Tatiana's Wanderings

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!

Julie got my birthday package today!


Sticker bonanza!




Outside of birthday card: "I heard that people don't want stuff on their birthday. They want experiences."




Inside of birthday card, complete with gold / silver / bronze Sharpie birthday greeting: "I hope you have enjoyed this greeting card experience."




A Vancouver Canucks orca in a red and yellow V skate jersey with a hockey stick!




From Julie M. and DR. PHIL: Marcea?! What was wrong with Marcie or Marcy?! BAD SPELLING!




From Youtube: Colin Pitchfork murdered two children?!

I've been talking to Robin off and on lately, and he says that Lena was toxic and basically a liar about the whole child thing, so... HA!


From Rue Morgue: Take the title of the last book you read and add "with a chainsaw." Post results. ARE YOU SHITTING ME WITH A CHAINSAW?!




From my Endlessly Engrossing Bathroom Reader #22: THE ROMANCE OF RAYON?!




From Single Dad Laughing: Having plans sounds like a good idea until you have to put on clothes and leave your house.

THIS ENTRY IS ALLOWED TO HAVE NON-ALIGNED TAGS.


Cards Received, 2018!


Special 2018 (2)

* Cuya: "Flamsterette! Thank you so much for your continued support! It's awesome hanging out with you online! Enjoy these things, please! ♥ - Cuya!" [a Ness from EARTHBOUND perler and two homemade green heart-shaped soaps!]

* Vanessa and Jason: "Hi! Here's Cassidy's birth announcement. One of these days, we'll meet up! ♥ [heart sticker]"


Birthday 2018 (3)

* Jeremy: "Hope you have a great year ahead, Les! Happy birthday - Jeremy." ("You're someone who's lovely, thoughtful, sweet, and kind... wishing you a day that makes you feel as special as you really are! Happy birthday!")

* Rachel F.: "Wishing you continued hope, love, happiness, and excitement for your many years to come! Happy birthday. :)"

* Steph, Lisa, Fraser, Henry, and Havarti: "There once was a very happy tree... who died for this card. The End. Happy Birthday, Tree Killer." (included the kids' handprints!)


Christmas 2018 (11)

* Kitty: "Hello, Leslie. The card is a little late, but I really want to wish you all the best for Christmas and I hope all your wishes for 2019 will come true! Love, Kitty and Ringo the dog."

* Angie H. (auralily): "Happy Holidays and best wishes for a wonderful New Year!"

* photo card from Jon and Harmony

* Steph and Lisa: Merry Belated Christmas, Leslie!

* a photo card from Janet S. (ghost_light) and Mark S. (lonelydumptruck): "Dear Glowing_Dragon, Merry and happy to you throughout the season and the whole new year!"

* Julie M. (moonshar): "Leslie, It seems like each year is flying by. It's almost 2019! Here is to another year of murder shows, bad names, and funny memes! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!"

* Deanna H. (endlessblush): "Hello, Leslie. It's 38°C and I need to get my Christmas baking done. Summer and Christmas don't always mix. We are home this year, and it will be quiet. Everyone is well here... kids are all busy with part-time jobs now that school / university has finished for the year. I have one more week of work, then have time off until January 2. Yay! Merry Christmas. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Love, Deanna."

* Rebecca R. (reeby10): "Happy Holidays! I hope that 2019 is a wonderful year for you! Best wishes!" She included IRON MAN stickers / rainbow stickers / superhero stickers / Roald Dahl JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH bookmark / Roald Dahl THE BFG bookmark / golden owl bookmark / golden stylized leaf bookmark / STAR WARS "Join the resistance!" and "power!" stickers / IRON MAN stickers / rainbow stickers in a huge Canada Post plastic bag. Apparently, the card with a red robin and logs was "damaged in the mailstream."


Total: 17

I went out again at 5 on a 407 to Shoppers Drug Mart. Wanted to get a lot of soup for the snow: on-sale Campbell's Everyday Gourmet soup x4 (Fire-Roasted Sweet Pepper and Tomato / Harvest Mushroom with White Wine / Garden Market Vegetable / Golden Butternut Squash), on-sale Lipton Cup-A-Soup x4 (Chicken Noodle x2 / Chicken Noodle Supreme x2), and President's Choice canned soup x3. (World of Flavors Thai Chicken / World of Flavors Indian Chicken Mulligatawny / World of Flavors Mexican Chicken) Then I got home at 6:10 after taking pictures of the DRAGON ARTWORK at the hospital across the street.


Checked my mail, and got a belated Make-A-Wish Australia Christmas card and a bunch of Australian postcards from Deanna H. in the mail this week. (Elephant In The Room / DYNAMICS OF AIR / Hop Fest - Yarra Valley's New Beer and Cider Festival / Cook On The Pacific / Disney Christopher Robin x2 / MAKE BELIEVE: THE STORY OF THE MYER CHRISTMAS WINDOWS from the Melbourne Museum / "Be grateful that today is Saturday, as it means you still have tomorrow to monkey around" / "Being with you is like hearing my favorite song")


From Julie: "Snow Predicted" Oil painting on canvas... milk, bread, and toilet paper sounds about right for Vancouver this weekend! -8 is COLD!




Campbell's Everyday Gourmet Fire-Roasted Sweet Pepper and Tomato soup!




( Lots of soups here! )