Don't call it a comeback!

It’s been a while since I last published a post on here. Is it really mid-December already?2025 really got away from us, eh?

Fair warning. This post is not going to be as reflective on Toronto sports. I’ll get that out of the way now., though.

Man, what a way for the Edmonton Oilers to welcome Tristan Jarry in Saturday night. Beating the Maple Leafs 6-3 in Toronto and having Connor McDavid look like he’s playing down to the NHL’s level sometimes must be nice.

Seriously, this guy is on another level. The only guy at the same level as him is Nathan MacKinnon right now. That’s not great defense from the Leafs but it’s also somewhat excusable because McDavid literally goes from just chilling in the neutral zone to full speed. Blink and you miss him getting from center ice to the Leafs’ net.

The Leafs had been building some good momentum with notable wins over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Carolina Hurricanes.

The Thursday 3-2 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks was especially frustrating considering the Leafs had a 2-0 lead. Hopefully the Leafs can get back in the win column Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Also Saturday night, the Toronto Rock hosted the Calgary Roughnecks in their 2025-26 NLL home opener. I get that Toronto’s a big city and there’s a lot going on but having them play their home games in Hamilton is kind of funny when you think about it. Hamilton’s far! More on that later.

If you haven’t been watching All Elite Wrestling lately or ever, I’d highly recommend. Especially if you like storytelling in sports and don’t mind watching highly-talented wrestlers leave it all in the ring. As well, I’ve been recapping their Wednesday show Dynamite, which you can check out along with my other features here.

The Blue Jays have made some interesting moves so far this off-season after being one run shy of winning a World Series Game 7 - at home. Perhaps the MLB’s biggest free agent this year (even before everyone else signed) - Kyle Tucker - is as of yet still unsigned. He was at the Blue Jays’ complex in Dunedin, FL recently but whether that means anything is so far unclear.

In my head, 2025 was supposed to be the year it all started to come together for me. I guess that’s partially true. Maybe I had a slightly sped-up timeline in my head. I figured I’d at least have found full-time work by now. Oh well, maybe there’s a good reason I haven’t as yet. There might be a couple of things soon but I don’t want to give them away until I’m 100% sure they’re done deals.

It’s taken me longer than it should have but I’m finally at a place in my life where I have a very clear idea of what I want my career to look like. It’s so frustrating that the job market is what it is right now, when I finally know where I want to be.

I remember when I finally figured out what I wanted to do with my life.

It was only 2.5 years ago. The summer of 2023 was stressful for me for a few different reasons (that I won’t get into here but IYKYK) and I was ready for whatever was next. I remember telling myself that it was okay and that I wasn’t “late” in figuring out what I wanted to do.

Hell, I’ve only since gotten constant reminders that I was actually pretty fortunate and I got the realization of desired career much sooner than a lot of people.

I thought about this piece in my head and I wondered if it would be more productive to recap the year month-by-month sequentially or just jump around. With a beat like that, how do you not jump, jump, jump?

Starting with the roughest part of 2025, the beginning. I promise I will jump around. Going back to school last year was challenging but very rewarding. I think, looking back, I learned more about my desired career path than I thought I did at the time. But there was a lot going on that often distracted me from staying focused.

From January to mid-March of this year, I remember spending anywhere from six to eight hours every day (often including weekends) just applying for jobs. Both in my desired career and out of it. Both in Toronto and outside the city. Anything. Anywhere.

I found seasonal work for this summer, working concerts at Budweiser Stage. That was rewarding and I got to see some of my favorite groups perform, like Three Days Grace and City & Colour. But I knew it was temporary.

August was an especially tough month, as I pulled a muscle in my back working out at the end of July. When deadlifting, always always always use your legs, never your back. Now, obviously I don’t have bionic legs. But that’s still great advice from the world’s most dysfunctional highly-trained spy.

The last few months have honestly been super challenging, with trying to find work being my main focus. The whole job-seeking system is broken and I’m not the only one who can attest to this. It really sucks being overlooked and ghosted for jobs I know I’m qualified (and sometimes over-qualified) for. At least that will potentially change in the new year, with new regulations requiring companies to not ghost candidates.

The highlight of 2025 for me was July. Summer was in full swing, there was a really good line-up of concerts at Budweiser Stage, and (I thought) I’d met someone special. Hamilton is far but I made it work as long as I was allowed to.

You ever feel like you’re building solid social momentum with a person / group and then - for whatever reason outside of your control / influence - it’s gone? Yeah, not a great feeling. That put a damper on August, on top of my back reminding me I’m not 20 years old anymore.

Over 1,000 words already? I should probably wrap this up.

I’m getting back to writing more and Ive got a number of pieces in the works right now. It might be a while before I get them finished, though. Undiagnosed ADHD is a fun time. Starting a piece and then getting an idea for another piece, starting that one so you don’t forget the idea, then putting both on the back-burner for yet another new idea… then putting ALL on the back-burner because seasonal depression is kicking your butt.

Winter’s fun. Stay warm and happy holidays to those that celebrate!