One Week Until Drumheller

 

Triceratops

You know what's a better topic than housing?

Dinosaurs!

Exactly one week until Drumheller, and the countdown is intensifying with the first of seven positively prehistoric posts with some favourite, and often Canadian, creatures.

Cheers!

I Shouldn't Have to Do This

 

I've got housing on my mind again. 

It's been five years since I seriously looked into it, and about three since I had my one and, so far, only viewing of an accessible/subsidized apartment through the Ottawa Housing Registry.

The province of Ontario recently had an election, and I was in the middle of drafting a housing-related email to one of my area's candidates when our current Member of Provincial Parliament, who I unsuccessfully reached out to years earlier, was reelected. Instead, I'm in the process of finishing the email to send to one of our city council members. 

I know there's a housing crisis that's affecting everyone, and I'm aware that this email won't magically get me a place to live, or more money to think I can look, but it will get my story told.

But, I can't help thinking that I shouldn't have to do this.

I shouldn't have to be below the poverty level. I shouldn't have to have been on a list for accessible housing for well over a decade now. And I shouldn't have to keep contacting policy makers in hopes that someone just might be willing and able to do something for me (and others)!

Stating the obvious, but it's worth venting about.

Cheers.

Of Andorians and Assistive Communication

 

Last weekend, I started drafting an email to a couple local representatives, sharing a bit of my story, and ask them what they would do about disability services, and the lack thereof, if they should be elected.

It's a pretty depressing affair, and brings back memories of five years ago when I broke down after a month of this garbage which, incidentally, is partially referenced in the email.

The Internet, though, came to my aid with two disability-related pick-me-ups.

First was a short article about a young college graduate, autistic and non-verbal, who was asked to deliver the valedictorian speech, and did so via a text-to-speech program. This time of the year, there always seems to be a story like this and some, in my opinion, can be pretty sappy. Which is why I appreciated how some articles mentioned this young woman's high grade point average, her field of study and the professor who was mentoring her, and her work as a writer and advocate for people using assistive communication devices.

Story number two came to me thanks to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the franchise's newest series, which is seriously awesome already! A legally blind actor from Calgary has been cast as an Andorian crewmember of The Enterprise. He appeared very briefly in the premiere episode, but figured quite prominently in the second, his blindness being incorporated perfectly, and the actor himself working well with the main cast.

Some much needed positivity to get my mind away from guttery-type areas.

Cheers!  

Countdown

 

Exactly one month and counting until vacation in the Badlands.

Looking forward to the Royal Tyrrell Museum, Dinosaur Provincial Park, where I now want to challenge myself to get that exact photo!, travelling around to see as much as possible on the Dinosaur Trail, and dinner at the Last Chance Saloon at some point.

So excited!!

Cheers

 

Review: The Last Leg

 

A couple months ago, I started watching clips of The Last Leg on YouTube after watching stand-up videos of host Adam Hills (including a Just for Laughs set he did with The Muppets, which is awesome!). 

The Last Leg is like a British version of The Daily Show, but with a large focus on disability. Hills and one of the co-hosts, Alex Brooker, are both amputees, and disabled correspondents/comedians and guests are on the show regularly. 

The Last Leg also makes time for a lot of disability-related stories and topics. They've gone all-out for the Paralympics, recently designed a wheelchair for Queen Elizabeth after a report of Her Majesty experiencing some mobility issues (gold-plated, with a robotic saluting/slapping hand and attached corgi balloons), and have discussed more serious issues like England's hospitals and disability benefit system (very educational and relatable for someone from "across the pond.")

Some of the British news goes over my head, but I get their humour and the show brings on guests from Doctor Who, The IT Crowd, and other shows I've watched, so it's pretty accessible. 

I just really enjoy the massive amount of disability representation, and the fact that they don't shy away from disability-related jokes, which always seems to be a taboo on screen! 

It'd be amazing to see this kind of program in Canada, or even in the States.

Cheers!

Five Random Things

 

Bored this afternoon and felt like writing something, so I turn to the trusty writing prompts. Today I found one suggesting I write five random facts about myself, but I've already posted something like that. Instead, I'd like to write about five random achievements, smaller things I never really thought I'd do.

1. White water rafting (pictured above)

I did it for the first time in 2002 while I was at summer camp. It seemed pretty scary at first, but I had a counsellor with me and once we got past the first set of rapids, it was a blast! I even met my family, randomly, on the way out, while they were going on a tamer excursion.

2. Joined a couple junior high school sports teams

"Joined" is a bit of an exaggeration. My 8th Grade home room teacher and aide were the coaches of the boy's basketball and three-pitch teams, and I was made assistant coach of both instead of having to play those sports in Gym class. I went to the same practices, the same competitions, and had to memorize all the rules. 

3. Fired a gun

It was my Dad's pellet gun, shooting at cans and targets at our family's cabin. To compensate for my short arms and lack of coordination, we've come up with the idea of sitting on a chair or stump, and resting the gun on another stump/chair to aim and fire properly.

 4. Successfully used a bottle opener 

Took a couple tries and only a small amount of spillage, but I've gotten quite adept at this.

5. Climbed to the top of a canyon

It was the Barren Canyon, during the one, brief, sunny moment in a bitter-cold weekend of camping in Algonquin Park. My Dad helped me, but not as much as either of us thought he'd have to.

Cheers!

Young Man, Going West

 

Summer vacation to Drumheller, Alberta is officially happening!

I've wanted to do this Bucket list trip for a while now, and after two years of pandemic-related quasi-isolation, I definitely need it.

My uncle, who used to live in Calgary recommended a ton of things to do, and a friend of my Mom's sent me a bunch of photos from a trip she took out there last year.

So far, stops include the Royal Tyrrell Museum and Dinosaur Provincial Park (my reasons for wanting to go in the first place). My uncle told us about a ghost town and some saloon, which sound very cool, too. Even the stuff I'll see just driving around will be worth the trip!

So excited!!

Cheers