Hail and Happy Birthday

They muggy day finally resolved with some rain... and some hail... and some sewer backup!  Yikes!  Thankfully, all that stayed outside.

When Paul came back from work, we (with Jackie remotely) serenaded him over a "density cake" (my no added sugar banana bread) and one candle.  Someone was pretty interested in that candle... 

Unfortunately, "home from work", wasn't "free from work", and Paul still had some deadlines to work on.  But I hope he had a nice break with us.  At least he could take any aggression out on the "cake".

Note for next time: When spread out and baked in pie plate -- density cake becomes even denser and harder.  Stab, stab.

Kevin and Natasha and Evan

"Now you two are three... and everywhere you go you will take joy  and happiness and... The pram... the buggy... the changing mat... the nappy bin...the cuddly toy... the bottle unit... the Moses basket... the clothes... the nappies... " 

~ Greeting Card "The Generation Game" by Dino 

Ack!  It's a bug and I had to touch it!

Kevin (ever the entomologist) was really happy with my find on the gate handle.  I was not happy about the grey, winged thing that was as long as my index finger (which he identified as a stonefly).

But, I was happy he was interested in the lily beetle: "If you find more, would you collect them?"  He could use them for teaching.  Collect bugs and stop them from eating my lilies?  Yes, I'm sure I can. 

Anyway, they've set things up really nicely.  Their charming house with a really good layout surprised me: it's actually smaller than ours!  Only 800 square feet, but more spacious because they have a lot less stuff (Kevin's collections are corralled into a small office).  Oh, and they have a huge backyard, perfect for Huxley (the dog) and Evan to (eventually) run around in.

Or, maybe (in the nearer future) to have an outdoor dance party?  They tell me Evan loves ABBA (Um... James likes Wagner? :) ) 

Also, they have a baby gate that folds into an octagon.  Cage match!  Well, aside from kicking, James is really good at nomming -- that can be his special move.  Though baby fighting is probably best to be discouraged...

I'm so impressed by how they have things all orgranised and ready.  Natasha says it's partially because she can't nap during the day, so when Evan's sleeping or nursing, she's on her phone reading up on baby stuff and online shopping.  Kevin's also been able to switch to part-time since its the summer.  Different family members have been to visit and have helped out too.

I know Kevin is very environmentally conscious, he says he's been trying to use cloth diapers when it's his turn to change Evan.  Wow.  For all my good intentions before hand, disposables seem like the only manageable thing for me now -- so, good job!

The visit wasn't too long -- Evan napped pretty much through it.  I enjoyed the cake they made for me (no dairy, instead it has tomato soup!) and James I think, enjoyed the attention (way more talking and words, even though I try). 

I'm must make the effort to visit regularly.  At 5 blocks away, it really should be easy.  But on some days it can feel too hard.  Reminder: We wouldn't want to miss out on an ABBA dance party now would we? 

Playing piano to a cow.

Na and Stephen came for dinner last night.  Again, I was amazed at the depth of the conversation and "sophistication" of understanding of art and music... Well, that between Paul and Stephen.  I mentioned to Na how even the conversation was like playing piano to a cow (對牛彈琴, where I'm the cow) let alone the music.  That at least got an understanding nod and chuckle.

Anyway, my only contribution was at some point to mention the radio program I'd recently heard that touched on the quagmire that is Common-Law marriage in Canada (and in Quebec).  How many people think they do have rights?  And that's when Na said, there isn't such a thing in China.  Is that one of the "economic" reasons people don't live together without being married?  At first I thought it was old fashioned, but it certainly does make some sense.

(Below: How many people does it take to serve a chocolate cake?)

It was really snowing hard near the end of the night -- even the warm and cosy colours (Na said she liked very much) couldn't keep out the winter.

Before they left, I pass along some Chinese cookbooks written in English to Stephen.  Hopefully he can put them to use; I'm much too lazy.

Late Birthday at Padmanadi

"We actually do like each other."  But you would be forgiven if you didn't think so.  Wayne in particular was in trouble, somehow anchoring the "triangle of aggravation" (and you thought sitting Wendy and Joseph away from each other would solve things :P).

After searching and comparing reviews for something good and interesting near our place (finalists: Habesha Cuisine [Ethiopian], Lan's Asian Grill [Thai and Laos]), I found they weren't open for Sunday dinner.  Darn.  Paul comes up with Padmanadi -- we did have a lot of fun the last time we were there -- and maybe it's just interesting enough for this group's discerning palates.

Meataterians need not apply. 


We managed to get a private room to contain our rowdiness.  I left the others to decide and gladly dug into the all the interesting looking dishes that arrived.  Everyone was concentrating on the food so much!  Is that ham?  Or fish?  It's all soy!

Joseph and Li quoted Choy Lan (Chua Lam), HK food critic, who said its just ridiculous for people who commit to being vegetarian / vegan to eat these types of dishes.  What's the point?  Why try to artificially mimic something else, when you know it's fake?  Just eat things the way they appear.

(Left: "Ham" or "fish cake" vegetable stir fry)

(Right: Deep fried "Shrimp")

(Below: "I can't believe they're not chicken strips")

Between bites, we did manage to catch up a little:
- Wendy and Will's Disneyland visit - didn't follow Joseph's (pro-vacation-planner) advice exactly, and missed out.
- Updates on Tim from dragon boating - was described multiple times as "interesting" (but in such a tone that it seemed negative -- an outcast kind of word...).  


And some people even weighed on working at home - some even said they would end up sabotaging their work!

We didn't finish up all the dishes, but they insisted I have dessert.  Three desserts.  One was from the restaurant.

I figured they must have been using trick candles (but, more likely, just another sign that my flute embouchure is completely gone). 

And then finally everyone came over - for more dessert!

But first a tour:
- Wayne felt claustrophobic in basement and especially in the Hobbit Hole.
- Wendy kept saying how clean the walls were (Is this her "thing", like mine for people's gardens and bookshelves?)
- No one seemed to be believe some of the nice things in the house were originally from me, like the little wooden, plaid-upholstered chair (Yeesh, just because my stuff is secondhand doesn't mean it can't be nice!)

At least next time they'll believe me when I say they should choose what kind of tea they'd like.  Else, they'll get the same as Wayne's "Surprise me" tea (Red Rose).  Which apparently was the worst tea he's ever tasted.  Hard to believe after his "bitter tea" wedding test.  Be forewarned!  

The moon, beautiful.

The day after Mid-Autumn Festival, Paul gives me a moon cake for my Chinese birthday.   Oh, yeah!

Kevin is 15.

Movie, pizza, cake, dance video games, and presents - that's what a birthday party is made of. 

The family mostly stayed out of the way of the group of boys that rumbled through the house.  But Paul and I did join in for a couple of rounds of the dance game. 

Everyone is growing up!

Oh right, one can't forget the distain of an older sister. (With really cute nails.) 

 

 

A KFR and Cake

Wendy: You're such a princesses, do a little bit of work and you complain your hands are rough.
Me: But, my hands were so much nicer before... 

Evidently, my princess training hadn't prepared for married life.  Wendy chided me for being so prissy and how spoiled I was before.  Yes, Big Sister, I know! The others watched our antics with amusement.

We'd gathered at a rather industrial part on the south side to celebrate Olivia's birthday.  She chose Won Jung Gak based on recommendations from friends.

I was a little afraid heading out such an unlikely place for dinner  -- basically a concrete box next to a whole lot of other concrete boxes, deserted on a Saturday.  But the restaurant's interior changed my mind instantly.  Softly lit paper lanterns made the wooden tables and chairs glow, and gave just enough light for me to see book cases full of colourful manga (I guess it would be the Korean equivalent).  It looked not like the cafeteria I imagined, but rather a laidback hangout for university students. 

The menu had some items we recognised from Gaya, but it was mostly unfamiliar.  Just what is the difference and between all these different sauces? 

(Below: Fresh is good, right?)

When the food arrived, we found we certainly had a good selection.  The hot stone bowl be-bim-bop (Lorena's go-to item at Gaya) was different too, but still delicious. 

Monica's pick looked great, but might have been just a little too spicy. 



















We continued to look at hands: Are those lumps cysts?  Nah, probably signs of wealth (in palmology).  And moved onto hair dying (just how often?). 

We caught up, we laughed, we complained... we finished dinner and headed back to Wendy's.

Wow, the changes!  Will and his friends had installed a lovely deck in the back.  Wendy's perennials have bloomed and everything in the yard was neat and tidy. 

We went back inside as the rain came.  There was cake (and may other snacks that we were too full to really eat, but picked away at anyway). 

Finally, as it was getting late, I called Paul to let him know. 

Me: I'll head out now.
Paul: So you'll be back in an hour.
Me: No, it's only about a half an hour drive, unless I get lost.

But it turns out he was right.  Not because I got lost, but because we started talking again (as he predicted) and because we still had to split the bills and tips.  Us accountants are almost as bad as mathematicians for doing that last task, and my Big Sis isn't great at it either! 

A bit more Calgary and then Home Sweet Home

We were still in Calgary Tuesday morning, but already Paul's mind was back in Edmonton and to work.  I used my remaining few hours in Calgary to do things my way and with a bang!

Breakfast was about trying the waffle maker I'd eyed since day one, and then tipping the syrup grenade (liberally) over the resultant waffle.  So bad for me, but so yummy too. 

(Left: Though they were pretty, I didn't eat them.)

I started my adventures and exploring by returning to the Red Mile (17th Ave SW).  Famed for being the party / bar area at night, it was quite a bit like daytime Whyte Ave during the day -- without the night crowd line ups and neon lights, the coffee shops, bookstores, and interior decorating shops stood out.  I explored a couple, but kept walking further past the shops.  My goal was to find the wire fence that had been strangely covered with clothes on hangers which I saw from the car last night on our movie outing. 

 

The fence was there, but the clothes and hangers were gone.  No matter, the sign explaining what it was still there (a clothing exchange). 

 

Wonders did not cease!  The house right next that fence had another fence with art and yoga poses and messages... I'd stumbled onto something! 

 

(Left: I'm glad someone else also made the connection.)

Not quite sure if it was a commune, but it was something definitely community-minded. 

I kept exploring. 

An (abandoned) "Fun" Chapel (right) was only blocks away from this quaint church (below left) on Superior Ave and Scarboro Ave.  Which was all a few block away from a community garden. 

Conscious of the time, I headed back to the hotel on a different route, relying on the grid system to get me there.  The soft hidden community area soon turned more industrial, and then changed again back to downtown high rises. 

 

 

I made it back to the hotel on time to leave.  I didn't get to try the hotel's sauna (it was on my list), but I did feel I got a morning of good exploring. 

Paul took on the hard duty of driving us home.  I took it all as a chance to snooze. 

Back at home, it seemed like everything in the pots had sprouted (and then dried out a little bit too much...)

I prepared dinner while Paul returned the car.  And, it just felt good to back. 

House Hippo and Coconut were happy to see us too.  Especially so when they saw we'd brought them back an eccles cake.