It's a date! (Part II)

Paul and I went on a date! 

We had sushi -- "The Love Boat". 

From our seats we could see the boat being prepared, and we watched it float to the table.





It was delicious.  Though, since I had to stay away from the soy sauce, I learned there is such thing as too much wasabi.  (A pain like brain freeze.)

We've tried Love Boats at different restaurants, but this was the first at Mikado.  There were definitely some interesting / unexpected pieces -- I don't think I've ever eaten raw shrimp... and was that squid? This one probably had a little too many pieces that neither of us were keen on. 
 
Anyway, eating was still fairly easy.  The hard part was what to talk about. 

I had lots of James things on my mind (too many probably), but anything else... um... But, luckily,  Paul seemed pretty happy to be just out of the house and eating at a restaurant.  


It did feel good to have some quiet time. But it was also awkward... (how do we do this again?)  (Mixed feelings too on eating out and changing out of my default uniform -- a stained t-shirt -- that was functional and comfortable, but hardly self esteem building.) And, it also felt pretty good to get back home.  Jackie and James were, of course, fine.

Citizen Paul

Three alarm clocks and a wake up call from the UK later: Yes, we're awake. And we made it on time (early). And things went smoothly, so here it is, the big news I wasn't allowed to share before: Paul (as of 9:30 a.m. today) is officially a Canadian citizen!

He didn't want to jinx anything, so we kept things pretty quiet.

Even as we were waiting at Canada Place, he was anxious. Together outside the main room. In the main room, but in separate sections. We watched a big screen loop through a video featuring scenes and words about Canada. (Oh, there's the Queen and Kate!) The soundtrack was, unfortunately, a slightly overly schmaltzy version of the anthem.

More candidates and more spectators arrived. Some could not resist the allure of paper flags.

Finally, at a decent hour in the morning, the ceremony started. The officiant was energetic and funny, talking about her own immigrant roots, how glad she was to be welcoming the candidates, some of the journeys they must have made to get there.

It was her speech that reminded me just how spoiled I am to have just been born into citizenship. Paul's application was quite the process, and there were many others there today who probably had to go through a lot more.

After the oath, she shook people hands as they each walked up to receive their certificate and take a photo.

Signed, and done. We could relax and celebrate!

First, his first snack as a Canadian (McDonalds). Followed by his first lunch and first sushi as a Canadian.

After lunch, I headed back to work. I wouldn't be surprised that with these recent restless nights, he might be now taking his first nap, as a Canadian.

Understated Surprises

Phone calls from Mom and Mum, pictures of Benny C from Steph... it was shaping up to be a pretty nice birthday. 

And then there were Paul's plans.  They were a secret, a surprise... until he gave me some clues.  No to my tutu and tiara and, again, I didn't need any scuba gear... And between travelling there and connecting the dots I guessed right!  Zen for dinner!  Oh, so delicious. 


It is better to not know and then to guess because it makes me feel smart!

Our bellies full of sushi, we walked back to bus stop.  Would you know it?  We pass a laundromat!  Yes, I started singing. 

Back at home, there were also surprise presents.   

Hidden behind Bessie Tuba's case was a terracotta strawberry planter.  How the heck did he get it home?!  Regardless, I immediately started thinking it would make a great House Hippo play centre (with water features...)  Or, you know, just a really cool planter with tall grass right in the top. 

There were chocolates from Sweet Lollapallooza Confectionery. 

And then, something that looked a bit like rolls of toonies... but they were weighted at one end... nail polish?  And it was!  It was all Pretty in Pink.  (Pretty sure if they ever sold a "House Hippo" pink I'd buy it, even if it didn't work for my skin tone - even better, that could be the first colour I create!) 

The last I could tell was a memory stick, but what was on it?  Oh, hip hop music!  Just what I needed to practice dancing.  Um... but did you listen to lyrics?  

"In fairness, a bunch of misogynistic and racist songs makes a great gift." 
"In fairness?  Maybe "in furnace"? 

They do have a great beat.  I pop some moves and immediately hear my joints crack (the original popping).  But really, it's Coconut who has the best "Hard Knock Life" moves!

I always feel a little sad and anxious about birthdays, but this one has been really nice in a quiet way.  (Last year was really nice in a loud way.)  And just in case I was worried about getting older / looking older, Paul tells me a story: When he went to make some prints of our photo shoot, the clerk asked, "Is that your daughter?"  Maybe a bit creepy for Paul, but silly me was happy! 

Zen and Freud's Last Session

Our Thursdate started with dinner at Zen... on our realtor's dime.  Yep, when asked about our favourite restaurant (Um... do we have one?), we figured sushi was pretty special and chose one on that.  Some time later, (thank-you) gift certificates showed up in the mail! 

Paul's never been to Zen.  But even though I had, I noticed different details such as tell-tale signs that this was once a Brewster!  Though, I guess the etched name and beer mug logo on the table could just mean Zen bought their tables...

Anyway, we briefly mulled over the menu, acknowledged we didn't have a lot of time to choose, and picked the Love Boat (which had a selection of items chosen for us). 

A wooden boat arrived not long after -- in real ship shape!  It was delightfully covered in sushi.  A lot of sushi. 

Some of the items were standard familiars, but others were a bit strange. 

Clustered near the middle were maki rolls that looked deep fried.  The menu revealled these were "Golden Philadelphia" rolls.  They were something just so utterly wrong in my mind to the whole sushi esthetic (Beef?  DEEP FRIED?!  CHEESE?!).  It was too weird for me.  Good thing Paul liked them. 



With our time constraint, we ate all that food a little too fast for my liking.  But it was still so good.  Certainly more than adequate motivation to send more friends our realtor's way.  

We speed-walked to Holy Trinity Church (Fringe rules still applied to holdover shows) and made it! We even managed to find seats together (if a bit far away from the stage). 





Freud's Last Session, was listed in the Fringe program as Comedy and Drama.  I think that was alphabetical.  My call for the fictional meeting between Dr. Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis the night before the outbreak of WWII: drama with a little bit of comedy.  Though... it could have been because so much of it was above my head.  I definitely need a history lesson and to read more. This post before hand would have helped too.  But even so, it was good.  Paul laughed really loudly at one point. (Wonder if I can find the quote...) 

Afterwards on the bus, my head was buzzing that feeling I was too awake and on the edge of something big... but was too tired to flesh it out once turning our attention to things like getting home.  The magic / high of good theatre?  Maybe.

The stylish set for Freud's Last Session at Edmonton Fringe 2013 highlighted the dream like quality of theatre.

Tim's Block Party

We'd heard about Tim's block parties: Good food, good conversation... a chance to meet everyone.  Yes, we'd heard about it.  Finally, yesterday, we got to go to one!

I used Jackie as slave labour to make scones.  (Using the leftover "self-rising" flour from when "we" made cake.)

We headed across the street with the fresh out of the oven goodies and some jam.  I also carried a bit of anxiety.  Will they like me? 

Immediately on arrival, plates of other delicious food were handed to me.  Well, I was certainly  liking these people. 

I sat down, had a snack, and started taking photos. 

I learned Claude was quite the chef. 

We officially met Adam and his two daughters, Hazel and Leanore.

We found out Harpreet and Suk were expecting twins.   Little Kiran was going to be a big sister! 

(Right: Loved Andrew's T-shirt.  Yep, he's a geologist.)

Todd (a little further down the block) is a musician and is a part of B Scene Studios.

Paul was right, there was nothing to be worried about.  These people are warm and friendly.  I'm really loving our neighbourhood.

Sushi Sweet

"I wonder what Celina is up to for her birthday..."
"Whatever.  As long as there's cake." 

Though not part of these mysterious plans for the actual day, Paul and I were invited to the "family" celebration dinner the day before.  Celina's Sweet Sixteen (for the family at least) was to include a lot of delicious sushi. 

There were a couple of location changes until Sakana in Old Strathcona was confirmed. 

Though on Whyte Ave (as The King & I), I managed to get lost and was the last to arrive.  By then my place had been set - the complete other end of the table from Celina. 

(Left and below: A couple swipes of the pen repurposes the Hello Kitty magic.) 

The boys crowded 'round the tech, while I tried to work my way to the other end to see what was happening.  

(Above: Seaweed salad / Left: A savoury rose.) 

Such as the fight between Esther and Stephen for the gorgeous, full tray of maki rolls and sushi. 

Despite the antics, Esther was actually really good making sure Stephen did get a share of everything (despite him being more interested in talking to Kevin and Paul). 

Dessert came in the form of mango and green tea ice cream.  I brought  spoonful of the green stuff to Paul, interrupting Stephen's math riddle challenge.  He refused. 

Me (confused): Why?  You like ice cream. 
Paul: Oh, I thought it was wasabi.

Back on the other side of the table, the trickster gears in Esther's brain turned. She stuck a green spoonful in front of Stephen's face.

Esther: You will eat what I feed you! 

He did.  It was ice cream.  Oh, the trust! 

Though Stephen did turn around and asked us all another riddle:

A woman met the man of her dreams (who she's never met before) at her mother's funeral.  Unfortunately, she wasn't able to get his number.  A few days later, she killed her sister.  Why?* 

The answer (and conclusion from it), which Esther had answered correctly before (without having read it in the past like me) didn't cast her in a particularly good light. 

Lilian, her mom, Esther and Stephen took off to Dream Tea House (just two doors down) -- unable to resist a bubble tea while they were in the neighbourhood.  But Paul and I headed over to Theresa, Carl, Celina and Kevin's.  I had heard about and really wanted to play this new dancing game they had. 

Apparently the game system could detect and know what the players were doing, without having to strap on any equipment. 

I walked within range and saw myself on the screen. 

"I'm so fat."  

The words came out loud before I could stop them.  And sadly, I realised a part of me knew it didn't matter if I pretended anymore and that's why it allowed me to slip.* 

There was a time when I tried to hide my body and weight issues, and promote a healthier outlook to all this for Celina because I thought it mattered.  I didn't want her to be caught up thinking physical beauty all important or that what we saw on television / magazines / internet was the beauty standard... I didn't want her to think about dieting for looks rather than health or that it was healthy to obsess weight... So I made sure I didn't do it in front of her.  Or atleast I really tried. 

* The happy side of this calculation was knowing she was strong and beautiful.

Anyway, she and Kevin just laughed.  I took off my big hoodie and got into the dancing.  Or really, playing the game. 

The screen showed computer animated dancers doing the moves we were supposed to follow.  Some of these moves had names, but some seemed rather random.  Points were awarded for hitting the proper moves with the proper beats.  And we were immediately rewarded with bursts of lights and colour on the screen. 

Na had once talked about this game before... and she was right - it's hilarious to watch. 

In between the songs and challenges, the dancers would also trash talk to each other. All the more funny since I knew how bad I looked.

Celina was by far the best - and since they just got the game she hadn't practiced.  (Right: Stayin' alive by striking an awesome pose.)

I suspect her secret plans today will involve playing this with her girlfriends. 

It kind of makes me wish we had a television... and a games system... and the game...

Happy Sweet Sixteen, Celina
<3 p="">
* The riddle and answer is here, and also at snopes, where origins of it are also debunked.