During this procedure, I also unveiled a delightful assemblage of artwork from orderlyblue.

​Beyond being a friend of mine since the Before We Begin Vancouver stop, she is a flourishing artist, teacher, and entrepreneur in her own right. To declare my pride in her is an understatement; she is young but intrepid, and contemplative but resolute.

Prior to the Lynn Canyon trip, I had expressed interest in supporting her craft, to which she responded enthusiastically.
Her stunning creations, meticulously sealed in individual sleeves and bubble-wrapped for extra protection, were finally revealed upon reaching home. Delicate, precise linework, harmonious colours, impressive innovation, and astounding attention to detail were witnessed in each and every piece. 

​I was also in awe at the souvenirs that she had obtained for me from her recent trip to Hawaii. The first was an adorable fridge magnet, in which the magnet was embedded inside of the wooden design itself, rather than affixed to the outside with oozing adhesive. The second was a lucky cat pin slurping ramen, and on the bowl showed the islands of Hawaii.

​Amongst the largest voids emerging throughout the trip were: a distinct lack of Larry and the convenience of a personal vehicle, for door-to-door trips that could take whenever my heart desired.

I proceeded to satisfy the first of these longings immediately after being relieved of the aircraft grime. Larry, along with both sizes of Sulleys, had undergone deep cleansing rituals in my absence. Radiating from them were fragrant clouds of cleanliness, along with noticeable boosts in fluffiness.

News of the heavenly heptet's return as seven had already been a blessing for us all. For them to expand beyond digital releases and attend group schedules was another degree of elation altogether, whether we be observing the process in person or not.

At long last, my fingers would glide over a physical album, over lyrics that each member had thoughtfully assembled with the sole intention of "repaying" ahgases. Truthfully, our patience needed no compensation, for once an ahgase is always an ahgase.
​GOT7 is home, after all.

​One of the first things to emerge from the awestruck demeanour of the Thai ahgase was that the city seemed reminiscent to a different country, that it didn't feel like Canada anymore.

​Naturally, I was surprised to hear this, for I lay eyes on a similar enough setting each time I return. The SkyTrain platforms are, admittedly, a dissimilar setup to that of the TTC, or even the designated path of the Mississauga Transitway, but the transit system in itself is still very much reflective of suburban Canada.

We found an impressive number of budding flowers along our path: striking, saturated, and worthy of marvelling. Black and grey bunnies were another common sighting in Richmond, even on my solo treks after the Thai ahgase's return.

​After analyzing our hotel situation (microwave not found, but mini fridge confirmed), we drifted onto the streets once more for continued exploration. A trip to So'O Salon was made to obtain a quote for my desired hair transformation. At hearing the duration and cost, my travel buddy stood, mouth agape. Despite initial considerations of her own appointment, the thought was banished given the prospect of her short-lived vacation.

In response to my suggestion for egg waffles, I suggested checking out The Bubble Tea Shop on the ground floor of the Superstore building. Along the way were accessible pedestrian signals that, beyond audible and tactile features, included the ordinal positioning of the signal at the intersection.

​Nearing Lansdowne Centre, we caught sight of the infamous Japadog truck. It appeared to be permanently stationed in the asphalt lot, for within close proximity were tables for dining, a designated Drive-Thru path, and even curbside pickup spots! - just like McDonald's Mobile Orders.

As it wasn't quite suppertime as yet, we continued to our original destination. Suffice to say, not much has changed about the Superstore plaza.

Pre-vacation periods are never easy. In the working world ensues a mad rush to hand over one's duties - or provide a crash course for them to the unlucky delegate. Behind the scenes are last-minute situations that arise for attention, for they too must also be resolved a long hiatus.

​​"Nonstop chaos" is how I would depict the my post long-weekend, pre-Pearson phase. Worries were partially drowned in Chocolate Churro and Injeolmi Turtle Chips, which entailed a feeling of guilt so great that cardio became a no-brainer for calorie compensation.

About 1.5 years since my last purchase. Since then, the pita quantity has diminished, the tzatziki blander, feta noticeably saltier, and the portion size less extravagant than I recalled. ​The Chicken Souvlaki bits were dry and tough, while the Beef and Lamb Gyro slices chalky and salty. Frankly speaking, the meal, on an overall note, was far more sodium-laden than our palates could handle. The yearning for garlicy, crunchy tzatziki also failed to be satisfied.

Other meals spanned a Tomato & Egg Soft Scramble (not pictured), Stewed Eggplant and Meat (not pictured either, but capable of being visualized as a soft, savoury pairing to steamed rice), and tidbits of Lazros, with frozen veggies mixed in to neutralize obscene saltiness.

Creations of the week included:

1) Apple Ginger Juice

Inspired by my local ahgase, I took to peeling and coring a weighty bag of golden delicious apples with the intent of preparing a juice concoction of sorts. Unlike her though, I had no juicing apparatus readily available. To the blender I went with roughly seven teensy apples, some unmeasured quantity of ginger root (peeled, for once!), a squeeze of lemon, water, and honey. The formula was too thick for homogenization at first, thus water was incorporated gradually to assist. Pulpy like oversaturated applesauce, I took to straining the mixture once to obtain a partially filtered juice (15% solids).

​The combination was revisited a second time in the latter parts of the week, with more water and lemon juice from concentrate, as seeds had accidentally made their way into the mix previously. Blending was made simpler with more water, yet the lowered viscosity made filtration of solids more difficult. Now finer, the solids streamed into the final product, escaping the sieve. The second batch was cloudier, at roughly 20% solids.

In hindsight, the Golden Delicious variety is likely best reserved for pie-making due to its relatively moisture content. The flavour is barely present in the juice, and the yield is quite minimal.

2) Double Chocolate Chip Muffins

Having been made aware of this recent addition via the weekly smitten kitchen digest, I hesitated not at seeing the mention of "yogurt" and "chocolate". Really, the reasoning was simple: I had yogurt in need of using before my vacay and the sleepy polar bear's talks of chocolate had echoed in my subconscious.

​3) Ultimate Banana Bread
​
At the end of a week-long wait were five spotty bananas residing in the warmest part of our dining room. I took to another iteration of banana bread, but this time The Ultimate. The decision may or may not have been made during the time of banana acquisition, after being reminded by orangecane of the most extravagant rendition of banana bread to grace SK territory.

With the knowledge that each of my bananas would weigh in at roughly 130 g each (less if bruised patches removed), I meticulously assembled the peeled specimens over my scale, watching anxiously as the number neared the specified 510 g. My first attempt at The Ultimate had not entailed such a weighing process, proving far too moist as a result. SK's bananas are likely at the smaller end of the spectrum, for 4.5 bananas had been sufficient in attaining the required weight. The last was stashed into the fridge for later use, probably consumption.

Tension in the neck, shoulder, back, and wrist are not atypical in office workers. Grueling durations before a screen, intense typing, and extensive mousework are the common culprits of biomechanical discomfort, becoming more prevalent in the new-age work-from-home model.

Occupations offering insurance coverage for paramedical services serve to alleviate a small portion of these damages, though fail to rectify the issue at the source. Training modules surrounding musculoskeletal wellbeing and proper ergonomics is great was awareness, but useless if never utilized in practice. The corporate world exhibits favouritism towards their resources, placing highest priority on the inanimate - funding, growth, and profit - consequently cutting investment in human resources and preventing an environment for progression.

A long-awaited massage appointment assisted in reducing pains temporarily. Leaving a stronger impression were the horrendous stench of the oil used at the facility and discussions ranging from the annual salmon run along the Credit River to abhorrence against "urbanization" of the GTA.
Strong opposition was heard in response to the development of Mississauga, for the addition of high-rise residential buildings and late-night establishments had supposedly stripped the city of its suburban nature, rendering it closer to the likes of downtown Toronto than its original identity. While never one to disapprove with positive change and infrastructure improvements, I listened intently to these concerns. The Hurontario LRT was noted to be disruptive - an aspect I cannot deny as both a driver and pedestrian, yet even more so by residents along the corridor.

"Why wasn't it put along Dixie?"
I withheld my irked reaction to this question, further stifling the obvious answer of "To promote foot traffic along the Hurontario corridor to business development and connect to both Miway and GO Transit services". Being primarily industrial, Dixie needs not transit, but a wider path for transport trucks and industrial teams.

​The proposal for a lofty condominium with an 8-level underground parking area adjacent to an older affordable apartment complex was met with much criticism. I visualized the impacts of utility relocation and pile driving for such an extravagant concept. With the work area being limited to start, the addition of stakeholder complaints and challenging ground conditions would only further the headache of the developer.

Later that evening, the sleepy polar bear brought over our - yes, our - newly acquired Codenames set. Neither of us succeeded in upholding a poker face; instead, I utilized the opportunity for advancing understanding. Parallels could be drawn from the game in the terms of planning and production: dropping keyword hints and analyzing responses was much like the act of seeking feedback from the general public during PICs. The tiny cards are great vocabulary builders (associators?), yet, at a deeper level, prompt us to target society's issues more comprehensively from an infrastructure and development perspective.

Breakfasts comprised of blue sky bran muffins and ginger-laced Banana Bread - on demand from the freezer and toasted to perfection. An inkling of interest re-emerged towards the forgotten Green Tea Hoddeok pre-mix, but was ultimately not pursued.

​The midweek acquisition of fresh mint paved the path towards mocktails: mojitos with Ribena, lemon juice, and Perrier.

​With the unexpected failure of our ten-year-plus microwave, reheating of sustenance was conducting via steaming. The old-fashioned method was organic, yet far slower than my schedule is accustomed. From assembly to ingestion, the entire process spanned up to thirty minutes, excluding cleaning time for the steamer itself. Never had I previously considered the microwave to be a privilege, when, in reality, it was. Heat distribution within a matter of minutes had been a blessing. Only now have I realized its pivotal post in my daily routine.

My COBS Bread half-birthday reward was finally claimed: the recently launched Strawberry Passion Fruit Scone was rigid and dense, very sweet overall but decent for satisfying the munchies. White chocolate-like bits were found within the scone itself,while a uniform glaze on the surface revealed tartness.

Creations of the week included:

1) ​Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispies

Perusal of the SK feed and recollection of my leftover Christmas Krispies spurred this creation. With just under one third of the tri-colour cereal remaining and more than enough mini marshmallows reserved for post-hot chocolate season, this decadent dessert came together in about the same amount of time as the standard kid-friendly batch. Salted browned butter heightened its complexity, while the substantial portion of marshmallows kept it plush with signature stringy strands. Flakey salt in the form of smoked Maldon topped off the treat.

​Sustaining a position on my bucket list for at least half a year now, Treetop Trekking was finally attempted in the first month of their seasonal reopening. The activity is offered at a handful of locations throughout the GTA, yet it was the exclusivity of the Blue Heron Zipline that steered me in the direction of Brampton.

Availability of interested acquaintances was canvassed around late March/early April. It was also amidst this research process that I learned of a 20% discount for all bookings made in the month of April. Keen to take advantage of this promotion, I proposed the 30th - the last possible day for the offer to apply, as well my only free Saturday at the time of planning.
We secured the 2 PM slot, surrendered the atrocious admission fee, then completed the e-waiver shortly afterwards. Aerial Game Treks were priced at $64 per adult; even with the discount applied, the cost per person totalled a whopping $51.20 plus tax. 

​My partner-in-crime for the day was well versed in climbing, specifically bouldering, and was not only willing to invest funding into this activity, but also energy for chauffeur services. It was greatly appreciated, especially in consideration of the dreadfully exhausting weeks I had experienced leading up to the day.

I first requested a stopover at The Beer Store. The request stemmed from a sudden urgent need to clear out deposit recovery cans. Waterloo Brewing's new Field Berry Radler was acquired during this visit.
We forgoed the grand opening queue at The Alley and headed straight to Brampton instead.

​At the nearest McDonald's, a Big Mac Extra Value Meal and Bacon and Grilled Chicken McWrap filled our stomachs, preparing us for the surprisingly strenuous schedule ahead.

Heart Lake Conservation Area adopted a similar layout (and signage!) to Albion Hills, being a TRCA park. Admission fees were waived for those with Treetop Trekking confirmation emails, though other entrants were subject to day use rates of $7.75 plus tax. Entering the park without any further instructions from the admission fee collectors, we found our way to the Treetop Trekking station via guiding arrows.

I switched into hiking shoes and coated myself in a thorough layer of insect repellant before proceeding.

​A sheltered check-in desk and logo-donning trailer office welcomed us. Yellow wristbands were provided following check-in; washroom usage was advised prior to gathering at the equipment station. I had anxiously reminded myself to limit water intake in fear of a lack of indoor plumbing. Thankfully, the brick building by the entrance indicated otherwise.

​Helmets and harnesses would be provided to each of the registrants for the 2 PM slot. Bulky bags were advised to be left behind, though waist packs and small backpacks were not uncommon amongst the group. A hoodie I had initially borrowed in fear of chilly conditions was left at the front desk, for gentle infiltration of UV rays foreshadowed overheating.

​I've foregoed brunch for quite a while now. The day-to-day working routine favours quick, caffeinated breakfasts to fuel productivity. It then usually transitions into a late lunch, a later afternoon snack, and even later exercise periods and dinners. Weekends differ not too vastly, for the body has grown accustomed to waking within a range.
"Leisurely" is a manner by which I am unable to progress through my daily duties, for it is a constant race against time. With every patched hole, at least two new holes surface in the canoe of life. Resilience is gradually receding.

​A devastatingly demanding week sent me into a slump. I wished for rest, yet a slew of tasks awaited my consideration and organization. The sleepy polar bear offered to undertake an active approach on planning, allowing me to reserve energy for tackle my endless to-do list. I was both anxious and curious for the outcome, but accepted after evaluating levels of physical and mental fatigue - and even refrained from posing questions.

​​Around 12:45 PM, we arrived at Pür & Simple in Heartland. The brunch spot had surfaced on my feed countless times over the past several weeks, leading to familiarity with the name, though I hadn't investigated any further. Its location was interesting, nestled in the same plaza as Best Buy, Five Guys, and The Halal Guys; it satisfied a niche customer base unsatiated by the existing roster of businesses.

Frankly, I was beyond surprised - pleasantly taken back, even. A social media favourite - free from greasy fumes! - was the last thing I expected.

​​The dining quarters were rather tiny, with tables placed relatively close to one another and incredible noise levels. We strolled in to a packed scene and were informed of an approximate forty-five minute wait. The hostess relayed the possibility of reservation cancellations, as "it always happens", with the next booking in ten minutes. I inquired further about a two-seater by the door and the probability of that table being available within a range of ten to forty-five minutes. She contemplated the question for a brief moment, then granted us the table without hesitation, as the pre-booked were "likely to cancel anyway".
We excitedly slid into the compact table, thankful towards her decision. Its positioning by the entrance wasn't ideal given the occasional gusts from the door opening, but it wasn't a big deal either as temperatures weren't that cold. Moreover, there was no wait time!

Double-sided printed menus were placed before us, joining the monogrammed syrup bottle. Pür & Simple's menu was exceptionally diverse: my eyes glazed over a plethora of sweet and savoury brunch options, ranging from classics like Eggs Benedict and Breakfast Burritos to modern picks of Crepes and amped-up French Toast.

We took to sharing one sweet item and one savoury item, much as how a fellow July baby does.
​No-Gria, the virgin rendition of a sangria, was requested to pair alongside our selection. Sprite/7-Up was substituted with carbonated water, keeping the drink refreshing without being too sweet. Fresh berries was a splendid addition for infusion. The paper straw disintegrated and unraveled over time, prompting a request for a new one about three-quarters through our stay.

View the full album HERE !

Sharing plates were requested of our waitress, who was unmasked while serving, unlike the hostesses. An overhead conversation with our neighbours informed of her previous post at Cora's, as well as her grateful attitude towards Pür & Simple's lack of oil stench - music to my ears, honestly. The same waitress was also observed responsible for majority of the tables on one side of the bustling restaurant. Her attitude remained amicably, amazingly, and did not evoke expressions of exasperation or fatigue. In general, all members of the customer-facing staff were friendly and responsive.

​The Mexican Skillet and French Toast Crisp arrived shortly, quickly occupying whatever table space we had left. Napkins, water cups, and maple syrup were shuffled about to accomodate the platter, ketchup, and tobasco.

Forks flew towards the Mexicana Skillet. Arranged within the not-so-scorching iron plate, we found well-balanced flavours: a subtle crunch from taters, the soft profile of black beans, butteriness from ripe avocado slices, satisfying strings of melted cheese, tartness from tomatoes, and the sturdy yet runny cross-section of easy-over eggs. A spoon was later requested to portion out the dish. Complaints of insufficient cheesiness were heard from across the table, though I personally found the assortment perfect and well-rounded. I was particularly appreciative of the mildness of the skillet, for even the salsa-like component was mild and free from the typical pungency of Mexican-themed fare.

Within the span of one hour, my Monday evolved from a leisurely acquaintance of design documents and tutorial files to a rapid review of background information, including an eight-page SOP, and the second speediest production of a draft I've ever completed. (The first was a Project-Specific Health and Safety Plan spanning eleven documents finished at 11 PM on the date of assignment.)

Having received exclusive training in capital projects, many of my proposals and/or solutions are formulated to function regardless of scale. Automation and efficiency are prized elements in the realm of project management, though it hadn't occurred to me that this value would vary amongst smaller projects.
The teams - or team, rather - was compact, as was the project budget. The pace was noticeably slower, from the meetings to the processing speed to the comprehensive of data familiarization. That said, there lies opportunity in tasks of all categories and calibers. A condensed crew meant more frequent communication, along with room for error and experimentation. The comparatively more forgiving nature corresponded with reduced stress levels, for while deliverables would be as per the contract, there was greater tolerance for slowness, stupidity, and slipups.

​The days were filled with Oolong and Earl Grey Lattes with homemade ginger syrup retained from the prior week's frozen glutinous rice balls from T&T. ​Only minor differences were perceived between the two stone-milled tea powders: the Earl Grey was a bit more savoury, and the Oolong smokier in profile.

​Soft-boiled eggs and Pecan White Chocolate Chip Cookies were also prepared for easy consumption.

​Glorious, double-digit weather nudged retrieval of the bike once more. Feeling intrepid, I embarked on a longer journey than usual, opting to wind through a portion of the Sawmill Creek trail section before taking an unexpected detour onto Belvedere Crescent. The path joined the Burnhamthorpe MUP, leading over the Credit River for, arguably, the best view in the city.

​Travelling southbound on Culham Trail, I dodged many a fishing rod and persevered over the craggy aggregate used to salvage the trail from washouts. Eventually, I made it to a calm clearing comprising primarily of dirt trails with the occasional puddle.

​Erindale Park came into view, and, with it, a number of pedestrians and dogwalkers. Speed was reduced to accommodate more trail users. Not sure where to head next, I pulled aside to review my options: to loop back into the park towards UTM or continue eastwards to Confederation Parkway, where an on-road bike lane was confirmed exist. With nearly an hour until sundown, I bit the bullet and began dragging my quivering thighs up Dundas Street.

​There is an indescribable anxiety that comes with inactivity: a feeling of lost opportunity due to lack of productivity. Thoughts of rest and recovery normally take a back seat until the fatigue can be postponed no longer. To be engaged in work is a day well spent, and clearly I've been engaged enough this past week to automatically forego rest.

​Pilates (feat. Teaser Tuesday) was slipped into my self-declared weekday lunch break in order to accommodate a post-work visit to the sleepy polar bear.  Forearm planks were executed with much difficulty following a nasty elbow scrape from the overzealous dive at Nerf Challenge from the weekend prior.

A Grapefruit Yakult with Coconut Jelly from CoCo rewarded my exercise-and-cake-finalizing efforts, bringing about invigoration and zing to an otherwise incredibly hectic day.

Meals of the week comprised of 粟米斑塊, a Cantonese classic, and last-minute additions from Taza Xpress for iron needs.

​It was regrettable that the Beef Shawarma was not only tough and dry, but also peculiarly sour. The hummus was soupy and similarly tart, as if lightened with lemon juice (likely, to be fair). Black and green olives had been plopped onto the surface, enabling a brief period of infusion. The accompany Pita wrap was as dry and rigid as the shawarma. It should also be noted these observations were made following a ridiculously lengthy delivery period, exceeding the UberEats estimate of 10-20 minutes and extending it to 40 minutes instead.

​The remaining Black Sesame Purple Glutinous Rice Dumplings from T&T were served as a mid-afternoon snack with homemade ginger syrup - crafted with yellow rock sugar rather than the typical dark brown to draw emphasis to spiciness instead of nutty, caramel notes.

A sudden penchant for 2020's coveted Dalgona Latte propelled me to recreate the specimen with a 1:1:1 ratio of decaf Nespresso Gold, granulated sugar, and hot water.

​​Nighttime saw the release of Jinyoung on Youngjae's radio segment, where I relished in the all-too-familiar chuckles and characteristically GOT7 goofiness with a side of Waterloo Craft Lager. Yacha ("Yaksha" on Netflix) was slated to premiere worldwide the morning after.

​As temperatures soared to double digits in the latter half of the week, I opted to adopt active transportation for my post-work plans. Navigating about my community on foot is often the best way to identify areas requiring infrastructure improvements, as well as areas deserving commendation.

​Feelings of frigidity ought to have forecasted its arrival: flurries flitted into view on Sunday morning, supposed having commenced the evening prior. Few specks remained on the ground though, for external temperatures promoted a dissolution rate proportional to their descent.

​​Dreariness and dull grey over my head, I readied myself for pilates, shimmying into the hoodie of the sleepy polar bear I had hurriedly demanded to combat the chilly return ride of the evening prior. Much to my excitement, the warmup series would incorporate the Bosu ball once again: 40 counts of walking, then 20 counts of running with an immediate swap to the other starting leg. Side leg lifts, oblique crunches, and genie twists for the transverse abs sealed off the Bosu section.

With the footbar in the lowest position, gear bar in the second position, and stopped in the third, we proceeded onto core work. A foam roller was placed underneath the hips, laid horizontally to intersect the Carriage at 90 degrees. The addition would summon an imprint pelvis as to prevent shifting of the foam roller. Prepwork involved lifting one leg to tabletop position, then drawing circles with the knee. These circles were executed in a counter-clockwise direction for 15 counts, then clockwise for 20 counts. Clicking could be audibly heard in the right hip, prompting instructions to reduce the range of motion (lessen the circle diameter). From there, the following ensued:

• Single leg toe touches from the tabletop position
• Double leg toe touches from tabletop position (required checking of foam roller position)
• Double leg lifts - as far as could be maintained but not all the way (blogilates-style) since form was not to be compromised

​Shifting the foam against the shoulder rest, side-lying thigh exercises were conducted. Threading the top foot through the hand straps, the leg was lifted to hip height while maintaining knees bent at 90 degrees for both legs. Maintaining a neutral pelvis, we would:

• Extend the top leg in "one long line", then return to the starting position
• Keeping the top leg extended, bring the leg in front of the body while maintaining the neutral pelvis, then return to the lifted "one long line" position
• With the upper foot in a turnout position, raise the leg up towards the ceiling, then bring it back down to the body (adduction) for engagement of the inner thighs

These were, quite literally, a pain in the butt. The instructor had used one blue spring for the right hip and increased the tension with one more white spring for the left side to rectify muscle imbalance, but its impacts weren't as drastic as I had expected. Rather, it was more challenging with the right leg lifting and left hip planted on the Carriage, as hip stability played a vital role in maintaining stillness of the pelvis.

Modifying the routine to engage the upper body, the top hand was threaded through the tension strap. The starting position involved the upper arm extended at shoulder height, perpendicular to the body. Exhaling, the strap would be pulled towards the hip (adduction), then back to shoulder height. Notable shakiness was witnessed in the dominant right arm, even more so than the left. Weakness in the right wrist and shoulder were not unexpected due to my recent lack of diligence in stretching and resistance band usage, though I did find it peculiar that the left side showed greater stability. Tenderness in the triceps, chest, and shoulder was then felt for the subsequent four days.

Utilizing the Reformer Box in the Long box position facing the footbar, we continued with exercises  for upper body mobility: lateral shoulder raises with the palms facing upward and chest pullbacks ("gathering of the wings"!).

With the Reformer Box in the Short Box position angled over foot bar, such that the long edge was elevated slightly, and feet placed atop shoulder rests, bridges were conducted at low spring levels. The exercise was a true testament of body control. We would then push out the Carriage while in bridge position and retract, isolating the hamstrings while engaging the largest glute muscles.

Side stretches in mermaid position were then executed on both sides, facing perpendicular from the Carriage, followed by a standing hamstring stretch (pedalling the feet) and slow-and-steady rolldown to finish.

En route back to the west side of the GTA, I opted to detour for a sweet, icy beverage. Palgong's Mint Chocolate Smoothie was too far, Gong Cha's lack of parking proved annoying, and CoCo wasn't particularly on the way. Stifling these desires, I eventually found myself at Esso, then laid eyes on Circle K.

I was reminded of a modification made aware to the sleepy polar on a site visit: an Iced Capp with Chocolate Milk. Resist did I not, but enjoy did I neither. The purchase was swiftly made, granting a sip of insane sugariness amidst barely perceivable notes of coffee. I lifted the paper straw just enough to catch the topmost section of the drink, allowing the stickiest, densest parts to fall to the bottom. Eventually, I could withstand the sweetness-induced headaches no longer, forfeiting the monstrosity to the instigator.

Scrambling to render myself somewhat presentable, I donned a fuzzy sweater, some glitter, and sports leggings in preparation for a brief meeting with one of the July babies. 

I've found myself functioning at a lower level of efficiency lately, compromising productivity for periods of laziness are wholly unwarranting of praise.
"I do wish you'd go with the flow sometimes." says my birthday buddy who is all too familiar with my comparatively high energy levels and equally drastic burnout routes.

The week commenced with takeout from Chiuchow Man, notably, the first takeout meal from the establishment in recent times.

< Pictured above and below:
L11 魚鮫墨魚丸麵 (午特) / Fish Dumpling and Squid Ball Noodle in Soup
L3  潮式鹵水五花腩肉飯 (午特) / Marinated Pork Belly on Rice
M02B 鹵水鴨 (半只) / Marinated Duck (Half)
N02 魚皮餃麵 /  Fish Dumpling Noodle in Soup >

Our orders were quite reminiscent of the now-faded dine-in ventures several years ago. Piping cups of Lemon Tea had accompanied the two lunch specials - denoted by "L#" - proving concentrated but passable. The Marinated Pork Belly and Duck were tasty, the former served with a heaping helping of seasoned white rice. Less to my liking were the Fish Dumplings that exhibited rigidity via a thick wrapper and minimal filling.​

Crafted shortly after lunchtime was my own Soy Braised Eggs. They emerged slightly overcooked, as my mind had wandered elsewhere during the soft-boiling phase. Nonetheless, the richly flavoured protein bites were fabulous over steamed white rice or a side of Korean purple rice and kale.

Creations of the week comprised of:

1) Walnut Soup - failed, unpictured, and an item we shall not speak further of.

2) Banana Bread (x2)

In response to the looming fate of six spotty bananas, I acted quickly and doubled SK's marbled banana bread recipe (without the cocoa powder) to salvage them. The result was too damp and too greasy, leading me to contemplate an excess quantity of butter while forgetting to factor in disposal of dark banana segments.

The final product remained delicious, though less ideal than previous iterations. The pre-consumption procedure would involve toasting lightly on both sides for roughly 2-3 minutes each, then allowing to cool to restore its crunchy edge.