What year is this?

I have been transported to the 90’s!

How may you ask? Why, with the Fresh Prince and the Warner Brothers!

..and the Warner Sister.

K, so today is definitely a blast from the past. Last night there was a 30 Year reunion special for the cast of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. A show I actually paid attention to and actually saw the first episode on live TV! I was a fan of the music, so I had high hopes for the show. Was definitely a part of my childhood!

And on the lighter side, the animated antics of the Animaniacs has returned! A Hulu release of this reboot features mostly, if not exclusively, the warners and the mice. No Mindy, Slappy, Buttons, nope. But still, I can’t be mad at this throwback show I hope to enjoy with my kid!

Fingers crossed!

So the 90’s are back now? Is neon all the rage? Where’s my screen printed tees with the Tasmanian devil sporting my favourite sports team logos! Ooo, are there window decals of Calvin urinating on competitors truck logos?

Other 90’s references!

OK, I’m getting distracted by all the flashbacks to the old days. Damn, I’m old… doing math… Yup, old. Darn. When did this happen? Technically when I turned 30 and my health began to decline, but I didn’t get near daily reminders of my age at that time. Now, I listen to oldies music and watch classic television. Yup… Old.

Old, but happy… to the max!

Today was a good day.

Good for some, not so good for others?

What did I do with a free and clear day off? Nothing! Well, nothing remotely constructive.

I waked and baked, got hungry and actually ate reasonable meals. I finished off a lovely 3 day old butter chickpea curry. Curry is a magical dish that tastes better after cooking, like next day lasagna! I’m not wrong, and will argue that point.

Also, catching up on The Blacklist as I’m a few seasons behind. This is definitely a show I don’t go to first if there’s something else, but I’ll be sucked in if I start watching it! Can’t stop won’t stop…

Except my boss called. He told me I made a mistake on my time sheet for last week’s on-call. Oops, “pobody’s nerfect!” Also, he informed me that the new Animal Crossing: New Horizons update went live! Yeah, so not totally a work related call.

Sorry Raymond, Tom Nook beckons with his 500,000 bells inventory upgrade!

I can’t say I did anything too new from the update beyond that. I was quickly devolving into a bell grind routine I perform most days when I play the game.

So I had a lot of screen time, it’s ok, I’m an adult. And as an adult, I do the adult things! Mostly when the child is around.

Speaking of the child, it was report card time, and it was mostly a gut check on us parents. We have possibly been failing on the French at home. So now I have to broach the subject with the kid, and deal with his angry protests about French.

We had our little talk because we were alone after swimming class. Mom was off to Costco getting lunch snacks for the buds, and some other staples for the family. One-on-One seems to be the way to get past the shy kid to talk to the serious one. We did bath time without must parental help, and we talked.

I’ve been told that he wants to grow up to be a builder, and live with us forever. I marvelled at the thoughts of all the handiwork he’ll do transforming the house into an accessible paradise one day…

You know, we can all dream. I however enjoy that he can find direction at this age. Reflecting back, it’s an engrained memory that when asked to describe what you’d like to be when you grow up, that I just wanted to be retired with enough money to live. Ok, maybe I said millionaire and that I wouldn’t do anything. Still the dream really.

Just need that golden ticket…

Wait, I don’t gamble. Guess I’ll just retire and collect disability one day? Seems like the safe bet.

But anyway, back to the child. He made me laugh tonight during our talks when he moved on to the oral hygiene part of the evening. He was excitedly telling me all about Ben 10 when he finished washing his hands and reached for the mouth wash, only to pump a serving of mouthwash into his hand! A quick pause, and a realization setting in was punctuated by the classic “Oh…”

We had a good chuckle and got ready for bed.

Oh, and what became of the talk?

Well, we will be speaking in French more often. I offered to say things in French and English when there wasn’t a visual element to the question. Also going to start watching more French shows. Luckily the government gives us a bunch to stream for free! And we can start doing this, specifically starting Sunday… For some reason… That was the clause that sealed the deal..?

But yeah, all around the kid is growing up. There’s a lot more thought put in to serious questions. He does things for himself because he wants to, like he made his lunch for tomorrow. Sure he was stalling, but he low-key didn’t want to go to bed and hang out with Momma. But bedtime can still happen now with Dad when Mom is home because he understands that she can’t be everywhere at once and Dad’s more available to hang out for bedtime.

Ahh, so my heart is full, I’m rested, and I hope to have a great night of sleep. Today was indeed a good day.

I’m Team Green!

This morning, much like I do every other Wednesday, I logged in to Mario Kart Tour to see there was a colours gang war!

Ok, I blow that out of proportion a little. But it is a teams tournament, red vs green, race tour.

Race tour? That almost sounds like race war…

Yikes, I best leave that be for now. Anyway, I joined team Luigi, as I saw it as the likely underdog in the fight. I didn’t really base it on anything else.

Nor should you?

I don’t really know or care if there is a reward for the side that gathers the most coins, but in this year old game, I urge you to come play, and be my friend!

Mario Kart Tour

I’ll even send you coins, most days, when my brain remembers I can do that, it’s still sort of new. Or maybe it’s been there for months? What day is it? Curse you pandemic! I better go online Christmas shopping…

Speaking of shopping, there’s a Black Friday soon, right? Don’t those confused people down south with their copy cat holiday soon with their crazy shopping event that’s oddly made its way here?

Hey Siri, when’s Black Friday? Oh, the 27th? Cool, guess I gotta shop for a new TV with a wall mount then. It’s going to be weird, but I get to think about how to rearrange a room. Not my strong suit, but I’ll have to get input from the family! I know my partner has eyes for a new sofa (IKEA KIVIK), so I think layout design will be important. I have it roughly imagined in my mind, but the nerd in me is looking forward to mapping the room in the IKEA Room Designer and fitting all the fixtures and outlets in place, and turning the room into a virtual jigsaw puzzle!

Ooo, I wonder, should I get a sound bar in the near future as well? I think I should plan with that in mind regardless!

But on to planning, I should definitely use one of those viewing optimization tv size website tools to figure out just what size of TV we should get. I have been eyeing 43″ (ugh, get metric already! Call it 110cm!) but I’m not sure how far away from the TV I plan to sit!

Also, I don’t know the dimensions of my living room. I should’ve saved the house listing details when we bought the house for quick and easy reference.

Ooo, that’s a topic I could muse about in a post!

Hey Siri, remind me to write house database human framework brain dump stuff!

Ahh, so I’ve been sitting here, blogging, scheduling meetings for later, taking obligatory watch mandated walks, and generally just enjoying my day so far, but maybe it’s time for a change of scenery. To the fabled living room!

Oh, and go play Mario Kart Tour with me! Apple – Android

We’re in the clear!

No COVID here!

Well, at least not in our house.

Today could’ve almost been the start to the vacation that began officially on the 11th, but I decided to exert myself!

I “cleaned” my desk. This was a tad overdue. I dare say I even dusted! It’s sort of cluttered up again, but organized clutter. I’ve felt a purging mood wash over me of late. It’s good for the soul right, to clean house, get rid of the dust bunnies and cinnamon hitlers…

Alright so now that the kid was cleared of any covid, he insisted on going toy shopping. Sure, more toys…

One problem, living room is full of toys!

OK, time to parent. We gave him a few shows in the AM with breakfast and snack time. No school because we hadn’t gotten the results back in time to ship him off. So after TV time, the shows stopped, and no more were to be had until the living room was cleared.

It took most of the day, with many “I’m tired/Go to bed/I’m not tired” discussions. He did eventually start clearing things up when given explicit instructions on what to pick up next.

I felt like I was supervising road work!

Anyway, before supper, there was a quick trip to the Toys R Us to get a Cap’n Ryan’s Mega Mystery Treasure Chest. He is rather enamoured with this show, so if you’re looking for Christmas gift ideas for the little guy, this is probably the right franchise to shop in.

Ryan’s World – Toys R Us – Walmart – Amazon

Well, I’ve had a full day here, and I feel like a restful day at home, alone, is in order. Hoping for lots of Zzzs tonight!

And to read about the stats in the AM? Yeah, I’m an Apple Nerd.

Also, PS, whatever… That vape cartridge I thought I had finished was in fact still usable! I’m impressed.

A week in review

But only about my new watch!

So it has been almost a week with the new Apple Watch I bought. Here’s what I think about it so far…

I haven’t been wearing a watch much in the last 15 years, so it takes a little adjustment to having something extra on my person, but small hurdle to overcome. I haven’t quite mastered the comfortable strap tightness, but it is adjustable, so little adjustments are required throughout the day.

No big deal, strap, sure, what else?

Well, I’m proud that I’ve closed the calories burned and stand up rings. I think I have to actually record exercise to fill that middle ring. I’m off tomorrow so I should be able to put a 30 mine exercise in the logs to make me feel accomplished. Tuesdays and Thursdays are my Zoom exercise class days. Very low impact, lots of mobility targeted exercises for those with neurological issues.

#MSSucks

So calories burned must tabulate from steps taken. It’s way more validating to see steps! I didn’t get much credit for tossing the phone on the rollator when puttering around the house. It’s not much, but it’s a confidence boost!

I feel much better seeing steps getting closer to 1,000. Feels like less of a downer. Now I don’t know how inactive I was pre-watch but the reminder to stand up every now and again certainly does keep me from sitting in one place! Probably helped pump that step number up, so I’m not complaining. I haven’t been able to leave the house since we are awaiting our kid’s likely negative test results before we leave the house, so the area I can walk is rather limited, so that is about all I can do without being in everyone’s way all the time!

Don’t act like you would’ve been walking a kilometre every day!

Ok, truth, but maybe I could get a few more steps in if I feel deep down like I could get some minor serotonin from completing some goal on my phone! Imagine, making a life a game? Like I’m trying to make life fun!

Ah, gaming, fun times.

And now I gotta say I love the sleep reports in the morning. Gives real insight into what I’m doing at night. I was cheering myself like I got some kind of high score when it showed me not being disturbed for a 6 1/2 hour chunk of time! Again, making things a game, I may try to get more sleep, that can’t be that bad!

You’re putting a lot of faith into a watch.

Sure am! But the way I see it, it’s a tool to improve my health and enhance my mood. I have been able to use my phone to remotely control the TV that the kid is watching. Always nice to not have to reach for my phone or walk across the house to hit a play button.

The hand washing feature is nice, but sometimes I fail according to the watch because I have to steady myself with my arm on the sink, and that’s not a hand washing motion!

The mindful minutes are nice as well. Haven’t figured out why they trigger but when I get the alert, I stop and take a series of deep breaths for a minute. That can’t be bad right? I don’t mind a machine telling me to relax!

Yes, so far, I am happy. And I think I almost forgot this, but unlocking my iMac just by moving the mouse is pretty nice! I was doubtful that feature was going to work for my older computer, but surprise! It works!

I’m sure there’s still a lot of little things I missed about what solidifies my thoughts in this purchase, but I can’t sit here all night. I have to stand up and walk around! Need to complete that red ring of calories!

He’s not trapped at home with us

We’re trapped at home with him!

This has been a long, anxious weekend. The child is filled with anxious energy and nowhere to send him out to expend it!

We have waited all day, glued to our devices in hopes for some test results, but they have not come.

Tomorrow is the unfortunate day that I work, but it is starting to look like a day I where I will be sequestered in the office/spare room while my partner wastes her EDO wrangling our rambunctious child. If the call comes in midday, I’m sure she’ll throw a coat on him and drop him off at the front door of school minutes after!

Honestly, I feel terrible thinking that because he is our child, and it wasn’t like he’s been diligent at washing his hands and wearing a mask. A flu or cough in Canada is not unheard of and no one in the house is deathly ill. Kiddo has had a flu shot, as has my partner. I have not, but I haven’t really ventured outside much. It almost feels like going for a shot is more of a risk than not getting one?

I should really get one.

Unbelievably it is only 6:30 PM and I think we’re all ready for bed. This is not covid fatigue, this is stir crazy fatigue. While I’m excited that É declared it was bedtime, it’s still early and he is demanding more screen time.

I was quite literally interrupted to explain why he couldn’t have screen time at 6:30 PM when we all know full well the nature of the beast we dubbed DJ Johnny No Naps.

He came to the bargaining table with nothing to offer.

He walked away with nothing.

If he can manage to stay out of our hair for 15-30 minutes while he hangs out in his room, we can renegotiate.

I feel like I parented OK in that scenario.

But what has him all crazy? Christmas. The kiddo wrote his Santa letter yesterday. I feel like he asked me how many days until Christmas a half-dozen times today.

Ok, 6:32 PM and he’s on the loose. His loophole? The supper he didn’t eat because he was full of wiggles and not hungry! Crafty kid…

I think I’ll just lay down and recoup some spoons. I’m also fully prepared to read stories as phone delays… Wish me luck!

Trapped in the house.

Not once since the pandemic began have I felt trapped.

Today, it all changed.

How was your day different than yesterday?

For one, I can’t say I haven’t been near someone awaiting a covid test result. Our kid had a test this morning. Now every cough causes a little worry. Also, it feels like we are prison wardens on a kid in solitary.

At least he gets supervised yard time?

Certainly, but he has been given a slightly relaxed set restrictions inside as well. Extra tv or phone time, Timbits, and various other activities with mom and dad.

I even drew a picture. I think I’ve been inside too long. All I thought to draw was food!

So now we wait, by the inbox or phone. We went for an early test appointment and we hope to hear back soon. The trapped feeling needs to go! I’m sure it wouldn’t be so bad if we knew definitively.

Kind of like that election? That crybaby is really running amuck! I heard he’s going on a firing rampage to make the transition difficult.

US, you had a good run, but you’re probably going to lose your democracy privileges. I’m grateful that we didn’t have to pay for the kiddo’s Covid test. Yay our country!

I should be asleep

And I’m just about there…

So why the hell are you writing something? Your streak is over, get some rest!

But first, the vacation that wasn’t!

Silly me, forced to take some vacation, figured I’d relax with a padded weekend because the Wednesday was a day off!

You forgot you were on call, didn’t you?

Sure did, but when the week started, I figured how bad could it be!?

Not bad, not the worst, just super inconvenient!

Sat at my desk most of the working hours Wednesday, and Thursday & Friday mornings had the worst possible wake up calls!

Huge problems?

Not even! Both were nothing! Site down due to scheduled power outage and a locked domain account that unlocks after 15 minutes… I did my job with a smile in my voice and tried to get some sleep. I was useless dad those mornings.

And being a useless dad is no fun… so zombie dad got to stay up and entertain a coughing kid who played with a dog all day the day before.

It’s serious times, and even if we know 99% that it’s allergies, well we won’t expose the world to a “new” cough. Gotta test the germ factory for the plague.

So now I sleep, and I hope my family does as well! Test in the early morning!

Red blinking light? Take two!

I wrote a post and got distracted by TV shopping. Our current TV has reached a ripe old age. A plasma behemoth that has lived in three provinces!

This past couple of weeks it would become temperamental when turned off and on in a short timeframe. It likes to just fail to turn on, and taunt you with a blinking red light. Ten cruel flashes, pause, and ten, ten, ten again!

Ah Numberblocks!

I had disabled the auto shut off feature the first time it happened in hopes of avoiding the timer and turnoff that was on a timer. If I missed the 3 minute warning, it would shut off. Turn it back on to be tainted by the flash? No thanks!

So shopping we go!

Not sure what we will end up with, or if we will even wait for the Black Friday deals. If we can turn the TV back on, it may have to stay that way for the day and be turned off at night.

That hardly seems green!

Nope, not really! But maybe only for a little while? My carbon footprint is getting better, with every lightbulb we replace!

Anyway, I dumped half my brain on a post already and lost it, so this was all that was left.

TV time go!

Refuelled, ready to go

Ahh, the sweet nectar of Monster Ultra Paradise, good stuff.

It helped me get through the most hectic day of the week.

But isn’t it a holiday in your province?

Sure, it was, which is why we had the kid’s make-up birthday party. Small crowd, mostly outdoors, people in our bubble so it’s mostly safe? Really only worried about asymptomatic carriers!

But, I know everyone in the house, and know they they practice common sense. I was even a little proud that every time a person entered the house, my adult 5-year old would urge them to wash their hands!

Gotta love the little guy.

So it was a hectic day, and my partner pulled out a miracle somehow. She made little prize bags, baked and decorated a Numberblocks themed cake, filled a piñata, and crushed the day!

Sounds like you were a lot of help…

I was not! I would say I made about 3 to 4 appearances at the party. The singing of happy birthday and cake candle blowing were must see events.

Woah… kid blew out the cake candles??

Sure did! Blew out a number 5 candle on a 5cmx5cm cupcake essentially. He quickly devoured it all to himself. Everyone else was server from numbers 1 through 5. Basically everyone received their one miniature iced cake. And of course, it was all gluten and dairy free! So I don’t have to reluctantly figure out how I am going to fit that evil, delicious sugar into my days. I have help!

But back to not providing help… I think I talked to 5 different countries today. I am an international tech troubleshooter today! I was on call and busy for about 12 hours from 6 am to 6 pm. If that feels like hyperbole, it was only slightly. I was so removed from the day that when my partner dropped off a takeaway order from Mezza, I was surprised and confused! It was about 1:15 pm and I had barely eaten anything. I won’t lie, that was basically all I ate today. A delicious chicken shawarma platter. Clearly I was not consulted as I would’ve asked for a fatoush salad instead of greek, but nothing a discarding of olives couldn’t fix. I ate the thing, not upset at all. Yum.

So I have no doubt that I would not be typing this right now if I didn’t fuel my day with energy drinks.

I’m fairly certain there is no health benefit to ingesting so much caffeine with MS, but I do need to make it through the day! Having MS and keeping a job is my super power, and I’m not ashamed to take little helpers!