Tatiana's Wanderings

I had to spend MORE time out and MORE MONEY today at Richmond Centre because of ANOTHER temporary water shutoff. *rolleyes* Good thing I had plenty of cash! I bought a White Spot breakfast quesadilla with chorizo sausage, a White Spot blueberry milkshake that slightly tasted like cough syrup (what are they doing with those machines overnight?!), NEW on-sale OGX Beauty tea tree / mint shampoo and conditioner, on-sale Dove pomegranate shampoo and conditioner from $8.99 to $2.99, NEW Life iron pill supplements, NEW Jamieson Vitamins garlic softgels, and NEW Irish Spring charcoal body wash. Shoppers and London Drugs both worked! Got home at 5:40 on a 407 (was NOT going to call Hester because of the one-word and hangup I received LAST YEAR), and the water was back on, so I could take a shower for tomorrow!


Speeda E. Bump tombstone?!




( Alcohol and milkshakes at 9 AM, Christmas at Shiny Tea, quirkiness )

After COFFEE TIME, I went out at 3:15 (first refilling my yearly prescription at the pharmacy next door) on a 401 (JUST IN TIME) to help with the kids. I had to leave room for a suitcase and also remember to get to the house after 4:35 because of a water shutoff till 4. Lovely! I killed time at the Save-On nearby, and when Harmony said they were fine at 4:35, I said I'd be there soon, but made a necessary pit stop at Kwong Chow first. That meant I washed my hands twice within ten minutes, but whatever. The replacement black carry-on suitcase looked okay, and I later found out that ALL the zippers were fine and that it was way easier to handle and maneuver! When I got there just after 5, Beckett wanted to see me and say hi in his own way - so cute! Harmony said that Jon was doing his West Vancouver holiday gig, which is totally worth it, but means a little extra work on everyone else's part. Ayler wanted to know why, haha. My nephews are smart and curious kids!

Hiero wanted to show me his "enchanted airplane," Ayler wanted to show me some piano techniques and quiz me on piano (and quizzing me on math at dinner), and Beckett just wanted to show me all his balls and have this cute confused look when the balls wouldn't go through the holes in that wooden toy. He did go over to the far windowsill (almost obscured by the curtain) and play with the toy molecule rod and balls there while looking at the lights across the street. (and did it with the near window, too - spouting gibberish as usual) I found another emotion egg later and gave it to him. He wanted to go after the pom-pom on my Santa hat (Harmony thought that was funny), explore my bling shirt, and gently touched the keloid scar on my neck later out of curiosity. (I told him that this wasn't a "ball-ball") He climbed on top of Ayler, who didn't like that, and then climbed on top of Hiero, who was a bit more acquiescent. When he threw the balls around and pointed at them, I asked him if he wanted me to go get them. After a pause, he said "yeah," so I said okay. Hiero wasn't sure if he knows what that means, but he did say "wow" tonight for the first time!

Beckett also has discovered the apartment door, and sometimes crawls to it for whatever reason. I picked him up and got him out of there, of course. He wanted to sit on my lap and "read" the 100 Words baby book, which I of course let him do because he's much lighter than his brothers and my legs don't complain! I did have a toe cramp much later, but it was okay within a few minutes of agony. We had beef tendon and beef brisket with broad white noodles and vegetables for dinner - even with cereal, Beckett didn't eat much. Harmony crammed some Rice Krispies into his mouth later a few times when he was preoccupied with me and the toys, otherwise he'll be way too hungry tomorrow morning! She bought some stuff on the Black Friday sales, and I told the kids about the KFC 50% Bowls and Buckets deal yesterday when Harmony was gone temporarily. Hiero asked if I wanted to buy it - not after I heard the website was pretty broken! Ayler asked me what a website was, so I asked him if he remembers Kids Physio. His face brightened at that: YES! I told him that a lot of stores and businesses and people had websites on the Internet these days. He seemed to accept this explanation. I didn't mind if Harmony gave Beckett some shortbread at all.

I left at 7:30 and was thankfully able to catch the 3 Marine Drive bus earlier instead of later, and got home at 8:40 on a 407 in time to catch the last five minutes of the second period. The Canucks played Ottawa tonight at 7, and won 5-2 on the Alex Burrows Ring of Honor evening! Fantenberg and MacEwen got their first goals! I also managed to pack everything into that suitcase without anything breaking or being overstuffed... SUCCESS!


Random stuff from Mom and Dad: Cozy Christmas socks and a green PEANUTS water bottle!


Dinner tonight: beef tendon, veggies, and noodles!




From Julie: Christmas is so much harder when you get older. It's like, "What do you want this year?" I don't know... maybe a sense of purpose, some financial security, could use more sleep, a bottle of wine, and maybe some new bras. I had to use MS Paint to edit in an Oxford comma LIKE IT SHOULD BE!




The Famous Grouse whiskey shortbread!




Cozy Christmas socks for me, Steph, and Lisa! Pig coin purse for Steph! FUZZY SOCKS!




Western Family condensed cream of mushroom soup!




Green PEANUTS water bottle for me!

From Julie M. and GORDON RAMSAY'S 24 HOURS TO HELL AND BACK: Cimina?! Reminds me of cinnamon or Cimona's in Steveston!




( More bad names! )

I left at 2:35 for Jon's with the VCS Belgium chocolate seashells, and STILL just managed to get a 401 bus for Brighouse, so I ended up going to Kam Do Bakery for some chocolate cookies. Of course I didn't eat them all on the train - and left them with Jon and Harmony to boot - so that was also fine. I ended up getting to the house at about 3:15 or so, which was surprising. Jon mentioned that I was early; no shit, as I wanted to leave in the relative light! After catching up a bit (talking about Nathan and Frances, mostly), everyone else got up from their nap. We discussed Pocky, roasted vegetables, turkey, rum fruitcake, alcoholic eggnog, Eric Ho and a GUYS NIGHT, Dylan being "Uncle Banjo," a biscuit that said "TEA IS THE GATEWAY DRUG TO BISCUITS," Randal's dad being in the hospital (I gave him a pretty good genuine expression of condolence), St. Paul's, downplaying health issues, explaining Australia's reversed seasons to Ayler, Ayler wanting us to stay longer or overnight, stuffing, O HOLY NIGHT complete with Hiero's banging away on the piano with his "manuscript" (a blank memo pad), Ayler wanting to "cuddle" me so he could go for my Santa hat or white sweater, Hiero wanting to sit on my lap, puzzle pieces, gumballs, and winter break. Ayler thinks he knows more about (school) time than I do, but he seemed to have a good time counting squares on the calendar, too. (after asking why the seashell box said 250!) Hiero can be Victor Borge #2, haha! Mom and Dad drove me home, where I got in at 8:40.


Random stuff from Mom, Dad, and others: A winter-ish dark grey jacket which used to be Grandma's, a Christmas card, $10 in cash, a brown Tahari leather jacket (not as cool as it sounds), a blue polyester Stormtech winter-ish jacket, a dark blue San Francisco winter-ish jacket, a red Roo handbag, a blue Sport Sport handbag, a brown Chinese handbag, a light brown wool toque, blue Thinsulate gloves, a zebra stripe AMAZING GRACE cap, a thin red scarf, a thin leafy dress (?), a brown polyester winter hat, and thin black gloves.

Also: Laura Secord praline Christmas Collection chocolates from white Eric, a MYSTERIES home fragrance gift set from Pier 1 Imports / a FOOTPRINTS journal / Christmas card from Amy W., Santa's Gumball Workshop Dubble Bubble cartons x2, Santa Lifesavers cherry / watermelon / green apple / strawberry / orange Gummies, Florida's Au'Some Christmas candy cane Nuggets, and a Waterbridge chocolate letter N.

Plus: A thin Man Fang Yuen Wa long-sleeved shirt, Nosh and Co. Yummyful Mixed Fruit Berries, Lifesavers hard candy Holiday Mix (candy cane / cherry / apple), a lined blue and white snowflake toque, a colorful small beaded hand purse, a small black BB Design handbag, a thin leafy Orla Kiely long-sleeved shirt, and a colorful Vietnam tote-ish bag.


Life Savers hard candy Holiday Mix: candy cane, cherry, and apple!




Life Savers Christmas Gummies: cherry, watermelon, green apple, strawberry, and orange!




Pier 1 Imports MYSTERIES home fragrance gift set from Amy Wongpo!




Laura Secord praline Christmas collection chocolates from white Eric!