Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger - ~ What I Think ~

Out & About #901 | Cookies at Stackt, MyMy Chicken Sq1 + Sapin Sapin (Round 2)

5/28/2023

I would anticipate most office employees to opt for the work-from-home option the day after a long weekend. But, as GO Train schedules are being revised to include more frequent service levels, one can deduce that my speculations did not align with reality.

While it may be odd that I intentionally choose the quieter days to fulfill my mandatory in-office attendance requirement, I reckon that a quiet environment and direct connection to the intranet improves productivity overall. Chaos in my surroundings is bothersome, for it not only distracts from the task at hand, but has the potential to lead to additional duties - especialy those devoid of education gain - being assigned.

Solo lunch walks are the highlight of my downtown days. Without other team members present, I am relieved of the pressure to join any static "team-building" session during unpaid time. Exploring the city by foot is ideal, granted walk-permitting weather conditions.

Taking to the west this time, I acquainted myself with a number of new developments along King Street. Sites that were previously under construction were now completed mixed-use structures: mid-rise to high-rise residential buildings awaiting the arrival of ground floor retail. On the north side of Peter St remained the Shoppers, however long gone was the adjacent MEC store, now replaced by an open pit for deep foundations. An equally lofty condo resided at the southwest corner, its lobby being a space where countless pop-ups had once seen their time.

Slowly but surely, my steps led me to King and Portland. The renowned brunch spot of Portland Variety, a name made familiar to me by a former colleague, had become Ruby Soho.
Being hatless, I turned south on Portland in an attempt to avoid direct penetration of headache-causing UV rays. The tranquil, shaded neighbourhood led me to Victoria Memorial Square. At the staggered nearby intersection of Wellington and Portland, bi-directional bike lanes were observed. Paving had yet to take place west of the park, but concrete separators had been poured up to Bathurst.

At reaching Niagara and Bathurst, I saw that Thor was no more; "Now Open" read the Booster Juice signage.

Across the arterial was stackt market, a destination I had visited just twice in all its years of operation.

The container market was positively bustling for a weekday afternoon at 2:30 PM.

Out & About #900 | The Pilates Body Session #5, Blaze Pizza + Downtown

5/22/2023

Spring blossoms are a limited-time occurrence - as brief as transitional seasons in Ontario and as timely as the ripening of avocados.

The breathtaking, rosy buds I had laid eyes on just a week ago had vanished within a matter of 48 hours. White buds, which were spotted along Burnhamthorpe leading to Winston Churchill had also succumbed to the same fate with the dreary descent of rainfall.

A visit to LA Fitness was in advance my final Beginner Reformer session at The Pilates Body, for the sole purpose of maximizing my membership. Arriving just before 6PM led to an annoying parking situation - which, honestly, could have been worse - and lack of vacant cardio equipment in the Ladies' Fitness Room. Four of four treadmills were taken, the single functioning Stairmaster was being occupied, and one of three elliptical machines bore an error message. I heaved a sigh, then quickly jumped onto the last functioning elliptical and powered through for five minutes.

My fifth and final class at The Pilates Body took a turn for the positive - it was, surprisingly somewhat challenging! My spot in the studio was sunlit from from the UV rays penetrating the glass windows. This warmth was especially obvious when doing jumps on the Cardio Tramp; thankfully, the studio's A/C kicked in fairly quickly. The variations on the device included:

Straight legs; parallel feet but not attached
Straight legs; feet placed at the edge of the trampoline (yet still within the mesh frame)
Jumping jack feet: feet attached at the centre, then apart,
Opening of thighs in mid-air, then back (no flutters or other medications, etc.)

For the first time, we also did exercises that challenges the side body (lateral jumps with leg raises on the Cardio Tramp!) exercises.

For the upper body and back, we mainly utilized the tension straps and did not use the Reformer Box for any lying exercises, which was greatly appreciated as I had already executed a few before arriving. Threading the hands through the tension straps and crossing the straps to form an "X", we pulled the elbows back while keeping the shoulders down and elbows about shoulder height. Many other students were noticed to have lost their form over the rep count. I particularly enjoyed an exercise that involved threading the hands through the tension straps and, while keeping the palms open and minding wrist hyperextension, twist to one side while rolling down and extending the arms outwards, then slowing rolling up while sequencing through the spine. It was, admittedly, as therapeutic as the instructor had made it out to be, though other class participants had trouble coordinating the movement while maintaining fluidity. The same issues were also observed on the Cardio-Tramp, when some attendees kicked without restraint, causing the Reformer to shift by at least three feet. Beyond tugging back at one's body, the Reformer offers a great deal of external feedback when control is insufficient.
We transitioned into crunches and oblique twists on the Carriage, then slowly incorporated the Cardio-Tramp for single leg jumps using one white spring to maximize the duration of engagement. True to her words, the movement did mimic jumping in slow-motion, humorously.
Towards the end of the session, we transitioned into one of my favourites: standing thigh abductions with one foot on the platform extender and one on the Carriage.

The termination of the Beginner Reformer classes brought about some degree of relief to me, as my weekday evening schedule for the next upcoming weeks are nothing short of unpredictable. Having to adhere to the same routine week by week was slightly annoying, knowing that there was flexibility to join classes on other days. Thus, when the idea of continuing the program at the same time and transitioning it to an "Essentials" class was mentioned, I revealed hesitation, along with a desire to explore the studio's other classes. The instructor clarified that "Essentials" would bridge the gap between "Beginner" and "Intermediate", though assured me that I'd "be fine in any of the classes" in a hushed tone. "You are fine and have great body awareness." The praise was motivating, and, frankly, I did crave a deeper burn - one that would deter me from entering LA Fitness to compensate for loss of productivity on the same night.

Across the street was Blaze Pizza. Now equipped with compliments and the Thai ahgase's feedback, I decided to pop in.

A half build-your-own pizza and Pesto Cheesy Bread set me back $15.95 before tax, while a small Blood Orange Lemonade quenched thirst at a reasonable $2.59. After tax, the meal came to a grand total of $21.36. It was unthinkably scrumptious, and, like the Thai ahgase had noted, the Original thin crust was phenomenal! In hindsight, a whole pizza may have resulted in better value, as one could pile on as many toppings as desired. From ricotta cheese to basil to Italian meatballs and kalamata olives, the combinations were truly limitless!
However, I happened to be hankering for cheesy bread, and wavered between the Original and Pesto versions before finally settling on the latter. The member of staff taking down my order was exceptionally pleasant despite my indecisiveness.

I opted to dine on the patio, shielded from the setting sun with bright orange umbrellas. Though temperatures were quite comfortable without a jacket, I hadn't accounted for the breeziness. Napkins were curled up by the wind and tossed onto the grass. The lid of the pizza box nearly slammed into my face, had my raised palm not prevented the calamity. Hurriedly, I devoured the half pizza before its cheesy strings seized. The pesto bread was plush and even cheesier, with a thick, uniform layer of mozzarella; while not nearly as potent as I had expected, the herby drizzle contributed chroma difference without providing contrast in flavour.

Out & About #899 | Celebration Square Chinese Culture Festival + MyMy Chicken

5/20/2023

What started as a straightforward run of errands succeeded by a gloomy Saturday morning of Zumba at the gym evolved into an afternoon of exploration.

As grey, overcast skies receded to yield azureness and faint trickles of sunshine, I resolved not only to visit my local shopping centre for the return of ill-fitting online orders, but also for perusal of the newly opened Cineplex Junxion.

Attached to Erin Mills Town Centre, the new wing combines a movie theatre, arcade, and dining floor/party area in a one-stop entertainment facility. Similar to Square One's Rec Room, there is an indoor connection within the mall as well as a street-level entrance for after-hours access and egress.

We pulled into the freshly paved lot, with me admiring the smooth grade of asphalt and brilliant, shimmery concrete walkway.

News had seemingly already spread throughout communities near and far, for the interior of the establishment was bustling with visitors.

I was admittedly delighted to spot the life-sized Hungry Hungry Hippos game that used to only be a D&B exclusive. Familiar favourites such as Grand Piano Keys and Pump It Up! were spotted, along with a handful of kid-friendly attractions, like the chance-based games at Playdium Brampton.

However, I was decidedly less enthralled by the implmentation of "Xscape Playcards", which were utterly disparate from both the Playdium and Rec Room credit system, despite sharing Cineplex ownership.

Out & About #898 | Hibachi Teppanyaki & Bar

5/14/2023

Past Mother's Day celebrations have always entailed either cake or flowers, or both. Cake was omitted for the first time in several years, for fatigue from the first week of transition had taken a tremendous toll on me.

The admiration of neighbourhood blossoms had originally been in the plans, though seriously above-seasonal temperatures had caused the desaturation of once-budding shrubbery into wilted, frail sprigs.

About a month prior to the day of maternal gratitude, I had reserved a spot at City Centre's (relatively) new teppanyaki restaurant. The Hibachi franchise had taken over the standalone spot once occupied by Canyon Creek, transforming it into a fumy, clamorous spot with many a cling and many a clang.

The sleepy polar bear and crew had visited the franchise earlier in the year, upon availability of a promotional offer. Feedback received included: mediocre steak, satisfactory lobster and scallop, a shaky chef, and default 15% gratuity - regardless of party size. The last point was the most shocking to me, though largely forgotten until it was time to settle the bill.

Arriving several minutes late due to car concerns and general tardiness, I advised one of us to check in while the other secured parking. I entered the establishment some several minutes later to discover a hostess with a despicable demeanour and unseated guest of honour, whose smile had similarly vanished into grimness. With a unwelcoming expression, she advised that patrons would not be seated until the entire party was present, regardless of a large, bustling group or intimate gathering of two. This declaration also somehow brought about the unwarranted policy of forcing other party attendees to stand until all members arrived.

Weaving through the artificial trees - also spotted at Axia, the hostess proceeded to seat us at the corner of a partially occupied table. Another party of five had already been seated about the U-shaped counter, leaving the left side of the U and one corner seat vacant. As ridiculous as it was, she proceeded to seat us at the corner slot, opting to split us over a corner rather than any of the three unoccupied seats. I dismissed her placement of the menus and took to the more spacious option. Our discomfort was obvious, yet the need for distance from the other diners was blatantly ignored for the entirety of the meal.

As expected of a teppanyaki eatery, the tables and menus were notoriously greasy. A sheen resided atop the black marble surface, while stickiness graced our fingertips upon menu contact. A strong draft was felt overhead, prompting me to retreat back outside for a light jacket to combat chills. Like any open kitchen concept, fumes are inevitable, thus I'd advise against a knit cardigan and instead a jacket of nylon or polyester for odour control and ease of laundering.

During my brief absence, I was informed that one of the servers had approached our table, but utterly failed to acknowledge the presence of my guest of honour. Drink orders had been taken for our neighbours, though supposedly no attempts were made to interact with our section. I could not confirm this claim, for the same server approached us after I was seated without displaying such attitude. He clarified both the menu and complimentary Mother's Day wine options, albeit at a barely audible volume given our deafening surroundings.

The Teppanyaki Set was offered à la carte, allowing guests to choice from one or two proteins, then upgrade from Steamed White Rice to Veggie or Chicken Fried Rice at additional costs of $3.50 and $5.50 respectively. We took to an order of Shrimp with Chicken Fried Rice and Filet Mignon (Steak plus $8) and Scallop with Steamed White Rice.

Miso soup and a standard side salad were delivered shortly afterwards. While I hadn't perceived any unique attributes from Minami's starter four days earlier, sampling Hibachi's gritty, MSG-laden rendition was a telltale sign of the difference in quality. Similarly, the salad comprised mainly of iceberg lettuce shards, its freshness camouflaged with ample dressing.
Condiment trays were also provided at this time: a dark, ponzu-like one for steak and creamy, tangy one for seafood. The second was vaguely reminiscent of Ranch, yet embodied an acidic twist.

A small plate of Karaage were delivered to our neighbours. I glanced over knowingly, for it would appear that preparation of our mains would be subject to their depletion timeline. Stainless steel trays of various meats were slowly brought over and slid into a compartment adjacent to the cooking surface.

View the full album HERE !

Out & About #897 | Back to Downtown, The Pilates Body Session #4 + Minami

5/13/2023

Sunday had been rainy, ironically. With the new work week, the cloudy curtains were withdrawn to reveal ample sunshine and brilliant blue skies.

It would be my first time heading into downtown during the morning rush in almost five years.

Instead of trekking south of Union Station towards the glorious waterfront, I headed northwest instead. Roy Thomson Hall was the defining landmark of the intersection, doubly serving as the divine conjurer of DAY6 memories.

Upon my arrival, I was informed of two unfortunate circumstances - beyond the temporary lack of benefits and vacation days:

Work location shift to City Hall - Oh! The horror!!
Unassigned seating at hotel stations (And I assure you, the griminess was atrocious.)

The pending relocation was supposedly for the benefit of staff: a newer space with improved connectivity within the division. Though I couldn't refute the 90s hardware and stained carpets, I was quite fond of the building, along with the memories I had made within it.

My lunch walk led me to Assembly Chef's Hall, for I was curious about Palgong's recent opening.
Alas, the once-bustling dining facility now housed more vacant stalls than customers. Notable names such as Tachi have closed since my last visit; the only familiar spot was Lost Coffee.

Palgong was situated by the entrance of the connecting office building, their menu positioned before the counter just like their Finch location. In consideration of my hankering for milk tea instead of a Mint Chocolate Smoothie though, I swiftly exited and began my trek towards CoCo.

Out & About #896 | Cafe Landwer, Alminz Kakanin + LUNA Bakery Lattes

5/7/2023

I admit to silencing an unfulfilled longing for Cafe Landwer's Shakshuka since my tragic stomach flu and orderlyblue's visit. In addition, I openly express bitterness towards the previous weekend's lack of Injeolmi Tiramisu. The exact frustration had prompted my attempt at a simplified tiramisu, albeit entailing a dismal turnout.

For reasons beyond me, Sunday morning welcomed dreariness comparable to the rainy uptown day. I had planned my long awaited lunch leading up to the event, and even checked the potential of reservations. Weekend brunch times were subject to availability on a first come-first serve basis, though Sundays were slightly more forgiving as the Yelp waitlist portal would reopen. When we commenced our trip just before the 11 AM mark, I was mindful to allow for timely joining of the waitlist.

Traffic conditions were heavier than desired, inciting worry as we neared table readiness. Street parking is complimentary until 1 PM on Sundays, and I'm thankful for the city maintaining this policy. At 11:30 AM, upon receiving the text notification, I pulled up against the curb and dashed inwards. We had, amazingly, arrived just in time for the reservation and were seated promptly.

It was a narrow two-seater - a last-minute addition to the dining floor that would probably suffer bumps and jolts in the case of fire. Our server appeared momentarily to take our drink orders, while another member of staff followed up with glasses of cold and hot water, presumably interpreted as the "warm" option.
After some time with the laminated menus, our server approached once more for entrée selection. The bespectacled male with short, dark, curly hair appeared to be in a daze, unsmiling and emanating arrogance. He hesitated not in correcting my pronunciations of "challah", in which the "c" was discovered to be silent, and "focaccia", where the third syllable was "sha" instead of "shi-a". The former was was not available for pairing with the shakshuka on this visit, although the supposedly "made to order" focaccia was, at an additional $1.50.

View the full album HERE !

Merguez Shakshuka with Focaccia and a Jerusalem Sandwich were chosen for sharing. I had specifically noted the need for sharing plates, yet received none until after the orders had arrived.

Out & About #895 | The Pilates Body Session #3 + Black Sesame Scones

5/6/2023

As my PTO days wither away into the abyss of unrecoverable time and space, I often find myself questioning whether I've completed any task of value with my paid period of freedom. A friend of mine once pointed out that the concept of productivity isn't always one of maximized potential. But, for me, it very much is, and will continue to be.

My diet continues to consist of "soft" foods for eased digestion. Udon replaced white rice, while lightly seasoned pork continues to serve as my primary source of iron.
T̶h̶e̶ ̶y̶e̶t̶-̶t̶o̶-̶b̶e̶-̶n̶a̶m̶e̶d̶ ̶C̶o̶w̶ ̶P̶i̶g̶ Ferra observes all household happenings from afar.

With Monday comes another Beginner Reformer class at The Pilates Body. I departed much earlier than necessary, and made the impromptu decision of swinging by LA Fitness. Time was limited, but any activity would be better than sitting in the waiting area idle.

The Stairmaster was revisited for the first time since my CN Tower Climb training. Climbing up to speed - no pun intended - was much easier than the first time (884), and I'd like to think that I'm adapting better to the machine due to seldom instances of toe clipping.

Ten minutes of stairs at a relatively quick pace assisted in raising internal body temperature and doubling as a pre-pilates warmup.

I had taken to the Ladies Only area once again, and made the consistent observation of only one of two Stairmasters being functional. The other simply bore an error message and was left unreported by gym-goers that attempted usage. Compared to my previous 7 PM visit, the early evening hours also saw higher volumes of traffic, namely high schoolers or local university students.

Rainy grey skies had cleared to yield azure and sunshine in a matter of twenty minutes. Pulling into the asphalt lot of The Pilates Body, I took a quick glance at the new signage before dashing inwards. But, of course, the class did not commence on time. Supposedly advertised as one-hour sessions, I've repeatedly noticed that class tends to start late and end early.

The format of the third session was essentially identical to last week, to the point where I questioned whether the instructor had referred to the wrong set of notes. "Setting up for footwork" automatically ascertained three red springs and the stopper in second of third position, depending on body length. However, most students merely slouched onto the Reformer Carriage upon entry, barely budging until the instructor declared any announcement.

The warm-up series was identical to the first and second sessions, engaging the thighs, ankles, and calves with extension/contraction followed by pulses. While the order of upper body and glute were switched, we executed the exact exercises as last time: upper and mid back extensions while lying face down on the Long Box, internal and external rotation with the elbows affixed to one's side, and upper rotation while facing perpendicular to the Carriage. There was, frankly, little to no progression in terms of complexity nor speed.

Out & About #894 | Wonderland Perkopolis Day

4/29/2023

Due to schedule conflicts, last year's Wonderland trip had been scrapped and replaced with CNE (832). For this year's run, the group collectively agreed on Perkopolis Day. Beyond being amongst the first to experience the amusement park's public re-opening for the summer season, it also included the added benefit of a discounted ticket.

Leading up to the weekend, the forecast had been dreary. Precipitation was expected, prompting one of our party members to recall our equally overcast 2021 visit, joking that I was the cause for poor climate conditions.

One day earlier, I had lined my car mats with Canadian Tire flyers in an effort to prevent yet another round of deep cleansing. After a breakfast of coffee and a Coconut Bun (with crumbly filling) from Lucullus, I geared up in nylon bottoms and a trusty, fleece-lined windbreaker - my "weatherproof" jacket, as my birthday buddy had disapprovingly declared. The comparatively appearance-conscious members had taken to layering hoodless outerwear with cotton hoodies and more cotton innerwear - for reasons beyond me, of course - while my carpooling partner and I were the only ones donning outdoor-appropriate apparel from head to toe.

We witnessed a downpour in the morning, which made for slick roads but an easier parking process.

Yukon Striker was my suggestion - Why not start strong? The wait was a mere thirty minutes - a shocking reduction from the first year of operation.

I had initially proposed riding it a second time, but the queue had lengthened when we exited the platform. We detoured to the Behemoth instead, as the classic coaster was often known to have the longest lineup. But, this time, our wait didn't even exceed one hour.

My carpooling partner and I took to the front two seats, while the remainder of the party sat in the third and fourth rows respectively. Traversing across each hump introduced a new gust of iciness - gusts so ruthless our lips were left numbed and fingers frozen.

The sleepy polar bear voiced concerns of nausea after these first two rollercoasters, thus retreated to the sidelines while we continued queuing. My memories of the Backlot Stunt Coaster were vague, but riding it again assured me that no future visits would be made; constantly banging into the side of the cart was far from my idea of enjoyable.

Making my rounds with my birthday buddy ensured that there was a voice of reason on the team. Furthermore, it enabled me to ride on the less popular attractions, such as the carousels, without having to persuade the others. Once again, the lines were extremely short.

Entering into the kids' area, sightings of the Peanuts crew were made. Alas, Snoopy was nowhere to be spotted!

Out & About #893 | Revisiting Cafe de Hong Kong

4/28/2023

More than the broadly advocated sense of fear, I find transitions to be annoying. Tedious yet stressful, like housework with a deadline.

Beyond transferring work responsibilities are arrangements that need to take place in the personal realm. I wouldn't be able to relish in the luxury of COVID carryover vacation days any longer, nor wield my massage and paramedical benefits at will.
In true me nature, I repurposed my limited days off to maximize these pre-existing benefits. The first appointment led me to Markham, which enabled lunch in the vicinity.

Revisiting Cafe de Hong Kong on a weekday morning had its perks. Despite the waitlist informing of a supposed 48 minute-plus wait, we were seated exceptionally quickly. The line that had once filled the waiting area had also dissipated in under twenty minutes.

The same crew from the weekend shift was present, and possibly a few more members of staff. Similar observations were mad as the previous visit: courteous, speedy staff, a constant inward flow of customers, clean menus and tables, and well-kept bathroom facilities. Weekday afternoon crowds comprised mainly of mother-child duos and groups of elderly, supplemented by a few badge-donning office workers on lunch break.

View the full album HERE !

Looking to revisit the splendid egg scramble from my first visit, I initially decided on 214 Thick Egg Sandwich, requesting for the addition of SPAM due to the order's innately vegetarian properties. The waitress, however, pointed out that the option underneath already included a choice of ham or SPAM, and was merely a loonie more. My only concern was that the egg wouldn't be "thick" and runny. However, the reveal was, ultimately, more than satisfactory.

Out & About #892 | Yet Another Slow Recovery, The Pilates Body Session #2 + Moon Musings

4/27/2023

Counts of stomach flu, sniffles, and general illness have been obscenely high over the past month, and I'm not sure that I could tolerate another round of such trauma.

The slow recovery commenced with re-introducing coffee as part of my morning routine (no milk yet) and gradually transitioning back to solid food for strength and nutrition. For the first five days, I had little to no appetite, even when confronted with the sight - or smell - of food. Coaxing sustenance into the body was another challenge I never knew to be possible, for, just one bite in, I'd suffer resistance to the intake. It mattered not whether the food was liquid or solid at that point.

My body felt fine to move, though. I took to dusting and hosing off my car mats, as the scene of dried muck on clean carpet had riled up even me, the least car-conscious creature on this planet.

What a view to behold!

In fact, I began itching to return to my regular exercise program by the arrival of the weekend. Alas, weakness in the limbs and overall nausea prevailed. I perspired not a single drop while working through my regular roster of Well + Good and a Taylor Tone barre series.

The doctor advised further re-hydration with electrolyte beverages and increasing my potassium intake through natural sources such as bananas, potatoes, and also yogurt. Probiotics were, as expected, recommended for improved gut health.
"Ease back into exercise slowly" she cautioned.

When evening neared, I grew slightly worried, partially expecting to go into class feeling the same degree of frigidity and nausea as I did the day before. Thankfully, the experience proved me more resilient than expected.

I arrived early this time, with just enough leeway to catch the end of an earlier semi-private class and observe the fluffy white clouds against a beaming, blue evening sky.

Last week's class participants filed in around the 7 pm mark, with one couple barging ahead of me into the studio to claim "their" Reformers from the previous week. Amongst the last to enter the facility previously, I hadn't had much time to observe my fellow classmates. This time, I spotted grey hair on the man and an undeniable ahjumma-ness about the woman, predominantly strong in her baggy, striped cotton T-shirt.

WHAT DOES "QUIRKY AESTHETICS" MEAN?

Quirky = a term that commonly refers to something/someone distinctly different and unique
Aesthetics = the visual aspect of things

Together, Quirky Aesthetics refers to the things, events, and happenings seen and perceived by this blog's creator - quirky perspectives in a visual form.

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