Tatiana's Wanderings

It's Earth Day 2020 today! I also temporarily got QUADRUPLE DIGITS IN MY BANK ACCOUNT again! Hopefully, my spending habits are a little better than they were the LAST time this happened! Also, I won't need to give $900 of my own money for a family trip like the ICBC insurance settlement. Of course, that only lasted for the time it took me to go banking, never mind grocery shopping! I think I'll just continue my usual money habits this time.

After dealing with a stupid Reddit Vancouver troll, I went banking and shopping at 11:25 AM on a 407 with my Asian old lady shopping cart, noting that the 414 shuttle bus would be discontinued next week as per a sign at the bus stop. Briefly peeked into London Drugs, and at least I didn't have to walk all the way around the block from Moore's clothing store to get to Royal Bank this time, unlike LAST payday! I got NEW Iogo cherry yogurt, NEW on-sale Oikos strawberry-raspberry / Zesty lemon-lime Greek yogurts x2, NEW Lysol Click Gel toilet bowl cleaner x3 (SPRING WATERFALL!) which was really easy for me to unwrap and apply, on-sale Earth's Own original almond milk, a NEW on-sale Tao Kae Noi BIG SPICY SEAWEED ROLL box with nine of them, chocolate orange Jaffa Cakes, and Shin Ramyun Black CUP noodles x2.

Also purchased NEW Western Family regular grated Parmesan cheese (green), NEW Western Family light grated Parmesan cheese (yellow), NEW Pulmuone Katsuo Soba Ramen noodles, NEW Ottogi Super-Spicy Yeul Ramen noodles, NEW Ottogi sesame ramen noodles with an egg block, Western Family mixed frozen vegetables AFTER TWO MONTHS, and a LUCKY 24-pack of Purex toilet paper. When I got home at 2:15 on a 407 with a nice friendly understanding bus driver, I paid my Shaw and hydro bills online. after text exchanges with both Erics about life, I went out again at 7:05 and luckily got another 12-pack of Purex double rolls along with some Old Dutch Restaurante salsa con queso (cheese salsa) and a big bag of Western Family mixed frozen vegetables for more peace of mind.

I also got Green Works toilet bowl cleaner x2 since I can just turn the cap and not have to squeeze it in impossible or difficult positions like I have to do with Lysol or Scrubbing Bubbles. London Drugs also has this, and I forgot about this till now. Got home at 8:10 on a 407 and tested out the Starfrit jar opener on the salsa jar. I hit the jar on the counter first to hopefully break the seal, tried opening it a few times, then I made a mistake by tilting the jar.... I think after that spill, I'll postpone a shower and laundry till at least tomorrow!


Hungry Man Boneless Fried Chicken microwaveable meal... YAY!




[( Smoking Backyard Barbecue! )

Jon said he'd be home this afternoon since Harmony would be going to a school meeting, but I could still come by if I wanted. The last time I was around when she went to a meeting, Beckett was quite upset! I went anyway, of course. After COFFEE TIME, I went out at 3:15 on a 407 to help with the kids. Since I'd just missed a 3 at Marine Drive, I went into Tim Horton's to see if they had those new Dream Doughnuts: no Strawberry Confetti, but yes to Dulce de Leche and Chocolate Truffle. They didn't look that great relative to the ads, but nothing ever does!

I had to wait for six rings before Harmony answered the buzzer, but that was fine. A few minutes later, I told Beckett that I would be right with him after I washed my hands... Wet Wipes only do so much against sticky doughnut crumbs! Harmony said "yes, please - thank you!" Hey, I've heard about the coronavirus too, and so has Ayler, apparently. He says he heard on the news today that the BC patient is in Burnaby ("so not here in Vancouver, but close"), while Hiero wondered what we'd do if Beckett died from it. You can get very sick and possibly die, we told them, but Harmony kept it simple and said that she'd keep them safe and we should all wash our hands.

Ayler and Hiero thought it was funny to encourage Beckett to go to the printer, and also to take Beckett's balls away from him, but he got way more upset over this than Harmony leaving for her meeting. ("MINE!" followed by lots of crying) I was there to give him hugs and a small kiss, telling them that it wasn't funny. Jon did come home a little earlier than 6, and took over dinner duties. Beckett called the Pho noodles "noo-noo," and called the treads on Grandma Joan's slipper socks "boh-boh" - very funny! Ayler asked about school, of course, and wanted me to listen to his piano. Beckett said "help" to me a lot (and wanted me to help put on the yellow "sunglasses" that were missing a lens - Hiero said they were pirate sunglasses), said "bye bye" to me a lot (maybe when I was walking to my bag and then to my coat so he could see the fur and buttons - but I didn't leave), and walked over to show Jon various things like his blocks.

Later, Beckett went to the window to see the "boh-boh" outside and point at all the lights. He also used the blue ruler to "hide" and wanted me to do the same with his toy balls - I just pretended to most of the time. Then he said "HIT YOUR BUTT!" in Cantonese - Uncle Joe taught him that one because it's funny to hear a little toddler say so! Hiero made a "lightsaber" out of a plastic sticker sheet, and a "gun" out of the magnetic rods and balls, and wanted me to say "gun" - I don't know about that one. He also 'teleported" into me, which was NOT fun!

Ayler took out his red-and-yellow stuffed dragon toy... he remembered that I'd given it to him! Beckett seemed to like it as per Hiero - he even said a very close approximation of "dragon" and grinned when he showed it to me! I should tell him that Auntie is a dragon, haha! He also said "monkey" for his stacking blocks, "dog" for his dog book, and "apple" for the Creation story with Adam and Eve in the children's Bible stories book. He's LEARNING VOCABULARY plus CONTEXT! I left at 7:40 (not at 7:30, thereby missing my window of time to get the 7:42 Marine Drive Station bus with the heavy bag of stuff from Mom and Dad) after waiting a few minutes for Jon to finish something while it was the bedtime routine, but not before Hiero called me a "blah blah person" - RUDE AND DISRESPECTFUL! I got home at 9:10 on a 407, having to finish a text message to Paulo first.


Random stuff from Mom and Dad: A thin brown Mondi sweater with yellow diamonds, a thin brown Mondi sweater VEST with yellow diamonds, a random white undershirt with an actual bra built in it in a clean produce bag, Ragu Tomato and Basil light pasta sauce which expires in October 2021, more Ontrue green tea roasted seaweed x3, and more toiletries inside a Ziploc bag...

Two plastic shower caps, Kandesn Spa shampoo by Sunrider, a white scrunchie only suitable for a toddler, a Paul Mitchell refreshing citrus facial bar, three Q-Tips inside some plastic, a useless LONDON DRUGS blue circle thing, 40 mL of Agraria San Francisco lemon verbena conditioner, blue Chateau de Chine shampoo, 24 mL of Crabtree and Evelyn lavender verbena shampoo, 24 mL of Crabtree and Evelyn lavender verbena conditioner, Princess Cruises Lotus Spa aloe vera moisturizing lip balm x2, a black toothbrush with a toothbrush cover, 22 mL of Ognnx Lacoupe argan oil complex shampoo x3, and 22 mL of Lacoupe argan oil complex conditioner x2.

A silver Gem hand ground nail clipper, another unbranded silver nail clipper with a nail file, Smart Shield serious sun protection aloe vera lip balm, four more Q-Tips and four makeup wipes inside some plastic (do people use Q-Tips to apply makeup?), a white hairbrush / comb in one, a blue microwavable eye mask with instructions inside plastic, a white Dr. Fresh Turbo Power battery-powered toothbrush with a free Duracell battery, and a small Princess Cruises Lotus Spa linen mist bottle.

50 mL of L'Occitane verbena shower gel, a LaRoche Posay Nutritic lip balm (47 mL), 22 mL of Be Better macadamia nut shampoo, three more Q-Tips and three cotton balls inside some plastic, sampler Oral-B floss from the dentist, a tiny yellow tube of Vichy SPF 45 sheer lotion with Bare Skin Feel, 2 grams of Super Dry Superior Dessicant with a warning on it (??), Chinese Glyso-Derm lip balm with Vitamin E, 50 mL of Crabtree and Evelyn iris bath and shower gel, a 5 mL Avène Canada soothing moisture mask in a tiny tube, 22 mL of Nourish Green Tea hydrating conditioner, and a white travel toothbrush inside a green plastic cover.


Hunt's Snack Pack: Banana Cream Pie pudding cups!




NEW from Tim Horton's: Dream Doughnuts! Chocolate Truffle, Strawberry Confetti, and Dulce de Leche!




Tim Horton's Dream Doughnuts: They didn't have Strawberry Confetti, so I ordered Chocolate Truffle and Dulce De Leche instead.




RIP, Don't Argue pizzeria...




Beef stew with carrots and Pho noodles!




Red and yellow dragon stuffed toy! I gave it to Ayler originally because he is also a BABY DRAGON, but now Beckett likes it too. He knows the word "dragon," and grinned when he told me what it was!




Tomato and Basil light Ragu pasta sauce!

Dad picked me up at about 2:15, having dropped Ayler off at Brooke's already. I opted just to carry the bag of stuff Mom wanted him to give to me, listening to him say that Mom wanted to make sure I was okay. Yeah, that would be fine most of the time for sure. The centre / hub for autism was all the way near the airport in a huge building with long hallways. I didn't mind going in because it was so hot outside! Watched Ayler do a puzzle for the last bit of his session, and he apparently liked his obstacle course times. He's all about the times! I texted Jon once we got into Vancouver (the bridge traffic was misleading), and we got there in reasonable time. When I reminded Ayler to be quiet, he basically said that I had to do that too - I know, but you need the reminder more than I do. Then again, it turned out that Beckett hadn't slept at ALL!

Beckett climbed on me - which I guess is his way of saying hi - and laughed at the popping toy and my putting the soccer ball on top of my head, which guaranteed him more climbing time because he wanted to get it to toss around. Hiero said that if we wore our Canucks hockey stick shirts at the same time, we could be twins - he is right. Ayler wanted to refer to himself in the third person a lot, wanted to know what "calling someone out" was when it referred to these teens at the kiddy playground on their equipment, and said that he had big plans for Grade 2: biting his food in half so that nobody would steal it, hahaha! I said that nobody would really want his germs, anyway. When we went to the park, Beckett finally fell asleep, so Harmony told me about their Parksville trip: missed ferry connections, the beach not being suitable for Beckett because of broken glass and stuff, and the goats on the roof.

We got home in time for more playing and dinner - yum, noodles and rice with ground beef and tomato topping! I held Beckett when he wanted to bang away on the piano, made sure he was safe when he was playing with the soccer ball on the couch, and generally had fun with him. Ayler said that he could eat seven bowls of congee at Congee Noodle House - I don't think so! Next week will be crazy for sure, but Tuesdays should work for me from now on if swimming lessons are Mondays.

Ayler was able to transpose songs into a minor key, which is good! Managed to text White Eric about this weekend - he says the wedding starts at 12:30 or 12:45, but he'll have to pick me up an hour early at 11:30. Still earlier than I thought, I guess. I would have been home a LOT sooner had the 3 Main NOT decided to stop at 41st for six minutes or more! Passengers have connections to make and places to go! (I even left the house at 7:45 or so after listening to Ayler read a book) I FINALLY got home at 9:20 on a 407... I swear I'm taking the 3 Downtown, 9, and then the train / bus from Broadway!


Random stuff from Mom and Dad: Three random pairs of green and white ankle socks, 11 Princess Cruises ballpoint pens that largely DON'T WORK (what's the point in saving me money, exactly?), Aloe Vera combination hair and body wash, 21 Bye Polar candies, two Princess Cruises chocolate squares, two old red chocolate hearts from Valentine's Day, Twinings Tea UK (Jasmine) Green Tea x13, Bigelow Tea Cozy Chamomile x5, Bigelow Tea Darjeeling x1, Bigelow Tea Orange and Spice x1, Bigelow Tea Earl Grey x3, Bigelow Tea Lemon Lift x2, Bigelow Tea Plantation Mint x2, Princess Cruises Lotus Spa conditioner, 200 ruled sheets of Hilroy writing paper, a pair of +3 red reading glasses from Japan, SportKwik fingertip moistener (???), Princess Cruises Lotus Spa Linen Mist, Princess Cruises Lotus Spa Sisal Mitt, Japan Airlines red headphones, a maroon COLOR WALLET, Tim Hortons green tea x1, Traditional Medicinals Echinacea Plus tea x4, a random teabag of random tea leaves, and a Tazo Tea Earl Grey x1.


Kitty Sanchez to Michael Bluth in ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT: "Eyes up here, Michael..."

Birthday Wishes in 2018!


THIS ENTRY IS ALLOWED TO HAVE NON-ALIGNED TAGS.


( Pho and sizzling steak! )


Email: Kevin L., Frances C., Christon S., Thrillist, Match {5}

Evite / (Facebook) Event RSVP: Vanessa H. x2, Frances C., Eric M., Elizabeth M., Benny N., Lisa D., Nathan T. x2, Jeremy J., Eric H. {11}

LJ: loglady / rhapsodeeinblue / executivehpfan / marywebgirl / futile_devices / war_machine_rox / hjalmartazar / thekellieee / callista88 / magicpebble / my_dear_watson7 / theemii / lilyoda / therearewords / joliebelle / urfave / archersangel (ONTD), Julie M. x2 (moonshar), Matt A. (matt1993), Janet S. (ghost_light) {21}

Facebook Wall Posts: Cathy B., Rosenda M., Kitty B., Mikki M., Sheryll T., Dave H., Michelle S. x2, Carol F. x2, Milli P., Nita F., Ryan B., Cathy W. x2, Jim S., Judy K., Andrea W., Diane S., Josh D., Chrissy S. x2, Heather M., Andrew M., Jason T., Itamar R., Jesse C. x2, Eve M., Eric M., Wade T., Dilys C., Vivian S., Helen S., Nathan W., Amanda K., Sara H., Lesley C., Alan P. x2, Steph N., Auntie Susan L., Kelly L., Jason H. x2, Holly L. x2, Ryan M., Julie M., Gino T., Barb D. x2, Tyler T., Shannon S., Shane T., Kelli E. x2, Ellen C., Chun Wai C. {71}

Facebook Chat / Messages: Vanessa H. x2, Julie M., Diane S., Lena M., Victor R., Jimmy C. x3 {9}

Facebook Discussion Boards / Groups: Aubrey Lynn, Julie M., Doug G., Pamela F., Frank M., Wilf C. x2, Stacey C., Peter V. Adrianne C. {10}

Facebook Status / Photo Comments and Reactions: Jim S. x4, Cathy W. x5, Julie M. x7, Shannon S., Steph N. x10, Boston Pizza Ackroyd, Pete C. x2, Kitty B. x6, Ryan B., Daniel T., Vanessa H. x2, Benny N., Julie M. x3, Vicky S., Elizabeth M., Diane S., Eve M., Mikki M., Chantelle S., Alice P. x2, Christine B., Kelly L. x3, Sheryll T. x2, Witwur R. x2, Debbie S. x3, Sabrina K., Kate M. x3, Matt H., Michelle S., Leona K., Zonia L., Itamar R., Andrew L., Chun Wai JOHN C., Andrew M., Jessica G., Harmony H., Lisa D. {77}

Not Always Right: Aléthia, sarcasticcupcakes, Ellen Smith, RosieDeacon, Deadpool, Jesen, BadWolf, Me, Alan Liber, pandapatsy, Number, Totalism, cficsprings, Name, Sionyx, HeatherJasper, James Freeman, GabbySigns, Candice Kay Hood {19}

Discord: creature_of_tea (Lex), SAdenosylMethionine / jeep / whiskey_sparkle / bats_are_cute / reallifeavatar / rhinoballerina [TrollX Support and Love], Ceriam [Ceri-Realm], Nas x2 / Nate x3 / BoucherFan12 x2 / Pingu x2 / Kendall / JoeyTwoTimes / Aaron94 / Eric / KrizChin / Jetstone / nontoaster / Yuriegh [r/hockey], Evading x2 / Amanda / Kramer / MarkRamsey™ [Kramerica], Ultimoice / superhomebody [Moonside], Pothead Mike x2 [Scary Mysteries Family], Highspirits / Tsukiya 月夜 / Frotwirth / DanGodOfThunder / Volklin / Kuja_ / luckytoken / Rom-Stein / Pa-Sama [Highspirits], Aimsworth / Lord Goose / Erik Charette [DaveTheUsher], DanGodOfThunder [DiscordServerOfThunder], Aggressive LGBT Person / Baloney Pony Boy / SpuriousAbsolution / TheCriticalHit / Nyanmajo~ [Dragon Quest], Cuya / The Dick Wizzard / Prax [Easytown], TinyTalkingNinja / Lurus / Classy [ClassyCast], CLASSIC_DISCORD [Panda Express], Shiv, OnlyHopeRemains, PureKaos, brownboy102 / Ascent007 / WeNeedDaHughes / kwando [Vancouver r/Canucks] {68}

Twitch Streams: Ultimoice [Ultimoice], Cuya [Cuya], RedWeird_ / demonbladewolf / Enkeria / LeoUnderscoreChaos / ErikJan0 [RedWeird_], toucansham [ToucanSham], Kramer / scrubplaystwitch [Kramerica], DankeyKrang [DankeyKrang] {11}

Youtube: Chris Cilley, Alysin Chainz, Jenna Neely, Damarys Dingui x3, Ms. Oyeogbe, stand4something, Misty Allan, Pepper McCadden, Rik S, Aquarius 83, Drea Lynne, Empress Shiania, Little Rookie, Lancer, JustChill4Life, BCSBuster, Hector Chavez, Drey Dupe, Jackie M., bitty bitty, Zero_BS_Tolerance {22}

Our Place: Net Widow, Debbie S., Marie S. {3}

Reddit: designingwomen, jesuisunchien, msstark, surfbort_t, JesusListensToSlayer, theskyisstarless, hannameher, Lifesabitchh, AppropriateFilth, DisloyalMouse, Bunniebones, ARestlessRose, SocialIQof0, kailan14, TypicalHumanoid, dadawn, headinthegrave, WiseVeps, lfslshlps, fleurjackie, sweatycat, JabberWockyJurist, TragicalKingdom, glorioid, carolinemathildes, oFraggleMyFraggle {26}

Other Message Boards and Such: Baby's Named A Bad Bad Thing, Unaboard {2}

Other Rewards Stuff: Boston Pizza free dessert (Chocolate Explosion Cheesecake), London Drugs Extras $5 gift voucher {2}

In Person: Vanessa H., Cassidy F., Rachel F., Auntie Catherine I., Mom, Dad, Jon N., Harmony H., Ayler N., Hiero N., Beckett N., Eric H., Eric M., Chrystal C., Jeremy J., Frances C. {16}

Cards / Presents: lunch from Vanessa H. at Pho 37 in Ironwood (Bo Bun Hue: pork hock / Vietnamese ham / beef / cubed pork blood in spicy vermicelli soup plus spring rolls and shrimp salad rolls), lunch from Auntie Catherine I. at Pepper Lunch (4.5 ounces of Angus steak / miso soup / mango mochi), a birthday card from Pathways, dinner from the family at Nando's Chicken on West 41st, cleaning service from Jon / Harmony / Steph, Felico's dinner from Jeremy / Eric H. / Eric M. (traditional roast lamb), a birthday card from Jeremy, a birthday card from Rachel F., a birthday card from Steph / Lisa / Fraser / Henry / Havarti, dinner from Chrystal at the Cactus Club (Baja fish tacos (beer battered Ocean Wise™ cod, shredded cabbage, chipotle aioli, fire roasted tomato salsa, pickled radish / onions / jalapenos, and sea salted fries), some of Chrystal's fries, and a yummy Tuna Poke bowl (sesame ginger Ocean Wise™ ahi tuna, jasmine rice, mango, cucumber, avocado, edamame, radish, crispy tempura), dinner from Frances C. at Pho Lan in Richmond (#8 - rare steak, flank, tendon, and tripe) {11}


* Mom and Dad's presents: Random stuff from Mom and Dad: A Colgate toothbrush, 95 mL of Colgate Cavity Protection toothpaste which expires in April 2020, a Joe Fresh wristwatch already set to the correct time, a broken Cadbury Fruit and Nut dark chocolate bar (not that it matters), nine Halloween puffy skull stickers, a religious Gratitude Journal with a tree on the cover, and a Michaels ruled journal with an L on it.

A Michaels spiral notebook with speech bubbles on it plus a bonus pen, a set of eight Paper Mate Ink Joy Candy Pop! ballpoint pens (orange / red / black / purple / green / light blue / pink / dark blue - which now seem to write curves better than when I banned them from my apartment in March 2013), and a birthday card ("YOU ARE... the [green] apple of my eye") with $20 in a red lucky envelope... all in a Vitamin World plastic bag protected by a Sunmore Ginseng paper bag with handles! {28}


Phone Calls / Skype: Chrystal C., Steph N., Kevin L. {3}


20.7% of my Facebook friends ... 87 of 421! (0 fewer wishes, 7 more people) [87 of 414]


GRAND TOTAL: 410