Happy new year?
Jan. 2nd, 2025 10:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hobiisAnother year gone...
It still feels like only half of 2024 has passed by, and so I'm sitting with this uncomfortable, vague feeling of incompleteness. Maybe it's related to the ways that global warming has impacted my local weather patterns - a short summer that really only lasted 3 weeks; a dry autumn; a warm and snow-free winter - or maybe it's something else, but it just feels surreal that it's January once again.
2025 is already overwhelming between uncertainty about the changes in my job, anticipation about swiftly-upcoming travel plans, anxiety about the deteriorating health of my beloved furry son - but I'm hoping to talk myself into a positive attitude :)
There are a few things I can look fondly back on from this past year...
Union! I am a trustee for my union local, and this year I was nominated to attend a provincial federation of labour convention. I spent a week in a huge room with 900 other delegates, listening to lived experiences and voting on resolutions to make our province a safer and fundamentally better place for workers. The experience was so rewarding, I learned so much, and I feel such powerful union solidarity even still!
Staff award! My officemates nominated me for a staff award within our faculty and wrote letters of recommendation on my behalf, and I was selected by the awards committee for recognition of my contributions to the students in the faculty. While it brought along some unhappy emotions, related to the upcoming changes to my job which will remove me from my department and my colleagues that I have grown to love, it also brought a sense of satisfaction in knowing that my hard work has been seen and is appreciated.
New car! While I was extremely devastated to have lost my longtime companion (rest in peace, Vicky Versa, 2009-2024) thanks to becoming the filling in a 4-car sandwich, I was able to upgrade to a compact SUV, which is a move I've been wanting to make for years but could never justify. Elvira has been a good investment so far!
Girl Guides! My unit grew from 2 members in the 2023-24 year to 19 this past September, and we've been having so much fun! We even took them to winter camp (indoor) - this was my first time planning and running a camp, so it was a big learning experience.
Twitter! I officially deactivated my Twitter account. Since largely leaving Twitter upon Elon Musk's takeover in 2023, I was feeling increasingly disconnected and anxious, but making the executive decision to say goodbye meant that I was able to let go of those last feelings of anxiety. Now I'm disconnected but in a way that feels good... I think.
Notably, there are three things I can very much look forward to:
Science World Sleepover! We'll be taking our Girl Guides on the ferry and then on public transit to Science World in Vancouver, and we'll get to have a sleepover right in the exhibits! For many Guides, this will be their first time travelling without a parent and we are excited!
Mexico! This year marks a birthday milestone in my local(ish) fannish friendgroup, and we are celebrating together by taking a trip to the Mayan Riviera over spring break. Coordinating 8 adults will be a challenge but I am so looking forward to a week of zero commitments, unscheduled meals, lovely warm weather, the ability to explore on a whim, and my god-given right to hold a pina colada in my hand every waking minute of the day.
Stray Kids! We'll travel over the border into Seattle to watch the boys perform, and since SKZ is the group that brought the kpop locals together, it will feel even more special. My bestie will also fly out from Alberta to join us! This year will mark our 34th year of friendship and I just feel so very lucky that she is willing to fall in love with the same fandoms I do.
On the kpop front, my horizons keep broadening as the YT Music algorithm feeds me more songs it thinks I'll like - and, funnily enough, I do often like it! In 2024, according to my recap, I was in the top 0.05% of listeners of ONEWE and I'm on track to make that a reality in 2025 as well. There's just something about Yonghoon's voice that makes me relax, especially in anxiety-inducing traffic... Can't have road rage when you're crooning along to Parting or Regulus.
Without twitter, I am so behind on fannish content and news, and on kpop updates in particular. I find it hard to connect the same way on other social media platforms, and I miss chatting with you all, my pocket friends!
On a mostly-unrelated note, would anyone like to exchange postcards? I collect postcards, especially from places I will likely never get a chance to visit, and love local art, history, and architecture. I also love cats and plants! The Canada Post strike ended just before Christmas and I'm getting all my belated holiday cards out now, but postcards are a year-round joy. If you're interested in exchanging a postcard with me, please let me know <3
It still feels like only half of 2024 has passed by, and so I'm sitting with this uncomfortable, vague feeling of incompleteness. Maybe it's related to the ways that global warming has impacted my local weather patterns - a short summer that really only lasted 3 weeks; a dry autumn; a warm and snow-free winter - or maybe it's something else, but it just feels surreal that it's January once again.
2025 is already overwhelming between uncertainty about the changes in my job, anticipation about swiftly-upcoming travel plans, anxiety about the deteriorating health of my beloved furry son - but I'm hoping to talk myself into a positive attitude :)
There are a few things I can look fondly back on from this past year...
Union! I am a trustee for my union local, and this year I was nominated to attend a provincial federation of labour convention. I spent a week in a huge room with 900 other delegates, listening to lived experiences and voting on resolutions to make our province a safer and fundamentally better place for workers. The experience was so rewarding, I learned so much, and I feel such powerful union solidarity even still!
Staff award! My officemates nominated me for a staff award within our faculty and wrote letters of recommendation on my behalf, and I was selected by the awards committee for recognition of my contributions to the students in the faculty. While it brought along some unhappy emotions, related to the upcoming changes to my job which will remove me from my department and my colleagues that I have grown to love, it also brought a sense of satisfaction in knowing that my hard work has been seen and is appreciated.
New car! While I was extremely devastated to have lost my longtime companion (rest in peace, Vicky Versa, 2009-2024) thanks to becoming the filling in a 4-car sandwich, I was able to upgrade to a compact SUV, which is a move I've been wanting to make for years but could never justify. Elvira has been a good investment so far!
Girl Guides! My unit grew from 2 members in the 2023-24 year to 19 this past September, and we've been having so much fun! We even took them to winter camp (indoor) - this was my first time planning and running a camp, so it was a big learning experience.
Twitter! I officially deactivated my Twitter account. Since largely leaving Twitter upon Elon Musk's takeover in 2023, I was feeling increasingly disconnected and anxious, but making the executive decision to say goodbye meant that I was able to let go of those last feelings of anxiety. Now I'm disconnected but in a way that feels good... I think.
Notably, there are three things I can very much look forward to:
Science World Sleepover! We'll be taking our Girl Guides on the ferry and then on public transit to Science World in Vancouver, and we'll get to have a sleepover right in the exhibits! For many Guides, this will be their first time travelling without a parent and we are excited!
Mexico! This year marks a birthday milestone in my local(ish) fannish friendgroup, and we are celebrating together by taking a trip to the Mayan Riviera over spring break. Coordinating 8 adults will be a challenge but I am so looking forward to a week of zero commitments, unscheduled meals, lovely warm weather, the ability to explore on a whim, and my god-given right to hold a pina colada in my hand every waking minute of the day.
Stray Kids! We'll travel over the border into Seattle to watch the boys perform, and since SKZ is the group that brought the kpop locals together, it will feel even more special. My bestie will also fly out from Alberta to join us! This year will mark our 34th year of friendship and I just feel so very lucky that she is willing to fall in love with the same fandoms I do.
On the kpop front, my horizons keep broadening as the YT Music algorithm feeds me more songs it thinks I'll like - and, funnily enough, I do often like it! In 2024, according to my recap, I was in the top 0.05% of listeners of ONEWE and I'm on track to make that a reality in 2025 as well. There's just something about Yonghoon's voice that makes me relax, especially in anxiety-inducing traffic... Can't have road rage when you're crooning along to Parting or Regulus.
Without twitter, I am so behind on fannish content and news, and on kpop updates in particular. I find it hard to connect the same way on other social media platforms, and I miss chatting with you all, my pocket friends!
On a mostly-unrelated note, would anyone like to exchange postcards? I collect postcards, especially from places I will likely never get a chance to visit, and love local art, history, and architecture. I also love cats and plants! The Canada Post strike ended just before Christmas and I'm getting all my belated holiday cards out now, but postcards are a year-round joy. If you're interested in exchanging a postcard with me, please let me know <3
