The iodine is like jam, and the doctors get the blame!

Just before Awana started, I got a weird phone call from Massachusetts: 1-978-570-2070, anyone? Right before I was going to submit this post, I heard some noise coming from the bag near Dallas' stuff. I turned my head just in time to see a mouse run across the room to wherever it hides! AAAAAAAAAAA!

Henry picked me up, and we chatted briefly about work and how Michael Jackson's death made the Internet explode... SO TRUE! ("Hey, I can't access Google News - I was online when it happened!") When we got to the elevator, he said he was sore from driving - when he first started driving, he thought it was very fun. "I said I'd never be like my parents - well, my mom said it was tiring and stuff. Now look!" That is what happens!

At Awana, I heard a few of the older kids talking about Michael Jackson - Eric said that they were now blaming the doctors, and his younger brother Matthew had to corroborate it, heh. Said hi to Chrystal, Emily, Danny, Chris, William, Sabrina, Mike, and Jessica. Jordan didn't want to look at his hand wound (sustained in the morning when his brother Thomas made him fall as he was biking) when Auntie Vivian changed his bandage. He did liken the iodine to jam, though! Auntie Vivian told me and Chrystal that she actually had watched Youtube for the first time last night: her daughter Mary said that now she knew how the young people were procrastinating on homework! After Awana, someone was playing a MJ tune on the piano - NICE! Ian and Sean played a weird made-up game on the way home (dropped off Meg and Jesse), which apparently involved copper shields and chaos.


Leslie's just got their Polynesian Name from Name Generators. I just got my Polynesian Name. It's Hika, meaning "a daughter."

Leslie's just got their Northern African Name from Name Generators. I just got my Northern African Name. It's Malek Boudouani.

Leslie's just got their Thunder God Name from Name Generators. I just got my Thunder God Name. It's Perkwunos.

Leslie's just got their Gypsy Name from Name Generators. I just got my Gypsy Name. It's Rasia, meaning "a rose."

Your Super-Power And Super-Weakness by Vanmorbo
Name
Weapon of choice	BlunderbussBoomerangCardsChopsticksClawsDual-Wielded PistolsElemental MagicFistsFrying PanGladiusHarpoonIon CannonKatanaLassoLongbowPlasma RiflePower BandsRapierRing of PowerRosesShurikenSniper RifleSpearTiaraUtility BeltVery Big SwordWavebirdWhip
Super-Power	Bouncy Fat Rolls... never get harmed, you bouncy ball
Super-Weakness	tormented by restless ghosts of those you've slain
Effectiveness	97%

Facebook quizzes taken from Jennifer L. and Jane:

Leslie completed the quiz "What does the week you were born say about you?" with the result The Week of the Literalist - Virgo 3. September 11-18. You persist on getting your way, and you are a willful individual. You are angered by irrationality, but are able to hide your emotions well. You do not like public displays of emotion, even though you feel emotion deeply. You dislike phoniness and pretension. You like people to be who they really are, to be truthful to themselves. You do not like trouble or unpleasantness. You can be highly dramatic, and seek to uncover truth and reveal it to the world. You can be fearless and courageous in confronting social mores, but remain calm when it is not concerning your passions. You expect the very best for yourself in a relationship and can be demanding, although affectionate and caring. You are able to easily face and overcome obstacles. Strengths: Composed – Nurturing – Capable. Weaknesses: Sensationalistic – Judgmental – Ruthless.

Leslie took the What crayon color are you? quiz and got the result: Lemon Yellow. Lemon Yellow: You are Lemon Yellow! Way to get noticed! You are bright and cheerful. You are the one person everyone wants at their party to truly make it a success. People see you as happy and very fun to be around. You make others happy when you smile and say Hi! You always try to have the best outlook on life, and usually find one.

I use hand sanitizer and Ziploc bags in unconventional ways - MICE!

I heard a mouse IN MY ROOM today, so I guess closing the door every time I went out of the room didn't really work. Not going to Alan and Tracy's wedding, but that's fine as they didn't invite me. Kinda short notice to call Henry anyway, sorta. All I gotta do is make sure the phone's on in a couple of hours. Just heard a prayer clip from Talladega Nights on the radio ("SWEET BABY JESUS!") - haha, I well remember seeing that with Chinese Eric and the guys a couple years back!

Speaking of mice in my room, I had to take out a dead one on a glue trap - ewww! Luckily, I triple-bagged both my hands with Ziploc bags as "gloves" of sorts to insulate myself against accidentally touching it or the trap. Then I got a triple-dose of hand sanitizer, some vigorous hand-washing, and a cleansing shower to deal with germs. Then I applied a quintuple dose of hand sanitizer to my knapsack after throwing away some cookies inside: it helped with picking up the crumbs inside, and I suspect the mice were at the cookies anyhow.

Posted a "housing wanted" ad, then I called the number listed in a $650 Craigslist ad which included cable / parking / laundry / hydro / bathroom / stove / fridge / heat. Preeya says it's near Ironwood and on Steveston Highway. There's also some competition going on (and she works till 5 tomorrow), and I have to see it either tonight or tomorrow. It should be fine as long as I look up the bus directions NOW as opposed to when I strictly need them. Let's see... oh great. The site is down! Can't blame this one on Michael Jackson's death, heh. Google Maps seems to give me limited functionality for what I want. Hmm... it appears that if I take the 401 / 407, then the 403, and then walk a little, it should be fine. Phew!


I just got a reply from my ad, too! "Kindly find your self lucky because my spacious 1 bedrooms flat is just vacant.It is first come first serve.It is available for anyone wishing to stay in Richmond,Bc.My apartment is located in a safe and cool area in Richmond,Bc.My apartment is well furnsihed and fully equipped.The price $620 per month includes all bills such as gas,electricity,water etc.For ,more details about this offer,contact me via my email address . Email Address : [deleted]
> Kindly reply back with this add... " "Duncan Tim" has spacing issues (also: ADD is a VERB, not a NOUN!), but I don't know what a "safe and cool area" is. Besides, I have my own furnishings. People are donating stuff to Jon and Harmony, of course... but sometimes you gotta do it yourself!

Darker spirits cause hangovers!

4chan is incomprehensible!

Leslie's just got their Indian Chief Name from Name Generators. I just got my Indian Chief Name. It's Chief Little Bear.

Leslie just took What Michael Jackson Song Are You? and the results are in! Beat It! You are Beat It. "Just Beat It, Beat It! No One Wants To Be Defeated. Showin' how funky strong is your fight. It doesn't matter who's wrong or right. Just beat it!" We will miss you, Michael!


Talked to Billie again tonight (like last night) - briefly connected with Corey, but he was falling asleep already at like 9:30. CRAZY!

Facebook quizzes taken from Jennifer B., Amanda B., and Darren:

Leslie completed the quiz "Which character from HBO's True Blood are you?" with the result Tara Thornton. Anyone who dares to insult you better watch out, because you’ll gladly let them know exactly where they can stick their unkind words. Aside from your mom, who has caused you far too much trouble over the years, you don't take sass from anybody. You rarely let anyone break through your tough exterior, though there's one special person you'd make an exception for.

Leslie completed the quiz "How long would you survive in a horror film?" with the result You Survive! Congratulations! You are perhaps the sole survivor of these horrible events. Get ready, the producers will be calling you again soon to schedule a sequel. After all, what's a good slasher flick without at least five sequels? But never mind that... you'll need the money for the extensive therapy you'll be needing to sort out the mental stress you'll inevitably have from being kidnapped and tortured / watching your friends and family being picked off one by one as the killer gets closer to you / having to blow your best friend's head off when they turn into a brain-eating zombie. But obviously, whatever you did worked because you managed to survive what killed everyone else. You have undoubtedly turned from a huge asshole into a genuinely good person. See you next year for the sequel.

Leslie took the Which Transformer Are You? quiz and the result is Optimus Prime. The altruistic Autobot leader who comes to Earth to destroy the All Spark in order to end the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons. He is a strong leader, gallant fighter, quick witted, and compassionate towards all living creatures. He has a strong sense of justice and tends to defend the less able. He is very self-sacrificing and will do anything for peace in the universe. His Autobots follow his orders even if it means to follow them to the death. His main rival is the leader of the Decepticons, Megatron. His vehicle form is the Peterbilt Semi-Truck. Motto: "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings."

Leslie completed the quiz "Which Michael Jackson Song Are You?" with the result Give In To Me (feat. Slash). You like when a girl just surrenders and falls for you right away. Plus, you love the Hard Rock feeling of this song!


Poo nugget for this weekend: D.A.D.S. - You Are What You Drink - There are a lot of myths about what causes hangovers and how to treat them. The unassailable facts are that darker spirits (tequila, brandy, wine) are more likely to cause hangovers than lighter ones - rum, gin, vodka. Proven treatments for hangovers include rehydration, vitamin B-6, and possibly medicines that decrease prostaglandin production, like ibuprofen. (POO OF THE MONTH!)

Hannibal, Hiram, Ichabod, and Indiana

Computer restarted again!

This is from What Not to Name Your Baby by Joe Borgenicht.

H

Halliwell: Will wear baby doll dresses and cause the breakup of all groups to which he belongs.

Handsome: Will invariably turn when women on the corner yell "Hello, Handsome!"

Hannibal: Roman general best known for using elephants to cross the Alps. Will have a fondness for liver, fava beans, and Chianti.

Hansel: With his sister, Gretel, ate a cookie house and convinced the evil witch that they were skin and bones. First documented example of sibling eating disorders.

Happy: A dwarf who will be used as an example when others are anxious. "Don't worry, be Happy!"

Harold / Harry: When he's swimming at the pool, people will wonder why he's wearing a sweater vest. Likely to reach puberty earlier than the other boys.

Hauk: The unpleasant nouse associated with clearing one's throat in order to collect a loogie.

Hayden: Don't be Hayden!

Hazelup: Non-caffeinated nut protein soda made popular after the granola-like bars were found to be carcinogenic.

Hector: A garbage collector. Also, the son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy, and leader of the kingdom's forces during the Trojan War. His death at the hands of Achilles foretold the fall of Troy. A common name for Mexican taxi drivers.

Henri: Ornery and cantankerous French child.

Henry: Ornery and cantankerous chicken.

Herschel: A great American chocolate bar, with or without nuts. Likely to be overweight and have chronic acne.

Hiram: Common name for a hired man or an indentured servant. Definitely not as glamorous as, and certainly more blister-making than, being a kept boy.

Holt: To capture or keep tight.

Honor: The inevitable subject of joking by adolescent males. "Now, where were you last night? Honor?"

Horace: A quality of voice most notable after a particularly close football game, a street fight, or a bad throat cold.

Horatio: One who is always excited for entertainment.

Huggy Bear: A '70s television show character best remembered for snitching on his friends, and having poor taste in clothing. See also Vinyl.

Hunter: An orange vest- and camouflage-wearing boy who doesn't catch and release.

Hutch: A kitchen cupboard or a '70s policeman played by David Soul. Or was that Starsky? See Starsky.

Hyman: A casual male greeting. Brother to Cherry.


I

Ian: A really long time.

Ichabod: May be a thin, awkward schoolteacher chased by headless horsemen.

Ideal: An online bargain. Radial keratotomy negotiation. Common placard in a used-car lot.

Iggy: Fine if your child is a little green monster.

Igor: One-eyed lab assistant whose key attribute is hand-wringing. Effective if your goal is to see child employed at a glove-manufacturing plant.

Ima: Will be perpetually subject to the childhood game "I know you are, but what am I?"

Indiana: Rugged alter ego of an otherwise boorish academic anthropologist.

Irelan: Neighbor of Englan, Wale, and Scotlan.

Ivan: Gimme-grabbee child whose only goal is the fulfillment of his own desires.

Time traveling, Victorian England, and downtime

High-scoring word of the day so far:

VOTARY (148 points) - against Angela V. [4W, 5L on V]

No Fellowship tonight since Eric's at the school reunion, which is fine. I need one day of downtime to myself, because I haven't had that since last Thursday! (the 18th) I'd call Sam or Ivan, but I don't really feel like it. :P

Facebook quizzes taken from Chris R., Becky, and Darren:

Leslie took the Do You Act Your Age? quiz and the result is 20s. You act like you are in your 20s. You make wise decisions and always do the right thing... well, most of the time. Many people see this as a positive influence, and you are very likable. You like to have fun, but you also see the long-term consequences of your actions. Live it up!

Leslie took the What Era Should You Time Travel To? quiz and the result is Victorian England. You like elegance and value wisdom. Curiosities and scientific tidbits fascinate you to no end! You like to be in charge and pay attention to even the smallest detail. Making people feel at ease is one of your many talents. Your analytical style makes the intricate Victorian lifestyle endlessly fascinating to you! So gentlemen, don your top hats... and ladies, lace up your S corsets - because your time machine is ready to take you to Victorian England!

Leslie took the Your Personality Evaluation quiz and got the result: You are a type 1B Person. You have a need for other people to like and admire you, and yet you tend to be critical of yourself. While you have some personality weaknesses, you are generally able to compensate for them. You have considerable unused capacity that you have not turned to your advantage. Disciplined and self-controlled on the outside, you tend to be worrisome and insecure on the inside. At times, you have serious doubts as to whether you have made the right decision or done the right thing. You prefer a certain amount of change and variety, and become dissatisfied when hemmed in by restrictions and limitations. You also pride yourself as an independent thinker, and do not accept others' statements without satisfactory proof. But you have found it unwise to be too frank in revealing yourself to others. At times, you are extroverted, affable, and sociable... while at other times, you are introverted, wary, and reserved. Some of your aspirations tend to be rather unrealistic.

Leslie took the What type of goth are you? quiz and the result is Poser. Way to be. You're a poser. You like Manson, Cradle of Filth, and Dimmu Borgir. Sure, you call yourself goth. But everyone knows you're not. You probably shop at Hot Topic. I'm surprised you even know the difference between goth and emo. Hell, you might not. Whatever, just stop calling yourself goth. And stop hanging out at the mall trying to look intimidating... everyone thinks you look like a fag.

Leslie completed the quiz "Which Michael Jackson Hit Song Are You?" with the result Bad. You are Bad - Michael Jackson's great song. You like leather jackets, super-tight trousers, and you are absolutely gorgeous! You like to stand out. You have this super-attractive sharp look. People adore you, and are crazy about you. You like it, but at the same time, you seem not to notice it or believe it. You are in fact a bit shy inside, though on the outside, you are rather self-assured.

Would YOU have a coffee enema?!

Interesting rack of the day: SOAPLIDS (against Jordan N. - read that as "soap lids")

Facebook quizzes taken from Jennifer L. and Gabriel:

Leslie took the What Michael Jackson Song Are You? quiz and the result is Black or White. You're a good person! You don't look at people's colors, abilities, or disabilities... you just look at their character! (I remember that I thought the video was crazy! R.I.P., Michael Jackson.)

Leslie took the What ACCENT should you have? quiz and got the result: Australian Accent. (Sweet!)


Poo nugget for Friday, June 26: Coffee Break - Although no medical studies support their use, coffee enemas are widely touted as having both mental and physical health benefits. Supporters claim that the caffeine is absorbed more quickly into the bloodstream when given as an enema, because the rectal veins are close to the tissue surface. This apparently delivers a more potent coffee buzz and a more forceful kickstart to your GI tract. The downside? You have to take it black. Flavored coffee, creamers, and sweeteners are all enema no-nos.

Imagine never forgetting anything!

Girl Who Doesn't Age

Doctors Baffled, Intrigued by Girl Who Doesn't Age. Years Pass, but Brooke Greenberg Remains a Toddler. No One Can Explain How or Why.

Brooke Greenberg is the size of an infant, with the mental capacity of a toddler. She turned 16 in January. Younger sister says, "we joke about how she rebels" like a true 16-year-old. "Why doesn't she age?" Howard Greenberg, 52, asked of his daughter. "Is she the fountain of youth?"

Such questions are why scientists are fascinated by Brooke. Among the many documented instances of children who fail to grow or develop in some way, Brooke's case may be unique, according to her doctor, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine pediatrician Lawrence Pakula, in Baltimore. "Many of the best-known names in medicine, in their experience ... had not seen anyone who matched up to Brooke," Pakula said. "She is always a surprise."

Brooke hasn't aged in the conventional sense. Dr. Richard Walker of the University of South Florida College of Medicine, in Tampa, says Brooke's body is not developing as a coordinated unit, but as independent parts that are out of sync. She has never been diagnosed with any known genetic syndrome or chromosomal abnormality that would help explain why.

In a recent paper for the journal Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, Walker and his co-authors, who include Pakula and All Children's Hospital (St. Petersburg, Fla.) geneticist Maxine Sutcliffe chronicled a baffling range of inconsistencies in Brooke's aging process. She still has baby teeth at 16, for instance. And her bone age is estimated to be more like 10 years old.

"There have been very minimal changes in Brooke's brain," Walker said. "Various parts of her body, rather than all being at the same stage, seem to be disconnected." Brooke's mother, Melanie Greenberg, 48, sees a different picture. "She loves to shop," Greenberg said. "Just like a woman." Brooke rides in a stroller while her mom shops for clothes in the infant sections of department stores near their home in a Baltimore suburb. That Brooke is in her mid-teens is so mind-boggling that if another mother with a toddler asks Greenberg how old Brooke is, she usually doesn't try to explain. "My system always has been to turn years into months," Greenberg said. "So, if someone asked today, I might say, she's 16 months old."


The Toddler Who Rebels Like a Teen

Brooke weighs 16 pounds and is 30 inches tall. She doesn't speak, but she laughs when she is happy, and she clearly recognizes the people around her. She has three sisters: Emily, 22; Caitlin, 19; and Carly, 13. All three are bright, active, and of normal size and development. They say that Brooke has ways of expressing herself like the teenager she is.

"She looks like a 6-month-old, but she kind of has a personality of a 16-year-old," Caitlin said. "Sometimes we joke about how she rebels." Brooke will resist and refuse activities that don't appeal to her by vocalizing her displeasure, not with words, but with sounds typical of an infant. "She makes it known what she likes and what she doesn't like," sister Emily said. Carly said it no longer seems strange to have an older sister who is still essentially an infant. "As I got older, she was just like another little sister to me," she said.

In her first six years, Brooke went through a series of medical emergencies from which she recovered, often without explanation. She survived surgery for seven perforated stomach ulcers. She suffered a brain seizure followed by what was diagnosed as a stroke that weeks later left no apparent damage. At 4, she fell into a lethargy that caused her to sleep for 14 days. Then, doctors diagnosed a brain tumor, and the Greenbergs bought a casket for her.

"We were preparing for our child to die," Howard Greenberg said. "We were saying goodbye. And, then, we got a call that there was some change; that Brooke had opened her eyes and she was fine. There was no tumor. She overcomes every obstacle that is thrown her way." Brooke's doctor said the source of her sudden illnesses remains a mystery. "We often did not have a good explanation for why she became ill as quickly and intensely as she did," Pakula said. "There were many times in which there were real doubts about her ability to survive."

As she rocks back and forth in a baby swing, Brooke is fed through a tube inserted into her stomach, because her esophagus is so small that swallowed food could back up into her lungs and cause pneumonia. Doctors recommended growth hormone therapy early in Brooke's life, but the treatment produced no results. Howard Greenberg recalled the follow-up visit to the endocrinologist. "We took her back in six months, and the doctor looked at us and said, 'Why didn't you give Brooke the growth hormones?' And I said, 'We gave Brooke the growth hormones. We gave her everything you told us to do.' And Brooke didn't put on a pound, an ounce; she didn't grow an inch."


Part of the Family

Brooke's hair and her nails are the only two things that grow, Howard said. "She has pajamas and outfits that are 10 or 12 years old," he said. One of the things she loves most is movement. As Brooke lies on her stomach, Carly often steers her through the house on an ottoman. Brooke also likes to push against open kitchen drawers until they slam shut. In her crib, "she's very content," Howard said. "She has very little conception of time." The family has placed a small television near the crib so she can watch whenever she pleases. Her father gets up in the middle of each night to check on her.

Brooke has a caretaker during daytime hours, but the family's schedule revolves around her, year after year. The Greenbergs take no vacations, have few nights out, and involve Brooke in as many family activities as possible. "To go to a swimming pool for the summer, or belong to a summer club ... we tried all those things, and it's lacking something," her mother said. "Brooke's not there. We're not a family without Brooke."

Brooke goes to a Baltimore County public school, Ridge Ruxton, dedicated to special education. Based on her age, she would be a junior in high school. Jewel Adiele, one of Brooke's teachers, said she wonders sometimes what Brooke is thinking or perceiving. "People who have worked with her in the past or who briefly see her say ... there's no change," Adiele said. "But I think, in her heart, she changes. I think from day to day, there are changes. They're not just as visible as you see in a lot of teens."

To try to determine why Brooke's aging process has been so irregular -- and what it means to the understanding of our genetic makeup -- Walker and Sutcliffe have studied samples of Brooke's cells and DNA to look for what they think may be a genetic mutation never seen before that has affected the way she ages. Walker, of the University of South Florida, believes that if the gene can be isolated, it may provide clues to questions about why we age and die. "Without being sensational, I'd say this is an opportunity for us to answer the question, why we're mortal, or at least to test it," Walker said. "And if we're wrong, we can discard it. But if we're right, we've got the golden ring."


A Key to Understanding How We Age?

If the gene -- or complex of genes -- is identified, Walker plans to test laboratory animals to determine whether the gene can be switched off and, if so, whether it will cause the animal's aging to slow.

In the long term, the idea that the aging process might somehow be manipulated raises serious questions about what human beings might do with that knowledge. "Clearly, that's the science fiction aspect of it," said Walker, describing the social and ethical dilemmas that would arise. "We can't have continued reproduction and people who don't age." One possible reason to slow the aging process, Walker suggested, would be to allow astronauts to travel in space for long periods of time. "But right now, it's only conjecture," he said.

Neither Walker nor Pakula, her doctor, can speculate how long Brooke's life might be. "That's more of a crystal ball question," Pakula said. "I think there's no way of knowing. " The visual evidence of that unpredictable future is always there in the family pictures -- photographs in which everyone but Brooke is aging. The Greenbergs are fascinated by the promise that a scientific breakthrough may stem from Brooke, whose own life is governed by the most basic elements: food and shelter; a family's love; and their ability to see in her far more than meets the eye, having come to terms with the prospect that she will never grow up.

"We love her just the way she is," Melanie Greenberg said. "We don't want to change her." Added Howard Greenberg, "Brooke is the nucleus of our family. What if Brooke holds the secret to aging? We'd like to find out. We'd like to help people. Everybody's here for a reason. Maybe this is why Brooke is here."


Top 12 Most Baffling Medical Conditions

Giant limbs and random lumps of fat. Music-induced seizures. Persistent sexual arousal syndrome. Some medical conditions are so baffling to doctors and researchers that their exact origins remain a mystery. They are conditions that have not made an indelible mark in the tomes of medicine. Bring them up in front of a physician, and in some cases, you may get little more than a blank stare.

But they exist, sometimes as a rare disorder, sometimes as a disorder that falls between many medical specialties, and sometimes as an extreme form of a normal bodily function that most people experience every day. And while the thought of a giant port-wine stain or uncontrollable hiccups are cocktail-party fodder for some, they can be a source of difficulty and shame for those who experience them firsthand.

Sometimes there are cures for what ails them, but most often people with these strange conditions must move forward with their lives... coping with physical, social, and emotional discomfort, because there is no cure. The following pages feature some of the more unusual medical conditions that have received recent media attention.


Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome

If she dresses carefully and positions herself properly, Carla Sosenko, 32 from Brooklyn, N.Y., knows no one will be able to see any of the physical flaws that she works hard to conceal.

But, unlike the bumps and bulges that many people would like to hide, Sosenko's are the result of a rare congenital disorder called Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome (KTS).

"It was always about my appearance, which is, in a lot of ways, fortunate," Sosenko said. "In terms of the medical issues, I never felt like I had them."

Symptoms can vary widely and, depending on the severity of the condition, can include pain, blood clots, seizures, blindness, and mental retardation. Excessive bone growth can lead to amputation of the enlarged limb. Because KTS falls between specialties -- vascular, orthopedic, and lymphatic -- the disorder was often misdiagnosed and treated inappropriately.

"There is tremendous confusion [about KTS]," said Dr. John Mulliken, co-director of Vascular Anomalies Center at Children's Hospital Boston. "These patients used to be medical nomads. No one doctor can take care of these patients."

Sosenko's right leg is slightly larger than her left, her back is uneven with fat deposits, and a plum-colored mark from enlarged blood vessels under the skin (called a port-wine stain) stretches from her torso to her right thigh.

Sosenko said that many people she meets might not notice her lumpy back, or that she drags her right leg slightly when she walks. Others might notice and not comment, and still others might ask her about it. "If a perfect stranger says something cruel, it hurts," Sosenko said. "That will hurt no matter how much progress I make, no matter how confident I feel."

Still, Sosenko admitted that the varicose veins that she has can hurt, and excessive walking can be taxing because of the length difference between her legs. Fortunately, Sosenko's condition is not painful, nor has it prevented her from any of her favorite activities, such as yoga. "It's discomfort, it's not debiblitating," Sosenko said.


No Cure for Hiccups

Christopher Sands, 25, has been battling hiccups (normally a mundane short-lived biological function) for more than two years. "When [the hiccups] started, it was completely random, out of the blue, for no reason," said Sands, whose first bout of chronic hiccupping occurred in February 2007.

Since then, Sands has tried a slew of home and alternative remedies for his hiccups, including special drinking cups, hypnotherapy, yoga, and herbal medicines from Malaysia. "In general, [hiccupping] is a sign of diaphragm-related problems," said Dr. Martin Makary, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Surgical Outcomes Research, who pointed out that the muscle can contract irregularly due to irritation or an abnormality such as a hole.

But it quickly became clear that nothing worked to alleviate Sands' hiccups. After much medical testing, including head, chest and abdomen scans, doctors were unable to identify the source of Sands' chronic hiccups. The only thing wrong was a damaged valve connecting Sands' esophagus to his stomach, a condition that he was born with and that caused him frequent heartburn and vomiting. Coupled with the hiccups, Sands has not been able to eat, sleep, or perform as a guitarist and backup vocalist with his band, Ebullient.

"I can hiccup for 14 hours nonstop or I'll be free of them, but not free of them at all," Sands said. When he is not actively hiccupping, Sands feels like he is about to hiccup at any moment, much like the tickle before a sneeze.

"I'm curled up in a ball on the floor, writhing around in pain, drinking water." Sands had surgery this week to correct the faulty valve, but it had no effect on his condition. BBC1 is working to develop a program featuring Sands as he travels across the United States seeking a cure for his hiccups.


When You Can't Open Your Eyes for Three Days

Natalie Adler, 21, of Caulfield South, Melbourne, Australia, said she can sense the onset of her unusual condition -- and when she should start preparing for three days of darkness. "The night before it sets in, my eyes get quite heavy, and that is how I know it is coming," Adler told ABCNews.com. Invariably, the next morning, Adler finds herself unable to open her tightly-shut eyes. The bouts generally last for about three days, after which she can open her eyes and once again see normally.

Adler has suffered from the condition for the last four years, she said. Doctors, both in Australia and the United States, are baffled as to the exact cause -- or indeed, whether her condition is physical or psychological. "We're not really sure of the diagnosis," said Catherine Mancuso, an orthoptist who coordinated Adler's treatment plans at The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

"There's nothing that would cause symptoms of a woman to close her eyes for three days, and open her eyes for three days," said Dr. Dean Cestari, a neuro-ophthalmologist at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston.

Cestari believes that at least part of Adler's condition may be attributed to a psychological condition that has manifested itself in a physical way. "It can be hard, because sometimes these patients come in with real experiences. They aren't making this up," said Cestari. "But the mind converted a conflict into a physical manifestation."

For now, Adler receives Botox treatments to the muscles surrounding her eyes. The injections often help her to keep her eyes open, but she said that the effectiveness of the treatments is starting to wane. Now she is holding out hope for a more permanent solution, as well as a way to continue her day-to-day life despite the condition. "In the beginning, I tried to ignore it, but [I] have now learnt to live with it," she said.


Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome

For those who have never experienced persistent sexual arousal syndrome, or PSAS, its symptoms may seem more like a godsend or a dirty joke than a debilitating condition.

However, for the women who experience PSAS -- which causes them to live perpetually at the brink of orgasm -- the condition is a nightmarish curse. And up until 2001, it was a curse that didn't even have a name.

"I thought I was alone in this," Heather Dearmon, a 34-year-old South Carolina woman who experiences PSAS, told ABC News' Primetime. "And this is after seeing every kind of doctor imaginable -- gynecologist, psychologist, psychiatrist -- you know, everything. And none had ever heard of anything."

Relief from the condition is often as elusive as sympathy. The sensations, which are not brought about by fantasies or other sexual thoughts, are often only partially relieved through orgasm. For some women, even sex does not help quell their arousal, and on occasion can even make the sensations worse.

Dr. Irwin Goldstein, a professor of surgery at U.C. San Diego and the head of the Sexual Health Program at Alvarado Hospital, studies the condition and says understanding of it is spare, even within the medical community. "Every lecture I give on this, there's always smirks in the audience: 'Oh, I wish my wife was like this.' These are professional physicians," Goldstein said. "And I said, 'No, no, you're, you don't really want this. You do not want your wife to have this, please.'"

Indeed, the mortifying nature of PSAS leads Goldstein to believe that perhaps thousands of women suffer from the condition without seeking a doctor's help. "To me, this is a sickness," Dearmon said. "This is not, it's not something we've chosen. ... I would rather never have another orgasm in my life for the rest of my life than to have this problem."


The Man Who Never Gets Cold

Wim Hof, 49, of the Netherlands, possesses such a strong resistance to cold that scientists remain baffled as to how he endures many of the tests to which he exposes his body. The Guinness world record holder has immersed himself, nearly naked, in ice for one hour and 12 minutes.

In January 1999, he traveled 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle to run a half marathon in his bare feet. Three years later, dressed only in a swimsuit, he dived under the ice at the North Pole and earned a Guinness world record for the longest amount of time swimming under the ice: 80 meters, almost twice the length of an Olympic-size pool. Hof earned more recent renown for scaling Mount Everest in his shorts.

Hof told ABC News' 20/20 that his ability to withstand cold temperatures was something he discovered more than two decades ago. "I had a stroll like this in the park with somebody, and I saw the ice and I thought, 'What would happen if I go in there?' I was really attracted to it. I went in, got rid of my clothes. Thirty seconds I was in," Hof said. "Tremendous good feeling when I came out. And since then, I repeated it every day."

Dr. Ken Kamler, author of Surviving the Extremes, has treated dozens of people who tried to climb Mount Everest and nearly died from the frigid temperatures. When he heard that Hof had ascended the mountain wearing shorts, he became intrigued and began to study the Dutchman. He believes that Hof's ability lies in the wiring of his brain.

"It's very easy to speculate that the same mind control that you use to control your heart when you're scared also can be called upon to control the other organs in the body. And maybe that's how Wim Hof does this," said Kamler. "It's speculation, but it sort of makes sense, and a lot of scientists are working very hard to try to figure this out now."


People Who Are Allergic to Cold

On the other end of the spectrum from Hof are those with a condition known as cold urticaria -- quite literally, an allergy to cold temperatures. "If you put an ice cube on somebody that has cold urticaria, they're going to have a big welt right where the ice cube was," said Dr. Thomas Casale, chief of allergy and immunology at Creighton University and executive vice-president of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

Worse, those with the condition can expect to experience similar reactions to bitter winds and cold surfaces. A minor exposure, such as taking a few snowflakes to the face during a blizzard, can result in the formation of itchy, uncomfortable bumps. A major exposure -- such as from diving into a chilly swimming pool -- could theoretically be enough to send the body into a potentially deadly allergic shock.

"There are patients that we've been talking to who have had full-blown vascular collapse and ended up in the emergency room at death's door," said Dr. Gerald Gleich of the University of Utah, who studies patients who suffer from cold urticaria. "This is a very, very potentially serious problem."

Gleich said that as with other allergies, the hives that occur in those with the condition are brought about by an inappropriate immune response. Specifically, an antibody known as immunoglobulin E is likely to blame, as Gleich's studies have revealed that it is this component of the immune system that is activated when these patients encounter a cold stimulus.

Fortunately, this feature of the condition may also point to possibilities for treatment. "Many of these patients are taking antihistamines, and some are getting good relief," he said. "We would like to see whether antibodies to immunoglobulin E would block all symptoms in these people. If it does, the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] might be willing to approve it, and then we would have a treatment."


The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep

While nightmares are most often associated with sleep... for a few, the inability to get any sleep is a nightmare in and of itself. Such is the case with 4-year-old Rhett Lamb, who, according to his mother, stays awake nearly 24 hours a day.

"We went to the doctor after he was born, and I kept telling him something was wrong. He didn't sleep," Rhett's mother, Shannon Lamb, told ABC News' Good Morning America. "They thought I was being kind of an anxious mom, and we went back and forth," she said. "Finally, they [were] starting to realize now that he really doesn't sleep at all. But we've had a lot of different diagnoses and nobody really knows."

After a number of conflicting opinions, Rhett's parents finally learned what was wrong with their child: Doctors diagnosed Rhett with an extremely rare condition called chiari malformation. "The brain literally is squeezed into the spinal column. What happens is you get compression, squeezing, strangulating of the brain stem, which has all the vital functions that control sleep, speech, our cranial nerves, our circulatory system, even our breathing system," said ABC News medical consultant Dr. Marie Savard.

In order to relieve this pressure, doctors earlier this year performed a surgery that would afford more space in the boy's skull for his brain. Surgeons made an incision at the base of Rhett's skull to the top of his neck and removed the bone around the brain stem and spinal cord.

Doctors expected results of the surgery, conducted in May, to take up to a year to manifest. "There is a 50-50 chance that the sleep will improve," Lamb said. "Once the sleep improves, we can work on the behavioral stuff. He's very irritable all of the time." "I would love to see him play and have a good time and be happy," she said.

For others with similar sleep-deprivation conditions, a lack of sleep can have serious detrimental health effects. Several studies since 2001 have linked a lack of sleep to heart disease and various mental disorders.


When You Can't Forget

For most of us, it is difficult to imagine a life in which nothing is forgotten. But for a few people, every moment they live is indelibly etched into memory.
Wisconsin resident Brad Williams is one of these people. His extensive memory allows him to recall almost any news event and anything he has experienced, including specific dates and even the weather. "I was sort of a human Google for my family," the 52-year-old told Good Morning America in his first television interview earlier this year. "I've always been able to recall things."

Another case is a woman who is simply known as "AJ" who revealed her condition to University of California at Irvine brain researcher James McGaugh, one of the world's leading experts on how the human memory system works. Like Williams, AJ can answer obscure questions with mind-blowing accuracy -- such as the weather on a particular day several years in the past, or the details of a decades-old news item. The condition is known among brain researchers as hyperthymesic syndrome, based on the Greek word thymesis for "remembering" and hyper, meaning "more than normal."

McGaugh told ABC News' Lee Dye that while the brains of these people are able to perform amazing feats of recall, it is still not fully understood exactly how this occurs. One hypothesis is that the "wiring" of the brains of those with hyperthymesia is set up in such a way that their brains are better able to organize and categorize information for later access. Past this, however, researchers are stumped. "In order to explain a phenomenon, you have to first understand the phenomenon," McGaugh said. "We're at the beginning."


When Your Memory Disappears in a Flash

Memory can likewise be exceedingly fragile. Perhaps no one is more familiar with this fact than 57-year-old Beki Propst, who 10 years ago experienced a grand mal seizure that robbed her of a lifetime of memories. "Everyone I knew before says my personality is the same," Propst told ABCNews.com. "But I don't know if I'm the same person."

Details of Propst's case continue to baffle doctors. What they do know is that a devastating "electrical storm" in her brain caused her declarative memory to be wiped clean. Facts, events, dates, acquaintances, and even her identity were wiped away. As Propst describes it, "If I was a computer, it would be like my hard drive was erased."

David Ewing of Centennial Neurology in Greeley, Colo., Propst's doctor, said that it is remarkable that Propst has adjusted so well to her new life, which, in a way, began slightly more than 10 years ago. The seizure, he says, effectively disconnected the area of her brain in which her memories were stored. "The area is still there, still intact," he said. "But it was like someone threw a breaker switch. ... She had a single general event, after which she woke up and all of her memories were wiped out."

Since the event, however, Propst has rebuilt her life. Her persistence in rejoining the work force has led to stable employment as a custodian at a state facility. She enjoys strong relationships with her family. And she has written a book, Absent Memories: Moving Forward When You Can't Look Back, which documents her experiences. "Every single person I met said, 'You need to write a book about this,'" Propst said. "I thought, 'What the heck, what do I have to lose?'" While Propst's experience is rare, there have been numerous documented cases in which an injury has led to long-term amnesia.


Foreign Accent Syndrome

Traumatic events in the brain can have other unusual effects as well. For 52-year-old Canadian Rosemarie Dore, a stroke on the left side of her brain in 2006 led to a very unusual side effect -- she began to speak with a different accent.

Specifically, Dore, who lives on the Western side of Lake Ontario, adopted a distinctively eastern Canadian accent. She has never been to that region, and she does not know anyone from that part of the country. "[There was a] nurse that was from Newfoundland," Dore told ABC News. "She comes down the hall, and she came into the room and she says, 'Who's the Newfie here?'" referring to Newfoundland. "I said, 'There's nobody here like that.'" "And she said, 'I think I'm talking to her.'"

Though rare, foreign accent syndrome is not entirely undocumented in medical literature. Researchers who have studied the syndrome estimate there are only as many as 60 legitimate recorded cases. One of the first known patients was reported after World War II by Norwegian neurologist Georg Herman Monrad-Krohn. He described a Norwegian woman who was hit on the head by a bomb fragment during the war and began to speak with a German-like accent. Because of her speech, she became the target of anti-German sentiment.

More recent cases include a Florida woman speaking with a British accent, a Japanese woman sounding to other Japanese as if she were Korean, and a South Carolina man developing a French-like accent. "I have only seen a couple of people with [foreign accent syndrome] ... and I've seen a lot of stroke patients in my time," said Dr. Julius Fridriksson, an associate professor of neuroscience at the University of South Carolina who worked with the South Carolina patient. "These folks have brain damage that alters the way the neurological system works."


Music-Induced Seizures

While it may be true that musical taste resides in the ear of the beholder, it is somewhat less common that a song can send a listener into an epileptic seizure. But such was the experience of Stacey Gayle. Worse, the song that brought about her seizure was by dancehall reggae artist Sean Paul -- a favorite of hers.

"It was terrible," Gayle, a 24-year-old New Yorker, told ABCNews.com. "It didn't even have to be that loud." One of Gayle's first music-induced seizures happened at a cookout where the song Temperature was being played. Some time after this, she had a similar experience at a restaurant.

The seizures were so bad that Gayle finally had part of her brain surgically removed in an effort to control her problem. "She realized her life was going out of control with these seizures happening," said Dr. Ashesh Mehta, the director of epilepsy surgery at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Mehta recalled meeting Gayle in February to discuss her condition. When Gayle's mother played Temperature on an MP3 player for her daughter to hear, a music-induced seizure followed. "It was amazing to me," said Mehta. "We got a seizure when we put her music on."

Brain researchers believe such seizures can occur when the part of the brain that processes emotions associated with a certain type of music overlap with areas of the brain that trigger seizures. About 70 percent of people with epilepsy are able to control their seizures through medication. For those who still have seizures or cannot handle the side effects of the medication, doctors consider brain surgery.

"We did try a number of different anti-seizure medications, but it was clear that her epilepsy was not responding," said Dr. Alan Ettinger, chief of the epilepsy center at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. "In her case, in addition to music setting off the epilepsy, even the very thought of the song started to provoke the seizures."


The Girl Who Feels No Pain

While pain is a sensation that few of us relish, the absence of it can be tremendously hazardous. And for a young child, the lack of ability to feel pain can be especially dangerous. Such is the case with 8-year-old Gabby Gingras, whose parents recently learned that she had a rare condition known as hereditary sensory autonomic neuropathy, or HSAN for short.

"I was massaging Gabby's gums one day, and she bit down on me ungodly hard. It was so hard, I couldn't stand it," Gabby's father, Steve Gingras, told ABC News' Primetime. "When I pulled my finger out, I pulled a tooth out of her mouth -- and she's just happy playing like nothing happened."

Gabby's lack of pain sensation eventually led to the loss of all of her teeth. A badly scratched cornea forced doctors to remove her left eye, and she now wears a helmet and goggles every day to protect herself from serious injury. In Gabby's case, the condition arose from a genetic accident that stunted the development of nerve fibers crucial in the detection of pain and temperature.

As children with this condition get older, the hazards associated with never knowing the sensation of pain persist. However, a number of people have lived into adulthood with the condition. Gabby's parents have started a foundation called Gift of Pain, a support group for people with HSAN. So far, they have found 39 people who think they have the condition. "I don't want another mother to ever sit where Steve and I sat five or six years ago and say, 'What is going on? Why can't I get help? Why can't I get information?'" Trish Gingras, Gabby's mother, told Primetime. "That's really what motivates me."

What kind of street gang name is Menstrual Cyclers?!

Went to the townhouse, running late - it was okay, though. Apparently, our cousin Lillian was in town for a friend's wedding, and wanted to treat Grandma to dinner. Mom thought she should have attended Jon's wedding: "Yes, I invited the whole family!" and wanted me to help her identify various people in the big group picture from the wedding. She doesn't know who Keenan is (fair enough as he's Tim's son), and wanted to know why I didn't tell her that Lucas and his sister Hannah had been attending church! ("Why is he there?! We didn't invite him to the wedding!!!")

Went to the airport to see Jon, who actually is helping with Alan and Tracy's wedding. Harmony's in Toronto, and will get back on Canada Day... right when he goes to Kelowna! She knows about it, and is okay with this. Dad thought that Jon's "lovely wife" would be really cold in Prague since it was rainy (she's like Cindy and sensitive to the cold), but she had an umbrella, which helped. I thought we'd go out to dinner, but instead Mom had made spaghetti / pesto / prawns / cucumbers. Got red wine and coffee (plus a little Tim Tam) as well, but still wanted to get home to read more news. Discussed hotels, luggage, Nathan, both Erics, Grace's accident while cutting Phil's hair, massive laundry, moving around too much in bed (Harmony will have to get used to it), furniture donation, a high school reunion on Friday (I'll stay home!), the weekend, validity of a marriage certificate, the weather, Terrence, Winnie being pregnant, "rude" behavior in "inviting myself" to Steph and Terrence's dinner (they said I could go - it's OKAY!), and more. At least I also got a ride home, too!


Leslie's just got their Street Gang Name from Name Generators. I just got my Street Gang Name. It's Menstrual Cyclers. (HAHAHAHA! What kind of a gang name is that?! At the risk of TMI, mine has just finished!)

Jon and Harmony are so cute, courtesy of Grace

Heard from Dad that Jon's getting back at 5:30 or so. Harmony's in Toronto for a bit. I'm excited to see my brother, anyhow. Gotta see what's going on there, haha.

Nathan says he chatted with Chinese Eric, and says he himself is good for meals this upcoming week except Tuesday and Thursday (early is good?) - we'll see. I thanked him for the update - haven't had time to think about it, what with Terrence being in town and everything else! Of course I'll continue the organizing!

Now it's official: Michael Jackson is dead at 50 of a heart attack.


I took these from Grace:

Head usher Joey, the flower girl Erika, and my parents:




My parents coming into the ceremony:




Peter escorting one of the grandmothers into the ceremony:



Jeremy and Colleen:




Jon and Harmony in the back of the pavilion:




Jon and Harmony - head tilt!




Jon and Harmony at the pavilion:




Grace caught Veronica in a weird expression:




Hey, let's all match and wear purple! (Citrus, Chuck, Phil)




Bouquet toss!




A cute shot of Jon and Harmony's first dance:




Work those dance moves, Ivan!

UP, phyllo-wrapped shrimp, cheese fondue, cheap steak, and more

High-scoring word of the night:

TOM (179 points) - against Jenny M. [5W used twice, 4W used twice, hook off PLANATE to make the word]


Went to the townhouse, but didn't get out by 1:15... we left at about 2 instead. Steph was sleeping, so I had fish oatmeal / sushi / noodles / cherries for lunch. When we left, my mom gave me a bunch of clothes - I guess it's time to winnow my clothing items down... maybe tomorrow! Steph and Terrence made up this ridiculous nickname for me, implying that I was a high-maintenance LADY who gave out DECREES. Cheh! We finally left to get to Silvercity, and it was a good thing my sister had a member card so we could bypass the lineup! After getting popcorn / candy / a drink to share, we watched Up. It was a cute movie about a guy who realizes that his childhood hero is actually evil... a kid, birds, dogs, and interesting clouds are also involved.

After that, we went to the mall to get the POO BOOK which I'd put on hold this morning. Of course I offered Terrence the discount using my Chapters card! Then we killed time by going to various stores such as a new shoe store called J2, Mexx, Randy River, Esprit, Hallmark Cards, HMV, and the Real Estate stand. Looked at funny cards, colorful clothing, stuff which was on sale, and more. Steph and I saw Brit in a store while waiting for Terrence - we chatted for a couple of minutes. Thought she'd be cold since it was raining outside, and she didn't appear to have much on in the way of insulation. Good thing she had a hoodie in her bag, although it's hard to dress for the weather if you don't drive and are out all day.

Steph was constantly texting someone, who we later learned was Karen Grace; Karen had distressing news, AIYA! Not sure how I'd react if my dad were due to die in about a month from cancer which was just diagnosed two months ago! (her brother Edwin's at home now, too) It was good when I saw books at HMV - AC/DC, Guns & Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, LETTERS FROM A NUT, graphic novels, and more!

After that, we went to Hamilton Bar & Grill (right next to Jeremy's former workplace, the furniture warehouse) in Yaletown to take advantage of a $12 steak promotion. I asked Steph later how she'd found out about it: turns out Randal emailed her. Meh... it was fine by that point. Surprisingly, Terrence paid for the steaks, mushrooms, phyllo-wrapped shrimp, drinks (Raven Cream Ale and more), and gorgonzola cheese fondue! Of course I thanked him a lot, haha. He told me just to be happier, and it was okay. The poor guy's stuck for a ride from the Toronto airport tomorrow afternoon: he says God will provide / make a way, which had better be true in this case! Saw a man whose belly almost toppled some water glasses on a table as he was leaving! Yikes!

Went to False Creek to do some walking / people-watching, then back to my place to pick up Terrence's stuff since Mom had offered to have him sleep at her place tonight. (he has to be at the airport at 10) Discussed my being quiet, Christmas ornaments for $3, interesting shirts, their old school friends, newspapers / banks having Facebook and Twitter accounts (WHY?!), school days, the "wetnap" story, keeping in touch, and more. He also gave me some Bee Cheng Hiang puffed rice seaweed from home (Singapore), which I was somewhat expecting given his question yesterday about whether I was more a seaweed or pork fan! I'd have hugged him, but he had too much stuff to carry... it's fine, though! Also found a few all-caps MSN messages from Auntie Fonda (of all the people), wanting to test something in her office. HA!


Poo nugget for Thursday, June 25: Dr. Stool Says - The Probiotic Movement - Supporters of the "probiotic" movement believe that consuming certain species of "good" bacteria can help prevent and treat various gastrointestinal ailments. Some have even gone so far as to claim benefits with regards to preventing cancer, treating hypertension, and lowering cholesterol.


Facebook quizzes taken from Leigh, Jennifer J., and Kelly:

Leslie just took the "What Type Of Angel Are You" quiz and the result is Heaven Angel. Protector of the gates of heaven. Your weapon isn't a sword. Your weapon is justice!

Leslie just took the "WHAT WOULD YOU LOOK LIKE IN ANIME? (GIRLS ONLY)" quiz and the result is Nerd.

Leslie completed the quiz "What Dewey number are you?" with the result 398. You are 398: Folklore. You love fairytales and folktales, anything with a bit of fantasy and magic. You can appreciate stories from all over the world and believe that the essence of a culture is distilled in its myths. You believe that we can teach and learn real-world lessons in morality and behavior through stories of anthropomorphized animals or fairies disguised as old crones. In 398, you'll find favorites such as Aesop's Fables, Grimm's Fairytales, The Firebird, Robin Hood, and Arabian Nights.

Leslie's just got their Trailer Trash Name from Name Generators. I just got my Trailer Trash Name. It's Backyard Betty.

Annoying no-shows at doctor's offices... I hate getting up early!

Man, I hate being up early for NOTHING! I get up, talk to Terrence a bit before he leaves (seaweed / sushi chomping / booking flights), and check email before I left for the doctor's. (two minutes away) I got there, and found a notice taped to the door: NO OFFICE TODAY! What the heck?! Ugh! At least I called Coles to see if they have the POO BOOK... they do, and they've held it for three days for me. NICE! But I called my sister - I have to bus over in the RAIN and then somehow be social enough to see a movie. I want to go back to sleep instead!


Facebook quizzes taken from Shannon, Jessica G., and Jono:

Leslie took the What Is Your Inner Animal? quiz and got the result: You're A Baby Panda! Maybe you're not into eating bamboo (who is, really?), but your panda-ness suggests that you probably have a favorite food that you could eat all day, every day, for the rest of your life. As a panda, you appreciate solitude and simple things, like climbing leafy trees, and the way the air smells after a storm. You don't need sunshine to be happy -- you'll take shade and rain any day. The sound of falling rain is the perfect background music when you just want to space out and ponder life's big questions, like "How did I get so cute?"

Leslie took Harry Potter. You have only just achieved the pass grade of... ACCEPTABLE!

Leslie took the What high school stereotype are you? quiz and the result is You are the Bookworm. The coolest place in your school - at least to you - is the library, where you can always be found trying to find a new good read. You love literature more than anything else in life. You are probably great at English courses, where you impress your teachers with your knowledge of Shakespeare, Dickens, and... well... Harry Potter and Twilight. However, you may not be quite as good at making new friends, since reading is rarely a social activity. But if there is a book club in your school, you can bet you are the most popular kid there. (NO Harry Potter and Twilight... EWWWWW!)

Leslie took the quiz What type of memory do you have? and the result is Type A - Secretary Memory. You have no doubt an excellent memory. Having a Secretary's type of memory means that you're probably a walking organizer / notebook yourself. You remember the big and important things, and wonderfully, the small and minor details as well. It's like you can be trusted and depended on, because I guess you're seldom forgetful, which may lead to troubles. But I worry for your brain, seriously... If you ever felt that your brain is getting too hot a little, I suggest it's time to relax a bit, and just try, try, try your best to stop remembering all the minor stuff! You're the kind of person who looks at the whole picture, and give comments from the important to the little things. It's good so that if you're planning for a event, your team can rest assured that things are well-planned and see through with you around.

Pearl Castle: Who knew toilet pictures could be so fun?!

Steph and Terrence picked me up at around 11:15, and we went to Pearl Castle. Apparently, they'd had sushi for dinner as well, at Daimasu. Talked about the interesting names for the "special drinks" there (Young Girl's Dream?!), "Wide Face Kiss" on a shirt (poor kid), Engrish in general, booking flights, his dad, blogging, taking Mom out for breakfast tomorrow, my ear doctor appointment in the morning (Steph's surprised I'd book one that early - I'm gonna be DEAD), interesting graphic toilet directions (NO SQUATTING [Terrence says his brother does this AT HOME!], OR TOILET PAPER OUTSIDE THE TOILET!) in Squamish, and Grandma actually being happy-ish in that picture from the wedding rehearsal. Of course, she told Myles and Peter to stop filming her, though...

I can't go for breakfast, but that's okay. Terrence seems to like the pomegranate body wash at home, and he does his own dishes when he's here - very good! He seemed receptive to the idea of trying to find the POO BOOK at Coles tomorrow, which is nice. We all tried each other's stuff (mango, pudding frappé, and almond milk with pudding) plus the chicken knees. The smell of all the fried food from the kitchen almost made me feel like puking... as it is, I introduced Terrence to the "morning thing" when we left. =/

Right now, he's going through my guestbook since I remembered to ask him to sign it. I don't mind, but I should go to bed now. He offered me chips and juice, but I was really too full for it. Showed him the BOOTY LOGO, which he loved! Maybe I'll have the rest of the leftover sushi for breakfast tomorrow...


Poo nugget for Wednesday, June 24: Coprophagy - Most often associated with psychiatric illness, but also with deviant sexual behavior, coprophagy is the human consumption of feces. Coprophagy was even onscreen in The Spy Who Shagged Me when Austin Powers mistook Fat Bastard's feces for coffee, commenting: "It's a bit nutty."

Blackberry communication is fine... walking is tiring?!

High-scoring word of the night:

POYOU (160 points) - against Jenny M. {a good deficit-erasing word!}


Facebook quizzes taken from Candy and Jane:

Leslie completed the quiz "What 90's band would you be?" with the result Sublime. You're so good at the things you do. Very cool, but live life on the edge. Just when you are about to break out, you mess it up somehow.

Leslie took the What's Your Sixth sense? quiz and the result is Clairessence. Smell is your sixth sense. Also called clairessence (clear essence), you are a person who's very in tune with scent, from perfumes to flowers to toxic fumes. A person gifted with clairessence will often smell certain aromas even when the source cannot be found. Or you will associate certain people with certain scents. For example, if you are easily annoyed by a certain someone (ahem, younger sib?) you may pick up an unpleasant odor when he / she is around. Now, this might be due to some stinky laundry, but often it's something that's intuitive and only you can experience. Some even say that a clairessence will smell roses when a person has died or recovered from a bad illness. Hmm...


I decided to take a nap from 5:30 to 7:30 since I was more tired than usual. For some people, walking energizes them - it doesn't do it for me! Got up to find one missed call from Steph, which was followed up by a message from her Blackberry. She just wanted me to find out the hours for Long's Noodle House (closed already at 7:30?!) and Shanghai Wonderful - that closes at 9:45. Plans got shifted to bubble tea after doing stuff with Vicky (who was NOT at the Ultimate game as I first thought), or watching Up at Silvercity. Terrence was in the background, saying "I love you!" Hahaha... of course I had to reciprocate! The movie times turned out to be too late, so maybe tomorrow afternoon. Now I'm still tired despite the nap - GO FIGURE!

Pancakes and sushi in just three hours - BANZAI

High-scoring word of the day so far:

PICAROS (148 points) - against Chris W. {a good deficit-erasing word!}


This morning, Terrence added me to Facebook - yay! I spent some time untagging Pat in the poo notes, and adding Terrence in. Showed him the POO CALENDAR, which he LOVED! He wanted to get one like that, haha - maybe they'll be in stores tomorrow! We went to get pancakes and crepes (with cranberry butter) at IHOP since he needed his fix after four years or so! Discussed Steph, Singapore, the army / navy, Grandma being lonely, his being up at 5 since he couldn't sleep (so he took a shower and made noodles), Nicorette gum, Malaysia, and more. Then we went to Shoppers Drug Mart and London Drugs so he could get things like Old Spice deodorant (on sale!), hair gel, Que Pasa? tortilla chips, Five Alive juice, and Burt's Bees lip balm.

Steph texted him when she got up, and she came over later. We went to Banzai Sushi (next door to Tsim Chai) for lunch - had salmon sashimi, Spider Roll, Alaska Roll, spicy tuna roll, and more. Couldn't finish it, so it's currently in my fridge. Mom would not be impressed if Steph brought it home, especially as she has dinner guests tonight. Talked about Winnie's pregnancy, their friend Vicky, Ultimate game at 6, dinner / busing, cellphones, chargers, converters, toothbrushes, the toilet paper store selling straws and Kleenex now, and some other stuff. Steph took Terrence to Timothy's for frozen yogurt, then to the Ultimate game. Gotta wait for her call in a couple hours, maybe. Yay, downtime!

Would you drink (treated) water from a sewage plant?!

Facebook quizzes taken from Steve L., Jane, Kelly, Kaitlin, Veronica, and Kaili:

Leslie just took the "Which Black Sabbath song are you?" quiz and the result is Sweet Leaf. You are a generally cheerful person, and enjoy all those little things in life that other people tend to dislike. You are the kind of person that will make people laugh, but only if they understand your distinct humor. You are either a very lazy person, or you spend most of your time playing sports, but nothing in between.

Leslie just took the "Which band would you be in?" quiz and the result is Led Zeppelin. Hardcore, energetic, passionate, incredible rock star, fun, daring, willing to take a chance...

Leslie completed the quiz "What Decade Fits Your Personality Best?" with the result 1970's. You have a great taste in music and a particular love for rock. You love to chill and party with your friends, and most consider you the epitome of "cool" because of your rebellious nature and sense of adventure for life. You're trendy in style, and have strong opinions about religion and politics. You are against "the man" and the injustices of the world, and tend to have a guard up with people you don't know very well. But you save your deepest emotions and romantic side for that special someone. You have a lot of inner convictions and beliefs, but definitely come across as extremely easygoing and flexible. You are actually a good mixture of the two, but once in a while, you let your laziness get the best of you. You're all about having a cause and having even more of a great time... sometimes TOO great of a time. ;)

Leslie completed the quiz "A More Accurate Harry Potter Sorting Quiz" with the result Hufflepuff. You are the most honest, hardworking, and dependable of the lot. While Gryffindors will do what they think is right and fight in the name of justice, they may sometimes sacrifice friendships and overlook details along the way. They may take risks and believe that the ends justify the means. You on the other hand, do what you think is right, but don't believe that the ends will justify the means if the means involve betraying a friend or hurting anyone. You are the sweetest, most caring, and most loyal of the lot. You have a truly pure heart.

Leslie took What Johnny Depp Character is your Dream Man? Ichabod Crane. So he is a little crazed, but Constable Ichabod Crane is your man. He is sensitive, like you, and you both enjoy a little bit of murder and mystery. Although you both are a little afraid at the sight of blood, you and Ichabod can work together to solve a crime.

Leslie took What Johnny Depp Character are you? Mort Rainy, from Secret Window. Kind of a shy, quiet person kind of in your own world... but if someone interferes? (like sleeping with your wife, or accusing you of something) Yeah, not so quiet anymore! You might even get a bit crazy!

Leslie completed the quiz "How well would you survive a horror movie?" with the result Villain! Do you have a death-wish? No, more likely, you ARE the death-wish. You are the villain of this movie. How else would you know where all the foolish people hide, what the best weapons are, who isn't a virgin, etc? It is you who can shamble along at your leisure, and still catch up to the teens running at full speed. You are a maniac, and hungry for some assault and splattery. Sure, you'll be defeated in the end, but you have a guaranteed spot in every sequel, no matter how ridiculous and unbelievable that comeback becomes. Congratulations, you fiend.

Leslie completed the quiz "WHAT WEIRD FUCKING CREATURE ARE YOU!?" with the result A FUCKING GIRL... NO, A LEOPARD... NO, A MOTHERFUCKING LEOPARD GIRL! YOU BLACK-SPOTTED SON OF A BITCH! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE? YOU SHOULD BE OUT RAPING THE SHIT OUTTA SOCIETY. YOU HORNY SON OF A MAGIC PANTHER, CAN I KISS YOU ON THE MOTHERFUCKING LIPS?!

Leslie completed the quiz "Which Sailor Scout matches your personality?" with the result Sailor Chibi-Moon. You are Sailor Chibi-Moon! (a.k.a. Sailor Mini-Moon) You display a child-like wonder and enthusiasm for life! Your innocence and immaturity can sometimes lead to social awkwardness, but your upbeat, outgoing, and positive attitude make you well-liked and quite popular among your friends. While you can sometimes behave like a spoiled brat, you have a pure heart and compassion for the underdog.


Poo nugget for Tuesday, June 23: Does This Water Taste Funny? - As a hedge against water shortages and population growth, Orange County, California, has begun operating the world's largest, most modern reclamation plant. It's a facility that can turn 70 million gallons of treated sewage into drinking water every day, helping to supply more than 2.3 million Orange County residents.

The air vents in the fellowship hall are very amusing!

Managed to make it to Vancouver on the bus in plenty of time to show up for the bridal shower, so I had a ham and cheese wrap at Blenz while finishing up yesterday's lemonade. I was about to get off at the old church bus stop, but remembered that I shouldn't. Got to church, to find Cindy trying to open the door. I helped by ringing the doorbell, to no avail. Apparently, there was nobody in there. I told her to call my dad, but instead she had a conversation with my grandma since he wasn't home yet! Fidela came up and asked what was going on. When she got there a few minutes later, Auntie Catherine said that Auntie Ying was actually in the kitchen. Finally, we were let in by an apologetic Auntie Ying. I helped with wasabi, soy sauce, chairs, and music selection: Norah Jones over Celine Dion, man!

Talked to Sandra, Amanda, Winnie (who is pregnant again), little Megan (who was rather taken with the air vents), Vanessa, Jenny (who feels better from her pneumonia), Auntie Gloria, Auntie Anna (I'm her BABY?!), Auntie Bessy, Jocelyn, Bryant's girlfriend Shirley, Fidela, Chrystal, Emily, and the others there. Auntie Stella says that Alan, Tracy, Eunice, and Eddie were doing wedding stuff tonight. Auntie Brenda says that at least she doesn't have to do anything for Erin's wedding in August, heh. I told little Megan to show Karen what the vent did to her dress: it made it BILLOW! She loved it - hours of entertainment for the child! (she also loved the blue balloons and the colorful fine markers - Cindy also had 90 gel pens that she got for $28!) Also, the two Megans have the same English and Chinese name, in a pure coincidence. Speaking of coincidence, Cindy had brought the wedding invitation to the Dairy Queen, hoping she might use the image on the ice cream cake. The person in front of her was also going to Andy and Megan's wedding! We played games - the makeup game was fun, but I missed some of it due to my dad phoning Lesley's cell phone to alert me to the fact that Terrence had to stay at my place. Yes, I knew... I wasn't home or available!

Amanda was taking pictures of the fellowship hall since her husband Michael has never been there before. I was going to get Sandra's email address so I could send her some wedding pictures, but forgot. Her husband Larry was very surprised when she told him that Jon was getting married; she'd heard from Steph a few days before the wedding. Ah, lots of memories... Fidela and Chrystal swapped Korea stories, and Fidela told us that the most wedding party members she'd ever seen at a wedding involved TWENTY groomsmen and TEN bridesmaids! WHOA! Got a ride home with Andrea (saw Edmond / Alysia / Michael / Juliana / Eric T.), which was good. A bit later, Terrence got here: we talked about Singapore, Facebook, photos, the church, FAMILY GUY, Shanghai, pizza, breakfast tomorrow (his treat since I'm putting him up for a few days), and the Food Network. It's cool!

I hate annoying phone calls during timed games!

Had a dream where my mom was organizing some big church event in a huge mall parkade. We had use of almost everything except one hallway with a green paper sign on the window: "P.E. Hallway NOT for use of Dominion Guests." When my brother got there, I yelled at him over the crowd (including Alan and Tracy) to unload the van's contents onto a wheeled board. I just distracted myself by going into the empty dark mall with a few kids. Some shops opened when we were there, which was interesting. Got some stickers, beef noodles, and other stuff for the party. Mom wasn't impressed, but we didn't care. The dream ended when the alarm unexpectedly sounded at 8:30 AM. What the?! Luckily, I went back to sleep for a few hours!

I got a phone call during a TIMED game! I could have phoned them back later, but figured it was more annoying. As a result, I lost out on Word Twist points - UGH! The time of the appointment is annoying, too... 9:30 in the morning?! Oh well, I guess I'll really have to set the alarm for that one. At least it's only five minutes away, and NOT the confusion that the Diamond Centre was a few weeks back! Still, this explains why I hate phone calls and prefer instant messages / emails that I can answer at my leisure. :D {I've also postponed my viewing of the suite with the shared bathroom... I need to get going in a few minutes anyway!}

And... I *just* got a phone call from a pay phone. I'm definitely not picking THAT up, especially since I'm not expecting any calls! I hope this isn't connected to people pelting stones at my bedroom window at 2:30 AM the other day when I was trying to SLEEP! Must ask Trusted Person #1 about this... then again, my sister just called to say that Terrence is here NOW, and that the parents (which I heard as "Karen") called me from the pay phone. Well, I can't entertain him now since I need to leave. Maybe when I get home!


Facebook quiz taken from Darren:

Leslie took Which Celebrity Shares Your Birthday?

September..
Beyonce - September 4th, 1981
Pink - September 8th, 1979
Ludacris - September 11th, 1977
Amy Winehouse - September 14th, 1983
Heidi Montag - September 15th, 1986
Jada Pinkett-Smith - September 18th, 1971
Natalie Horler - September 23rd, 1981
Will Smith - September 25th, 1968
Christina Milian - September 26th, 1981
Keisha Buchanan - September 26th, 1984
Hilary Duff - September 28th, 1987
(More like "Which celebrity shares your birthday MONTH" ...)

Your Address Says You're Independent

Right now, your life is exactly how you want it to be - and you like being in charge. You feel courageous, focused, and even a bit stubborn. At your best, you are ready to kick butt and take names. At your worst, you are ready to go down fighting for what you believe in. Even if you're wrong!

What Does Your Address Say About You?

I'm racist because I'd lock my doors for SAFETY?! / Poo saves a life!

High-scoring word of the night:

GRISTLY (146 points) - against Kathy T. [4W used twice, hook off ASTEROID for a plural] {a good deficit-erasing word!}


I was looking at Craigslist ads earlier tonight, and called a number for a $500 one-bedroom basement suite which includes basic cable, cable Internet, hydro, gas, electricity, plus a common kitchen / bathroom / laundry. The female who answered the phone asked if I spoke Chinese: not very much of it, no. I'm concerned this could be seen as a strike against me; even though it's illegal to discriminate against people for this reason, I'm sure it happens since people have their preferences. I said I'd take a look at the suite tomorrow afternoon (she's looking for two people for two bedrooms) - I hope I have a private entrance!

Unlike last time when I said I'd look at a place, I know where the street is located, and it's very easy to get there by bus! (Anna wanted me to come RIGHT NOW, but I didn't think it would be wise at 9:30 PM... :P) Tomorrow afternoon before the bridal shower will be better, for sure! I've heard more mice this evening, as well: perhaps I was better off a few days ago when I couldn't hear a darn thing, heh. I also found the phone number (in Harmony's notebook) which corresponded to that $525 bedroom suite from a couple weeks ago, but I can't call past 10 as it wouldn't be polite... tomorrow or (more likely) Tuesday, perhaps.

Found another suite: this one is near Ironwood (for $650) and includes cable, parking, laundry, hydro, a full bathroom, stove, fridge, and heat. Then there are the $425 suites in a newly-renovated house which include shared washroom / kitchen / living room (Internet access is provided), but I must be able to provide references. Maybe Barry is good for that, heh. Yet another ad promises a "bright and beautiful" $700 one-bedroom suite including utilities / cable / wireless Internet which has "very clean and new appliances." Another ad says there's a $680 two-bedroom apartment shared by "two cute girls" which is across the street from Lansdowne Mall, heh. There's a $700 two-bedroom suite for rent, but there's no laundry. If I don't have to, I wouldn't want to lug laundry all the time!

There's a $700 one-bedroom furnished suite which includes hydro and Internet; however, I want to avoid the bedbug scourge as much as possible! Found an ad for a $700 ground level in a house - laundry is shared with the family, hydro and gas is 40% of the total house bill, and it includes kitchen / living room / full bathroom. Another $625 rental ad presumes you only have to do laundry once every two weeks... as if I'd take that one! (Korey would NEVER have survived in such an environment, since he wanted me to do his laundry like every other day...)


Leslie's just got their Nickname Name. I just got my Nickname Name. It's BellyJeans.

Facebook quizzes taken from Jessica G., Michael M., Jane, and Gretchen:

Leslie took the What type of person are you in class? quiz and the result is class doofus. You don't listen in class, which makes you not know what's going on and what's for homework. It's not that you don't care about homework... you just don't listen. (I did SO listen in class! :P)

Leslie took the Which 80's Toy Are You? quiz and the result is Lite Brite. Organized, orderly, and a little finicky, you like pretty pictures and keep your pegs in order. You know you only have one chance to get things perfect, or you've wasted the whole sheet of special black paper! No pressure!

Leslie took the How Racist Are You? quiz and got the result: 12% Percent Racist. (I fail to understand what's so "sweet" about this result. Am I really 12% racist because I'd lock my doors? It's called a GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTION that I'd take in ANY neighborhood... not a "OH CRAP! Black people must all be in gangs and mobs, so I should lock my doors!" precaution! Stupid quiz...)

Leslie took the what do people first notice about you? quiz and the result is your smile. As soon as people look at you, they automatically as dazzled by your great smile! You have the ability to light up an entire room! Your wonderful smile is what gets you noticed!


Poo nugget for Monday, June 22: Soft Landing - In 2007, a Chinese woman survived a six-story fall when she landed in a massive pile of poo. The woman had been hanging laundry on her Nanjing balcony when she lost her balance and tumbled over into the mess, which workers had just cleared out of a septic tank after complaints about the smell. Amazingly, she suffered only minor injuries.

I didn't know you could throw up from crying really hard!

Steph and the family picked me up for church this morning, so I gave Dad his Father's Day card signed by only me and Harmony! She wondered why Jon hadn't signed it - because he had been driving us to church that day, I believe! Told her that Pearl Castle was coming to Richmond Centre soon - yay for good bubble tea! Mom tried making me think that Dad wanted to bus home with me, when he isn't a bus type of person... BAD! She also thought that Julie couldn't go somewhere with Isabel in a week because of her mother; reminds me of the time she thought Maxine couldn't go to Summer Conference since she was pregnant with Joshua at the time! After that, she asked me again whether Jon and Harmony had emailed me this week from the honeymoon - definitely not! Steph believes that they only emailed Mom and Auntie Wing since mothers worry! (discussed this with Karen and Lincoln later on) Then she asked who I was cooking rice for yesterday: uh, myself?! She was also under the delusion that I'd been talking to Eric Ho in a yellow shirt at church last week: NO! I think she makes up her own reality sometimes... *sigh*

Got into service late, so I sat by Jeremy, who waved to me. I smiled back, of course. Later, I talked to Chrystal - we'd want to take advantage of the early bird deal on Awana registration too, if we were parents! We haven't set up another hangout date since her week also looks busy, but that's okay - we can talk on Saturday about it! Speaking of Saturday, Alan and Tracy made an announcement about their wedding that day - Tracy didn't know what to say, but Alan didn't really help her much, haha. Talked to Wes and Esther for a bit - it's true that their honeymoon to Thailand was a long time ago, but it's equally as exotic as Vienna / Prague / Budapest, heh. Also confirmed with Cindy that I should be at church before 6-ish tomorrow for Megan's bridal shower, which should be doable if the buses cooperate!

I saw Nathan busily talking to Chuck, so I tapped him on the back to say that I'd need to talk to him later. Saw Audrey for the first time in months, so I greeted her - she's engaged now, too. Her boyfriend proposed to her at last week's Anime Convention, and the music they've chosen so far (or their friends have chosen) is from video games! Sounds good to me if that's what they like! Interacted with the kids before I was a bit too enthusiastic about dumping leftover water / pouring lemonade. It was outside, so it would dry - no problem, man! Eunice and Isaac said hi, while Noah seemed shy when I asked if he would like a Rice Krispie Square. Then again, his big brother Benjamin got the same kind of response! I believe Billy satisfied him with a cracker or grapes. Discussed laundry and such with Eric and Jeremy, as well. Everyone wouldn't go into the fellowship hall if there wasn't any food, haha. Maxine got it from the kitchen, with her two sons following close behind.

Asked Quan where her sister was - two feet away from me! Showed Hien the "WHATEVER" shirt, and told her the story behind it and the COUGAR shirt: cute stories, and props to my mom INDEED, haha. Finally talked to Nathan (with the perfidious blackguard looking on) about what Chinese Eric had said on Friday. Phone tag is fine, I guess. Eric isn't much for email, but I'm guessing I'll hear from him tomorrow sometime, or maybe even the next day. Dylan gave me a wedding invitation for me and Steph, and I'll let her know about it if I see her on Tuesday for that townhouse seafood dinner with Auntie Lana and Uncle Simon. I am definitely NOT going to accompany Grandma to her 8 AM appointment at the Diamond Centre... that place is WAY TOO HARD to find, and 8 AM just doesn't work for me personally. Yes, I know that sometimes you have to accommodate other people and appointment times, but still. Not sure that my sister is too enthused about it, either...

I eventually made my way to Sunday School, and encountered two new kids (Grace and Richard, who looks like he's special-needs) along with the twins David and Evelyn / Amanda / Arthur. One of them practically threw up because she was crying VERY hard since she missed her mom. Her brother just wanted to put everything (like crayons) into his mouth, and kept taking other kids' toys. Thank goodness for disinfectant wipes, dude! Amanda alerted me and Auntie Bessy to things, which was very helpful. Evelyn likes Dora the Explorer books, haha. I spent some time writing down the kiddy books' ISBN numbers so I could be accurate in recording them for my Visual Bookshelf when I have the time later. Emily, Nina, and Gerard hung around later when they were waiting for Auntie Bessy to drive them home. Nina asked me why I walked the way I did, so I told her that I was born like that. She then told me that she'd had three operations on her eyes already - wow! I told Auntie Bessy that I'd stay with Arthur to wait for his mom since I knew the kids wanted to go home already. I'd just have to wait for my dad downstairs, anyway... she appreciated it a lot, yay! (she also said I was smart and read books as a kid in Sunday School)

When the mother got there, she said she wasn't there last week since her father had died. Of course, I automatically said I was sorry even though it's peaceful now that everything is done and over with! Arthur actually spoke to me when I asked him questions: yes, it was his blue toy car; no, he didn't want to finish the coffee-flavored wafer. COOL! When I saw the mailboxes by the elevator, I was reminded of what I'd said on Monday evening during the Committee meeting: I'll bring the Fellowship stamps and blank cards whenever I remember, haha. (actually just made a note to myself... maybe I'll bring them tomorrow evening, but I might not be able to get upstairs!) I went downstairs and said hi to a bunch of people. Cindy was a witness to my and Vanessa's annoying discovery that the downstairs washroom doors wouldn't close properly.

The family had lunch at Mui's (a break from Alan and Polly's "obsession" with Tsui Woo!), and we saw Gabriel's family there too. I reminded Mom that Terrence is also due to hit town this week, and of course she'd completely forgotten. She wants me to offer my place to Terrence temporarily because of the craziness involved with Jon and Harmony coming back from the honeymoon and moving their belongings. We'll see what he says! (she'll discuss it with Steph - Terrence can entertain himself quite well, I'm told) Discussed Jonathan's liking Mui's... I bet his parents don't have this kind of Chinese food all the way out on PEI! Grandma is apparently going to Summer Conference next week, which is fine. Mom will have a BREAK, haha!