundraising process is slow, but moving upward. It was a hotter sunny day for the workers, but they completed a lot. The stones are held in place with wooden braces until the cement sets. 

I recall an episode of MASH where each of the main characters fell asleep during a major offensive and not-stop resultant OR time. Each had a peculiar nightmare based on the helplessness they felt. In it the Shakespearean phrase -- To sleep perchance to dream -- was spoken. I thought of that today when thinking of the disruptions of the anxiety-based dreams last night. The major emotions were less pleasant than I'd like to experience if dreaming. Most nights I don't even recall what I dreamed or even if I dreamed. Last night wasn't like that. A song about more pleasant dreams came to mind as I pondered today. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Dream Weaver -- Gary Wright

9-161 (10/6/22) -- Local Happenings

The sun shone today and it got quite warm. The strong breeze helped the air feel drier and cooler. I ran an errand and then went for a short walk -- my first in a week. I'll admit that I got fatigued just halfway through. I rested for a while when I got home. The main activity today was to repack, tape and label the boxes for charity pickup tomorrow. I carried them up the stairs and then placed them all on the front porch -- 9 mainly smaller boxes and two bags this time. More is ready to be packed for the July pickup date. 

Today, I managed a lot more activity than I've done in over a week. I needed to rest between tasks, but I made it through. While making tea for breaks throughout the day, I watched the work in the graveyard behind the house. It is an historical cemetery with the most recent stone noting a death about 1875. The stones had been moved around many years back, but the cemetery committee is putting the stones back up. There are about 42 stones lying on the grass. there were more stones, but many had been broken and were no longer complete. The ones out there now were intact. In the centre of the area, a marked square had a frame built around it today.They may be planning to pour cement for a centre stone -- we'll see. The work is slow, but interesting to watch things progress. 

The walk through the neighbourhood and watching the work on the other side of the back fence made me smile today. I do like this area. People working in their yards, sitting on their porches or out for a walk all nod or say 'hello'.  It is cool. A song lyric fit the feeling well. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Peace in the Neighborhood -- Paul McCartney

 

 

9-160 (9/6/22) -- Relaxing Water Encounters

It was another cloudy and damp day. The rain yesterday wasn't nearly as much as had been forecast. We could use more rain as things are drier in different areas. Plants are growing but some gentle rain would be great. There is a chance of a thunderstorm tonight -- we'll see.  

I did more today than I've done in the past week, so the headache leftovers seem to be leaving bit by bit. I did some household chores and chatted with a friend. Two appointments filled out the afternoon and early evening. So, a busier day for a change. The fatigue remains present, but is waning noticeably each day. 

The physio appointment for the achilles tendonitis worked well today. I love the whirlpool bath to loosen the tightened areas around the foot and lower leg. I want one of these in the house <grin>. It is so very relaxing for feet and helped my arm when a fall damaged the elbow. 

Thinking over the relaxing roles water played in my day -- physio treatment, warm shower and the rain on my roof right now -- I thought of a songs that dealt with water. The one that floated to the top -- as it were -- is one I haven't used for a while. I've like it always and still find it relaxing, even though it has sadder lyrics than I realized as a child. So, just listen to the music and raindrop sounds in the percussion. <smile> Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Rhythm of the Rain -- The Cascades

9-159 (8/6/22) -- Car Wipes

We had cloudy but warmer weather today. I went out for one errand and was reminded that I need to go to the car with a wet cloth. I park under a tree -- one in which a number of birds perch. I've dubbed it the toilet tree <sigh>. I have a dark charcoal coloured vehicle and the white splotches show up very well. Each time I head out that way, I need to remove some offending spots. I could park just off the driveway  without a tree overhead, but when I do, someone avails themselves of my driveway -- several someones over the years. When that occurs, I can't get out of the yard as they've blocked the exit. So, I park where the birds gather. So, I will continue with the use of daily car wipes.

When thinking of a lyric that fit the car cleaning situation in my front yard, I came up with one from way back in the day. I enjoy the rhythm and the lyrics make me smile. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Workin' at the Car Wash Blues -- Jim Croce