Tatiana's Wanderings

After COFFEE TIME, I had to go out to Knightsbridge at 10:45 AM on a 414 to see Rishu at Touchstone at 12 noon, which meant that it took up three hours of my day AGAIN since it was way past Cambie and Jacombs! I had made up my mind to terminate our professional relationship anyway, even before hearing that her practicum session was finishing at the end of February. (which she couldn't even email me about...) During my 20-minute wait for the 405 in the windy weather, I tried helping out an old man by moving my bag on the bus stop bench, but he wasn't having any of it. I also realized that I accidentally wore my red AMOUR shirt from H and M outside in public on Valentine's Day - whoops!

I aired my grievances, including her non-receptiveness to replying to email in a reasonable timeframe. I chose to help Jon out on Wednesdays because there was no way I'd get a response from her in time if she didn't reply on Monday or even Tuesday - Jon's requests were more emergent, and I like spending time with my nephews! I also told her how someone else with REAL anxiety and other issues might feel to be seemingly "ignored," although I know they aren't a crisis line, but she needs to learn as a student. The new location was also a factor; although she SAYS she offered rides and to meet up with me somewhere, I had to say I didn't remember that. I think it ended amicably enough, although of course I cried and then had to fill out the required feedback forms and surveys. She gave me an unexpected gift of a sticky thing to hold a card or two, and I put it on the back of my phone after politely thanking her for that and the good aspects of our sessions and time together.

Once I finally got back into my bubble zone of Richmond, I noticed a bus stop sign saying that the $3 KFC Mega Popcorn box deal was only on until the 16th. Since I wasn't planning on going out before then, I decided to take advantage of it even if more time and energy would be spent. I tried taking a photo of the Shoppers sign saying they were out of hand sanitizer, face masks, and rubbing alcohol... but discovered that my Compass Card in the new sticky thing was blocking the camera! Luckily, I came across some Dairy Queen workers who weren't busy, and the girl unstuck the corner enough for me to figure things out from there. PHEW! I bought the $3 fried chicken and chilled at Richmond Centre for a while. Saw a cute teddy bear offering hugs, so I also took advantage of that. I finally got home at 3:45 on a 407.


Document Destruction Service! Yes, of course I am aware of the need to shred sensitive documents. The name just appealed to my morbid sense of humor.




What do you mean, the fire door is inside the men's restroom?! Weird location for a fire exit... I needed to check this out for sure!




( No fire behind the door! Teddy bear hugs! Fried chicken! Sold out of things! )

I discovered that Andre had unfriended / blocked me on Facebook - WHAT THE HECK?! Eric picked me up at 8:50 AM so I could use church as a vehicle to get to the Osborne Gym at UBC for Hiero's 6th birthday party. It helps that his hockey is all the way out at UBC, too... and it turned out that his hockey building is practically right next to the Robert Osborne building! He said that the LUFIA music sounded like something crazy was going on at my place - HAHAHA! I packed the Creature Chumpers toy (but forgot the birthday card), a bottled water, my Doge bag, and the other Starbucks Cold Brew before putting my boots on just in case of slush. Made my bag heavier, but it was okay. Eric and I listened to the radio for a bit until some guy came on who just monologues at you all the time - not his thing, and not mine either!

When we got to church, there was still plenty of parking across the street. As I thought, the car door went CLONK into a slush accumulation. Luckily, Eric could pull forward a bit so I could go into the nearby parking lot and then cross the street after getting on the clear sidewalk. I waited around outside the sanctuary, saying hey to Joe. When we were allowed to go inside, I said hi to Geoffrey and Sheena, and was respectful of the service. Hiero was there with Jon (who was preaching today), so I asked him if he wanted his birthday gift now or later... of course he chose now, before the Children's Sunday School.

I realized I'd forgotten the birthday card, but I can always give it to him later. He seemed out of it for some reason, but I wouldn't find out why till much later. Then he was trying to get Jon's attention, but he was busy talking to Pastor Dan. When I got back from the handicapped restroom (seeing empty water jugs inside and hoping a grandma didn't have to use it), Hiero had gotten Jon's attention, who told him to say thank you. I said that he already had (when I prompted him), so of course he didn't have to say it again! I did see Uncle Eric and Auntie Brenda at different times, and an uncle said hi to me as well.

Jon had an engaging sermon on Mark and seeds, at least. Even Julie S. agreed with me later on! I said hi to Sam, Auntie Cathy, Auntie Catherine (hug), Auntie Esther (hug), Cordia's mom, Helen C., Joe T., Ivan, Lesley, Dylan / Deb / Declan / Elysse (who thinks it's crazy that Hiero will be her age by next week AND who was eating sugar cubes), Cordia / Amasiah / Julie S. / Denise (who sent a photo of me to Steph) / Julie M., Auntie Susan x2 (Karen Grace's mom and Vivian's mom), Darren L., Martin T., Acer, and others. I could hear Acer swearing in the fellowship hall while talking about DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS, but whatever.

Soon enough, it was just a little group of me, Eric, Cordia, Amasiah, their friend Jeremy, and Acer since everyone else was staying for the Larry and Bella Mori missionary lunch before Missions Fest later in the month. Once we were shushed by Auntie Ada (Benedict's mom) since the Cantonese service was going on, we moved to the stairs, where I noticed a few minutes later that we were blocking the way, so we stood around a little outside the sanctuary in the "hall" until the bench cleared up. We still had to watch our volume, though!

Jeremy insisted he wasn't a weeb just because he went to Japan with some guys - including Acer's cousin - and had to translate for the group, Cordia said she's accepted who she is, and said that Amasiah was morbid like me - SWEET! We talked about the Japan trip, Japanese people KNOWING when you're "foreign" to them even if you're Asian and fluent in the language, Sharon's health woes in the Osoyoos (being literally stuck at home), 80 cents for a medium bottle of milk tea in Japan, the Mori kids Timothy and Tiffany, Molly, people following others on Instagram, pressuring Amasiah to buy some Pokemon figurine on Amazon since she didn't in Hong Kong, my trip, the snow and slush, anime / manga, otaku people, Discord, and lunch plans. Eric and I went upstairs to see if we could get some extra $2 sandwiches (Benedict had five pink tickets from his mom!), but he decided not to bother or distract anyone in the rooms, which I noticed are now labelled. They even upgraded the water cooler from a huge jug to a black self-cleaning one!

A few minutes later at 1:25, Eric asked if I was cool with going to Broadway / Cambie instead. Sure, why not? We could get fast food burgers, so we went to A and W where he kindly paid for my Mama Burger and we shared his fries before going to Pacific Spirit Park and a parking garage on UBC campus. He pressed the crosswalk button for me in the rainy weather, and showed me which building to go into. I went into the Robert Osborne building, connected to the Wi-Fi, and looked for a specific gym on the Evite to no avail, so I had to text Harmony about it. "No, gym" is not really a great answer to "should I meet you on the second floor?" when there are at least three gyms and lots of lockers in the entire place... as I told Steph, I wonder how many "where is this place specifically?" calls and texts they got before the birthday party.

Jon and Harmony were actually early with the kids, probably because they had to sign a waiver and were nominally hosting 15 kids and their parents. I showed Beckett the balls that he had dropped in my bag, but he seemed too out of it even for just waking up. He did look at them with widened eyes, but said nothing. After I met Hiero's friends Emmett and Huxley (what a name!), I heard that Hiero had puked on the gymnastics equipment when Harmony was explaining what had happened in Chinese to her parents! IRRESPONSIBLE AND GROSS! WHY WOULD YOU SUBJECT KIDS TO THAT?! Even Ayler was complaining of feeling sick at the end of everything later! While I was there, Chinese Eric replied to my text about the All-Star Game, saying he'd get back to me later. Why don't you figure it out first, man? I'm not like my ex Mike who wants an almost-instant response! Uncle Joe and Auntie Wing ended up driving me home after the refreshments since Costco closes early on Sundays, so I got home at 6:25. AWESOME!


Random stuff from Mom and Dad, who definitely wanted the tiny tote bag back if Mom dug through my bag for it: Cao Is Starvingbase Chongqing instant noodles, Paldo Jjajangmen Chajang instant noodles, Country Life pure soap, a random floral soap circle, Princess Cruises Lotus Spa shower gel x2, a shoe brush, a Bath Aquatics h2O+ bath bar, and Ontrue roasted seaweed x2 in green tea flavor! It's MINE after I put it in my bag - come on now, WAIT FOR ME TO GET BACK FROM THE WASHROOM AND THEN ASK PERMISSION! Even Beckett has more respect than that! When he dropped his balls in my bag, he just stood by the bag and didn't go through it... I'm sure he doesn't have the words to ask about the balls, but that doesn't matter!


The Tiger Tiger Sukiyaki noodles did come with a lot of packets in the bowl with the handy lid, all crammed inside!




( Gummies, water jugs, hot water advisories, and party food! )

After LAUNDRY TIME (with the elevator STILL out of service...) and COFFEE TIME, I left at 12:15 for my Invisalign appointment, barely managing to get there on time thanks to a wheelchair JUST making me miss a Brighouse train at 12:35. (they're definitely entitled to use the elevators and trains - I might have made it with the time it took to wheel the person in and out...) The technology simulator was pretty cool, at least.

I did see Dad, which is what I'd been expecting, so I briefly discussed it and he said no if the insurance didn't cover it. I got brochures and the health angle, also expected. Once I finally got out of there at about 2, I saw Dad waiting downstairs. He unexpectedly gave me a ride home because it was really raining by then, and said a bunch of stuff about money and exactly why Mom thought finding the grave in Cuba was "urgent." (Steph will go with her in October?!) At least I got home at 2:40 so I could finally eat!

My next dentist appointment is on Jan. 8 at 2 - I had to go home, check the actual Canucks schedule, and then call the office to change it from the 7th at 1. Then I decided to finally call Dr. Ruby's office and found out that they can't just do a six-month referral to the eye clinic over the phone, since I legally have to go to the office to set it up. UGH, FINE! I guess I know what I'm doing on the day before my birthday...


Sharky Laguana?!




From Julie: Raven?!




( Coffee and Dr. Dre?! )

Eric M. unexpectedly called me at 2:50 to say that Eric Ho and a few of the guys were going to watch the Toronto Raptors play the Golden State Warriors in an NBA playoff game (Game 2) at 12 Kings, and wondered if I'd like to go. I said sure, why not. (much better freedom without Jimmy around!) He said he'd pick me up around 4:30 or so, and did. While I was waiting, I discovered that he'd texted me about the hangout at noon. Oops! At least we managed to work it out in the end!

Then Eric managed to drop me off in front of the pub after using his phone to navigate his way to 12 Kings. I tried texting Chinese Eric to see where he was, but got no answer. Jeremy came in a few minutes later and we managed to find Chinese Eric and Randal while white Eric was parking. After saying hi, I was still not impressed, so told him to answer his fucking texts, in those words. He said that he'd been talking to Randal, but it's TIME-SENSITIVE! "WHERE ARE YOU?" should be answered IMMEDIATELY! UGH! Yes, I'm being a hypocrite about this. Oh well. Randal gave me a LOOK, but whatever. At least we can be casual acquaintances now, which is okay by me. Eric implied that he wasn't going to invite me, but since Christon was dragging Alice along, he thought of me. Gee, thanks!

We talked about Yellow Dog Play Dead IPA, sharing a platter of nachos / olives / jalapenos / cheese eventually (we paid Chinese Eric back $4.50 each), Obama being in the building for the basketball game, my Reddit mobile being VERY SLOW and not loading (but it eventually did a while later), instant noodles, spicy noodles not good for the stomach, Christon and Alice's fried food, Eric's club sandwich, current events, Jon organizing this but not making it because of teaching, and Nathan being back in town till Christon's wedding, the CFL and BC Lions games / tickets, Jeremy's brother Mark doing well in Seattle, and keeping in touch with people online. When I noticed that Randal was reading The New Evil: Understanding the Emergence of Modern Violent Crime (Michael H. Stone, Gary Brucato, Ann W. Burgess), I had to show him MY current reading material: The Most Evil Women in History (Shelley Klein) - HAHAHA! Randal mentioned that he'd thought of me while picking his book up at the library, and Jeremy laughed at the coincidence, because great minds think alike!

Chinese Eric wasn't impressed that the Raptors lost 109-104, but nobody else in the pub to watch the game was, either. He also owes me an extra 50 cents because he didn't carry cash or expect me to have the London Drugs receipt for the Indomie Mi Goreng Chitato chips. We finally left about an hour after the game, at 8:30. Those stairs at the pub are not disability-friendly since they have no handrail, forcing me to jump the last step, LIKE I DID LAST TIME ON MARCH 12! It wasn't too far to the car, which is fine. Eric got a text message while he was driving into Richmond, which he hoped wasn't Chinese Eric texting him that he was lost on the way to his own car. He said he could give me a ride to Christon's wedding (which is on the same day as Mike Kwan's), but that I'd have to remind him closer to the date since it's so far away now. I totally understand!


A 6.2% Play Dead IPA from Yellow Dog Brewery in Port Moody!




From Julie M. and I Think My Mom's Gone Crazy: When someone tells me it's not "ladylike" to swear... WHAT?!