9-249 (6/9/22) -- Re-Entry

 Back to school time has arrived again -- fr all levels of euation. A former colleague noted that they felt they had no resilience as the year begins. This may be somewhat understandable given so many new things and ways of doing them differently -- where things seemed to change every few days for the past two years. The stress of the pandemic happenings stole the time that would usually help people to recharge. Now, even the activities that might help people relax and recoup have changed. Things are not as they were pre-pandemic and likely never will be. Everything in our near and far surrounds is different even in subtle ways. Perhaps this explains the feelings of anger, frustration and disappointment that we see in the faces and hear in the voices around us. 

I've found that things I did regularly pre-pandemic, now take so much more time to plan and execute. Simply put, I'm out of practice AND acutely aware of the dangers of travel or of being in crowds. After spending much of the time with far less social contact than usual, resuming some form of regular contact has become a bigger challenge than I would have guessed it would be. Again, I find myself thinking of my grandparents who lived through the flu epidemic of post-WWI. I wish I could speak with them and find out how they moved forward after the worst of that viral invasion. I feel so ill equipped to manage a re-entry into society. I'm not sure we need to have a formal entry like those of the debutantes, but some discussions about ways to manage the anxiety that comes with spending time with friends might help many people. We will need to understand, that who we are has changed. It may be subtle or in-your-face big. But we have changed. I need to rework my approaches to research activities since the plans I'd had prior to facing the first of many lockdowns will be changed. Archives I hope to visit will have different protocols in place in light of transmissibility of current and potential future viruses. All visits will require travel. I hope to start with the closer trips in the coming months and then take the longer trip to tie up the final bits of needed historical input. I know how I would have done it in the past, but there will be unforeseen hoops to jump through that no one had even conceived of three years ago. So, life will move forward, but the direction, pace and protocol will be altered. 

A song that came to me today deals with making positive changes in life. I want to re-enter the world as who I am now, doing what I'd planned but in a way that fits the new way of doing things. I like the upbeat lyrics and rhythm of this one. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

I'm Coming Out -- Diana Ross

   

9-248 (5/9/22) -- Sweating the Small Things

Today was filled with a mad scramble to get things ready for mid-week. I see so many final details that make things feel overwhelming just because of the sheer number of bits to complete.  Putting the final touches on things always seems deceptively simple. Individually, these might be less time-consuming, but when many final bits arrive concurrently it can take a lot of time to complete. 

I tried to fit in a short walk later in the day to help release a bit of the tension that comes with working to deadlines. Not my favourite way to do things, but sometimes this is the only way things can be done. When some of the items require input from other people, the stress level can increase. I often catch myself thinking that I can do it quicker by myself. This, of course, is not the case. The lead time and background information needed from others to complete their parts of the project could not be done my me in short order. So, I am required to put my trust in others -- not something I do easily at the best of times <grin>. 

The good news for the day is that things are moving forward well and most bits will be done on time. Now, if I could just sleep well tonight instead of waking with anxious thoughts of past and future actions, I would have more wherewithal to complete the very last steps. <smile> If past experience tells me anything, it says that things will be done and done well -- so just chill, will you? <grin>. 

I love the title line of this song. It sounds calming and reassuring, too. This version brings a new voice to the mix. Keep safe. Enjoy!

Don't Worry Baby -- The Beach Boys

  

 

9-247 (4/9/22) -- Price to Pay

I spent much of the day working through items with deadlines in the next couple of days. Thengs went slowly but at least something was completed with more to continue tomorrow. Why do I put so much pressure on myself or better yet,  why do I let these external things become so huge? It is likely both happening at once that is making me crazy. <smile>  Many actions needed at present take physical and emotional energy to complete. The end result will be positive, but the work necessary to get there takes a bit of a toll. Good things do take some work, but are so worth it. Maybe I need to keep my eye on that prize. <smile> 

That reminded me of a song -- Imagine! -- about paying a toll. A quirky turn of mind, I'll admit, but it happened and I'm sharing it <grin>. 

Don't Pay the Ferryman -- Cris de Burgh

9-251 (8/9/22) -- Global Loss

The Queen is dead. 

Long live the King. 

For some time now, I've been dreading the writing of this blog. The day was bound to come. I wasn't ready, though we are never ready for a major loss. The Queen was 96. I wanted her to be here for another 4 years like her mother had been. Sadly this was not to be. I heard the news that physicians were 'concerned' for her health after I woke this morning. That message from the Palace spoke volumes, since there rarely is a comment on the health of Royal Family members. To have sent this message to the world told us that things were grave at best. 

I was traveling today. Before the later afternoon flight, no further word had been received. Family members had rushed to Balmoral to be at her side. News outlets assured me they were all in place by that time of day. When I landed almost two hours later, I found the next waiting lounge and opened the wifi to check the news. She was gone.  I had tears right there in the airport surrounded by other travelers. Now, I found myself in the US trying to come to terms with this news, while surrounded by strangers who might not really 'get it'. I felt very alone. This loss is huge for many people across the globe. For me, I've known no other monarch in my lifetime since she was on the throne for over 70 years. At my age, my mother had seen four monarchs and my grandmother had seen six monarchs. My ancestry is from the UK. My nation had a special relationship with the Queen. After all,  this monarch visited Canada more than any other nation during her years as Queen, with another visit that had occurred when she was still Princess Elizabeth. She was our head of state -- as well as the UK there were over a dozen other nations for which she held this position. I've seen the Queen live four or five times throughout my life. Other members of the Royal Family members have been seen when they visited Canada, too. 

The final leg of the trip showed me an amazing nearly full moon and the most beautiful orange sunset as we flew into the night. These views helped bring me a sense of calm. I needed that. Meeting a dear friend at the airport helped, too. I felt much less alone. 

Please forgive my posting the blog out of order -- the earlier ones are in the polishing phase and will be posted soon. This one just seemed more important to get out now and the petty issues I deal with on a daily basis were put into perspective with the news of today. 

I chose a song that was played in a concert tonight in tribute to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The lyrics seemed to fit the view out my window this evening. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II -- Elton John (Toronto concert 8/9/22)

Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me (Queen Elizabeth II tribute) -- Elton John

9-246 (3/9/22) -- 'Must Dos'

 Being a Saturday, laundry and house cleaning filled most of the day. I went for a walk after supper. There were student gatherings in a few places. More people will arrive over the weekend and into next week. Then things will become more active in places other than the local pubs. 

It has been of  looming deadlines. I have lots of small things to finish in the next several days. It isn't anything nasty -- the opposite actually, but time feels tight. I'm sure all will get done in time, but there is a bit of pressure hovering to ensure I don't stop for a lengthy tea break in the afternoon. I try to leave screens off -- laptop, tablet, phone and such -- so that I don't fall down any rabbit holes <smile>. It worked today as a few things were knocked of the 'must do' list. 

Avoidance of screen time brought a song line or two to mind. <smile> I love the trippy sound of this one. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

White Rabbit -- Jefferson Airplane

9-245 (2/9/22) -- Not Recognized

 I went for lunch with a friend today. We had planned to dine outdoors, but it was cloudy with a cooling wind when we arrived at the restaurant. So, we at inside. Then the sun came out as we began to eat inside. <smile> My other outing was to the physio to help with the Achilles heel again. It does seem to be improving. A new pain in the foot couldn't be identified, so at least it isn't something nasty. 

I felt very tired today and was fighting to stay awake in the afternoon between lunch and the physio visit. I have lots on tap right now. This makes thinking through to solutions and the gamut of emotions arriving and departing daily combine to drain energy through mental and physical activities. 

For the past two days, I've had a major fight with a software program. It seems to have updated for the first time in forever. It refused to go into full screen mode. Even when I clicked on that icon, the window was only partial and there was a large left frame. When I clicked on a new to me icon, the screen did go to full screen mode and even covered the Windows task bar! Bizarre. Tonight, it wouldn't let me login. First it didn't recognize my user-id. Then told me the password was incorrect. So, I tried making a new account and was told that one already existed for my e-mail address -- the one it just said was not valid <sigh>. I tried with a second laptop to see what happened and it opened things followed immediately by a message window saying I had been logged out for security reasons. The first laptop did not tell me this. So -- <deep breath> -- I had to reset the password and it wouldn't take the one that it had told me earlier was incorrect since it now recognized it. <aacckk> A new password later and I was finally able to launch the program. So very frustrating. Once logged in again, the screen looked almost as usual. There are a few new bits and lots of pop-up windows welcoming me and asking if I wanted to learn about some new feature or other. <sigh> 

It was frustrating to not be recognized by a program I use daily. I dislike having to try to do work arounds for the silliness. I kept trying to get in but was repeatedly told that I was not recognized so couldn't enter. When I explained my experience to a friend, they noted a song that was just perfect for the situation <smile>. So, I share that here. I like the feel of this version. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

I Hear You Knocking -- Fats Domino

9-244 (1/9/22) -- Long Postponed Events

Well, a new month began sunny and hot. I had two wonderful chats with a friend and a family member this morning. It was great catching up. I got one major errand completed. I went again to check for store brand food for the furry one and they did not have any again this week -- four weeks now. <sigh>. There were points available if I bought some this week. Shouldn't they have to give those points for the lack of their own product that forced me to buy another brand? As if <sigh>. 

Students are returning in droves.The first year welcome days are today and tomorrow on campus. Over the weekend the upper year residence students will arrive. Those choosing to live off campus have been showing up for the past couple of days, with more expected in the next week. Traffic has picked up noticeably with students and families. The annual exhibition which has been on hiatus for three years falls on this week and weekend, too. So, there are many people, cars, trucks and trailers encountered everywhere. Driving downtown is slow at best and no street parking places anywhere. I shouldn't be surprised that things are so busy. Generally, the population of the town doubles when students arrive. This year may be more like the pre-pandemic years in this way.  

A line from a song about remembering seemed to flash through my mind often today. All those 'back to school' days from kindergarten to the last year teaching were at the centre of thoughts today. I enjoy the tempo of this song. It feels relaxing. Keep safe. Enjoy!

September -- Earth, Wind and Fire