It's a back-scratching kinda thing...

So, my friend KT here in the rainy and cold city of Winnipeg, decided months ago that she'd like to RUN the Canadian Diabetes Association annual Run/Walk. She is diabetic herself, and thought this would be a great personal challenge. One of the first "events" she thought of us doing together when she found out I was moving here was running this race... At the time, we both figured that there was a high likelihood that I'd be home for the long weekend, so we both let it go.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, we were out hiking and the run came up in conversation. And I thought to myself, why am I NOT running the race with her? Yes, I haven't run in years. Yes, I don't have enough time to train. And yes, I'm not even signed up. But besides all of that - why not?

As you can tell from some of my entries - KT has been a very supportive and wonderful friend here. I can't help her move in, or drive her places, or even offer up my laundry machines - but - I can run beside her and cheer her on the whole way. See, she scratches my back, I scratch hers. It's that kinda thing.

Some extra information - KT doesn't listen to music when she runs and she's pretty asthmatic - so she doesn't talk while running either. So, I don't know if this is really me helping her out - or if by the 7th kilometer she'll just be running faster hoping to get away from me and my stories...

Love ya sugar!!

BEE careful this summer!!

This is my public service announcement...

If you are drinking sugary drinks outside this summer, take extra precaution before sipping anything through your straw - and don't leave your drink unattended.

Learn from my mistake! Please!

My friend KT and her husband MT came over for a "pool party" on Saturday. MT wanted it to be a "pool party" - but it was really just the three of us, some veggies, hummus - and his contribution - slurpees.

As some of you know, I've really changed up what I've been eating since moving to Winnipeg. I have cut out a lot of things - including sugar. So, the slurpee that MT brought me was the first one that I've had since moving to Winnipeg! We knew from the start it was a "special" drink... (Before we get to the trauma - I'd just like to thank MT once again - it was a great slurpee - and I really appreciated that he went out of his way to bring it!)

So, we went for a dip in the pool. Then we sat out on loungers catching some rays. (FYI - it was a REALLY hot weekend! Above 30 both days and full sun!) At this point, we were the only ones out on my terrace, just chatting away, and I went and grabbed my slurpee, which was pretty well melted at this point. And I thought it was curious that there was a clump of ice as sipped... but it wasn't. It was a yellow-jacket wasp. In my mouth. Fighting for survival. I flipped over - grabbed the wasp out of my mouth and spit my mouthful of slurpee across my deck chair. Quickly I asked MT if he could see the stinger and to grab it for me. (At this point I'm talking like I'm at the dentist...) He told me the stinger wasn't there - but my mouth was throbbing like it was there... So, I turned to KT...

A little background... Remember in my UH-OH entry... KT helped DS get a bug out of her eye... even though KT was NOT emotionally prepared for it... Well, that's exactly why I turned to MT first... thought I'd save her from the responsibility. But no luck, I needed a second opinion.

She took a quick look and saw the stinger - and we cooperated to remove the bug's butt from my tongue.


She's my hero.

Then we waited. We were very nervous about whether or not I would react. I haven't been allergic to bee stings in the past - but my mom was the same way - until one magic sting... And being that it was in my mouth - and SEVERAL stings - it was best to be under careful watch. We washed the deck chair. Made jokes. Went upstairs. Gave MT a tour of the place. And then when we all felt comfortable that I wasn't reacting, they left.

The bee sting totally wrecked our fun pool party! :(

And yes, I will continue to stay away from sugar. I got the message universe. Loud and clear.

(But I am quite thankful that I had great friends there to help me - and to bring me alluring sugary drinks - and that I am not allergic!)

Operation Hibernation

Launching a new "campaign" for the fall (I'm in sales, I can't help but think in terms of campaigns!)... Operation Hibernation.

Mission:
Meet as many people and get out to as many events as I can before the first snowflakes fall.

(Recognizing of course that indoor activities will be saved for phase 2 of Operation Hibernation - when I'm trying to tempt myself to venture into the cold)

Objectives:
It is hoped that by doing this, I will achieve the following:
- make new friends
- go on some dates (broaden my network to find dates)
- explore more of Winnipeg
- expand my overall network (which of course, could lead to many different opportunities)

Payoff:
When the weather gets colder, which it will, and the snow starts to fall, which it will - I want to have a "generator" going to keep me warm - socially. I'm hoping that if I do a bunch of leg-work now, it will start generating social activities throughout the winter - when I don't want to be hunting them down.

If you have any ideas on how I can best execute this - or if you have people you'd like to refer me to in the Winnipeg region - leave me a comment. All ideas welcome.

P.S. I saw Convenience Store Chris this morning on my way to work - he saw me, recognized me, smiled and said "Hi, Yoon!" So cute.

The new Don

In my old 'hood, I had my favourite convenience store owner, Don. I affectionately called him, Jackie Chan. Since he looked like Bob Dylan. Just kidding! (He seriously did look like Jackie Chan - I had others verify - and he did give me approval to call him Jackie Chan, he thought it was cool). Anyway, when I moved here, I met the new convenience store owner, he was alright. However, today I found out - he sold the place - and there's a new owner! Chris.

Chris is the new Don. He's so nice!

He's only been in Canada for a year. He was working at another store within a condo before this one - but it was only groceries. He's excited to take over this one.

We exchanged names and then he confessed that he wouldn't remember mine because it's not used in Korea. So, I told him that if I could call him by his English name, he could call me by a Korean name. I've renamed myself, for Chris, as Yoon. And he agreed, I am the only white Yoon he knows.

Welcome to the 'hood Chris!

Finally!!

Ladies and gentlemen - I finally got "picked up" at Safeway... Well, I kind of. Ha! Regardless, I at last feel welcomed to the neighbourhood!

I was busy organizing my groceries on the thing... oh my gosh, my brain is mush... conveyor belt, I guess... Anyway, I wasn't paying attention to the guy behind me - I was just trying to keep up with the cashier as she was ringing my stuff through so I could pack my cool grocery cart (trust me!) properly. And as I was just about to walk away, I heard the guy next in line speak to the cashier, and I thought, there you go... you were finally beside a guy in your age bracket and all you could think about was not crushing your peppers... As I was leaving the line, I stopped to unwrap my gum, which also provided me an opportunity to check out the guy. He looks to be about 5 years older than me, well tanned, good looking. Then I received a text from my sister - I texted her back. And by the time I'm done and ready to depart, he's about to leave.

While I was reading my sister's text, I had a funny thought - at Safeway, you can access your "Club Card" by using your phone number or presenting your card - and he rambled off his phone number. Could you imagine if someone "picked up" your phone number while you were shopping...? Maybe next time there's a cute guy beside me I'll use my number instead of my card and say my number slowly for him... and then ask if he got it... LOL.

Anyway, so, I leave the store. I get to the stop light, read and send a new text. He catches up with me - and passes me. All across the bridge he's ahead of me. Down the path, he's ahead of me... and then the distance closes. He slows down so I can catch up with him. So, I asked him if he was losing steam. And he said that at first he was trying to keep the pace up because he was worried I was going to attack, but then he figured he might as well risk conversation instead. He lives at the end of my street. He asked me several questions - I didn't get a chance to ask him much of anything. He did reassure me that there's still a lot to do from our location through the winter. We swapped names, but that's it. And we live about four buildings apart.

I just can't believe it took me this long to strike up conversation with a man at Safeway. I'll let you know if anything develops to determine if it was worth the wait...

Sunday rules DO apply

Here's the scoop today. It's Sunday. Like usual, I have a long list of things I'd *like* to get done - realizing of course that only a smattering (in no particular order, even though I've prioritized them) of them will get done. Today's second priority - prepare food for the week - sub priority (which you'll see, makes no sense) - buy groceries.

It was raining when I woke up. It was raining when I finished watching a movie on tv over my breakfast (seriously, having multiple movie channels available is the sharpest double-edged sword ever). It was raining when my friend CdC told me she'd be later picking me up for our movie outing. So, I asked her - could we stop by a grocery store on the way home instead - I don't want to walk to the grocery store in the rain. She said, no problem.

So, I continued to (half-heartedly) work on priority #1 (do the work I brought home).

We went to the movies. We saw "Eat Pray Love" - which deserves it's own entry. And then, near the end of the movie, Tess checked her phone for the time and a big realization dawned on her, which she shared with me as soon as the credits started.

"It's Sunday."

In Winnipeg, this means: the world shuts down at 6 pm. Everything. Even stores that are normally open 24 hours - they close at 6 pm. Convenience stores, coffee shops, restaurants and movie theatres are about all you have left. None of which are going to provide me with the groceries that I need for the week. Although, I am tempted to grab a dozen eggs from a convenience store to get me through breakfast tomorrow.

I just can't believe SHE forgot. Yes, I am actually putting this on her. As she said in the car on the way home - "I can't imagine living somewhere that has stores open on Sunday evenings. Isn't this the day of rest?" She knows no different. She's a Winnipegger. Me - I am still trying to come to grips with the logic. (Yes, I know, there are members of my extended family that can't believe stores are open on Sundays - let alone until 6 pm).

Foiled by Winnipeg and their by-laws!

Or... am I freed?!? What am I going to do now that priority #2 (including the sub priority) are taken off my list FOR me??

Oddly enough, in the distance, I can hear a construction crew working. How does that fit under the by-law?

Oh, Winnipeg, you are still a mystery that I marvel at while unfolding.

Silence is golden

Last week I was in Ontario for my summer holidays - and I had a great time! While I was away, I had a summer student from work take care of my cat.

She contacted me on Tuesday - and told me that my smoke detector was beeping. Once a minute. So, I told her, don't worry about it - I'll call my fix-it-guy! From Ontario, I called my fix-it-guy and told him what was going on - he told me that he'd stop by the following day and fix it.

I didn't follow up with her. I assumed it was taken care of.

When I was unlocking my door upon my return - I heard it beep. (The copy of the key that I had cut doesn't work smoothly - so I actually heard it beep at least three times.)

I did a little investigation - couldn't get it to shut up.

Then I called the fix-it-guy and asked him about it. He was planning on coming tomorrow. Uh... how does that work? It was supposed to be done LAST week...?!?! He wasn't available to come by today - so I asked him what I could do in the meantime - he told me I could take the battery out for the night.

Simple. Awesome. Let's do it.

So, I did it.

And it STILL beeps!

I tried to have a nap - but it was really distracting.

I saw "Inception" last night (don't worry, no spoilers) and at the start they're talking about how easy it is to get someone to think something - like elephants. Well, that's exactly what's happening here - all I can hear are beeps. My entire world has been refocused on this beeping! Oh my precious silence! How I miss you!

It better not impact my sleep tonight! I went to bed late last night, was up by 4:45am and I'm SUPER tired and run down.

Too much fun, not enough rest...

Beep!

Bus miracle

My sister, REMTS, and I have rode the bus at least 40 times together over the years... and we feel like we have it down to a science - what time to get to the bus station, when to get on the bus, etc... however, we don’t feel like our “resume” of experience had any bearing today...

I had spent the night at the apartment with her and RS - and as we’re getting ready, he called out to her “Are you still running around out there like your family always does??” And REMTS replied, “Oh, calm down, we have time.” Me, glancing at the clock, “Uh, actually, we better pick up the pace, we need to leave in less than 5 minutes.”

So, we finished up, got our stuff, and made the 6 block trek to the bus terminal (with my big suitcase). We were still making good time, and when we got into the terminal and there was one person in line - I made a joke to my sister - “Oh no, look at the line up...” Yes, we thought we were stars. It was a cake walk. Easy-peasy.

As I’m purchasing my ticket, the bus depot guy comes up to the ticket agent and tells her that there’s only 10 seats left on the T.O. bus - he’s going to fill the seats and then send the bus on - anyone left over will have to take the 10:30. And suddenly, out of nowhere - there were four people standing behind me who left the line and automatically went to get on the bus... And two people from the waiting area... I’m doing some quick math and figuring we’re still fine. We only need two seats, and I am seconds away from having my ticket...

We get out to the platform to learn there is only one seat left, he thinks. So, the bus driver goes on to check. My sister turns to me, “This totally sucks.” And of course me, the optimist, “He’s still counting, we can still get on.” And really, in my head, I’m thinking, I could have used REMTS’s student card (from a hundred years ago), but I didn’t - surely there must be some good karma in that...

And the bus driver comes back - and signals - two.

Phew!

So, I got on first, saw that the first seat available is beside a single older man, with a book (no carry-on) and so I asked him (tres politely) if he’d consider taking the other free seat on the bus so I can sit with my sister. And he (albeit reluctantly) agreed.

When my sister came on, she was shocked to see that we’d get to sit beside each other too. And her response was the best, “Have I told you yet today that I love you? Or did you do this just so you can have the snacks I’ve packed?” Me: “I forgot you had the snacks!!” Her: “You DO love me!”

We then decided - the timing, the availability, the seats together - were definitely a bus miracle.