Giant flags

Giant flags at Metrotown. Must be for the Olympics.
Olympics sucks... It made everything more expensive... (T_T)

MRI, dinner

Usual Tuesday dinner with brother's gang. Turns out sister-in-law went for a 6-hour MRI at UBC today. The left side of her body's been feeling tingly. Some white spots were found in her brain. Those were scars. But why? Her next appointment is in October. Yikes!!!!! It takes 10 months to get an appointment?!?! That's unacceptable!!!!!! Last time it took her 7 months, though. Sigh... I thought 3 months is average, but 10 months... OMG... what's going on with our medical system? What if it's cancer? People are gonna die before seeing a specialist!!!!!!

The online cheap Pinkys came just in time for my nieces' birthday. They were $1 but shipping is $10 on the first item, $5 for subsequent ones. To offset the shipping cost, I also got some duplicates for chopping up. (Customizing, I meant.) It works out to about $8 each. Didn't win too much, but not bad at all.

Didn't realize I forgot to pluck my eyebrows for... over 10 days? Of course they look like crap now. Apparently, this is yet another side effect of my back. Talking about my back, I just saw my chiropractor yesterday, but why do I feel so crappy today? Ah, mystery solved when I turn on the radio. Humidity is 100%. That will do it. (T_T)

Dream

Looks like I'm remembering my dreams frequently these days. But this also means disturbed sleep.

Forgot most of last night's dream, but what I do remember was, I was traveling with my anime night friends, and we went into this huge snack store to pick up some munchies. The shelves were packed all the way up to the high ceiling. It was at night, and we had to go somewhere afterward. There were so many to choose from, I took a long time. I finally picked a drink that looks like ginger ale, but in a large Kikkoman flask-like bottle, with a freebie toy.
My friends left and wait for me outside the store. I tried to quickly search for something salty to eat, like some kind of chips to go with the soft drink. It took forever. I couldn't make up my mind. Then my friends came back in angry, saying I took too long.

I think the doorbell woke me up at that point.

Kidneys, blood, back

The male nurse didn't show up. He's supposed to come bath dad today. But it's also the first day of the bath assistance extension. Maybe the paper work didn't get done in time or something...

Took dad to his kidneys ultrasound appointment at VGH. I'm super surprised that it took less than half an hour. (Yay! Only $3 for parking! An hour is $6! Don't know about other people, but 6 bucks can buy me a good-size meal!)

Then we dropped off a copy of that document to our family doctor which we forgot to bring after dad's hospital discharge. Thought it's time to get his blood test for the urologist as well. The Lifelab at Chinatown does not reimburse parking. It's a separate entity from the ultrasound and x-ray lab sharing the same unit, which reimburse half to one hour parking depending on your test duration. Grrr... Luckily, despite the long wait, parking only cost $2.

Picked up A's coffee beans, then we all went to my chiropractor's appointment. I was half an hour early while he was a bit behind. It's his second day back to work after Christmas and new year holiday. Waiting was anticipated, though. Not a problem. Sure beats dropping off mom and dad home and then come out again.

Kitkat: Jasmin Tea

They had English tea before, now they're going oriental. A little unexpected but I imagined it would taste good. The smell was... very milky just like most non-chocolate Kitkat. There was absolutely no smell of any tea. Tasted... bitter! Hmm... is my sense of smell gone? I get the impression that I should be smelling tea if the flavour is this strong. Yet it kept smelling like milk chocolate. Well, since dark chocolate is also bitter, this didn't feel wrong. 3 bites later, a recognizable taste of tea finally emerged. The degree of bitterness was like chewing on tea leave. Hmm... it kind of matches so I don't mind it at all.

It uses Jasmin tea extract. At least not artificial flavouring.

Lunch

Thanks R and B for lunch! Again, I wish I could cook...
They have a wicked view from their apartment. So wicked, you can see into nearby buildings.
Their new baby crib's got a funny brand name! Apparently it means calm in some European language. And thanks A for the jackets! (^_^)

Happy new year!

Spent most of the day dosing off. Was it the sparking wine last night? Didn't do anything. This is gotta be the lamest new years day ever... (T_T)

Picture was taken in September in Richmond Center. The graffiti is funny!