11-240 (27/8/24) -- Dance through the Day

It was summery today -- sunny with hot temperatures.  I walked out for the mail and did some walking to complete errands to pick up two needed grocery staples. I felt fatigued and had a short nap in the afternoon. 

The gardeners were watering the new sprayed on grass seed today. When I went out to water the patio garden plants, the sprinklers were watering the back corner of the patio. I got a bit damp as it oscillated back and forth. The newly graded hillside seems to avoid pooling of water between the buildings as had been the case since last summer. However, there is an area downhill in between the buildings on this street and one street over. It isn't flowing down towards the sewer grates. This may be an issue when we get rain, if it is creating pools with sprinklers. Drainage issues seem to be problematic. 

Listening to some music helped me perk up a bit today. A song that fit the mood and the need to boost it a bit is shared today. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Some Days You Gotta Dance -- The Chicks

11-241 (28/8/24) -- Carrying Loads

The main event today was a trip to the garage for replacement of the windshield. The job took two hours so I went walking along Main Street and stopped for lunch. When finally back home, I worked on the copyedited version of the accepted manuscript. I accepted and rejected some of the suggestions. Others took more detailed responses to clarify intent of original phrasing that was altered in the editor's attempt to clarify things. It was a lot of small changes that needed to be dealt with. Some suggestions were excellent while a few were less so. It takes tact <smile>.

The weather was cooler and windy. Some rain was expected, but very little actually fell. The next few days are to be cooler than the past few days -- particularly overnight temperatures. That we are cooling while those south of us are sweltering is odd. The way the major low and high pressure systems have lined up, there is a blocking pattern that will keep the heat south of us. I'd be happy with more summer weather, even though I recognize that a new month will be upon us this weekend.  

Emotions have been a bit frayed recently. Way to many things to deal with -- the load can be heavy. One song came to mind when thinking today. The title says it all <smile> 

The Weight -- The Band

11-239 (26/8/24) -- Moody Monday

The landscapers were back today to spray grass seed sprayed behind the house. Gardeners were watering between buildings with two sprinklers. We should see a lot more green around here soon. 

I worked on the latest copyedits for the paper that was accepted for publication. Some edits needed a response and many more could be accepted as they were. A meeting with my co-author helped to talk through responses. 

I went for two walks today. I've been feeling anxious and sad. Walking seemed to help a bit. A song that was playing on the mp3 player sounded just like I felt. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Chances -- Athlete 

 

11-238 (25/8/24) -- Ups and Downs

Woke today shouting and in tears. Nightmares are not common, but when they occur it is difficult to get back to sleep. The emotions from this dream lingered throughout the day. I tried to keep busy. I went to a store to get two needed items. That was a short trip, but got me out into the sunny hot afternoon. Shortly after I returned, clouds began to gather and obscure the sun. 

I tried to look for positives throughout the day. This gave me something to see other than the negatives hanging out just behind my shoulders. I took some time to do little household cleaning jobs that I just hadn't gotten to lately. That felt good. There are more to do, but I got some done today. I cooked a dinner meal that I haven't had recently. It tasted great. The garden patio seems to be doing well. Tomato plants have new blossoms. The gerbera daisy, which I have been watering faithfully, has not had a bloom for about a month. There is a flower bud getting ready to open. I'm looking forward to that and to more tomatoes. 

In honour of Elvis Costello's 70th birthday, I share two of his songs. I enjoy both of these and many others of recordings. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Red Shoes -- Elvis Costello

 

She -- Elvis Costello

Red Shoes and She

  

11-237 (24/8/24) -- Mobile Hoses

This Saturday had bright blue sky, sunshine and major south winds. Temperatures were warm and summery. I did the usual Saturday chores -- laundry and household cleaning along with online writing projects.

First off -- let me clarify that hoses were assigned to each building for use by gardeners. Residents can use them when not in use otherwise. "My" hose disappeared a few weeks ago. About the same time, the unit next to me seemed to have two hoses connected to enable them to get to the full length of the property. Whether the neighbours or the gardeners moved the hose from the spigot on my outside wall is not clear. I was told by a non-gardener that when the gardeners had finished with the hose, 'mine' would be returned. So, when I saw one attached to my place a couple of days ago, I assumed it was back. 

Yesterday I heard a noise at the side of the house and saw my neighbour moving 'his' hose with their spray nozzle from my spigot. He wound it up and laid it on their front porch. What is likely the hose assigned to my building is attached to the spigot on the neighbour's building. Gardeners have been watering the newly germinated grass seed between our buildings. That hose is being used for the sprinkler. I say this since the hose with the sprinkler is black and the one with the spray nozzle is green. The one dropped off last fall on my front porch was black. I don't care which hose ends up with my spigot. I just want a hose that I can use so I don't have to ferry water from the kitchen to the patio to water plants or fill a pail to wash the car. I am not sure how to handle this one. It is odd that people seem emboldened to 'borrow' things from other units without saying anything. Sharing is definitely on the table, so I'd be open to requests to hose usage. I spoke with another neighbour further down the street who had 'his' hose taken by a neighbour a few doors away who needed more than one hose to do vehicle cleaning. So, it appears I am not the only one with this issue. <sigh>  

Thought of a phrase in a song today. It helped me smile. Keep safe. Enjoy!

Beg, Borrow and Steal -- Ohio Express

 

11-236 (23/8/24) -- Supply Interruption

The meeting we rescheduled yesterday for today has now been moved to later next week. I went out to the insurance office and found that I do have glass coverage. Good news. There is a deductible, but it is manageable given the cost of windshields now. Many of the electronic sensors for the fancy bells and whistles are embedded in the windshield glass. Interesting, eh? 

I returned home and while making lunch realized that I was out of bread. I thought I had another loaf in the freezer, but alas, that was not so. After a non-sandwich lunch, I headed out again to get some bread and a couple of other items from the grocery store, which is across the parking lot from the insurance office I was at earlier today. <sigh> Good news again that three items I wanted were in stock and one other was on sale. I'll take those as wins these days. 

The labour disputes with the two major rail lines in Canada could still interfere with supply chains. After the lockouts yesterday, the federal government chose binding arbitration to settle the disputes. Some items will still be moving slowly. The rail lines here carry about $1B in goods daily -- not an insignificant number.  Luckily, the windshield I need is in stock down the highway, so it will be here for replacement by middle of next week. We will see how things go over the coming days and hope that major shortages of essential goods don't occur -- like chlorine for safe drinking water. 

There are many train and railroad songs, but today a Canadian one fit best. The visuals in the accompanying video are wonderful. The rail lines connected this wide country and helped the parts come together as a whole -- a new nation. Much history lies in the tracks that crisscross the country. Three generations of my family worked on the railway. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Canadian Railroad Trilogy -- Gordon Lightfoot

11-235 (22/8/24) -- Stop Already!

My afternoon meeting was postponed until tomorrow morning. This left me room to do errands on Main Street and then get out to get a few groceries. As I was approaching the grocery store, a dump truck went by and threw a stone at my windshield. Big starburst and a horizontal crack halfway across the windshield. So now there is one further ugly thing to deal with. I've lost count of how many unwanted events or issues have been thrust into my life recently. I'm running out of energy to deal with it all. <sigh> It disturbs sleep, too, which compounds the fatigue. 

To be honest, this feels like the proverbial straw. I'm not sure I can handle any further impediments placed on my path. I've been told that I am strong. I'm not sure this is true <sigh>. I know I get quieter and hide away when anxiety gets huge. Others won't see this, though. I try to problem solve where I can. For the latest smaller issue, I will contact my insurance person tomorrow to ensure I have glass coverage and then will need to figure out who to take this to for replacement. For today, I just withdrew. 

The song for the day sort of fit with the thoughts of the day. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

The Last Straw -- Widespread Panic