My mom had a produce tantrum!

High-scoring words of the day so far:

GENTS (3750 points) - against Pat K. [four 5W]
DETER (150 points) - against Hitomi S. [two 5W]
MISE (104 points; two 4W), ETHERS (144 points; two 4W) - against Rory O.
JADEITE (234,375 points) - against Alice P. [six 5W]


I had a weird dream which involved my family going shopping for produce with Vivian S. They wanted me to help, but I was at a friend's house, on top of a mountain with a winding trail up to the top. For some reason, I was able to spy on them via remote camera. Witnessed my mom get frustrated with cauliflower and lettuce, and also throw a big bag of oranges on the floor - they bounced all over the place, and she ordered people to help her pick it up. Vivian refused, and went to the carport to help with the rest of the groceries instead. Dad then drove to my apartment building, which was somehow remade to look like a posh hotel. A random guy with a mustache had moved into my suite without my permission, and they could smell the fresh white paint and the mice repellent! They attempted to talk to Hester about it, but she said that she wasn't responsible for that. She attempted to buy their silence with gold bullion! NO idea what triggered that one!

Auntie Catherine called me - we'll meet early this afternoon, before I go for BIRTHDAY FAREWELL at Citrus' place, which sounds GOOD to me! She's so nice and kind! :D

I don't sense a THEME here... is there a POINT?!

High-scoring words of the night so far:

MAX (300 points) - against Pat K. [two 5W]
GHOST (5625 points) - against Alice P. [four 5W]
PRESENT (288 points) - against Mai N. [2W, two 4W]


Eric picked me up, and I updated him on certain things while he complained about people driving. Then we discussed random things, being "evil," the hockey pool draft being tomorrow at 7 AM (Chris can't do it on Sunday at 6 because of church), and songs. We wandered in late, but got seats near Billy, Danny, Martin, and other CSC people. Eric took attendance on the back of an offering envelope, and was being silly when he characterized me as EVIL. The speaker was... very random and confusing. Christon sat by us later (tipsy), and was able to share our confusion. ("Why is he telling us this? I don't get the point!" "You're not the only one - you missed the part when he told us that he had a kid made in Hong Kong, but born in the States!")

Then there was the part where he told some people to sing foreign songs... the first two lines of SILENT NIGHT, and some other thing?! Later, there was some all-Cantonese video featuring some girl who apparently found purpose in life through wall climbing. Her coach figured she was in really good shape, so got her to compete in a beauty pageant! (she had all these piercings before) We were mystified: Eric wanted me to translate for him, but I just couldn't! The whole talk was supposed to be about FAMILY - we didn't get it; Christon thought the speaker translating stuff was hilarious! ("How do you get a lot of descendants?" "PASSION! SPREAD YOUR SEED!" "Dreams can CHANGE THE WORLD!" "... hey guys, is this a self-motivational seminar?!")

Talked to Tony, Ivan, Sam, Joey, and others later about the hockey pool. Someone wondered whether we'd do something for Tony's birthday; "Green Lettuce Indian Chinese Style!" We could go to the bar, but the funny thing with THAT would be Tony's non-drinking! I wanted to talk to Raymond, but couldn't - maybe on Sunday! Laughed at Dianne and Jon trying to speak Cantonese to each other: "bridging the gap" COULD be translated as "together," haha! Grace and I talked briefly about our weeks, and then I talked to Danielle about tomorrow's thing. Went outside after a bit to discuss training, school, October church programs, construction, this being the last program ever here, and other stuff with Kevin and Vanessa. The ride home was all right - Jon gave me a late birthday card: "You were sent from HEAVEN to be my sister - wonder what you did to get kicked OUT!" Hahaha.

Zero beefy pop here with the strawberry-mango!

High-scoring words of the day so far:

ZERO (1625 points; three 5W), MHO (1020 points; three 5W, hook to make BO), PI (266 points; two 5W, hook to make QI), POP (175 points; two 5W) - against Angela V.
BEEF (1125 points) - against Pat K. [three 5W]
DAWNS (28,160 points) - against Alice P. [four 5W]


Vanessa sent us an email about tomorrow's thing at Citrus' place - I was under the impression that it was on Sunday, but knew that might not make sense. I will make it there, unlike last time when I was THWARTED! Went to the bank, and got some stuff from Shoppers / Big Orange. At least it wasn't strawberry-blueberry, since strawberry-mango is just as refreshing WITH coconut jelly! Rock 101 is promoting the December Metallica concert - HAHAHA! Also, it's funny how I say I want to meet new people, yet end up withdrawing into myself or with TRUSTED people. At least I have some measure of self-preservation? :P

Amusing 404 error messages! / A bingo worth over a MILLION points!

Bingos of the night so far:

OUTCOMES (65 points) - against Patricia J.
TINFOILS (859,425 points) - against Pat K.
MISTOUCH (1,117,925 points) - against Alice P.


High-scoring words of the night so far:

DORMIN (140,625 points; six 5W), TINFOILS (859,425 points; seven 5W), TWICE (6250 points; four 5W) - against Pat K.
MEZE (9375 points; four 5W), MISTOUCH (1,117,925 points; seven 5W), CHAINS (34,375 points; five 5W) - against Alice P.
FILMIC (40,625 points) - against Angela V. [five 5W]
HOMIER (165 points) - against Norma S. [3W, 5W]


I've been amused by this collection of 404 error messages! (Mario, Homestar Runner, and plenty more!) Ironically enough, some of the links at the 404 Research Lab themselves result in 404 errors. Hmm! I also got a weird phone call from Florida: 407-999-9999, anyone? Computer also restarted FIVE TIMES IN ONE HOUR - UGH!

I *will* be a hot girl...

High-scoring words of the night so far:

FAT (126 points) - against Shelley R.-B. [3W, 5W]
FIRM (1125 points) - against Pat K. [three 5W]
GROOVE (156,250 points) - against Alice P. [six 5W]
QUIZ (2750 points) - against Raymond C. [three 5W]


Went out for some recon at the store: found some on-sale stuff, plus sauce with ground beef. Then got some tips when I got home about how to make my own stuff - SWEET! "I use one can tomato soup, two small cans tomato paste, four tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, one teaspoon curry powder, one teaspoon chili powder and a dash of Tabasco sauce as well as some pepper." Called Eric to confirm some things: yup, I know about things now. Talked to Karen for about an hour, as well: self-improvement and such would be a good thing too! Maybe a little walking program, and keeping accountable and CONSISTENT! (talked about my birthday, friends, Bible Study, and other things)

Diabetes, bullets, and leprosy?!

Bingo of the day so far:

GELDINGS (170 points) - against Chett P.


High-scoring word of the day so far:

GELDINGS (170 points) - against Chett P. [bingo; hook off HOOP for a plural]


All I remember from my dream last night is that Sara H. and I were supposed to be volunteering at a crowded hospital. We saw Eunice and Eddie outside in a sea of semi-nude people, and Eunice asked me about my diabetes. Since I had no idea what she was talking about, she told me that my nose was starting to soften. A doctor wandered by and said that she was talking about leprosy / Hansen's Disease, but I didn't look like I had it. We just looked at all the people going in and out of the building for a while after THAT.

Then Eric and Julie C. spotted us outside, and hustled us inside. Sara and I wanted some food, so Eric offered to get it for us on a tray. The wrapper was labeled "soup / Cran bread / Cookies." Later, we were outside when Sara got grazed by a bullet - she insisted on taking the bus home, but her increasing pain made this impossible. Then we overshot the hospital emergency room, and were trying to get back there on the bus when I woke up. No triggers for this dream that I can think of! o_O

Ultimate boards = YAY!

Bingo of the night so far:

CHEERFUL (306 points) - against Billie E.


High-scoring words of the night so far:

CHEERFUL (306 points) - against Billie E. [bingo; two 4W]
TUXES (7500 points) against Billie E. [four 5W]

FEMME (7500 points; four 5W). ZOMBI (11,250 points; four 5W), FOURTH (37,500 points; five 5W), COB (175 points; two 5W), HOB (225 points; two 5W) - against Shelley R.-B.

ROBS (750 points) - against Angela V. [three 5W]
JAW (1625 points) - against Raymond C. [three 5W]
BUCK (1500 points) - against Pat K. [three 5W]


All I have to say is that Lori should NOT be a guy's name, EVER! Getting to know Jordan and Matthew, too - being very careful.

English is Tough Stuff / Spellcheckers ARE required!

ENGLISH IS TOUGH STUFF
======================

Dearest creature in creation,
Study English pronunciation.
I will teach you in my verse
Sounds like corpse, corps, horse, and worse.
I will keep you, Suzy, busy,
Make your head with heat grow dizzy.
Tear in eye, your dress will tear.
So shall I! Oh hear my prayer.

Just compare heart, beard, and heard,
Dies and diet, lord and word,
Sword and sward, retain and Britain.
(Mind the latter, how it's written.)
Now I surely will not plague you
With such words as plaque and ague.
But be careful how you speak:
Say break and steak, but bleak and streak;
Cloven, oven, how and low,
Script, receipt, show, poem, and toe.

Hear me say, devoid of trickery,
Daughter, laughter, and Terpsichore,
Typhoid, measles, topsails, aisles,
Exiles, similes, and reviles;
Scholar, vicar, and cigar,
Solar, mica, war and far;
One, anemone, Balmoral,
Kitchen, lichen, laundry, laurel;
Gertrude, German, wind and mind,
Scene, Melpomene, mankind.

Billet does not rhyme with ballet,
Bouquet, wallet, mallet, chalet.
Blood and flood are not like food,
Nor is mould like should and would.
Viscous, viscount, load and broad,
Toward, to forward, to reward.
And your pronunciation's OK
When you correctly say croquet,
Rounded, wounded, grieve and sieve,
Friend and fiend, alive and live.

Ivy, privy, famous; clamour
And enamour rhyme with hammer.
River, rival, tomb, bomb, comb,
Doll and roll and some and home.
Stranger does not rhyme with anger,
Neither does devour with clangour.
Souls but foul, haunt but aunt,
Font, front, wont, want, grand, and grant,
Shoes, goes, does. Now first say finger,
And then singer, ginger, linger,
Real, zeal, mauve, gauze, gouge and gauge,
Marriage, foliage, mirage, and age.

Query does not rhyme with very,
Nor does fury sound like bury.
Dost, lost, post and doth, cloth, loth.
Job, nob, bosom, transom, oath.
Though the differences seem little,
We say actual but victual.
Refer does not rhyme with deafer.
Foeffer does, and zephyr, heifer.
Mint, pint, senate and sedate;
Dull, bull, and George ate late.
Scenic, Arabic, Pacific,
Science, conscience, scientific.

Liberty, library, heave and heaven,
Rachel, ache, moustache, eleven.
We say hallowed, but allowed,
People, leopard, towed, but vowed.
Mark the differences, moreover,
Between mover, cover, clover;
Leeches, breeches, wise, precise,
Chalice, but police and lice;
Camel, constable, unstable,
Principle, disciple, label.

Petal, panel, and canal,
Wait, surprise, plait, promise, pal.
Worm and storm, chaise, chaos, chair,
Senator, spectator, mayor.
Tour, but our and succour, four.
Gas, alas, and Arkansas.
Sea, idea, Korea, area,
Psalm, Maria, but malaria.
Youth, south, southern, cleanse and clean.
Doctrine, turpentine, marine.

Compare alien with Italian,
Dandelion and battalion.
Sally with ally, yea, ye,
Eye, I, ay, aye, whey, and key.
Say aver, but ever, fever,
Neither, leisure, skein, deceiver.
Heron, granary, canary.
Crevice and device and aerie.

Face, but preface, not efface.
Phlegm, phlegmatic, ass, glass, bass.
Large, but target, gin, give, verging,
Ought, out, joust and scour, scourging.
Ear, but earn and wear and tear
Do not rhyme with here but ere.
Seven is right, but so is even,
Hyphen, roughen, nephew Stephen,
Monkey, donkey, Turk and jerk,
Ask, grasp, wasp, and cork and work.

Pronunciation -- think of Psyche!
Is a paling stout and spikey?
Won't it make you lose your wits,
Writing groats and saying grits?
It's a dark abyss or tunnel:
Strewn with stones, stowed, solace, gunwale,
Islington and Isle of Wight,
Housewife, verdict and indict.

Finally, which rhymes with enough --
Though, through, plough, or dough, or cough?
Hiccough has the sound of cup.
My advice is to give up!!!

-- Author Unknown


I take it you already know
Of tough and bough and cough and dough?
Others may stumble, but not you,
On hiccough, thorough, lough and through?
Well done! And now you wish, perhaps,
To learn of less familiar traps?
Beware of heard, a dreadful word
That looks like beard and sounds like bird,
And dead: it's said like bed, not bead -
For goodness sake don't call it deed!
Watch out for meat and great and threat
(They rhyme with suite and straight and debt).
A moth is not a moth in mother,
Nor both in bother, broth in brother,
And here is not a match for there
Nor dear and fear for bear and pear,
And then there's dose and rose and lose -
Just look them up - and goose and choose,
And cork and work and card and ward,
And font and front and word and sword,
And do and go and thwart and cart -
Come, come, I've hardly made a start!
A dreadful language? Man alive!
I'd mastered it when I was five!


Poet Tree Without Mist Aches

I have a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye cannot sea

When eye strike a quay, right a word
I weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong or wright
It shows me strait away

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two late
And eye can put the error rite
Its rarely, rarely grate

I've run this poem threw it
I'm shore your pleased to no
It's letter perfect in it's weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.


They're know miss steaks in this newsletter cause we used special soft wear witch checks yore spelling. It is mower or lass a weigh too verify. How ever is can knot correct arrows inn punctuation ore usage; an it will not fined words which are miss used butt spelled rite. Four example: a paragraph could have mini flaws but wood bee past by the spell checker. And it wont catch the sentence fragment which you. Their fore, the message is that proofreading is knot eliminated, it is still berry much reek wired.

Birthday 2008 Wishes!

Gmail Chat: Steph (1)

Email: Rob D. (1)

MSN: Jamie W., Corey T., Angela B. (3)

LJ: Tryggvi, Sara H., James, Teunis, Marilynn, Jim W., Erik, Farrah, Janina, Jess W. (13) Jen / Dotiwana, Jamie W., Mandy D., Jess W. (13)

Facebook Wall Posts: Steve L., Jason H., Shauna H., Jennifer L., Karen Lew, Kathy T., Harmony, Candy B., Dennis W., Jesse C., Danielle L., Eunice, Billie, Mel, Chalaine, Amy Y., Candace, Adam L., Brian P., Sarah G., Vivian L., Phil Y., Silvester, Amanda B. (with Birthday Balloon), Hien, my clone (haha), Alan P., Rachel B., Raymond C., Denise M., Vania, Karla M., Vicky S., Dianne, Chantelle, Andrew L. (36)

Facebook Superpokes: Natalie H. (baking cake), Jennifer L. (wishing a Happy Birthday) [2]

Facebook Discussion Boards: Howard M., Jan P., Pauline J., Autumn F., Laurence H., Lori M., Flora G., Karla M., Susan B., Sally P., Colin W., Kirsten P., Dennis M. (13) [Scrabulous, Wordscraper, Scrab Tournament]

Growing Gifts: Sara H., Rachel B., Farrah, me (4)

Hatching Eggs: Steve L., Sara H., me (3)

Water Globes: me (1)

Teddy Bears: me (1)

Happy Birthday Cards (Facebook Application): George M., Flora G., Michelle Christ, Colin W. (4)

Ecards: Karen Choo (1)

Facebook Status Comments: Alice P., Michelle Christ, Kathy T., Leslie K. (4)

Wordscraper Games: Angela V., Pat K., George M. (3)

Free Gifts: Melissa T. (1)

Our Place: Kelly L., Candy B., Pup, Steve B., Carol B., Angela B., Carol J., Julie, Leigh (Luna Lily), reebee, 2008 Maryann, shotglass (12)

Other Message Boards and Such: Ubuntu, Baby's Named A Bad Bad Thing, Snopes, Crime Library, Rock 101, OK Cupid, Eve of Destruction (7)

Evite / Event RSVP: Joey, Citrus, Natalie H., Raymond C., Candace, Cindy, Dianne, Martin J., Elizabeth, Jen C., Vivian S., Danielle L., Phil Y., Joseph Y., Karen Lew, Chalaine, Daniel T., Ivan W., Ray L., Vania, Megan C., Henry, Dylan L., Eddie, Lincoln, Myles, Troy, Chad, Mark Hainsworth, Lisa S., Sabrina L., Vicky, Karen I., Rob F., Dallas, Silvester, Robin, Jasmine, Billie, Nathan T., Michelle W. (41)

In Person: Martin, Jon, Billie, Teunis, Krista, Vanessa H., Jen C., Nathan T., Christon, Jasmine, Eric M., Danielle L., Vanessa C., Vivian S., Karmie, Auntie Catherine (16)

Cards / Presents: Danielle / Citrus / Vanessa ($30 Chapters gift card / shortbread), Candy B. (letter / bubble stickers and a guardian angel keychain), Teunis, Billie / Tara (bookmark with Eleanor Roosevelt quote / Women Know Everything!: 3,241 Quips, Quotes, and Brilliant Remarks ), Jasmine, Vivian S. (What's Your Poo Telling You?: 2009 Daily Calendar), Nathan (Boston Pizza dinner of chicken-mushroom fettuccine, Me v. Everybody: Absurd Contracts for an Absurd World and Cruel and Unusual Idiots: Chronicles of Meanness and Stupidity), Sheena (a purple knit toque), Cindy / Dianne (a Starbucks gift card) [9]

Phone Calls: Korey, Billie, Robin, Harmony (4)

Myspace: Jimi from Flatlined [free song!] (1)

Flushing a pillow down the toilet... all 5W Wordscraper!

High-scoring words of the night so far:

CAVIE (250 points) - against Lea P. [two 5W]
RECTO (145 points) - against Jenna G. [4W, 5W]
COPY (6875 points) - against Raymond C. [four 5W]
ZOOTY (53,125 points) - against Billie E. [five 5W]
JEES (6875 points) - against Shelley R.-B. [four 5W]
RADIX (40,625 points) - against Angela V. [five 5W]

I've decided to play the ULTIMATE WORDSCRAPER GAME with Raymond and Billie... I hope boards full of 5W circles don't give them heart attacks!


Earlier tonight, Corey and I were discussing random things as usual. He made a Sandy Chapin reference, and this is how the conversation went:

[21:26:18] Corey: it's like how Sandy Chapin gets to make up the rules and run the show. me too!
[21:27:06] Flami: That name sounds familiar
[21:28:57] Corey: prank calls
[21:32:03] Flami: don't you DARE prank call ME, mister! I can see you coming a MILE away!
[21:32:41] Corey: Sandy Chapin is the name of someone that does prank calls.............. you should have about three albums worth of "her" stuff (it's a guy really :P)
[21:44:12] Flami: haha, I know who you're talking about... very amusing stuff!
[21:45:47] Corey: supposedly there's newer stuff... "she" posted links to get what I have on the PLA forums, and said the new stuff includes things like calling a hotel and somehow convincing a guy to try to flush a pillow down the toilet.. but I haven't found those :P
[21:59:48] Flami: .... hahaha! How the heck do you do that?!
[22:00:15] Corey: I'd like to find out!
[22:03:39] Flami: the hamsterette: so would I!
[22:03:56] Corey: well, look it up and see if you can find something :P I'm going to take a shower
[22:13:01] Flami: Here... the Ebaumsworld forum!
[22:34:42] Corey: where'd you find that?
[22:34:55] Corey: and if that's him, his voice has really gone downhill :P
[22:38:49] Corey: well, the Myspace page has a link to a new album... but that's Mega Upload, not Z-Share :P I've seen the Myspace page before, but there wasn't any info about getting the new stuff
[22:46:32] Corey: holy crap, that call is crazy.. the fake lady voice sounds awful and this guy just agrees to flush everything in his room down the toilet :P
[22:49:49] Flami: the hamsterette: I found it on a Google search for "Sandy Chapin toilet" :P
[22:50:22] Corey: uh... what? maplinks? I copied a Mega Upload url...
[22:50:47] Corey: oh, that was some Myspace redirect stuff
[22:51:03] Corey: they probably both work, but the second one is for the whole album from the Sandy Chapin Myspace page
[23:04:19] Corey: well, excellent work! I didn't know you could get it online :P I don't know how old it is, but I got the first albums when that guy posted on the PLA forums, promoting this new album, and giving away the old ones to generate interest... but everything says 2008 for this thing, and I'm pretty sure I've had those earlier than that...
[23:04:39] Corey: maybe the new one wasn't out yet back then.. I don't know
[23:08:53] Flami: thank you - I try my best!
[23:09:27] Corey: his voice sucks on these new ones :P
[23:13:36] Flami: so much so that you can TELL it's an impersonation?
[23:14:47] Corey: well, the voice is pretty different between the other two :P
[23:15:22] Corey: maybe old lady voices are hard after a while.. Blackout did something not long ago with his Gladys character, and it wasn't even close to what she sounded like in the other ones
[23:19:33] Flami: maybe so... I wouldn't be surprised
[23:21:57] Corey: how's your old lady voice?
[23:22:24] Flami: I don't have one
[23:22:49] Corey: well, try! :P
[23:24:56] Flami: nobody here to hear me :P
[23:25:35] Corey: well, you have to work on it first before you perform :P
[23:28:08] Flami: and no, I am NOT practicing via webcam mike... you complained the last time I did that :P
[23:45:45] Corey: practice by just talking to the air! :P then you can show me when you get good
[23:46:12] Flami: talking to the air?! YIKES
[23:47:03] Corey: that's not hard for you... you tell me you talk to your computer all the time :P
[23:48:43] Flami: I do not... I just YELL at it - that's different! :D
[23:49:21] Corey: well, practice a LOUD old lady :P
[23:50:11] Flami: yikes :P
[00:02:43] Corey: well, that would work :P
[00:16:22] Flami: suppose so

Yes, bad grammar IS a reason not to talk to people!

Bingo of the day so far:

DIOPTASE (62 points) - against Fiona K.


High-scoring words of the day so far:

VICHY (145 points) - against Christine G. [5W; 4L on C; 2L on H]
MAFIC (325 points) - against Shelley R.-B. [two 5W]
QUAYS (272 points) - against Emily L. [two 4W]
ARCADIA (150 points) - against Dixie V. [5W, 3W]


Erik added me to Facebook, which is cool. I just found someone on Facebook with 1300+ friends... how do you KEEP UP with that many people?! *thud* Someone random added me to YM, but I can't continue talking to him because of his spelling / grammar issues. "You said to AD you, and I don't WAIST time!" Um, no. I see enough of that on the Internet already! And no, I am not talking to someone else because they appear creepy!

Talked to Fidela on Gmail about my clone, haha. I knew the conversation had the potential to get confusing, so I kinda expected her response: "Yeah, I do know someone with your name. I grew up with her in Vancouver... wait, YOU'RE the one I grew up with in Vancouver. She's from my church in Wheaton!" Hahaha. I told her about the guy in high school that I knew with the same name as me - cue the mixups at the office!

"There have been some miracles - the construction got delayed!"

Jon picked me up, and Grandma mentioned something about my birthday: "You're a year older, so be good and get married quickly!" Haha! I need some money for my Thanksgiving banquet ticket, if I can get Christon to confirm that I'm buying a ticket in a table of ten! (he asked before I confirmed anything with my brother later) Grandma discussed chicken, Auntie Mabel, Sun Sui Wah, Uncle Andrew, and other stuff with us. Told Karmie, Raymond, and Jeremy how Wednesday night had gone - Jer wondered if the group of 20 had any prior reservation! I have NO idea, but the place WAS kinda small... thank goodness for Eric's resourcefulness! Raymond mentioned looking at the decor in my pictures, and thinking that it wasn't BROWN'S - nope! Said hi to the kids, who are definitely getting older now.

Pastor Edward had an announcement about the church building: "There have been some miracles... the construction has been delayed because various groups forgot to / didn't show up!" That was Jeremy's favorite part of it by FAR, but the part about there potentially being no pews (but VERY NICE CHAIRS) on the 12th made everyone laugh too! (carpet issues...) Interesting sermon from a Calgary guest speaker about family and honor - hmm! Sheena and Vania think it would be perfect if there were a Tim Horton's next door to the new church - we don't think there are many amenities other than Superstore / a sushi place / a liquor store around the new location, unfortunately!

Went to the back parking lot: after enough social time, Eric asked if I didn't have kids to spoil! Haha, of course I do, and he knows it. Sheena gave me a purple toque: she figured I like hats, and I didn't have a purple one. Very much appreciated, since I don't have MANY of them! Cindy gave me a handmade belated birthday card signed by both her and Dianne, and a Starbucks gift card. (Dylan would LOVE it, haha) Calla, Grace, Stanford, Jeremy, Dylan, and Johnny were discussing canker sores at one point: don't know that rubbing salt into the wound OR cauterizing it with an open flame would help much, although it IS funny to contemplate! (stay AWAY from the acidic citrus fruits / tomatoes / coffee!) Chrystal isn't teaching Sunday School this year, she told me. Auntie Catherine wished me a happy belated birthday, and wants to get together with me next Saturday - good thing Awana doesn't start till the 18th! (yup, my sister gets back for the weekend pretty soon!)

Found that Auntie Fonda was sick, so went to the baby room and let Brandon, Terence, and Arthur play - saw Jennifer and her son Amos for the first time in like a year or so. Her older son Rick likes Willingdon since he gets to be with his friends, which is understandable! Reminds me of the time when I actually DID help with the babies back in 2002 to 2004 or so. (Ian, Sean, Charissa, Irene, Wilson, Clara, Carrie, Ryan, Ethan, Rosanna, etc.) Whenever she referred to Arthur, it sounded like she was saying "Alpha," heh. Afterwards, Julie C. asked me how I'd found her on Facebook - through photo comments! Said hi to Ian and Sean, and Ian told me that he was in Grade 2, but his brother was only in kindergarten. Oh, he'll grow up for sure! Asked Sean why his fingers were all wet - Ian told me that he'd been eating plums. Said hi to their parents too, and also to Hien / Auntie Ping a bit later.

Went outside, where Sonny looked really bored just standing around waiting for Tony (who's using his opportunity to worship through physical labor as in MOVING / PACKING), so I talked to him for a few minutes about school and making friends. Waved hi to Phil, quasi-confirmed stuff with Christon, said hi to Bob / Heyman / Johnny, laughed at part of a conversation between Jon / Jeremy / Nathan / Eric ("let's kneel before the new sound system at church to ensure it doesn't give us any problems!"), discussed my Facebook pictures / Wordscraper / Frog Hollow with Raymond and Kevin, and went into the church when everyone else had gone. From there, it was off to lunch at Mui's with Auntie Anna and Uncle Cho Kai - I can't believe she'll be 70 in a few years! Guess my parents are getting older, too!

They discussed family, baby Bryony, Mimosa / Tilia / Ficus, my knowledge of Chinese, good answers to maternal probing concerning marriage ("Are you rushing me out of here?!"), "I'll let HIM take care of the kid if I ever get pregnant!" dynamic, God's Faithful Singers, my "good" choir solos, etc. I've always wanted to ask why Auntie Anna and her sister have similar / rhyming English names (Hannah and Anna?!), but can't think of a nice way to phrase it! Even years ago, I knew that this wasn't something you'd do to a sibset! (even if they ARE just English names chosen when coming to Canada, and not Chinese ones...)

After that, we went to the church building site - met a lot of people there on a tour. Still looks like a construction zone, with two weeks left to go! (saw the kitchen, library, fellowship hall, crying room, classrooms, offices, and other spaces) At least the sanctuary seems to have good acoustics, and everyone was discussing the logistics of things! Eric says he replied to my message about the computer restarting a lot, but I didn't get it BECAUSE the machine restarted! Got to return my library books later, so that was also a good thing. Right now, I'm trying to explain the drink yin-yang to Corey... it's not the energy balance in a drinking context, for sure!