Tag: #words

How Long?!

I have been doing this for just shy of five years. I will be making a proper declaration at that time, but I just wanted to say that I am disappointed with myself. Also, incredibly proud of myself!

Let’s start by talking about the disappointment. I have done 340 posts or so, but I think it would have been cooler if I was about to hit 500! I realize that it is unreasonable to believe that I could have hit that, given my update schedule was weekly for two years and monthly just prior to that. I think that my less than 400 posts in that short time is very fair, but it doesn’t stop me from fantasizing how badass it would have been to hit that number at the same time as five years! I’m just daydreaming, don’t mind me!

Now, for the pride. The fact that I have been doing this of my own volition for this long makes me very proud. I have done bands for longer than five years, but I was influenced/motivated by others to do so. I loved it, don’t read too far into it the wrong way. I still got motivation from outside sources and from the instant (and very obvious) appraisal.

Writing is far from instant. It can be weeks before I hear anything, and in the case of books, literal months. I write both the blogs and books for me first. I like what I’m writing and I like the voice that I write in. I find it entertaining, and I hope the readers do as well!

Patreon support has been fantastic, and much needed. I make sure to give every one of them a shoutout in my book (as of date of publication) and will do so in the event of the next one. For those of you who have donated, please expect the next anewsinPublication on the first. I am excited about this one. Not that I think any are particularly bad, but some I do tend to get attached to.

Language is fun

I spent a large part of my morning trying to identify my favourite word. My vernacular is far from impressive, though I do tend to choose flowery ways of saying “I SPEEK GOOD WORDS! I ARE RITER!”

What did I come up with? Three words in particular: Abdicate, Schism, and Juxtapose. I find myself at a loss trying to choose between those three, simply because they are all so awesome!

Let’s be realistic: they are all stand-ins for easier ways of saying what they mean: Abdicate is simply when a royal gives up a position of power, Schism is just a split between two of something, and Juxtapose is the comparison and contrast between two ideas or items.

However, if you can, work them into day to day conversation, few people will question your convictions!

Like I mentioned in a previous post, Abdicate is fun to use wrong. Schism is fun, but you have to make sure you are using it properly: too many people (thanks to Tool) know what that one is. Juxtaposed remains as one of the more intimidating words. People know that it exists, but if you deftly use it, people assume you mean business. The best part is that it doesn’t sound too ridiculous as for people to look at you strangely. The simple definition makes it easy to place in conversation, and it’s really easy to spell!

The greatest thing about these words is that you can say them without people realizing you are just using 5 cent words to be a douche! Unlike ‘antidisestablishmentarianism’ where you just sound arrogant, these words can be slipped into conversation easily.

Ableist

It is something we all tackle with: the idea that someone cannot do a task all because of their position. Assuming someone is useless because of their handicap is ridiculous and strange. All because someone is in a wheelchair, or unable to walk without some sort of aid, dose not mean that should be cast aside and deemed unable to do anything.

Now, I say anything, but that is a bit extreme. Okay: the person cannot walk. That is not ableism, that is just obvious. It is ableist to assume that they need help with every little thing they face in life.

Yes, it is okay to ask if they need a hand. If they refuse your assistance, however, THEY REFUSE YOUR ASSISTANCE! I could not tell you how often, in my situation, people offer help and then INSIST after I say that I am okay. It is offensive. You are displaying that you actually see that person as less than that: you see them as incapable to do anything.

Wheelchairs, in particular, are a clear depiction of someones physical limitations. In some cases, people are never without the chair. It may as well be a shirt. They are obvious, huge, intrusive, and a hinderance to more than just the user.

Now, with that said, there are people who are better in a wheelchair than most are at walking. Some people in chairs flow through heavy foot traffic gracefully and quietly. They maneuver peacefully and do not disturb a single person. There are, however, those who need a hand. That is why you just simply can ask. It is not offensive if you accept the potential ‘no’ and leave it at that.

I feel like a broken record. I touched on the ramifications of forcing yourself on someone in a previous post. (Example one || Example two || Example three || and there are more I’m sure, see “Law Rants” up top). It is only part of the issue.

My personal example is that someone wanted me to go to a social thing a little while ago, but did not push the issue because of my chair. They never talked to me about it and I only found out when they decided to explode with rage towards chariot. The fact was ignored that I would have enjoyed that. There, by law, have to be ways for me to get into the venue. I have preferred seating (if the venue is not run by dicks) and usually my physical condition gets me a reduced rate. However, there was a sense of true anger towards the situation that I had no choice but to live with. I was made to feel as if I did something wrong because I am in a chair. There was no concession for the fact that I am trying to get up from here: no sympathy about how I might be impacted by the situation.

Google Definition

SIDE NOTE!
Post #90! Thank you!

I Wish This Was Known

The stigma exists that people in wheelchairs are just leaching off the system. There is this miasma of assumption and a total disregard for any fact. What is an unfortunate truth is that we are forced out of regular society, crippled by expenses, and are crammed into having car expenses without having the car.

Forced out of regular society? That sounds a bit harsh. Unfortunately, even with laws put into place to make sure everywhere is accessible, there are loop-holes/there are ways around it. Between thresholds being too high to navigate in a chair, to washrooms that are just there to placate those who care, very few places are actually wheelchair friendly. My old tattoo shop is a great example. The only reason I do not have more ink on my flesh right now is the foot-high lift from the road to the door. I do understand the purpose, but it does not change the fact that I cannot go in there. Not right now.

Expenses? Try $60 (CDN) per barring for my front tires. Try the thousands a decent wheelchair costs. Try the fact that there is minor funding through government agencies, but you are still required to pay out of pocket a hefty sum. The base price for the wheelchair I use is $1675. That does not include the REQUIRED custom seat ($458) and the special backing ($535) OR any upgrades and changes that are required in the future. Hell, tire replacements start at $65 a tire. Yes, that is a mandatory change when it comes time to it.

Now, does all this bitching add up to the prices dictated by a car? Hell no. I am well aware of that. However, the segregation from society makes collecting an income very difficult, if not impossible. I cannot go back to my old job. I know for a fact that I am not alone in that. So, am I trying to say that the money spent on a wheelchair is as much as a car? No. Percent wise, however, they are comparable, if the wheelchair is not more.

To try to overcome this ridiculous debt that could be gained by being in a wheelchair, I wrote a book. I want to be an author, and this book is my first attempt at being so. I really do ask that you at least consider it. E-Book copies are very inexpensive, and physical copies are available (if you like them as much as I do). Depending how this all goes, I have another book started, and it is looking like it will be a good one.

A Blog of Sorts

I have been writing and writing and reliving the events that I have moved passed, so I thought I would write about something less depressing!

Hello, people who have been coming around for a while. Hello to those who are here for the first time. I wish I had something exciting to talk about, but I have been very involved in writing the last month or so.

Like I said, I am done a good portion of the book. I have written just about 20,000 words. I know what I want to write about, but it requires me writing another 20,000 words of lead up, and then fuck knows exactly how long I will ramble about the end-goal.

I am torn: I want to post the Prelude because it will give a better understanding, I hope, of the events that lead up to me being in the chair. I also think (ney, KNOW) that this is the best thing I have ever written. I am excited to share it with the world, and I am very confident on my forced finish date of April twentieth.

Should I share the prelude? Put your thoughts in the comments here or hit me up on Facebook!

I swear: news in the next post.