SEPTEMBER 29 - Blood Letting, Breakfast Wetting, and Furniture Fretting

I finally found out what was making me so sick over the past few weeks, and now it's just a few weeks (or months) seesaw-ing my thyroid meds to get me all balanced out again. I can't believe I didn't pick up on it - I'm usually the one who goes the the doctor and asks to have blood work done to check it out. I'm sure glad he sent me to LifeLabs with a requisition. Actually, according to the report that just came through on my computer, I probably just have a few months left - it seems everything is gone to the dogs. Woof.

Since I wasn't supposed to eat before I had blood work this morning, Howard and I went to Knight & Day Restaurant on King George Highway for breakfast afterward. As he would say, we've been there twice for breakfast - the first and last time. First we had to wait ages for coffee - as any waitress worth her salt should know, when someone orders coffee first thing in the morning, she wants it right now, this very second, toot sweet thankya. Not only did this gal take her time, she actually stopped to watch two police cars in the parking lot and ponder the reason for their presence with two other breakfasters while holding our coffee in her hands. Grrrrrr.

Howard ordered bacon, eggs and white toast, and was presented with whole wheat toast. I ordered 2 pancakes and scrambled eggs, and I was doing quite well - until I poured pancake syrup over my pancakes - and dirty looking water came out instead of syrup. As far as I can tell, there would be only two reasons this would happen: (1) They water down the syrup, and the gal who watered it down had something else on her mind and forgot to stir it up, or (2) The had just washed the container and there was dishwater still in the cap or the bottle when they loaded 'er up with syrup.

However, the waitress said she had no idea how that could have happened. Ha. The breakfast meals range from 8 - 14 dollars - and they water down the damn syrup? And then to put the icing on the (pan)cake, we had to wait forever for the bill. I actually stood up and put my jacket on - and sat down again, as no one took the hint. They did not charge me for the eggs I ate (I would hope not), nor the pancakes, but Howard's breakfast and our two coffees came to almost $15. Next time it's Sausage & Egg McMuffins - I don't care what my cholesterol number is.

I spent most of the day rearranging the living room furniture so the electric heaters would be free and clear - I know there are colder mornings up ahead. I really wanted to put the TV in the 'other' corner, but someone didn't think that would be a good idea, so I worked around that - had it all done, he came home and said, 'Well, the TV could go in that corner if you want' - so then it was shift everything around again. I think I moved the couch and love seat 3, if not 4 times. Howard lay down after dinner, and I asked him if he liked it.

He replied, 'I like it just fine like this ...' I was surprised at that answer, until he continued ... 'with my eyes closed.'

SEPTEMBER 24 -(Barely) Back, Miss Bling, and Some Memories of Summer 2012

I got through the day. I'm not sure how. Breathe in, breathe out .... etc. One more to go, and I can hopefully sleep for 4 days, and wake up normal again, if there's any such thing.

I do have a little story for you though. This gal came in the store and bought a kid's knitting kit. She was about 6' tall, broad shouldered, wearing a Stetson hat with feathers, and she was loaded down with silver jewelry - 4 or 5 huge rings on all her fingers and thumbs., chains, necklaces - you name it. Big belt buckle. Lots of silver. I asked her if she'd like a bag for her purchase, and she said,

'Please. I wouldn't want to call attention to myself.'

And I thought, Too late .....

5 LIFE LESSONS FROM THE SUMMER OF 2012:

• If you plant zucchini, someone, somewhere, will be making Zucchini Chocolate Brownies - Growing Things, Thieving Basta... Thieves, and A Couple Of Tunes ...
• Riding on hilly streets is a lot easier than riding on flat. On flat you don't get the benefit of the occasional downhill glide - it's pedal all the way - Barnston Island, Ferry Barges, and What The Hell Was I Thinking?
• Getting lost just offers different adventures - On The Road Again, Panorama, Peril and Police
• It's very funny to see people getting splashed by belugas. It's not so funny when the people getting splashes are you - Street Art, Vancouver Aquarium, and Hold Still - There's a Bucket Of Water Heading Your Way ....

4 RE-CAPTIONED PICTURES:

I hope to heavens I never wake up feeling Grumpy

Howard's always walking away from me - I wonder how many calories I use up running to catch up with him? Obviously not enough.

This see-through sign was at the picnic area at Tynehead Park. Give way when paths cross - paths of raccoons, coyotes, and I think they forgot the millions of shithouse flies that flew out of the toilet when I braved up enough to use it - I lifted the lid and the whole bathroom filled up with flies. Needless to say I brought all my liquids back home with me.

This is a fish portrayal of my bus ride home this afternoon. No kidding.

SEPTEMBER 23 - Just a Little Update

What a week. I left work early on Monday, didn't go in on Tuesday, did a bit of cycling on Wednesday, and ever since then tried my best to get better. Unsuccessfully. I don't know what bug I picked up, or where I got it, but it's a doozer.

I did get a bit of housework done on Friday, just dishes, a load of laundry, kitty litter, and floors. I also sliced  my last loaf of bread, which was not good, as that meant I kneaded to bake some more -which I really didn't feel like doing. But I did, on Saturday - scrubbed the hands, controlled the coughing, and made some of the best ever.

And now, it's Sunday morning and I have to go to work. I feel like I've been hit by a semi - but I'll be a trooper. I'm hoping a quick stop at the pharmacy for a bottle of Buckleys will subdue this cough somewhat, so all our customers don't do a turn-around at the door. After all, chances are I picked this up at the store, from some sneezy, coughy, runny-nosed customer who wiped her nose with her hand before passing me a handful of pennies.

Anyway. We went adventureless for over a week when Breehy had a flat, now, thanks to me, we've lost almost another week. However, we mustn't lose hope. I'm sure this will pass (eventually) and we'll be on the road again.

SEPTEMBER 19 - Growing Things, Thieving Basta... Thieves, and A Couple Of Tunes ...

After mulling over a Will I? or Won't I? I decided I should, so Breehy and I got ready for a short bike ride. I re-checked the route I had jotted down from Google, and that's when I realized I had omitted a 'right onto 102A', which explains why I kept missing the Park and Community Garden as a previous destination. Today, that seemed like a really good place to go, a simple easy 7.8 kilometre round trip.

So I packed Breehy's basket - including my notebook with directions, and my new favourite snack, Tiramisu Caramels. They were in the bulk bin next to the Chocolate Covered Raspberries, therefore they must be some kind of fruit, I would think. And then we were off.

How easy was it to find the community garden? Very easy. Because of construction at King George and 96, which meant really busy one-lane traffic, no sidewalk, and no bike lane, I walked up the opposite sidewalk pushing Breehy - fear of a $180 ticket kept me on the right side of the law - I also like Living Right and Being Free. Plus my energy level was quite low, and even on the level I found it hard to pedal. This was the first inkling that I probably should have stayed at home.

There was a welcoming committee of one at the entrance to the garden - but he didn't want to share his corn.

 And someone had planted a whole lot of Composting Bins.

 Even this late in the summer, there were still blooms aplenty.

I met Beverly, who was spending her daily hour and an half in her garden plot. She has had a season of removing Horsetail Weeds and is already getting her garden ready for next season's harvest. She told me there is a quite a bit of theft at this community garden - she has had her zucchinis stolen recently, and I think this is utterly disgusting. I love living in Surrey, but I am getting really ticked off at the lowlives that also inhabit this beautiful city.

Anyway, she's got a fine crop of beans there. I'm not going to tell anyone the location of this treasure - there are probably quite a few community gardens in Surrey, as well as in other cities in the Lower Mainland, and I imagine they all have their share of theft.  There are also a lot of really good, very decent priced markets where one can go to buy their zucchini, rather than steal them - such as Sabzi Mandi Supermarket on 100th Avenue just off King George, which is by far my favourite.

 Hmmm - must be getting near fall - what do I see peeking between these big leaves?

 After a trip around the garden, I rode along a forest path -

- and when I got to the other side of it - discovered I had ridden through Cedar Grove Park. My original intention was to go back home after the garden, but what the heck - a little bit farther wouldn't hurt. According to all the uphill I had to take to get here, there would be a nice downhill ride back home - at least most of the way.

 I found 104 Avenue and decided to head down for a bit, and what should I come across but -

Now, I'm not a violent person, but when I think of people who steal zucchinis, and, not to forget the low life who stole all my recycling cans/bottles from just outside my kitchen door, I wouldn't mind having a bit of this stuff in my possession. And who can resist free stuff .... free is good. But what the heck is a reloading bench?

A few more pedals, and look what I see - Guildford Mall. That was a different blog.

Yes, Guildford Mall. Needless to say, not even the thought of the Nestle's Toll House Cookie shop could drag me in a mall today. So on I went, and turned on 154 looking for both a lunch and a way home.

I did find a strip mall with a Tim Hortons, and figured it was as good a time as any to try one of their Paninis. I had heard they were 'amazing.' We'll see. So I packed a Panini, a Frozen Lemonade and a Vanilla Yogurt in Breehy's basket (it's amazing how much that can hold - it's almost as good as a purse) and went looking for a shady place for a picnic. Hmm. Another park.

I think that bike symbol is a motorized bike, not a genteel little pink and white Breehy, so off we go. And then I see this, and think - Water! Yes! A picnic by the water!

How lovely is this? Well, lovely except  for the Panini. I got a toasted ham and cheese sandwich. That's it. And although the first Frozen Lemonade I had from Tim Hortons this summer was really yummy, this one was full of artificial flavour. All in all, I wasn't impressed. Plus the fact there was nowhere to sit to eat this, so I had to repack everything and go scouting some more.

Yes, this would do. A nice shady spot under a tree, by a low fence I could use for a bench. A pretty view of the impending season, and Burp.

So now, it was just finding my way home. I used to be really good at getting lost in Surrey, but not any more. I knew if I went down this way, I'd come across some way familiar, and I did indeed. I came to 100th Avenue, which was great, because I knew that would take me to Sabzi Mandi Supermarket on the way home, and I could fill Breehy's basket with fruit and veggies. Yes! 

 It wasn't free - but it wasn't expensive either. And it was fresh, and perfect, and perfectly delicious.

You're welcome, and I will certainly visit again. Next time I'm getting zucchini for really delicious Zucchini Brownies - so good you'd swear they were sinful! (And I mean, I'm getting zucchini from the market - not the community garden!)

About 8 miles - well, actually a bit over as I did a bit of exploring. But it happened to be about 7 miles too much for my poor body, as I came home and had no energy left - only a sore and poor, poor pitiful me.

SEPTEMBER 15 - Street Art, Vancouver Aquarium, and Hold Still - There's a Bucket Of Water Heading Your Way ....

Today, Breehy had to stay home - I didn't want her to get splashed by the Beluga Show at the Vancouver Aquarium. I probably should have left my long skirt and shoes home too - in fact, next time I will maybe wear just a bathing suit or a garbage bag with armholes. Probably the latter, as I will not wear a bathing suit in public. I like bread too much.

So instead, we travelled by bus, then sky train - here's Chris, he was pretty excited - I think. Just getting over a cold, but it was a nice warm end-of-the-summer day, so he was fine.

And here's Lizzie, who was just starting a cold - at school, kids share more than crayons and crackers -  wearing one of her mom's classic looks (and I don't mean the dress.)

We skytrained to Vancouver, and met this killer whale at the entrance (or was it the exit?) of the station. You can probably tell by its colour that it's not a real whale, but a fibreglass one, part of a pod that  was painted and auctioned off a few years ago. The city of Vancouver has also produced a sloth of Spirit Bears (yup, that's the right word, just do a Yahoo! Search), a flock of  Eagles, and the newest, an army of  Terra Cotta Warriors.

After 2 crowded buses passed the bus stop to Stanley Park, we got on a slightly crowded one for the (thank goodness) short ride. The entrance is beautifully landscaped -

- and we headed down the path to the Aquarium. Ah. Two Roads Diverged.

And we chose the one to the Aquarium, where there is obviously a New Bird In Town.

Well, we tried to waddle this way, although it was a bit difficult with our long legs.

We came across a colony of penguins, and spent a little while watching them swim, waddle, shake, stand and stare back at us.

We also came across a flock of Japanese Anime fans, which was almost as interesting as the penguins - certainly more colourful.

Then it was off to see the Beluga show. There were two of them in the pool, and their trainers rewarded them with fishes as they did their little tricks.

Their last trick was to jump up and splash everyone in the first couple of rows. Like us. Chris started bawling - his pants got wet. I got soaked. I told him I was so wet I'd have to take off my skirt and go around in my underpants, and he thought that was sooooo funny. And it would have been.

So we sloshed our way inside again, and found a lot of really cool aquariums filled with really cool thingies.

The fishes below aren't really that dark in colour, but the tank was just packed with them. I suppose they are  like this in the wild, as the Aquarium keeps everything in as natural an environment as possible. I imagine the whales appreciate this when they are feeding. (No,these were not in the beluga tank, no whales in this tank at all that I could see.)

The inside of the Aquarium has very muted lights, so the flash would go off with every shot. This resulted in glass blurries and not-as-vibrant colours inside the tank.

The deflated bicycle tube below is actually an octopus. This is not a pretty cuddly-looking creature.

These are Sunflower Starfish.

I'm not sure who is studying who here.

It's really hard to believe there could be a Prince inside one of these. Ribbit.

And if there was a Prince in here, he could stay as far as I'm concerned. These lips are just a tad too much for me. (Why do I feel like popping on a Rolling Stones record, I wonder?)

And we went waaaaay downstairs to the glass walls of the dolphin tank, and were lucky enough to see a couple of them cavorting.

To finish the day, we went to the theatre and watched the 4D movie From Pole to Pole. Now, you may wonder what 4D is - well, it's got all the glamour of 3D, but has some added thrills - like getting a face full of water when a whale breaches. Needless to say, the kids weren't very impressed with that at all - in fact they both freaked out. All I can say, is I'm thankful their feet were high off the floor when the schools of herring swam by on the screen, because Nikkie and I both felt fish tails flipping our feet. (And, no we were NOT drinking.) And of course, our seats vibrated when the ice pack broke up, and the wind blew in our hair ... and - well, you get the idea.

So all in all - a good day. One of the kids' favourite part, however, wasn't in the Aquarium itself, but in the Playground outside.