LOOKING BACK AT 2025

Cheers to 2026, may it be good to us all!

 A year ago this month I found out I had another tumor, this one was growing on my jaw bone. I was dumbfounded and went into 2025 in a daze. I had a tumor removed in May of 2023 that was resting on my aorta. That was a seven and half hour surgery and months of recovery. I didn't talk much about this second tumor, until it was close to the surgery date. Mentally this surgery was harder on me. Two major surgeries in three years takes a toll, both physically and mentally, and this one would was going to affect my appearance. They had to take four teeth and a part of my jaw bone, anywhere the tumor was touching, as it deteriorated the bone so much. Like the other mass, it was benign. I start going for scans on my jaw in February to make sure it's not growing back. I got a partial plate in November and am still adjusting to it. I'm an official "old lady" now, buying Polident and everything! I say that jokingly, because this aging thing can be difficult at times and I choose to add humor to the mix of it all and as a good friend says often, "it's better then the alternative!"

Before and after surgery, August 21st, 2025

This past year wasn't all bad. When I think back over the year a lot of great memories come to mind. Vacation plans got rearranged to keep us in our own country, and we visited some new to us locations in Ontario. Rob and I had a mini break in Goderich for the first time in May and did a road trip to Unionville for the first time this month.

Road tripping for a week with my bestie, Patricia, in July had us all over the place and staying in small towns neither of us had visited before, including; Kingsville, Port Perry, and Paris. We enjoyed all of these charming small towns immensely and I hope to introduce Rob to them in the coming year.

I also rediscovered my love for live music again, seeing a few live bands over the past year. I'm happy to say I've met some wonderful new music friends this past year and got reacquainted with some old ones. Over the course of the past year I went to see; Vixen, Slaughter, Great White, Lee Aaron, Night Ranger, did the VIP thing with Blackie Lawless, and then a couple months later got to see and meet Chris Holmes. Heavy metal may own my heart, but being raised on country legends like Charlie Pride and George Jones, country music owns my soul, and I also saw Shania Twain, Alli Walker and Lainey Wilson this past year. 

Rob's first country concert, Alli Walker, November 1st. 

The highlight concert for me though, was Night Ranger. I hadn't seen them back in the 80's and I was stoked that I was finally going to get to see them live. Rob snapped a pic of me watching them that night, July 25th from right up front.

Bucket list band for me, Night Ranger.

Another pretty significant change this year happened in October. My position at the university has changed significantly over the past few years and I had more free time than I liked, so I now work in another department two days a week. When the manager in conference services found out about staff sharing they wanted me to join their team, and it was in the works for months without me knowing. Feels like a win win for us all, as I get to remain full time by working part time in two departments with coworkers I enjoy working with in both departments. Everything else remains the same. It is a little weird that I remember my manager in the new department from when she was a student, but I enjoy the opportunity to learn new things from these young ladies, and am looking forward to working with them. 

This department also handles the film shoots on campus, and last year Rob and I went to campus while a production was being shot to see if we could catch a glimpse of Matthew Grey Gubler, as we are both huge fans of Criminal Minds. We got more than a glimpse. We had an engaging chat with him between scenes and he was asking us birding questions and was so personable. He actually walked over to talk to us. He was shooting a show called Einstein which was picked up by CBS. I heard a rumor that he will be returning in 2026 to shoot another episode. 

Meeting Matthew Grey Gubler March 16, 2025

Like most years, 2025 was full of ups and downs and as always I'll hope for more ups than downs in 2026 for us all.  

 

HIGHLIGHT OF 2024

 

Rob and I at Fisherman's Cove on our last day in Nova Scotia.

If I had to pick one highlight from 2024, it's easily Rob visiting Nova Scotia with me for the first time last May.  

We had thought about going for the last week of June and had booked that week for vacation. But Spring came to Ontario early last year and it was looking and feeling more like summer when May arrived, so outta the blue while he was working one night, I texted him to get his thoughts about going to Nova Scotia for our week in May, which was only a couple weeks away.

I had been dealing with some health issues that started the beginning of March and had to cancel a planned trip with my niece in April. I was feeling pretty good in May and wanted to take advantage of it. He asked me why May, and my response was, it's still Spring like weather there, where here the trees had most of their leaves, not great for birding. The kids would still be in school and it's not yet hurricane season. All that sounded good to him, and I think I booked the plane tickets, hotels and rental car that evening.

Because there was a lot of uncertainty regarding my health, we decided not to tell anyone we were going, in case we had to cancel the trip last minute. We flew down the morning of Sunday, May 12th, which was Mother's Day. I was born and raised in Truro/Bible Hill, Nova Scotia before moving to Toronto when I was 19. I wanted the trip to be about showing Rob my Nova Scotia, places that were important to me growing up, and we covered a lot of ground over five days. 

The first place we visited was the Bible Hill cemetery so I could place a potted plant at my parents headstone. I blogged about that last year. There is a lovely walking trail close to the cemetery and we visited the trail a few times while there.

My first meal after the plane landed, Deep Fried Clams!

We spent three nights in Truro and did a couple road trips from there. We took the trip "down country" that I did so many times as a kid with my parents. Through Great Village, Portapique, Five Islands and other small towns, we made our way to Cape d'Or, a beautiful spot I had only visited once before with my Mom years prior. We visited Victoria Park in Truro and other nature spots.

Cape d'Or, it's a walk down, but worth it.

Jacob's Ladder in Victoria Park, we both went to the top.

On Wednesday we headed to the Liverpool area on the south shore. My Grandmother had lived there and Easter, Christmas and some of my summer vacation was always spent there as a child.

We stopped at Peggy's Cove on our way.

We spent two nights at White Point Beach Resort and visited the town of Liverpool, and other areas I remembered. 

I could of listened to the waves all day. White Point Beach.

Summerville Beach, I loved spending time here as kid. 

It was surreal visiting Summerville Beach. I hadn't been there in decades but can still recall childhood memories of spending time there, the jellyfish, making sand castles, and the taste of the salt water. We walked the beach bare foot and looked for sea-shells, I brought a couple home.

Our last stop before heading to the airport to fly back to Toronto was Fisherman's Cove, another place I had last visited with Mom. 

Fishing boats, surrounded by gulls coming in at Fisherman's Cove.

Even though it wasn't really a birding trip, we saw lots of birds and even had a couple lifers. We also got to witness a first for us, a Bald Eagle having a bath in a lake. The Osprey is the provincial bird of Nova Scotia, but we didn't see any. The bird of the trip for us was the Northern Parula, we saw them often, and heard them everywhere! 

Northern Parula, Blue-headed Vireo, Canvas Back Duck (my lifer), Black-throated Green Warbler and an Oven Bird

A lifer for both of us on our last day, Common Eider's. We saw many.

It was an enjoyable but busy five days. It was fun surprising family and friends along the way. I know we didn't get to see everybody we would of liked to, but I am grateful that Rob got to meet some of my cousins and friends, and we'll meet more the next time we visit.