A lot of people talked about how glad they were that 2024 finally came to an end. The worst part of this year for me was that I worked too hard and missed some of my eldest daughter’s last year at home before going to university. That sucks for me, but I wouldn’t say that it was a reason to end the year.
This year? 2025? The change in the USA administration alone terrifies me. But hey, it’s only Day 1. Let’s not get into that yet, because we gotta highlight the good stuff from the previous year…
- New Year’s Tea in Banff, this time in a new room
- Went for my first sleigh ride in Banff on a cold and almost snow-less day
- Wrestled with the push that AI will solve the world’s problems, knowing full well that it’s not ready
- Started to get treatment for my sore shoulder that was diagnosed as bursitis
- Went through a lot of physiotherapy and massage therapy
- Actually exhausted my benefits coverage for the first time in my life
- Chased CP 2816 for the first time in a decade
- Had surgery for my second hernia
- Finished writing a book called “Fly Me to the Moon”
- Went to Edmonton so Alex could finish her MRI practicum
- Went to West Edmonton Mall … again
- Went to the Royal Alberta Museum, which is rather nice, if short hours…
- Went to Banff several times
- Went to Ruskin
- Went to Britannia Beach (and into a mine)
- Went to Squamish
- Went to Fort Langley (twice)
- Went to Kamloops (for the night)
- Went to Oakville
- Went for a hike in Radium
- Went to Canmore
- Went to Dorothy and Drumheller
- went to Mossleigh
- Stopped in Revelstoke (twice)
- Got a standup paddleboard, broke my finger when I fell on it
- Welcomed Hodgins to the family
- Welcome Banner to the family
- Did an elevated obstacle course for the first time, and understood the fear of getting stuck
- Finally saw Blue Rodeo in concert
- Saw the Top Gun movies on my anniversary at a drive-in
- Saw really great aurora
- Saw the Arkells again, this time on the floor
- Went to both the Banff Christmas Market and the Millarville Christmas Market (Millarville’s is better)
- Chased the CPKC Holiday Train into the mountains
- Had New Year’s Tea in a strange little cafe
This year is going to have a lot more change. Monkey turns 18 and is off to university, Choo Choo goes to high school. We’re going to hopefully do a bit more travel, but we’ll see how that pans out. And we need to plan for Alex’s 50th next year (hint: Costa Rica).
