“The therapy of music”

Imagine me in my studio. It’s big with tall ceilings and two skylights. It’s my sanctuary. When the pressures of eClass and online research press too hard, I retreat to my studio and work on a drawing. But, first things first. I fill the space with my favourite music. Iona, a celtic band from Britain. A full atmospheric sound. It’s therapy. I know, not everyone has a studio, but there’s always that “other studio,” that mobile place of retreat aka van or car or for some the iPod. That’s why I love distance driving. Just me and my music. Ah, feelin’ better already!

“Talking in a winter wonder land”

This week I start two new courses. “Organizational Communications,” and “Applied Research in Communications.” Even though we had a beautiful dusting of snow on our island ( the first snow of the winter ), I need not be concerned about “walking in a winter wonder land” to get to the university. I can “talk” my way through the technology of online discussions via eClass. It’s quite remarkable that at my age this new technology is not in the least intimidating. In fact, my greater challenge is to know when I’ve said enough online, because no one interrupts me while I compose my online discussion postings, except for live chat sessions when common courtesy demands we all take proper turns. Talking is in fact the most natural thing to do and it is the essential ingredient of effective communications. Talking is natural. Listening is an acquired skill. Informed leadership does both. Ps. That's our island family home and my studio is on right side of the house, at the top of the driveway.

“The last entry of 2010”

I finished the year by completing a creative writing project I began in 2004. It took seven years to write. “Cerulean Odyssey: the long distance voyager,” is a 7 volume epic poem comprising 110,934 words and 20,729 lines in 715 tableaux ( individual poems ). This is the longest epic ever written in Canadian literature. Parts have been “published” (I should say “printed”) using POD (Print On Demand). It was not an assignment of any kind, but something I wanted to complete before I began my second year of graduate studies. Writing poetry has been a part of my artistic journey since the beginning, but only now do I feel ready to take the next step, and that is to partner with a bona fide publisher ( not POD ) to publish the epic. Hopefully in 2011.

“The other cohorts”

Another year has come and gone and the prospects for 2011 look bright as I enter my second year of graduate studies. That includes looking forward to the Spring Institute in May at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. It will be a sweet reunion as I meet my fellow “cohortians” again. Many of them were very encouraging throughout 2010. The challenges of my first year were often overwhelming. But I am satisfied with the results having achieved a very comfortable grade for all my work. But, there is another cohort, a special group of people who provide an immeasurable amount of motivation in my journey as artist, author, mentor, student, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. They are my family both immediate and extended. Each a treasure. Each the real reason why this wonderful tapestry of life looks so good. To them and to all my university “cohortians,” I wish you a compound blessing for 2011, hoping you will find meaning in what you do and encouragement and comfort in those who travel with you and those you meet along the way.

What happened to the light?

Sure there was "light at the end of the tunnel" in early December (my previous entry), but then I found out my next major course begins the first week of January 2011. I thought I'd have a few more weeks of R&R. Oh well. The course is titled: Organizational Communications.In literature there's a term called "pathetic fallacy," referring to nature itself being in sympathy with deeds committed. Perhaps the view over Nanaimo in my stormy sky photograph, taken yesterday morning, is a sobering reminder that there's still a whole lot of work to do. But, as I prepare to enter the second year of my "back-to-school-at-65" odyssey, I remain optimistic and motivated. Good grades are helping a lot too. Plus my second book of poetry, "Cold Winter Breath," is now published. If interested, just go to www.publishamerica.com and type my name in the search bar in the "authors's information" page. And last but not least, a blessed Christmas season to everyone, and best wishes for well-being and fulfillment in the new year, 2011.

"Light at the end of the tunnel"

There are 2 weeks left in my current core course that explores critical thinking, and 4 weeks left in the two electives I undertook at the same time. It’s been a grueling pace since September 6, but worth every moment. No details, but suffice it to say volumes of reading, endless online research, keeping my thoughts from wandering or tuning out, writing, and more writing. My secret? Lists. The good ol’ pieces of paper with lists and list of list. I regularly update the lists, rewrite them and check them frequently. Love making checkmarks when a task is done. Prioritize from most important at the top of the list and things that can be “carried forward” at the bottom. Make a short “to-do-today” list and crumple it up when done. Great therapy. By Christmas I will be just over half-way through my graduate program. Then there’s a big break till the next courses. Ah, the studio is calling me! Be encouraged those of you who follow this blog. If I can do it so can you.

“Whales and Porpoises,”

Why I live and study on an island, and my university is a province away. A glorious moment amidst the chaos of life. The other day, my wife Alice and I went to Berry Point, a favourite place on the island just a couple of minutes away. It affords a spectacular wide-angle view of BC’s mainland and coastal mountains, Johnson Strait, and Vancouver Island. Suddenly! A commotion in the distant water. A mile long school of porpoises were chasing each other through the ocean, many flashing bright as they jumped out of the water. Another visitor to the Point, yelled, “whales!”. Three pairs of large Orcas, each about a half mile apart, came cruising past us. Spectacular. One pair came so close who could hear ( and see ) their blowholes. Somehow it put a kick in my step again to go back to my study and work on that Cloud Computing paper.(Not my photograph. Courtesy Google Images but a close match to what we saw).