Motivation – Page 10 – The Blogging Buddhist

Polishing The Ol’ Turd…

Home renovations are tedious, and can take a hefty financial and even emotional toll on even the strongest of souls. I’ve seen and heard of people renovating parts of their home that have led to financial difficulty and strife between marital partners that has resulted in separation. And what would one expect, when you dump a whole a whack of your hard-earned dollars into altering aspects of your home? this usually involves moving a whole bunch of shit and maybe having limited use of the one place in this life that’s intended on being your sanctuary and place for peace.

For us, we purchased our current home in 2016 when I was transferred into Regina during my policing career. Although the layout and structure of the house was sound, there were many aspects of it that were reminiscent of the late 1960’s when it was built, such as orange carpet and fake wooden planks on the walls of the basement, outdated wood-grain cabinetry and shitty window that radiate heat in the summer and frost up with ice in the winter. All that being said, we had assumed we’d only be in this house for 3 to 5 years, upon which time I’d be transferred to another posting and we’d be selling. We were wrong.

As a result, we found ourselves in the midst of a complete basement renovation due to structural damage and water leakage. Although not a bank-breaking endeavour, it provided a much-needed facelift to the basement and it’s now a fantastic, liveable space. Completed in late fall of 2021, we had discussed the potential upgrading of the upper floor as well. Back in May, we chose to renovate our upstairs bathroom, as this is one of the key rooms of the home that every family member requires. Through the progress made on our bathroom, we decided that coordinating flooring and drywall for the hallway and bedrooms would be easier if we simply did it all in one go. So we did.

After several long months of living like borders as we had to jam everything from the rear of the house to the front, and having the majority of the family camping out in the basement, we’ve finally completed the renovations and will be able to start moving things back into our respective bedrooms and bathroom. I had the pleasure of using our newly-installed bathtub and I have to say, well worth the money.

Nathan’s bedroom is red, because of course he needs something different…

The new bathroom, with everything fresh and modernized, including a deep tub, stone backsplash and new vanity.

Although only a few months in total (we started in May of this year) it felt like forever and has made living within the home difficult. But the end results speak for themselves and we’re quite happy with how things look. Everything is fresh and new, and it sure is nice to walk along the new flooring without every step making it sound like I weigh a metric ton. Now that all of this has been put into place, we get to start the arduous task of putting everything back in place. A silver lining behind all of that is that it will give us the opportunity to go through all of our respective belongings and begin to Kon Marie the living shit out all of it and hopefully downsize all the non-necessaries within our household.

Although it can be easily agreed that renovations can be stressful and tough to deal with, it can be well worth the effort if you can find it within yourselves to push through and get through so that you can get the results you want. It will be nice to get Nathan back into his room, especially. I think the little booger has gotten to used to having access to a television throughout the night. But doing so will also give me back my fitness corner, which will be nice. Sleeping in my own bed, which I have been unable to do for the past four months, will also be icing on the cake.

The question now, given the rising cost and demand for construction materials and professionals to do the work, will be when we’ll be able to complete renovations on the front half of the house, which includes large windows and a kitchen. It may be a few years before we have the financial resources and the patience to jump into that piranha-infested bullshit again. But it’ll happens eventually. In the meantime, we get to enjoy the efforts of the contractors who performed the work for us. ☯️

A Little Fur Therapy Never Hurt Anyone…

Last weekend, my wife and I took our boys to a local zoo. Local being a relative term… We travelled three hours to get there. but I digress. The point is that with some of the extreme heat we’ve been having in recent weeks, spending long periods of time outdoors has been difficult, given that everyone in our household is fair-skinned and burn like Canadian bacon. So we grabbed the opportunity on a day when the temperatures were a bit cooler.

To be honest, I have mixed feelings about zoos. On the one hand, I’m not a believer of caging any living thing against its will. Although most domestic animals like dogs and cats have it way better than they probably realize, certain animals like birds, bears and large cats don’t belong in a pen, cut off from their natural habitats and relegated to a life of captivity. As a child, I never visited a zoo as my father very much shares those same beliefs. Now that I’m a father myself, I have to admit that there’s a certain benefit to showing all these different animals to my children in a relatively safe environment.

We left Regina early enough o reach Saskatoon around the time the zoo would begin to. Open to the public. Our thinking was to hit it up on a weekday so as to avoid some of the larger, weekend crowds. The boys were actually very quiet and composed on the way up. My wife and I had our coffees and breakfast sandwiches; the boys had their drinks and snack foods. It was a clear sunny day and we even enjoyed the entirety of the ride without music. Many would think that doesn’t sound great but it was nice to actually enjoy a quiet ride where there was no ambient noise.

When we arrived at the location, we were greeted at an entry gate where we were told there was a parking fee. This was curious, as one would think that an admission fee should usually include parking. But we were here and it wasn’t a hill to die on. I paid the parking fee. The parking lot was already quite packed but we managed to find a parking spot before making our way to the entrance kiosk. $40 later and we were in. After a long drive, we used a restroom inside a terrarium-style building, where the boys got to see fish, frogs, lizards and snakes. The day had begun quite nicely.

As were walking towards the inner paths of the zoo, I explained to the boys that there was a lot to see and experience and that they should take it all in and enjoy what they were seeing. As I was explaining this, I noticed a play park structure located in the middle of the zoo. I got a pit in my stomach as I realized that if my boys saw this park, all they’d want to do was go play in it. Why they would build one in the middle of a zoo, where the intention was to see animals, was beyond me. I strategically placed myself between the play structure and the boys and ushered them in a different direction.

I thin the boys enjoyed seeing the animals, for the most part. Everyone enjoyed the butterfly house the best, especially since some butterflies would actually land on people. We were less than an hour in when Alexander start pining to go home. I tried explaining that we still had plenty left to see and that we had just gotten there but he was adamant he wanted t leave. He changed his tune when we rounded the corner and walked right into the play structure. Fuck. Of course, now he wanted to go play…

I took Nathan to see a few more of the enclosures but as one can’t control the behaviour of animals, getting them out and visible isn’t exactly a possibility. But we did get to see two grizzly bears frolicking in the water, which was entertaining. We made our way back to the vehicle when we realized we had two hungry, cranky boys on our hands. We made our way back onto the highway for Regina, after handing everyone their respective sandwiches and snacks for lunch.

All in all, it was a good trip and a great experience for the family. Considering they could have gotten fresh air and played at a park at home, I probably could have done without using a full tank of gas and paying money just to have them to do it inside a zoo but at least they got to see some animals. The experience was there, and that’s a what mattered. Naps and a cool basement were certainly enjoyed, after a long day out in the sun. ☯️

Full Circle…

Alright so, as if it wasn’t bad enough that I only seem to be posting once a week in recent months, I’m going to use a post today to brag about something I’ve purchased. I know, I know, that’s not very Buddhist-like but what can I say; I am a product of my Western environment. Maybe there’s more work to be done in that area and may be this is the wake-up call I need in order to do it. For today, I’m simply going to enjoy the ride (you’ll see why that’s funny in a minute).

All the way back in 1995, I saved up all my money as well as some inheritance I had gotten from family, and purchased my first vehicle. My choices were few and far between, considering the amount of cash I had available, and I was adamant on purchasing that vehicle on my own. It didn’t prevent the fact that as a minor, my parents would still need to register the vehicle in their name. But the honour of paying for the vehicle itself was still mine and mine alone.

My parents were totally on board with me purchasing a vehicle for myself. Besides the fact that I had reached an age where I would be able to drive myself to school and start looking for more work, it also allowed for me to run errands for my parents when needed, which freed them up for their own work, as well. All Lin all, it would serve the entire family, which made it a smart choice and a good resource for the entire family. Still with me? Good. Moving on.

After a few weeks of searching, I finally found a used vehicle I could afford with my humble savings. And that vehicle was a 1983 Toyota Tercel hatchback. This bad boy was red, two-door and had an after-market tape deck with an amplifier and after-market speakers installed in the hatchback. They had turned the tires outwards so that the white stripe was showing, giving the car a sharp, racing look. It was also a piece of shit. There were rust stains, the seal around the windshield was curling up and the upholstery smelled like the previous owner must have owned a dog.

I gave up my savings to purchase the vehicle and had my father drive it home, since it was a manual transmission and I didn’t know how to operate a manual transmission. Once we had it home, I tore into that bad boy with the kind of fervour I reserved only for karate classes. I scrubbed and shampooed the interior until it glistened. I washed and polished the outside until I could see my face in it. I polished that red turd until even the most discerning of critics couldn’t dispute that it was hell on wheels. A veritable carriage for my shenanigans. The transport towards my future.

I absolutely loved that car and went everywhere with it. It had a very weak engine with a 3-gear manual transmission. That didn’t stop me from ripping all over town like a maniac. It only had a driver’s side mirror, which apparently wasn’t illegal at the time the car was sold. I also had to learn how to drive a manual transmission from scratch. I’m surprised I didn’t blow the transmission out of that bastard in the first week. But I learned. And I drove.

That car served me extremely well for several years, including getting me to college and back home for two years. I remember one year, the heater gave out and the windshield would frost on the inside, forcing my passengers and I to scrape the inside of the windshield every few minutes. It was a brutal act and it met a brutal end. One day while trying to overtake a vehicle on the highway, I blew out the engine. That’s what I get for red-lining the RPM’s on a dinky 4-cylinder engine. But I digress.

Over the years, I’ve held fond memories of that car. It was the first vehicle I ever owned. The first vehicle I went on a road trip on my own with, the first vehicle I travelled out of town, out of Province and out of control. It’s carried friends, family, loved ones and more burger wrappers and empty coffee cups than I can count. It brings up an important point regarding perspective. By my own standards today, I would never purchase such a dilapidated, trusted vehicle with unreliable parts and a danger to my family and I. But back then, that piece of shit was like a Rolls Royce to me…

That brings us to the here and now. As I’ve grown into adulthood, owning a vehicle has become more of a household necessity and convenience than the liberating tool of freedom it was considered in my teens and twenties. Throughout the majority of our relationship, my wife and I have pretty much always owned two vehicles. This has made it easy to have one of us at work and the other still capable of running errands and doing their own thing. However, once the COVID-19 pandemic kicked in and I found myself sitting at home for a significant period of time, paying for two vehicles seemed redundant, so I sold my car.

However, recent events have prompted us to once again purchase a second, smaller vehicle for me to use to get to work and run errands (“recent events” meaning I backed our SUV and smashed out one of the mirrors). I purchased the used vehicle you see above. It’s clean, in perfect working condition and is new-to-me. Limited mileage and a smooth ride, it sits a bit lower to the ground and has some significant peppiness for a vehicle so easy on fuel. It’s bee great.

The irony is that my first car was a Toyota hatchback. And although it took effectively twenty five years, I appear to have come full circle with yet another Toyota hatchback. Some people need their muscle cars or sports cars, motorbikes or leisure vehicle. Me, I just need something easy on gas that lets me hug the road. The household is now adjusting to the fact that even if I’m work, my wife can still run errands, attend appointments and bring the boys on outings. Things have changed since I was a younger man. A car is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a bit of nostalgia in the process. Food for thought… ☯️

Stepping Out Of The Matrix…

As modern parents, trying to raise children in a way that lets them understand that negative actions can have negative consequences can be difficult. After all, the differences in how children are raised these days are significant and obvious. When I was a kid, being “bad” (and I use that term loosely as it’s pretty subjective) usually resulted in my being sent o my room. But these days, sending a kid to their room is the equivalent of sending them off to a spa day, with all the electronics and toys they have.

For our children, the easy solution is the removal of the electronic devices. My oldest, especially, has a Nintendo Switch, a used cell phone that I programmed with his school’s app, which now has a plethora of games and by virtue of our current renovations, his sleeping space even has a small flat-screen with a streaming stick. This means the boy can basically plug in when he wakes up and doesn’t need to unplug unless we force him (or cut the power). The worst part is having a large backyard with plenty of space but yet, getting him outside is a chore unto of itself.

Last Saturday, Nathan once did, or refused to do, one thing or another, which is not all that surprising. At only 8-years old, he’s already turned into an unruly teenager, shirking and refusing even the simplest of chores and tasks. Considering the previous few days saw him barely budge from his bed for food or the washroom and he rarely even bothers to get dressed, my wife indicated that he should get his juvenile butt outside and that the following day (Sunday) would be a device-free day.

Although a good idea on its face, since one should not spend ALL of one’s time on an electronic device, a thought occurred… I told my wife that we should ALL have a device free day. The boys, her and myself. No phones, no iPads, no television, no electronic devices of any sort until we’d had a full day without them. Although initially agreed to as a good idea, some apprehension began to bubble towards the surface. The realization that, as adults, we use our phones for almost everything imaginable, an alarm, a clock, reminders, calendar planner, looking up random information as needed and checking the hours of operation for any errands we need to run, came crashing down unceremoniously.

The idea behind my thinking was twofold. First, it’s difficult to expect children to do something if the adults don’t lead by example. Barking orders is easy. Practicing what you preach is a lot tougher. By virtue of this, joining the boys on a no device day would show them that we’re also capable of it and that it’s no big deal. Second, it would give us the opportunity to indulge in other forms of relaxation or distraction that many people seem to leave behind. We already had a couple of things planned for the Sunday that would take us through the majority of the day.

On Sunday morning, I woke up, checked the time then hid away all my devices and powered down my laptop. As he slept, I grabbed Nathan’s Nintendo Switch and hit cell phone and tucked them away. I powered down the television and headed upstairs. Our device free day had begun. I’ve taken the habit of sitting outside for the first hour of my days off. I find it helps me to start my day calmly, as I enjoy the birds, squirrels and rabbits that run around the neighbourhood. Within minutes, my toddler came outside and joined me. He actually played on some of the structures we’ve bought for the back yard, played with some toys and in the dirt and EVEN sat still for an entire ten minutes with me, which is a rarity.

Our morning saw all of us leave the house together for a Costco trip. All in all, it was a pretty uneventful trip and we stocked up on things we needed for some time. When we got home, we spent the afternoon in a combination of naps and time outdoors. I cleaned out the garage, the boys spent time building a fort and my wife spent some time reading. I even got to dip my nose in a couple of graphic novels I’ve been meaning to get through. It was a fun, calm afternoon. The weather was nice, we got pleasantry of fresh air and the boys got to see that they’re able to spend some time without necessarily being tethered to an electronic device.

Why am I writing all of this? Probably seems like a bit of a boring narrative, right? The point is that it was good for the adults, as well. It allowed our heads to cool and for us to do something other than allow a digital display to dictate our day. By the time everyone had eaten supper, we let the walls down and devices were permitted. As it was Sunday night, laundry and showers for everyone needed to happen and keeping the boys occupied and out from underfoot during this process can be a challenge. But it’s important to remember that there’s a great, big world out there that deserves your time. Once in a while, you just gotta step out of the matrix. Food for thought… ☯️

Time Enjoyed Is Never Time Wasted…

The modern world has made it difficult to simply sit back and enjoy silence. Between work, chores, family obligations and the constant need to be doing SOMETHING, the world has left the concept of simply knocking back and doing nothing behind. The advent of social media has also brought about a phenomenon where people seem to consider it more important ton make hobbies and past times about making money online as opposed to simply enjoying them for what they are.

In recent years, I’ve come to realize that at some point, one needs to step out of the rat race in order to allow the body to heal and recover from the stresses of daily life. As nice as it would be to live a live without stress, thinking that one could accomplish such a thing, especially in today’s climate, is pretty much a fool’s errand. Stress comes in many forms and can have many emotional, mental and physical effects on the body. This makes it all the more important to take time to simply let the silence sink in.

Finding a quiet environment has been difficult for me, considering my children are like two overloaded freight trains that feel it necessary to go head-to-head on the tracks. After a long day’s work, coming home to a constant barrage of noise can make it all the more difficult to relax and let one’s mind cool. That’s why I’ve started to partake of a new practice of sitting by myself, first thing in the morning. This is pretty straightforward, given that it’s the summer season but when I wake up in the morning, I usually grab my energy drink and go sit on the front step.

Despite the warmer weather, the front of my house doesn’t face the sunrise, so the front step is shaded and allows for a coool,m refreshing means of starting one’s morning in silence. If I’m smart enough to be silent myself, the amount of early morning wildlife that I see running around is wonderful. Between squirrels, rabbits, local cats and a variety of bird species, it’s basically like my own little nature retreat. That is, until the boys wake up and bring their loud, raucous voices outside to join me. Everybody wants a piece of daddy… First world problems.

It’s important to find ways to enjoy a bit of quiet. We get so tied up in the constant racket of our daily lives that we often forget that our bodies and minds need a bit of time to cool. Otherwise, the opportunity to burn out is very real and prevalent. Whether that means finding a private spot and taking the time to meditate, sitting quietly in the mornings like I do or even just taking an hour at a local coffee shop with a good book. It’s all good. you can’t miss. It’s all an important step of self-care that one must observe. After all, if you don’t take good care of yourself, you’ll never be able to help care for others. Food for thought… ☯️

Just The Tip…

No, despite the title, I’m not being lewd or perverted. of course, the fact i felt the need to clarify that starting out may suggest that there’s a bit of that sprinkled in. But I digress… I should start this post by pointing out that I don’t usually write about topics such as these. For the most part, I keep my posts limited to subjects I’m well-versed in, such as martial arts, Diabetes and Buddhism. I don’t often lend my opinion in such a way but I recently read an article online that got my wheels turning and the topic is so prevalent in the online environment these days, I find myself unable to help myself. So, please bear in mind that my opinion is simply that: my opinion. Let’s not all consider it necessary to overwhelm my comments section. Here we go.

For longer than I’ve been around, people have provided and/or accepted tips for providing goods or services. generally speaking and without buying in to some of the online rumours about what the origins of the word “tips” may be, a gratuity or “tip” is a monetary amount provided above the total cost of a good or service that one has purchased. Traditionally, one would provide a tip in order to thank a staff person or ton recognize the above-average service they may have provided you during your visit. Contrary to what some may believe, a tip or gratuity is not meant, nor was it ever intended to be mandatory or expected. Unfortunately, our modern society has groomed us to believe that it’s okay to expect a tip and in some cases, businesses consider it a part of their employees’ salary.

As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, I recently read an online article about tipping that caught my attention. I unfortunately read it during a break at work and I wasn’t able to save the link and have been unable to relocate it. But the majority of the article focused on the fact that there are certain professions where tipping is not only NOT expected but also considered inappropriate. Certain jobs like doctors, lawyers, trades and medical professionals would be among those. in some cases, trying to offer a tip, even for great service, may be unexpected and awkward. In some other cases, a tip could even be construed as trying to curry favour or a bribe.

In some industries, employers will count a minimum tip percentage as part of the employee’s wage. This means that they’ll pay the employee less and expect members of the public to contribute a tip in order to make up the difference. This is especially prevalent in the Province of Quebec. I’ll always remember back in 2007 when I was living in the Capital Region and went out to a bar on the Quebec side with some friends. I ordered a first round with the expectation of having a few drinks and relaxing with friends. In any other normal environment, a patron would have their drinks, get a bill at the end and provide payment and potentially a tip at the end. On this occasion, the server returned with my drink and told me the price. I told her I’d pay at the end but she clarified that I had to pay as I went. Fair enough. I dug out some cash and paid for my drink. She glared at me and loudly exclaimed the following: “Uh, excuse me! The tip is not included in the price…” And stood there waiting. I was floored…

The worst part of this, was all the patrons staring at me in disbelief as though I was the asshole. I never had someone demand a tip from me before. Actually, I never had someone demand a tip from me, since. it wouldn’t be until after that the woman who would go on to become my ex-wife explained that the server’s salary was reduced and there was an expectation of a minimum tip after every round to make up the difference. She also called me rude and ignorant, which would be why she is now my ex-wife. I mean, besides all the other reasons… Fuck, I’m getting off track, here. But i will point out that between THAT culture and the tax system, there’s also a reason why I’m not living in Quebec.

The obvious solution in these circumstances is to avoid giving your business to places that feel it’s appropriate to pay an employee less and require the patron to pay a mandatory tip to make up part of their salary. Depending on the circumstances and one’s needs, this isn’t always possible. The other issue is that it isn’t always the employees fault and people have a tendency to take it out on them. In some cases, tips almost feel like they’re being demanded, even when they aren’t. A lot of retail locations request a tip on their point-of-sale systems when you’re working through payment. There’s nothing worse than walking the store, picking out and trying on your own clothing and when you walk up to the till to pay, the retail cashier who had nothing to do with you until that moment has a screen that pops up on the payment options, asking you what percentage you’d like to tip. WTF, indeed…

Tip culture has taken North America by storm, and it isn’t a good thing. Where tips were often considered a means of thanking someone or thanking them for exceptional service in an appropriate venue, it’s become an expectation. A social requirement. An obligation on the consumer’s behalf. It can cause unnecessary awkwardness and difficulty in navigating the marketplace. So be assertive in your purchases. Everyone gets their money the same way; by working and earning it. What you do with that money is up to you. You shouldn’t feel pressured to provide a tip, although in some instances it can be considered bad manners to forget to do so. So, make your choice and stand by it. If someone provided you with great customer service and you feel they deserve a tip, do the deed. But if you’re in an environment where a tip may not be appropriate or you got shitty service, always remember that a tip is voluntary. It’s your choice. And you shouldn’t feel bad for making your choice, even if it means NOT leaving as tip. Food for thought… ☯️

Out Of The Pond And Into The Ocean, Toronto Odyssey Day 2

My evening was spent walking the streets of downtown Toronto, as I tried to find something I could use as fast-acting carbs, should I experience a low. Almost every street was lines with restaurants of every ethnicity, with the occasional smattering of a Subway or Denny’s buried in the middle. I eventually found a Circle K, which is the equivalent of a convenience store, where I overpaid for a bag of sour patch kids, a couple of energy drinks and som Slim Jim’s.

As I walked, i started to feel overwhelmed at the size, congestion and scope of the buildings around me and the population of people. Considering making my way through crowds in Regina tends to trigger PTSD symptoms, this was significantly difficult. Regina has a population of roughly 250,000 people. Toronto sits at just under 6.4 million. But I did manage to locate my venue for today’s activities and the short walk it would require. I ended my evening by grabbing a quick beer at my hotels lounge, which cost me about as much as three beers would have, in Saskatchewan. Welcome to the big city!

The meetings of the day went as well as one could expect, with my attempt at maintaining my level of consciousness by consuming copious amounts of caffeine. What do you expect from someone with diagnosed ADHD and a propensity for getting bored? The day ends out with me heading to my room and switching out my CGM sensor before it could expire. Then, I ventured out to my nearest shoppers drug mart, which was over a kilometre away.

I sweat up a storm, so I grabbed a shower before installing the new CGM sensor. Lo and behold, the battery in my pump was dying. I could have grabbed some while I was out. Instead, I had to ventured out again to grab some AA batteries. Once I had them, I was able to replenish my pump before heading back to the RCMI for supper with my brother and sister regulators.

It was an excellent meal of stories, shared stories and networking. It was nice to speak to some like minded people and and have a meal among peers. It was my first realization that this trip was worth my time. I walked back to my hotel room feeling satisfied. There are lessons to learn but I’m too exhausted to acknowledge them. Tomorrow is another day and I need to be fresh. ☯️

Depend Only On Yourself, Toronto Odyssey Day 1

Most who know me on a personal level know that I tend to let my patience run pretty thin and one of my biggest pet peeves is waiting on others. It continues to amaze me how, even when I plan ahead, others individuals and services tend to run late and remain unreliable. that’s why over the years I’ve come to develop a “plan B” for anything I’m planning or assuming. It’s saved my butt more times than I can count, from a time-saving and obligation standpoint.

Today sees me travelling to Toronto, Ontario for work purposes. Without getting into the weeds regarding the reasons, my posts over the next few days will be about the journey, not so much the destination. When I booked my flights a couple of weeks ago, I had the foresight to book a pre-arranged taxi can to pick me up and bring me to the airport. I planned for an early enough pick up that would allow the transit to the airport and get me there a couple of hours prior to my flight, to deal with any unforeseen circumstances. This is me. Of course, there were unforeseen circumstances…

With my departure to Toronto scheduled to take flight at 8 am, I booked my cab to pick me up at my home at 5:30. This would allow for the 15-minute transit across the city to the airport, incorporating any issues we may encounter (construction, collisions, etc). Unfortunately, in my haste to book the cab, I missed a very important notice on their website that states pickup and drop off at the airport was currently unavailable. Fuck. Me. I only discovered this hiccup when I brought their website at 5:30 this morning to figure out why they hadn’t shown up, yet.

Realistically, some of this is on me. If I wasn’t in such a rush to schedule everything, I no doubt would have seen the notice and moved on to a different company. No harm, no foul. THIS is why I always plan for a bit of a time cushion. I called a different cab company and had a car dispatched to me location, explaining I was headed to the airport and in a hurry. I was assured a car was coming immediately. Only after I schedule second cab did I receive a phone call from, you guessed it, the original cab company o booked. To clarify, they hadn’t arrived. They were calling to see if I still NEEDED a cab. After passive-aggressively explaining I had scheduled to be picked at that very minute, I declined their services.

They gave me a surprising amount of attitude over the phone despite the fact it was their doing. But I should have guessed something was up when I didn’t get a follow-up text or email when I booked them. Luckily, the cab that did show up was quick, efficient and knew his routes so I got to the airport just minutes after 6 am, which was what I had originally planned for. Whenever I fly, a minimum of two hours is always taken prior to boarding. My reason for this is quite simple; checking through security is always a longer process for me, requiring a physical examination by virtue of my insulin pump.

Luckily, the screening staff were on the ball and I found myself with plenty of extra time. So I treated myself to a Men’s Health magazine and can of energy drink, which cost me nearly three times the amount that I would have paid at my corner store. No wonder airports don’t want you bringing outside food and drinks! But a guy’s gotta have his caffeine, am I right? It’s always interesting to see the array of folks that wander through an airport. The differences in mood, haste and temperament make for some interesting “people watching.”

The flight was uneventful but I have to admit that I could have cycled my way to the hotel faster than the cab the brought me. I checked out where the venues will be tomorrow and did a bit of the tourist thing. I’m now chilling in my room, enjoying some air conditioning after a much-needed meal. Perhaps tonight will see me hit up the lounge or take a walk around city hall. Who knows? I’m here for three nights, so I should try to NOT be my usual self and actually enjoy the experience. ☯️

All Good Things…

Ah, the 1990’s… They gave us so much. Setting aside the fact that I graduated from high school in the 90’s (yes, I’m that old), the early 90’s also gave us the finale to a much-loved and anticipated follow-up to the original Star trek series. I’m writing, of course, of Star Trek: The Next Generation. TNG hit the airwaves in an unexpected manner, giving us the follow-up series that Trekkies never knew they needed. When the two-part finale aired, it was entitled “All good things…,” a play on the old saying that all good things must come to an end. I felt it a fitting and suitable title for today’s post as, you see, today will be MY last episode, or post, I suppose…

I started this blog all the way back in late 2019. It originally started as a means for me to keep my writing skills sharp. Writing, much like anything else, is a kept skill; one that becomes lessened or lost if one does not use it regularly. “If you don’t use it, you lose it,” may be an apt analogy. When I originally posted, my intention was for this to be a photography blog, if you can believe it. I absolutely love flower and nature photography and my first post was a gallery of various flowers I had photographed during one of my trips in New Brunswick. I’m totally not kidding! You can check it out right here. Those flowers bring back some memories…

Somehow, within a short period of time, I immersed myself in writing this blog and did the same thing I do with everything else; I gave myself goals. My first goal was to expand my own horizons and research capabilities. Through that lens, I began writing about the two things I felt I knew a reasonable bit about: martial arts and Type-1 Diabetes. Before I knew it, I threw my own faith in the ring and began writing about Buddhism, as well. The Diabetes and martial arts aspect developed into fitness & health, writing motivational or opinion pieces as well as the occasional “just because” posts that made me feel good. Somehow, since publishing that first post on February 27, 2019, I’ve managed to write 1,480 posts (not including this one) and have amassed 573 subscribers. Although not quite on part with the modern day “influencer,” and I use the term lightly, it’s not too shabby for someone who started to write on a whim and simply grew from there.

My goals were reasonably simple. On the larger scale, I wanted to share what I knew. I also wanted to keep my writing skills as sharp as a could. On a smaller scale, I wanted to write a post each day for a week. Then a month. Then a year. Then I challenged myself to go for broke and write for 1,000 straight days in a row, a goal that i achieved on December 10, 2022. I found myself asking what’s next and this was perhaps the beginning of a downward slope that would bring me to the here and now. I believe I’ve reached a point where I’ve gotten from this blog what I started out to do. I have maintained my writing skills, which are now in heavy, HEAVY use in the job I started two years ago. I’ve reached the goals and milestones I set for myself and any further or lengthier milestones would just border on the absurd at this point.

I believe I’ve shared reasonable, well-researched information to allow readers to consider possibilities and do research of their own, never professing to be a medical professional or to know better than anyone else. I’ve written on almost every fitness, health, martial arts and Diabetes-related topic I could think of, some being so obscure that it seemed almost a stretch (you can scroll through my posts to find the ones on bowel movement colours, if you need an example). Although I would have never thought it possible, I believe I tapped out my creativity. After all, I did manage to pour out 1,000 posts in a row. How much more could I possibly do?

As with all things in life, there is a balance. For all the good and the enjoyment I’ve received from writing my blog, there has been some negative. I recall getting into a heated debate in my comments section from a very unpleasant young lady who took offence to a post I wrote about meat. THAT was fun. I’ve also had a number of individuals who have unfortunately thought it was their place to question, belittle and demean some of my posts, either in the comments section or to me directly. In a sense, even those were beneficial as they often led to posts about scrolling on by or not commenting on things you don’t agree with. But all in all, it has certainly been a positive experience, one I think that I shall always remember fondly and without regret.

Writing this blog hasn’t garnered the kind of traction I had eventually come to hope for. But I know that I have reached some. And for me, that’s more than enough. My posts will be here, at least until I ultimately decide to shut the account down completely. So I take some comfort in knowing that to some extent, people can still find my posts, read my writing and come to allow their thinking to be stimulated. And for one such as I, that’s all that can be asked. I may eventually come back to my blog. Or perhaps writing here has opened the door for me to pursue something bigger. You know me, always another goal. And that’s what’s important in life; to never let yourself grow stagnant and always keep pushing forward. Stay healthy, stay hydrated and check your blood sugars frequently. Doing so will ensure that I will be here sometime in the future to continue this writing. And it will ensure you’re here to read it. Food for thought… 🙏☯️

In With The Old…

Considering everything my brother and have gone through, medically, throughout our childhoods, it seriously surprises me that I’m not more screwed up than I am. Most of my childhood memories between the ages of four to ten involve spending long periods of time in a hospital; either for myself or waiting on my brother. That’s why the good memories often shine through the murky recesses of my brain like a bolt of godly lightning and leave a lasting impression.

When I was somewhere around the 8-year old range, the outlook on my brother’s life expectancy took a grim turn for the worst. He wasn’t expected to live into his adult years, which meant that he was eligible for a number benefits, such as programs that are similar to “Make a Wish.” Endorsed and supported by local charities back home, my brother chose to get a small, child-size four wheeler, which he rode at his leisure until he managed to fall off of it and injure himself.

My brother was asked to choose an alternative, something that wouldn’t risk bringing injury to himself or others. Luckily, a new gaming platform was released that year that would change the face of home video games… that’s right, I’m referring to the original Nintendo Entertainment System. My brother got the gaming platform, controller, the pistol and a slew of games, which included the original Super Mario Bros, Duck Hunt, Mega Man and a smattering of others. We spent hours on that thing, living it up and spending time together.

The NES involved some of the best memories of my childhood, considering it was something we could do, even when sick or bed-ridden. I also learned increased hand/eye coordination, reflexes and an appreciation for graphic art. We moved on to Super Mario Bros. 2 and 3, and I purchased Mega Man 3, Metroid and Castlevania after my brother passes away. I eventually purchased a Game Genie, along with Mike Tyson’s Punch Out. For you young punks who have no idea what I’m talking about, your childhood sucked! But I digress…

I don’t even recall how I came to lose that gaming system. Although if I had to guess, I would presume my mother got rid of it along with the majority of my toys when I got older. For years, I’ve been trying o find emulator platforms to relive those memories. The problem with emulators is that they eventually encounter copyright issues and shut down. And as much as I would like to purchase a used platform, collectors and hipsters have basically made that all but impossible.

Reliving my childhood with Super Mario Bros. 3

That’s why it came as a big surprise to me when, last Tuesday, I was walking through a mall in Saskatoon prior to returning home from eye injections and saw what appeared to be a miniature version of the NES console. You guys have probably seen some of these advertised on occasion. In short, you have a console and the controllers and the console is integrated with 500 games, so cartridges aren’t required. There is a version of this that was released by Nintendo a couple of years ago. This one is an off-brand, but the games are properly coded and genuine. The level of excitement I felt is almost ridiculous. I could throw my money at the seller fast enough…

I got the console home and Nathan and I have been playing old games like gangbusters. It’s been a wonderful thing, reliving some of the good memories from my childhood. More than anything else, I was amazed that all the same reflexes were still there and I remembered a bunch of cheat spots and secret passages in a few different games. All in all, it was definitely worth the $75. New isn’t always better. Even if only for nostalgic purposes, the older pleasures can sometimes be the best. Food for thought…☯️

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