Tatiana's Wanderings

After DOUBLE COFFEE TIME, I left at 1:05 on a 407 for a sober BBQ, bringing along my Ziploc bag of utensils and a couple bags of regular chips. I also stopped by Shoppers at Richmond Centre to buy 100 No Name garbage bags for almost $20 because the Western Family ones under my sink were getting nasty! I shouldn't store anything under there now! YES, I wiped that area!

Good thing I had Luke's number because I thought it was at Sunset PARK (much closer!) instead of Sunset BEACH all the way downtown! ("Why go all the way down there?!" was what I texted Luke at the community centre... he laughed and later said that he liked me and my honesty) I texted Eric Ho and messaged Corey and Mike out of frustration as well, but eventually managed to make it there at about 4 by taking the 49 UBC to Langara Station, then to Yaletown-Roundhouse, then the 23 Beach shuttle bus across the street to Pacific / Jervis (right after Bute), where Luke eventually met me after I accidentally texted him from the bike path. Oops! I stepped off the path after that.

I met a few people like Luke (who's the real MVP), TJ, Anant, Cami, and Faith / Violet. YES, VIOLET AND I ARE THE SAME HEIGHT! We discussed bearded dragons, geckos, hiking, hummus, baby carrots, Beyond Meat sausages, Veggie Crisps chips, BBQ sauce, ketchup, future hangouts, canoeing, renting problems, work, cannabis, my Miss Vickie's "fancy" Signatures Hickory Salted chips AND Ziploc bag full of utensils (Faith thought I'd just meant a fork or something!), Josephine, Tony and Michelle NOT being mods anymore (thank CHRIST!), and other things. We left at 6, and I determined that Term wasn't going home, but to the airport instead to pick up his brother. Going uphill with all my bulky heavy crap was JUST about doable... Finally got home at 7:10 thanks to the 407 cooperating and being later at Brighouse than the posted schedule, and I definitely had to have some whiskey!

Edit: I found out that Paul texted me at 7:45 to thank me for something, so I was wondering what was up with that. Turns out he wanted to thank me for today's beach hangout, which I was not involved in organizing at ALL. Strange... no wonder he needs his own space!


At Sunset Beach with some new friends! Luke (beside me) is the real MVP!




No Name quick-tie garbage bags, 100 to a box! Hey, it was an EMERGENCY and I was lugging a bunch of crap to Sunset Beach anyway... NOT TO BE STORED UNDERNEATH THE SINK!




No Name drawstring garbage bags... 60 to a box!




From Reddit: What Vancouverites say, what they mean, and what others understand!




This grey T-shirt is from Julie M. and Wish: I was taught to think before I act, so if I smack the shit out of you, rest assured I've thought about it and I am confident in my decision.

After Barry dropped me off at Oakridge at 10:35 AM, I bought NEW Taki's Fuego Mexican snacks / NEW Taki's Xplosion Mexican snacks / NEW Taki's Angry Burger Mexican snacks / NEW Taki's Crunchy Fajitas Mexican snacks / NEW Peace Tea Peach Party iced tea / NEW Mini Rolos as a treat after my eye exam / NEW Take Home Size Maltesers at the Oakridge Safeway. I also had a NEW Korean Pulled Pork six-inch sandwich at the Subway in the food court since I was right there anyway and needed to eat. Then I returned the chocolate - TOO HOT AND IT WOULD MELT IN FIVE MINUTES!

Later at Oakridge Station, some guy practically threatened to sue me over incidental contact with my bulky reusable bag. This city, I swear. Just because you wanted to get by after maneuvering your bike into the elevator does NOT mean you get ALL THE SPACE EVER! I wasn't even in his way! That wasn't even the first person who had a problem with my reusable bag, as there was some lady on a crowded Canada Line train who said "You're excused" after I entered the train at 49th and got a seat.

When I got to Jon and Harmony's at 2:10, the door was open since it was still pretty hot, so I just got to invade the living space. The kids greeted me with "YOU BREAK IT - YOU FIX IT!" but calmed down and told me that they'd gone to Granville Island today. We heard about a Canada Line emergency - thank goodness that it didn't affect me, only Olympic Village to King Edward! (it did affect Jon coming home from teaching) The skating lesson went fine - I told Harmony that no, I didn't have to pay anything for the eye ultrasound or cataract surgery!

Hiero told me that he didn't like it when I farted - he just likes his own farts. Okay, then! We had pizza, more laksa, blueberries, and corn on the cob for dinner after I read some more Robert Munsch stories. I got to hold a content baby Beckett for a while (and show him a few books) when Jon was finishing up with his piano student Curtis, but the baby started crying almost as soon as Curtis left! (before, I told Curtis to "quick - play some music!" when Beckett started fussing at the start of the lesson) I went through the Translink route map with the kids when Harmony grew tired of it, and left at 7:30, just managing to get a 49 before getting home at 8:10 on a 401. I was NOT waiting 20 minutes in the muggy heat!


( SPICY SNACKS AND SUBS! )

After COFFEE TIME, I left at 2 on a 401 to make it to Jon's by 2:30 or so. Ayler asked me whether I brought chocolate this time - nope, because I chose not to, despite what he said about how that wasn't true. He also told me that Jon said I had to fill up their bath water later - I DON'T THINK SO! We made it to Sunrise for skating lessons, with slightly more time to get the kids ice-ready. Harmony and I talked about the baby, Portland, Squamish, Nathan, family, the cute kids on the ice, my toilet book, and how it takes an equal amount of time to leave the house and get ready as it does to have the half-hour lesson. Got home to have fish cakes, lime, laksa noodles, leftover pizza, cherries, and a green melon smoothie with some seeds for dinner. Hiero said that the toy trains were diaper trains, said that Bambi started "fire-burning" by kicking people, and wanted me to read LILY AND TROOPER to him. Ayler just wanted to "show Hiero a trick," which I was 99% sure involved taking my hat off, so I said that I wouldn't read to him if that was the case.

I talked to baby Beckett in his crib when he was being fussy, and later held him for about ten minutes in the rocking chair after doing the dinner dishes. No, Ayler was not allowed to wake him up when he'd just fallen asleep. Harmony had gone to the lards' place briefly to measure stuff after a few people all came at once to view their place - one party was rather late! Jon asked about next week, but I wasn't quite sure with my eventual vision issues. Maybe I can get Barry to drop me off at Oakridge that day... I got home at 8:25 on a 407 because I read bedtime stories to the kids before leaving. Harmony got home again just a bit before I did, actually.


From Julie: WHY GRIZZLY BEARS SHOULD WEAR UNDERPANTS?!

I went out to get my fix of computer time at Brighouse Library on Saturday yesterday, and left the building at 4, but saw the C94 going right past me, so I had to walk from there to Brighouse Station because I forgot about the 410. At least I resigned myself to being late! Ayler and Hiero seemed affectionate with the baby from what I could see. We had pizza for dinner, and I got to take some home!

Discussed Ayler having only four days left of school, my "wrinkly skin," why I was born prematurely, whether I'd held Ayler and Hiero when they were babies (of course!), my holding baby Beckett (who was asleep most of the time), Ayler lying about what I said (chocolate!) when I was RIGHT THERE, Ayler asking Jon's student Pius how much he weighed, Ayler asking Jon about stickers while he was sneezing, my doing some dishes, and Steph not coming to the baby banquet in September. I left at 7:20 and was home at 8:30. Then Andrew called me at 10 to ask for my password because he'd just gotten home from Cultus Lake and assorted things just then, but had started work at 1 AM on Friday. The updates are good!

After COFFEE TIME and the fire inspection / "Terminix pest control" with Hester, I left at 2:45 for Jon's with the Crunchy Raspberry / Crunchy Mint / Crunchy Raspberry M and Ms for Harmony, plus the dessert chocolate. I bought a BBQ pork bun from Kam Do Bakery, of course. I got to the house at about 3:25, and they were definitely home because I heard fussing from inside. The kids were eating the last of a snack, and Jon's student Kayla came in just a minute after me. The boys were okay for the most part, but still had volume issues. Hiero told me that the tiny playing cards were from the doctor, and Ayler said "that is that" when I asked him what my San Francisco shirt said. Jon called him out on that, and also on his telling me to guess whether he went to school today. Ayler climbed on me and wanted to get my hat - NO! Hiero wanted to drive his truck on me - okay, I guess so.

One huge burrito plus 1/4 of Hiero's AND half of his black bean burger was more than enough for dinner! (plus Ayler's leftover peppers and tomatoes from snacktime) We talked about reading and writing, Hiero knowing the concept and word of "exhaustion," Hiero drawing "a delicate maze," the new baby, Harmony going to Dragon Ball for some well-deserved bubble tea, Ayler changing teachers, Ayler drawing a monster, Ayler knowing how to read the word "flowers," and Harmony thanking me for all the chocolate. No, I didn't want any as I had quite a lot at home! (I ate one piece for dessert when I got home at 7:40 on a 407, before brushing my teeth)


Random stuff from Mom and Dad: assorted washed cutlery, 3/4 of a bag of Old Dutch ripple chips that expired three days ago (with a rubber band around it, but still... I have enough junk food as it is!), two Good In Every Grain zipper pulls in the tiniest Ziploc bags ever (a sandwich bag would be just fine next time), and $5 cash.


From Julie M. and Wish: A painting of a naughty frog on the toilet by 5D Diamond!

It's International Women's Day today! After COFFEE TIME, I left for Jon's at 2:30 in the rainy weather, stopping off at Kam Do Bakery for a BBQ pork bun; I also bought three Bath Retreat shower poufs at Shoppers, but one was actually pink in my bathroom lighting (it looked orange in the harsh lighting of the store...), so I had to throw it away unused. I'll just get a couple more non-pink LifeCandy poufs at London Drugs next week since I need at least two days at home by myself after being out at some point for four days in a row. When I got to the house, I saw a lot of paper planes and a bunch of drawings / workbooks from Ayler, who can read simple words and write equally simple words. I read a lot of books to the kids; baby books and stories, oh my! Jon's guitar student Kayla had to sit through an anatomy lesson about pregnancy and baby bums, oops. I had some grapes and a tiny mandarin orange while the kids had apple slices and asked me why they would turn brown. So I told them that it was science!

For dinner, we had spicy jerk chicken with rice (me), soupy casserole (the kids), chocolates, and fortune cookies. ("A man with brown eyes will give you a special surprise"?!) After his lesson, Randal stayed for what seemed to be a brief pre-dinner before meeting a guy named Carlos who has clingy emotional vampires for friends. We caught up a bit: my week, the online drama with certain people, his dad liking DVDs from Sunrise Records at Metrotown / Westerns / Clint Eastwood, his dad doing better and walking around, his wanting to write a screenplay as his next goal with his Christian book club friend who has a Chinese actress wife who grew up in Russia, and life goals. I also helped Ayler with his "home reading" from kindergarten: THE WATERHOLE, indeed! I wasn't sure how much help to give him with "waterhole," and he said that only parents were allowed to sound out words. Well, that's too bad for you, then! Randal said he'd drive me to the Canada Line station since it was pouring even more outside, which I appreciated. I technically didn't have a seatbelt on, but it's a very short drive. I'm just glad that Jon and Harmony's landlords finally installed a light at the back so people can actually see that dangerous step going down! I got home at 8 on a 407, no thanks to an idiot driver stopping between buses to let his friend out at the station. The bus driver got out of the bus and yelled at the guy, haha.


From Someecards: Creepy Easter Bunny 19!




From Julie: Mariquett?! Reminds me of marionettes and the Mariott Hotels!




From Janina: The perfect drink for that active cannibal in your life! Ready-to-drink meal: SOYLENT ORIGINAL! 100% People Juice! Serve Hot or Cold. Active Ingredients: Made from 100% honest-to-God people, and whatever they've eaten. No added fillers. 14 fluid ounces. (414 mL)

After COFFEE TIME at 3, I left for Jon's at 4:25 (later than usual - still enough light outside!) to make it on time at 5. Even though I knew I'd be there in time for dinner, I still bought a BBQ pork bun at Kam Do Bakery. Once I knocked on the window, Randal let me in without knowing who I was, and Ayler said that Uncle Randal had beat me to the house. That's fine; I don't think either of us cares about that. We talked about our weeks, his dad, the flu (the kids thought it was the most hilarious thing ever that they gave it to me...), red rice, Greek spinach with olive oil, pomelo salad, Harmony not eating chicken feet, my Turtles chocolates, Ayler telling me a big fat lie ("Mommy doesn't eat chocolate!"), my eating Hiero's carrots, not getting off at Brighouse station (but what if I want to go there?), kicking a car in revenge for it running you over, toy trains, Ayler not having school today, Mom and Dad moving to Burnaby, selling liquor at grocery stores (and those restrictions!), Chinese New Year coinciding with Steph's birthday this year, San Francisco, and Langara having lots of lights to somewhat help me even if it was completely dark outside when I left five minutes after Randal. Got home at 8:05 on a 407, which is definitely the usual time. Helps to rest and relax afterwards, for sure!


Random stuff from Mom and Dad: two Oral-B toothbrushes, two Reach toothbrushes, one Colgate toothbrush, a toothbrush cap, four tubes of Crest Pro-Health toothpaste, a United Colors of Benetton vest, two Uncle Ben's Rice coupons, a Princess Cruises Lotus Spa lotion tube, a Thann Aromatic Wood aromatherapy body lotion, and a Coral Lite zippered handbag.


The SUPER MARIO FANTASY ADVENTURE party (Mario / Luigi / Yoshi / Toad) takes an opportunity to check their items. Yes, I still have a Crown because I put in a code to enable me to get things from treasure chests an infinite number of times. Good for making money! The Bob-omb's description: "Be careful!"




The SUPER MARIO FANTASY ADVENTURE party (Mario / Luigi / Yoshi / Toad) finally gets to the Cave of Moles. This is not Mt. Duergar, and is not populated by dwarves. "Moles can see in the dark!"




The SUPER MARIO FANTASY ADVENTURE party (Mario / Luigi / Yoshi / Toad) goes to Elfland and finally makes it to this tomb.

"Here lies Erdrick
837 - 866
R.I.P."

A sick Jon asked me this morning if I still wanted to make it to his place since his student had cancelled yet another Monday lesson (which I did), and then wanted to know if I could make it on Thursday from 3:30-4:30 since Harmony is working then instead of next Monday because she wants to spend time with Hiero on his actual birthday. Sure, I guess so! BYE WEEK, AHOY! After (MORE) COFFEE TIME, I left at 3:30 to make it to Jon's at 4-ish. The kids were eating and playing with puzzles, but seemed excited about school and new stickers. Ayler had drawn a purple house with lots and lots of floors, Hiero wanted to read a book with lots of flaps with me, Ayler asked a lot of questions about math and why Keith was sick ("he can't be sick in the summer!"), Ayler asked if he could have my fruity beer (NO!), and Ayler practiced his writing and told me that I should know better how to write because I'm an adult. I also passed that message on to Steph, haha.

Ayler asked whether people had gone to heaven if they were born in 1961 or 1948 (or 1914 or 1918) / whether people were still alive if they were born in 462 A.D. or 1018, Hiero loved his bulldozer, and we had gummy cars / curry stew / dumplings / sausage / (coconut) water for dinner. Randal had apparently cancelled too, maybe because of his dad. More playtime for me! Ayler wanted to take my hat off - I said no, which doesn't mean that he gets to say yes! We also talked about seeing his special Gr. 3 buddy Ethan on Thursdays depending on the class schedule, eating old marshmallows from a school craft (NO!), San Francisco in March, falling asleep on the bus, being tired, "Baby Baloo," Hillcrest, the pizza dinner on Sunday, seeing them again on Thursday, and my not staying later than 7 because I had to do some shopping before I got home.

Then I went to London Drugs for a Hilroy notebook since some paper towel got on the whiteout on the cover, a bubble mailer envelope, some hand sanitizer x2 (one of which will have to be returned because I can't figure out how to open it...), desperately-needed Softsoap hand soap refills x2 (juicy cucumber and crisp melon / vanilla brown sugar), and desperately-needed Silk almond milk. No thanks to the cashier commenting on EVERYTHING ("this is so heavy! why did you buy this?!"), I barely made it out the door in plenty of time to catch the 407 and get home at 8:30. Ugh!

Random stuff from Mom and Dad: a brown Tika sweater vest and a Ziploc bag full of Werther's Originals and other hard candies.


From Julie M. and Pinterest: Visual Anatomy Limited chocolates! They're anatomically correct!




From Krista and Pundora: Don't use a big word when a singularly unloquacious and diminutive linguistic expression will satisfactorily accomplish the contemporary necessity.




A chicken horror show! They have to watch a chicken cooking in the rotisserie!