I did it, I did it

In my best SpongeBob voice, oh ah, I did it!

What?

I bought my watch! Got my money, bought my watch, hooray. It should be here mid next month, but we’ll see. I figured the extra $$ shipping wasn’t worthwhile in these pandemic days. Kind of felt like that would be setting money on fire.

So, did you get the rainbow strap one?

Oddly enough, no. It looks like I got Vancouver Canucks colours! The kid helped me pick yet again, and he was confused because he already went “window shopping” with me for the watch and expressed his opinion then. Tonight I explained that we would be for real shopping for daddy’s watch, and this is what we came up with…

Apple Watch

I’m not mad, snazzy, kinda makes me feel like the 80s.

We had first selected the red watch, but the band offerings were all red. That didn’t sit well with the buddy, so we picked the blue watch. Now that I think about it, this watch reminds me of Mission Paw Chase and his vehicle colours.

Yes I make kid show references. I watch them with him!

Anyway, super excited about that, has it arrived yet? Nah, I won’t check the tracking code everyday or anything…

Aw who am I kidding, as soon as I get a tracking number, it’s going in an app with alerts!

But that was just the past 10 minutes, what else happened today…

The Baby Yoda show!

Much as the first episode of the first season, a huge Star Wars fan actor made an appearance in the show. I ain’t even mad. Lucky guy probably got to live a childhood dream! Jealous. Since it’s still fresh and that tells you absolutely nothing, I will stop there. Baby Yoda likely had some meme worth snippets so I am looking at you Reddit.

Give me memes of the child to share with my wife!

I finally officially finished a cannabis cartridge! It lasted a lot longer than I thought it would. I was starting to wonder if the vapour was ever going to end! But, when you know, you know. And I know it’s done. It felt like an accomplishment and an annoyance because it ran out just as I was finishing a 3+ hr support call.

Oh they must’ve hated you!

No, surprisingly. The call went along fairly well. There was progress made and I completely set up their two computers and got them all ready for the return to full work on Monday after being off a year! I had found a few head scratching items, like a windows 7 machine, and a network cable that connected a switch, to itself! And it went nowhere! No wonder their password wouldn’t authenticate on the machine!

Mysterious mysteries!

Yep, love a good puzzle, and I was supper glad they were as baffled and confused by the state of the system after the past year. There was no audible signs of frustration on the other end of the phone. Maybe because they could still work on their laptop while I didn’t directly need them for something.

Oh, and on a bummer to the excitement today, I fell. I went from sitting in a chair at the table, to falling through my rollator. Luckily it didn’t suffer the fate of my desk. I think I hit my face, my lip was a little fuzzy and not in the normal way.

I crawled to the living room sofa, plopped my butt there, and watch the great pumpkin with my kid. He was calm when I fell, said he will go tell mommy, and didn’t panic. Kinda proud of that.

I guess seeing his father fall on the floor isn’t shocking anymore?

Probably not but the takeaway here is that he cuddled up with me and watch the Peanuts Halloween special with me. Very stoked about that.

Oh, and my Apple TV+ got extended to February!, thanks Apple!

Apocalypse soon?

What’s super spooky scary this time of the year is how much life will be impacted by the November US election.

It’s scary. It could go well, it could go horribly. We don’t know!

The only thing I know is I would like some of the old normal back. Some.

I want progress forward.

Maybe a metaphor is in order?

I was liking the analogy of the country leaning left and right on cycles of leader fatigue, but I had a new one pop into mind.

Slingshot!

Pull it back into the cusp of fascism and let it go back into true equality and freedom!

Oh, I saw a tiktok that made me happy. It was a Black Lives Matter protestor, and then it cut to an All Lives Matter counter protestor. The BLM person chimes back “Sure!” And then proceeded to mention every marginalized group as a life. And it’s true. All Lives Matter, not just the racist white ones.

Ok, enough of that, I’m going to lose sleep and it’s not even November yet! How about something more seasonally appropriate? Spooky Halloween-y?

I recently binged What We Do In Shadows and I have really been enjoying it. And very recently I saw a friend post that it was a movie as well! So you know that’ll be next on the watch menu! Faux reality tv, from Jemaine and Taika? Yes please!

Oh, and speaking of watching, it’s time to keep my eyes open for my deposit for my disability tax credit covid relief payment! Any day now… So if you’re a Canadian, and you have the disability tax credit, have you gotten yours yet?

No… It’s likely too soon.

I’ll just go and rewatch the baby yoda scene super cut on youtube if I can find it again. That should distract for now…

The Humpty Dance is your chance!

Happy hump day?

I’m just laying in bed, post nighttime preparation and such, and I have to say: Showers suck.

Never in my youth would I have thought they would be the most energy draining activity in my daily routine.

If you are one of those able bodied people who love a nice warm shower, enjoy that as much as you can!

Why does it suck for me?

Well, as I’ve stated, I have MS. I’m sensitive to the temperature. Warm showers drain me of my energy. It’s a heavy “spoon” activity. The heat that builds up and raises my body temperature basically tells my legs to shut down for the next little while. It sucks!

I have tried to take regular baths, but there’s the compound issue of not easily able to get up after a fall, and the warm water sapping my legs of energy. Even in a tub with handrails, it is a challenge!

So what do you do?

After I fell out of the shower, I swallowed any pride I had, and got a shower chair. Realizing I need assistance is always tough when you grow up athletic. I figure what I have left from my over abundance of balance is what keeps me upright most days. That, and I have always been a solid person.

One of my favourite childhood activities was standing in the aisle of the school bus and try to see how long I could stand during the route without touching a seat for support.

Ahh the adventurousness of youth. I see it in my kid, and with the exception of walking on the top of the sofa, it’s exiting to watch him parkour around the house.

And speaking of the little buddy, tonight, he fell asleep on his own. No cuddles. Helped that mom wasn’t home. He said I just had to turn on his music, fill his water bottle, and tell mom to come in when she gets home.

Between you and me, I’ll tell her, but if he’s asleep, she ain’t going in!

You can go your own way.

I’ve heard that before… somewhere… Is it from a show?

Funny guy!

Ahh, such a day, much happens, it felt full. The obvious 8 to 5 work day followed by Zoom exercise, fantastic supper (African Sweet Potato Stew), pumpkin carving video chat, birthday FaceTime with sisters, and a decent movie (The Way Way Back). Seems like a super full night to me.

The movie surprised me, great story, great cast, no complaints! It didn’t make me tear up anything, and only when the credits start at the end did I realize the movie was written by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash. They clearly gave themselves some good supporting roles!

Pumpkin carving was mostly just me scooping ice cream for my child and critiquing the person who’s pumpkin was the most impressive in size and colour. Never carved a pumpkin before, so it was fun to give them a gentle hazing into pumpkin carving. And that I did, in true “peanut gallery” fashion. I did not carve, because honestly, I don’t have the hand strength and stamina to effectively do it.

And no sooner than that video call ended, a group FaceTime was started on my family chat. On to there and to sign Happy Birthday to my sisters. Born on the same day but like, something like, may, I dunno, 3-4 years apart?

Yes, not just sisters to each other, but step-sisters to me, so yeah, you’d think I could do better at remembering these things…

Anyway, in all that happened tonight, I did mess up and take my medications 90 minutes early. I instinctively started grabbing my 8pm medication at my desk because that’s what I do most nights. It was actually time for my supper antibiotic, but I had completed taking all my medications from 8pm, and realized it was way too early.

So, nothing bad should happen. I’m sure I am not going to have a seizure or anything at this point. I took that medication 3 hours ago now. I’ll just have to go back to checking off my meds as taken on my app instead of just checking them off at the end.

Oh, completely forgot! I just heard the new buzz of our new clothes dryer! 3rd pandemic purchase of an appliance. So far we have a deep freeze, dishwasher, and clothes dryer… Dare we complete the set before covid ends?

Oh? It’s the new normal? Especially if the US elects Trump a second term who then forces untested vaccinations on a populace and will likely charge the patients for? When they should all just wear masks until the worst of it is gone?

Dammit, where did that rant come from?

The FBI doesn’t want my laptop

And I can see why, it doesn’t actually work anymore!

I do have a work laptop, so that keeps me working remotely!

I only half miss my laptop. It was a well travelled device that had the horribly crippling handicap of being a heat demon Core Duo. 6 month production run.

I didn’t check buying guides back then.

Now I’m slightly more educated. I like to keep my eyes on releases and expected changes. It’s weird because I don’t have the disposable income anymore!

Oh the Apple shrine that could have been.

I do have a bit of an Apple graveyard. The frequency that I purchase new items is now when the last item I purchased has deprecated. I went from an iPhone 6 to an 11, so a big jump.

What’s next?

An Apple Watch! I’ve waited on features that benefit others more. It now has a set of features I can argue it’s worth having. I feel like the novelty period has worn off.

All that’s left is to triple confirm what it will be customized with.

I was prepared for an all red model but it seems like silver with a rainbow band is the advise my child has given. I have a red phone because he picked it. Figure I’ll follow that shopping model. He is likely the person who will see it the most after me.

So shopping day is soon. Just waiting, and waiting… one day soon I will pull the trigger and buy one.

Soon.

Party all the time

Seems like we’re in the time of year where every kid seems to have a birthday, like some mammals have some sort of mating cycle, am I right!?

Please ignore my snow storm baby…

So I attend children’s parties… Or at least I have been to two this season. I’ve tapped out of a few due to health reasons, and really it was warranted! I don’t like to use my illness as an excuse to not do something because I like to make my desire not to go sound more valid as it’s not a go to get out of task free card.

Sure you don’t…

I don’t! I legitimately try to work when I know I’ll be useless, and soldier through it if someone else is off sick or we’re low staffed. It sucks, but I do like having a job!

Ok, fair.

I know a lot of people with MS can’t work for any number of reasons, and I try not to catch any negative mindsets from anyone. My journey is my journey, and theirs is theirs. I’ve had highs and I’ve had lows, so it would be selfish not to think that anyone else has as well!

Ooo, does that logic track?

Dunno, don’t care. I assume if I typed my thoughts it was probably correct. Don’t dwell on it. Like I’m not going to dwell on the horrible lies my nieces spoke during the rounds of among us we played this evening.

Hey, they weren’t lying, too much…

Ha, suppose not. I played a fool tonight anyway. Tried to keep the gameplay fun. I know my step-sister had fun, or I assume they did when they killed me! I got to be imposter but once this evening, during our test run with just family getting our feet wet. I lost.

Probably should’ve went for the gamers first…

We live and die and sometimes learn. Tonight I learned, don’t give away your position. Also, mute is your friend, even with long distance family!

“Do-pey-dope, I’m in electrical, come kill me!”

I was going to write a post…

But then I got high.

I did have some interesting visual representations of concepts and problems I think about in my altered state, as it were. But I didn’t;t really pay it much mind as I fished in Animal Crossing.

You did yourself a disservice by not taking notes!

Yeah, but Animal Crossing! It’s fun! Still, somehow, ok, so we were late to the Animal Crossing train. It’s still somewhat fun. Halloween activities and costumes are around for crafting and decorating.

Still not sure if I should expect real trick or treaters.

Probably safe to assume there will be. I’m not sure what the protocols will be, but here’s what I think… Slingshot double bubble gum at the people that walk by my house!

Woah, you used to be a good candy house, what is this crap!

Ok ok, I wouldn’t be the crappy house handing out double bubble. That pink crap gives me a headache so that just won’t do for leftovers! I wonder if there’s a dollar store where we can snag a box of those 4:20 Oh Henry bars. Those were so good with their salty flavour and absent chocolate. Mmm.

Does that make them look more or less like a poo if you throw it in a pool?

Jebus, are you still high “other me”? Well, maybe, but not really, right? I am writing somewhat coherently. So I say I’ve just got a sense of humour!

And an abundance of letter U!

What October surprise?

I think there has been a few…

But what about my surprises? There’s a couple for me.

The vast majority of eligible Canadians – nearly 1.6 million people – will begin receiving their payment on October 30, 2020, using direct deposit and mailing information from existing government programs.

Hooray! Nice surprise indeed. Well, the surprise will be if it actually gets deposited to my account. I think this has been in the works for a while, but it would be nice to have the relief cash. What else?

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Love me a good Borat film. It’s also sad. It really highlights ignorance, but really it’s a movie so I don’t know how much is real, and the frightening parts would be the real parts. Eep. I’m watching it right now. Could this be considered a horror film?

Now it’s not October for this next one, but I am looking forward to the Animaniacs reboot!

Animaniacs

Ahh, but that’s such a long time off, November seems like forever away. What will entertain until then?

Baby Yoda – Season 2

Oh right, the Baby Yoda show! How I forget!

What are you excited to see?

I’m tired

But that’s not new. In fact, it’s quite old and constant!

If you’re so tired, you probably didn’t do much tonight!

Well, I worked a 9 hour day, I left the house for bloodwork, bathed a kid after swimming and put him to bed. I think I did rather well.

Yeah but it’s late and you haven’t posted anything yet!

True, and deep down I wanted to end the daily streak… but I just can’t! I felt like I had a decent talk with my little guy tonight.

I have been poaching his daycare pictures off of Facebook and tonight we scrolled through them. I now know the name of his current friends and he pointed out a former friend who hit him in the head.

Oh… so that could be the root of some anxiety…

Probably had a bit of impact, yeah. But he now seems super happy about the friends he does have. I’ll really have to try hard to remember their names…

Except he may be pronouncing them incorrectly?

I’m sure he is and they’re just hipster white people names. You’d never guess them, even if you tried!

Today also brought the first update message for his teacher through the app she uses. It was a positive update about listening and playing. He even went in to school without issue.

Well he did that anyway! Come brag on a mommy drop off day!

Yeah… hope those don’t happen all that often! Need to get that morning routine locked in… waking up sucks… I should get some sleep.

Am I doing it right?

Chances are I am, mostly…

I just want to say that I’m glad we live in Canada, and there is a support network for families. I know I wouldn’t be a “great” father if there wasn’t support. I will lean on social services that are offered because life is hard. And 5 year olds are a lot!

I feel like I have failed.

And while I have probably dropped the ball at times, it can be turned around! Now I am not going to make excuses, but state quite simply that mobility issues and chronic fatigue sure do make going to child activities hard. Especially if said child activity involves a parent in almost any capacity!

I can’t drive, run, throw (with any elegance or accuracy) so having kid/dad time is very far and few in occurrence. Tonight, my lovely partner is partaking in a little self care after preparing supper with a session of Yoga at a class. And with Mom gone, Dad’s in charge!

Now I actually had the energy (barely) to talk a crying kid off the ledge when he was told he couldn’t have a show tonight. I managed to steer the conversation to his school day and asked him to explain his coat hook & cubby because I was told by his teacher that he figured out where everything went without instruction (beyond I assume, pointing out which hook was his).

Now I don’t know how much of it is ego stroking, but I do know that little guy is smart. He likes math and taught himself numbers. The teacher said she was impressed he could count to 20. I didn’t bring up that he knows his numbers to 100. She’ll figure that out. But for now we need to get some french into his day at home.

This feels like a failure on my part.

I am French. I feel like maybe my desire to not speak it unless backed into a corner somehow passed to him genetically? Anyway, taking that to heart, I read him a french book about dinosaurs tonight. It took a bribe of an English book beforehand, but that’s a small price to pay to even get him to agree to books.

I have defeated TV!

Ha, no you haven’t! Where is the kid right now?

Watching videos on his phone… But he is ready for bed, got in to his pyjamas (button up ones) all by himself, and got his vitamin, brushed his teeth (with a little help actually doing the brushing), and mouthwash. So he’s all ready for bed and ready to sleep. Hopefully soon.

Woah, so that’s why you’re writing so early?

Yeah, I was getting my 6:30 supper meds, and he negotiated phone time because his mother said he could have a show while she was at yoga. Well he didn’t want a tv show, and phone time was for bedtime, so I directed his happy positive energy to that task. By the time Mom gets home from yoga, she may just get roped into cuddle time!

So early…

Today they both slept in, so I figure he could use the extra sleep, if he is tired, theoretically he should want to go to sleep early… I hope. Anyway, we discussed setting up his new “solo” bed tonight. That lovely IKEA bed that my partner scored when they were in stock. We got the last one! So, I have a week and change to get him on board with the idea of not having his mother in bed with him.

It’s going to be a rough Halloween!

Yeah. Still not sure what the trick-or-treat situation is going to be. One of his classmates is having a costume birthday this coming weekend, and so is our neighbour, so at least he’s going to get some outside the house action with his Batman costume!

Woah, lots of future activities!

Yeah, and swimming lessons somewhere in there? The little guy has a busy life! I’m not sure where I am going to get a French story tucked away in there but we will try!

Bribe for phone time, I guess.

Trying to be better, and that’s all I can do!