2021 In Review

 

I only realized last night that tonight is New Year's Eve, so here's the annual review.

While not the greatest year, 2021 was at least a lot less apocalyptic than 2020 and provided a little more opportunity to do a few things.

I was able to meet all the goals I had set back in January, with the exception of physically going back to work. Although, I was at least able to enjoy a Christmas lunch with several coworkers recently.

I was able to get a real haircut, browse through a bookstore for a while and, thankfully, see a movie in theatre! It took until just last week, but I got to travel and see my family again. And, of course, I got both COVID vaccines (with a third coming, hopefully early in the New Year).

Like in 2020, I did A LOT of writing this year. Most of it was just for fun, like creating my own fictional Pokémon game and expanding the Scooterverse, but I also decided to do some serious writing again too, with another big series for the blog, a five-year plan, and a post I decided to submit to The Mighty (which didn't end up getting published). 

Aside from work, a COVID booster, and seeing the new Spiderman movie, I have no clue what 2022 will bring and, frankly, I'm setting the bar low. Just need to be optimistic.

Cheers and Happy New Year's!

Christmas 2021

 

Back to work today, so Christmas holidays are officially at an end. It was an enjoyable break, and timed perfectly, considering how things are at the moment.

Things kicked off with my first trip/flight/visit with my grandparents in two whole years! I'll be honest, I was really scared about travelling the handful of days leading up to our departure, but Ottawa's airport was great, everything felt safe and, other than a bumpy landing, we had a nice flight to Halifax. 

The first day of our vacation, we went to visit my Nanny Perkins (Mom's mom). Not having seen her in two years, I got a bit emotional (this would happen a few times throughout the week). After sitting around and chatting for a few hours, we treated my grandmother/she treated us to dinner. After that, we drove around looking at all the Christmas lights, and got the usual "tour" of where everyone was born, lived, worked, went to day care, etc.

The next day, we made use of our rental's snow tires during the vacation's one day of Winter weather in order to visit with my Grammy and Grampy MacLellan, as well as my Uncle Sean (Dad's parents, brother) for a big Christmas dinner.

The day after, my sister and I spent time with my Nanny while our parents ran some errands. For dinner, I got to enjoy one of my two "asks" for the trip: fried clams, something I'd been waiting two whole years for!

For our final day on the East Coast, we celebrated Christmas.

We opened cards, gift cards/certificates, snacks, and other small gifts we were able to pack. Later in the afternoon, we went to one of Dartmouth's shopping malls and saw Woody the Talking Christmas Tree, my second "ask".

Woody wasn't feeling so well.

After that, we went out for a nice dinner then back to my Nanny's place. I took time to explore the basement, like I usually do. I found a few really awesome old books (which my grandmother said I could have), including a hardcover edition of Ian Fleming's Goldfinger from 1959, published in Oxford, England!
 

So cool!

While saying goodnight, and goodbye, to my grandmother, I had a moment where I got super emotional. It's been so long since I've been down there, and because of her heath it will probably be the last real Christmas with her. And who knows what's going to happen with the pandemic. It's all really sad, and kind of stupid in a way. Oh well, focus on the good times!

We got to say one more quick goodbye the next morning, before a delicious brunch and catching our flight home later in the afternoon. 

What followed was a nice, relatively quiet Christmas with the family.

This trip was several months in the making and I'm so, so happy we were able to do it! Not sure when the next trip will be, but hopefully sooner than two years.

Cheers!

 

Writing About Speaking

 

The other day, I was going through a pile of folders and found a bunch of old articles, speeches, and speaking-related papers. Most related to Leaders of Tomorrow, the group that introduced me to advocacy and public speaking.

This story goes back to 2002, when I was sitting as a Youth Representative on the North Dundas district council for Easter Seals. Early in the Fall of 2003, I was asked if I would like to be a part of a pilot group Easter Seals was launching called the Leaders of Tomorrow. The group was made up of 15-20 young adults from all across Ontario who would act as advocates for Easter Seals, and promote disability and accessibility awareness in general. The participants were also required to do 10 to 15 public speaking engagements over two years. I said yes, and had my first meeting with the group a few weeks later at a youth conference. 

I was presenting shortly into the next year, doing quick "thank-you's" at fundraising events, a couple talks to students at one of the local schools, and I even worked Easter Seals into a presentation for a Sociology class I was taking.

During college, I linked in with Easter Seals Ottawa and did a couple interviews for telethons and the news. I spoke in an ad that made it on the Jumbotron during an Ottawa 67s hockey game. And in what has probably been my worst speaking experience, I went off-paper (as in no written speech at all) and made a REALLY bad joke in front of business people, professional athletes, and one of Ottawa's best-known news personalities at a skating event with the Ottawa Senators, the city's professional hockey team!

After graduating, I got heavily into speaking, giving presentations at Easter Seals events, a Transitioning Resource Fair organized by the Children's Treatment Centre I had gone to years before, and to classes at Ottawa's two universities. It was also at this time that I had been asked to be a part of the second Leaders of Tomorrow group.

After that, I started presenting on my own behalf, mostly to some of those same university classes and campers at Easter Seals Camp Merrywood.

Eventually, I would be diagnosed with Joubert syndrome in 2011 and go on to speak at the Joubert Foundation's conference in 2013, which itself would lead to a lot more opportunities.

An unintentional walk down memory lane and something I've never written about before. 

Cheers!

Doing Things

 

This last month's been an eventful one, for a change.

Just this afternoon, I had a Christmas lunch with people from work, in person, on my own. Nice pub-style restaurant with a pretty ginormous club sandwich and a Pepsi that came with...wait for it...a plastic straw!!

The first time I've had decent social interactions and done anything without the aid of my family in nearly two years! In one way, it was so weird. But it was also so great to see everyone in person and have a good meal. 

And that hasn't been my only outing or achievement from the past thirty days. 

Earlier this week, I had a yearly home care assessment and was able to get that re-instated starting early next month. I've been glad to have had my parents' help during this period, but getting that part of my past routine back will feel so good!

Finished my Christmas shopping recently, with a trip to one of the local shopping malls, another thing I haven't done in a while. While there, I proverbially patted myself on the back and treated myself to a Payday bar and something I saw online and HAD to try for myself: bacon brittle.

And last but not least, a couple weeks ago I went and browsed around a local bookstore for the first time since last March. I went a little crazy and got more than a few items for myself (normally a pre-Christmas taboo), but one of those books was Villains United, from DC Comics.

I read about this story long ago, and have spent YEARS searching for it in stores and online. So, a once-in-a-lifetime (probably) find!

It's odd that I'm counting appointments, lunch, and small shopping trips as adventures these days, but oh well. It's some fun and good practice for the big Christmas trip next week!

Cheers!

Year Of The Poke

 Five needles in twelve months. That's what the last year will be known for.

Two flu shots, two COVID jabs, and a session of overdue JS-related bloodwork. All necessary, but still...

Such fun times we're living in.

Cheers!

Off the Shelf And Through the Isles

 

Very interesting afternoon, today.

I went for my monthly haul of comic books, as per usual. Like I have for the past several months, I donned my mask, used the hand sanitizer the shop graciously had at the front entrance, and went about my business.

What was interesting was the amount of people and activity in the store. With the exception of the aforementioned COVID protocols, it was the first time in nearly two years that truly felt normal. There were no line-ups to get in, there were quite a few people in the shop, and it was busy (without being crazy). 

This was also the first time since the store re-opened last June that I browsed through the shelves without calling ahead to get something set aside. I even got everything I was looking for, plus a free comic!

The interestingness continued. On the way home, we needed to make a grocery run. So, mask back on and into the store. Again, a very busy place.

Throughout the pandemic, grocery/Big Box stores have typically been the one place to cause me any kind of anxiety or hesitation, probably stemming from having a minor panic attack in a produce section Spring of 2020. Today though, was the first time I can say I entered a decently packed grocery store with no nerves whatsoever!

I probably saw more people today than I have in just about two years, which is really weird. Something to get used to.

Cheers!

A World For The Birds

 

My latest Internet obsession has been a speculative evolution/world-building project called Serina: A Natural History of the World of Birds. Its creator came up with a hypothetical world, and through artwork and write-ups, imagined the evolution of the planet and its lifeforms over more than 250 million years.

He starts with a barren moon, and has humans populate it with canaries as the prime lifeform, as well as guppies, various types of insects and invertebrates, and plants like bamboo and sunflowers.

Over time, Serina's inhabitants diversify. the flowers and bamboo become like trees, growing into forests. Without predators, sea-life grows until you have shark and whale-like guppies and sea slugs the size of a man. Snails and crickets grow large and ants become a major lifeform. The planet's birds, which get funny and creative names like chubbirds and butcheraptor, diversify. Eventually, some reach the size of dinosaurs!

Gradually, the creator imagines the planet changing. The various continents attach and drift, with the wildlife adapting and changing accordingly. A creature called a mudwicket evolves from one of the types of fish, becoming amphibious, with its tail becoming a leg. Those gradually evolve into the tribbets, become full-time land dwellers and branch off into all sorts of weird creatures.

The birds get stranger as well, with some moving to the water and resemble fish and seals. Others start to develop sabre teeth and long necks, and some bird's beaks become soft and start to develop into hand-like grappling appendages around their mouths!

The end of Serina's penultimate epoch/beginning of its last, where I'm currently at, is where some inhabitants start to show signs of intelligence. The babbling jay evolves enough to strategically use tools to evade predation from the hand birds, then goes further with art and even a religion of sorts. But, it goes extinct quickly. 

Two other species, the antlears, tribbet descendants with boney arm-like appendages growing from their ears, and grave diggers, descended from a group of birds, become the two dominate, sentient lifeforms of the project, existing near a planet, and so story-ending, ice age.

A very fun, well-researched, and seriously fascinating project! Highly recommended.

Cheers!

The Tooth Fairy Cometh?

 

Me, yesterday afternoon

Had a wisdom tooth pulled yesterday.

I was unusually nervous prior to the appointment, but the dentist was great and everything went fine. I even got my tooth, which was morbid and looked disgusting, but worth a few bucks at least, I'm thinking! 

 Looked like Mr. Chipmunk there for a couple hours afterwards, but the mother was ready with frozen peas, a comfy chair, and pudding for dinner.

Things are much better today. A lot less pain, a day off work, and I've been upgraded from pudding to scrambled eggs!

Cheers

Cell Therapy

 

*Disclaimer: This post reflects my own health and experiences.*

I've wanted to write this post since I started The Rare Writer almost eight years ago, but I know it's a controversial topic so I held off, kind of keeping it in the back of my mind. But, I feel it's something that was important to write, so here goes.

When I was about six years old, my health and development started to backslide a little. I had had a couple procedures that didn't go so well, and my parents went looking for help.

One source of help came in the form of cell therapy, and a Dr. Schmit from Germany. Immediately upon meeting my parents and me, Dr. Schmitt identified what was wrong with me, and recommended the cell therapy to help with my coordination, lung function, and immune system.

Over the next five or six years, I took the treatment. This involved taking oral filtrates for my lungs and central nervous system and getting injections in my butt, which was always such a pleasant experience. So much so, in fact, that one session was where I learnt to swear!

But seriously though, the cell therapy seemed to have a rapid impact. According to my parents, I could climb stairs, get in our car unaided, and catch a ball within months, if not weeks, of the treatment. 

As good as it was, cell therapy wasn't the sole cause for my improvement. My parents had started me on at-home physio while I was receiving treatments. We would move to a house with an in-ground pool that was both fun and therapeutic. And it was only a little later that I would start taking Taekwondo and eventually attend sessions at Easter Seals' Camp Merrywood during the summer. 

This isn't any kind of recommendation, just something I finally felt like sharing, so thanks.

Cheers.

A Nice Fall Afternoon

 

*Taken from a list of Blogtober prompts*

Some people go to markets, others like walking through the leaves. Well, it was pouring rain for part of the day, so I got to indulge in my favourite Fall activity.

I had a sizeable collection of Fear Fest horror movies PVR'd and had been waiting all week to watch some. So, with a bottle of A&W root beer and some Doritos and homemade dip, I spent this damp afternoon on a couch in the basement doing just that.

The original Candyman was good, Pumpkinhead was so bad it was good, and Creepshow was seeming pretty awesome until I started nodding off.   

There's still just under half a month left, so I'm predicting maybe two more weekend's like this, maybe with some chocolate also.

Cheers

Submission

 

This afternoon, I randomly decided to submit a modified version of an old post "Life After 24" to The Mighty for publication on their website. The last last time I submitted anything was about four years ago, so this was interesting. Hoping it gets excepted. Should know in about a month.

Cheers!

The Best Place To Be

 

Another frequently asked question I see on social media and websites: Where's the best place to live for a disability?

Well, in my opinion, it's all about where you feel comfortable and where you can access the best care and services for you, specifically.

From ages 8 to 20, Winchester, a small rural town about 40 minutes from Ottawa was pretty good. 

When choosing to move there, my parents literally got a map and from the children's hospital where my doctors would be, chose up to a 45 minute radius and landed on Winchester as a place to live.

Growing up, we had a pool which was great fun and physio, a big yard that provided much the same, and our house was a short distance from the town's main street. Short walks provided physio, with trips to a nearby bakery for a doughnut reward. Later, as I got older and could walk more, trips to the local post office and grocery store were used as chores, and then further trips to Winchester's video and convenience stores gave me somewhere I could go and spend allowance from those chores.

The schools were decent, to me anyway, and the small-town vibe insured that a lot of people knew who I was.

But, into my early 20's and after a few years away at college, the small town started to lose its charm. There was very little to actually do, beyond renting movies. I was completely reliant on my family. And aside from a small volunteer gig at the local hospital, employment prospects were non-existent.

Fortunately, the family soon agreed to pack up and move to the city. We were all there already, for school or work, so it made sense. I was closer to all my doctors, with the bus system and Para Transpo, I could get around independently, and there were actual social and vocational opportunities open to me.

Ultimately, it's all about you. 

Cheers!

Hope for December

 

Nightmare Before Christmas: the best of two worlds

I'm normally the absolute last person who'd want to rush past October, but today's had me getting into just a tiny bit of the Christmas spirit.

A few weeks ago, my mother booked a trip for the entire family to fly down to Nova Scotia. This means, for the first time in what will be exactly two years, I will be able to see my grandparents!

Last week, I booked my vacation for work and this morning it was approved. 

I'm cautiously excited! Everyone's double-vaccinated, plenty of masks, yadda yadda yadda, but still.

And in another weird-for-me Christmasy moment, I'm pretty sure I already know what I want for the big day.

Fingers are already being crossed for hopes of good weather, good health, and zero (or minimal amounts, at least) pandemic-related craziness.

Cheers!

Happy Thanksgiving

 

"Hey buddy"

It's Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. Dinner this evening, cabin tomorrow/Monday.

This year, I'm thankful for my family, continued health, and finally being able to do things.

Cheers!

Reaching The Far Table

 

This post was going to be included in the Social Series, but it seemed like just as good of a fit for this month.

A couple weeks ago, I was looking through some old photos and posts on Facebook and it made me think back to high school.

I was involved in a few things and had people I was friendly with at lunch, free periods, and in my classes, especially in my senior years, but I never really had friends.

I kept to myself a lot, much to the chagrin of my aides and parents. 

I almost always ate lunch alone. I could've easily sat and socialized with those classmates I got along with later on, most of whom sat together at a table at the far end of the school's cafeteria. Unfortunately, between me and them was usually a table full of guys known for bullying other students, including the disabled ones. Still puts a bad taste in my mouth, almost twenty years later. 

 What makes it worse is that through connecting with people years later on social media, I realized that I probably would've had several friends, maybe even a girlfriend, if I had just been more outgoing.

Not having the spine to reach that far table has been one of my few regrets from when I was younger.

Don't let something as stupid as a few bullies scare you out of meeting people and having a good time.

Cheers.

My Rare Disease Playlist 2.0 - No Swears Edition

 

Sadly, I won't be able to attend this year's JS Board retreat. However, I've still been able to do some pre-retreat activities, like send my picks of three songs that inspire, uplift, or conjour up a good memory.

For some ideas and inspiration, I turned to a post I wrote a couple years ago where I created my own rare disease playlist, songs that perk me up or get me pumped when I'm down. 

But, this was for a Board function and I doubt my mix of hard rock, goofiness, and profanity would be deemed appropriate.

Instead, I created a second playlist. A decidedly more G-rated, family friendly, "no swears" playlist.

Like the last one, there's still some classic rock, animation, and even some alternative stuff, but it gels a lot more with what others might call inspirational.

Run With Us - The theme song from The Raccoons (older Canadian cartoon, one of my favourites)

Roll Me Away by Bob Seger - I prefer the live version. Reminds me of both my Dad and one summer at Camp Merrywood where some counsellors brought in a pick-up truck full of junk food and blared classic rock for a tailgate party.

Lean On Me by Blue Mountain - Any version is good, but this is by a reggae group whose video I found randomly on YouTube.

Standing Outside The Fire by Garth Brooks

Never Surrender by Corey Hart - My song according to my parents.

Shine by Collective Soul

Higher Love by Steve Winwood

I Am Mine by Pearl Jam

Hold My Hand by Hootie and The Blowfish

Son of  Man by Phil Collins - from Tarzan

Then, I just picked three at random and emailed them off.

Cheers!

Blogtober 2021

 

I really do miss being able to do that...

It's the end of September, which means that in just one short day, three of my favourite things are returning for another year: AMC's Fear Fest, Joubert Syndrome Awareness Month, and Blogtober.

That social series has gotten me in the mood to write more, so write more I shall! Well, that's the plan, anyway. This is my fifth Blogtober, so I've got more than a few meatier ideas planned. 

Back in a couple days then.

Cheers!

Social Series: Get Out and Explore

 

Want to find out what you like and meet some people? Explore!

If you're able to, get out into your community and see what's there. Maybe even get involved in something. 

That's how I started to get around and do things when I moved to the city. Very gradually, I familiarized myself with one specific area of downtown Ottawa. I started with my favourite comic book shop, relying on Para Transpo and/or my parents for quick trips. Gradually, I got comfortable enough to walk around and I started taking regular transit down instead of Para, going back home with my parents (they worked down there at the time). 

Eventually, I was staying down in that area for longer periods, writing, going for coffee or lunch, or walking around. More trips to the comic shop, and other places, meant that I was starting to meet some people. This soon led to me attending events, conventions, and joining a group called the Ottawa Comix Jam.

You can also do this online (though carefully, please!), with social media and sites like Meetup. A few years ago, I was feeling bored and in need of some kind of new experience. I like to read, so I searched for book clubs in Ottawa. Within a few results, I found a science fiction/fantasy one. Something right within my wheelhouse! The group was on Meetup, a website for groups dedicated to all sorts of interests and hobbies. On a whim, I created an account, joined the group, and signed up for a couple events.

The book club was relatively small and met at a couple different pubs and restaurants I was familiar with, so there was nothing to be nervous about. After two hours of eating a burger and talking about time-travel, I was committed. 

None of this would've ever happened without taking a chance and testing my limits. It's scary at first, so by all means take your time and plan but, ultimately, go for it. It'll be worth it!

Cheers

Social Series: Abled or Disabled

 

Do I feel more comfortable around disabled or able-bodied people? 

Either or. It depends on the situation, the people, and how I'm feeling at that moment.

There are times when being around other disabled people provides an added comfort factor, and there are some specific issues I know that friends I have who are also disabled will understand better, and be more sympathetic to, but so will friends who aren't disabled.

As long as they're decent people and we have stuff in common, who cares?

Cheers.

COVID-Movie Saga: The Final Chapter

 

After many months of writing about it, and many more hoping, today was finally the day.

For the first time since January 2020, I went and saw a movie at the theatre!

The movie was Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (easily one of Marvel's best, in my opinion), the theatre was Lansdowne VIP. 

My Dad and I booked tickets a couple days ago and went this afternoon. Our seats were in a corner, with the immediate area automatically blocked off by the theatre, so we were well-enough away from all ten of the other movie-goers. 

Since VIP offers food service, and it was my first time back in over a year, I splurged on snacks. The pulled-pork poutine seemed like a good idea at the time, but maybe wasn't the wisest of choices to avoid a full stomach later in the evening.

A great experience that was worth the wait! 

Cheers

Social Series: Developing Interests

 

One of the most important things I've learnt when it comes to making friends is the importance of developing your own interests and hobbies. 

Just plopping yourself in a group and meeting people works sometimes but most times, you're probably getting to know people based on something you have in common, like sports or school subjects. For me, it's usually been some combination of writing, reading, movies, and comics, or general geekiness.

And yeah, I've made friends because of my disability (from Easter Seals, taekwondo, and the Joubert groups). But, a lot of those people have stayed friends because we've had one or more of the interests I listed above in common.  

The disability has either been a foot in the door, an ice breaker, or it hasn't figured in at all. Ultimately, it's about individuality and personality.

Cheers!

The Social Series

 

Questions about my social life and making friends come up often at Joubert conferences, from both parents and individuals.

I was thinking about some of them the other day, so I wanted to write a few posts based on some of them.

I haven't written many posts like this since the beginning of the pandemic, so it should be interesting. And appropriate with the school year starting.

Cheers!

Worst Kind of Werewolf

 

On nights like this, when the moon is full and the sky is clear, I go through some unpleasant changes. 

Nothing needing silver bullets and pitchforks, but I'll gladly accept a bottle of ginger ale and maybe and Advil.

Full moon conditions mess with the atmospheric pressure. For me, with tubes in my ears and reduced lung capacity, it's rarely a fun time. Headaches, stuffiness, and congestion can be common. Thankfully, it never lasts long.

Cheers!

Whatever It Takes

 

Those four things have been the pillars of my existence for the last sixteen months. Even with more and more places and opportunities opening back up, I'm willing to keep my "COVID survival items" for a continued amount of time.

I'm feeling the same way about newly proposed vaccine passports and COVID booster shots. It's just another piece of ID (have several already), and another needle (had three in the last year alone!). 

If having this stuff is what it takes to be able to board a train to Toronto for a comic convention, fly to Nova Scotia to see my grandparents, or drive across the border to northern New York for some sweet tea and Peanut Butter Crunch, then bring it on I say!

At this point, we should all be willing to do whatever it takes to help each other, keep healthy, and end this.

Cheers

People Are Good...Or So I've Been Told.

 

Things still seem kind of awful and crazy out there, Blogverse, so here's just a brief, friendly reminder (to myself, mostly) that people in general are still pretty good. 

Really, they are.

Cheers!

Contact

 

Last weekend, I had unmasked contact with some family friends and extended family members for the first time since March of last year.

First, a couple of friends of my parents were invited for dinner as surprise guests of my Mother's birthday. They know me well and have a disabled daughter, so they were both double-vaccinated and everything went well.

The following day, we had some family members briefly stay with us while passing through Ontario. Again, everyone was double vaccinated and it was a great time.

Despite knowing everything was safe, I did have the briefest bit of anxiety just before my mom's birthday dinner. It was less nerves though, and more like a "There are people here? Really??" kind of vibe. Very surreal!

I still don't feel very confident in going out and socializing just yet. I'd rather do a couple solo outings first, to be honest. Maybe try and get Para Transpo somewhere before kids go back to school.

It's another step, though.

Cheers!  

But Will It Get Me An Apartment?

 

Disability Pride flag

July is Disability Pride Month. Nice gesture, and I like the design of that flag, but what's the point? 

Is this month going to help get me my own apartment, or an increase on my disability pension? 

Probably not.

I've done a lot, despite my disability (or because of it), but getting above the poverty line and having a place of my own someday, preferably before I reach old age, would be really, really nice.

Instead of a pride month, day of acceptance, or whatever, how's about some kind of action period where serious issues facing people with disabilities like housing, transportation, employment, and income get tackled or, Saints be praised!, even fixed? 

That'll give me something to be proud of!

Cheers.

Three Years of Work

 This past week marked three years of working at Public Service and Procurement Canada, and my contract being renewed for a fourth.

The last year has been pretty strange, but I've actually been enjoying working from home and have even felt more productive, with some meatier tasks.

There's a lot of uncertainty ahead with COVID and what the future will look like, and that does make me a little nervous, but I can deal with that stuff later. For now, at least, I have another year of productivity and employment to look forward to.

Cheers!

The Reopening

 

Phase Three of Ontario's COVID re-opening after its latest shutdown goes into effect the end of next week and I'm cautiously excited this time around.

This round includes restaurants, gyms and I can't believe I can finally write this, movie theatres!!!! 

Yes, after a year and a half, and several negative blog posts on my part, theatres are finally reopening in Ottawa. Many restrictions of course, but after all this waiting, I'm totally willing to put up with them.

Fingers and toes are now officially being crossed for Suicide Squad at The Coliseum (or VIP, if I'm luckier) next month!

Cheers.

The "Before I'm Forty" Plan

 

Prior to the pandemic, I was starting to create a five-year plan for myself. When 2021 rolled around, and COVID didn't seem to be going away anytime soon, I kind of went "why bother" and ditched it. 

Lately, I've been reconsidering it. I've only got four years until the 4-0 and COVID has me a little paranoid about the possibility of another pandemic, so better to get this going now!

Work: Within the next four years, I want some kind of change with work. It looks like working from home will be the way of the future, for the government anyway, so I've been thinking about picking up a couple extra hours per week. Not a lot, but just the amount of hours I would've normally spent waiting for/riding in Para Transpo. A bit more money, plus something to do. 

Living Space: Part of the reason I want some extra work hours is because, in the next couple years, I'd like to have a place, or at least a space, of my own. I'll probably never be totally independent, but it'd still be nice to have something, whatever that is.

Travels: Something easier to accomplish is a big, bucket-list worthy trip. I'm thinking Drumheller, Alberta to the Badlands and the Royal Tyrell Museum for some dinosaurs. Or maybe something bigger with the family?

Writing: People keep suggesting that I should write a book. Could be a good idea! Not sure what it would be about though.

Advocacy: Lastly, I'd like to do something advocacy-related if possible. Years ago, before I was even close to doing anything independently, I looked into a Disability Studies program out of Ryerson University in Toronto. With my current background and experience, it might be interesting to look into again, even just to add some legitimacy to future writing or speaking.

There. It is written. Now to try and stick to it. Maybe even make it a regular blog feature.

Cheers.

Double Vaxxed

 

Second COVID  jab is in me!

My whole family went this morning and got our second doses. 

Ottawa Public Health and the Nepean Sportsplex did a great job with their clinic. It was safe, efficient, and well-staffed.

Very good timing as well, since I've got my first in-person respiratory appointment in over a year next week. And it sounds like Ontario will enter its Phase 2 of reopening shortly, so I may even be able to get a burger and a haircut some time soon if I'm lucky!

A huge relief to have this all over and done with, finally.

Cheers!

A Better COVID Birthday

 

Last week, I celebrated my 36th birthday. 

It was my second during the pandemic, but so much better than the first!

Last year, things were only just starting to open back up a little, with an announcement about small businesses being made the day of my birthday. So, no movies, no going out to dinner, and no comics until two weeks after the big day.

This year, we still really couldn't go anywhere thanks to stuff being shut down, but the day was pretty eventful.

A couple decent movies in the family theatre (read: basement) viewed at different times throughout the month, lunch and a trip to my favourite comic shop, then dinner with the family: fajitas and a chocolate cheesecake topped with chocolate syrup and dulce de leche, surrounded by yummy churros!

Gifts included snacks, a Mortal Kombat t-shirt, and World Travel: An Irreverent Guide by Anthony Bourdain, the last book he wrote.

A good day, but my wish would be for 37 to be spent somewhere without my face half covered and hands smelling like alcohol.

Cheers!

Searching For Some Hope

 

I've been off the blog for the last month because every time I've felt like writing, it's seemed like a really negative rant. Fourteen months in, I can say that the COVID situation is getting to me.

We're on the very tail end of a lockdown here, but for how long? Despite a good number of people having been vaccinated once, and registration for the second finally beginning to open up, I'm not optimistic. I can just see someone doing something stupid and ruining it for everyone else. Hopefully I'm wrong!

At least there's the second vaccination to look forward too, as well as a few doctors appointments this month (some of which I've been putting off). And current projections here in Canada have theatres opening by mid-Fall and provincial borders opening by Christmas, so that's good.

Just trying to stay as positive as possible.

Cheers

This Is A Blog Post!!

 

Spudtran warrior?

This free-use, vegetal stand-in for Gerard Butler wants you to know that this is The Rare Writer's 300th blog post.

Cheers!

New Summer Project

 

Last summer, I bought a copy of Nothing Without Us, an anthology of mostly science fiction and fantasy stories focused on various disabilities, by disabled authors.

Recently the company that published the book released a teaser and guidelines for writers interested in submitting a story for a second Nothing Without Us. Submissions open in September, and I'm going to try to write something for it. Focused on rare disorders, of course.

My initial thought is to take the idea of multiple diagnoses and the question "So, how did the diagnosis affect/change you", and work it into something about alternate realities or parallel worlds. Like, each diagnosis is its own universe. Or something like that, anyway.

We shall see...

Cheers!

Flawless Victory!

 

It finally happened.

For the first time since January of 2020, I actually saw a newly-released feature film!

Our cable service got early access to the Warner Bros movies I wrote about a couple months ago. Last month was Kong versus Godzilla, which I opted to wait for. This month, however, was Mortal Kombat, and I was NOT missing out.

It cost quite a bit extra to rent, but I didn't have to pay for snacks, the commute was just a quick trip down to my basement, and I was able to wear my pajamas and pause for bathroom breaks!

The movie was good. Fast-paced, campy, and brutal, which is exactly what Mortal Kombat should be. My only complaint is that I felt they could've toned down the swearing a couple notches. I'm desperately hoping for a sequel, since it sets one up nicely.

I'm still longing for the full cinema experience, but after this weekend I think the "I want to see a movie" saga can take a break for a while.

Cheers!

Signs and Shields

 

It's great to see more disabled characters pop up in the kind of shows I like.

This time, it was on The Dragon Prince, a fantasy cartoon on Netflix. 

The character is Amaya, general and leader of the central kingdom's largest army. She's also deaf and uses sign language, with other characters acting as interpreters. While she's not a main character, she is pretty interesting and does get a small spotlight in a couple episodes.

Just something I felt like sharing.

Cheers!

Something To Look Forward To

 

The current COVID situation here is starting to seem nightmarish, and I've been in need of something positive.

Good news came last week in the form a movie trailer. A new one, that I can see, for free even!

I saw the trailer for Army of the Dead by Zack Snyder, a post-apocalyptic zombie-heist action movie. Just five seconds into it, and I was hooked! The film looks like the answer to the question: What if Ocean's Eleven and The Walking Dead had an incredibly beautiful baby, and it somehow got adopted by The Expendables. 

In a nutshell, the heroes of a zombie apocalypse try to pull off a major bank heist in a zombie-infested Las Vegas. Also, some of those zombies look kind of intelligent. 

And to make it extra amazing, there are zombie-showgirls, a zombie Elvis impersonator, and a zombified white tiger!

!!!!

The movie starts streaming on Netflix on May 21st, coinciding perfectly with my birthday on the 27th. So, Happy birthday to me!

Cheers

Vaccine One is Done

 

The first dose of Pfizer's COVID vaccine is in me. My sister too.

Thanks to respiratory issues, as well as the home care I would normally get, I was able to book an appointment now, rather than having to wait. Very fast, efficient, and painless experience.

Really never thought I would've ever been glad to get a needle. Strange times!

My parents get their first round the middle of next week, then we wait until likely the middle of summer (which sucks, but that's a whole other issue) for round two.

Oh well, it's a step in the right direction.

Cheers!

Books and Books and Books and Books

 

That rather large chunk of literature there was accumulated in exactly 1.5 weeks.

• The Tolkien books (Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy) were a belated Christmas gift. 
• The Hollow Ones by Guillermo Del Toro/Chuck Hogan and Later by Stephen King were very nicely sent to me from a friend of the family.
• And the three big Conan, Tarzan, and John Carter of Mars anthologies were a recent online splurge.

I didn't do much last year, and I probably won't be doing all that much this year either, so I consider this my COVID-equivalent of a train ticket to Toronto or flight down South. And with another lockdown seeming more and more likely, the timing couldn't be better.

Cheers! 

A Wild Creative Project Appeared!

 

After a bit of a break, I've been mulling over my next creative writing/time-killer project.

I've been a Pokémon fan since junior high, playing the games (even in school when it looked weird), watching the cartoons, and collecting the cards. At 35, I'm still a fan. Watching walkthroughs and fan videos about theories and other stuff on YouTube is kind of a guilty pleasure.

Recently, I watched a playlist where someone created their own Pokémon game. Not an actual playable game, but more of a story-based version, complete with originally-designed Pokémon, characters, and a fleshed out region (based on Canada, even!) It was pretty fun and inspired me to come up with my own game, on paper and just for fun, of course.

I'm calling it Pokémon: Eons, it'll have plenty of prehistoric/fossil-type things (naturally), and that's all I've got right now.

More fun times!

Cheers

New Shoes

 

Back in November, I had an appointment with a foot care clinic to look for some new shoes that would fit the inserts I use. 

The guy I saw examined the inserts and my feet, and listened to my laundry list worth of requirements:

• Something wide enough to fit my inserts
• High cut to support my ankles
• Velcro to get on/off easily and independently
• Something dark/nice enough to potentially wear to work

It was a tall order, but after trying some things on and looking online, we found a pair that looked suitable. Pictured above, they were from Mt. Emey, a company in the States and came with everything I was looking for. Satisfied, the shoes were ordered and I was told to check back in three to four months.

Skip ahead to a couple weeks ago, and I got the call to go back in and pick the shoes up. Immediately, they were everything I was looking for! My inserts fit great, they had zippers on the side of each shoe, so they were even easier to get on and off, and I had/still have no problems walking in them. Easiest shoe-shopping experience I've ever had, by far!

Cheers