Allegra Sloman's blog

Paul and I found the parking lot for Byrne Creek Ravine Park and wandered about for a while, and then went for Pho at Pho Hong on Kingsway, which is our  go to for pho.  Then we came back here and consumed media.  He’s just now called to ask me to go walkies again, and now that I have these new orthotics… yeah.

Anyway, Alex was here yesterday, and he was in fine form.

but right now ALEX IS COMING.  That is all. Katie of course is coming too and she’s going to watch wedding videos with me.

I WANT THIS SOFA.

An epic bout of puking and pooping aka racism, sexism, HOOOOOO MOOOOO PHOOOOOOBIA, plagiarism, accusing the enemy of making a pact with Satan, and RILLY BAD DO’S has broken out at the RNC.  And Norovirus. Some shit you can’t make up.

I missed him on the Island so I’m really really happy at the prospect of being able to see him tonight.

Mike and I went to Kamamarui Burnaby last night for ramen.  The Chashu ramen is out of this world, an incredibly silky pork broth with noodles and incredibly thin pork slices, broiled on one side and then slid into the broth.  They provided two tiny appetizers at no charge, one of which (Mike remarked) is a total rip off of the Chinese dish known as “grandmother’s tofu” so I guess it’s no surprise that I ate it with glee. There were also glutinous rice with seaweed balls, and I know that sounds disgusterpating but it was esculent.

This morning it’s a little rainy, not too much.  TO THE EDITING ROOM, JEEVES.

 

 

That arm will never be the same, but I’m more or less recovered.

 

 

I am taking it as a sign that Jeff’s window crank assembly for the MR2 has appeared.  Isn’t it time we ALL got a new handle on life?

The drive to the ferry, ferry ride (and nommy brekky), bonus hilarious interaction with other ferry rider, drive back home (except the Alex Fraser which was a fussed-her-cluck turning a five minute section of roadway into almost 45 minutes of drudge), car drop off and return were all perfectly acceptable, and now I’m making lists.

I know it doesn’t mean a damned thing to most of you, but my mother made me tea this morning.  I am so happy she’s more mobile and in less pain (mostly…) that I’ve got tears in my eyes just thinking about it.  And Exchange was playing on  the sound system in the Pacific Buffet.  Some people might call it easy listening but it’s an important part of my life, it’s family music.

Things I learned this weekend.

Bull kelp gets that big in a single year.  It akshully grows faster than bamboo.

If you don’t reset your mirrors in your rental car, you’re gonna be sorry.  I nearly killed some poor dude on a bike at the Nanaimo ferry, and my hand to God I’m never getting in a car without fixing the mirrors again. The finger he gave me was richly deserved.

The first time you get in a car you’re going to be the principal driver of, find out how to put gas in it.  There are a bewildering number of ways to engineer a fuelling system, and it’s always on, like, page one hundred of the f*****g manual.

My agent at Avis was once riding at night on a motorcycle, struck by a car with a drunken driver, and flew like a Tom and Jerry cartoon (his words, not mine) into a trash can, which of course fell over so he rolled out. He didn’t even see the guy who hit him, who compounded his stupidity in driving drunk by not bothering to even put running lights on.

People apologize for things that are trivial and sit out the tough ones. How I learned that I’m gonna stay quiet about.

I really love the Comox Valley and I want to go live there.

 

When you’re driving down the Island Highway and you think I have no fluids on board and I’m starving and I’m probably not safe to drive, you figure if the name of the restaurant is the Red Rooster and there is Wor Wonton on the menu it will be crappy.

 

NOPE.  In 20 years I haven’t had better.  It was exquisite; the wontons were plump and porky, the missing barbecue pork and shrimp was IN THE BOTTOM and the broth was dressed with sesame oil.  It was so good I can’t even wrap me head around it.  But I know the perfect place to stop for food on the highway now.

At the parents’, they’re fine, leaving tomorrow on the first ferry.

 

I had a really good time, it was a beautiful ceremony, a fantastic meal, a gorgeous setting, and the world is more beautiful and less tangled in festering toxic violence and villainy as a consequence.

I’m headed back to Deep Bay tomorrow morning.  Jesus, this morning, since it’s almost 2 am.  I got to ride in a limo and dance and drink.  The rental is still at the facility, which is fine, it’s perfectly safe there. When I’ve done enough work to not feel guilty about slipping away, I’m going to drive down to Victoria, but I can’t see me making it much before 2 at this point.

Such lovely people. And Octavia the Octopus came out to play.

 

Me and some Gemmell rellies will drive down in the HONKING BIG BLACK SUV I was forced to rent at the last minute to HERE. and if you look fast enough you’ll see where it says closed July 16 for a private function.

Nita and Mike have put together a wedding that should be epic. I am heartsick that Paul and Keith can’t go. I won’t say what Keith said on the subject but I was wrung.  I really didn’t expect to go, as faithful readers of the blog know well, and I’m so honoured and happy and grateful to go.  And there was an octopus. Octavia.  She inspected me because my dress is almost Pacific Octopus colour but when she realized I was not a rival she folded it back up again.

Everything in the world sucks so bad, that the excuse to be unreservedly happy for a day doesn’t seem like much.

I light a heartcandle for Turkey.

And Nice.

And Medina.

And Dallas.

Yes, it’s weird… I’ll be picking up the car today. I really never expected to go but when the BRIDE TO BE calls you on your cell, hopping from one foot to the other about you coming (because Paul, Keith and Janice can’t go), it’s like being touched by pixie dust or something.  My presence is requested at a family festival.  So weird.  Last time I went it was for a funeral, now it’s for a wedding.  Shouldn’t there be an infant dedication in my future?

Stay in C. after the wedding, drive down to Victoria the next day, come back Monday.

It’s not like I was doing anything except swithering.

Jeff and I are off to do a small shop.

ain’t hilarious.  They turned up at Planet Bachelor, which is grisly, mostly because the landlords are being dipstacks, but now the boiz r  not going to Nita and Mike’s wedding and they say I can go, but I  haven’t planned for it (I need a lot of mental preparation) and I’m not happy about being given the choice. Which just shows I’m a little teetery on the totter these days.

Made a very nice spaghetti with chicken the other night, plus some more ice tea, plus trimmed Buster’s claws.

He has excellent claw control 99% of the time but jumped up on me this morning and popped his claws languidly into my thigh. I leaped up with him under my arm, conveyed him to the bog, trimmed him and then he ambled out into the kitchen for his treat.  I’ve never met a cat who was so crazy and so chill at the same time.  Love me some Buster.

God I want The Expanse to come back SO BAD. Mr. Robot is back, but I’m going walking with Paul in Oakalla, so I’m thinking it will be after that.

So I’m not getting it. It’s apparently gamifying government access to private records, and there’s quite enough of that shit going around right now without me adding to the pile.

It’s really weird seeing people congregate around an area for no other reason that imaginary beings are supposed to be there and you get points for communing with them. No… wait… that’s church.  Frak, I can’t keep track. It was weird seeing all those people milling around the World’s Biggest Tin Soldier. FOR POKEMON.

Really nice walk with Paul yesterday at the Quay.  Finally got a pulled pork sandwich from Reup BBQ after being driven insane by the smell. I make just as tasty at home (okay so not rilly authentic) so I’m thinking PORK ROAST, or just cheating and getting the Western Family packaged pull pork, which is perfectly acceptable nosh. Off to the butchers for same.  Maybe pork chomps for schnitzel. Why am I thinking about dinner at 4:50 in the morning???

 

Also incredibly brief. At the end Lorraine took us all up to the roof of Hastings Racecourse and we got an amazing view of the Burrard Inlet. There were horse races too and bunches of people I only ever met on social media who turn out to be just as marvelous and funny and lively IRL.

Mike called just as I was packing up so it was bad action movies and pizza at his place.  Paul just called (he’s so chipper these days with his new eyeballs it’s almost scary!) and we’re going to go for a walk.  I’m thinking the Quay but he may have other ideas.

Except I’m going to the dogs. The Wiener Dog Races.

I can’t FRIKKIN believe it, according to the translink trip planner I have to take a bus across the Ironworkers’ Memorial bridge and then come back to Hastings to get there. Ludicrous.  I don’t do bridges if I can help it.

One of the cacti Jeff brought back from Victoria is so happy it’s about to bloom.  Yay!

Can’t sleep, clowns will eat me.

Everybody Keith invited bailed, but Keith, Jeff, Paul and I had a lovely time watching Ant-Man and we drank most of that Dageraad Amber Ale, which was tasty.  I prepped a lot of veggies, but such is life; the lads took most of it so it won’t rot in the fridge.

Made tea; there’s lots of iced tea in the fridge but I feel like hot tea in the morning.

Going to the weiner dog races tomorrow.  What’s the point of living in Vancouver if you don’t take advantage of its many amenities I always say.