A Keanu “whoa”.
Not only is it the end of the year, but it’s the end of the decade. My how it feels like it flew by, and yet, still went slow enough to pack so much in in 10 years.
Before I reflect on the past decade, allow me to take a moment and reflect on my year that was 2019…
Starting in 2018, this year was still about re-grouping for me. On the career front, I had 3 jobs – covering a mat leave at a post-secondary institution, landing a seasonal contract with VIFF and auxiliary work with City of North Vancouver. It has been interesting. I have always had permanent roles, so this year was definitely not one that I was used to. But that’s all changed now that I landed a position with a dream company. (more on that later!)
Because of all that non-permanent work, I had to watch my (vacation) budget a lot more in 2019. But I did get to go on one big trip. Sean and I realized our dreams of going to Japan in the spring. It was a combo birthdays slash 10 year anniversary trip for us.
In between it all, we had our friends, our families and our furry children to make for a grateful year.
Let’s rewind and reflect, shall we?
January: Marvelling at Rhianna’s yellow cape gown which went viral at the Met.
February: Seventh time seeing one of my favourite bands in the world – Interpol! A Denny’s breakfast, stay at the Hyatt Regency and special delivery for my birthday. Snowmageddon at Casa de Sullichan.
March: Catch’ing my fall with Billy Idol and Steve Stevens: Unplugged. Fancy night’s dinner for our 10th anniversary. Ten! Everyone loves cat photos right?
April: We celebrate 10 years together with a trip Japan! Finding love in Tokyo. Fleeing Godzilla. Getting our Shibuya scramble on and looking absolutely touristy. The #1 thing I wanted to do in Tokyo – teamLab Borderless. Feeling small beside Unicorn Gundam. Imagining the Bride from Kill Bill take down Gogo and all those Crazy 88s at Gonpachi restaurant. Night time cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto. An hour hike up a mountain to hang out with Japanese macaques – and totally worth it. Walking through the Kimono Forest. Hella crowds at Arashiyama bamboo grove, though you’d never know looking at our photos. Stumbling across a hanami, an outdoor party beneath cherry blossoms. Bewitched by the hundreds of illuminated lanterns at Yasaka Shrine. Meditation under the thousands of vermillion torii gates at Fushimi Inari. So many nekos in Japan. Makes us homesick for our kitties. The Japanese loves their foxes. A Japanese Times Square in Osaka. Petting a puppy dog of the sea. Blown away by Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. The first image of the black hole while we were in Japan. Counting our blessings that we didn’t miss cherry blossom season. Petting wild deer at Nara and getting nipped by them. Walking through water and falling into a soft black hole at teamLab’s Planets. Sensory overload at Akihabara stores. Culinary capers in Japan. Tattoo friendly public baths in hotels. How to plan a trip during Japan’s cherry blossom season. Our tips and thoughts on Japan. All our pics on my Flickr albums: Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Tokyo.
May: A tour to celebrate Moist’s 25th anniversary of Silver. Philosopher Kings’ Gerald Eaton is still the man.
June: Corey Hart returns to Vancouver after 30+ years.
July: Our sweet little furry faces.
August: We are Silver!
September: Deep Into Darkness aspiring to be Sleep No More.
October: Having fun at VIFF and working my ass off. My VIFF recos. Inspo board for my Halloween costume.
November: Phoenix rising!
December: Wonder Woman 1984 trailer drops and it’s everything. Christmas wishes from the cats and us. My most listened tracks according to Spotify. I stand by all of them. Christmas doggo time and their human family.
So, another quiet-ish year for me. That’s not all together bad, you know? Continuing to lay the foundation and getting more ducks in a row, so that 2020 can be on the upswing, both professionally and personally. Here’s hoping!
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