Hello there! My annual year in photos (and now with video! Look at me evolving!). 2015 was a hard one, lots happened that definitely tested my ability to keep my head above the water of severe depression. BUT, the human spirit definitely fights to survive! In so many ways.
This year showed me who my heroes were. My mother, of course, who battled cancer and a subsequent pretty terrible surgery, but who did it with a smile (and a lot of drugs haha!). You are an amazing woman, one I hope to be like someday. Love you.
Holy moly! Where the frig has the time gone? The end of/ beginning of the year got away from me.
But, here I am again, fresh and ready for a new year and what it may bring.
Oh and the plans I have to rule 2015.
Before we jump into the year though, let me take you back to 2014. Through my year in pictures.
I gotta say, 2014 kind of blew. I mean, I don't want to complain too much because in the grand scheme of things, everything is fine. But what a shit year. At least, that's how I feel. I struggled a lot, with a lot of things. So maybe I shouldn't say it sucked, maybe it was a time of growth for me. We'll see. I've yet to see what I have learned from it all.
But let's get to the slideshow yo!
If you want to see past ones, clicky the linky:
And without further ado, 2014: A Year in Photographs
I hope it was a good one for you.
I did wander a lot last year, figuratively and literally. I am happy to say that I didn't get lost, not quite. Except when I wanted to, in forests and in canoes. There will be plenty more of that this year, along with finding my way mentally and physically to a better Kato, to dominate 2015 bitches!
What did you learn from last year? Any major breakthroughs/ breakdowns?
Well you guys....it's that time again. Time for another year in photographs post. This is my fifth year putting this together, and it is my way of remembering all of the amazing, mundane, adventurous, scary, and sometimes even boring things that I do in a year/ that have happened.
And to break it down a little for you, these are the things I found noteworthy in 2013:
- my brother and his wife announced their pregnancy in December 2012 to the entire family, and we got a first look at baby James soon afterwards! It was a magical moment.
- I finally, FINALLY got to meet my B.C. based manager for the first time. We had worked together for 6 years, talking to each other over the phone 5-10 times a day. It was wonderful to get to meet her in person.
- I got laid off from said job.
- Getting to snuggle and play with my nephew Jackson, and spend time with my best friend Jessica (and her husband, who is like my brother) is always so precious to me. To see her as a mom makes me so proud to be in her life.
- Symphony with Dave.
- Crazy times in London with my sister. Dancing the night away and spending our money on luxurious hotels was always such a treat.
- Seeing my brother's wife get a baby belly was too much anticipation for what was to come!
- John took me to my first drag show and it was an absolute blast.
- the many, many abandoned adventures I went on with Krista.
- Starting my holistic nutrition course.
- many walks down the railpath to pick Dave up from work. And the many walks we went on together, getting lost in cemeteries, the woods, by the water, and everywhere else in between.
- sliding down an embankment on my butt, wearing a dress. Surveying the damage, it was mostly to my ego.
- James is born!
- Canada Day party at my brother's in-laws. So, SO much fun. And plenty of nephew time with my little guy.
- getting to hang out with my cousin and her son more. The kid has a huge personality and I love him to bits. He has a bright future ahead of him, that one.
- beach time with family.
- relaxing/ wine/ food/ laughing way too much time with my best friend forever, John.
- my brother's dirty 30!
- drive-in with Krista.
- cottage time with my bestie Chrissy and her family. Love those guys so much. Night swims and early morning swims.
- Depeche Mode with Krista.
- exploring Guelph with Dave.
- Playing with leaves and pumpkins.
-Visiting my nutty parents as much as possible. Saying goodbye to their old house, and starting new memories in their new one.
- bowling with the family.
-Christmas fun at Jessi's.
-Ubisoft Christmas party.
- Mine and Dave's second Christmas together (I know I know....we have been together 9 years, it's weird).
-High tea birthday fun!
-Frye boots! Oh my! (this one is noteworthy, believe me)
And without further adieu...
It's always nice to see it written down, the things you have done in a year. It's too easy to forget the beautiful moments of everyday life...it all gets lost in the hustle and bustle. Everything we do is an amazing thing, from climbing a mountain to grocery shopping...because it means we are alive. Let's try not to take it for granted in 2014!
Happy New Year everyone!
To see past years 'A Year in Photographs' click below:
Shit these things take me an entire day (sometimes a few) to put together. It better be appreciated. Just kidding! I have been doing these photo slideshows since 2009, and it's always neat to go back and see all the things I did or thought were cool that year.
Here was my 2012, in a nutshell:
I have been feeling under the weather lately (literally!) and have not been aware enough to post anything on this here blog. But since I am feeling better, I wanted to share my annual year in photographs. I am a little late, I know, but I always am with this kind of thing.
For 2009, click here.
For 2010, click here.
2011 saw:
-Dave's entering and being accepted into an Emerging Composer/ Director match up program. Where an orchestra played his music. And then being nervous to attend the screening (the very first of many!)
-our 6 year anniversary at the amazing Millcroft Inn. So much fun.
-hanging with my best friend John.
-hiking at the Forks of the Credit.
-the day Jess asked me to be her maid of honor.
-Dave and I doing the Goodlife Fitness 5k walk for MADD, in honor of a dear woman.
-Mine and Dave's many adventures, and many places we haunt to eat (VERY important!)
-VIDEO GAMES! Of course :)
-My sister visiting.
-SMORES!
-Dave's 29th birthday.
-Hula hooping in High Park with Jess.
-Di's birthday (and way too many tequila shots).
-screening for Android Re-enactment, a feature film that Dave composed the music for. And the after party!
-seeing my bet friend of life, Ciara.
-random adventures that land us in amazing places.
-drinking in random and amazing places.
-going with Jess to buy her wedding dress (she was in and out of there in no time! My kind of bride-to-be!)
-Downey's Farm for Halloween!!
-Felix R.I.P.
-Dave's first time on Toronto Island.
-Last Thanksgiving in my parents' old house.
-Jess's hotel/ high tea bachelorette party.
-Parent's new puppy/ new house.
-Jess's wedding day!!
-regular hospital visits
-Visiting the folks just before Christmas (so much fun!)
-My birthday
-Christmas at my parent's new house.
Enjoy life!!
In my soon to be yearly tradition of taking a look back at my year through photos, I present you with 2010: A Year in Photographs. If you have not yet experienced 2009: A Year in Photographs, click here.
2010 was a tough year. Not just for me. For everyone around me. It was a burden that I am glad to be rid of. Of course I try my hardest to see the positive in things, and there is MUCH for me to be positive for in 2010. But it was very, very hard. I lost three people who were always in my life, I got real with myself and realized that I really do suffer from depression and I need help, and many people I love went through very difficult things that I experienced along with them. I know it could have been worse, but it also could have been better.
But in difficult times is when one is inspired to change. To become a better person, and love more and see the light in others. Although it has felt like a very dull year for me on top of everything else, I also feel like I have spent a year in getting to know and understand my friends more, to relax more, and to push through the dark to see the light on the other side.
In 2010: A Year in Photographs, I experienced (in order):
-My five year anniversary with the man I love, and will always love.
-Spending a lot more time with one of my best's, John.
-Spending the most relaxing vacation ever, with another of my best's Chrissy, at her beautiful cottage up North.
-Buying a new T.V! Man, was this a long time coming!
-Visiting (breaking into) a college where my ALL TIME favourite show Degrassi was filmed in the 80's and early 90's. Playing hooky from work to go on an adventure and visit my old 'hood with Dave on a beautiful, perfect Summer day.
-Eating red velvet cheesecake for the first time, and getting HOOKED. It's like CRACK.
-Going bowling at a stinky bowling alley for Jessi's birthday. Getting drunk and eating greasy fast food afterwards. Ahh yes, the life of a teenager.
-Celebrating my beautiful sister's 18th 35th birthday. Oh god. The Jello shooters.
-John's pornstache. Enough said.
-Celebrating my 62nd (31st) birthday with an old friend. Many funny faces were born on this night.
-Short, fat Christmas tree of love. And a lot of snow and cold.
-The shoes that needed a little help to make my feet feel less tortured. Krista's work Christmas party from hell.
-Staying up WAY too late to watch the full lunar eclipse. My god how I wanted to die at work the next day. But it was worth it.
-New Years Eve at John's. I don't think we ate enough. 30,000 calories just didn't cut it for me.
And here it all is:
Song is 'Just Breathe', by Pearl Jam.
I hope you all had a wonderful year. May 2011 bring you joy and love in abundance.
I wanted to post a little video of the year 2009, in photos. So I am sorry that it is so late, but it is something I have been wanting to do for a little while now. Just before the year ended I wrote a post listing some of the things I had accomplished in 2009 (click here to check out my to-do list for 2010!), and now I want to detail it a bit more with some photos (you know, for the kids). Because I could not add text to the photos (still learning this whole Mac thing), I thought I would give a quick list of the things I did here, and leave you to guess as to what goes where.
2009 found me at a spa for the first time in my life, as well as my first ever karaoke bar. Where I sang. LOUDLY. Also, my first really good haircut of the year (this is important OK!). Drinking in various establishments such as old Victorian house bars, and right in front of a fire. Going to a REAL LIVE early 90s dance party. Toronto's very own 'castle', Casa Loma. Cigarette butts everywhere signifying the garbage strike that lasted 3 months. In a city of 2 million people. In the summer. Training to walk up the CN Tower, which never happened, but will! Bachelorette parties and scenic caves. A suspension bridge that was a thousand feet high. Over the treetops. I though I was going to die because it SWAYED people. Swayed. Depeche Mode concert, many weddings, the tornado that stuck Toronto. Niagara Falls, the walk to end breast cancer, Thanksgiving and more concerts. The modelling gig, my first ever symphony, my birthday and the abandoned Crystal Ballroom. Christmas. With photos of my cats peppering the slideshow, as they were here in 2009, and alive. This is also important.
So, if you feel like taking a glimpse into my life, please feel free. Make sure your speakers are not loud, and enjoy the ride. For those of you who do not wish to view, please feel free to pass go and collect a get out of jail free card. This time.
Thanks to a great year! 2010 is going to be amazing. So many things I want to do and see. And don't worry, I will be documenting it with pictures and words the whole way.
2009: A Year in Photographs from Kato Kaka on Vimeo.
Song is The Arcade Fire, Neighborhood # 1 (Tunnels)
