2025 Reflections

Hello everyone!  It's been a minute my friends since my last blog post, and almost four years since my last year in review. Where has the time gone?  I would like to apologize for the absence and quietness.  Although life wasn’t quiet during that time period at all. In fact, the opposite. My daily work life kicked into high gear during that time, my traveling increased, and my home life grew in a new direction with projects and hobbies.  It was an intentional absence, as I was busy living in the moment. It was grand!

As a creative person, my expression of creativity is ever changing. This adds to perhaps why I've been MIA.  

You saw through social media that I stepped away from music photojournalism in 2024, so 2025 was new and different as I no longer covered shows or worked with my friends putting on the CNY Irish Festival.  I also began to decrease my photo sessions as I felt a bit stagnant in that area.  I still took on a few jobs throughout 2025 for friends, but I no longer do weddings or portraits for the public.  In fact I donated half of my equipment to my son in 2024, so that he could take photos at games for his job. He’s got a great eye (check him out at @official_stockbridge_studio), and I look forward to him growing his skills. Don’t worry though, I’m not stepping away from photography all together. I just want to find the joy in photography I once had. Getting back to basics is the restart I need.  So changes will be coming in the future.  Stepping away and taking a broader look at things often puts them back into focus.

So what have I been up to if I’m not covering music or taking photos?  I’m doing a reset.  Control/Alt/Delete has been a new moto for me as of late.  Projects that I have been put on the back burner for years were brought forward, hobbies I’ve wanted to begin, began.  And of course travel was my focus for 2025 (as it is every year!!).

For years, I have been the homebase for everyone’s family mementos. Somehow as a photographer with a house, I ended up with 4+ large totes of my families photos.  My grandparents and great aunt’s photos, my fathers photos, and mine cluttered my bedroom for years.  As I would clean or organize the room, they would continuously be shifted from one spot to the next.  

So as the snow flew in January and February, I made myself comfortable upstairs in my bedroom and went through ALL the bins organizing them into categories and their own separate spaces.  I disposed of many photos of blurry/out of frame flowers my grandmother took each year of her prize winning roses, and numerous photos of hunted animals my father con-quested over his lifetime.  I found cool items my grandmother kept and labeled (thank you Grandma), and historic moments in her home town that I will be sending on to their library for their records. One was of Route 45 being built…an actually highway being built!!! I found boxes of old Valentines my Grandmother received as a child, and then a box of my father’s Valentines too.

I found wedding announcements, historic family photos of three generations ago, and special moments that cataloged my families lives over the years!  

It was a huge undertaking, and an honor to be the one to maintain these moments for generations to come. Needless to say, it took me every weekend in January and February to sort through the bins and categorize them into their own photo boxes.

January and February were not just filled with photos. Oh no….I organized my paperwork too.  Why does one feel like they need to keep so much paperwork forever?  Everything is online now.  I can guarantee you that if I didn’t pay a bill, they would remind me to do so.  So I ended up with bags and bags of documents to burn at the firepit the coming summer.  It was liberating.

I also upgraded my sleeping situation. A new bed frame and mattress with hydraulic storage below became the new home for a weary organizer! The storage below aspect was grand too!!!  For those of you that don’t know me well, I have a thing for seasonal sheets and blankets!!  I love to match the sheets/comforters/blankets to the seasons, so my collection of same is absurd! Yes, absurd, but now organized!!!! Yippie!

As the winter grew into spring, it was a lovely transition.  Time with the grandkids at recitals and holidays, reconnecting with friends, and more just living in the moment became the crux of March. 

At the end of March, my friends and I came together to send off our pals Enter the Haggis as they played their final three shows in Boston, Syracuse, and Troy.

Throughout my entire music photography era, ETH was front and center.  In fact, it was their show that began my involvement with Upstate Music/NYS Music/315 Music.  It was also their music that introduced me to some of my favorite people that I’ve developed wonderful lifetime friendships with.  These Haggis Heads are kindred spirits.  In addition to the numerous lifelong friendships, some of my first photos of the band were published in one of their books..and believe it or not my love of bagpipes grew even more.  Never knew that would be a thing, did you?

So as April approached, I still was hibernating a little bit.  I was enjoying this whole new concept of putzing around my home, making plans for upcoming projects and trips, and just being still for awhile. I watched movies, I saw my grandkids at Easter, I did do one photography job as my friends were preparing to open a new venue onto their existing brewery. Mostly though, I paused. I don’t have a ton of things I did this month, but that was okay as I prepared for a fun filled summer and fall to arrive.

In May, the newly christened “Lainey Bug” went on her maiden voyage.  It would be the first time I hooked her up and traveled anywhere with her.  Meeting my friends Mara and Tim and their family up north for a weekend, was just what I needed to learn the ins and outs of my camper and to ease into camping life. Thanks guys for a great weekend!

May also included an experience I've had on my bucket list check for awhile!  My friend, Cat, somehow coerced me (didn’t take much) into going on a whitewater rafting experience at Letchworth!  Waking up early and driving out to the Grand Canyon of the east, I found myself amongst numerous folks who also wanted to check it off their bucket list. It was a perfect day weather wise, and the perfect amount of water flow to have for a first experience.  All I can say is I’m hooked!!! Loved it!! Loved the adrenaline boost, loved seeing Letchworth from below, and loved just meeting and spending time with friends!  Thanks Cat for keeping me young(ish)!!!

Remember when I said I took on a few new hobbies?  Well May and June were the months I began my garden.  Wanting to have some tomatoes and peppers this year, as well as herbs, I built a raised bed garden and composter, and putzed in my yard for a good part of these months getting ready for what I hoped would be a good bounty.  Heck, anything would be better than the one or two tomatoes I fielded the previous years!

Oh, and I bought myself a Ninja Creamy and began making my own homemade ice cream!!! Winning! I was ready for summer to arrive!

June also saw me take to the air once again.  

This time I was heading south to Austin, TX to see my son and his girlfriend at their new home!  Only there a few days, I wanted to spend as much time with them enjoying the history, food, and vibe of a city I had once visted and loved. That I did! Eating barbecue at Terry Black’s Barbecue, having the best meatball sandwich I've ever had at Meat & Bread, taking in the sites of the Capital Building and downtown, peeking in at Austin’s stadiums for Austin FC and the Longhorns, as well as University of Texas's Hall of Fame was super cool!  

While there I experienced something I’ve always wanted to do…I witnessed the bats emerging from the bridge on Congress Street.  The last time I visited, I wasn't able to due to weather. For those who do not know..Austin (and particularly under the Congress Street Bridge).. is the largest urban bat colony of Mexican Free Tailed bats!  At dusk they emerge all at the same time to hunt insects!  Whether you are in a kayak down below on Lady Bird Lake, or above on the bridge…it is a spectacular sight and one you must see!!

While in Austin I also took a stroll down South Congress Street as I did all those years ago. Sadly it wasn’t the same.  Development has changed South Congress Street.  The small food trucks and mom and pop shops that once lined the streets no longer exist. In their place you see development and high end retail stores.  Although nice and very touristy, it wasn’t my vibe as development has changed the area.  I did however see a few places still around…the barber shop and boot shop…was nice to have a few of the OG’s still represented!

One thing that didn’t change was Moon Shine Grill, a restaurant I visited all those years ago. The food was amazing as was our server.  In fact she went above and beyond and gave us a quick tour of the restaurant with a little history lesson (which you know I loved).  This included the most fantastic Speakeasy!!!  What?!!!  Have you ever seen or visted a speakeasy! Was so cool! Just check out the video here.  Highly recommend when in Austin to visit MoonShine Grill on Red River Street!

Finally, would I visit a place and not take a hike?  Well maybe, but not this time.  I ended my trip to Austin hiking up to Mt. Bonnell. Beautiful sunset over Lake Austin, a portion of the Colorado River. Highly recommend.

July found me in my yard more and for the first time in several years, able to just enjoy the summer.  One adventure I took in July was to see my besties from high school for a weekend!!!  Shari, Suzie, and I have been buds for so long and I’m so blessed to have them in my life after all these years.  The things we got into back in the day! I would still be grounded!! No matter how much time passes, it’s like we just pick up where we left off!!  Huge shout out to Shari and her hubby for hosting a get away to her mom’s lake house!!!  It was so great to reconnect and just relax and laugh!!! It was the first July in years that I was able to just breath and enjoy! It was lovely.

Speaking of GTown, I traveled home in July to Geneva to see our favorite crooners from Ireland, The High Kings, at the Smith Opera House.  Makes me smile each time I travel home to Geneva to attend a show on the stage I graduated high school from. A quick dinner at the amazing Eddie O’Briens, and a show there is always a fun time! Did you really think I wouldn’t enjoy Irish music in July? 

In August, Lainey Bug took her first big adventure with Sheila (my always ready for a camping adventure pal) and I!  Every year we go camping together and this year, we traveled in luxury(ish).  Lainey Bug went to her first National Park with us, Acadia National Park, in Maine!  We had a blast!!  Lots of laughs, and she got initiated (as did I) into what I need and don’t need on a camping trip.  IYKYK! We had a blast exploring Acadia National Park, seeing the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, and taking a whale watching trip with Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. Highly recommend any of their tours!  This was my second excursion with them, and they go above and beyond to make sure you have a great experience!

Birthdays dotted my August and September, as both grandchildren celebrated another year around the sun! Bowling with her friends/and family get together for my girl/and then Pokemon everything for my grandson were the themes this year! Can’t believe how grown up they are.

Oh and soccer.  Soccer became a new event this fall as Levi began his extra curricular activities!! He may not get in there and steal the ball (as he feels it’s someone elses turn with the ball), nor did any of them know which goal they needed to run towards…or where out of bounds was…but that wasn't important, and it made for the most comical hour on the Saturday’s I got to attend this year!

For years, I have officially covered the Syracuse Irish Festival (minus the year I was at the Grand Canyon) as their photographer.  It’s a bittersweet moment this past September as I covered my last SIF.  As my friend Marty Cahill passed the torch to Tommy Burke, I hung up my camera equipment this year as well!  I’ve been so honored to capture all the moments and experience so many amazing musicians over the years!  I will still be around to enjoy this amazing festival, but now as a spectator and not as their official photographer.  It’s time to pass the shillelagh to the next generation! Thank you for so many amazing years of fun guys!!

In October my sister came home and we once again enjoyed the Finger Lakes on a wine tour on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail together (a tradition we used to do annually when she lived in NY).  Staying in our hometown of Geneva at the Belhust Castle, we met with friends and took a day trip around the lake visiting our favorite wineries.  We experienced our favorite french onion soup at Wagner, got a personal tour of the winery by the owner at FoxRun, and ended at Three Brothers having a flight with a mounted horse in a helmet.  A better day could not be had! We also made a side trip out to Naples for grape pies!!  Yes Cindy’s are the absolute best!!

Our stay at the Belhurst Castle in Geneva was amazing and I must say deserves it’s own blog post.  I remember the Belhurst fondly growing up. Although I never stayed there, I did once eat there for an anniversary dinner back in the 80’s.  Fast forward years later, and now it’s not only a hotel and restaurant, but also an amazing winery and venue.  Was so fun to stay there and in due time I will to share more on it's history and the beautiful architecture.  Till that time, here is the spectacular sunrise I experienced!

In November, I normally visit my sister in Charleston for our Thanksgiving of sorts, but this year we changed it up a bit and we had our October get together instead. Travel didn’t elude me though, as I headed across the pond to Ireland and Spain with my friends!!

Joining The Elders on their tour in the beginning and end of the tour was perfect.  We arrived a few days ahead to spend some time with friends in Arkow, visit Glendalough at peak season, have a personal tour of the woolen mills at Avoca, and take in the session and show in Arklow.

Then we managed to commandeer our friend Yvonne, to go with us to Malaga, Spain for a week!!  Here we stayed in Malaga at the most spectacular rental along the beach.  Every evening and every morning we watched as locals biked, skated, and walked along the boardwalk in front of the Mediterranean Sea.  We watched cruise ships and fishing vessels arrive and leave, and we enjoyed the best Sangaria right below us at the restaurant that shared the same building.

Day trips were made to Sentenil, Ronda, Frigiliana, and Nerja, and time was taken to explore Malaga a few days as well.  We saw towns built into mountains, bridges that spanned rivers, villages that were so remote that burros delivered the fire wood to the locals, Flamingo Dancers doing their traditional dances, took a catamaran ride on the Mediterranean Sea, and even came across a holy procession in a small neighborhood as they honored the mother Mary.  We emerged ourselves in the cuture of tappas and sangrai, and saw some of the most magnificent buildings and churches!!

After a week of sunshine and warmth, we headed back to Dublin and to the typical Irish weather.  But it didn’t dampen our spirits as we danced with our friends at Taylors Three Rock, walked around Grafton Street, and explored the Glasnevin Cemetery with a stop in our favorite, John Kavanagh Gravediggers pub and restaurant. Despite the weather, it was a fun time as always!

As the year came to an end, December was a reset again. Hunkering down to get ready of the winter time, which honestly I love as long as I don’t have to drive in it. Preparing the house for Christmas is a full time December job! I’m a Christmas decor fanatic and it takes forever to put up so I’m one of those unicorns that keep it up way past January!! Why not, I love it and it’s my house!!! I light a fire in the fireplace, put on Christmas movies and music, and just enjoy the entire season!  It’s glorious!! Wintertime is my time to mentally recharge. I just love to nest, make plans for the upcoming year, and enjoy some wonderful wintertime comfort foods like soups and stews and all those classic meals that warm you inside out! And, I reflect. I reflect on the past year, what is upcoming in the next year, and what I’ve learned.

As I reflect back on 2025, I must say I am always so very grateful for my life.  I’m grateful for all of my family, friends and my puppy Flora that bring so much joy and love to my life.

I’m thankful for my health, which becomes more important each year that passes. I’m grateful for my job and my boss and coworkers!!  I have the best group of folks I work with, and they make going to work so much fun! Where else can I dress up as Luigi and make a racecar during work hours! I’m so very grateful for my home. I love my little house. I love my neighborhood, neighbors, and community and it being my homebase I get to return to after each adventure out into the world. I also am so very grateful for all the opportunities I’m afforded as they don’t go unnoticed, the strength and independence I have grown after years of the opposite, and the faith I have in God and others. I don’t often share about my faith as I feel it’s a personal relationship I have with God, but it’s been the foundation of my entire life. With my faith comes a freedom and security I base my life upon. It’s the faith I have in the goodness, love, and hope in and for others that we can all share. And finally, I’m so very grateful for you being here and allowing me to share all of that with you.

Normally I close my year end with a new word for the year. The last one I chose was BEYOND.  Did I live up to BEYOND over the last few years? Yes and no. We all set goals in our lives and some are attained, and some not. But what I have found is that setting a goal is what is important. Reaching beyond what we believe we can do and trying is what is important. Not if we attain that goal. So in the new year, I will continue to reach beyond what I believe I can achieve and strive to achieve it. But perhaps my new word should be GRACE, because it’s the grace we give ourselves that truly is personal acceptance. We are human, and we are imperfect. We all can dissect ourselves to things we dislike or things we like. But accepting we are flawed is key. So this year I’m going to give myself GRACE. Not sure who wrote this quote…but I saw it and think it’s an important message that I would like to leave you with.

“This coming year, I hope beautiful things happen to you, and when they do, I hope you realize that you are worth of every single one of them.”

Sláinte by friends!