98. A Catty Experience

(Update at the end)
Real-time Post

(This post has the tag Black Cats because it symbolizes unluckiness or misfortunes bestowed upon my body, or nearly almost happened to my misfortunate self.)

I was done classes for the day and just about reached home, took out my keys, when a tabby cat suddenly came up to me.

A little background: I am a dog person. I have always been a dog person. Although, there was a very short period I became a cat person. I can't remember how and why, but just that it happened and there's a cat poster somewhere to prove it.

Anyways, now I know after this incident, I will forever be a dog person.

This is the nice, wandering cat that came to me and did what cats usually do: rubbing up against your leg.
(I will add picture later once I'm home and have access to a computer.)

Edit: This is the culprit and its horrifying crime. (The red scratch on my pinky)

Due to my lack of knowledge about cats and their personalities and behaviours, I had no idea what that meant, so I just pet it, hoping that it'll be enough for it.

But, while I was petting it, I noticed that it didn't have a collar or any mark of ownership. Then, I remember seeing a poster on my way to the campus of a missing cat.

So, I wanted to confirm so I tried to pick up the cat to bring it to that poster to see if it matched, but if it didn't, I was planning on carrying it to an animal clinic, and if there was none, then campus security at least.

Anyways, it didn't like being carried so it struggled and I let go.

I gave up and walked up to my place, but it followed me. So, I spoke to it and played with it some more.

Then it flopped onto its belly, and me being ignorant of cat behaviours, thought it would want a belly rub (this knowledge I gathered from reading Garfield). I put my hand forward and barely touching it, it bit me.

Needless to say, I walk to the campus hospital, only to be told it was full for the day and they directed me to the Urgent Care next door.

And here I am, two hours later, still waiting to see a doctor.

Now, I understand when people complain about the long wait times. What's the point of a national health care system if it's going to take so long to see a doctor anyways?

Plus, I'm starving.

It's 5:35pm as I write this and the last meal I had was at 11am. And it was not a large meal at all.

I hope I'll be able to go home soon. And that it's nothing serious in need of a shot but just some antibiotics.

Please.

I can't stand shots....

Update:

Basically, after three hours, the doctor finally saw me and checked to see how deep it was. Thank goodness it was just a surface scratch so he told me to apply Polysporin, add a band-aid afterwards, and take the prescribed antibiotics.

But, I think I could have figured out what the antibiotics for myself were because apparently he needed to reference a protocol sheet (because I'm allergic to penicillin, which is in more than half of medicine) that I can probably find online given today's technology.

Oh well. I definitely learnt my lesson: do not go near any cute things aside from dogs. And even for dogs, only my sweetie, Winston.

97. Deer, Gardens, and Fortune Cookies

Recently, I went out for dinner to a place I haven't been to since middle school, which would be roughly six years.

This particular restaurant, called Deer Garden, has several branches around that I was surprised to find out about.

The one that the family had always went to (up until middle school anyway) wasn't that good. So, I didn't bother to ever visit there with friends when we went out to eat. It was never really an option.

But, that day, my friend told me how amazing the food was - especially their noodle combo with the delicious fish broth (no MSG either!), so I was bought and decided to give this restaurant another chance, but at a different branch that was located a bit closer to the University.

Here's what I had...

After that, we walked around the mall nearby, and went to Daiso to buy some things. But, of course, because Chinese New Year is coming up, we had to take some pictures of the decorations!

96. Years Later...

... I will look back on a certain Thursday and laugh.

Heck, I laughed day of I committed such... how should I say this? Airheadedness. Yes, that's it.

Three classes to start the day with an hour break in between each. I also have class an hour later than my roommate, but I usually just get up the same time as her and head out early for my first class.

That morning, she was in a rush and forgot to bring her lab materials for her lab course, so I brought it to her class before mine started. It wasn't that much hassle since I needed to lose the Christmas and New Years weight anyways.

Then, I headed toward my class. The thing is about this class is that it's on the complete opposite side of the Arts area on campus... Where the med students study.

I don't know what kind of sick person would put an Arts course so far away from the rest of the Arts building, on the other side of the campus.

But, anyways, I walked there and arrived well early before class started.

After class, I had to rush to a professor's office hours because I wanted to review my final exam and oral to see how I did. His office is, of course, on the other side of campus.

So, I speed walk there hoping I'll still be able to have time to eat lunch afterwards before the next class started.

Nope. Didn't happen. He was late, so I only had 10 minutes left to gobble everything up as if I haven't ate for days.

Then, I rushed towards the nearby building for my next class with a few minutes to spare.

And this is where it all began - after class.

For some odd reason. One or the other. I'm not really too sure what happened. But. I thought I was done for the day. So, I walked all the way back home.

Now, imagine this: if first class is located in the far west, second class is located in the far east, and home is located far south, and remembering right when you get home and turn the laptop on that you had to walk back to far east because you had one more class left.

Yes.

I blame the lack of sleep. Insomnia is not a friend anybody should associate with. Unless, you know, you like those kinds of things. Then by all means, I wish you a happy future together.

But, for me, I don't think so.

At least that day I had well over an hour of just walking back and forth. Daily Physical Activity - check and double check.

95. What Made Me Happy Today #2

Aside from having to pay my Visa bills (which is definitely not what made me happy today), the weather finally lifted up and the sun managed to peek out from its hiding spot from the gusty winds over the weekend. Other than that, in my Mandarin Chinese class, we have finally gotten (somewhat) close to each other and talking more freely and openly to each other, which makes me happy because it is one of the only classes I'm in this term that actually allows a whole class of discussion and allocated time for group work/presentations. I hope this good atmosphere continues.

94. Mom's Birthday Lunch

It was my mom's birthday today and I brought her to The Old Spaghetti Factory. It was a very cozy and relaxing Italian style restaurant. I already knew what to get for the both of us: Chicken Parmigiana with Spaghetti and Tomato Sauce.

The appetizer came first, which was their signature Minestrone Soup. My mom really liked the soup and later she said that she would have liked to have just this soup for her whole meal - it was that good!

This is the main course. It is "[a] hand-breaded chicken breast, fried to a golden brown, topped with tomato sauce and melted Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses." It was also "[s]erved with spaghetti with tomato sauce". There was also an option for fries but we didn't get that this time because according to Chinese beliefs, noodles should be eaten on someone's birthday as it is a visual representation of longevity (because of the length of the noodles). 

My mom doesn't eat a lot of meat nowadays so she gave half her chicken to me. It's good being young. Although the chicken was a bit salty (which mostly came from the cheese I think), it was still good nevertheless!

But, I remember the last time I came here (about two years ago), I remember the serving size was much bigger. The spaghetti actually covered the chicken as both portions were quite large. I guess times have changed and people/businesses have become cheaper... not to point out any names *cough*McDonald's*cough*.

After that, it was time for dessert, which was ice cream! I was excited to eat the ice cream that I forgot to take a picture before I ate it... hence the melted swirl of a mess this picture is.

Anyways, lunch was great and I hope I'll be able to make my own Chicken Parmigiana sometime soon!

93. First Day

School is officially back in session as of today, but it wasn't full of rainbows and butterflies for me. I caught a cold just yesterday so I have been feeling horrible with a stuffy nose and not enough sleep because of it. In fact, I barely slept a wink last night so I'm pretty tired today and my eyes are red and icky.

At least classes went well today despite the numerous times I had to stop myself from sneezing. I'm not sure if it's useful for others, but I was quite successful when I did it - my little trick of preventing myself from sneezing.

When you feel the urge to sneeze, just touch the roof of your mouth with your tongue and look up (tilt your head up) to stare at the lights while putting a finger across your nose (where your nostrils are) and breathe slowly.

Other than that, I bought some Aspirin and am drinking lots of water. Hopefully, this cold won't overstay its welcome and pack its bags and go within a week!

92. Murphy's Law

Today I went out with a very close friend to have brunch and some light shopping. It was decided last minute, or rather last night, but we knew exactly where we wanted to go eat.

The place was basically our second home because the Japanese ramen they serve there is just amaaazing. The chef, although he is Korean, actually studied and worked in Japan before moving to Canada, so he has legitimate experience and the skills to make an amazing bowl of ramen.

Ever since I found this noodle cafe back in high school, I've basically been religiously going there every single time my friend and I meet up and eat out. The owners also recognize us and why not, every time I go I only order their delicious chicken teriyaki ramen. It is the single best thing I have ever had and their teriyaki chicken is unlike any other.

The sauce is perfect - not too little and not too much where you're basically just drowning in the sauce instead of eating the actual meat. The ratio of meat to fat is perfect because it's juicy, soft, and just full of wonderfulness.

Unfortunately, it was closed.

So, we went to a Japanese restaurant instead that opened at noon, which wasn't that bad because we only had to wait around 15 - 20 minutes for it to open.

Once we sat down and ordered and almost finished our food, I wanted to order something else as snack while we talked and caught up with each other some more.

So I asked for their grilled squid (I had a bit of it the last time it was there and it was quite good), but the waitress came back and apologized saying that they didn't have it in stock yet.

Disappointed, we went back to finishing up our food and when we were done, we asked for their matcha (green tea) tiramisu.

Unfortunately, they didn't have that either.

So, we went to the mall nearby to get dessert instead. There was Qoola (frozen yogurt chain) at the mall, but at this particular mall, they usually don't have the flavour I want, which is their mango flavour. Out of five times I go, only once or twice will they have the flavour. Because I am also very picky, it's either I get it or I don't (downfall of being picky).

Before we went to Qoola, we stopped by H&M (also at the mall) and looked around. I saw this really cute black and white stripped cropped sweater and a fuzzy gray knit top. Now, I haven't bought clothes in a long time and thought to myself that if I looked good in them, then I'll just buy them on the spot, then and there. Anyways, I went to try them on at the change room.

Unfortunately, it didn't look good on me.

So, we left for Qoola.

And...

Murphy's Law was finally broken!!!! They had the mango flavour and I was very happy.

Then, I caught the bus home and just barely made it. Thank goodness the bus driver was kind enough to re-open the doors after he had just closed them when I was only three steps away. Or else I would have had to wait a long while until the next one.

So, up to the point before Qoola, it followed Murphy's Law: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

It was basically a re-experience of my day after seeing a black cat (I didn't even cross its path!).

91. Happy New Year!

A day late, but better later than never right? I hope everyone had a great time and best wishes for the new year!

I went out on New Years (my first time out of the house since I've been back home) with some friends and went ice skating. There were a good amount of people, mostly kids and parents, with some teenagers as well. Every five seconds there would be a kid falling down... it was somewhat interesting as some would actually fall on purpose.

There was also a baby in a carriage that wouldn't stop crying and the mom would just be talking to her friend beside her. It was pretty funny, in the way that kids crying without a reason should be ignored or else a sprout will grow inside their head, giving them ideas that whenever they cried, they'll receive the attention they want, which is not good.

Anyways, after skating, we went to grab lunch at KFC. Although their popcorn chicken was good, I can't say the same for their fries. I never really liked KFC fries because they taste too... cardboard with a ton of salt. Sorry KFC, but McDonald's wins this round.

Next, we went to sing karaoke for an hour before meeting up with another friend, grabbing some bubble tea and just talking and taking pictures for about an hour.

Then we all went home and that was how I spent my New Years. It was a lot of fun and especially because I haven't seen this particular friend in two years, I was happy seeing him again and catching up.

Once again, Happy New Year!