If you’ve ever dropped off a busted laptop or a glitchy console at Second Wind Sales and Services, you probably know me as “the tech guy.” You see the professional side, the guy who obsesses over circuit boards, talks about thermal paste like it’s fine wine, and lives for the moment a “dead” device chirps back to life. But honestly? I’m also just a dude in a basement in Raymond, Alberta, surrounded by a truly staggering amount of “stuff.”

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how much I talk about “corporate” things, repair standards, SEO, motherboard diagnostics, and how little I talk about the actual heart behind the shop. I’m proud of our small-town charm, and I don’t want to lose that in a sea of technical jargon. So, I’m starting a new series called the Second Wind Side Quest.

In the world of RPGs, a side quest is where you get to know the characters. It’s where the flavor is. These posts aren’t going to be about how to fix your iPhone (you can find that in our repair tutorials). Instead, they’re about the person holding the screwdriver. No corporate “beep boop” here, just a neighborly chat about the hobbies and quirks that make me, well, me.

The Basement Sanctuary

First things first: the “office.” While big tech companies like to brag about their glass-walled campuses, Second Wind is rooted firmly in my basement. It’s my workshop, my laboratory, and my museum. Living in the Raymond and Lethbridge area, there’s something special about that “basement tinkerer” energy. It’s quiet, it’s focused, and it’s where the magic happens.

But if you looked around my workspace, you’d see it’s not just rows of soldering irons and multimeters. It’s a reflection of a lifetime of collecting, watching, and appreciating things that have a story to tell.

Through the Lens: A Century of Photography

One of my biggest passions, besides bringing electronics back from the brink, is photography. But I’m not just talking about the latest mirrorless cameras. I have a deep, deep love for the history of the medium. My collection stretches all the way back to the late 1800s. There’s something incredibly humbling about holding a camera that’s over 130 years old and realizing that it still works on the same basic principles of light and chemistry.

I have a particularly soft spot for Polaroids and Kodaks. There’s a tactile joy in a Polaroid that you just don’t get with a digital file. You click, it whirs, and then you hold a physical memory in your hand while it develops. It’s “instant,” but in a way that feels permanent.

My “origin story” in photography is a bit more… pixelated. My very first camera wasn’t a fancy film rig; it was the Game Boy Camera. For those who remember, it was this chunky peripheral that plugged into your Game Boy and took 128×112 pixel grayscale photos. By today’s standards, it’s garbage. By my standards as a kid? It was the coolest thing on the planet. I eventually upgraded to a Polaroid that printed tiny one-inch photos, and I’ve been hooked on capturing the world ever since. You can see that influence in how I document my vintage collecting finds today.

Horror Flicks and the Art of the Scare

When the soldering iron is off and the kids are tucked away, I’m usually diving into a horror movie. I’m a total sucker for them. I don’t just stick to the mainstream stuff, either. I love the classics, the low-budget indies where you can see the practical effects held together by duct tape (which, as a repair guy, I respect), and especially foreign horror.

Japanese and Korean horror movies hit differently. They have a way of building tension that feels psychological and heavy. Whether it’s a high-budget masterpiece or a grainy, unheard-of cult classic, I’m there for it. There’s a weird parallel between horror movies and tech repair, both involve a lot of “opening things up to see what’s wrong inside,” though my work involves significantly less screaming.

The Comic Book Judge (and Harley Quinn Fanatic)

If you’ve browsed the Second Wind Marketplace, you might have noticed some DC items popping up. That’s because I’m a huge DC guy. Specifically, I go absolutely ga-ga for Harley Quinn. There’s something about her chaotic energy and evolution as a character that I’ve always loved.

But my comic interests go beyond the “Big Two.” I love unusual titles, the stuff that feels like a relic of a different era. Give me an old Tarzan or an Archie comic any day. And I’ll let you in on a secret: I absolutely judge books by their covers. If a comic has killer cover art, I’m buying it. I don’t care if the story inside is a mess; if the art speaks to me, it earns a spot on the shelf. In a world of digital everything, I still value the physical beauty of a well-inked page.

The Collector’s Life: From Star Wars to Hello Kitty

My basement is also home to my “plastic family.” Yes, I have Funko Pops (who doesn’t at this point?), but my heart belongs to Star Wars action figures. There’s a nostalgia there that connects me back to the first time I saw those ships fly across the screen. I’ve even started getting into Labubus lately: those weird, grinning art toys are strangely addictive.

And then there’s Hello Kitty.

I know what you’re thinking: “Cody, you’re a 40-year-old dude living in small-town Alberta. Why Hello Kitty?” Because she’s a legend, that’s why! There’s something so pure and iconic about the design. It’s okay to like things just because they’re fun. My workshop might be full of “manly” tools and heavy machinery, but there’s always room for a little bit of Sanrio charm. It keeps the vibe light when I’m deep into a frustrating motherboard repair.

The “One Piece” Obsession

Finally, we have to talk about Anime. It’s not a secret that I’m a fan, but if I had to pick one that has my full attention right now, it’s One Piece. The sheer scale of the world-building, the themes of freedom and friendship, and the fact that it’s been running forever: it’s an epic in the truest sense.

I think that’s why I love the idea of “Second Wind.” In One Piece, things (and people) are always getting a second chance, pushing through against the odds to reach the next island. That’s how I feel about the tech that comes across my desk. It’s not just a “broken laptop”; it’s a tool that someone relies on, a vessel for their memories and work. It deserves to keep going.

Why All This Matters

You might be wondering what my 1800s cameras or my Harley Quinn collection have to do with Lethbridge electronics repair.

To me, repair isn’t just a job or a way to pay the bills. It’s part of a lifestyle. When you spend your time collecting things with history: whether it’s a vintage Kodak or a classic comic: you start to appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into making things. You realize that just because something is old or “broken” doesn’t mean it’s trash.

Everything in my basement, from the Star Wars figures to the disassembled laptops, is there because I believe it has value. I bring that same philosophy to your gear. When you trust me with your tech, you’re not just getting a “corporate” service; you’re getting a guy who genuinely loves how things are built and wants to make sure they stay built.

So, that’s the first “Side Quest.” I’m Cody. I love horror movies, I think Hello Kitty is cool, and I’m probably in my basement right now fixing something while listening to a podcast about the 19th-century history of photography.

I’m a real person, a neighbor, and a fellow geek. If you ever want to talk shop: or just debate who the best Robin was: my door (and my contact page) is always open. Thanks for being part of the Second Wind community. Stay tuned for the next side quest!