What's in store for 2026??

 

I really can't believe it's 2026 already! 

As per usual, it's goal setting time.

Heath - 2026 is already shaping up to be an eventful year in terms of my heath, with some overdue maintenance, many different appointments, and even surgery to replace a tube in my ear at some point. And since I don't feel like putting much of this off more than I have, or have any number of doctors criticizing me, I'm deciding to make this year a slightly healthier one. 

First, this means eating a little better. What started as an "out" during the pandemic, has turned into a bit of a habit when it's come to my pensions for junk food. Not cutting things out, but making a conscious decision to reduce my intake.

Second, exercise! I always write about doing the treadmill, and always seem to not end up doing it. Well, this time I've made a plan, set small goals for myself, and drawn up an actual schedule. I'm combining my walking with another goal to do re-watches of many of the TV series I've got on DVD. I walk and watch, then record the amount of time, series, and episode I just watched on a printed-out calendar. My first goal is to finish the first two seasons of Babylon 5 by the first of March.

Along with the treadmill, I've even started doing yoga and pilates-type exercises with my mother. They're short videos on YouTube and most of it is stuff I've been told to do for most of my life anyway. Just something different.

Now for the usual fun stuff.  

Reading - At the end of the Summer, my sister moved out and I moved into her bigger room. One of the biggest challenges was figuring out what to do with the incredibly large amount of books and comics I've amassed over the years. Despite getting a bigger room, I still had more reading material than I had space for. The next couple months were spent figuring out what I wanted to keep, then selling, donating, or simply trashing the rest. 

After the purchase of a second bookshelf, and too much schlepping, I've got things to a somewhat more stable volume. But two of my favourite novel series, James Rollins' Sigma Force and Peter Brett's Demon Cycle, will have new installments by the Spring, so I may need to make a little more room. 

Until my birthday the end of May, I'm doing a read-through of as much as I can (especially if it's something I may want to part with), keeping to a schedule similar to my treadmill/DVD calendar.

Travel - TCAF 2026 is being held at the same location on roughly the same weekend as last year, so I think I'll plan on going again! I know I've said it's expensive and wasn't quite as exciting as it used to be, but it's a short trip, convenient, and something I, and my family, know I can do independently, so it's king of worth it. 

Going to Nova Scotia some time in the Summer to say one last goodbye to my Nanny Perkins.

If there's time, a trip to Manitoulin Island. I read somewhere recently that there's a site there called Sheguiandah with a collection of some of the oldest stone tools in Canada which would be cool to see. I've been to Manatoulin Island once before for years ago for a family camping trip, and it was a nice place.

All that and, likely, more or less.

Cheers!

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 January, 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.