Author: Lkvy

I'm a Deaf vagabond currently living on Vancouver Island. Bicycles dominate my life, but I also make time for climbing, hiking, camping, and cats. And if I have time left over after all that, I write about it.

All the hearts.

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Let’s get right into it:

On Tuesday, I received a text from my uncle telling me Opa was in the hospital with heart problems. I was told not to come and that he was doing ok.

My 99-year-old opa is in the hospital? How was I supposed to stay optimistic? I only had about 30 minutes left on the clock, so I told myself I could finish the bike I was working on.

I couldn’t do it. With 15 minutes to go, I bailed and walked my bike home as I was too distressed to ride. Upon arriving home, I crashed on the couch, exhausted from all my emotions. I woke up from my nap around 8pm and checked my phone.

Opa had a heart attack.

Continue reading “All the hearts.” →

It’s *not* lupus.

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Last Thursday, a doctor examined the results of my bloodwork. As expected, my high White Blood Cell count was just the harbinger of the cold that took me down two weeks ago. While I don’t have an explanation for all the weirdness going on in my body (e.g. clogged meibomian glands, Raynaud Syndrome, and general fragility), being told I don’t have an auto-immune disorder was good news.

“Of course, it’s good news!” the doctor responded.

I don’t think he was a fan of my apparent ambivalence.

Following this good news, he had me lie on the examination table to slice me up. I mean, this was a part of the appointment–I was also there to get a benign growth removed from under my left knee; however, I rode my bike to this appointment thinking the removal would be the equivalent of popping a zit. I wasn’t anticipating a 1″ incision requiring three stitches. Fortunately, the doctor froze the area, so I didn’t feel a thing during my 25-minute ride home.

Upon arrival, I realized the blood from the sutured incision soaked through the bandages AND my pants. The appointment was at 10am, and around 8pm, I rolled up my pajama pants, put my left foot on the coffee table and prodded around the incision. The roomie witnessed my idiocy and lectured me: “Don’t touch it!”

“BUT I STILL DON’T FEEL A THING. IT’S WEIRD.”

Continue reading “It’s *not* lupus.” →

Yeah, life science!

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If it weren’t for my heavy winter coat and the “scratching board” I was carrying under my arm, I’d have pranced my way home from work last Sunday. The sun was shining, and I’d finished work about two hours early. The results of the Crystal Pool referendum were that the community voted to borrow money to build a new Crystal Pool. I’ve been extra anxious for the past few weeks, but in that moment, I had a reason to smile. An older man walking in the opposite direction appeared to say something. I let him know I was deaf, and rather than brush me aside, he signed, “Oh, I’m sorry! You look happy!”

“I am!”

The corners of my mouth spread further apart, elated with my palpable elation. I waved to the man cheerfully before carrying on.

At home, I set my bike up on the trainer and propped the front wheel on my new “scratching board”. A colleague stapled a thin piece of doormat to a board for me to use as a riser block so that my bike is level when I’m using the trainer. I got to release even more dopamine with a short tour of virtual France via Zwift without putting strain on my neck or wrists.

Continue reading “Yeah, life science!” →

DENIED!

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Here I am, as Link, hiding from the Monster Forces. I was halfway through the slaughter when the blood moon arose. This means the monster I wasted my good weapons and items on (eg. bomb flowers and shock fruits) respawned.

Gah!

I returned to an earlier save point: problem solved. However, the health bar for the Lurelin Village Monster Force had a trace of red remaining, signifying a straggler. I went on the prowl, climbing a ladder to the highest vantage point to scan the area with my scope. From up there, the coast looked clear, so I returned to the beach to sniff out this aimless soul on foot.

I must’ve ventured a trifle too far from the combat zone because when I turned back, the Monster Forces were IN FULL FORCE. There was no blood moon, yet they all respawned anyway!

I should have stayed hidden in the pithos. It also symbolizes how I feel about the state of the world.

Continue reading “DENIED!” →

FJTD List.

~ Lkvy ~ 1 Comment


Next to me, I have a fat, juicy to-do list for the weekend (Thurs-Sat, in my case). It is a mix of tasks I dread and projects I’m stoked about. I’ve also peppered it with everyday duties that would’ve been done even without this list. I put them on there for the added satisfaction of having extra items to cross off.

I’m already halfway through the list. Pay credit card: Done! Laundry: Folded and hung! Email ICBC: done even though I shouldn’t have had to do it. The claims specialist who is dealing with the property damage coverage side of things last emailed me on November 12.

“I appreciate your patience and will reach out once I have an update to discuss the next steps.”

Two weeks later, I sent them a breakdown of my ride file, complete with screenshots, hoping to expedite the decision. I never got a response.

And the email I sent today? I received an automated Out of Office notification.

I have continued to make good use of the new wheel, but I’ve yet to receive a reimbursement. Ever since I reactivated my Zwift membership, I’ve been parking my road bike in front of my laptop every other day. In my previous post, I shared screenshots showing the difference between my performance a year ago and on December 26, a week after getting back on the trainer after a three-month hiatus.

I did this workout again (Red Unicorn) last week. The results surprised me.

Continue reading “FJTD List.” →