2025 in Review

 

2025 was pretty good to me, overall. I managed to accomplish the vast majority of goals I had set for myself back in July, with the exception of a couple little things.

Early in the year I got my contract at work extended, becoming a full-on Communications professional.

In March I went to Our Lady Peace's Ottawa stop on their OLP30 tour, with Collective Soul opening!!

In the Spring, I finally found a place, just around the corner, where I've been able to get help with foot care. I've also learnt that they'll cut finger nails as well. And on top of that, I've found some assistance with ironing for when I need it (another thing I've been looking into for a long while)!

The end of May, I turned 40. Weird at first, but it's been pretty good so far. 

One week later, I went back to Toronto for TCAF, my first solo trip in seven whole years! 

I had been nervous before booking it months before, but I did some extensive research, and the venue, hotel, and eateries were all literally right next to each other, so that made things a lot more accessible and fun.

Summer was filled with work, a tiny staycation, many trips to the movie theatre and book store, and moving rooms. 

Autumn was very eventful, mixed with joy and sorrow. Unfortunately, my Nanny Perkins passed away on Thanksgiving after many years living with Alzheimer's. 

On the positive side, I did quite a lot! Along with time at the cabin, reading days downtown, and checking out a couple new, delicious burger joints, I attended a talk with the creator of The Raccoons, met astronaut Chris Hadfield during the Ottawa International Writers Fest, and took part in a professional Communications event. 

Christmas was pretty chill, with family time, nice presents, and plenty of chocolate.

A few big plans for 2026 being ironed out.

Happy New Year!

Cheers

Merry Rexmas!

 Something a little different this Christmas. I never would've thought "Santa Claus riding dinosaurs" would be such an expansive genre of Christmas imagery, but it is and I am 100 per cent okay with it!

Hope everyone has/is having an enjoyable holiday season.

Cheers and Merry Christmas!

Survival of the Weirdest

 

I'm not now, nor have I ever really been, a huge fan of "reality TV." I've liked a few series but, mostly, I can't stand seeing the same annoying people over and over like it's their career, and I loathe the bullying and sleaziness of certain series. Currently, I'll watch The Voice and Survivor, the latter of which I genuinely enjoy. 

The other night, I watched the finale of Survivor 49 and I have to say that, in my opinion, it was one of the best endings of a reality series, and certainly the best finale of Survivor ever! It affected me so positively that I just had to write about it. 

What got to me was this season's cast. From the Jury to the final three women, I found they came off as an astonishingly likeable, close-knit, and caring group of individuals (a rare occurrence in reality TV, at least to my eye).

 
A couple writers, fanboys, at least one scientist, and many proudly describing themselves as weirdos, nerds, or just awkward. So obviously I identified a little with some of them. 

And not once, to my knowledge, did anyone mention autism or being somewhere along the spectrum. (Nothing wrong with that but, in my opinion, I think too often, autism can be thrown around as a catch-all for anything weird or socially awkward, especially on television, which can get a bit cliché sometimes.) The plain weirdness was refreshing!

I've continually praised Survivor since its return after the pandemic for being more inclusive, diverse (without resorting to intentional stereotyping), kind, and fun - things host Jeff Probst routinely mentions as well. It's what makes it one of the few remaining network programs I will watch week to week. 

Can't wait for the big Survivor 50!

Cheers

Scomac Goes North

 

During the pandemic, I got into Dungeons and Dragons. I took a bunch of race/class/species quizzes, tried some story-based play until it got boring, and eventually challenged myself to write about my life as if I were a character, adhering to the race, classes, and species determined by the quizzes I took. 

My life adapted to fantasy quite easily, and The Tale of Scomac Andrellan started to write itself.

Explained here, my tale begins with Scomac as a sickly, crippled boy. His parents move the family from a seaside port to the capitol of their land in hopes of better resources to help their son. With the aid of potions and alchemy, Scomac begins to improve. A monastic academy helps build his physical and mental health, and a system of magical writing allows Scomac to write and craft stories without physical exertion. Through a guild called the Seal of Eastar, Scomac regularly visits the Merry Wood, a refuge where he meets others like himself, becomes a leader, and gets his first of many experiences as a bard.

While studying storytelling, magic writing, and other skills at a bardic college, Scomac learns he's a Joubare. Joubares are a rare type of human known for having an aptitude towards magical forms of communication and for each individual being uniquely different from the rest. Meeting with other Joubares and leaders of their society, Scomac travels far and wide, using his bard experience to spin inspirational tales of his life, until a great plague begins to ravage the world!

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Going back to it recently, I added a second, shorter update to the story.

After two years of sequestering himself indoors, among the comfort of his books and writings, the global scourge subsides enough and Scomac goes on a series of journeys. First, to the vast steppes and prairies of his nation, learning about the dragons and other magnificent beasts that once roamed there. Later, he visits a region of deep mines and lakes so large they seem like oceans, said to be ruled over by an ancient panther god. Then, Scomac returns to the place of his birth for a reunion with family.

When he arrives home, Scomac is offered work in the northern territories of his land. There, he works closely with various officials in a number of capacities, such as bookkeeping and matters of the crown. He becomes skilled with linguistics, combining that with magic writing to find employment with a group of bards and messengers.

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And that's it so far. 

Geeky? Yes. 

Did I think it would be weird to write and share this? You bet!

Was it fun, though? Also yes.

Cheers!

That Time I Met an Astronaut

 

Tonight, I met an astronaut!

Col. Chris Hadfield was one of the guests of this Fall's edition of the Ottawa International Writers Festival, in Ottawa to promote his newest book, Final Orbit, and speak about his career.

I've read and enjoyed Hadfield's two previous novels, have been looking for something to do, and have always been into space stuff, so this event was a no-brainer.

Hadfield spoke about his writing process, certain plot points in his novel, and the personal experiences from his time as a pilot and astronaut that he drew on for inspiration. He got right into the audience, was personable, and shared plenty of interesting, and even funny, anecdotes and facts about the Space Race, Cold War, and America and Russia's respective space programs.

Afterwards, he personalized copies of attendees' books. Very nice guy. Being space-obsessed, I geeked out harder than I've ever geeked out in my entire life! Externally, I was perfectly composed. Internally, my brain was going "Be cool!" the entire time I was lined up. 😜

Got a couple selfies with the mother afterwards since it was a really nice night, then went home.

Another Bucket List-type experience, for sure.

Cheers!

In Memory of my Nanny

 

Sadly after nearly 94 years of life, the last 10 with Alzheimer's, I said my final goodbye to my Nanny, Donna Perkins (maternal grandmother), early last week.

For the better part of 40 years, she spoiled me rotten. Christmas was always filled with the latest VHS or DVD release, Piroulines, MAD Magazines and, unquestionably, the best ginger cookies (thankfully, I got her to teach me the recipe the last time she was in Ottawa). 

When I went to college, she'd call me regularly. 

Later on, she played a big part in my travelling independently. First inviting me to fly down and stay with her for a few days over the summer (seven of them), then being the first person (before even my parents) who was okay with me going to TCAF and Toronto on my own.

A couple years after my first trip to Toronto, she was formally diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Visits and conversations were fewer and farther between from then on, save for Christmas. 

My last visit with my Nanny was two years ago to share one last coffee and show her some photos from a comic convention in Halifax (photo above), during a Hymn Sing at the long-term care facility she was living at. Her memory was poor, and the vibe of a room full of senior citizens "dancing" to Spirit In The Sky was definitely something else...😆, but she looked great compared to two years prior in her home, almost like she used to. 

I do have a few minor regrets not visiting her after that, but that visit alone is a perfect final memory, encompassing everything I loved about her.

Will love and miss her always.

Summer of 2025

Old photo but, why not?

 This has been the longest I've gone without posting since 2014, so I feel like readers deserve a bit of an update.

I mostly worked, the first few months of a new contract. Spent a few weeks on my own in July while my family was in Nova Scotia. No complications, a rare weekend of nice weather spent at the movies, downtown, and on the back deck, and I even kept all our plants alive this time!

More work and more movies followed, then I moved rooms. 

Switching to a bigger room ended up being a month-long process. Cleaning, schlepping, re-organizing things, finding spots for my many little Pop vinyls, mini-figures, and knick-knacks. And books. So. many. books!! 

Much deliberating over what to keep, sell, donate, or trash. But, after many drop-offs at our local second-hand store and the purchase of a second bookshelf, I think I'm okay for the moment. Much re-reading to be done over the next few months, but I'll save that for later posts.

My Summer ( a few days into Fall, but I'm counting it) ended with me attending a talk with Kevin Gillis, creator of The Raccoons. 

Put on as part of the Ottawa International Animation Festival, it was a retrospective and celebration of the cartoon's 40th anniversary. Some great stories, good music, and a fun part of my childhood!

Working on Fall now, with a few tentative events being lined up.

Cheers!