Hahn's

Hahn's
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

After a delicious 5 Guys lunch, Simian and I went to Hahn's, the Pork and Beans store. It's supposed to be really good and we were told to try it so we finally went today. Simian bought some coffee and I had a chat with the lovely ladies there - Tanya and Crystal.

We also ran around getting stuff. It's amazing that I'm leaving tomorrow already - and half the week without water wasn't fun. I also am sad we're going to be missing much of summer's bounty - we bought a huge carton of strawberries today and they were tasty but they weren't local strawberries and I think it'll be a week or two yet before strawberries hit their peak.

Still the weather has gotten beautiful the past few days. I saw a hummingbird yesterday! We also got to catch up with our friends which was lovely. Meeting up with everyone has been great. It's been nice to be home.

Dinner at HJ's and E's

Dinner at HeeJ and Evan's
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

We had a lovely dinner at HJ's and E's. HJ as usual cooked several dishes. I don't know how she pulls it together so quickly. She made Inari Sushi, tofu with a curry sauce, sweet potato salad and a kimchi sushi ball. All yummy :)

Simian and I brought Maggie Moo's ice cream. It's been too complicated to bake of late (since the water died on us) and so our fridge is pretty bare. It didn't make sense to buy food when there was no water. The ice cream was well appreciated though :)

Dinner at Will and A's

Dinner at Will and Anne's
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

Simian and I went over to Will and A's for dinner. D was also there and Will cooked for all of us. He made everything with siracha sauce and everything was really delicious! He made tom kha soup, Mac and Cheese and a salad with Siracha dressing. Everything was really fantastic!

Simian and I had stopped by JJ Hoffman's to pick up some ice cream and we saw the Aw Boy Fries truck there. I've heard it's fantastic and so we went and ordered some. Curly, who runs the truck is a very friendly man who played us a song on his guitar. We were in a bit of a rush but it was hard to get going especially when he was so friendly. We ended up talking to him a half hour at least and also buying his CD. The fries were very good.

Garden

Garden
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

Lovely day for a change - we had nice warm, sunny weather instead of the rain we've been having.

Simian and I went to Chipotle for lunch and then went to get some stuff. We also got my car washed and it's now nice and sparkling clean. Simian has been trying to use minimal weed killer on the thistle. He's injecting it into the roots so we'll see how that works.

We also went running for the first time - and I tried my new Vibrams but they seem a little tight :( I might need to get another pair. I also think I got something in my nose when running and it's been making me sneeze.

We had dinner with Suntaneye and her husby. We went to the Thai Place and then had ice creams at JJ Hoffman's.

Water!

To have water coming out of your taps when you turn them on! To flush and to have it actually work! All this and more became reality once again when our well pump was fixed. There was a short in the wire which had caused the pump breakdown so the technicians had to go and buy new wire (which cost us more). Still, when they were done and the water supply started again, I was a happy camper.

Simian and I also had someone else come in to fix the furnace (thank goodness for insurance!) and then we went for a very late lunch at Tahina's.

We went to pick up some supplies and there was a funky smell in the toilet. Needless to say, I came home and cleaned the house. We think that the smell came from some of the water that had sediment in it coming through the taps - Simian flushed it and all seems to be well for now.

In other not so good news, I went to talk to my neighbours today and they told me that part of our siding had come off the house during the storm. The same thing happened to them as well so they recommended their contractor.

JJ Hoffman's

JJ Hoffman's
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

Hopefully this will be our last night without water. We went over to C and V's and brought ice cream from JJ Hoffman's because we can't do any cooking or baking right now. It's just outside and we asked if they are related to our favourite Hoffman's in Westminster. They are - and so the good ice cream is now even closer!

Tortellini and chairs

Tortellini and chairs
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

It's been rainy on and off but we had some lovely sunshine. This did mean we got to collect lots of water to flush the toilet with! I went out to do a little weeding because the weeds are going crazy with all the rain.

Simian and I had lunch with W at our favourite Thai Place in Westminster. The lady didn't make it as spicy this time however. Suntaneye's husby learnt the secret code word - tell the lady to make it as hot as SHE eats it :)

We went to Tutti Gusti for dinner with Will and D and where we had Simian's favourite tortellini. We also grabbed a shower at D's place.

Here are some chairs chained to each other on someone's stoop - somehow this just says Bmore to me. I shot from the car as we were going by hence it's a little messy.

Food

Food
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

Our water pump broke down and we had no water this morning. The repairman came in and said that they can't get a new pump until Friday so we're without water till then. We also realised our furnace is dead :(

Will came over to visit this afternoon (and I found MORE unicorns!). It was great seeing him again.

We had to go out and eat - we went to 5 Guys (YAY!)and then to Ruby Tuesday for dinner. Chipotle just opened down the road from us and we tried to have dinner there but they were jam packed.

Dinner at Ruby Tuesday was good - Simian and I agree it's always been rather under-rated. I like that they split the bill for you automatically on the check! The salad was good as always and the sangria was yummy.

Couldn't run OR clean the house - but Simian vacuumed with his new $20 buckethead vacuum.

Suntaneye and her husby were kind enough to let us use her shower so we managed to take a hot shower. We also put a pail out when it rained and got some rainwater!

Unicorn Invasion

Unicorn Invasion
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

I had a safe flight over and saw actress Emma Stone at Immigration at the airport. I didn't recognise her at first because she was blond. Simian came to pick me up though he had to contend with huge traffic jams that made him slightly late.

I came home to find that there was a unicorn invasion! There were unicorns all over the house care of Will and A.

There were also tons of dead bugs - we have to clean up a bunch of dead stink bugs and other bugs tomorrow.

Food

Food
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

Simian and I went to Toyogo today - I can't believe I've never taken him. I think he was this close to moving in there. We went by the vegetarian store I love in Orchard Towers and bought vegetarian kway chap, wonton noodles and chicken rice. We also had the vegetarian otah M got us.

In the evening, we went to Chomp Chomp get some food for Dad. We also got some chicken wings for Mom. It was pretty fascinating watching the man roast the wings.

Ice Cream

Ice Cream
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

Simian and I had ice cream with M & WW and J at the Ice Cream Gallery. The conversation was fun as always and the ice cream was a definite plus :)

Toyogo

Toyogo

Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

I find it ironic that a place that my Mom dubs the Plastic Paradise has a sign telling you not to use plastic bags :)



Also, now I am even more paranoid about bedbugs.

Lunch at Chilli's

Lunch at Margarita's
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

In between a busy day of running to doctors' appointments, I had time to grab a quick lunch with M and Baby E. We went to Chilli's and had a good lunch.

Simian and I also had dinner with his parents this evening. We came home to the ultimate horror though - the AC in our room broke down!

Tiramisu

Tiramisu
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

Photo c/o Simian.

Mom loves tiramisu so I decided to try my hand at making some. First I made the lady fingers (though this recipe didn't include the baking temperature - some fast googling confirmed that 180 degrees Celsius would do). N helped me to pipe some of them out.

Then I made the layers of cream and cheese (and the rum and coffee to brush on the lady fingers) and put it together - 6 hours later and we had tiramisu.

Dessert

Dessert
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

We're in the middle of a heatwave and when Dad offered to buy us dessert, PlanetofSound, Imp and I thought it was a good idea. Walking TO dessert was another thing altogether - but the nice cool desserts brought our temperatures down nicely.

Election Day

Election Day
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

Photos care of Simian and me! :)

This is the first time I've voted in my entire life and I was excited! Imp and PlanetofSound came with my whole family because they unfortunately didn't get to vote. They even brought popcorn :)
Voting was very efficiently done - there was hardly any line and we were out of there in 7 minutes. It was actually a little anti-climatic! Now for the results!

Greenwood

Greenwood
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

D, Simian and I stopped by Cut the Mustard on the way back to the car. It had nice sodas (root beer without cane sugar) and a selection of imported beers. Some of the stuff wasn't too badly priced and others like the King Arthur's Flour were expensive!

M's Birthday Lunch

M's Birthday Lunch
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

M bought lunch for Simian, D, S & J, P and I for lunch because it was her birthday yesterday. Of course WW and Baby E came too and we had a lovely lunch at Peperoni Pizza. I made a chocolate meringue truffle cake for the birthday cake and M ordered gelato for us to eat with the cake!