Gwynedd Pickett
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gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
Gwynedd Pickett
@gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
2.1K followers 280 following 350 posts
Cerebrovascular neurosurgeon. Mom. Professor. President 🇨🇦 Neurosurgical Society. Survival skills: archery, knitting, backwoods camping. she/her
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gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
Great fun tonight at @criticalmasshfx.bsky.social Hallowe’en party bike ride! Fabulous tunes, with Spider-Gwen, ET, unicorns, Paw Patrol, Tinky-Winky, Neo, HRM Transit buses and more making an appearance. 😄
View from behind of people on bicycles riding along a wooden boardwalk at night.
October 31, 2025 at 1:11 AM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
Energetic and moving Maritime Fusion concert tonight with Symphony Nova Scotia, Jah’Mila’s Reggae Roots. Powerful voice, powerful lyrics, great show!

(I think there are still tickets available for tomorrow night, #HaliSky…😘 )
Photo of a page of the concert program, with a few words describing singer Jah’Mila as a “cultural reggae ambassador” next to a picture of a black woman, with braids in an up-do, wearing a sparkly green ball gown with spaghetti straps. Her head is thrown back and she is smiling widely.
October 4, 2025 at 1:07 AM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
Final hymn at St. George’s Anglican this morning was one of my favourites, both due to the melody (Orlando Gibbons!) and because it now always reminds me of the time @drericlevi.bsky.social came to visit St. George’s, during his year in Halifax, and tweeted about it. 😊 #music #choir
Image of a classic Anglican hymn (blue book), Forth In Thy Name, O Lord, I Go, to Song 34 by Orlando Gibbons. Words (six verses) and 4 part music. Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go, My daily labour to pursue. Thee, only thee, resolved to know, In all I think or speak or do. The task thy wisdom hath assigned, O let me cheerfully fulfill, In all my works, thy presence find, And prove thy good and perfect will. Thee may I set at my right hand, Whose eyes my inmost substance see, And labour on at thy command, And offer all my works to thee. Give me to bear thy easy yoke, And every moment watch and pray, And still to things eternal look, And hasten to thy glorious day. For thee delightfully employ, Whate’er thy bounteous grace hath given, And run my course with even joy, And closely walk with thee to heaven.
September 28, 2025 at 6:55 PM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
I took the 80 bus to Bayers Road Shopping Centre in the mid-80s, browsed the stores with friends, occasionally bought a cute notebook with a horse, unicorn or Hello Kitty on it, or an Orange Julius. Once, bought this lovely little cloisonné ring that I still own. #nostalgia
A blue embroidered ring box, opened to show an enameled ring with dark blue background, white flowers and a small red bird.
September 19, 2025 at 11:41 PM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
Left: photo of a microphone being held in front of a fluffy grey and white cat, with text, “Sir are you aware you’re a cat?” Right: same cat with startled expression.
September 16, 2025 at 4:35 PM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
Yes, music used in the film.
Screenshot of the last paragraph of the article: “The reason is simple and maddeningly trivial: music rights. The films in the series were required to showcase rock and pop classics; “Portrait” also includes Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne” and Johnny Hallyday’s French version of “Black Is Black.” (Another great entry in the series, Patricia Mazuy’s “Travolta and Me,” offers such high-profile needle drops as the Rolling Stones’s “Miss You,” Bob Dylan’s “Joey,” Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way,” the Jacksons’ “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground),” and three Bee Gees hits.)” Screenshot from the last paragraph of the article: “Loris Dru-Lumbroso, a publicist for the distributor of a 2024 French boxed set of Blu-ray disks of Akerman’s films, explained to a reporter that the set had to omit “Portrait” because of the music. “The rights were secured only for TV broadcasts and for a fairly short duration,” he explained, adding that the companies that owned rights to the films themselves haven’t renegotiated renewals. Therefore a crucial work in the career of one of the greatest of filmmakers is missing—and the understanding and appreciation of her career is distorted.”
September 13, 2025 at 3:16 PM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
Had a delightful time at my first Critical Mass ride with @criticalmasshfx.bsky.social! 🚲 Lovely to get together with both old friends and some #BikeHfx folks I’ve previously only encountered online. We couldn’t have asked for a better evening. 😊
Shot down the length of the Grand Parade square in Halifax on a sunny evening, with amazing mackerel clouds in the sky. Lots of people on bikes are gathered. A man is walking towards us, framed by the peace arch in the middle of the parade grounds. Shot from behind of a bunch of people on bikes on a quiet, heavily tree lined street in a residential area. The street is otherwise empty except for a single parked car. Shot from behind of a bunch of people riding bicycles on a city street lined with brick buildings. It is a clear summer evening. A bus is coming towards the group in the opposite lane.
July 25, 2025 at 11:45 PM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
Graph with Knowledge on the y-axis, Age on the x-axis, titled “Periods When You Know The Most About Dinosaurs.” The peaks are: when you’re 4 years old (highest); when you have a degree in paleontology (lower); and when your kid is 4 years old (almost as high as the first.)
July 24, 2025 at 10:20 AM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
If you see this, drop an old pic you still love
Black and white photo of a baby sitting on an upholstered armchair next to a stuffed elephant with a ribbon around its neck. The seated baby and the stuffed toy are the same height, and both are grinning widely - the baby in particular looks utterly delighted, and is gripping its toes with the hand not embracing the elephant. The baby is wearing a white dress with lace embroidery. There is an empty crystal bowl on a side table in the background.
July 11, 2025 at 12:45 AM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
If you see this, post a picture from whatever device you are using with no explanation
Shot of Teletubbies sun with the face of Gowron, son of M'Rel (Klingon from Star Trek) instead of the baby
June 25, 2025 at 1:32 AM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
Stopped in at @hfxpublib.bsky.social to get my latest hold, before biking home and tying up the climbing rose that was starting to engulf the tiny side lawn…now to sit in the garden and read my book! 😊 📖
A brown wooden garden bench with a rainbow patchwork cushion on it, with a red brick wall and wooden garden fence behind it. A hardback copy of “The Olympian Affair” by Jim Butcher is lying on the bench as well. Hosta leaves and a bit of sweet woodruff are visible on the ground (plus yet more maple keys, omg I have pulled up over 1400 tiny maple seedlings this spring and my back yard is Not Very Big.)
June 21, 2025 at 8:18 PM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
We’ve had a lovely sunny afternoon wandering downtown and the Public Gardens. Rounding it off with ice cream from the Dairy Bar. 😊🍦 I decided to try the turmeric ginger…it’s pretty good!
Two soft serve ice cream cones being held up side by side. The left is vanilla, the right is a white and yellow twist of vanilla and this week’s flavour, turmeric ginger. A street is visible in the background. It’s very sunny.
June 21, 2025 at 6:43 PM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
Biked to Spring Garden to go to the grand opening of #Fluevog #Halifax with my friend, colleague and fellow Fluevog enthusiast, OperatingInHeels (formerly on Twitter.) There is quite the line-up!
View of a white woman’s feet on a sidewalk next to wheels of a few parked bikes. I am wearing bright blue shoes with orange accents (Malibrans.)
June 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
Screenshot from 90s animated comedy superhero show Freakazoid, showing Freakazoid and his police officer friend Cosgrove watching a bear riding a motorcycle in an outdoor circus ring. Cosgrove is saying, “Pigs are smarter than bears but they can’t ride motorcycles.”
June 7, 2025 at 3:26 PM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
Meanwhile, by the Museum of Natural History…the crosswalk light button is quite effectively blocked by this sign! 🙃
Construction sign with flags mounted on a metal tripod sits on the ground next to a street. It is up against a metal pole holding a crosswalk sign and flashing lights. The crosswalk leads to the major hospital in the city; or, coming the other direction, it leads to the Museum of Natural History which is a popular outing for school groups and families. There is a button for pedestrians to push to activate the crosswalk lights, but it is completely hidden, and hard to reach even if you know it’s there, because the sign is parked directly in front of it. Meanwhile, a cement mixer is coming down the far side of the street, about to drive through the crosswalk. It is a lovely sunny day with clear blue sky.
June 7, 2025 at 1:57 PM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
Always lovely to run into a friend when out. 🥰 Extra lovely to serendipitously cross paths while biking/scooting, stopping to say hi, and realizing we’re wearing matching dresses! 😄 🚲 🛴

#ActiveTransport #MicroMobility #BikeHfx
@affabletoaster.bsky.social
Selfie of two white women standing at the side of a city street, smiling widely. They are wearing matching black dresses with constellation patterns, and both are wearing bike helmets. Trees and a speed bump are visible in the background.
June 6, 2025 at 9:24 PM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
Went to a lovely and varied afternoon concert with @tradandearlymusic.bsky.social - including our incoming PGY-1 #neurosurgery resident! 😊 🎶 🎻 #HaliSky
View from the of several musicians dressed mostly in black playing a concert in St. George’s Round Church in Halifax. There are 2 violinists, a cellist, a man playing the harpsichord, and a woman with short white hair sitting beside the cellist (she will later sing a cantata.) The backs of heads of several audience members are in the foreground, including a woman wearing a large black felt hat.
June 1, 2025 at 9:28 PM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
It’s wax. It melts and gets darkened by soot from the flame. Sometimes the wax doesn’t get as dark, but it’s easier to see when it is.

(Source: I make these too, but with intact [not blown] eggs.)
A collection of brightly coloured pysanky (Ukrainian dyed Easter eggs) in a large flat green pottery bowl. Selection of brightly coloured pysanky in a bowl. Most have fairly classic designs; one depicts an Asian lucky cat. Closeup of brightly coloured pysanky in a crystal bowl.
May 5, 2025 at 12:04 AM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
When a couple of geeky sopranos sign up to provide treats for choir rehearsal 🎶 on #MayTheFourth 😄 #StarWarsDay
Baking sheet containing cookies in the shape of Grogu (“Baby Yoda”), hand painted with egg yolk paint. Some of them are pictured holding a soup bowl. Round cookies on a cooling rack, painted with the Andor logo. I like how the egg yolk paint craquelure mimics the rust/pitting on the TV logo 😄 Lego minifigs on a white stone countertop: two Stormtroopers face off against R2D2 and C3P0 Treats laid out on a choir pew: Grogu & Andor logo painted sugar cookies, and “Obi Wan Kebobi” fruit skewers. There is a sign with a Mark Hamill quote: “Acting in Star Wars, I felt like a raisin in a giant fruit salad, and I didn’t even know who the cantaloupes were.”
May 4, 2025 at 11:49 PM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
Ok, this is looking better, and I have clinic tomorrow. See you on the other side. 🤞🏻 #cdnpoli
Screenshot from CBC election livestream showing Liberals projected to win 163 seats vs. Conservatives at 146.
April 29, 2025 at 3:39 AM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
I am. NOT. Liking. This. 😬 #cdnpoli
Screenshot of CBC livestream showing current counts of Liberals at 154 seats vs Conservatives at 152.
April 29, 2025 at 3:20 AM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
CBC calling Mark Carney elected. #cdnpoli
Screenshot of vote count for Nepean riding showing Mark Carney in the lead and projected to win.
April 29, 2025 at 2:37 AM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
Oh and also:
Fisher Price Little People “A-Frame House”
April 7, 2025 at 1:20 AM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
“Dataman” calculator, designed to look like a robot. It had math games on it, which was AMAZING. I used to play under the covers at night when I was supposed to be asleep.
April 7, 2025 at 1:16 AM
gpsforthebrain.bsky.social
Things I was thankful for this morning:
- tea (in a very large mug)
- the pair of cardinals that have returned to our backyard
- the incredibly gorgeous collection of orchids in our kitchen 😍 (care & maintenance thanks entirely to @andrewctenor.bsky.social!)
Close-up of a small phalaenopsis orchid in bloom. The flowers are white at the edges, faintly pink-tinged towards the centre, with a yellow heart. A stunning pale yellow phalaenopsis orchid in bloom, sitting on the corner of a kitchen counter. White cupboard, white pearlescent tile backsplash and a red toaster are in the background. Close-up shot of several phalaenopsis orchids of different sizes, all in full bloom, clustered on a table. In the foreground are a large dark pink variegated one and a small one with bright yellow flowers with pink hearts; behind them are a number bearing largely white flowers with accents of purple, yellow and pink.
April 3, 2025 at 1:19 PM