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!

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 kind 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!