Cartridge time?

Ok, so I’ve just taken a couple of inhales from this here new gizmo. No idea what to expect. I had no visible vapour, no taste, and a sneaky suspicion I did something wrong!

Have you tried turning it off and on again?

Shush you, IT part of my brain! I don’t think this thing has any power switch anyway. I feel like I did everything right, even read the instructions of use. Now I’m going to be paranoid I did it wrong without the effects of cannabis!

There’s coming to get you!

Yeah, not helping. I guess this would be a case of being one’s own worst enemy. But I guess it’s a waiting game. Less of a waiting game than say edibles. It’s still inhaled and should have a rapid delivery. Still a bit confused about a lack of flavour…

Maybe you need another one or two?

Right, so now I’m peer pressuring myself! I guess all I can do is take a small break and see what happens.

Intermission

Time has passed, still not sure I was doing things right. Maybe a little buzzed, but that’s a nice place to be. I don’t think I’m supposed to leave it in the battery, that seems silly. I wonder what I’m supposed to do… take off the magnetic ring and reaffix the rubber cap? I don’t honestly know, but that’s what I’m going to do!

It’s a Friday night attempt. I’m going to stop here for now, save my draft, and come back tomorrow night!

le poof

Ok, I’m back, turns out I was being too delicate and actually didn’t activate the vape for the first few days. Now i know better, and I need to dial back how long and hard I draw my breath. I’ll find a happy medium someday!

What’s it all about?

I often find myself thinking of privacy, data ownership, leaks, etc…

So on that, the COVID Alert app operates on a model I can get behind. It uses bluetooth handshakes to know who’ve you been in contact with. How neat is that! It records the IDs of people you’re around, and if anyone one self-reports as a COVID case, the numbers get pushed down to you and your phone checks it against people it’s been in contact with. Super snazzy. Get yours today!

But again, on data ownership. I don’t want to get dystopian, but the future could, and maybe should boil everyone down to numbers…

I’m out!

No wait, here me out. I don’t necessarily mean barcode tattoos and stuff… But we all basically have ID numbers as it is anyway, right? Got a SIN card? A driver’s license? Health card? These are all unique numbers, but also ones you shouldn’t really be sharing all willy nilly.

You should own your info, and only be an ID to an organization.

What personally identifiable information does a company even need about you anyway? I get it that the advertising models work on demographics and such, but do they need to be all up in your face?

I know I’ve played my share of freemium games, and I honestly don’t mind incentivized ad watching when I choose to “power up” or get in game currency, but to throw them in my face at ridiculous milestones in the game is outlandish.

Why you talking games?

Well I know the ads I receive are different than the ads my wife sees, and while I can respect this, in the current business model of apps, I’m sure they are taking way more information than they need to, and it’s obscure!

Well then what should they do?

I don’t know, but I’ll talk about it with anyone who ponders these crazy things like me. I’ve labeled my ideology a “human framework” and I know that feels like an odd, near cultish thing to say, but there is a crazy and chaotic world out there with huge economic divides and various other injustices.

Can you fix it?

Pfft, no. But I can dream! And dream I shall! I dream of a time when WE are the gatekeepers of OUR information. I want to be able to granularly share information I am comfortable with sharing. If I want the whole wide world to see me as HUMAN#49827629871, then that is what I will be. If I choose to share my name/age/height/weight/annual income, I want to choose who needs to see that, and have them present a business case to view the info. The key word being VIEW. No selling info.

Wait, isn’t that some sort of business model for some things?

Well it very likely would be. But Right now, we give our information to huge organizations and they seem to make more money than we do from our info… So how is that fair!?

When’s my turn to get paid!

Paid, well now, how would one get paid… Money… What’s it even good for! Well, how about this idea… Profit sharing on a per use % base. How about I use Apple Music as an example?

I’m listening (hah!)

I currently pay for a family music streaming app. It’s a flat rate I pay to Apple, regardless of my consumption. Sure, they can take a cut to maintain the music library, and service delivery app, and that can be a cut of the original. For the rest, divide it amongst the music artist that were listened to during that subscription period. So, if I listened to say, 1 song by Ice Cube, and that was it, then he should get the full brunt of the remainder subscription fee that I paid beyond the share needed for app maintenance. If I streamed non-stop music, split it up amongst the artists by play time. If I listened to 12 minutes of Ice Cube, and I listened to a 100 minutes in total, 12% goes to Ice Cube!

Seems… fair?

It can go for lots of things in that model. And I’m sure you may have some thoughts of how to game that system, and I welcome those thoughts. Tell me these outlandish ideas are farcical and sniffles creators and innovation or something. I’d love to hear it.

You, actually think stuff like this?

Sure do! Sometimes can’t shut the the brain thinking off! I dare say I think fairness and equality are a good thing. I wish there was more of that kind of mentality in the governing body.

What are you going to do about it anyway?

I would like to revisit some shows I enjoyed and the “controlling” elements that oppressed people, and think about how they could be use in an equality fashion. Like, what about the episode of Community where they ranked people in apps! Maybe I’ll rewatch it, take notes, and fit it in to the new world order…. umm, “human framework”?

Good News, Everyone!

Boys day went well!

I started my day watching cartoons with the little guy. We did left over pizza for breakfast and cuddled during the scary parts of Scoob! We took out break and decided it was lunch time.

chicky nuggies

Yes, “Chicky Nuggies” were the request, and really, with a nearly 5 year old, who’s surprised? We loaded up in the car, and he was able to open his door, climb in, close the door, and buckle himself in. That’s a win for disabled dad!

I loaded up my rollator, dropped my cane, scooped it back up without falling (and ruining the day), sat behind the wheel, and proceeded to place a curb side order!

Now the fun part!

Driving, my old friend. How long has it been! Too long I’m sure. It was a nice slow, sub speed limit drive to the restaurant. I may have needed to move my leg a bit with my hand, but it felt safe otherwise! Pulled in to the spot, and I entered my spot in the app. Rolled down the windows, turned off the car, and now we wait…

This is one happening spot!

Busy only begins to describe the restaurant parking lot. Sure, going to McDonald’s during lunch hour seems like it would be a quiet scene. Time for some tunes! I take requests! “Frozen” shouted from the back seat. This is usually the go to sleep album of choice, but OK…

Oh snap, food is coming!

Yay curb side pickup for the win! Let’s just back out, shoulder check, other shoulder check, and it looks clear…

HONK

Well crap. Boys day almost ruined! Busy parking lot. *GRUMBLE* Now where to go…

“Daddy, let’s go home.”

Oh I love this kid. That’s my jam! I happily oblige. We still want to trunk meal, so home to our driveway we go! Drive home was without incident. *YAWN* Pulled in to the driveway, passed the food bag to the kid and popped open the back of the SUV. Climbed on up and proceeded to munch munch crunch. Not a thing messed up on our order.

And the chicken was huge!

Ok, calm your buns, It was just a really big circle that was larger than the bun. It was probably the same in weight as the other crispy chicken, so thin and wide. Oh, and the kid was happy because he didn’t’t get a duplicate minions 2 toy! There seems to be quite a few different ones, so a duplicate will probably be rare with the frequency we go there.

We packed up our trash and headed back in. We finished up Scoob! and texted Mom’s to help on her way back from shopping. The day was supposed to include a DQ stop by my legs would not be reliable for a second trip out. I got my blizzard but the little guy wanted a dipped cone.

All in all, a good boys day.

I did manage to inquire how the little guy was feeling about going to big school next month. He indicated he was excited to meet his new teacher, so that’s a start. I hope he remains excited for this day like he was excited for boys day!

Keep it safe

I recently renewed my cannabis prescription via phone and during the call I mentioned my son and his young age. Concerned, I was asked if I had my cannabis locked out.

I was proud to say I did!

When I started my prescription, my supplier was kind enough to ship me a container for such a purpose after 3 orders. Now it may have taken a while to get it, both due to my infrequent use of cannabis and micro-dosing as needed, I did not place frequent orders.

Now this appears to be a snazzy little bag with size adjustable compartments to easily fit your things inside. Now, I may have had the bag close to 2 years before I realized the compartments were adjustable.

Can you imagine my surprise!

Now I can comfortably close and lock everything inside! Now I’ve never had an issue with my medicine and the kid. From a young age I’ve introduced him to the medicine I was being prescribed, and told him what they treated. He’s very good at pronouncing medicine names. I can tell him “Can you pass Daddy the Macrobid.” and he delivers the correct medicine bottle!

He also has his own medicines. He has his vitamins nightly, and he has a nasal spray for allergies. He also self medicates with a melatonin when he feels his body needs to calm down at bedtime! I never tell him he needs it, and he usually remembers it’s an option if he’s having a particularly crazy energy evening.

So I don’t get mad if he touches my cannabis, I just make sure he knows what it is, what it’s for, and that it’s not for him. Hopefully that logic gets him through the peer pressure years…

But anyway, Stash Logix makes a really nice bag.

My mind, she’s a speed machine!

The other night, while trying to fall asleep, CBC radio was playing an intriguing interview show about women astronauts, which sent my brain on many different tangents all at one.

I was even so annoyed with my mind that I told it i would commit the general idea of the thoughts to a note on my phone. Yeah, that didn’t work. I eventually got out of bed, vaped some cannabis, and put on some mellow music to just calm downtime ol’ brain.

What oh what kept me awake…

Let’s just pop open that note, and see what 1am me thought was so important. Uhhh, I’m a socialist guidance councillor?

Basically, I’ll just unwind the first thought!

Training and accreditation with periodic qualifications training. Yeah, seems pretty straight forward, but with a communal, government tracked skill progression. I feel like my brain tried to meld in accreditation by field and skill, instead of generic special accreditation in whatever field.

My mind thought of a giant circle, with a human in the middle. From that human, there were many branches of skills. I would liken it to Skyrim’s skill trees. A person would start school, and progress individually to test aptitude and skills at a workstation, and the grades in the skills would evaluate fields to increase training in to get a basic skillset for survival. Math, cooking, comprehension and verbal skills, etc. As you develop interests the course training would guide you to useful topics and continue your individual training.

I see a lot of aimless skill development…

Oh do I? Well it’s a two pronged attack. A government division for education and advanced labour would forecast job requirements and work with companies to forecast the skills that are needed, and the skills from people current in the job force.

What kind of nonsense is this?

I honestly don’t know, but I did feel aimless in my education and careers. Direction based on joy and aptitudes would have likely steered me in a more appropriate job field. Yes, I’m probably a person who fell through the education cracks and mainly use self taught skills in my day to day.

I have a lot of random thoughts and theories all based off a pipe dream of boiling people down to a number, but having full ownership of their privacy.

I see life through an object oriented tense. A “Human Framework” perhaps. The current pandemic and the contact tracing outlined in the current phone app fit surprisingly well in my crazy brain thoughts. Unique ID handshakes between identifiable devices with no contact info was basically one of my crazy thoughts years ago. I am 100% down for human chip implants for unique ID storage.

A chip what now?!

Sure, but maybe that will be another post. I’ll stop for now.

Boys day

I am completely over the moon at how excited my son is to just go with Daddy to get some lunch, and sit in the back of the SUV and chow on our food without Mommy.

I pray that I have the spoons and mobility to make this happen.

I will try not to worry to much about it, I don’t need the anxiety. Now the question is, where do we go!? I’m 99% certain it’ll be MacDonald’s because the happy meals currently have Minions 2 toys. Little guy hasn’t even seen the movie yet!

But what do you want?

Ooo, A DQ Bizzard! I’m pretty sure I could swing that as a desert. And the great thing about those two restaurants are that they are in our neighbourhood! Now if I wasn’t disabled, this would be a bike ride or walk opportunity.

Well why don’t you walk!

If my last outing is any indication of my current walking stamina, I’m nowhere near that, especially if it’s hot out! Air conditioned car comfort for me! And close driving is best. I don’t really drive much either, so keeping it near to home is best.

When was the last time you drove?

Honestly don’t know. Maybe the last time my wife’s takeout order was messed up at Wendy’s? I wasn’t a 100% that day, but my wife looked defeated after that day, and the supper screw up crushed her. She may not have said it, but it was in her eyes. I did what would normally be the super easy task of fixing that by taking my rollator and driving the SUV to get that meal order fixed!

Seems trivial, just scrape off the offending ingredient!

Easier said than done with the ingredient being partially melted cheese! I’ve seen the havoc of dairy, and I don’t want her to ruin her week!

Woah, off topic, boys day…

Right, back on track. McD’s and DQ maybe? We’ll see!

New toy!

I finally graduated to a concentrate vape! The delivery came today. I will have a usage summary in the near future, when I actually use it. So for now, unboxing!

So far a nice slide out package. I feel like that was a reward after struggling with the CanadaPost packaging. No pull tab means struggles for my fingers!

Ooo, the instructions are on the back of a faceplate, and the goodies are hidden behind. What are those odd little pieces? Him, magnetic pieces for the cartridges, very neat!

So the battery is nice and tiny. Fits snuggly in my palm so that’s a win.

And there are two tubes to try things out later!

Alright, picture filled post, not much else to say because some Ottawa family showed up in chat tonight, so mental dump is over.

But can I eat it?

Fair warning, I’m talking edibles tonight.

This weekend, my wife prepared some cannabis edibles for me. The delivery method was some AVB infused into coconut oil. Here’s the cooking details!

3 ingredient PB cups

• 1 heaping tbsp coconut oil – melted
• 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder
• 1 TBSP PB (melted)

Combine the melted oil and protein. Make a small layer in cups and place in freezer for 5 mins. Remove from freezer and place a small layer of PB then cover with more chocolate. Pop in freezer for 30 mins. Store in fridge or freezer.

PB Cups

Now I’m told it should’ve made fewer but the cup size is smaller than suggested. No complaints after eating just the one. Actually, could’ve been more potent, but we’ll see how two goes next time.

Now these don’t have to be cannabis infused to be enjoyable, and I might suggest if you do make it for yourself, you may want to use the PB with icing sugar in it. The sugar free all natural kind was used because I do try to avoid sugar when there is a sugar free alternative. Good ol’ refined sugar isn’t my friend.

So first edibles may not have packed a punch, but that’s what trial and error is for! Now the PB cups as a treat is not a miss. Very enjoyable. Chocolatey, coconut-y, creamy. Yeah, if I have to try eating two or three, or even 4, I won’t be mad!

Now, have you got any recipes we can try? Simple is best!

So this is 40!

So for my 40th, I thought I would do a decade in review, sort of run through highlights and lowlights of the past 10 year.

30

So I turned 30, got to have my annual Greekfest in Ottawa, as I am routine to do. The normal routine rut was happening, so life threw a wrench at me that I couldn’t dodge. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. I’m not sure if I grasped the gravity of it as much as I should’ve. Maybe because deep down I knew I had some issues, but it just got a label and a prescription.

31

My nieces and nephew were going to Disney World, so I tagged along as a chaperone and let’s be honest, roller coasters are fun. This would also be the last time I had a beer. 3 AM abdominal cramps were no fun. Crohn’s says no.

32

If ever someone had a pivotable, life changing year, this would be it. I was finally getting answers to what else is wrong with me. It was MS. I started my first drug treatment on my birthday! Tag on getting laid off from the mission. Record low year? Not really. Got through the diagnosis and laid off depression out of the way with the help of an old middle school flame. Moved to Halifax. Oh, and I got to see Rush live!

33

I got a job at NTT Data, and it was a start at rebooting life. I took a trip back to Ottawa and got an attempt at a food fix with tasty shawarma in Ottawa, or at least tried to. Rideau street was half dug up and it was inconvenient to get to Shawarma Palace. Boo. Also got engaged to that lovely lady from last year!

34

I married the love of my life. Had a wonderful night, thanks for everyone who made it there from far and wide. I guess it felt like a destination wedding to some! Also changed jobs. A year after my first interview, I was finally hired at my current job at ABMIS.

35

Moved to Dartmouth, legs were starting to get inconvenient, so shopped for a bungalow! Ooh, we got to see Kevin Smith Live! with a screening of Tusk. It was way funnier watching it in a theatre packed with people who wanted to see the film. Finally got a cannabis prescription, after trying for years. My Crohn’s and MS thank me. Family at home grew by a son, and I lost someone important to me, my grandmother.

36

Now I’m officially disabled. I got to change MS drug to a potentially harmful but super helpful drug, Tysabri. I sure don’t want PML, so I kept hoping to get approved for another drug soon!

37

A zoo trip with family happened where I finally spent a day in a wheelchair. I also started working remotely from home. I am lucky to have had an employer that could accommodate this. I also got to get off the Tysabri and started on Lemtrada

38

I visited PEI. Not a huge feat since I’d visited many times in the past, but travelling is becoming cumbersome. I had my second round of Lemtrada, and hopefully won’t need any new drugs for years. I also shockingly crowdfunded an Alinker walking bike in 18 hours. That definitely brightened my outlook on life. I dare say that I did not see “my community” until then. I knew I had friends, but I didn’t know I had such good friends. I’m grateful for each and everyone that has been a positive influence on my life.

39

COVID-19 happened, so basically surviving. Not much else of note.

So now what do my 40’s hold? Étienne starts school. That much I know for sure.

Bring it!

• Please note, if I left anything important out, blame my memory!

I’m Team iTunes

Or Apple Music?

I know, shocking right? If you know me, you know I worship at the alter of Apple. I’m writing this on an Apple Magic Keyboard, on an Apple iMac, while listening to Apple Music, on my iPhone 11, through Apple AirPods.

There’s an Apple logo sticker on my rollator!

So why do I love it? Mostly for the integration in my home computer ecosystem. I remember back in my Windows days, I found the older iTunes sluggish and lame. I gravitated more towards WinAmp and Quintessential. Ooo, and Sonique, now there was a failure to launch software.

But what about the music?

Ok, full disclosure, love music, and I did have to get a subscription service because they became more viable than file sharing. Most everything I could want is in apple music, and if it pays attention to what I listen to and recommends things in these awesome auto generated playlists, then I’m hooked. In the past 24 hours, I have listened to my get up mix, my chill mix, my favourites mix, and as I write this, my new music mix. I’m listening to music I wouldn’t normally hear if I stuck to my old (and vast) music collection on CD!

Who needs that!

I sure don’t! My fingers sure aren’t what they used to be! Thanks MS. Either way, streaming music is good, got a family membership and we would certainly be spending the same if not more a month on new music so a net gain by using the service on our end.

Uhh, but what about other streaming services?

Sure, whatever choice you make, if it works in your ecosystem, then all the power to you. I shall not (truthfully) hate your choice. Maybe offer some jocular comments!

Also, working on a turning 40 post, so take this filler I wrote a few days ago!