Rolf Devinci

 Purchased a Pompei Gladius from Reliks as a gift to myself and as an addition to the existing Roman panoply in the armory. Years ago my son had bought a legionary kit and while most of the pieces were historically accurate (in a modern reproduction sense) the gladius was a stainless steel wall hanger.  I figured it was time to upgrade the kit with an appropriate blade for an enlisted Roman legionary. I opted for the Deepeeka gladius as it fitted the criteria perfectly - a simple but functional sword that was historically accurate. Made of EN45 carbon steel with a full tang diamond cross section, a guard, grip and hilt made of wood and a wood lined leather scabbard with simple bronzed accents. Nothing special but rather a working soldier's blade. The price was right as well listed at $153.99 CDN. That said the fit and finish is surprisingly good for such a budget gladius. The gladius is straight with some ripples upon the blade which denotes a hand forging. It possesses a poin...

 Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of my cycling accident on my bike commute to work that October 21st 2021. Too say it has been a challenging two years would be an understatement. Physical blunt force trauma, life saving neurosurgery and all the associated fears, stresses and financial strain involved in the rehabilitation process. Despite the ongoing challenges I am still above ground and have regained much of my physical capabilities. Cycling is over for me now but I have embraced the gym as both a means to regain my strength and a sanctuary for my mental health dealing with the aforementioned fears and stress. My focus remains upon my well being and returning, as much as possible, to my pre accident fitness. Insurance settlement remains pending. Thankfully my legal team is doing the work and the negotiations. It does annoy me that the process takes so long to complete knowing insurance companies delay settlements as much as possible. It just adds more stress to an already t...

Decided to switch up my deck planting this season by using companion planting strategies. It will be interesting to see the results, specifically in regards to my vegetable plants and edible herbs. Not only does companion planting offer insect predation protection while increasing visits from pollinators but also helps keep the soil rich in nutrients. It is an ideal strategy when you are limited by space but want to have a diversity of plants and beneficial insect visitors. Located six stories above the ground my deck is Southwest facing so receives sunlight from around 2pm until dusk. As a result I am limited to plants that tolerate full sun and I must be diligent when to comes to watering as it gets hot and my plants are all in pots. The advantage of pots is the fact I can always move them around for shade and bring them inside on particularly hot days for a little respite. Started quite simply using marigolds as companion for my tomatoes. Marigolds come well recommended for being co...

 Finally found a Canadian made bone broth that is competitively priced, organic and available online or in select local stores. It is in powder form so not as convenient as liquid but the price and shelf life is better. I know from reading the reviews that some complain about the mixability but that is a lame issue that involves nothing more than a few seconds of stirring. I have made my own own broth broth in the past and it is takes some time so I am happy to discover the Organika brand. In terms of flavor it is a broth so understand it will not make your taste buds dance as broths tend to be on the bland side unless they are filled with artificial flavors and/or sodium. The chicken broth is quite good but I add some of my favorite spices to a mug; oregano, basil and summer savory along with a touch of sea salt and pepper. Makes an amazing cup of broth or as a base for soups, gravies or noodles.  Using two tablespoons you get fifteen grams of high quality protein and only 60...

 Added a replica of a Greek Xiphos to my armory collection in 2022. An iconic blade from antiquity it was one that was on my radar for some time but I was never able to source an affordable sword or one that appealed to me esthetically in terms of build quality and construction. I have recently began searching Etsy as well as the usual mainstream companies that deal in historical collectables and decided to purchase a xiphos from a Nepalese forge. The reviews for Everestforge were very promising and the pictures of the blade upon Etsy were very nice. The original price was very competitive but at the time of purchase was listed on sale at 25% off with free shipping. Total cost was just over $200 CDN. This xiphos has a straight 21 inch blade of carbon steel with an overall length of 27 inches. Weighs in at a respectable 1.5 pounds give or take a few ounces. It possesses a double edged subtle leaf shape with a diamond cross section. Looking down the blade you can see some grind and f...

 Prior to my accident I remained an active senior. I often quipped that my body was old but my brain was still 20 something. I still cycled most days, albeit solo as I eventually ceased club riding after my accident in 2011, even commuting to work during the winter on appropriate weather permitting days. I attended the gym several days a week to strength train, practiced traditional archery and continued to play ball hockey primarily as a goalie but occasionally as a runner. That changed after being struck by a vehicle in 2021 and my subsequent neurosurgery to repair a chronic subdural hematoma. Released from the hospital in early January 2022 I was sidelined until my reassessment in late March. Those three months were the hardest, dealing with fear and anxiety about my condition, financials, recovery and finding myself in a sedentary situation where walking for a little was my only exercise. Coping with my physical limitations and cognitive issues the result of two brain injuries ...

 A year today I was in the initial throes of a medical crisis. At some point on December 26,2021 a chronic subdural hematoma became critical, and I began a descent into a dark place. I have no recollections of the events leading up to my neurosurgery on the morning of December 28th. To date I still have no memories of what happened during those lost hours. Perhaps that is a blessing? I am just thankful that on boxing day evening and the following Monday my impaired cognitive functioning did not lead to bad decisions that could have placed others at harm. It still haunts me what could have happened had I attempted to drive that day. At some point I think I just went to bed where my spouse found me after getting off work. Suspecting something was wrong she attempted to wake me only to realize I was in crisis. Subsequently rushed to the emergency room on the night of the 27th with neurosurgery in the wee hours of December 28 I was fortunate that I avoided a stroke and permanent disabi...