This year was pretty great.
- I travelled to Toronto, and saw Joe Hisaishi perform. This was a life goal of mine.
- I saw a total eclipse.
- I saw the northern lights, twice!
- I went to Rouyn-Noranda, and attended its movie festival.
- I finished Tristan and Océanne Cross the Atlantic.
- I had a fun mini-vacation with Joy where we went off-roading, playing SNES, and bouldering.
- I finished classic games from my childhood, including GoldenEye, Donkey Kong Country, and Command & Conquer.
- I rounded out my typewriter, oil lantern, and watch collection with a few happy additions.
- I quit my job and found a new one.
- My peers in my position were making 50% more than me, and I was burning out from doing the work of three people. Even though I was a staff software engineer, I was making less than a new graduate with zero experience.
- Meanwhile, I got in hot water for leaving a heartfelt message to my departing PM (who loved the message) in her goodbye card, for discussing my pay, and for suggesting ways to improve work-life balance. Despite my colleagues loving me and having helped built a whole new revenue stream for them, I knew I was next to be laid off.
- After quitting, my mental state immediately improved. I took the entire month of December off to recover.
- I capped off the year traveling to Germany, Czechia, and Austria.
- I visited my friend who is working in Germany.
- I visited the site of the book burnings for the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft.
- I spent NYE in Prague; there were so many fireworks it was as if it was raining all evening.
- I got to use my German!
Some photos from Berlin, Prague and Vienna
2025
2025 is going to be a great year for me. I’m going to turn 40. I’ve got another creative project in the works.
Opportunistic bullies in power and their enablers won’t stop me
There is an active political effort to eliminate trans people from society, with effects following linguistic rather than geopolitical borders, but that won’t affect my day-to-day much. I already don’t feel safe using washrooms and such, so little new there.
For posterity, this is what’s incoming:
Pierre Poilievre will become the next Prime Minister, coming into power after his predecessor was thrown out for supporting trans rights. He’s endorsed the state banning people like me from gendered spaces. We’re entering the year with another provincial legislature passing laws aimed at getting rid of trans youth.
Down south, Republicans threw nearly $215 million dollars in anti-trans ads for the 2024 election and were rewarded with a complete victory. Trump despite backing a coup and being a rapist is coming back into power. He has said this about his intentions:
The Supreme Court in the US is expected to side with states banning trans people from accessing care.
Companies who previously included trans people (for profit) are reversing course (again, for profit). Disney axed a trans storyline from its show, with an explanation that implied that trans kids are inherently inappropriate. Bud Light threw its trans ambassador under the bus, kicked out the CEO that oversaw that promotion, released an ad featuring a good-ol’-American man, and sponsored the UFC.