Weekly Report: October 6th - October 12th 2025

The Week in Summary:

• With Albertan teachers on strike, the schools are closed and my role has shifted towards childcare at our science centre's camps. With lots of moving around the learning centre and teaching children all day, this week has been a return to greater activity at work - which I greatly appreciate. As for the teachers, I am rooting for them during this strike and I hope they taste victory soon!
• During the week, we had a couple noteworthy things to mention. Firstly, two beautiful pieces of furniture (the cabinet was inherited from Taylor's grandparents on the Tener side, the side table and shelf from the Sanford side) were delivered to us from Jan and James' home. Before I got home from work, Taylor had them set up. So much more potential for storage! Additionally, on Wednesday night, Taylor and I hosted Alexis, Alida, Amy, Ang, and Katelyn over for Friendsgiving. With mulled wine, beet wellington, mashed potatoes (and gravy), zucchini and leek soup, butternut squash stuffing, sweet potato creme brulee, and a green salad (among other things I am sure), it was a filling night with great conversation! I am sending so much love to our friends and we are so grateful for their company. <3
• I had Friday off due to the long weekend and enjoyed some leisure time, specifically an autumn bike ride to Edworthy Park, picking up new stationary at Reid's, and hours of playing Europa Universalis 4. In the evening,Taylor and I joined Jan, James, and Taylor's uncle, Gary, for dinner at Teatro Ristorante. We had a sablefish dish with glazed and charred carrots! It was a great way to spend the evening with family. Taylor additionally joined them to see Dial M for Murder at Theatre Calgary.
• For the weekend, Alexis, Taylor, and I joined Ang and Katelyn outside of Carseland at the nearby weir and canal to assist a local freshwater conservation group in a couple of their annual fish rescue events. This was Taylor, Alexis, and I's first time joining to help out. For both days, we headed off to the site fairly early in the morning and joined staff and volunteers in identifying and counting native fish populations stuck in the regional canal system (like mountain whitefish and longnose dace) going into colder temperatures with very limited water flow into the canal. The first day was relatively mild, especially compared to cold wind and snowfall the following day. It should be noted that this fish rescue would not need to happen if the provincial government took rudimentary steps to protect freshwater fish from entrapment and simply upgraded the canal system to include screens to ensure fish cannot easy access this waterway. In any case, I know I can speak for Taylor and I when I say that we are so appreciative of the opportunity to learn more about native fish populations this weekend and loved seeing the wonderful work that Ang does for our community. She should be so proud! Once we got home, exhausted and cold, we warmed up with a Tibetan soup!
• Additionally, we had planed to get tetanus boosters this month just to keep up-to-date with public health recommendations, but when I was out at fish rescue, I scraped my thigh on rusty barbed wire and figured I would expedite the process of getting the shot. Taylor and I went to the pharmacy the following day for the booster. As someone with a lot of health anxiety, this was stressful to say the least, but given the medication I am on, it was a lot more manageable - so that's a win!
• As far as reading goes, I have been enjoying Laura Spinney's Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global over the past few days. When it comes to video games, I have been continuing to play Europa Universalis 4 and had a relatively successful Kilwa run until the Portuguese, Spanish, and Ethiopians invaded by precious mercantile powerhouse.

The Week in Images

The Week in Links:

Here’s to the birdwatchers! Optimistic, slightly eccentric custodians of wonder and joy and passion and love

At its heart, birdwatching is an act of quiet rebellion, says Natalie Kyriacou. It is the gentle act of noticing – the willingness to see the world around you

The GuardianNatalie Kyriacou

GenAI is Our Polyester

The best way to understand generative AI art and aesthetics is to consider how previous “synthetics” lost value in the long-run For the first half of the 20th century, white-collar workers wore business shirts made from cotton or linen that wrinkled in the wash. Ironing them into a presentable shape

Culture: An Owner's ManualW. David Marx