Planning for a Fall Event??

 

It's been roughly one month since I went to Toronto, and I have the urge to plan for another event, preferably something local (although my uncle just linked me the guest list for Hal-Con 2025 in November, and it looks fairly decent...).

I've been looking into other events I've attended or wanted to attend in the past, and there doesn't look like much of a shortage of potentially fun things to do this Autumn around Ottawa.

• Robert Englund (THE Freddy Krueger!) is the headliner of September's Ottawa Comiccon (with A Jason Voorhees, though not Kane Hodder), so that goes right to the top of my list! 
• The Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD) is holding a conference in Ottawa around the end of November. I'd be going as a patient (IF the price is right, that is...), and might be persuaded to book a room at the hotel it's at to avoid troubles with Para Transpo/have a little getaway.
• Ottawa holds a literary convention called Can-Con in October. Last year's agenda had some fun stuff, and I may know a few people there.
• There's always hoping the Ottawa Writer's Fest has some fun events for their Fall schedule. 

I already have "placeholders" in my calendar for when I have more information and a better sense of my own schedule and can rule things out, but it looks like I've got some decisions to make over the next month or two.

Cheers!

TCAF 2025

 

I'm back from a TCAF solo vacation in Toronto, my first in seven long years!

I left early Friday morning with an iced coffee-send off from the mother. Great service, nice trip, and a delicious breakfast on the train ride to Toronto. Very hazy pulling into the city. I could barely see the CN Tower!

Even more great service exiting Toronto Union Station, cabbing to my hotel, and checking in.

Smoke and smog from forest fires raging in other provinces convinced me to spend much of Friday afternoon and night in my room, save for a very quick trip to a nearby grocery store and Subway for some snacks and supper. I wasn't complaining though:

For two nights, it was ALL MINE!

I slept in and took my time Saturday morning, then walked literally next door to the Mattamy Athletic Centre, formerly Maple Leaf Gardens, for TCAF. 

I'm absolutely not a hockey or sports fan, but Maple Leaf Gardens is part of Canadian history, so I was excited about that and needed a photo. Inside, the event was spread between two rooms on two separate floors (the photo at the top, and another in what looked like a basketball court). Not was spectacular-looking as past years at the Reference Library, but still just as crazy.

 

I got a good bag-full of books, post cards, and a couple other things, then left. 

On my way out, I remembered I was in the "old" arena, so I went into the stands to organize my swag and take a photo.

I wasn't feeling as adventurous as in previous years, so I stuck to a pretty small grid throughout the weekend. Thankfully, there was a decent Irish pub across from the hotel for lunch after TCAF. Got an iced latte on the way back to the hotel, then brought some dinner back and watched Star Wars movies the rest of the night.

Yesterday, I got to the train station early, hung out in their food court (very nice!) for a while, then boarded my train home. A few delays, but thankfully there was a nice meal and I brought a few leftover snacks for the wait.

It was a really nice weekend on my own, and I'm happy that I still have what it takes to pull it off, but it just didn't hold the same excitement as past trips, and I'm not sure if I'll go again. To be honest, I didn't feel as safe as before. Maybe due to the event being in a different location this year, I don't know? 

I also couldn't help thinking that I could have roughly the same experience (but vastly cheaper!) by getting Para Transpo to any number of local book stores or comic shops, buying a bunch of stuff, then going for lunch. Maybe it's a sign I'm not as young as when I first went ten or so years ago. 😆

Bottom line, it was still a blast and I'm glad I did it.

Cheers!

A Fine First Week (and a bit) of Being Forty

 

Ten days in, and 40 is thus far going pretty swell.

I went into work last Tuesday and received a very nice e-card from the Communications team, and later enjoyed a delicious barbeque for my birthday supper. Cheesecake for dessert and I shocked everyone, including myself, by blowing out my candles in just one try! (last year took eight...) Gifts included an Indigo gift card to get a good stack of new books this past weekend. 

A tube in one of my ears popped out Sunday which, combined with pressure from up-and-down weather, made me feel pretty gross earlier this week, but I got everything checked out and am feeling better.

The past two days have been great. My contract at work got renewed, earning fist-bumps from senior staff members this morning (plus a bonus free donut)! And just this evening I accepted an advocacy opportunity from LiveWorkPlay for some consulting later this month. 

Oh, and I'm just about ready for TCAF and Toronto for the weekend. On my own, indulging in junk food, comics, and a nice hotel bed!

More posts about all of these things later.

Cheers!

Finding Footcare

 

One of the biggest, recurrent pains recently when it's come to looking for services, has been finding some help with foot and nail care, since issues with dexterity and coordination prevent me from doing it myself.

I've mostly relied on my mother for help, with some periodic assistance from homecare workers and a trip to a spa last Summer. But my family won't always be around, and homecare depends on the attendant and their availability, so I've been wanting something more regular.

A recent supports assessment pointed me to a website full of resources, which led me to a local footcare clinic, TiredSole. They offer the services I'm looking for, are cheaper than other businesses I've looked at, will do in-office or at-home appointments (great for Winter months), and are only about five-ten minutes away!

I had my first appointment yesterday, and they were really good. Nice place, friendly staff! I got my nails clipped and callouses from my orthotics buffed (with a power tool!). Next appointment is in about six weeks. In the meantime, homecare can at least keep my nails filed. 

It's not quite perfect, but it's another great support to have, one that I've spent a long while searching for. It's also a load off my mind and, hopefully, my parent's as well.

Cheers!

Disability Representation, it's Super Effective!

 

Whenever any of my geeky interests collide with disability, a blog post is required.

I've been a Pokémon fan since shortly after the first games came to North America. One of my guilty pleasures is watching playthroughs of fan-made games on YouTube. 

I'm currently watching one of a game called Pokémon Flux, and there are two "fakemon" (fan-designed monsters) that are variants of two original Fighting types, Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan, based on a wheelchair racer and amputee runner respectively, called Hitmonride and Hitmonbolt. 

I'm not posting photos, but will include a link to the game's wiki so you can see for yourselves. 

Never in a million years did I ever expect to see disabled Pokémon. Hats off to the creators. Very awesome! 

Cheers

(Just Under) Forty 'til Forty

 

I've got slightly under forty days until my fortieth birthday.

Is that weird? Yep.

Am I ready for it? Nope.

Just an observation.

Cheers!

Back to the Big Smoke

For the first time since 2018, I'm going back to Toronto and TCAF! 

Last year I debated it, but a location change made me nervous and I decided not to go. This year I sucked it up, spent the past month or so planning and doing research, and now it's all booked. TCAF is still in a different venue, but this time everything (hotel, TCAF itself, other things) seems to be right next to each other, so that makes me feel more comfortable. 

After seven long long years, I'm finally travelling on my own again!

Digits being crossed for health, safety, and good weather.

Cheers!

OLP30!

 

Starseed!

Last Friday, March 7, I went with my Dad to Our Lady Peace's Ottawa stop on their OLP30 30th anniversary tour, with Collective Soul and Wintersleep opening. An absolutely awesome, Bucket List-worthy concert!

Wintersleep, a band from Halifax, was pretty good, and Collective Soul were great as always (I saw them at Bluesfest about ten years ago). But, Our Lady Peace! One of my all-time favourite groups. I knew almost every song, save for a couple new ones and one or two I'd never heard before. I even sang along to most of them (was a little hoarse coming home afterwards).

About 3/4s of the way through the concert Raine Maida walks around the arena to its centre where there's a piano being set up. Being a really good storyteller and improviser, he leads the crowd in a rendition of Oh Canada. His wife, Chantal Kreviazuk sang a controversial version of the anthem a few weeks before at the Four Nations Canada/US hockey game. You could hear a pin drop! 

The last song was one of my favourites, Starseed, which I had desperately hoped would be played. I wasn't disappointed!

The drive home, I enjoyed American-style sweet tea from Chick-fil-A, leftover from dinner, and sang along to more Our Lady Peace, being played for "the drive home" on Ottawa's alternative rock station. I was seriously wired for most of the rest of the night, posting things on Facebook, looking up music on YouTube, and replaying music in my head until I finally crashed.

Big, big, thanks to my Dad for going with me and to Canadian Tire Centre staff who were helpful when and where things weren't as accessible as they probably should have been.

Cheers!

Gettin' Out 2025

 

Don't worry, it's mine

It's an unusually beautiful Saturday in Ottawa!

After a very busy work-week, and many weeks of lousy Winter weather, I booked it downtown for some reading/writing time, a walk, and a bite. The café I was at was getting surprisingly warm, so it was nicer to sit outside for a few minutes before getting picked up to go home. The area even proved to be a good location for a photo opportunity. 

Hoping this is a sign of good things to come.

Cheers!

The Rare Writer, Officially

 

I just began a new contract at work, which means that as of today, also Rare Disease Day, I am officially a Communications professional (coordinator, to be specific)!!!

It took some patience and creativity while my current position and former administrative role overlapped, but it's done. As of next week, I'm writing for real!

Cheers

This Blog Just Went to Eleven

 

I just randomly remembered that this past week was the Rare Writer's eleventh birthday! 

It's been a pretty great year, despite not writing as much on here. Thanks as always for the supports and readership.

Cheers!

Winter, I Choose You

 

My Father told me recently that a guy he knows says you can only complain about one season. Without any hesitation, I pick Winter, especially after the week of brutal weather we've had!

Starting last Thursday, we got a series of storms, with a record-setting snowfall over the weekend. Plowing still isn't finished! I've been working from home, with team members advising me to stay safely away from downtown Ottawa's slick and covered streets. We've got more snow forecasted for next week, though less than this past weekend. 

Regardless, it's starting to seem endless and I'm kind of done with it. Looking forward to warmer weather, better walking conditions, and travels.

Cheers

A Smaller Goal for 2025

 

After a meeting at work this morning, I came to realize I could do a lot better at making small talk. 

I can converse with people, answer questions, and be generally talkative, but chit-chat has never been my strong suit. Ask me a bigger topic and I can go on and on, but ask me about the weather or traffic and it's, well, something else entirely.

I just got a contract extension, so I have more opportunity to practice.

Cheers!

Reminder: Be a Good Human

 

We've all seen what's been making headlines in recent weeks. I won't comment on the specifics but in the broad sense, I find it annoying at best and horrifying at worst. A lot of it is unfair and my heart goes out to anyone negatively affected by events. 

It's okay to be annoyed and angry (I've let at least one expletive fly, unintentionally...). It can also be very easy to impulsively blame and judge. 

What we need to remember at a time like this is to be civil, compassionate, and treat the right people with respect and kindness. We shouldn't all lose our decency just because of the beliefs and actions of a comparatively small group of individuals.

Hopefully, we can get through this.

Cheers

It's (sort of) Back!

 

After a couple years of absence due to the lack of Flash, one version of Heromachine has returned!

I discovered Heromachine back during Scriptwriting, using it as a time-killer and a means to visualize characters for some projects. During the pandemic, I used it to craft The Scooterverse, my own makeshift universe populated by some of those original characters and many more.

I recently rediscovered a slightly less advanced version of the hero creator. I don't intend to use it nearly as often as I used to but on a very blustery day like today, when I've got a tiny bit of the Mondays and was very close to writing a pretty negative rant, it's the perfect thing to perk me up a little.

Cheers!

Review: Disability Visibility

 

I found this collection of stories and essays related to disability activism and advocacy a few weeks ago.

I thought the book, edited by disability activist Alice Wong, was a major mixed bag.

I'm not the biggest fan of activism (sometimes too aggressive of an approach for my tastes). I'm not the biggest fan of things like identity politics, or when people complain about actors like Bryan Cranston in films like The Upside either. Disability Visibility had a lot of all those things.

However, most of the essays were pretty well-written and engaging. A few were even down right entertaining.

An essay about New York City's accessible transit, which seemed all too familiar, praise for Selma Blair's sharing about her struggles with MS, and an author's explanation of why she dedicated her first novel to a friend with a similar condition were all nicely uplifting. 

One essay was transcribed from a TED Talk by a blind astronomer who uses sound, specifically a process called sonification, to do her work, and how that process is expanding. The original presentation needs to be watched to fully appreciate it.

My favourite was an essay called Six Ways of Looking at Crip Time. The author, who lives with a debilitating genetic disorder, writes about how the concept of time seems different for disabled people, having to be in situations where you feel older and younger all at once. There are other explanations, including a really neat comparison to vampires, but the essay's so good I may do a whole separate post based on the concept!

A sometimes depressing slog to get through, but lots of good stuff that ultimately made Disability Visibility worth getting.

Cheers!

What is Time? What is Reality?

 

The past month has been the ultimate “fly by the seat of my pants” kind of whirlwind. It’s been a mostly fun, occasionally icky (health, weather-wise), time.

 Now, my Christmas treats are nearly gone, home care is resuming, and I’m back in the office. My body is desperately trying to adjust to a sudden lack of chocolate, cold medication, and late morning wake-ups. My brain doesn’t seem to be faring much better right now, either.

 It shall pass, though.

 Cheers!

Plans for 2025

 

It's a new year and the planning is already well underway.

Over Christmas break, I started adapting my Before I'm Forty plan for 2025. I realized shortly after that it becomes the Forty plan in a matter of months. (eek!)

I've kept the same basic areas I want to work on this year: Work, Myself, Travel and Events, Social, Writing, and Health. This year, Work and Health come first.

A recent cold made me realize I need to refocus on my lungs, and I need to develop new routines regarding medication and physio. I also need to get back on the treadmill, probably for longer time periods. I should probably find some longer shows to watch while I do that. 

Work, I've already written about.

When it comes to myself, I really just want to prioritize finding someone other than a family member who can cut my nails. It's one of those things that really shouldn't be so hard to find, but it is. I have the number of a footcare clinic nearby, so getting an assessment there and opening a file might be a good idea for when/if I'm in a bind. Other than that, I'll see what homecare can do.

Now for the fun stuff.

This March, I'm super excited to have tickets to see Our Lady Peace and Collective Soul live in concert!! I'll be on the floor, and will probably be hoarse or deaf the next day, but I can't wait! Digits being crossed for good health and weather.

I've written about it for the last couple years, but this May I really want to go back to TCAF and not chicken out of it beforehand. I just feel like I need to at least try, and prove it to myself that I can still do it. Plus, it's always pretty fun.

Lastly, I've chosen my next Bucket List trip: a few days at The Smithsonian in Washington, DC. Not likely a 2025 adventure, but I will start planning for it. As for other trips, the family's thinking Universal Studios for next Christmas, which I'm down for.

2025 will be the year I slowly begin to write a book, Becoming The Rare Writer. 

And finally, continued outings, especially after winter, and more with LiveWorkPlay.

Lofty goals, and I absolutely expect to write about how poorly a few of them have managed to come along over the year, but it's a decent setup for 2025

Cheers!