Deluxe Hugs, Ukrainian Dinner & Monck

Deluxe Hugs Prank



 

Two weekends ago, on Friday I went to St. Mary's Church Ukrainian dinner. For $10.50, I scored a delicious plate of perogies, meatballs and gravy, and apple crumble. It was fantastic and service was excellent.

I also went to the opening of Kitsilano Pool with my niece. I had not been there since I was a teenager volunteering for the Boys' & Girls' Club. We also went to Playland. It was my niece's first visit to the fair and she went on all the scary rides while my feet were firmly planted on the ground.



Last weekend, a bunch of Amerikan GFYers visited Vancouver for Memorial Weekend. We all went to the White & Glitter Party Vegas-style. We also hung out at Kitsilano Beach and had brunch at the Reagle Beagle.

Last night, I skipped out of yoga (bad me) to go to Memphis Blues with my cousin and our friend. Meat coma galore! We shared a Memphis Platter and it was pure omnivore heaven. I love their potato salad and cornbread. After, we went for a walk along Jericho Beach.

Tomorrow, I am headed to Monck Provincial Park on Nicola Lake near Merritt. I have never been there before, but pictures of the lake and campground look wonderful. I am going with a bunch of friends and I have been looking forward to this weekend all month.




Listening to: Chilliwack - My Girl

 

Cat Videos Make Me Laugh

Cat In A Suitcase



 

Remembering Our First Crushes

My First Crush



 

Apparently

Apparently, I am "Daunting".



daunting - 2 dictionary results

daunt [dawnt, dahnt]

–verb (used with object)

1. to overcome with fear; intimidate: to daunt one's adversaries.

2. to lessen the courage of; dishearten: Don't be daunted by the amount of work still to be done.

Origin:

1250–1300; ME da(u)nten < AF da(u)nter, OF danter, alter. of donter (prob. by influence of dangier power, authority; see danger ) < L domitāre to tame, deriv. of domitus, ptp. of domāre to tame

Related forms:
daunt-ing⋅ly, adverb
daunt-ing⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. overawe, subdue, dismay, frighten. 2. discourage, dispirit.

Antonyms:
2. encourage.

Listening Rihanna - Disturbia

 

A to Zed

I borrowed this A to Z that is going around on FaceCrack Donna. I ain't no FaceCracker, but I like the insight it provides about the writer.

A - Age: 34.9

B - Bed size: Queen: Simmons Orthopedic with pillow-top mattress and mattress pad, 300+ count sheets. It's like sleeping on a cloud.

C - Chore you hate: Washing the tub and mopping the floors. Best to outsource.

D - Dog’s name: Cat's name is Choco.

E - Essential start your day item: Warm chai and soy or strawberry black tea.

F - Favorite color: Aquamarine, turquoise or teal.

G - Gold or Silver: Platinum.

H - Height: 5′3.5″

I - Instruments you play(ed): Flute (not at band camp).

J - Job title: Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director and Board of a non-profit organization that manages extended-care facilities.

K - Kids: Not yet. I am a parental-figure to a Siamese cat and an Aunt to an 8 year old.

L - Living arrangements: 750 sq ft one-bedroom apartment one block from Kitsilano Beach.

M - Mom’s name: Sadie

N - Nicknames: Stace, Sinja

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: None that I know of.

P - Pet Peeve: People who waste, don't move to the back of the bus, bad drivers.

Q - Quote from a movie: "Would you like me to seduce you?", "Nobody puts 'Baby' in a corner.", "I'll have what she's having."

R - Right or left handed: Mostly right.

S - Siblings: Aaron

T - Time you wake up: 6:20 really is hell on earth.

U- Underwear: Affirmative.

V - Vegetable you dislike: I never met a vegetable I didn't like.

W - Ways you run late: Surfing the 'net, cat naps, or missed the bus.

X - X-rays you’ve had: Dental

Y - Yummy food you make: Scrambled eggs with sauteed veggies and Havarti.

Z - Zoo favorite: Portland Oregon Zoo (Love 'em all!)

 

Listening to: Engima - Sadness

 

Dating Advice

How to Date Someone Dumber Than You



 

Audrey Tautou in the Chanel No 5 Commercial



 

Cherry Blossoms

After I came out of the Burlesque show at 1:30 am on Sunday, I walked two blocks to my car to Parker Street near Commercial Drive. The whole street was covered in cherry blossoms. I wish I had my camera because someone drew a heart on my windshield (not my car below). It was such a lovely gift.



Listening to: Oliver Shanti - Spring Tea Ceremony

 

A La Weekends

These past few weekends have been fantastic. A few weekends ago, I went down to Seattle for Bunarchy. A bunch of us participated in a bunny bar-hop in Georgetown. It was a lot of fun. We started at the Georgetown Liquor Company, headed to Calamity Janes, Jules Maes and finished at the 9lb Hammer. The 9lb was a very funky bar because there were board games everywhere. I loved seeing Jenga, Trivial Pursuit and Rock'em Sock'em Robots. The evening creme de la creme was the Taco Truck that pulled up to serve fresh tacos at 2 am.



I spent the rest of the weekend at the Csto NW Regional Conference participating in a series to team-building workshops with my Csto campmates from Burning Man. It was great to see old Csto mates from as far away as Victoria and California.


Last weekend, I went to SinCity with a paddy wagon full of Recompression Cops. We wrote citations, performed illegal searches and confiscated concealed weapons. I am still a rookie in training, but I am learning a lot in the ways to becoming a good oscipher.


On Friday, I went to see The Secret World of Og at the Carousel Theatre in Granville Island with Kel, Omid and Erin. I had never read the children's book before, but the adaption was incredible. The screenplay was fantastic, the characters were adorable, the acting was great, and the set design was magical. It is a story about five children that discover their toys are being taken to a secret underground world. After the play, we went for dinner at the Cat's Social House (formerly Cat's Meow). More dark decor swanky, mind you, the service and food were good even though there was not enough staff on hand.

On Saturday, I went with Claire, Dorothy and Delilah to The Reef on Commercial Drive for some Jamaican food and drinks. I love their raspberry rum mojitas. After filling our palates, we went to see By the Seat of Our Panties: A Burlesque Musical at the Vancouver Burlesque Festival. The show was incredible! We laughed non-stop. The musical had so many great numbers performed by a talented cast. I loved the song about Day Jobs. The show was delightfully roaring.

This afternoon, I am going over to Leanne and Louie's for the Annual Brupper. I used to live next door to Leanne in our old apartment building and every year she would host an annual pancake brupper. Guests would bring an ingredient to be the added feature in a batch of pancakes. Previously pancakes have included Oreo chunks, gummie bears, baked apples, bananas and jelly beans. This year, I am bringing butterscotch chips.

I cannot believe it is already May! Spring sprung rather late and I feel sorry for all the hayfever sniffling sufferers. My rent went up again $35 the second year in a row. I am considering moving before it reaches $1,000. A bit much for a one-bedroom apartment, but the rents elsewhere are just as high. *sigh* I could purchase, but I would be paying through the nose as a single-incomer. I am not quite ready for the hippie commune just yet.

Listening to: Corey Hart - Never Surrender

 

Recompression IX

I just returned from my 7th Burning Man Vancouver Recompression on the Sunshine Coast.



I had so much fun and made so many new friends. I camped my second year with Arabian Nights and hung out with the Cops.

The theme for the weekend was Alice In Wonderland. The Moose Lodge decorations were fantastic, as was the chill space. I enjoyed all the performances of the talent show, propane poofers, fireballs and bunny cannons by Disaster Area, the Legion of Flying Monkeys Karaoke Puppet Show, the Rally Car Race, the fire show choreographed by Mystress Fire, and the Man burn.

I also helped Yonderboy with his photo booth for 3 hours Saturday evening.

Not too mention, the food was fantastic!

The ferry ride home was rather awesome.

Listening to: Opus III - Dreaming of Now

 

I Wish Dolphins Were My Friends

Dolphin Bubbles: An Amazing Behaviour



 

Kyoto Loves Me

Well, after taking a bus to the Gion district that consists of traditional Japan with temples, shrines and Geisha, we walked around for the better part of an hour looking for a Love Hotel. Rooms were either $50 per hour or $130 for overnight. But check-in was at 10 pm, and we did not know if we could go in and out of the hotel. The sun was setting, we were starting to get cranky and hungry. We ended up back on Higashioji Street just down from the Yasaka Pagoda staring into a diner. We were hungry, so we set our weary parts down at a table.

We did not have high expectations. While we were waiting for the only woman took cook our food, we contemplated sleeping at the train station, trying a hostel, or taking the train to another city and leaving Kyoto. The latter made me very sad because I really wanted to see Kyoto. We almost skipped the city all-together. We had not made a hotel reservation and every room from a hostel to a hotel was booked. It is the beginning of the cherry blossom season.

Our dinner was good and fufilling. We we were paying our bill, the restaurant owner took pitty on us. She called her husband to assist us. He came by the restaurant and phoned an aquaintance and left a voicemail. We sat a waited hoping for even a spare room in some random building.

After a few minutes, the husband came over and informed us he managed to arrange a place for us to stay. He even came out to explain the directions to the taxi driver. Most streets and buildings in Japan do not have signs or numbers.

The taxi driver had no idea where this guest house was, but he managed to find it. A fellow met us at a gate. We followed him down a walkway. When he opened the door, we were in complete awe inside the Gojo Machiya Guest House. It is a two-level Japanese style house with lots of browns and whites with a kitchen, shower and bathroom, heated-seat toliet, laundry and tv. The best part is the guest house is only $150 per night with a $100 deposit. Most of the hotels started at $250 to $300 per night.

I am currently sitting on a Thai-triangle pillow with a fuzzy blanket in a tatami room listening to classical opera playing on a cd player hanging on the wall.

Life in Kyoto is *so* rough.

Also, I saw my first Geisha. We were standing outside the restaurant and there were two Geisha standing on the street. A few people were photographing them, and they turned their backs to avoid being photographed. Both Geisha were stunning.

 

Kyoto

We just showed up in Kyoto and all the hotels are full.

Osaka was amazing. We stayed at the Flex Hotel near the train station. Lots of little bars, Izakaya and boutiques. Everyone is so friendly and helpful.

We went to see the Osaka Castle. It was originally built in the 1500s, but it was burned down during a war in the 1600s. It was rebuilt and struck by lighting and burned again. Air raids during WWII also destroyed a lot of the castle walls and turrets.

We also went to the aquarium. The aquarium has eight floors with exhibits from Japan`s Forests, Alaska, Antarctica, Cook Islands, Aleutenin, Monterey Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The latter tank has 5400 tonnes of water and is loaded with fish, sharks and manta rays. I also saw gigantic spider crabs, octopuses and jelly fish. The acrylic glass of the tank is 30 cm thick.

We also saw a gigantic ferris wheel on the harbour front.

The food in Osaka was also amazing. We had incredible bento boxes for lunch at a tiny place with beautiful decor. For dinner, we had good sushi at Jean-ni (sp?). After dinner, I had a nap for a few hours. At 2 am, I decided to go for a walk. I walked north to see a organic building, temple and shrine. Then I walked south towards the Osaka Theatre. Eventhough it was 3 and 4 in the morning, I felt completely safe. I walked through the Shinsabashi Shopping district. At night, it looks like Times Square or Las Vegas.

I love Osaka city!

We went back to Nariyama for one more night. We went to another Onsen Hanna bath house. Not as fancy as the first one. It had three pools and two saunas. Because it was after 7 pm, it only cost $5.

Now, we are sitting in the foreign tourist office located on the 9th Floor in the Seto department store searching the Internet for love hotels to stay at. I snuck a quick peak the the Kimono fabric section of the department store. Kimonos start at a few thousand dollars in price.

Our plan was to stay two nights in Kyoto, but we may have to leave if there is no accommodation. *sigh*

 

Konnichwa

Greetings from Hiroshima. This is the first time I have had an opportunity to us a comptuer. After every word, I have to hit the enter key. I was only in Tokyo for a day and a half. We stayed with a friend of a friend`s in Yutenji. She shares a penthouse apartment with 4 other roommates.

In Tokyo, I went to Akihibara, the electronics district. I saw cute girls advertising maid cafes. I also went to Asukusa and saw the ancient temple. I tried some octopus donut holes (not my favourite.　In the evening, we went to the club in Babel called Womb. Crazy. It had four floors and played a lot of hosue and trance. A 21 year old University student tried to pick me up. He was really sweet and said my outfit was very cute.

Then we went south to Nariyama for three days to visit Mike`s sister`s family. We stayed in a Japanese house with sliding doors and tatami mat rooms. The housing here has no central heating. She cooked amazing traditional food and served amazing green teas. We also went to an Onsen (public bath). It was like a luxury spa. It had 10 baths, including cold, hot, bubbling and hot spring. There were also 3 saunas, a cafeteria, massage, movie room, library and computers. Lunch was amazing and I paid $3 to be barried in sand up to my neck.

The toliets here are amazing: trickle rinses, dryers and always warm to sit on. Some even play music.

In Naoshima, we stayed in Yurt by the beach. We went on a walking tour of 20 different types of art structures. We also toured the Benesse Museum, Chichu Museum and Art House Project (restored houses with art).

Now I am in Hiroshima. Today, we visited the Memorial Peace Park and Peace Memorial Museum. The museum was emotional and horrifying. The atomic bomb dropped by the United States on Hiroshima blasted everything within a 600 metre radius and radiated everything around 2 km. Over 140,000 people died, 70,000 of which were never identified.

Tomorrow, we are off to Kyoto and then Osaka.

My basic Japanese is becoming better and better each day. Japanese culture is very interesting: people wear masks when sick, wave thanks during driving, say please and thank you a LOT, and bow.

All the food I have eaten has been amazing and cheap. It is cheaper to eat quality restaurant and a-la-carte food then in Canada. I love Kirin lemon tea and milk tea (strawberry too!).

I rode a bullet train that went 285 kms per hour!

I have seen lots of stray cats lying around temples and in parks. They are not very friendly to strangers.

Lots of love from Japan!

Cho Segoi (very awesome)!

 

Vacation: All I Ever Wanted

I saw Jimmy Kimmel's Unnecessary Censorship of Sesame Street recently and could not stop laughing.

Also of a laughing nature is Prop 8: The Musical. I know this was going around a few months ago, but I finally decided to watch it.

Tomorrow, I will be flying to Tokyo on a 10-hour JAL flight. I managed to arrange a cat herder at the last minute when my previous person fell through. Thank you Claire for offering to watch Choco Cat for me.



I recently read the story of Hachiko, Japan's most Faithful Dog. Hachiko was the loyal companion of Professor Uyeno in 1923. He always accompanied his owner to the train station and waited for him to returned and walk back home with him. He did this for two years. One day, the professor died at work and did not return home. The Akita dog continued to go to the train station and wait for him for 10 years until his death (the same spot he last saw his owner alive). There is a statue in Shibuya to honour Hachiko.

I am really looking forward to 18C warmer weather in Tokyo. However, I hear it can be quite windy at times. I miss my scarf.

Listening to: Jim Sturges - Across the Universe

 

Heard It Was A Full Moon

Here is a link to Validation the movie.


Flight of the Conchords' Ladies of the World




Flight of the Conchords' songs were the anthems of my weekend in Victoria. The weekend in Victoria was great. We had brunch at Floyd's, Pho at Pho Vy, and partied Carnivale-style at a Firehall in Sannich.


After work, I ran around downtown crossing off errands. I tried to find another scarf to replace the one that was stolen from the Waldorf party two weeks ago--no luck. That was my favourite scarf. *grr* I bought my Japan rail pass with 20 minutes before closing to spare. One week from now, I will be on my JAL flight with a Cheshire grin and worshiping JAL flight attendants. Arigato gozaimasu!



I also went to MAC to buy some face products, including the lipstick and lipliner I had to replace that were stolen in my wool coat. I also picked up a beaver skiing snowglobe for Mike's sister's mother-in-law in Japan. I also bought his s-n-l a bunch of cute dollar-store stickers (she is a teacher) and a shwack of chocolate (she's craving Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Balls). I also bought some cute Vancouver fridge magnets to give away. A cute bear ornament I bought broke on the way home. I am going to see if the Maintenance guy at work can help me fix it.

Man, this Imperial Earl Gray tea from T is good, especially with Tim Tam's. I learned about Tim Tam's in Australia. You bite off one end of the biscuit, then the other and suck the tea through and eat it. I recently found Tim Tam's at London Drugs.

I forgot I have to do my taxes, or beg my cousin too. She did them last year... by hand. I usually buy Quicktax and split the cost with others. Last year, I bribed her with steak and lobster dinner at The Boathouse at English Bay. You may say QB is cheaper than surf & turf for two, but she's really good company.

Tea sips... yum. I just have to finalize my packing list and actually start packing. I also bought used Mary Lawson's Crow Lake to read on the flight. My massage therapist recommended Lawson to me.

I bought some yuppie black Pumas today. I wanted black sneakers to wear at work and in Japan. I have tried on so many black sleek sneakers to no avail. So I broke down at bought them at Brown's in The Bay. I also bought a pair of Ed Hardy's with a funky koi pattern.

Oh yeah, I have yet another cold. Third one of the year thus far. Thank goodness it is a mild one. It should be gone by the weekend. I guess I shouldn't have been... yadda yadda... this past weekend.

Listening to: The Fixx - Saved By Zero

 

Love Like Blah

Like: Did You Know?



 

Ain't What I Used To Be

Well, let me tell you 4 hours sleep doesn't feel the same as when you were 21 years old. I went to a fundraiser for Yvonne's Mad Hatter Party last night at the Canvas Lounge. I had never been there before, but I know it is the former Babylon Studios space. I think they raised a lot of money for her cause and I was proud to participate.

Prior to the party, I went to Hastings Steam & Sauna for some Eucalyptus steam with F&C and D. When I got home, I just wanted to lie down on my comfy bed. But it was good to go to the party and connect with people. There were some really great hats.



Tonight, I am going to Carnivàle Party in Victoria with Yonderboy and Squishelle. I am excited for my first Victoria Burner Party. Yonderboy has offered to do a photo shoot for Bunny Ruffles and I. I packed a shwack load of clothes and three pairs of shoes. I am hoping to squeeze in some cat naps along the way to Victoria in the car and on the ferry. I just have to make it through my work day.

 

FlipText

˙ɯɟʞɔɐɾ uo ǝnƃɐǝl ƃıq s,ǝuɐɹɥɔoɔ ɯoʇ oʇ ƃuıuǝʇsıl ɯɐ ı ʍou ʇɥƃıɹ

˙ɹǝɥɔɐǝʇ ɐ sı ǝɥs ˙ɥʇıʍ ƃuıʎɐʇs ǝɹɐ ǝʍ uɐɯoʍ ǝɥʇ ɹoɟ sɹǝʞɔıʇs ǝʇnɔ ǝɯos puıɟ oʇ ǝʌɐɥ ı ˙uɐdɐɾ ǝɹoɟǝq op oʇ uoıʇɐɹɐdǝɹd ɟo ʇıq ɐ ǝʌɐɥ llıʇs ı

˙ʞɹoʍ ɹǝʇɟɐ ʇuǝɯʇuıoddɐ ǝƃɐssɐɯ ʎlɹɐǝ uɐ oʇ oƃ oʇ ʎɐpoʇ ʎlɹɐǝ dn ʇǝƃ oʇ pɐɥ ı

¡unɟ sı ɟɟnʇs ʇxǝʇdılɟ sıɥʇ

 

Canon Memory Card Error

So, my 5 year old trusty Canon S400 was giving me a Cannot Read Memory Card Error. After replacing the battery, I still received the error. I took it to VanCam Service to have it assessed. The technician informed me Canon was issuing a recall that may fix my problem for free. He also said my canon has a very good lens and is sturdy because it is thick. He further stated the new slim cameras are not as sturdy when dropped and the lenses are not as good.

In Japan, D&M and I are booked at the Tsutsuji-so Lodge in Naoshima.



I purchased a lovely Curious George sticker and colouring book from KidsBooks today. The shop even gift-wrapped it.

Currently watching the L-Word. Love the show. I love seeing the Vancouver shoot locations in the show. There is a post-production trunk sale this weekend for the L-Word. I wish I was going to be in town to see the sale.

Listening to: Rammstein - Du Hast

 

Where's the Beef?

Ok, if you did not know the title give props to an old 80s commercial--you are too young or way too old.

It's one of those weeks. You know, where as soon as you get home you want a nice chunk of dark chocolate. Better yet, a grilled steak, medium-rare, with a glass of shiraz served to you in a hot tub by a hunky delish man. (Save room for dessert...)

I settled for organic multigrain soya-mozza grilled cheese with Simply Organics ketchup and a strawberry black tea. No, really, it *was* satisfying.


So funny, Flight of the Conchords' Too Many Dicks on the Dance Floor



I cannot stop listening to Michael Mind's remix of Christopher Cross' Ride Like the Wind. I noticed it in BToxic's Electrograde mix (electro-house remixes of retro songs).

Listening to: Michael Mind - Ride Like the Wind (Klaas Remix)