Valentine's Day SLB? Let's go!

Nathan picked me up at around 6:30, and we were off to the townhouse. I discussed my week so far with him as we listened to "good" weird music that reminded us of SUPER MARIO 2 - throwing eggs at final monsters, anyone? Told him about my dill pickle / chili lime sunflower seeds - I might give them to him tomorrow, haha. At the townhouse, we discussed yet another SLB night - Tony can outeat us ALL! Jon and Nate cobbled together a subject line for people: "Your Hottest SLB Valentine's Day! Taste the Heat!" (Steph wanted to include something about steamy windows - "it's the steam rising up from the SLB!" - but the guys vetoed that!) Mom didn't believe that Tony could eat a lot since he didn't eat a whole lot of Pho, but we've seen it in person: the 35-steamer night was almost exactly a year ago, and he ate A LOT. My parents wanted me to tell Korey that they got his email - will do.

Interesting lines from the email: "Be you single, or doubled, queened, kinged, coupled, tripled, wishful, or anticipatory, you will want to come out to this Siu Long Bao Valentine's Day!! Let's say we meet at 6:30... that should be enough time for you lovebirds to observe cultural niceties and give each other chocolate or something mushy (mushy chocolate?). We can go to a dessert place afterwards and gaze into each other's eyes...." Haha, ew! We learned from Mom that Silver Palace had changed its name to Golden Harvest (I'd passed it a couple weeks ago and observed that it looked different!) - at least the cook is the same, which counts for a lot. (not like Feenie's, haha - go to the Cactus Club if you want his food!) Hmm... will need to ask Jon how to get there, although I think I know the approximate route thanks to my sojourns down to Main / Terminal. (but I might have other plans too... will have to see!)

We heard that the Canucks won 2-1 against the Atlanta Thrashers: YAY! When Mom booked a table for us later, we were all amused when she asked if they had some specials for Valentine's Day, and told the owner that we knew Andrea's mom, who was instrumental in real estate planning for that place. (funnier line: "My children don't know much Chinese, so that's why I'm reserving the table!") She was behind in the previous conversation when I mentioned that it might be busy because of the "special day," haha. Ah well... she gave us tea, instant coffee in a bag, Swiss biscuits, leen-goh, Ensure in a container from the Wellness Show (chocolate / strawberry / vanilla / CHICKEN?!), and more stuff to take home. So nice, haha! (I even got a nice blue sweater courtesy of the one I wore sustaining a curry splotch!) Jon gave Nate an all-natural energy drink with frankincense and geranium in it - how interesting! (we had Hennepin beer, too)

Talked about the amusing Chinese New Year legend (read the "Zodiac origin stories" section), CNY in general, "an old Rat," cats never forgiving rats (Steph to Dad: "Do you ever feel used?" Dad: "Of COURSE!"), Dallas returning to Toronto since his dad is very sick, worship music, Xanga videos, Matt Redman, Redman and Method Man, disbelief and reasons, Sunday plans (I've finally sent an RSVP for that lunch - I'll just be out with Jon all day / night), Chinese music on Nate's laptop, amusing ourselves with Grandma and Mom ("Drink beer! How's the weird music?"), Facebook, Lent, and more. Grace told Karmie that she was giving up both chocolate AND coffee yesterday... Steph said that she should have started at midnight, and added that she couldn't have any Valentine's Day stuff just to rub it in affectionately. (she taught Mom a couple of shortcuts: my sister's coworkers don't know COPY-PASTE?!)

Jon said that he was going vegetarian on Fridays (fish is fine - no land animals - but he can make a special exception for dogs!) - Sundays ARE feast days, to be sure. (Steph is Lenting eBay and things like that - no jerseys!) Joked to Nathan that he should come over more often since he also got at least one thermos too, plus stuff for his dad - it's worth the drive from Langley, haha. Nate hasn't decided what he's giving up for Lent, but will make sure it's 40 days long nevertheless - I've decided on MSN just as an introductory measure! When Jon attempted to speak for Nathan (saying that he was very full), Mom said that Nate could speak for himself - true, but he's too polite to say so! Lamb curry with carrots and potatoes, beef, vegetable soup, rice, Chinese New Year snacks, coffee, tea, Chinese desserts, pickled veggies, juice, chicken wings, duck, prawns, etc. - oh my, SO FULL! (Steph just sent me an Evite to her dinner party on the 23rd - will do! There's the family birthday dinner on the 12th, as well. Must pick up a wedding MC book for her and Joey to look through - Melia's wedding will be INTERESTING!)

Karen and I will have to get together for lunch again - I'll catch her tomorrow and see what's up! (Jon said that Jeremy wasn't dating anyone as far as he knows, and Mom misheard that as "Jeremy IS dating someone" - this is how rumors start, people! :P) Craigslist is crazy too, haha. Tomorrow's dinner at the meeting (all medium size) from Kent's Kitchen: Chicken in black bean sauce, Beef and Broccoli, Chicken chow mein, Beef and Vegetable on Rice Noodle, and Yang Chow fried rice.