Tatiana's Wanderings

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! )

After COFFEE TIME, Corey got back to me on Discord and confirmed that yes, he did use Line to talk to people in Taiwan. I eventually managed to install the app successfully on both my phone and computer - PHEW! I also talked to Nate and Darryl, which went well. Later, I left at 4:30 to get to Dublin Crossing at Marine Drive Station. Turns out I was there early, but fought with the wi-fi connection when it seemed to be fine on Monday. Oh well... I went in the pub after texting back and forth with Ian, and got our table all nice and ready. There, the connection seemed more steady about 90% of the time. Phew.

I FINALLY GOT TO MEET NATE! IT WAS AWESOME! We talked about Paulo and what he's doing, Steve, Darryl and how he's fine with us and LOVES the big server drama now that he's out of there, his thanking me for not being like Holly (I let them talk about whatever), Stefan and his girlfriend, how things like money and a relationship do not magically fix your problems, his girlfriend, Paris, the Asian red-face gene, Havarti, Ontario, hydro, therapy, and what certain people needed to hear. I also talked to Laura, Matt, Ian, Sarah, Megan, and some others. I JUST MISSED THE BRIGHOUSE TRAIN because the elevator took too long to come down from the train platform! JESUS CHRIST! At least it was a nice evening and I FINALLY got home at 9:55, just in time for the daily holidays!


From Cuya's Discord server: Pumpkin Spice Spam, just in time for fall 2019!




Guinness time at Dublin Crossing!




Irish Stew with soda bread! Braised New Zealand lamb shoulder, root vegetables, russets, barley, green peas, and house-made potato dumplings in a rich beef broth. Served with our house-made warm cheddar caraway soda bread.

From Julie: When you can't seem to find any fucks to give, but Dave Grohl shows you where to find some. Look, they're over there!




From TYRA: Ianieka admits she eats four rolls of toilet paper a week.




From Bored Panda: Bill Buttram?!

Jackie M. added me to Facebook via Discord and Youtube, so YAY FOR THAT! I went to London Drugs at 1:30 on a 407 to get a TouchTop garbage can for my living room, on-sale store brand peanut butter, an Easter card and emoji stickers for Fraser and Henry, Alter Eco chocolate bars so I could try them for myself (Salt and Malt / Brown Butter / Burnt Caramel / Blackout), Godiva Dark Chocolate Lava Cake truffles, a Whittaker's Artisan Hawke's Bay Black Doris Plum and Roasted Almonds chocolate bar, a Whittaker's Artisan Fijian Ginger and Kerikeri Mandarin chocolate bar, a Whittaker's Artisan Nelson Pear and Manuka Honey chocolate bar, a Whittaker's Artisan Hawke's Bay Braeburn Apple and Vanilla chocolate bar, a Whittaker's Artisan Marlborough Sea Salt and Caramel Brittle chocolate bar, a Green and Black's Dark Chocolate with Peppermint Oil chocolate bar, a Lindt strawberry chocolate bar / a Lindt blackcurrant chocolate bar for Chrystal's birthday, a Ghirardelli Cabernet Matinee chocolate bar, a Ghirardelli Raspberry Radiance chocolate bar, and a Ghirardelli Cherry Tango chocolate bar. Got home at 2:30 on a 407, which is fine. The Canucks played San Jose at 7 tonight, and lost 5-3, the Sharks getting an empty-net goal.


London Plantation smooth peanut butter!




( CHOCOLATE GALORE! )


From Julie M., Janis Ian, and Pinterest: St. Patrick regrets his decision to drive the snakes out of Ireland!




From Someecards: Creepy Easter Bunny 28!

Auntie Catherine emailed me back to say that we could meet at Broadway Station on the 3rd before deciding where to eat lunch. That works for me! Better than (seven blocks from) King Edward Station as in previous years, haha!


Eve posted this on my ex-friend Fiann's wall, and I grabbed it before unfriending him back in April: There's a yellow sign saying "COCONUTS," and this guy says, "You can always tell who wasn't here for the long haul; who only just hopped aboard the bandwagon... it's GO CANUCKS!"




From MY DEADLY APPETITE: Scretia Burke?!




From Not Always Working: Lee-Ann Register?!




From Not Always Romantic: Abigail Hermione Irwin?! She's apparently at least 60 years old, which is good since it shows that it's not inspired by HARRY POTTER!

From Tyler A. and the Chive: BJ Queen Enterprises?!




From Tyler A. and the Chive: Vanessa Tobaccojuice?!




From Tyler A. and the Chive: Kim Kashkashian?! Definitely way too close to Kim Kardashian!




From Tyler A. and the Chive: B. Ruth Boring?!