Disability on CBC

 

I'm always on the lookout for disability-focused shows on television, and in the last month I've found not one, but two really good ones. And they're Canadian!

The programs in question are Push and You're My Hero on CBC and CBC Gem, the network's online streaming site (which is free, FYI).

Push is a reality show about a group of friends, who call themselves the Wheelie Peeps, from Edmonton, Alberta who all have spinal cord injuries. Just a few episodes in, Push has touched on topics like ableism, independence, dating/marriage, employment (and loss of employment), motherhood, and even sex from the cast members' individual perspectives. 

You're My Hero is a sit-com by and starring actor Sean Towgood as Ian, a young disabled man. It started streaming last week, and it's absolutely hilarious, making fun of typical disability-related clichés like inspiration porn and politically correct language. 

What makes these shows so good, to me, is 1) they're both Canadian, 2) they star physically disabled individuals, and 3) both programs are kind of vulgar in terms of language and content, something I think has always been missing from any type of programming with/about people with disabilities which can get kind of saccharine. Makes it seems more honest and real, in my opinion. And adds much-needed humour.

Like, this week's episode of Push partially revolved around one of the women attempting to make a YouTube video with her husband about favoured positions, and the show, while still sensible, didn't really hold back, either. And within the first five minutes of it's premiere, the main character of You're My Hero was calling a disabled motivational speaker's use of the term differently-abled bull@#$% in front of a class of young children.  

I'm very impressed with the CBC for including programs like these in their scheduling, and I hope both shows have successful runs.

Cheers!

Planning for Hal-Con!

 

After potential safety concerns kyboshed plans for TCAF later this Spring and a couple medical appointments seem to be necessitating a Summer staycation, I've moved on to Vacation 2023: Plan C and decided I want to attend Hal-Con in Halifax the end of October.

I've got a place to stay, my Dad wants to come with me, fried clams and donairs (!), and I can potentially arrange a couple family visits while I'm out there.

I last attended Hal-Con in 2012, the previous year being my very first comic convention. No guests announced yet (probably nothing until June), but I don't care. Both years at the convention were fun, with a couple great celebrity encounters, lots of comics and books, and lots of fun things to do.

Fingers are crossed once more.

Cheers!

Down Some Pounds

 

The last few years, weight loss has been a personal mission/struggle.

Immediately pre-COVID, I was overweight, sedentary, and generally unwell, suffering from pneumonia more than once. It was to a point where several of my doctors flat-out told me to lose weight, citing concerns about diabetes and further respiratory issues.

I was referred to a dietician who gave me a lot of helpful tips, and things were looking up, even during the first while of the pandemic. Eventually, I was still on the heavy side, but I was stable and my breathing was improved, at least.

Recent lifestyle changes from my parents have helped with the increased healthiness, as did a relatively active Spring and Summer. 

Getting COVID in the Fall knocked me off the wagon for a while, so to speak, but not for too long.

The new job has been a big help too, I think. The entrance I get Para Transpo at allows me to regularly use a flight of stairs, the office and some of my duties allow for frequent movement and being right downtown, there are plenty of places to walk to before work or during a break.

I weighed myself last night, on two separate scales to be sure, and since my last weigh-in, I've dropped about fifteen pounds!

Now to tighten some stuff up and maintain it.

PS: 400th post!!

Cheers

Gettin' Out 2023

 

As if wanting to balance things out before yet another dumping of snow early this coming week, Mother Nature graced Ottawa with a beautiful Spring-like weekend.

With nothing else going on, I took full advantage and booked Para Transpo for a trip downtown this afternoon.

I got dropped off at my favourite comic book shop, my first time at their new location, for some shopping. The new place is a lot bigger and looks great! I used some Christmas money to buy Crisis on Infinite Earths and Kraven's Last Hunt, two classics I've wanted for forever and have never been able to find.

I had booked work as my pick-up location later in the day, so I started walking in that direction (through clear streets and sidewalks, thankfully!), looking for good places to stop for a bit of lunch. About a block away, I found an incredibly nice A&W which I'd seen a few times on the ride home and had made a mental note of. 

Having finished lunch, I took the long way around the block next to work for a good walk and stopped at a café next door for a coffee, a too-big apple danish, some reading, and some writing.

Fun times and hopefully a sign of good things to come.

Cheers!

 

Whirlwind

 

Things are starting to get crazy-busy around here.

Work projects, phone calls and assessments for things like homecare and housing, booking/rescheduling/attending various medical appointments, a mental health follow-up, social stuff, and just maybe some trip/getaway planning (if all that previous stuff lines up properly) are what I can expect in my immediate future.

Almost makes me miss the days where getting drive-thru Tim Hortons and picking up a few comics was a big adventure.

Or maybe this how things always used to be, and I've just been lucky enough to have avoided/forgotten it all for so long?

Either way, it all begins tomorrow morning...

Cheers!