Went to Park Royal for the first time ever!
It was actually pretty decent despite its shabby first impression.
And the fact that I was so tired because I only slept 3 hours last night because my dog threw up twice.

Though I was tired and mopey, I managed to buy some underwear at La Senza with Nina.
Between us we got 10 pairs for $25.

Also I bought LOADS of books to read for when I go visit Farhad.
And for my enjoyment in general.
I was standing there holding all those sequels of different series and jolts of excitement were shooting through my heart.
And my face too, apparently, because Nina said, "Well... you're awake now!"

I still like Winners. A lot.
I found the BCBG capris bottom for my BCBG top that I bought last week!!!
Except I bought the bottom in black and the top in white, but I like it better that way.

We went through only half the mall even though we were there for almost 5 hours.
Me: "What?! Esprit and Guess are on that side!"
Nina: "Well... too bad the mall is closing."


Whilst driving back to Richmond through downtown.
Me: "Off The Wall! HUGE La Senza! Aveda! ...Ohhhh... So many stores..."
Nina: "Man, I wish we could shop some more."
I stare at Nina in disbelief.
"I'm tired, Nina."
Nina: "Yeah, I know, me too. My feet are soooo sore... but still..."
Me: "... I know..."

We stare longingly out the window for a few moments.

Me: "...It's not as though we could find parking spots anyway..."
Nina: "Yeah... and they're closing soon..."
Me: "But there ARE still lots of people shopping..."
Nina: "Oh! There's a parking spot!"
Me: "Lolz!"
Nina: "No! No! I really need to go home and study."
Me: "We're broke anyway."

And so we parted with our souls- I mean, we came home.

I am loving my cloth bags from Aeropostale more and more.
They are so soft and match almost everything I wear.

When I went to metro yesterday with Erica I bought one of those dresses that are white on the top and black on the bottom.
I'm sooo excited because I've always wanted one of those. They look a little formal and dressy, but not over-the-top.
Plus they look slightly professional in a work-girl way, and I like to pretend.
And this one is made casual-er with crunched up pockets at the front so less people can put a finger on my misleading appearance of looking like I'm not a jobless bum.

And I also bought a green dip dye T-shirt from Off The Wall.
It was a bit expensive at $40, but I like it a LOT.


All this is thanks to Erica, because I actually forgot my wallet.
Because it was in my car.
Because I was too lazy to bring out my entire bag when I went out with my sister the day before.
And I forgot it there and just got off and went inside.
And then the next day I went out without it.

This NEVER happens to me.
I always think people are such idiots when they forget their wallet.
Like, why don't you forget your leg at home, you retard?

And if you are just trying to get me to pay, I'm going to ask for my money back you know.
Plus I totally judge you as an incapable fool now.
Who has a broken link to society.
Tsk.

But now that it's happened to me I might be less skeptical of their intelligence in the future.

So Erica paid for lunch and went to Coast Capital and withdrew $100 so I could unleash my Shopaholic ways despite lack of my own money.

Except now that I've given her away as the Coast Capital rich girl, she might be ambushed for her monetary abundance.


And apparently the chocolate store that I liked a lot is called Rocky Mountain and it is actually really famous.
And I've just been calling it "the store with chocolate dipped stuff".
And in the past when I saw chocolates with "Rocky Mountain" printed across it, I thought people had just bought it from the tourist shop in the Rocky Mountains.

Erica: "It is almost as famous as Purdy's, Annie."
Me: "What about before when I told you that I thought Rocky Mountain chocolates were from the Rocky Mountains?"
Erica: "I thought you meant from the Rocky Mountain store in the Rocky Mountains."
Me: "......"


But I forgive her crap friend-ness, because we found out that we both love to stuff our faces.
I knew this before, but I did not know to this extent.
I have found my eating twin.

So I bought a GPS.

The American English woman sounds soooo angry to be guiding me.

So now I have it set on the American English man.
He sounds a tiny bit blurry though.

The Australian English folk sound a bit mellow.


... These GPS recording people stereotype very well, don't they?


I might put it on the England English just for kicks.

Except then I might not understand half the instructions and just get lost.

Wrote down things I'm going to pack.

I have decided that I will bring 3 pajama tops, 2 pairs of shorts and 1 pajama gown.
For going out, I'm going to have 2 zip-up jacket/hoodie things, 2 tank tops, 2 longsleeves, 2 pairs of jeans, 2 sundresses, 2 crop jackets.
Also 2 pairs of shoes, 10 pairs of socks, 10 pairs of underwear and 4 bras.

In the food department so far I have packed instant noodles, chocolate, koala cookies and gum.
Because they have complete nutritional value.

I am going to bring 10 novels.

Most of the remaining stuff is toiletries.
Hair clips, brushes, shampoo, conditioner, face soap, body soap, face lotion, eye lotion, body lotion, toners, cosmetic pads, face masks...
(Whenever I feel bad about all my beauty products, I peek into my sister's bathroom and I feel humble again.)

3 pairs of contacts, contact solution, glasses case.
Sunscreen, bug spray, allergy medicines.
And 2 necklaces.

Would it be a bit too much to bring my face steamer?

So, Farhad has been gone for a month.

Everyone has been asking whether or not I miss him.
Except Erica.
Who said that she will replace him.
... I don't know how well that would work out though. She'd have to buy me stuff.

And Helen, who is very sensible and thinks men are just a sidetrack in life, not a necessity.
Although she did not say it in those words. So I am just putting them in her mouth.


It is sooo hard to pack for my trip to visit Farhad.

I really want to bring my new cloth bag, but it is white and I don't want it to get dirty in the wild.
I also thought about bringing my plastic (and completely dirt-and-mud-and-stain-proof) shoulder bag, but it is clear and may look a tad silly to the wilderness folk.
Or I could bring a sensible school pack back that I wouldn't mind ruining, but that is a bit childish and would look very strange.
I don't think I'm going to consider the purses, as they are too delicate.

And so I am really torn.

...Okay, I lied.
I have secretly decided to bring the cloth bag already.
Because I love it.
I will just take really good care of it.
Plus, I am going back to the store to buy another one as back up! (Because it is only $10!! )
That way if one gets ruined by the jungle I will have another one safely tucked away at home.


But I TRULY am undecided about my shoes.
I don't know how I could handle bringing my Uggs to an unpaved place, but I don't know how I could leave them behind either.
Or my sketchers. I wear them all the time.
And I'd just bring my runners but they are brand new and very white and I just couldn't trek around in mud with them, could I?

I'm probably going to buy a pair of those ugly-but-waterproof plastic boots but I'd like to bring a pair of decent looking shoes as well.

I am also tearing my hair out deciding between grooming toiletries and food.


... I have also realized that this post is not really about Farhad, despite the title, and more about me and my many belongings.

Went to Brentwood Winners yesterday, and I bought a BCBG thin zip-up hoodie!

Then we went to Metro and I got one of those casual cloth bags from Aeropostale.
Because it is sooo soft and nice in a simple way (it's got a pair of faded wings imprinted on it).
Plus it was so cheap, for just $10.
It was calling out to me...

And sunscreen, because I'm running out.


Alsoooo... My one suitcase plan for visiting Farhad has gone out the window.
... Hehe.

Went to Richmond Centre with Sam today.

I bought 3 shirts (American Eagle x2, Jacob), but in my defense they are all plain long sleeves to be worn when I go visit Farhad in the wilderness.
Or small town, as he calls it.

I am going to be so ugly the whole time I am there.

Apparently all you can wear there are thick long sleeve shirts and pants because of bugs.
And crap shoes because all the roads are just gravel and mud.

Which I understand.
However, according to Farhad, everything you wear also has to be plain and drab in order to fit in.
... I am probably not going to take his word on that bit.
And am going to sneak a couple of nice things into my luggage.

I mean, there are wives and daughters there, I'm sure girls are bound to wear pretty things even if the men will be men.

I will just have to balance survival and fabulousity.

Which also means sunscreen and bug spray.

And an entire luggage full of food.


I should probably buy a pair of those plastic weird looking boots.
That are weird looking because they are actually completely water proof and useful.
Sigh.

9:00am

Heard mom and dad leave.

 

10:30 am

Looked in fridge.

Prepared self for day of starvation.

 

 

11:00am

Started to get hungry.

Looked in fridge again.

 

Put some lotion on my face.

At least my skin will have nourishment.

 

Noon

Looked in fridge.
And cupboards.

Listened to music.

Mayhap I can absorb the music through my soul and fill myself that way.

 

 

1:00 pm

Lay on couch, watching my life go by.

 

1:30 pm

Going out for food is not an option because too lazy.

 

2:00 pm

Ate a handful of raw spinach due to survival instinct.

 

2:15 pm

Farhad calls to tell me how hungry he is.

He is my soul mate.

 

3:00 pm

PiPi wishes to know why I am such a bore and did not wish to chase her around the house for two hours.

That’s all fine for her.
I fed her while faced with my own starvation, such a selfless owner am I.

 

3:45 pm

Missed mom’s call because I left cell phone inside.

Was sitting in car in garage reading manual.

Because I wish to get to know my car before I pass away.

 

Too close to death to call her back.

 … I wonder if she called to ask whether I want anything to eat.

 

3:46 pm

Merde, she has turned her cell phone off.

 

3:48 pm

Maybe I will lose two pounds before I die.

 

3:50 pm

That way when they weigh my corpse they’d not know how fat I was just 24 hours ago.

Would they weigh my corpse?

Maybe my family would notice though.

They might cry and say, “It’s so sad that she’s dead… sob… but she does look two pounds skinnier, does she not?”

 

4:15 pm

Looked up Cantonese swear words in case after I die stupid Canto spirits try to steal the food my family burns for me at the temple.

 

 

5:10 pm

Time passes so slowly when your stomach is eating itself.

 

 

5:20 pm

I shall lie here in a nice pose to be found looking graceful even in death.

 

 

5:25 pm

Left my graceful pose to give PiPi dinner.

Because I don’t know how my parents would feel coming home to two corpses.

5:53 pm

Ate a chestnut.

Had to peel it with my trembling fingers.

5:58 pm

Still no one home.

Should probably update my will.

6:13 pm

Being mean to parents because they brought home a celery heart for food.

I am a miserable person when hungry.



6:25 pm

Blog-reading friends are urging me to eat over MSN.
How persuasive.

I want to go to bed and cry myself to sleep.
Except then I will wake up at 4 am and be very awake until noon.



6:27 pm

At least now I know that when it comes down to celery heart or starvation, I have chosen starvation.

Wow so I'm turning into a daily shopper at Aberdeen.
Went again today with Helen.
Thank Tom Cruise I controlled my Asian self and did not buy a $300 T-shirt.

Oh, the days where I thought Scientology = Atheist (awesome word form consistency there) and went around telling people that's my religion.

I was relatively attracted to a purse though.

A smirk actually escaped me when I saw the price tag.

$1,305.


Anyway, I lost my grip on my credit card for a few seconds (twice) at Richmond Center; a white dress from American Eagle plus a belt from Aldo.

Mostly I blame Helen.
Because she saw that the white dress was on sale and wanted to try it on.

And encouraged me to try it on too when I was fingering another one left on the rack.
Even though she knows I am trying to quit buying white dresses.

And then after we tried it on, she told me that it was a very good deal.
Except she didn't buy one herself.



Farhad: It's great! You should go shopping every single day until you come here, so you get so sick of it and don't miss it!
Annie: Haha, I don't know if that would work!

Annie's Mastercard: ...........

So my mom was wrong.
Because you cannot put the wheel back onto the car when it has been covered by the wheel cover already.

So all that can be done is the tugging and pulling and panting and tugging some more.


And then I will have to live knowing that the edges of the cover have not gone all the way around.



Wtf I actually do like to shop at Aberdeen!
Even though most of it is pretty expensive for the likes of me.

Farhad: "So yeah. Watson Lake."
Me: "What is Watson Lake anyway?"
Farhad: "It's... just along the highway. You're driving along... you see nothing nothing nothing nothing and suddenly a store, another store, a gas station... and then nothing nothing nothing. 'Oh, that was Watson Lake.'"

Farhad: "Yeah, so when you're here and you want to go shopping, you'd be driving for a week."
Me: "... I'll see you when you come back."
Farhad: "Annie, you don't need malls all the time."
Me: "Ummm... actually-"
Farhad: "You get other cool things here. Like... ...bugs. And trees."

My mom was vacuuming our foyer.
With our new super loud vacuum.

I decided that for once, I should be a helpful daughter.

So I stood at the top of the stairs whilst she vacuumed, and sang Nocturne in C Minor.

I was halfway through the song before she heard me and looked up.

She thought I was yelling at her, so she turned off the insanely loud vacuum to listen to me.


Then she got annoyed because I was not, in fact, yelling anything important.

So to patch things up I made fun of the vacuum, since criticism of other things always bonds people together.

And we had a good laugh about how cheap the new vacuum was.

I was huffing and puffing as I was attempting to shove the wheel cover back onto the wheel.
The leather edges will not go back on properly.

I was feeling miserable and sorry for myself (and panting) when two people walk by our garage.
One guy says to the other, "Hey, look at that wheel cover on that car. It's really cool."
The other guy says, "... Yeah, it is!"

Instantly I feel better and try for another five minutes.

Then my mom comes outside and convinces me that I must take off the entire wheel in order to put the cover back on tight.
She assures me that the wrench for the bolts on the wheel has come along with the car.

I fumble around in the mystery compartments of my car and ALAS! she is right!

I shall tackle that... not today.

Went to Erica with Metrotown.

... I decided to leave that sentence like that.


We drove Erica's car because my wheel cover's dragon is still sunning.

We ate at Top Gun (Crystal Mall).
Ordered fish fin soup and got really nervous cause we forgot to check the prices and then found out there is no price listed.
Turns out we didn't have to go to the back to do dishes because I did have enough money.

Then we walked around the asian stores and bought accessories for our cars.
I bought Nightmare Before Christmas seat belt covers because the seat beat always slits my throat while I drive.

And then we went to Metro and walked around for hours.
We tried on some stuff at Mantique, and we both found something we really liked. (Yellow cardigan for me, white sundress for Erica.)

We didn't buy them because they were a bit expensive.
And Erica was being all sensible and saying so.

So we walked around some more.
Although I was mostly just thinking about the cardigan.

Then we decided we (I) needed a drink.
And we walked around some more.

At the end we were both so exasperated at buying nothing that we decided to go back to Mantique.


The cardigan was $67.
I feel guilty pleasures.


Erica's sundress was $50.
The salesman punished her for not spending at least $67 by swinging her dress onto his sweaty neck while he was waiting for the receipt to print.


And then I finally bought a belt!!
BWA HAHAHAAA....
I will no longer have to be concerned about my low jeans getting way too low.
Like as low as my knees.





Me: "So which is colder? Yellowhorse or Whitehorse?"
Farhad: " ... Yellowhorse!! You said Yellowhorse!"


Farhad: "In the wintertime it gets to minus 30 degrees here, for months. No machines work and they have plugs in the parking lots to help cars start."
Me: "Oh."
Farhad: "Everything is just dirt roads and the town is the size of the street you live on. You'll have to be tough."
Me: "...Oh."
Farhad: "But don't worry, I'll make sure you're happy here. This place isn't so bad, if you're in the right mindset. Some people love this kind of place."
Me: "...Uh huh."
Farhad: "......I'm talking about explorers, really."



...Farhad does look a bit like Diego.

I never learn the lesson about not forcing shoes onto yourself if they are uncomfortable.

Even if they give you blisters after only one hour.

And you know that.

Because the same pair has done that to you already.

Repeatedly.


For some reason I have this theory that if a pair of shoes hurts you a lot, you should put it in the closet and try again in a month.

I name this theory "Hope".



Went shopping at Richmond Centre today with Sam.
I had to buy a pair of flip flops from Old Navy because my shoes were hurting me so much.
And I changed into flip flops while sitting outside Old Navy.

This scenario has happened to me before, except last time I was with Farhad, it was the Old Navy at Metrotown, and it was a different pair of uncomfortable Sketchers.

Sketchers sells flip flops for Old Navy!

Okay soo the vinyl dragon doesn't look quite like it was supposed to.

The lines and edges have been simplified by the printing program.

I'm a bit disappointed, but I'll live.


Anyhow, it took me fifteen minutes to take the cover off the tire.
Watch me put it back on.

Farhad: "... this year, and then next year they'll be like 'yeah I remember you'... you know what I'm sayin?"
Me: "...... Sucky."




SO, the carshop has made my vinyl dragon, and my wheel cover has gone in for the attaching-it-on business.
I'm going get it back later tonight.

BWA HAHAHAHAHHAA.

...I hope doesn't look like crap.

It does seem a bit gangster though.
Which is not good cause then other gangsters will beat me up for my bad driving.

And it won't fit my image anymore if I say, "Omg, I'm SO sorry. I'm a Chinese girl >< It's my genetics."

Plus when I take 30 years to park, the dragon on the wheel cover might get angry about belonging to such a crap driver.

Farhad has been on his job-hunting road trip for 1 week now.
He arrived in Whitehorse yesterday.


Summer.
It is way too hot and sunny and bright.
I can't wait for autumn to arrive.


I am getting the hang of my new car!
Not.