Tatiana's Wanderings

After COFFEE TIME, I went out at 2:40 on a 401 to a sick Jeremy's for Jon's birthday dinner since Eric could give me a ride home after UBC hockey and helping in the kitchen. I bought on-sale Knorr Sidekicks in Chicken and Broccoli rice and pasta / Homestyle Cheddar / Chicken Fried Rice, some high-visibility fluorescent yellow-green stickers and slap bracelet straps from Dollar Land (FINALLY!), some 100 mL Vaseline lotion in the yellow tube for Ontario from Shoppers Drug Mart, and a small bag of NEW on-sale Takis Outlaw snacks from Buy-Low for the Gwei-Lo at Kingsgate Mall since I got there at 3:20. I managed to get to Jeremy's at 4:35 after cutting through Dude Chilling Park, and Ayler wasn't even there yet to lock me out like he did last year! Eric sent me a text while I was there to ask if I was here yet... crazy! I did give him his Windel Advent calendar and Delecto dark chocolate assortment, and gave Jeremy his Windel Advent calendar too.

The kids got there a while later; Harmony said she was glad I was there already because then I could help her watch Beckett and take him from Jesse later on when he needed a break. Yeah, I let him look at the big screen for a minute - that's not going to get him addicted! Jeremy said there were some unsafe things for babies behind the chairs - yes, I could see wires! Beckett toddled around and wanted to turn off the computer, which Ayler thought was a touchscreen again. I let Beckett touch my fuzzy purple Alia winter coat, go up on the couch (but NOT touch the Japanese painting), hold my hands as he walked around, spout gibberish about the glass table (he can see the carpet!) and point at the lights and new things, and give me all the beer coasters a few times over.

Yes, he could throw those around if he wanted to, but NOT the candles or anything else! NOT SUITABLE PROJECTILES! He was also eventually curious about Jeremy's beard, like Ayler and Hiero had been. Ayler was smart and knew that I would have Advent calendars for them. He has a bonus dragon book since HE is a DRAGON too! The Santa stuffed dog was in my bag later when I got home, but I can give it to Beckett before my trip. Hiero wanted to be Batman or Superman in front of everyone.

I was civil and polite to Raymond when he was in the way and admiring Jeremy's bookshelf while I wanted to get my UTHER book from my bag to show Trish later, and also when I handed him some dishes that needed to be washed. Caught up with Caleb (I saw his uncle William recently!), Becky, Alice, Jeremy, Randal, Jesse, Trish, Lanie, and Christon for sure. (Ayler's math prowess / the Japanese soldier who refused to surrender until his commanding officer said so / my upcoming trip / writing / Jacob's Well / SERVANTS / the Spain honeymoon / buying a new place and moving / a rice cooker / the microwave / Jeremy seeing Steph in the newspaper as a random RCMP officer and confirming with Jon)

I met Jon's friend Mallory, noticed that his friend Jay had a "scent" about him, and "met" his friends Chris and Mallory. Since we all had to leave an hour or so earlier because Jeremy was feeling under the weather (bad timing as he got sick from his co-workers yesterday!), Eric and I actually left at 9 or so! We talked about gluten-free ice cream sandwiches being good for his mom and brother, his staying home at Christmas, FIRE EMBLEM, and a raccoon being outside near the dumpster when we got to my place at 9:30. (it was a milk jug...)


Trappiste Rochefort beer!




Santa's Sac beer, haha!




( Food and safety and more! )

After MORE COFFEE TIME, I left just before 4:30 to make it to Wo's: A family dinner for Dad's 69th birthday! Of course I was the first one there! (and I saw Mr. Creep on the bus AGAIN...) Harmony set a new record in convincing the Wo's owner to turn off the TV, which was tuned to the Cartoon Network: SEVEN MINUTES! We talked about strata meetings, moving on Thursday, Burnaby, the lards' car leaking oil, Uncle William, plans for this week, the farmer's market, snacks, dessert, finding my Fit-Overs (which I just found within two minutes of looking for them), Beckett sleeping, Ayler and Hiero asking about candy and the time, me being drunk / red-faced / snorty / giggly on the beer which Jon bought, and Quality Street chocolates. I got home at 8 on a 407, no thanks to just missing the previous 407 at Brighouse! Mom thought I needed to be told to look both ways before crossing the street at Marine Drive Station - I wasn't THAT drunk! Jon wants me to come over on Tuesday for dinner help - after Rachel, for sure.

Dinner: Steamed chicken, sweet and sour pork, green beans and ground beef, cod fish, tofu cakes, corn soup, lamb, Bring-Your-Own-Beer (Andina Guava Saison 6.5%), rice, and tea!

Random stuff from Mom and Dad: Instant oxtail soup mix x3 (expiry date: July 18, 2019) / a triple-zippered leopard print Sport Sport wallet / chicken noodle Lipton Cup-A-Soup which expired on June 13, 2014 / spring vegetable Lipton Cup-A-Soup which expired on May 30, 2013 / spring vegetable Lipton Cup-A-Soup which expired on February 9, 2012 / a nearly full bag of McCormicks cinnamon hearts / a bag of Nosh and Co. Munch Madness lightly salted potato chips which expires on March 10, 2019 / AN HONEST DAY'S WORK white mug / two brown flowery very thin neck wraps / a pair of black knee socks / Organics honey and ginger green tea x7 / Twinings Earl Grey bergamot tea / Bigelow Cozy Chamomile herbal tea / Lipton Spiced Chai black tea / dinner leftovers / $5 cash.