This Saturday, November 4th, 2017, I will be buckling down for another 24 hours of gaming misadventures, all for the Alberta Children's Hospital. I could give you the same schpeel I do every year; this was my home away from home, where I had 4 of my 5 spinal surgeries, where a pseudo-father figure surgeon… Continue reading Extra Life 2017 – Fundraising
It's that time of year folks. Extra Life 2016 is almost upon us; 14 days and counting. Somewhere, in my brilliance, I thought I could make a $2000 goal. That was silly. I am silly. As it stands I am currently at $410 plus some change donated by my lovely coworkers. Not bad given that… Continue reading Extra Life 2016
Last week was the official Game Day for Extra Life 2015. Unfortunately I couldn't partake as I was busy screaming at children and their parents. Now, you might be saying to yourself "Tell us something about you that we don't know, Kathleen." If I am to be honest, I was paid to scream at them. I… Continue reading Extra Life 2015 – A Week Late
I’ll be the first to admit I wasn’t ready for Extra Life this year. This would be my fourth year doing the annual 24 hour video game marathon, and I had originally given myself a goal of $1500 in an effort to top what I did last year. But things happen. Life gets in the… Continue reading Extra Life 2015 or ‘Dammit, Cheryl!’
Dear Premier Notley, First, let me congratulate you on the NDP's stunning rise to power in Alberta. 40 years is too long to suffer through anything without seeing some change (and I say that almost completely without irony save for the little bit which, I assume, will become clear in the next few paragraphs.) I… Continue reading An Open Letter to Alberta Premier Rachel Notley
Sometimes I think people forget that chronic pain isn’t a simply a struggle that exists in the moment. For every minute of pain there are five other minutes of fear and confusion and worries about what the future will hold. In that way, chronic pain is a pervasive aspect that touches on the past, present,… Continue reading Chronic Pain Diaries, Part II
Dear City of Calgary Council, Integrity Commissioner here, thought maybe I would chime in on this whole 'funding for public art' issue that has been troubling some of you for the last little while. Of course the drop in oil prices has us all panicking and retreating to our Campbell's Soup-Stocked emergency shelters and panic… Continue reading Yet Another Open Letter to the City of Calgary and the City Council “Art? I am the art!”
Last night, amongst the drugs and the pain and the madness of sleep deprivation I had a thought. "Golly," I said to myself, "Why don't I do a blog post on X Number of Things They Don't Tell You About Chronic Pain?" Brilliant. I am so smart. I am like a giant ol' box of… Continue reading 7 Things They Don’t Tell You About Living With Chronic Pain
Apart from my desperate pleas to the Alberta Government for financial aid in order to afford medication, I only ever ask for money during one time of the year: Extra Life. For those of you not in the know., Extra Life is a 24 hour video game marathon that takes place every year in support… Continue reading That Time of Year: Extra Life 2014
The Code Series 