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!