Church's Fried Chicken coupons for free?! YES!

Eric picked me up this morning, and Jon was there too. We discussed the benefits of paper bags, Yo La Tengo, "in person" versions, parking, and more on the way to church. Grass clumps made it impossible for me to get out on the sidewalk, so I went out in the lane next to traffic. Saw Joey, who wanted to know about fire warden duty. Cindy left her phone at home, so was stressing over that since Winnie was supposed to call her. Everyone congratulated Jon, and Stanley had heard it from Margaret yesterday... his reaction was much like the one when he found out Chung would be getting married next week: "WHAT?!" We jokingly compared him to his brother, Stanley said that Jonathan looked even more like a hobo, and Martin T. jokingly beat him up, and pushed him into a door that was marked "DO NOT OPEN DOOR!" Your calendar could cover the "DO NOT," but we know you can't do that! Talked to Vania, who said she liked my pink toque - it matched, and my brother commented that at least I wasn't overdressed. She got one for a DOLLAR - YAY! (discussed DURIAN as the ideal costume - SPIKES AND SMELL!)

Discussed the tables being turned so that Harmony gave Jon a diamond ring instead - so extravagant! It would be fine if she didn't like them herself, heh. I spotted Raymond, but not Jeremy - J was on fire warden duty, which I found out later. Of course we sat together - he even glanced at the seat by him, heh. Raymond and I discussed pumpkin carving at Phil's - doing surgery on pumpkins, oh my! (plus speedy Facebook posting of photos from said event) I like talking to him, for sure. Finally met Amasiah in the flesh - she looks like Vivian Lam, but that could just be like how we thought Danielle looked like Vanessa at first! (they actually don't look ANYTHING alike!)

Discussed stuff with Jen, and met Chuck's friend Steve. Said hi to Andrea, Emily (who asked if it was weird that Jon's engaged), Sarah, Eunice, Eddie, and more people. Yup, there were people out patrolling the neighborhood to make sure people didn't park near the residential district! We discussed plans for next week and postponements, too. (no Awana, and the appreciation dinner / missions conference are postponed) Joey said it was SKETCH, and it was sorta like our church is in limbo with temporary permits - OH YEAH. Really, the neighbors could easily make something up to complain about! Hope the parkade and fire exits and such get done SOON! Tony said Sonny was late for the Chinese service, but he wasn't surprised.

Later, we discussed what we'd do for lunch. Jon disappeared after saying that he wasn't qualified to count the offering, and so I complimented Joshua on his colorful sweater. Lily and Lee had a baby boy a couple of weeks ago, so all the October-due babies were sons! (Mattias and Cory were the others - I should call / email Helen, and definitely call Karen) We congregated near the front door, creating a fire hazard as usual: the courtyard isn't done yet, even if it isn't covered. Karmie said that she hadn't had a chance to congratulate my brother, but she'll have opportunity to do so next week. Eventually, a bunch of us decided to go to Lombardo's, near Il Mercato on Commercial Drive.

Waved bye to Sam, and guided Roy to the fellowship hall before we left - we were waiting for Jon, anyhow. Cordia asked Eric if he had a relative named Daniel, since one of Joyce's co-workers REALLY looks like him! He tried joking that it was because the guy was white: "You mean like how Jeremy looks like me? I have an uncle in Ontario..." Rich also gave out a bunch of Church's Fried Chicken coupons, and I saw him chatting to the security guard too. (Isabel was waxing rhapsodic about Church's fries, and Red Robin's seasonings - Sarah also had a box of real papayas, heh)

Discussed the US election, Barack Obama's illegal alien aunt, Sarah Palin's bad accent and such (THE RUSSIANS ARE NEAR MY BACKYARD!), Christon's seafood chowder idea for the Sunday Dinner next week, Karen's interviews, Jen moving, Jeremy and Nathan being amused / weirded out by the Wikipedia link I put in the congratulatory email, Stanford, Calla, Johnny praying, mishearing, and more. Chuck told Dianne that Andrea was helping out with the kids, but she misheard that as "Andrea's HAVING another kid" - so we had fun with that. Pesto on pizza was pretty good! I saw some guy I see around here, going out for a smoke at least twice during his own meal with friends - YIKES. It stayed sunny until right after lunch, where it then proceeded to POUR rain! Stranger weather makes for bad drivers! (Eric helped me with untangling wires, getting stuff out of there, and my speakers!) Chatted to Veronica for a bit, and now I AM FREE! Emma M., Judy L., Yvonne B., Damien L., Mark L., Ivan W., Terrill Y., John L., Gretchen L., Frozen Bao, Jonathan T., Mislav M., Chris C., Hechi L., Adam P., Kevin K., Jim B., Stella Z., Brian K., Felix D., Kin Z., Elizabeth G., Herwin T., Vincent P., Neven V., Hua-Hsing L., Sebastian L., Kristina N., Cyrille R., Marnie P., Amanda W., Jay F., Micca C., Owen Z., Denis J., Eddy T., Alexander L., Jump Away, Tim Y., Pam T., Kim P., Markus C., Mulia R., Roberto R., Andreas S., Dingyuan O., Kyle W., Sean M., Harlyn P., Jarkko K., Tom B., Adli R., Gildas F., Jun How C., Harlyn P., Athotep N., Andrew T., Brenton L., and Ignace X. added me for the blood games too! Now I have EIGHTY people online on my Facebook... WOW! (Denise sent me a supportive message, also)