My east coast love and I went out for eats at Coast. As we attacked our chilled seafood platter, we couldn't help notice that a couple behind us was still working on their platter, which was already set in front of them when we arrived. Aaron noticed the woman's plate of carnage was more than double of the man's. He barely touched any of the seafood. If this was a first date, I think those two were able to learn a lot about one another. Food compatibility should be the top criteria on dating sites. By the way, guy, if you don't enjoy seafood, next time don't choose a place named Coast.


And note to others out there, chilled seafood platter at Coast > Joe Forte's.

Less than a week to go until moving day. I am extremely unprepared.
I have class in the morning, then work right after all this week. Well, maybe work just for two days. I am not half packed. I think I'll start panicking tomorrow.

I'm still very excited for the move. I can't wait to have people over. I live my life according to movies, so I know dinner parties and weekend-long sleepovers are the best. I look forward to entertaining my guests, lounging around and reminiscing about the good ol' days on the couch, and then making breakfast for everyone! (yes, I live in a one bedroom, but I'll manage to fit in all my friends).


Although, realistically, I know that my weeknights and weekends will be more like me doing this alone:

That's my place. Not my furniture. Gathering furniture has been very stressful. I'm imagining how they all look together, but I don't trust my imagination, so I worry that my place will look like a big messy blob. I'm also constantly checking my e-mail to see if sellers have replied to my Craigslist and Kijiji inquiries. Anytime I have access to the internet, straight to those sites! It's taking a while, but I'm slowly learning to not love something I see on the postings because, chances are, someone else loves it too and it always seems like every one else has faster fingers than me. "Sorry, already sold" replies are the blurstest. Also, not getting replies and then trying to search for it again on Craigslist and coming up with nothing bums me out too. I'll give Vancouver Flea Market a go this weekend.

Shopping at Superstore and IKEA for kitchenware and bathroom supplies (not willing to do second hand for some items) has shown more success, but the bill always hurts. Other shoppers and parking make me go crazy angry too. Especially you, drivers who drive so slowly trying to scout the closest spots to the entrance when there are fifty open stalls in the back! OooOo you can't be bothered to walk a whole minute longer to get in to the mall. Bothered!

What brings me away from becoming crazy Shannon are my favourite purchases: rice bowls, chopsticks and Chinese soup spoons. I loved the feeling of finally buying my own chopsticks. I don't know why. Maybe because chopsticks remind me of rice, and I love rice.

It's almost official. I'm moving out of my parents' home and in to my own place.
I'm extremely excited to by furniture and start painting. Craigslist will be my bestest friend. If you have stuff you want to get rid of, I'm your gal. Decorating on a budget. This doesn't mean I'm going to accept crap. I'd rather have one nice, comfy chair than five worn bean bags. The best part about growing up is that I'll finally be able to upgrade to a grown up bed. Goodbye single mattress with my 1/2 of a bunkbed frame!

banh mi from T & T
instant ramen noodle bowl
udon with dumplings and an egg
instant ramen noodle bowl
instant ramen noodle bowl
banh mi from T & T
sticky rice from T & T

Those have been my meals for the last few days.

I may be on a budget, but I don't think a proper meal requires me taking out a loan.
The least I could do is put some greens in. And by greens, I don't mean the kind that semi inflates with the addition of water.

Another goal achieved! I biked from my house to downtown Vancouver. Google maps estimated that I would complete the journey in 1 hour 22 minutes. I proved it wrong and did it in 1 hour 30 minutes... The ride didn't feel as long, but the climb up to around 37th wasn't pleasant. I wasn't able to enjoy the downhill ride to the Cambie Street bridge because the ease of the ride only led me to imagine the challenge of riding up it on my way home to Richmond. It's much steeper than the hill heading North, so even though I'm on a high to hit my goals, I don't think I'm going to try biking to Richmond any time soon. I still need to beat Google's expectation of 1:22.

I am easing in to the lifestyle of a person carrying a mortgage. I don't have to do it yet, but I've started to figure out what my food situation will be like on my own. One thing I'm assured of is that I won't have to live off of instant ramen, although it will be part of my diet because I can't resist my instant ramen with egg combo. My first place for delicious savings is T & T... more like T & T after 7:30pm, because all the "deli" food is marked down! Throw the Miss Cheap Ass sash on me, I don't care! It's marked down food, but it's not like they're selling sushi that was packed at 8am in the morning.

I was very happy with the $2.50 dinner from T & T, so much so that I wasted $4 on a bubble tea. I'm still learning.


P.S. One downfall of T & T is that since their deli area is huge, I usually end up spending over 15 minutes picking up and putting back items as I have a hard time figuring out exactly what my stomach wants that day. For example yesterday, I picked up a pack of california rolls four times and walked around the store with it once before picking up the banh mi. And that was after I almost convinced myself that I needed half a pound of soy sauce chicken to myself.