Tatiana's Wanderings

I went out at 11:55 to go to Canadian Tire so I could get another Starfrit jar opener (Aisle 54 - had to get an employee to help me grab it) and 20 face masks for $20. I always overshoot the 410 station - I SHOULD GET OFF AT ABERDEEN, NOT HAZELBRIDGE! I texted Barry about payday, and he called me when I was outside Canadian Tire - yeah, I thought I'd have to do it myself again! Then I peeked inside Yaohan - there was a lineup either for Osaka Supermarket or a temperature check service. My last stop was London Drugs: All Clean Natural lemon-mint spray hand sanitizer x2 (no limit), Scrubbing Bubbles, London Naturals orange cleaner, NEW Microban 24-Hour bathroom spray x2 in Fresh and Citrus scents, and portable Wet Ones x2. Got home at 2:10 on a 407, too.


Microban 24-Hour Fresh bathroom disinfectant spray!




( Coronavirus life and products! )

I went out at 6:20 for more grocery shopping at Price Smart and London Drugs: Western Family baked beans x4 (tomato sauce / maple syrup / pork and tomato sauce / pork and molasses), Heinz baked beans with chili spice, Heinz Spaghetti, Kraft Dinner x2 for macaroni and cheese (Extra Creamy and Underwater Shapes), Old Dutch Foods Canada thin and twisted pretzels, Knorr Garlic Butter and Lemon Sidekicks, a Splash foliage shower curtain and Splash shower curtain hooks (which I should have bought in February so Chinese Eric could have helped me with that BEFORE current events), two Martex / Bamboo white towels, and All-Bran Canada Buds! Got home at 7:25 and did some laundry.


Bamboo face cloths, hand towels, and bath towels!




( Beans and pretzels, oh my! )


Black fire dragon, found by searching "fire dragon" in Facebook Messenger's GIF feature!




From Julie M. and Wish: Gothic dragon wall stickers inspired by GAME OF THRONES!

After COFFEE TIME, I had to go out to Knightsbridge at 10:45 AM on a 414 to see Rishu at Touchstone at 12 noon, which meant that it took up three hours of my day AGAIN since it was way past Cambie and Jacombs! I had made up my mind to terminate our professional relationship anyway, even before hearing that her practicum session was finishing at the end of February. (which she couldn't even email me about...) During my 20-minute wait for the 405 in the windy weather, I tried helping out an old man by moving my bag on the bus stop bench, but he wasn't having any of it. I also realized that I accidentally wore my red AMOUR shirt from H and M outside in public on Valentine's Day - whoops!

I aired my grievances, including her non-receptiveness to replying to email in a reasonable timeframe. I chose to help Jon out on Wednesdays because there was no way I'd get a response from her in time if she didn't reply on Monday or even Tuesday - Jon's requests were more emergent, and I like spending time with my nephews! I also told her how someone else with REAL anxiety and other issues might feel to be seemingly "ignored," although I know they aren't a crisis line, but she needs to learn as a student. The new location was also a factor; although she SAYS she offered rides and to meet up with me somewhere, I had to say I didn't remember that. I think it ended amicably enough, although of course I cried and then had to fill out the required feedback forms and surveys. She gave me an unexpected gift of a sticky thing to hold a card or two, and I put it on the back of my phone after politely thanking her for that and the good aspects of our sessions and time together.

Once I finally got back into my bubble zone of Richmond, I noticed a bus stop sign saying that the $3 KFC Mega Popcorn box deal was only on until the 16th. Since I wasn't planning on going out before then, I decided to take advantage of it even if more time and energy would be spent. I tried taking a photo of the Shoppers sign saying they were out of hand sanitizer, face masks, and rubbing alcohol... but discovered that my Compass Card in the new sticky thing was blocking the camera! Luckily, I came across some Dairy Queen workers who weren't busy, and the girl unstuck the corner enough for me to figure things out from there. PHEW! I bought the $3 fried chicken and chilled at Richmond Centre for a while. Saw a cute teddy bear offering hugs, so I also took advantage of that. I finally got home at 3:45 on a 407.


Document Destruction Service! Yes, of course I am aware of the need to shred sensitive documents. The name just appealed to my morbid sense of humor.




What do you mean, the fire door is inside the men's restroom?! Weird location for a fire exit... I needed to check this out for sure!




( No fire behind the door! Teddy bear hugs! Fried chicken! Sold out of things! )

I discovered that Andre had unfriended / blocked me on Facebook - WHAT THE HECK?! Eric picked me up at 8:50 AM so I could use church as a vehicle to get to the Osborne Gym at UBC for Hiero's 6th birthday party. It helps that his hockey is all the way out at UBC, too... and it turned out that his hockey building is practically right next to the Robert Osborne building! He said that the LUFIA music sounded like something crazy was going on at my place - HAHAHA! I packed the Creature Chumpers toy (but forgot the birthday card), a bottled water, my Doge bag, and the other Starbucks Cold Brew before putting my boots on just in case of slush. Made my bag heavier, but it was okay. Eric and I listened to the radio for a bit until some guy came on who just monologues at you all the time - not his thing, and not mine either!

When we got to church, there was still plenty of parking across the street. As I thought, the car door went CLONK into a slush accumulation. Luckily, Eric could pull forward a bit so I could go into the nearby parking lot and then cross the street after getting on the clear sidewalk. I waited around outside the sanctuary, saying hey to Joe. When we were allowed to go inside, I said hi to Geoffrey and Sheena, and was respectful of the service. Hiero was there with Jon (who was preaching today), so I asked him if he wanted his birthday gift now or later... of course he chose now, before the Children's Sunday School.

I realized I'd forgotten the birthday card, but I can always give it to him later. He seemed out of it for some reason, but I wouldn't find out why till much later. Then he was trying to get Jon's attention, but he was busy talking to Pastor Dan. When I got back from the handicapped restroom (seeing empty water jugs inside and hoping a grandma didn't have to use it), Hiero had gotten Jon's attention, who told him to say thank you. I said that he already had (when I prompted him), so of course he didn't have to say it again! I did see Uncle Eric and Auntie Brenda at different times, and an uncle said hi to me as well.

Jon had an engaging sermon on Mark and seeds, at least. Even Julie S. agreed with me later on! I said hi to Sam, Auntie Cathy, Auntie Catherine (hug), Auntie Esther (hug), Cordia's mom, Helen C., Joe T., Ivan, Lesley, Dylan / Deb / Declan / Elysse (who thinks it's crazy that Hiero will be her age by next week AND who was eating sugar cubes), Cordia / Amasiah / Julie S. / Denise (who sent a photo of me to Steph) / Julie M., Auntie Susan x2 (Karen Grace's mom and Vivian's mom), Darren L., Martin T., Acer, and others. I could hear Acer swearing in the fellowship hall while talking about DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS, but whatever.

Soon enough, it was just a little group of me, Eric, Cordia, Amasiah, their friend Jeremy, and Acer since everyone else was staying for the Larry and Bella Mori missionary lunch before Missions Fest later in the month. Once we were shushed by Auntie Ada (Benedict's mom) since the Cantonese service was going on, we moved to the stairs, where I noticed a few minutes later that we were blocking the way, so we stood around a little outside the sanctuary in the "hall" until the bench cleared up. We still had to watch our volume, though!

Jeremy insisted he wasn't a weeb just because he went to Japan with some guys - including Acer's cousin - and had to translate for the group, Cordia said she's accepted who she is, and said that Amasiah was morbid like me - SWEET! We talked about the Japan trip, Japanese people KNOWING when you're "foreign" to them even if you're Asian and fluent in the language, Sharon's health woes in the Osoyoos (being literally stuck at home), 80 cents for a medium bottle of milk tea in Japan, the Mori kids Timothy and Tiffany, Molly, people following others on Instagram, pressuring Amasiah to buy some Pokemon figurine on Amazon since she didn't in Hong Kong, my trip, the snow and slush, anime / manga, otaku people, Discord, and lunch plans. Eric and I went upstairs to see if we could get some extra $2 sandwiches (Benedict had five pink tickets from his mom!), but he decided not to bother or distract anyone in the rooms, which I noticed are now labelled. They even upgraded the water cooler from a huge jug to a black self-cleaning one!

A few minutes later at 1:25, Eric asked if I was cool with going to Broadway / Cambie instead. Sure, why not? We could get fast food burgers, so we went to A and W where he kindly paid for my Mama Burger and we shared his fries before going to Pacific Spirit Park and a parking garage on UBC campus. He pressed the crosswalk button for me in the rainy weather, and showed me which building to go into. I went into the Robert Osborne building, connected to the Wi-Fi, and looked for a specific gym on the Evite to no avail, so I had to text Harmony about it. "No, gym" is not really a great answer to "should I meet you on the second floor?" when there are at least three gyms and lots of lockers in the entire place... as I told Steph, I wonder how many "where is this place specifically?" calls and texts they got before the birthday party.

Jon and Harmony were actually early with the kids, probably because they had to sign a waiver and were nominally hosting 15 kids and their parents. I showed Beckett the balls that he had dropped in my bag, but he seemed too out of it even for just waking up. He did look at them with widened eyes, but said nothing. After I met Hiero's friends Emmett and Huxley (what a name!), I heard that Hiero had puked on the gymnastics equipment when Harmony was explaining what had happened in Chinese to her parents! IRRESPONSIBLE AND GROSS! WHY WOULD YOU SUBJECT KIDS TO THAT?! Even Ayler was complaining of feeling sick at the end of everything later! While I was there, Chinese Eric replied to my text about the All-Star Game, saying he'd get back to me later. Why don't you figure it out first, man? I'm not like my ex Mike who wants an almost-instant response! Uncle Joe and Auntie Wing ended up driving me home after the refreshments since Costco closes early on Sundays, so I got home at 6:25. AWESOME!


Random stuff from Mom and Dad, who definitely wanted the tiny tote bag back if Mom dug through my bag for it: Cao Is Starvingbase Chongqing instant noodles, Paldo Jjajangmen Chajang instant noodles, Country Life pure soap, a random floral soap circle, Princess Cruises Lotus Spa shower gel x2, a shoe brush, a Bath Aquatics h2O+ bath bar, and Ontrue roasted seaweed x2 in green tea flavor! It's MINE after I put it in my bag - come on now, WAIT FOR ME TO GET BACK FROM THE WASHROOM AND THEN ASK PERMISSION! Even Beckett has more respect than that! When he dropped his balls in my bag, he just stood by the bag and didn't go through it... I'm sure he doesn't have the words to ask about the balls, but that doesn't matter!


The Tiger Tiger Sukiyaki noodles did come with a lot of packets in the bowl with the handy lid, all crammed inside!




( Gummies, water jugs, hot water advisories, and party food! )

From Julie: A Christmas elf pooping in the toilet and creating hot cocoa with marshmallows! "Sophie, I made you some yummy HOT CHOCOLATE. You're welcome! Jolly. :)"

After COFFEE TIME, I went out at 3:05 on a 401 to help with the kids. I stopped by Kam Do Bakery briefly to get a sandwich-like bun, and finally came away with a ham and cheese bun for $2. Despite the train just coming into Brighouse station right when I got to the crosswalk, I just missed it because the traffic light refused to change for half a minute - UGH! I did have time to wait in the lineup at Tim Horton's for a $1.25 Double Chocolate doughnut for National Doughnut Day today, and had enough time to take a photo of that and the bun before I ate the doughnut prior to leaving the store and taking the 3. Once I got to Harmony's, I buzzed into the building, but got no answer, even from that cranky guy of last week. After TEXTING HER without a reply, I sighed and tried buzzing AGAIN - THIS TIME, I FINALLY got a response!

Slightly irritated, I took the elevator up to find that Penny was the likely reason for my delay, and I waited while she finished talking to Harmony before leaving the apartment. Beckett was definitely awake, and seemed interested in the small buttons on Grandma's purple wintry warm Alia coat, so I told him what they were. He also liked the black fuzz! Beckett still likes looking out the window, but he pointed at something outside (maybe the street lights) and spouted random gibberish at me, to which I responded as if it were understandable. He's picked up the word "yeah" and said that a number of times. I didn't care if he wanted to poke his fingers in the holes at the bottom of the baby pop-up toy and "new" light-up toy from Holly! When he wanted to walk, I supported him by holding his hands up high, like I had with Ayler and Hiero. He threw blocks at me when he wasn't attempting to fit them in the holes in the lid ("Na na na NA NAAAAAAA!" when he wanted me to take off the circular lid so he could see where they landed), tried clawing my eyes out (no glasses protection this time!), and pulled off my light winter hat - I made him look at me while I told him NO THROWING!

He seemed slightly interested in the bling on my shiny red bling sweater, and burrowed himself in an embarrassing position on the mat. Hiero wanted me to "fight" him with his long paper lightsabers, but I had to keep an eye on Beckett. We had mesquite smoky bean soup with bacon and kale, grapes, and some cheese that the older kids helped to grate. Beckett scrunched up his face and grinned at us - SO CUTE! When he didn't want to eat anymore, he started to throw food at us - I even got a bonus Cheerio in my soup! (none of his Rice Krispies!) Harmony said that he's different with Jon, who does pretty much the same thing that she does to try getting him to eat. At least I finished before he ate any yogurt; yikes! Ayler and Hiero talked about taking ALL the grapes before I could have any, ding-dongs, what happened if the principal was away (they don't have a vice-principal at that school?!), the "Jingle bells - Batman smells - Robin laid an egg" song, my Coffin Crisp fun-size bars with skeletons and spiders, calcium / iron / vitamins / sugar, my going to Ontario by myself, FOUGHT being the past tense of "fight," math quizzes being verboten at dinner (even though 16 + 6 is simple), and new therapy.

Once Beckett had been put down to sleep, I read more pig and elephant stories (yay for my different voices!) / AMELIA BEDELIA / Invisible Boy stories to Ayler and Hiero. I reminded Hiero to do something, and Ayler pushed him towards the bathroom, which made Hiero upset and crying. Geez! Harmony let me go at 7:35 and said that she hoped the transit strike didn't affect me too much, I just managed to get a 3 to Marine Drive Station (which STILL stopped for two minutes at 41st!), some lady was standing RIGHT in my way in front of a seat on the Brighouse train I DID get, and I got home at 8:35 on a 407. I updated Mike via text, although I bet he didn't have much time to read. The Canucks played St. Louis tonight at 7, and lost 2-1 in overtime despite a big goal from our rookie Quinn Hughes...


From Julie: Me whenever I meet someone who can match my dark sense of humor and sarcasm... "You're full of hate and loathing and I love it."




Double Chocolate doughnut for National Doughnut Day today, plus a ham and cheese bun from Kam Do Bakery for a late National Sandwich Day on November 3. This slightly ruined my appetite for an early dinner at 5:30, but whatever.




Watermelon tea towel in the bathroom at my brother's place.




This unscented lotion is for EVERYONE, Mike!