Thursday, 3 July 2025

Planning for a Fall Event??

 


It's been roughly one month since I went to Toronto, and I have the urge to plan for another event, preferably something local (although my uncle just linked me the guest list for Hal-Con 2025 in November, and it looks fairly decent...).

I've been looking into other events I've attended or wanted to attend in the past, and there doesn't look like much of a shortage of potentially fun things to do this Autumn around Ottawa.

  • Robert Englund (THE Freddy Krueger!) is the headliner of September's Ottawa Comiccon (with A Jason Voorhees, though not Kane Hodder), so that goes right to the top of my list! 
  • The Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD) is holding a conference in Ottawa around the end of November. I'd be going as a patient (IF the price is right, that is...), and might be persuaded to book a room at the hotel it's at to avoid troubles with Para Transpo/have a little getaway.
  • Ottawa holds a literary convention called Can-Con in October. Last year's agenda had some fun stuff, and I may know a few people there.
  • There's always hoping the Ottawa Writer's Fest has some fun events for their Fall schedule. 
I already have "placeholders" in my calendar for when I have more information and a better sense of my own schedule and can rule things out, but it looks like I've got some decisions to make over the next month or two.

Cheers!

Monday, 9 June 2025

TCAF 2025

 


I'm back from a TCAF solo vacation in Toronto, my first in seven long years!

I left early Friday morning with an iced coffee-send off from the mother. Great service, nice trip, and a delicious breakfast on the train ride to Toronto. Very hazy pulling into the city. I could barely see the CN Tower!

Even more great service exiting Toronto Union Station, cabbing to my hotel, and checking in.

Smoke and smog from forest fires raging in other provinces convinced me to spend much of Friday afternoon and night in my room, save for a very quick trip to a nearby grocery store and Subway for some snacks and supper. I wasn't complaining though:

For two nights, it was ALL MINE!




I slept in and took my time Saturday morning, then walked literally next door to the Mattamy Athletic Centre, formerly Maple Leaf Gardens, for TCAF. 


I'm absolutely not a hockey or sports fan, but Maple Leaf Gardens is part of Canadian history, so I was excited about that and needed a photo. Inside, the event was spread between two rooms on two separate floors (the photo at the top, and another in what looked like a basketball court). Not was spectacular-looking as past years at the Reference Library, but still just as crazy.
 
I got a good bag-full of books, post cards, and a couple other things, then left. 



On my way out, I remembered I was in the "old" arena, so I went into the stands to organize my swag and take a photo.


I wasn't feeling as adventurous as in previous years, so I stuck to a pretty small grid throughout the weekend. Thankfully, there was a decent Irish pub across from the hotel for lunch after TCAF. Got an iced latte on the way back to the hotel, then brought some dinner back and watched Star Wars movies the rest of the night.

Yesterday, I got to the train station early, hung out in their food court (very nice!) for a while, then boarded my train home. A few delays, but thankfully there was a nice meal and I brought a few leftover snacks for the wait.



It was a really nice weekend on my own, and I'm happy that I still have what it takes to pull it off, but it just didn't hold the same excitement as past trips, and I'm not sure if I'll go again. To be honest, I didn't feel as safe as before. Maybe due to the event being in a different location this year, I don't know? 

I also couldn't help thinking that I could have roughly the same experience (but vastly cheaper!) by getting Para Transpo to any number of local book stores or comic shops, buying a bunch of stuff, then going for lunch. Maybe it's a sign I'm not as young as when I first went ten or so years ago. 😆

Bottom line, it was still a blast and I'm glad I did it.

Cheers!

Thursday, 5 June 2025

A Fine First Week (and a bit) of Being Forty

 


Ten days in, and 40 is thus far going pretty swell.

I went into work last Tuesday and received a very nice e-card from the Communications team, and later enjoyed a delicious barbeque for my birthday supper. Cheesecake for dessert and I shocked everyone, including myself, by blowing out my candles in just one try! (last year took eight...) Gifts included an Indigo gift card to get a good stack of new books this past weekend. 

A tube in one of my ears popped out Sunday which, combined with pressure from up-and-down weather, made me feel pretty gross earlier this week, but I got everything checked out and am feeling better.

The past two days have been great. My contract at work got renewed, earning fist-bumps from senior staff members this morning (plus a bonus free donut)! And just this evening I accepted an advocacy opportunity from LiveWorkPlay for some consulting later this month. 

Oh, and I'm just about ready for TCAF and Toronto for the weekend. On my own, indulging in junk food, comics, and a nice hotel bed!

More posts about all of these things later.

Cheers!

Saturday, 24 May 2025

Finding Footcare

 



One of the biggest, recurrent pains recently when it's come to looking for services, has been finding some help with foot and nail care, since issues with dexterity and coordination prevent me from doing it myself.

I've mostly relied on my mother for help, with some periodic assistance from homecare workers and a trip to a spa last Summer. But my family won't always be around, and homecare depends on the attendant and their availability, so I've been wanting something more regular.

A recent supports assessment pointed me to a website full of resources, which led me to a local footcare clinic, TiredSole. They offer the services I'm looking for, are cheaper than other businesses I've looked at, will do in-office or at-home appointments (great for Winter months), and are only about five-ten minutes away!

I had my first appointment yesterday, and they were really good. Nice place, friendly staff! I got my nails clipped and callouses from my orthotics buffed (with a power tool!). Next appointment is in about six weeks. In the meantime, homecare can at least keep my nails filed. 

It's not quite perfect, but it's another great support to have, one that I've spent a long while searching for. It's also a load off my mind and, hopefully, my parent's as well.

Cheers!


Wednesday, 21 May 2025

Disability Representation, it's Super Effective!

 


Whenever any of my geeky interests collide with disability, a blog post is required.

I've been a Pokémon fan since shortly after the first games came to North America. One of my guilty pleasures is watching playthroughs of fan-made games on YouTube. 

I'm currently watching one of a game called Pokémon Flux, and there are two "fakemon" (fan-designed monsters) that are variants of two original Fighting types, Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan, based on a wheelchair racer and amputee runner respectively, called Hitmonride and Hitmonbolt. 

I'm not posting photos, but will include a link to the game's wiki so you can see for yourselves. 

Never in a million years did I ever expect to see disabled Pokémon. Hats off to the creators. Very awesome! 

Cheers

Monday, 21 April 2025

(Just Under) Forty 'til Forty

 


I've got slightly under forty days until my fortieth birthday.

Is that weird? Yep.

Am I ready for it? Nope.

Just an observation.

Cheers!


Wednesday, 9 April 2025

Back to the Big Smoke


For the first time since 2018, I'm going back to Toronto and TCAF! 

Last year I debated it, but a location change made me nervous and I decided not to go. This year I sucked it up, spent the past month or so planning and doing research, and now it's all booked. TCAF is still in a different venue, but this time everything (hotel, TCAF itself, other things) seems to be right next to each other, so that makes me feel more comfortable. 

After seven long long years, I'm finally travelling on my own again!

Digits being crossed for health, safety, and good weather.

Cheers!