Spooky Scary Skeletons!

Yes, it’s spooky season. We get it. Scares all around!

Speaking of scares, my son actually got me with a good scare yesterday at daycare pickup! I was sitting in the passenger seat of the car, just reading something on my phone, and I heard a honk. I took a quick look around as my alertness was triggered, and I saw nothing that required further attention. As I was relaxing, setting my eyes back on the article I was reading, the kid popped up and smacked the window like a mynock!

If you know, then you know?

Short of that, fall is a lovely season. I am not a fan of hot or cold, so this is a nice medium. Sweater weather, warm comfort foods, pumpkin pie, good times. But as the days roll on, I grow concerned at what the community plans to do for Halloween. I have an excited Batman who just wants to wear the heck out of his costume before months end! I think I’ve suited him up in it three times today! I can’t get mad because these dress ups usually preceded the TV being turned off.

Ooo! Not the screen time!

We did check out on screen time in favour of running around the yard like a crazy banshee! There is a “kite” fashioned from a length of ribbon and a plastic bag that the kid just absolutely loves running around with. And as the desire to run outside came during supper prep, I was to go outside and supervise. I had wished to remain on the deck and have him run around the ramp and yard, but the wind was surprisingly more aggressive in the backyard, so I had an impromptu trip down the ramp and into the backyard.

It does look different than the back office window’s view!

It was nice to get motivated to leave the house, at least going outside. I think that’s 2 days in a row, so I will give it my best effort to remember to go outside tomorrow and start a streak! If I can do the checkins in Animal Crossing, and blog every day, why not leave the house and breathe some of that sweet outdoor air?

No excuse!

At least I don’t need a mask to sit on my front porch and enjoy the outside! And I don’t have any issue with the masks, to the contrary! I can make all the faces I want when getting to and from somewhere with the rollator! No one sees the grimace behind the fabric!

I sure hope it doesn’t show in my eyes!

Anyway, seems like spooky season deserves a tv playlist of halloween specials, or a treehouse of horror marathon? I think I may have to make a movie collection title Halloween in my Plex for all the Halloween themed shows. We almost need a October halloween special schedule on TV, like they do in December!

If you know of one, let me know, so I can poach it!

And sleep now, sweet prince.

Well that was a long week for me.

MS and fatigue are something else. I just finished an on call week, and I am blessed that I did not have any overnight calls, but there were a few full evenings. I was getting so burnt out that I did not have the time or energy in me to attend my exercise zoom call on Thursday!

Oh no! Are they helping?

I feel like they are. Last night I basically righted my torso from a 90 degree bend when getting ready for bed. I would normally need to brace myself on something, but it just happened. It felt so unusual that I had to exclaim to my partner what I had done! A small victory for progress, a stronger core!

Do exercise more often!

Yeah, I don’t want to give myself exercise fatigue. I like the two classes a week. I’ll think less of skipping a day here or there if I have two scheduled appointments a week. This week is an exception of course.

Thanks on-call!

I feel the lengthy walk and standing I put in tonight was beneficial. We went to Boston Pizza as a reward for the child and his success at catching the bus on time all week! I’ve really felt proud of him all week.

Kinda sucks you got an email from his teacher today…

Yeah, going to have to have a little talk with the dude this long weekend. Gotta work through the shyness. He refuses to apologize if it accidentally hurts someone. Gotta teach him to be comfortable apologizing like a true Canadian. I’m sure he’s just shy and maybe ashamed for messing up. I feel like I can understand his feelings, but I’m certain I don’t have the words to articulate this in a way he would understand.

Got any books?

Oh tons! And even one in french that’s literally about apologizing, so I know what my Saturday morning will involve. Activities and stories!

Oh, and on the Boston Pizza trip… Why do I consider that a mini-workout?

• We did not get a handicap spot upon arrival.
• Parking is at the side of the building, so I had to walk to the front
• The handicap cutout in the sidewalk was steep
• the restaurant only had seating in the back corner of the bar

So that was quite a distance to walk all in one go for me. I’m mostly used to short walks around the house, or out to the car and from the car into a house/shop. Not exactly marathons. I’m sure my step counter on the phone was shocked! Most times my phone rides around on my rollator seat so it doesn’t register any steps some days!

I just checked. 0 steps on Wednesday!

I will be buying an Apple Watch soon, and I know you may think why would I need/want one? And I say health features! It does ECG and blood oxygen readings, plus it can remind me to stand up, and I can answer calls with it. Seems like they managed to pack a lot of win into a wrist device.

Ok, so I don’t know where all those words came from. I sat here and let out a huge sigh that caused my partner to express concern. Thank you Apple Music for giving me the drive to type with my Favourites playlist running in the background. Yay!

Also, Spicy Pierogi Pizza was the food I ordered. It was great, and will be great cold pizza tomorrow.

For breakfast!

And here we go again!

Another after hours call, for the same company, for the same problem!

Oh no!

But good news! We know mostly what needs to be done! So it didn’t take as long and it’s already fixed! These little things are a puzzle. Ones with like, a million pieces, and the picture is like, 3 solid colours. A lot of trial and error to figure out just how the puzzle was cut!

Take a victory lap.

I’m going to take a pass on that, but on the topic of laps, the kid had swimming lessons tonight! And the accessibility is apparently top notch. Wheel chairs and a lift in and out of the pool.

Sounds like a win.

Already in my head, I’m pondering about “Do I really need the aides?” and the common sense voice in my head grows ever louder with the “YES YOU DO!” I’d say the biggest debate I get into with that voice in my head is “Should I use the stairs, or the ramp?”

Ramp, duh!

Well normally I would agree, but here’s my counterpoints…

• How is my leg mobility (stiffness)
• How tired am I (walk long way around, or short steps up)
• What mobility aides are available to me

I’m sure there are more factors in the debate, but those would be the highlighted key points. I like the stairs when going up because I can generally hold a hand rail and a cane. I can use upper body to stabilize and help propel me upwards and onwards as I step up. Going down usually gets relegated to the ramp. Even for two or three steps. I had a fall going out of a restaurant with steps so I know better now?

Meh, it’s a journey.

And I’m not alone. I got my family. I have my little kid run and fetch things. I can ask for a medicine by name and he can retrieve it without error.

Ok, sidetracked…

Can I just say how proud I am of my child? I know he has his struggles with being shy about new things and people, but as for his development mentally, why he sure is smart! He self motivated through an entertainment medium and tough himself numbers and basic math. Addition, subtraction, and even a little multiplications.

The kid sure likes square numbers!

So he’s basically a pharmacist and a mathematician. The world is his, what will he make of it? I for one am excited to find out.

Yes, he recently came home and told me all about his swimming lessons, and yes, I’m proud papa…

Anyway, stairs, what do I love about them? Well I will 99% of the time use the stairs up our front deck. It gives me a small sense of accomplishment to do this. My wife helps by taking my rollator up the steps for me and sets it up for the inevitable victory lap to the front door! I suppose the one reason I wouldn’t go up the stairs is if I was using my Alinker. That’s a harder burden to ask of someone to lug that up the steps!

Besides, I shouldn’t skip leg day.

And the moral of this story is…. Listen to the voice inside my head?

Gee I sure hope there’s only one!

You’re killing me, Smalls.

Well, in this scenario, on-call is smalls, and I’m not watching The Sandlot.

What am I watching?

Tonight, I have tried to watch Archive. So not super sure what I’m watching because it’s not something I’m devoting a lot of attention to. I feel like it’s got a nice balance of sci-fi and unknown… I’m not sure who the antagonist is yet, but it seems obvious.

Hope there’s a twist?

Honestly, I don’t even really care at this point. Seems like an OK enough movie. Just can’t give it an uninterrupted go, but that’s par for the course for on-call week!

You sound put out…

Nope, just can’t review a movie I can’t watch. Simple enough. I also don’t feel like my brain is in it today. Found some complicated puzzles of phone calls today so maybe I’m just stuck in a diagnostic frame of mind? I think I’ll go shut my brain down with some mario kart tour and pass out. Good night.

Indeed I did!

And I for one am supper glad that I could vote online. It’s always important that I get these things out of the way as soon as possible because life doesn’t wait!

This is only a municipal election!

True, but all votes count! When you are given the opportunity to help shape the future, why not take the action? It can cost you to not voice your support with a ballot. Back the candidate that reflects your ideals or at least, is the least objectionable choice?

Dumb and Dumber?

Maybe it is for you, but seriously, I’d rather have dumb over dumber if that’s my choice! I got my mailer because I was registered, and it came with advance voting through the internet. Huge win for voter engagement. And we Canadians are largely online. A lot apparently!

Hey, PornHub is based in Montreal!

So there you have it! Everyone has that website, right? So why not vote online when you’re done! Oh, if you can vote online that is.

It’s 2020, who can’t vote online!

Looking’ at you USA! I saw on the semi-serious news that someone waited something like 13 hours to vote! Insanity! I know, clearly the archaic voting system was all orchestrated to suppress voting, I get that. I also get that it’s wrong to silence people who pay the taxes that fill your coffers!

I bet if they trimmed off like 2% of the military budget for voting, they’d be a country worth visiting again! And I’m not ragging on the neighbours to the south in general. I’m mostly taking shots at the ruling reds.

Hey, remember when red was a bad colour in the USA? The British, The Russians, and to a lesser extend, the sort of socialist north!

I think the red menace is starting to grow from within! The call is coming from inside the house! RUN!

So what does your 2021 look like? Are we expecting refuges from the Civil War II? Cinnamon Hitler, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, Donald Drumpf. Seems like synonyms to me!

Anyways, voting good, I voted, am I good?

The bells toll for me!

Yeah, on call time is fun time. I think the phone has stopped ringing for now…

Honestly I am exhausted and it’s only Monday. A fall and on call make for a “fun” day. I barely had any brain time to posting.

So why not throw an idea or two my way?

Got any good shows to check out?

Good movies to watch?

Good places to check out for food/dish?

Oh, speaking of food, I received an email about SkipTheDishes and some form of points system now. Sure wish they’d honour the retroactive orders! I’m sure that would net me some free food…

SkipTheDishes

So… $1 = 5 points… but to redeem it’s 1000 points = $1… I might never get free food… 1000 / 5 = 200? So, for $1 off, I need to order $200? So maybe a dollar off once in a while. Seems like a hard points accumulation process.

Ad: You should order with SkipTheDishes! Sign up with this link to get $5 off your first order over $15: https://www.skipthedishes.com/r/YOvnFjEyUj

So, seems easier to just have someone first time order for $5 off!

Help me out with food!

Got ready and I love it!

First off, to get it out of the way, feet after foot peel are slippery when wet. A moist bathroom floor during tub time tonight almost had me falling into the tub with my kid! Fun!

I’m standing again, crawled to my bedroom, got my upper torso on the bed and my wife was kind enough to swing my legs up on to the bed.

2nd, “Happy Birthday!” to my niece. She was born on my wedding night! She had a lovely open air movie screening on the side of her shed yesterday and my little buddy got to attend, fun times with cousins!

She has a pet fish now! A colourful beta. Only one fish, so no fighting in that fish tank!

3rd, and most importantly, somehow I’ve been married for 6 years! Still love my partner, every day!

I love you Jenn!

Ok, now on to the topic for today! A new EP showed up in my iTunes this week! Classified put out some new music and I must listen! Does this count as “shopping local”? I hope he got paid for the 3 listens I gave the EP.

I especially loved the mention of the Enfield Big Stop because I was literally on that street yesterday. Spooky! I don’t really know if I’ve ever geographically connected to a song as much as that!

Anyway, loved the EP. You should listen to it! I’m currently listening to it again!

But my legs are sore, and I am just going to lie down now. Weekend is almost over. On-call… I am certain that if I am still working when I pass, it’ll be on an on-call week! Ya heard it here first! (I’m not macabre or anything, just sensing a trend.)

Eep the Mouse

I know more about Minecraft than I ever wanted to know.

Ok, ok, the picture changed!

It sure has! Today, in treat yourself fashion, I had a massage and a haircut. As I have begun to thin in the back of my head, right around the double crowns, I decided to cut it all off. I’ve had noticeable hair loss on my pillow, and after discussing hair loss in my support group recently, my hair loss may have been accelerated by the medication.

Oh well, it’s not like it wasn’t expected!

True, but having made it further in years than my father and his hair loss, I harboured some hope!

Hope has been abandoned.

Yes, and I had just transitioned all my most used avatar pictures from the bubba duck to the Memoji! Now I have to change them all again.

A small price for a changed look.

Actually it was a small price. I haven’t been able to get a beard trim in a while. I’m looking like a former WWE star jim the anvil neidhart now. Gives me a chuckle.

Anyway, I got to visit my barber’s new shop in Enfield. There’s a whole new variety of kitch on the walls for nostalgia! My takeaway memories were the Frank Zappa poster behind the chair, and the model of the enterprise from Star Trek VI.

Annnnnnyways, please give Bobby some love and support in his new shop! Not an absurd trek from Dartmouth, and very reasonable if you live in the area! A great guy, and worthy of the trip.

https://www.theoldpostbarbershop.com/

I don’t wish death on anyone.

Cinnamon Hitler did get some comeuppance!

I guess the big boast on my part today was being asked to present to the support group I’m in. I committed to being a “guest speaker” at the meeting in two weeks when I have some time off work.

Wait, but you hate public speaking!

Yes, yes indeed I do. I typically feel most comfortable in a small group. I kind of dislike being the centre of attention for dozens of judging eyes. Now I know that’s just the inner voice telling me I don’t really know what I’m talking about. Maybe that inner voice will shut up because this is a topic I feel comfortable with?

But the last time you presented anything was in college!

It’s true that I don’t really present much of much since my college days. I helped program the projects I presented and I wasn’t comfortable presenting! I rehearsed my presentation word for word, and come presentation time, I forgot the most important line of the whole demo! I’m sure I’ll never live that down, even though the whole thing was meaningless in the long run.

Wait, are you doing a programming presentation?

Oh no, most certainly not! I will be providing info on medical cannabis, and removing the stigma people may have about the “devil’s lettuce”. I feel strongly about the subject, and had a long journey with getting to the point of securing a prescription. It’s a story to be told another day.

Ooo, fancy yourself a weed expert do you?

Certainly not by any stretch of the imagination. I am but a humble user, attempting to guide those thinking of beginning a journey much like I have. I want to ensure them my knowledge is incomplete and that they should always research further, and discuss medical treatments with their healthcare team.

Did you tell yours?

100% I had three specialists basically tell me no, they weren’t comfortable prescribing it themselves, but most are inquisitive on how I’ve been on it. If you want something to be considered medicine, tell your healthcare team. The more they know, the more they can help you. Someone is bound to pick up on some trending effects and publish a paper someday, but that’s for research type people, and I feel like I’m a case study enough that they don’t have to branch out into cannabis research! They’re already highly trained doctors specializing in my needs.

Ooo, you’re still fancy for other sarcastic reasons.

I am fancy. And now I guess I’m a Cannabis Advocate now as well! Now, 2 weeks to cobble a presentation together! Aaaaaaaaand go!

There’s no way around it.

Donald Trump is a present day Hitler.

I’m not getting in to that, beyond denouncing white supremacists.

Hey, on a lighter side of things, a new Borat film? Yes please why not!

This got me thinking of other old media, and even caused me to look up a song from a video from the early 2000’s! This is how I know I’m old. But here are another couple quick videos from the days of past times.

Let’s go!

This one I completely missed when it first came out, and I am saddened by that. My wife shared this one to me and I laughed a little too much. Often referenced, especially if a hammer or hash browns are involved in the conversation.

This was the one we got started with down the rabbit hole tonight. A classic from the internet of old, before the times of YouTubes! It’s not as epic as a TROGDOR!!!! But still good.

I came over, to the house, now Jenn and I are best friends. This one is cute and funny, and the theme tune just burrows into the brain. Feed the addiction and click the video!

There are many more things from the yesteryear of the Internet, but let’s see what you can dig up! Find me a nugget of gold that I perhaps missed in the many years that I’ve trekked the Internet. Give it your best shot!

Also, Trump is Hitler. Prove me wrong?