10-86 (27/3/23) -- That Unfocused Feeling

Oh, Yay!  More wet snow fell overnight -- less than the last episode so pushing it was easier. I ran around town doing some of the last-minute tasks for a major project. As I was working through other bits at home, my mind kept jumping from one task to another -- often leaving one underway to begin another one. This seems counter-productive. So many little things seem to need attention to finish. In  actuality, there are fewer tasks that must be done and the others might be useful, but not required.  This reminded me of a view to information conveyed during educational activities as presented by a wise woman at a conference years ago. She said there were things that people need to know, so these should be communicated clearly. Muddying the waters with the 'nice to know' or -- heaven forbid -- the 'nuts to know' <smile> would diminish the messaging effectiveness. That's how I felt today -- my mind hopping from the necessary to too many 'wouldn't it be nice if...' tasks. 

When speaking with a colleague, I felt my thoughts were popping all over the place -- that dreaded inability to focus that comes with anxiety. I then smiled as a song came to my mind. It is far from a favourite of mine, but it felt like the right song to express how my thoughts have been so unfocused today. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Popcorn Song -- Hot Butter

10-85 (26/3/23) -- Multi-faceted Projects

Today has been very cloudy with bits of snow in the air during the afternoon. We expect more snow in the evening and overnight. So -- Yay -- more shoveling tomorrow. <sigh> Most of my day has been spent working on a major planning project. It takes a lot of coordination but things are moving forward well. Several other steps need to deal with phone calls and one visit to businesses open tomorrow. So, the project should be fairly complete by end of day tomorrow.  

There are pros of sharing heavy loads -- it saves my back when actual physical things need to move, but may help to reduce anxiety levels with the mental loads. I should know this. Asking for assistance is difficult. Offering help is easier <smile>. Others are helping with the current project, for which I am extremely grateful. Two other large projects lie in the near future. I will need to ask for some assistance -- most of it for anxiety reduction, but there will be some smaller physical tasks that will work better with more than one person. For now, I need to focus on the current project and not let myself become so overwhelmed by the next big one -- I really don't want to be like weather forecasters always focused on the next big storm <smile>. 

A song came to mind today -- one I haven't heard for a long time. It talks about the trials we all experience. The same artist also recorded another song about working with others to get through those trials. I've chosen to share both tunes today. The first one has a title and lyrics that reminded me of the many smaller tasks that make up a big project. The second song has lines that remind me of how great it is to have good friends willing help. Keep safe. Enjoy!

Many Rivers to Cross -- Joe Cocker

With a Little Help from my Friends -- Joe Cocker

10-84 (25/3/23) -- Musical Journey

Sunshine visited for much of the day. Big clouds were present, but didn't block the sun for very long. More melting occurred today so the big snow from yesterday has been leaving <smile>. I spent much of the day doing laundry and household account tasks -- nothing big and exciting  <smile>. 

A cable station has been playing Oscar winning movies over the decades. This afternoon, The Glenn Miller Story was featured. I love the sound of this movie -- so much of his music and a good story about how his sound evolved. My dad had several of his recordings and even without lyrics, I know them by title <smile>. The music takes me back to times long past. I share two of the many wonderful melodies from Miller's career that were featured in the movie. I find these relaxing, so close your eyes and let the music bring a moment or two of peace. Keep safe. Enjoy!

String of Pearls -- Glenn Miller Orchestra

Moolight Serenade -- Glenn Miller Orchestra

10-83 (24/3/23) -- Big Soak

I am so totally over the shoveling <grump> Several inches of heavy and wet snow fell overnight. I pushed a pathway to the town sidewalk and then went for a different shovel to clear out the end of the driveway. When I returned, the section behind the car was almost cleared by the man who shovels for the neighbours across the street. What a lovely gesture. I thanked him and said I would do the 2 meter stretch beyond the sidewalk. The asphalt cover made that much easier than pushing snow sitting on a mud base.  I still have to do the back porch and clear the car.Those will wait until tomorrow. 

I worked through a few of the small unrelated tasks that need to be done by the beginning of next week -- paying bills, making calls and returning messages. Each takes a short time, unless like one company they require three pieces of information to make sure I am who I say I am. I had to hang up and find the e-bill to get the specifics they asked of me. So, that one took longer than expected. At leset the wait time was mercifully short today. <smile> It feels like I'm buried under all these tiny bits of time that turn into much more before I get through each one. 

After all the shoveling today, I just wanted to soak in a bath to help with the muscle soreness in upper legs and lower back. A couple of lines of a chorus came to mind as  I pondered an evening bath -- made me laugh a bit. Keep safe. Enjoy!  

Splish Splash -- Bobby Darin 

10-82 (23/3/23) -- Enjoying the Season

Cloud returned throughout the day bringing with it the snow that will fall late evening and into the overnight. This will cover the ground again. I was enjoying the sight of ground and grass again and the puddles that had dried fairly well after the last big melt. This is spring afterall -- a transition season. It isn't winter and it isn't summer; it is the movement from a colder season to a warmer season. I've heard people complaining that even with the warmer sun the air temperature is cold. I've found this frustrating over the years, when people see the sun and blue sky and expect it is now summer. The rental house across the street put up their hammock on the front porch this week during the sunnier days. That move may be a month or so early, but they are being optimistic. The wind blows from northerly directions these days and that comes across the ice pack on the strait about 15-20 minutes outside town. For these reasons, the wind is still cold. <smile> I removed a fleece layer worn under my parka this week and felt just comfortable. The sun is very warm -- lots of solar loading at play, but that warms the ground or me if I pause in a full sun area. 

I enjoy transition seasons. They offer a route to the major shifts in temperatures between winter and summer. Spring brings a re-greening of landscapes and surprising little pops of colour with spriing flowers. I'm looking forward to this change in views out the windows and along the sidewalks and roadways. It personifies hope with the constant changes. A song that describes how spring can affect me is shared tonight. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

59th Street Bridge Song -- Simon and Garfunkel

10-81 (22/3/23) -- Growing Sunshine

Today was another bright sunny spring day. I couldn't stay in the house, so I walked up to campus for a quick visit with a couple colleagues and to check mail and such. It felf very good to be out in the sunshine again. Forecasts suggest that we might have cloudy days for the coming two weeks. With that will come some frozen precipitation. The good news with this is that any accumulation of snow will not last for long. The warmer sunshine of this time of year ensures things melt fairly quickly. Even cloudy days see more melting than in the middle of winter. 

Getting into the change of seasons and warming sunshine can improve moods all around. A song with a vertigo inducing video and silly dancers seemed to keep my smiling today. If you get dizzy just sit and listen without watching the screen. This one bothers me a bit, but the beat, melody and lyrics seem to fit this time of year. Kep safe. Enjoy! 

Turn Up the Sun -- Diana Ross ft. Tame Impala (from Minions: The Rise of Gru) 

10-80 (21/3/23) -- Future Hopes

I had lunch out with friends today -- friends I haven't seen in quite a while. It was pleasant to visit. I then went for groceries in the afternoon and enjoyed walking in the sunshine. There was very little wind, so it felt much warmer than yesterday.  

Getting out and about with friends feels positive. I still don't get out as much as I did before lockdown. Finding a way back into the swing of things is taking a while. I'm not sure it will ever be quite the same as it was. It will feel less challenging as time goes on, I hope. 

A song about hope seemed to fit my thinking today. This one is a little different from the usual fare of this artist. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Hope for the Future -- Paul McCartney