OLP30!

 

Starseed!

Last Friday, March 7, I went with my Dad to Our Lady Peace's Ottawa stop on their OLP30 30th anniversary tour, with Collective Soul and Wintersleep opening. An absolutely awesome, Bucket List-worthy concert!

Wintersleep, a band from Halifax, was pretty good, and Collective Soul were great as always (I saw them at Bluesfest about ten years ago). But, Our Lady Peace! One of my all-time favourite groups. I knew almost every song, save for a couple new ones and one or two I'd never heard before. I even sang along to most of them (was a little hoarse coming home afterwards).

About 3/4s of the way through the concert Raine Maida walks around the arena to its centre where there's a piano being set up. Being a really good storyteller and improviser, he leads the crowd in a rendition of Oh Canada. His wife, Chantal Kreviazuk sang a controversial version of the anthem a few weeks before at the Four Nations Canada/US hockey game. You could hear a pin drop! 

The last song was one of my favourites, Starseed, which I had desperately hoped would be played. I wasn't disappointed!

The drive home, I enjoyed American-style sweet tea from Chick-fil-A, leftover from dinner, and sang along to more Our Lady Peace, being played for "the drive home" on Ottawa's alternative rock station. I was seriously wired for most of the rest of the night, posting things on Facebook, looking up music on YouTube, and replaying music in my head until I finally crashed.

Big, big, thanks to my Dad for going with me and to Canadian Tire Centre staff who were helpful when and where things weren't as accessible as they probably should have been.

Cheers!

Gettin' Out 2025

 

Don't worry, it's mine

It's an unusually beautiful Saturday in Ottawa!

After a very busy work-week, and many weeks of lousy Winter weather, I booked it downtown for some reading/writing time, a walk, and a bite. The café I was at was getting surprisingly warm, so it was nicer to sit outside for a few minutes before getting picked up to go home. The area even proved to be a good location for a photo opportunity. 

Hoping this is a sign of good things to come.

Cheers!

The Rare Writer, Officially

 

I just began a new contract at work, which means that as of today, also Rare Disease Day, I am officially a Communications professional (coordinator, to be specific)!!!

It took some patience and creativity while my current position and former administrative role overlapped, but it's done. As of next week, I'm writing for real!

Cheers

This Blog Just Went to Eleven

 

I just randomly remembered that this past week was the Rare Writer's eleventh birthday! 

It's been a pretty great year, despite not writing as much on here. Thanks as always for the supports and readership.

Cheers!

Winter, I Choose You

 

My Father told me recently that a guy he knows says you can only complain about one season. Without any hesitation, I pick Winter, especially after the week of brutal weather we've had!

Starting last Thursday, we got a series of storms, with a record-setting snowfall over the weekend. Plowing still isn't finished! I've been working from home, with team members advising me to stay safely away from downtown Ottawa's slick and covered streets. We've got more snow forecasted for next week, though less than this past weekend. 

Regardless, it's starting to seem endless and I'm kind of done with it. Looking forward to warmer weather, better walking conditions, and travels.

Cheers

A Smaller Goal for 2025

 

After a meeting at work this morning, I came to realize I could do a lot better at making small talk. 

I can converse with people, answer questions, and be generally talkative, but chit-chat has never been my strong suit. Ask me a bigger topic and I can go on and on, but ask me about the weather or traffic and it's, well, something else entirely.

I just got a contract extension, so I have more opportunity to practice.

Cheers!

Reminder: Be a Good Human

 

We've all seen what's been making headlines in recent weeks. I won't comment on the specifics but in the broad sense, I find it annoying at best and horrifying at worst. A lot of it is unfair and my heart goes out to anyone negatively affected by events. 

It's okay to be annoyed and angry (I've let at least one expletive fly, unintentionally...). It can also be very easy to impulsively blame and judge. 

What we need to remember at a time like this is to be civil, compassionate, and treat the right people with respect and kindness. We shouldn't all lose our decency just because of the beliefs and actions of a comparatively small group of individuals.

Hopefully, we can get through this.

Cheers