Author: greatwallstudios

Will spring actually kick in at some point later this week? The next ten days all appear to be up in the positive for temperatures. Is it too much to ask for a handful of sunny days that hover in the 12° to 15° C range? Comfortable sweater weather, or just a long sleeved shirt if you’re hard at work outdoors. I need to wash the cars, and start pulling out the patio furniture. Pull out the garden hose, and the Noma solar lights for the front walk. It’s way more fun to do in nicer weather, that’s for certain. I could power wash the back deck too while I’m at it. I should lubricate the AC unit fan too if I’m out back. Probably spend some time picking up all the dog bombs dropped over the winter. That’s an unpleasant job. Smelly one too. The joy of spring time cleaning, indoor & out.

If only just for one day, I’m still not impressed, but “Called it!”. We all knew it was going to happen, just a matter of when. This long weekend was dominated by cold, and windy conditions and a bunch of rain. It was only a matter of a few extra degrees downward for that to become both freezing rain, and snow. We got both! Hate it, take it back!

All fun and games because later this week it is supposed to be double digits in the positive, and rain some more, with a slight possibility for sun shine. Remote chance, but one can hope for some actual spring conditions instead of second, or third winter!

My innards are feeling way off today, not sure if last night’s extended family dinner has anything to do with it. Oh well. I’ll get this walk over and done with, then return home for breakfast and then start my work day off right. The dogs a little off too, he fought with one of his dog friends at school drop off this morning. Strange for him, he usually loves the lab we see every other week. I’ll have to look his paws over, see if he’s cracked a nail or hurt a paw. Joys of pet ownership.

While it’s colourful, fast paced, and full of items I recall from the Nintendo games universe, it wasn’t my most favourite animated film in a while. Wasn’t awful, wasn’t all that good either. My kids, and my much younger niece, and nephew both enjoyed it a good deal. They are the target demographic for this kind of frenetic, disjointed, run and gun marathon of consecutive short(s) like scenes that could sort of coalesce into a full movie, if you approach it generously. Again, not my bag, but it looked great in iMax. Kids hate 3D so we went regular version.

I feel the first Mario was far more story centric, and I appreciate that. This one felt short on plot, and story, to cram in as much spectacle as possible. Plus other characters, objects, things that the nes crowd would feel nostalgic for. That’s not me, so it feels a tad disjointed in spots, where I imagine nostalgia was supposed to make a connection, or fill in the blanks. Certainly looked cool while it was all going haywire.

I guess if you uber there, and had taken some edibles it would be a much more fun experience. Watching the main characters run, dip, dodge, and dive for 90 minutes got a little boring (for me – again, I’m not the target market for this stuff anymore) I did check my phone for the time on at least three occasions. Do with that information what you will.

All of the children eleven and under were transfixed by the flashing lights, loud noises, fast cuts, and breakneck pace. It seemed to keep them in their seats, facing the screen. They shrieked and cheered at mostly the appropriate times. I imagine it will do fairly well for itself at the box office.

We are going to sit down for an extended family brunch of eggs Benedict, potentially pancakes, and bacon, and toast. If I’d have given anymore than just a cursory glance I could have brought some sparkling rosé and rich juice to have some brunch mimosas. Day drunk early on a Sunday. It’s a thing apparently. I typically don’t do that unless it is Christmas Eve, Day, or Boxing Day, and sometimes it is even New Years Eve. Taking a lengthy room spinning nap isn’t something I long for these days. Not feeling hung over is better than anything I could do while drunk, so the trade off just isn’t in my favour anymore. I don’t bounce back like a 19 year old anymore. Hangovers last for 48 hours or more the older I get.

I think we are going to try to go see a movie as a group today. I’m not sure it’s actually going to happen, but the thought is nice. If I had my choice I’d go see Project Hail Mary for a second time, but the Mario movie is now in all of the larger screens like the AVX theater I like going to. I’m sure it’ll come back in the lull before the summer block busters start dropping.

Lazy Sunday is for curling up with a book, a blanket and snacks. A Sunday Funday is for going out to do activities, like mall walks & shopping, going to a movie or show, visiting a zoo or theme park (location dependent) or throwing a big party. Something out of the ordinary. Or going skiing or doing something a bit extra that you wouldn’t typically do. If I had money I’d opt for more Sunday Funday, but since I’m elbow deep in a new exciting book series I’ll settle for a Lazy Sunday.

Or, take some edibles and ride out the day in a fuzzy haze while watching movies and enjoying music in a state of quiet bliss. But that’s not possible with small kids. When they are moody teens and don’t want to be seen by me, or near me, I could try it then. Maybe. We’ll see.

Weather be doing it’s weird weather thing as of late. Hot, cold, wet, dry, windy, rainy, snowing, blowing, somewhat frozen, and generally uncooperative. That’s the current state of our weather map, and nobody seems to be able to account for all of it, so we’ve been reduced to wearing disparate items to hedge our bets and combat this ridiculous weather. Almost need to have a travel bag in the car full of gear for each eventuality. Things are getting out of hand. It’s currently 23° cooler today than yesterday. Spring flowers must be very hardy to grow so well with the outdoor elements being this volatile. I for one can’t stand it. Spring should mean rain showers, sun shine, and temperatures between 8° and 16° for seven or eight weeks, and then it ticks over into the high humidity, and scorching highs of summer.

Instead we will get only a handful of days in the teens, mixed in among flurries, high winds, major storms, lots of rain, and too much grey fog, and absurdly cold temperature swings. It will get sunny, but then be minus six and have a biting wind to go with it. Nasty.

We used our first day of the holiday to do an Easter egg hunt at the farm, and walk the dog a bunch while it was sunny, and above seasonal temperatures. My wife took a few hours to sort through her Girl Guides gear and throw some of her stuff away. The basement is filling up with the kids old toys as they outgrow stuff. They began their own purge without being asked to do so. My wee ones are growing up!

I think we might go out as a family to see the new Super Mario Bros Galaxy movie at some point this weekend. I don’t know if it will be any good, but the kids seem excited about it. I don’t imagine it’ll tickle the same fancy that Project Hail Mary did. Different demographic, looking for a different movie going experience.

Oh look it’s raining again. April showers bring May flowers, and all that Jazz. All I know is, everything will feel damp and chilled for the next thirty or so days. No matter what you do you will be both too hot, and too cold regardless of clothing choices, number of layers, and materials chosen as part of the make up of those layers. Do you go with breathable but get taken out by the piercing winds of icy goodness, or go with polyesters and sweat at the first sign of the sun, or stillness from the air. Shorts with a thicker sweater, full length pants but with full zip lighter sweater combo? Choices…choices. the other choice is to carry a back pack with upgraded gear, or a lighter option because if you are like me you always assume incorrectly how the weather will play out. It’s a hard won skill.

Now these novels are topping out at 700 to 800 or more pages. The pace of play has slowed considerably, but I only have this and one other to read before the final book of the series drops at some point in the middle of May. I’d like to be ready and waiting for book eight, and not be in the middle of any other novels at that time.

That being said I have another Martha Wells Murderbot book coming soonish, as well as a James S A Corey new release coming at some point soon too. I went all in on new books this year. It might have been a tad foolhardy. My bookshelves are quickly refilling, but on the plus side it’s by books I have actually read.

The orange book I have here is 812 pages. I think the next one is 700 pages or there abouts. The fifth book was 707 pages. I can’t keep up this pace for too much longer, but I’m glad that I got over having to use my reading glasses, and can now actively enjoy digging into a good book series once again.

Maybe after I finish all the new books I’ll try to complete some older books I started but never finished. Elantris, Mistborn, the Black Leopard & Red Wolf book I shelved quite some time ago.

Kids are off for four straight days for the Easter Long Weekend. Dog walks, late breakfasts, movie marathons, and outdoor clean up are all on the itinerary for the next few days. Nobody was unwell during the night, so as far as I can tell we are on the mend. That is unless somebody else comes down with something in the meantime. Looking forward to some holiday meals with the extended family this weekend! That, and chocolates. Ha!

I kept both kids home yesterday because we all are the same dinner but one child was up throwing up, and I figured it was only a matter of hours before the second child, and the rest of us followed in their footsteps.vbur, luckily that wasn’t so. My oldest is still sick today, but the youngest who never threw up or felt I’ll went back to school, much to her chagrin. It was a fight. Not going to be a fun weekend if the oldest remains sick for more than another day or two. Poor kid.

Some colour has returned to her face at least. She’s able to keep the Gatorade down, for an hour or so this far. Looks like she can nibble on dry toast, and that’s a promising sign for day two anyway. No fever, no cough, no runny nose, just the pukes. I still would love to know if it was a food borne illness, or something she has picked up from school. One is localized, the other will go through all of us in the house, as well as her classroom. Time will tell.

It is now Thursday, with a four day long weekend for the kids & spouse on the immediate horizon. Which means tonight I watch the next episode of The Pitt. How will we be lead into the final episodes! Oooh…ahhh, OH! Can’t wait. It’ll be hard to top the last few from season one. Short of a bridge collapse, or a massive building fire I don’t know what major type of thing they will do.

It could end with them all charting quietly I guess, go the Sopranos route. End on the mundane rather than anything lavish or extraordinary. Just life as usual. Would be fitting the end the entire series that way.

That’s a new record for pages read, from the same author, in one month. That’s four full books plus slightly more than half of the fifth one to boot. I’m on a real solid page turning tear right now. I don’t know for how much longer it will last, but first quarter of 2026 will be remembered as the Dungeon Crawler Carl session for the ages. I can see myself going back to painting minis soon, or sculpting a busy for the fair, or returning to my resin model kit, or playing new songs on the guitar, or getting back into the wood shop for some much needed furniture builds, or painting some canvases. Who knows where I’ll go next as I jump from hobby to hobby, and back again. Life’s fun!

Both kids are home today after throwing up last night. Well, no correction. One was throwing up, several times in the night, and the other woke up because of it, and was too out of sorts to function this morning, so now I have them both at home, in their beds, quietly dozing. My wife is on her way to a Blue Jays home game against Colorado, so hopefully they pull out a win today, and that this illness business was due to the food. And not a communicable thing we will all get at some point this week, just for funsies.

It was supposed to be a short week for school anyway, so now it’s much shorter than intended. I still have work to deliver, so the kids will need to stay in bed, and be quiet if I have to field any calls. Shouldn’t be a problem, fingers crossed.

Heard at least one real solid boom! Of a thunderclap late last night, or very early this morning, I don’t recall which, but otherwise I was mostly unbothered by the electrical storm. We got poured on by the rain at school drop off, but it petered out quite quickly after that so I opted to take my mutt to the farm for a walk. We did stop off at home so I could scrape leaves out of the gutters to allow the rain water to drain more easily on the street directly out front of our house. No need for pooling water if not absolutely unavoidable.

Book five is moving along nicely. I’ve slowed up a touch, but that’s not much of a concern. When I tally all of the pages I’ve read in March alone it should be over 2,000. Potentially more than that if I have a good sit down with the book at lunch time, and this evening before bed.

The Blue Jays who had started strong fizzled last night losing to Colorado 14-5. Not a good look to lose the pitcher in the third inning to a leg slash knee & ankle injury. Oh well! That’s baseball. They really do need to pull something together in the bullpen though to remain competitive because their current closers aren’t anywhere near good enough to stave off a one run lead to finish a game, and remain ahead. It’s upsetting to watch happen over, and over again, with no remedy in place. But I digress.

Tuesday, and the recycling truck came really early this time. I do not know if we are at the start, or end of the route but they can come at 7:00 am, or they can come at 5:45 pm, no warning one way or the other. It’s a gamble.

I can see the sun trying to poke its way through the clouds and fog. I don’t think it’ll clear up, but I appreciate the effort! Ha.