The kids got sick once again, and the timing couldn't have been worse. S started around the 23rd, and baby P felt sick a day or two after. That meant we missed all the holiday parties and did not see any of our extended friends and family. The only good part for me was that S actually took naps willingly.

During one of those naps, we got the grandparents in and snuck out to the 49th Parallel in North Vancouver. 

This was their Yule Log donut, which looked like a long John with some red and white sprinkles on top. I thought it might possibly peppermint candy on top...?

When I bit into the donut, the filling surprised me! 

What is this pink and yellow custard?! I had to focus on my taste buds to figure out that the pink might be a raspberry jam, and the yellow was... something sweet. It didn't have much flavor. The dough was nice and chewy, but didn't taste as fresh as the donuts from Fox and Oak in Squamish. 

Coffee though was nice and strong. Punch me in the face level of strong coffee, which H and I needed because we were drained.

Before I became a parent, I would listen to other people talk about their kids getting sick but nobody ever truly helped me realize how soul sucking and draining it is to take care of sick kids, especially when you're also sick and cannot rest. Maybe they didn't want to scare us from having kids. Or maybe they didn't actually think it was so difficult. Or maybe I'm not parenting correctly...?! 

Time to start work tomorrow.

After multiple failed attempts, since the CIBC Run for the Cure in 2017, to visit 49h Parallel on Thurlow for their egg sandwiches, H and I finally made it! But first, coffee:

Here is the Doug, which is a pile of the softest fluffy scrambled eggs and thick, chewy bacon (a bit too chewy for my liking) between soft brioche buns. It was a really small sandwich that I could have inhaled in 5 bites.

Best part, the PEANUT BUTTER AND BLUEBERRY BISMARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I would come back for this donut, I think it’s my favourite, replacing their classic peanut butter and strawberry jam donut. The peanut butter filling is very creamy and more evenly distributed than their PB&J donut. So, yes, I will be coming back, not for this egg sandwich that I have hyped up for so long, but for the Blueberry & PB bismark.

I slept really poorly last night, partly because of the extra cup of coffee I had in the late afternoon after a day of grocery shopping, and mostly because of driving in the snow to get home after a couple of hours playing board games. It’s so stressful!

I also had a nightmare about falling asleep while sitting in the audience of a presentation (or maybe it was a training session) at a new job… I dreamed that I had trouble staying awake during the presentation, despite really struggling to focus on the speaker. There were important folks to impress. I just could not keep my eyes open, and in real life, I could not wake up and get out of bed!

Today has been a weird one. This week has been a weird one. 

I guess this is what it will be like for the rest of Dog year. Looking for that one big happy event that will block out 3 negative ones...

Took a half day at work to get my hair did, and ended up going to 49th Parallel on 4th for the $5 Sakura donut. Was it worth it? It was STUFFED with cream, I wish I got a chance to document it oozing out with every bite. The cream is supposed to be a matcha white chocolate mix, but the matcha can only be faintly tasted. It’s pretty sweet, but it goes so well with the coffee.
Coffee was strong and on the acidic side.


49th Parallel is always so busy. Too crowded for my liking, but can't resist the donuts.



Afterwards, went to the bank to save money. I should try to save more money, but I really want to get this:

It would look nice in the office, and I could bring it around instead of using disposable cups! We were born to consume after all, and I should try not to worry too much about the trash I’ll be leaving behind. Speaking of the office, I think I've learned to really enjoy the office environment. People can be so funny sometimes if you don’t take them so seriously.

G for Gerry or J for Jerry?

49th Parallel has these scrumptious Halloween Special donuts, stuffed with pumpkin puree, with a pumpkin glaze and chocolate icing. The stem… IS AN ALMOND!!!! Creativity a its best. Coffee, as always, was on par. Might not be too late yet to get one today.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

Still working on this same book, which is really making me doubt my choices and decisions.

Throw Back Tuesday to last summer/fall. I stopped at Lucky’s Doughnuts for some of the best doughnuts in town, before going to H’s house, where he made fresh coffee with [a chunk of] coconut butter. Breakfast dates are some of the best ways to start off the day. I love coming in early when there’s nobody here yet, but usually it’s pretty crowded and there are no seats.

Long John with Cream Filling:

I think this was a French Crueller:

I don’t remember the prices, but I think it’s about $5 for a coffee + donut. You pay for what you get. The doughnuts are just the right amount of sweetness, doesn’t leave you feeling too heavy and oily. Wash it all down with some serious hit you right in the face strength coffee.



This is one of the first places where H and I first hung out. 9 more days - we're in the single digits!