41 in a (simulated) Galaxy Far, Far, Away (and the office)

 

The Earth makes another full rotation and, just like that, I'm now into my 40's!

On the list of blockbusters running from early May to mid-December, The Mandalorian and Grogu fell closest to my birthday and seemed like something my family might enjoy as well, so that's the movie I asked to see the weekend before my 41st.

The theatre I looked at had a lot of different viewing options. The show we had originally planned to see sold out just before we got there, so we chose to see it in 4DX roughly an hour later. We had looked up what 4DX was at home and were prepared, just in case. Before buying tickets we were a little nervous, but did it anyway.

4DX offers movie goers a totally immersive experience, with seats that move with the action, simulated weather and environment effects, smells, and strobe lights. 

Story-wise, The Mandalorian and Grogu is pretty good. Fun, action-packed, and even kind of cute. No need to have watched anything before, but a lot of bits from The Mandalorian and other Disney shows for those who have. 

The 4DX experience though! Almost immediately, my chair was rocking and rolling, feeling every hit amid a simulated blaster fight then lurching forward into a blast of cold air as the hero runs down a snowy peak in an Imperial walker. A few moments of characters introductions and plot, and I was blasted forward into hyperspace!

During some plot time, my bladder advised me to take a quick break before the next round of action, and it was a good thing I did. 

The Mandalorian has been asked to find Jabba the Hutt's son, Rotta (^ that guy). Expecting him to be captive, it turns out Rotta is a star gladiator approaching his last match. After a nice bit between Rotta and the Mandalorian, the fun begins!

Mando offers to buy Rotta's contract, only to get into a bar brawl (rough, but exciting), then ends up in the gladiator pit himself where he first fights Rotta (I got slammed by a Hutt!). After yielding, they're both forced to fight a slew of alien monsters. (intense, but I'm pretty sure I was laughing the whole time!) Everyone breaks out onto the streets, and Rotta flees. An exhilarating speeder chase, and the heroes learn who the real bad guy is. The whole sequence ends with a bouncy, blastery storming of an Imperial compound!  

Though other parts of the movie were rather jarring and a little uncomfortable, that entire fifteen to twenty minute sequence, from the moment The Mandalorian lands on the planet until he takes off with his Imperial bounty, might just have been one of the best birthday gifts I've ever gotten. It felt like I was right smack in the middle of the old Star Wars: Dark Forces computer games I used to play!

After that, there's some scary bits with a snake monster, cute stuff with Grogu, and an ending where I was flying with an X-wing squadron!

Pretty intense, but definitely an unforgettable experience!

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I also chose my birthday for my first day back in the office since breaking my wrist. I practiced some movements beforehand and had to adjust and MacGyver a few things when I got in but for the most part, everything held up. 

I was finally able to get the paper copy of an award I'd received (along with other members of my team) roughly a month ago, got a lot of nice comments and sympathies from coworkers, and was able to go for lunch and some Ribfest mini-donuts thanks to an early start! 

Next up: He-Man and two days downtown.

Cheers!

(Countdown to) Gettin' Out 2026

I wish...

The brace I had to wear for my wrist came off very early last week, and I had my first appointment for physio Friday afternoon. So far, the exercises I've been given seem to be going okay (range of motion first, strength later), and I'm even starting to be able to do a few more important things on my own!

Obviously I won't be planning anything like a trip to Toronto, but with some tasks slowly getting easier to do independently, I am very cautiously starting to plan for going back into the office and getting out for some events and movies throughout the next month and a bit!

Ribfest starts the last week of May this year. That and either Mortal Kombat II or the Mandalorian movie would make for one really good 41st birthday! And speaking of birthdays, my Dad has suggested going downtown for my annual birthday burger so we can take the LRT. Sounds like fun.

Things to look forward to and incentives to keep up the exercising.

Cheers!
 

Communications Retreat 2026

 

*Photo used with permissions
*Edited by me (explanation in post)

It's been about two-and-a-half months, but better late than never to write about the latest retreat at work.

Mid-February, the Communications team met in Ottawa for a three-day retreat. Unlike the previous time, the weather was excellent and no one faced any major delays to or from their destination!

Things kicked off with an artistic ice breaker, drawing our responses to a small series of questions. Later, we held a major brainstorming session revolving around one of my major tasks, which was very helpful! A conversation with senior staff ended the day.

Training took up much of the next morning, getting tips and a welcome outside perspective on my various tasks and roles. 

Lunch was spent out with a colleague. We've worked together on a few things and have quite a bit in common, but are in different offices so it was nice to be able to talk about work and mutual interests in person. 

Afterwards, some urgent business came up, so everything else for the day was put on hold. Even though it was all outside of my realm, I probably learnt more during that afternoon and following morning just from osmosis and being around my fellow team members.

We went for dinner that night. Good food, conversation, and clear walking conditions. A few coworkers stayed around with me while I waited for a ride home, which was much appreciated!

The third and final morning, after more busyness related to events from the previous afternoon, it was photo time!

Now to explain my editing comment from above: Every photo taken over the three days was an absolute winner; however, in the one pictured above I originally look like I'm mid-sneeze, so I was able to super-impose another image of my face, taken during the last retreat, while keeping everyone else's better, non-sneezy visages.

The rest of the day was filled with catch-up and discussions, ending with final thoughts and an exercise where everyone wrote each other small notes or drawings of appreciation. A few final goodbyes, and we were done.

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Another fun and educational experience. 

While I've always felt included and productive, being part-time (by choice) and working with people spread across the country can have a silo effect every now and then. That's why this retreat seemed so much better to me than the last.

With all due credit to my other team members who were working their butts off at the time, being able to be right in the middle of such a flurry of activity on that second day was an amazing learning opportunity, providing insight into my coworkers and the jobs they do.

I also liked being able to let a work-appropriate amount of my "geek" out.  Two of my team members frequently describe themselves as major geeks. I do too but, prior to joining the Communications team, it didn't seem right to bring it up much, so it's nice to be able to have that outlet, share my hobbies and fandoms, and have some fun.

And lastly, this was my third retreat at CanNor. Compared to 2024 when I was still pretty new at Communications and, frankly, still awe-struck at the thought of having the job itself, and especially compared to the Administrative retreat a year before that when I was dealing with the final bought of pandemic-related jitters, this retreat felt natural. I was working, presenting confidently, and actively socializing!

Hoping to do this again, but maybe I can do the travelling next time??? (The Yukon IS high on my Bucket list...)

 Cheers!

Mmm...Writing *Homer Simpson impression*

 

#Canadiana

Between my arm, appointments, and work, it seems I completely spaced on marking The Rare Writer's dozen-year anniversary!

Continued thanks for continued following.

Cheers!

That Time I Broke My Wrist

 

I haven't posted on here in a little while, and for good reason: I've only got one hand to write with.

The very beginning of March, while getting ready for work, I slipped on the strap of my laptop bag, went down two stairs going to our front entrance-way, went to brace myself with my arm and crushed it. Horrible, horrible pain followed and my father drove me to Emergency. 

After five hours of triage, waiting, and an x-ray, the doctor confirmed my wrist was broken. I got a plaster cast, a shot for the pain, and another x-ray. Lousy experience, but the staff at Queensway-Carleton Hospital were great!

I took the rest of the week off work while my cast set and I adjusted to life with one arm. I couldn't use our basement, got roughly five or six hours of sleep over three days (nearly all of that in a chair in our family room), and needed help with everything (and I mean EVERYTHING!) By the weekend, I was finally able to sleep in my own bed, and my manager was nice enough to order me some pre-made food that was shipped to my house.

Week two, I was working from home, going for walks for exercise, and drive-thru's for an "out." Very reminiscent of the pandemic. And my cast was firm enough for my family to sign and draw on!

Another week and I had a follow-up appointment with Orthopedics. I still needed a cast for a few more weeks, but my arm had shrunk in the plaster so they put me in fiberglass, coloured green per my request. The fiberglass was a lot easier to cope with. It freed my fingers, so I was able to do a few small things somewhat more independently, like dress, make breakfast, carry a few small items and, most importantly, read comics properly! 

Earlier this week, the cast came off. My arm didn't really hurt, and x-rays were a million times less painful than before, but there was still the tiniest bit of healing left, so now I'm in a rather cool-looking plastic/Velcro brace for two more weeks. More hand movement and some limited grip strength. It can come off too, which meant I had a proper shower for the first time in well over a month last night! 

After the two weeks, everything comes off and then it's physio. The end is near but still, it's been a time...

So grateful to everyone, parents specifically!, for all the added help, support, thoughts, and so on.

Cheers!

Keeping Motivated with the Classics

 

Around the start of the new year, I made a resolution to do the treadmill and exercise a little more often. I also wanted to take the winter to go through all the books and DVDs I had.

 To keep myself motivated and honest about the first goal, I combined it with the second and decided to give myself regular challenges. How many episodes of a specific show could I watch while on the treadmill, and how many books can I get through, all before a specific date?

Starting in January, my first challenge was to finish the first two seasons of Babylon 5 and re-read the Clash of Eagles trilogy, all by the end of February/first of March.

Even with last week mostly "off" for events and busyness at work, I managed to finish Book 3 last weekend, and walked through Babylon 5's season 2 finale earlier this week!

My next challenge will take me into the end of April, attempting to finish the next two B5 seasons (making it easier to finish the fifth and final season by my birthday the end of May). For reading, I'm going back to favourites of my youth and tackling, in as chronological an order as I can, the large and cherished collection of Avengers and Thunderbolts comics I've amassed.

Fun (and fit?) times ahead.

Cheers! 

The geek gods are smiling

 

The news right now seems dystopian, winter weather is bumming me out hard, and I have a great many medical things (up to and including surgery for my ears at some point) to look forward to later in 2026. A little pick-me-up would be nice right about now.

Fortunately, the geek gods seem to have taken notice and have already scattered a very generous amount of good entertainment throughout the year.

Once I finish my pre-birthday read-throughs, I'll have new Sigma Force and Demon Cycle novels to enjoy.

On the silver screen, we're getting:

• a new Star Wars (Mandalorian) movie (close to my birthday)
• a new Street Fighter movie
• new Mortal Kombat (also close to my birthday!)
• Masters of the Universe (releasing just AFTER my birthday)
• and a new Avengers movie (right near Christmas!)

And on the smaller screen, there's already new Game of Thrones and Star Trek series (catching up this weekend), with new Star Wars, Daredevil, and a Muppet Show revival on the way!

Still not looking forward to the appointments, tests, and surgery, but this stuff SHOULD at least give me lots to do and in good spirits.

Cheers!