we’re back in vancouver, and i had just enough time to get things together and host a bridal shower for louisa who’s getting married in only one week! there was also chocolate fondue, which you can’t see, and it was gooood.

after lots of food, games and presents, we shared a toast: cheers to louisa!

after having a day to recover, we had a little fiesta over some fancy mexican food with dan and seunghee, joe’s phd friends, to celebrate everybody surviving their exams. congratulations everyone…now go veg and sleep. veg and sleep.

So my exams are done now. I wrote my last one earlier today starting at about noon: four essay questions in four hours. It’s hard to say I’m relieved, though, because the reality hasn’t fully sunk in yet.

You know that feeling when you’ve put off so many non-essential things for so long to focus on just one thing… and then that one thing ends and you don’t know what to do next? Should I go out and do something now? Go tidy up the apartment? Or go read that novel I’ve been putting off? On second thought, I should probably avoid any serious mental activity for a while… I feel like I need to go sit on a beach somewhere and just stare at the ocean for five days.

there was some live music by a jazz band in the neighbourhood today. i saw it on my way home from the grocery store so i stopped to listen. audience members were really getting into it – black people really do have rhythm. the best part was when an old black guy started doing tai chi in the courtyard…and it was still cool.

no that is not a new spice girl. joe’s exam marathon starts tomorrow with aramaic, and he was surprised with a venti pumpkin spice no whip frappucino, courtesy of our friend anne, who dropped it off after dinner. thanks anne!! i couldn’t help myself, and took a few sips. seriously, not more than 10 sips (plus the diluted icy part that’s left at the end) and now i have a caffeine headache. i am such a coffee wimp. joe, on the other hand, feels great.

while joe was busy studying today, i went for a walk by the lake.

doesn’t that look strange? a very borg-like floaty thing (for all you fellow trekkies). i couldn’t stop staring at it…i was having fun playing with the optical illusion.

…which i guess makes me a garbanzo bean. do you ever read the nutritional info on the side of packages when buying food? i used to be oblivious to it, but this last year i started to read them before buying. sometimes i’m surprised and grossed out, and i will actually change my mind on which brand based on what i read. i also like finding out what foods have calcium (cuz i’m a small chinese female at risk for osteoporosis).

things to minimize:
1. sugar
2. corn syrup, fructose, etc (essentially sugar)
3. enriched flour (eg. white bread; “enriched” because they took all the good stuff out, and then put a little back)
4. saturated fats (fats from animals which are solid at room temperature)
5. trans fats (or partially hydrogenated fats; artificial fats which the body can’t metabolize well)

of course it’s often difficult to avoid all those ingredients, but if you see it among the first few ingredients listed, then that means there probably isn’t too much nutritional value. definitely avoid trans fats, cuz those will clog your arteries. the other ones in moderation. unfortunately my weaknesses are icecream and noodles…