This is where I lost Sparkle the Drone:

We were supposed to have a relaxing weekend on the island, find Nymph Falls (above), but it ended up being VERY stressful because Sparkle got stuck in a tree and we could not save it. It all started off with us finding out that the coffee shop that I wanted to go to was closed for staff holidays. Luckily, their shops are all along the same street, and 2 blocks down, the Cumberland Grind was open:

They had some interesting flavors available. I had the turmeric latte, which was a bit on the sweet side for me because it was drenched in honey. The other 2 had no complaints about their coffees, nothing too special about what they had. There were other options that were loaded with whipped cream on top, and none of us felt like it was that type of day. 

To be honest, I would not come back here for the coffee nor the hike.

I've been very tired this week, mostly because it is extremely draining to try to stay positive and forget about losing Sparkle. All my energy is focused onto remembering that there is no point wasting even one second on being sad over a material object. I'm OK now, but I'll need a bit more rest to recover. Also, I have not gone to yoga in 2 weeks, so that's probably contributing to my grumpiness.

Go back to:
Cumberland, Day 1, Part 1
Cumberland, Day 1, Part 2
Cumberland, Day 2, Part 1
Cumberland, Day 2, Part 2
Cumberland, Day 2, Part 3

Life ain’t fair, and in a world like today’s, when it feels like the end of the world almost everyday, I’ll just do my best to enjoy what I can and help as many people enjoy their day as best I can. For example, I will go and eat some really great food. 

C and I went to Heritage Asian Eatery a few weeks ago, and I came across these photos on my phone, which reminded me of how awesome that little shop was. One of these was the duck bowl and the other was the pork bowl:

3 bao’s to go for H, stuffed with meat and fresh veggies:


I thought these had the right amount of sauce/meat to rice (or bao) ratio. The eggs were cooked perfectly (by that, I mean the yolks were runny enough but the whites were not too soft). I want to come back to try the brunch one day, but I have too many other places on my list right now.



I am sort of trying to save money, so eating at home more is on my list of goals for the next 2 months. This is proving to be quite difficult. I already knew that this year would not be a good year for saving money from reading Your Chinese Horoscope 2017 by Neil Somerville. I’m pretty much ready for next year to start, I’m getting tired of typing “2017”.

PS: I'm so super tired today. I think I'm letting the unfairness of this whole situation bring me down, because I just don't know how to let this go without some sort of... admonishment. When somebody does something wrong, they should own up to it and not waste all of our limited time here, arguing that it was something else that caused the glitch. Either that, or get bitched out when we find out it really wasn't the fault of anything else. It's frustrating to me that I can't just let this go...

PPS: The Queen of the Night in our basement started blooming last night! It was spectacular. This is what life should be about.

One day, after dinner, PJS and I came to Passion8:

This shaved ice bowl was amazing. Matcha, redbean, cheesecake, and mochi toppings. The ice is sweetened with syrup or some type of sugar (condensed milk maybe?), and goes really well with the matcha. The garnish was a piece of dried orange that looked pretty cute, but we didn’t eat it (were we supposed to?).

Next up was the Multigrain (Injulmi) toast! Topped with a mountain of whipped cream and walnuts, and this..rice flour flakey thing that had the texture of a less buttery croissant. The inside had more mochi/rice cake filling and red bean:

This was OK, not my favourite. I am drooling though, just thinking about that shaved ice in the summer…

Too bad I’m sick right now.

Pragmatic – dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.

Dogmatic - inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.

if i were pragmatic, i would know that we cannot possibly eat all this because we will feel sick afterwards. however, i am not pragmatic. if i were dogmatic, i would not eat all of this because it goes against principles of healthy eating. however, i am also not dogmatic. so we ate it all

Did I do this right?

It was a choice between Dalina, Au Bade, and Propanda. Dalina was too busy, Au Bade was on the wrong side of the street, and we ended up at Propaganda:



I had the macchiato, and it was weak compared to Pallet. The sandwich was packed with meat, and I must’ve been starving, I polished it off. The others had a ham and cheese croissant, which they seemed to enjoy. I think I would come back again because it’s less crowded than Matchstick, but the coffee could be stronger.

For those of you who are into Munchkins the Marvel edition, this place has a metal table.



This weekend, I tried hiking (walking in the park) at night for the first time. It was the annual NiteHike, and H really wanted me to participate, so there I was… in the middle of the woods… We started walking around 8PM, and it was just before 6AM by the time we finished the event. It was nice to get lost in the woods. It was also nice to feel so physically drained that once my head hit the pillow, nothing in the whole world mattered anymore.

Ended up sick again. Late 20s has not been good for health so far.

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?

PJS and I went to Mikan Cafe for dinner and to catch up. The menu is not the biggest, but I still had a tough time choosing between some of their pasta dishes and a rice dish. I was really hungry, so I ended up going for what I thought was the highest calorie meal – the hamburger with hashed beef on creamy spaghetti. I didn’t like it very much because the hamburger tasted like it was microwaved. It was a bit too salty, and the portions were just… average. I guess it might be a decent lunch portion and maybe I could be considered a “big” eater, but I was still hungry. P had the salad, her stomach wasn’t doing so well. S and J both had the Masago Spaghetti, and I had a bite… It was OK. We didn’t stay for dessert because the items in the showcase didn’t look appetizing.

I don’t think I’d go back. The original Cafe de l’Orangerie location is higher quality.





In the past year, we’ve been meeting up more often, mostly because our schedules finally seem to mesh. What have I been doing in the past few years while they’ve been hard at work? They’re driving nice cars, going on vacations, while… I guess I’ve been busy too. What does it all matter though, if the world ends up falling apart? I may have been reading too much This Changes Everything lately, but it’s eye opening to get this summary of the attempts that have failed to save our planet so far. One day, I hope that I or somebody reading this will look back and think that I worried for nothing because some new technology or legislation or whatever will save us all. Driving gas guzzling V8 trucks, throwing out styrofoam takeout containers, and razing forests could be a funny story to tell our grandchildren, just like dial up internet. On the other hand, maybe we’ll reminisce about going out without wearing a full body suit to block out UV, because our atmosphere is gone, and feeling fresh air directly on our faces will just be a fairytale.

After 10 minutes of driving from the beach (it probably wouldn’t take more than an hour to drive around the entire island), we reached Vesuvius. We didn’t know the name of the restaurant, but from the institutions in the “town”, Seaside Restaurant was probably the only place to grab a bite. Oysters, fish and chips (halibut), and clam chowder:



Tasted extra good, after all the fails with the clams. The chowder had huge chunks of clam, the fish was fresh and had good meat to batter ratio, and we were ready to keep going. For a little place on a tiny island, the food was better than good. If they set up shop on the mainland, I might go again, but it’s still not worth the 3 hour ferry ride.



1:00PM: Mt. Erskine

Trail is a bit steep, but the fairy doors are worth it.

More info on this trail: https://saltspringmarket.com/hiking-on-salt-spring-island/mt-erskine-from-juniper/

Side note: S8 came out today. I dropped my S7 from the seat of H’s 4Runner (now known as Big Bertha), while I was getting out of the car, and it tumbled to hard cement ground. A couple side scratches, no cracks. Faith restored in Samsung.


Return to Day 1 on Salt Spring
Go to Day 2 on Salt Spring

To drink enough water. To get enough rest. To make time for your loved ones.

This weekend was mostly about friends.

Saturday night, I went to PappaRoti with R, M, and P for the first time, and was pleasantly surprised that these bus were actually amazing. I had the Strawberry Field (strawberry + whipped cream and bun with chocolate syrup), and R had the one on top with strawberry and bananas. M and P had something with ice cream and more syrups, but no photo, SORRY. She had that chai latte thing, at the top left corner, and the tea on the bottom is mine.

The whipped cream and fruit and syrups are completely unnecessary – the buns are just amazing by themselves without the rest of the frou frou toppings. Had a nice chai tea as well, and I ordered the pot size, which came with a little timer to tell you when your tea is steeped to perfection. It was gooooood. Might get a bulk order just for munchies.

Despite having a cold, there is no better way to wind down a long week than a day in Whistler. Picked up this OTC drug called Eltor to help with my congestion:

Takes about an hour to kick in, then it KICKS IN. Super effective relief.

Our first run of the day was up the Glacier bowl. Reminder to do a warm up run first next time. The hike up is rather annoying though. See the tiny person at the bottom?

Hot cider to complete the day and clear my sinuses up:

I’m still pretty congested without the drugs. I really need to take better care of myself. It feels like there is never enough time. Life already feels too short!

Woke up late to this view at the JW Marriott, 11th floor, room 1111:

So, instead of walking over to the Viator tour office where I was supposed to pick up my vouchers, I took a cab… Felt like such a waste of money, but made it on time for the ferry to Alcatraz:

It was interesting how we could just casually stroll along the same paths that serial killers, kidnappers, psychopaths, etc. had taken just a few decades ago. The self guided audio tour was interesting and told stories of escapades. I would come back at night to experience the full spookiness of it, although there were no ghost stories.

Had an early lunch at the Fog Harbour, where we had also gone last year for one of the dinners pre-show. I remembered they had really good clam chowder, which I had a craving for after the cold damp ferry ride.

Deeeeelicious. So creamy.

Wanted something boozy to warm me up more. This was something with rum.

And the grand finale, crab roll! It was a bit cold, to be honest, and I didn't quite like the clamminess.

Got a ride to Muir Woods from the tour office again, as part of the tour package:

Mysterious… The “hike” was a 30 to 45 minute walk around a very well groomed dirt/wood path, with huge puddles from the recent rain in the area. Tour guide was pretty cool, he dropped us off at our hotels after and told us stories about his family.
I’m not sure if I would do this tour on my own again. It cost $150USD, and I only did the Alcatraz and Muir woods portion, completely skipping the Dungeon and the complimentary wine tour. It was exhausting to rush around like that, and my legs were shot from all the walking in the past 2 days. Even thinking about it now is making me feel sore.

I haven’t been home since last Monday morning of January. Feels so relaxing to come back to home base, it feels like I can breathe again. Last week, I was in San Francisco for a tradeshow with work, talking about our new products, meeting new people, learning and connecting… People always look so surprised when I reach out for that first hand shake. Apparently, I look extremely young still, but I didn’t get carded at one of the restaurants…

Team building at Puccini and Pinetti:

Conveniently at the bottom of the hotel, we came here for a quick bite after day 1. Deliciously fluffy and chewy pizza, with melt off the crust toppings. The cheeeeeeese… I also tried my first gluten free beer, and was not too impressed. I'd go back if somebody paid for me, but not really a first choice. The Yelp and Tripadvisor and Zomato reviews are pretty accurate for this place - average.

This first day was so busy, I went back to the hotel and just crashed into bed. Just like tonight.

I thought I’d put in the effort to plan a party, but ended up getting way too busy with things that life throw at you. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel though. Here’s how I’ve been celebrating so far:

Price Smart Dark Forest cake at work. Their cakes have always been surprisingly good, and this one did not disappoint. Thanks guys.

Fauborg!!!! Rich and full of flavors, aroma, texture, gold flakes. This was their espresso chocolate one I think… Not sure as H ordered it for me. It’s a little too rich for everyday, but such a treat for my birthday. Thanks H and family.

Donuts from Cartem’s instead of cake. Had a bit of the earl grey (pretty good), london fog (B’s favorite, cream filled and pretty good), coconut cream (cream filled again, and average), honey parmesan (I didn’t taste any parmesan, but apparently everybody else did), and the walnut (average).  The light in this Main Street location is fabulous though, and it smelled so good that I started salivating once I stepped inside. I still prefer Lucky’s though. Sorry B!

Much gratitude to everybody for starting this year with me. Birthdays are sure different from what they used to be. I’m starting to prefer the smaller groups, partly because it’s so hard to get everybody together. It’s usually worth the effort, but it’s also impossible to plan. I guess once the babies start coming, we’ll be even busier. We’re not even past January, and there’s been a lot of baby talk this year already. I’m not ready for this. I still have so many places to go!

Battle of the donuts continues…

Went to Boiling Point for what must be the 7th time. Every time I go, I try something new. They only have 10 different flavors, and the only ones I haven’t had are the Beef, Veggie Tomato, and the Curry Fishball, so I must’ve been there 7 times. Today was the 7th, and I had their Taiwanese Spicy Hot Soup:

It’s bright, flaming red.

Noodles included. Milk tea sold separately, but highly recommended to put out the flames.

Lucky number seven. This was so spicy, it’s been 3 hours since I had it, and my stomach is still burning. My body feels like it’s on fire. I probably have an ulcer now. It did clear up the sinuses and wake me up, after another long day. I’m just twirling around in life right now.

Source

I just wanted to be at home tonight, go do some yoga, and chill out, because class is starting tomorrow. I guess things don’t always go according to plan, but it sucks when it’s because of other people. I mean, H’s problems are my problems, and I’ll be there if he really needs me, but I guess I just didn’t see the dire need for me to be there right now when I can barely take care of myself. WHAT ABOUT ME?! Well, I guess I have this blog to vent and be emo, so that I can be my usual self in real life. Thanks for reading.

More about my Boiling Point experiences here:

http://luwesa.blogspot.ca/2016/11/food-diary-hot-pot-essential.html

http://luwesa.blogspot.ca/2016/12/merry-5152.html

Met up with A, who was back from the far away lands of northern (middle?) BC, at Le Marche St. George. The soup was a bit too sour, but tasted really organic and super healthy. It was balanced quite well with the crispy, cheese croissant toast. Coffee very strong. Forgot to ask A how her London Fog tasted, but it looked really pretty with the latte art on top. This little corner shop cafe is just bumpin’. I’m sure I’ll be back with other friends too.



We talked about life – work, family, house, boys, cats, food… A’s sister apparently thinks I’m always in a sunny place, from following my Instagram. That made me laugh a little. Thanks, young A!

Trying to clear out some junk in my life to make space for new projects…