Another week has passed me by and, with it, came the inevitably endless stress that this position entails. Time and time again, I question how those with undeveloped problem solving skills, nonexistent critical thinking capabilities, and fundamentally flawed spelling and grammar can retain management-level positions. It would be an understatement to say that the entire scene continues to baffle me to no end.

A second heavy snowfall over the weekend automatically granted employees a work-from-home chance at the start of the week. Naturally, I took advantage of this; the roads were an unmistakable safety hazard, with two lanes often reduced to one.

With the paltry piece of inept feculence MIA for a week, my inbox swelled by an approximate 50% due to deflected responsibilities. That said, I made it a priority to seek pockets of time to breathe. More often than not, I required personal reminders of my competence. My browsing partner's attempt at words of affirmation resulted in a "at least you're managing". At first, I scoffed at the response.
"Barely." I retorted.
"But at least things aren't going sideways."
Pausing for a millisecond or two, I replied, "I guess that's true." The thought of allowing things to fall into chaos had not occurred to me as being a plausible choice. And perhaps it is this very sense of duty that holds me far too accountable for situations beyond my control.

​The formula was consistent with Papa Fung's original and the metric edition developed for personal use. I had also been mindful to incorporate milk powder, baking powder, and homemade vanilla extract following my 2.5h fermentation period. However, when lunchtime rolled around and I was temporarily liberated from the chains of suffering, I rushed to finish the batter and promptly forgot to include the 0.5 tbsp of lye water.

​The result was a noticeable lack of browning despite using dark slab cane sugar in the syrup mixture. The crumb was also arguably a bit more crumbly at its base. While I can't be entirely sure, the overall structure appeared less defined than the previous trial. Similarly though, I did not achieve the vertical air pockets in the lower third of the 馬拉糕. Nevertheless, it was undoubtedly superior to the first attempt, which featured rigidity and a burnt bottom in place of beautifully uniform air pockets and a lovely, plush texture.

​Despite my blunder, I appreciated the absence of alkalinity that is often associated with lye water and baking soda. Omission of the ingredient had caused collapse or failure of the steamed cake, thus I reasoned it was worth exploring its inclusion in a lesser quantity - perhaps 0.25 tbsp - in a future trial.

​Ma Lai Goh/馬拉糕 is best consumed immediately. For next day consumption, one should microwave for 10 seconds to reinstate plushness. Subsequent days will require microwaving of 15-25 seconds, depending on the dimensions of the square. Latter days will not see the same plushness as day 1, and I wonder whether the undesirable denseness is owed to insufficient volume acquisition (failure to incorporate lye water).
The cake should be stored at room temperature for no more than two days, as moisture may cause moulding beyond that period. By the 48-hour mark, I transferred the lofty square slices to the refrigerator.

In fear that my pricey 2-class pass would expire before I had the chance to make use of it, I made the impromptu decision to drag myself to Panda Pilates to prevent further financial losses. Unfortunately, this would eventually lead to yet another (!) injury and an angry return.

The commute was shorter than expected given rush hour volumes, but concerns were consistent with my weekend visit. Drivers along Dundas were incredibly aggressive, even in consideration of the messy, snow-covered roads, which made turning onto the residential road difficult. A number of parking stalls had been overtaken by snow, thus giving rise to a parking shortage amidst a narrow, slushy drive aisle. Private snow clearing operations constituted blasphemy.
After its morning classes, the business would temporarily close until 5 PM, at which point complimentary thirty-minute trials were held. The first studio class of Reformer Foundations commenced at 5:30 PM. Despite the lengthy break, I entered into the space to find a similarly filthy environment: Staff had not bothered to clean the facility in preparation for the next wave of customers. Awaiting me were puddles of disintegrating dirty snow, salt on a sodden carpet, and, worst of all, an absence of toilet paper in the washroom facilities. 

I've officially completed my ninth month in my current role - or eight month, if you exclude my four-week absence before the holidays. Those that have enrolled in regular recaps of my daily duties have experienced secondhand frustrations and have made it a point to check in with my sanity every so often.

The latest feedback led to somewhat relieved responses: "Sounds like you've finally settled", "Glad to hear things are getting better", "That's one hindrance gone!". However, there is plenty left to be desired.

While I appreciate the drastic slash in commuting time, especially during the dreadful winter months, the workload has yet to waver. Uncommon it is not for me to work additional unpaid (!!!) hours on the regular for the sheer sake of making progress on a task, or to simply keep my head above water.
Employee concerns fall on deaf ears, for the "people leader" capable of improving such conditions cares about humanity about as little as he is aware of his surroundings. If obscenely poor communication skills, dreadful planning, and tactless approaches make a "people leader", I may perpetually remain an anglerfish in the corporate ocean.

New to mall sightings are more Valentine's-themed merchandise and the arrival of Lunar New Year products to welcome the Year of the Horse.

Giant teddies crafted of the same shell as my campus teddy were spotted at Walmart retailing for a mere $15.97.

Pillsbury-branded baking equipment also came as a surprise discovery. Although the economic benefit was enticing, I ultimately decided on the KitchenAid rendition adjacent, for sturdiness and durability are key to a long-lasting tool.

I departed the office close to sundown, for resident interactions spanning well over 60 minutes plagued my afternoon, and soul.

An attempted reheat of a previously constructed cookie resulted in creation of a singed disc - I had forgotten that increased surface area and decreased thickness equated to reduced baking time.

​Holt Renfrew was also keen in embellishing their store with ruby red installations and the annual return of a wish tree.

As observed from across the counter, Saint Germain was steadily ramping up operations for new year gift boxes, also referred to as 禮盒.

Ever since I finally conducted a comprehensive review of my pantry, the list of ingredients pending expiry have been on my mind. Among the assortment are various bags of nuts from Costco and graham crackers. While I've been tackling dry roasted, salted hazelnuts through granola and pecans through pecan pie, graham crackers have been used towards no-bake desserts. The most common application is a graham cracker crust.

​Chocolate Pudding Bars with Matcha Glaze

A) Graham Cracker Base

Ingredients:

• 400 g Honey Maid graham crackers
• 190 g unsalted butter, melted and cooled

For an 8-9 in cake or 8 in x 8 in square pan, I typically turn to my small but mighty 3-cup food processor - which has now doubled (!!!) in price due to inflation! It takes about two rounds to blitz 250 g worth of biscuits. This time, I opted for a larger food processor, as I was practically doubling the amount for a 9 in x 13 in pan.

Melted butter was then drizzled into the food processor and mixed until combined. The crumbs were transferred to a parchment-lined pan, pressed towards the edges, and transferred to the refrigerator to harden as I prepared the Chocolate Pudding base.

In theory, matcha-topped pudding bars seemed like a splendid idea. However, the custard recipe on the exterior of the Bird's Custard Powder can was not only bland and tacky, but lacking in sweetness as well. Sweetened chocolate whipped cream enabled a soft, mousse-like consistency and drastically improved complexity.
The glaze also adopted the yielding consistency and vivid, grassy hue that I had sought out. Unfortunately, due to my matcha being expired, grassy depth had been compromised in the output.

​My patience was rewarded the next morning: I could achieve crisp lines and neat squares. The only caveat: the bars needed to be stored in the freezer and thawed only before eating.

With insufficient thawing time, the graham cracker base would persist impossibly rigid. On the other hand, the top two layers were still tasty and even slightly reminiscent of an ice cream bar.

An unspoken reality, the social aspect of one's life suffers tremendously as one progresses in their career and goes on to pursue family life. Last year's employer swap brought about more physical, emotional, and mental detriment than I could have put into words. While tensions in the working environment have eased slightly with diminishing involvement of an incompetent "people leader" - oh, how I scoff at this term! - my weekends remain hectic. There is simply not enough time to complete chores, engage with those around me, and live life.

Yet I hesitated not in agreeing to weekend hangouts when the invites were extended.

The first was a dinner-and-darts gathering downtown. Pecan Pie was prepared in advance, though the box and celebratory accessories were not obtained until the day of.

​While I scrambled to ready myself for the long day ahead, my browsing partner assisted in procuring a pie box from bulk barn and a numbered sparkler candle from Dollarama. Alas, the hunt for the second numbered sparkler candle would continue as we chanced across more Dollarama outposts.

A stopover in Etobicoke allowed me to peruse the nearest Dollarama. In the absence of sparkler candles, I hurriedly took to a rhinestone-studded Happy Birthday topper. We then detoured through Walmart for indoor plumbing facilities and a lunch of Junior Chicken and, dare I say, awfully dismal Poutine. The cheese curds weren't squeaky; the gravy was tacky and extraordinarily salty. Even the franchise's signature fries had lost their appeal being slathered in unwarranted extras.

​I resolved to park at The Well, for majority of the day's activities would take place in the vicinity.

Since my last visit, a handful of new retailers have eased their way into the mixed-use complex. Amongst them were makers-type spaces for local artists, the REFORMD studio by Lagree in partnership with Sweat & Tonic, Muji, Mr. Surprise and its Catchawee photobooths (two present, but only one functioning), and, most notably, new additions to the Wellington Market.

​Kao Kang by Koh Lipe boasted an impressive selection of Southeast Asian-inspired ice cream flavours and treats. Meanwhile, the expanded section of Wellington Market welcomed an extremely compact photobooth, The Carvery's meat roast sandwiches, and even a THC consumables retailer. East Tea Can was unfortunately no more, as the storefront had been reinstated to a blank canvas ready for the next leasee.

Swift footsteps enabled us to cover almost all three levels in under an hour. I pointed out Japadog's West Coast/East Coast menu deviations to my browsing partner, and offhandedly mentioned my interest in multicoloured offerings from The Samosarie, though dismissed the eye-catching specimens on the basis of spice.

I returned to the office in an awfully haggard state. Needless to say, I wasn't the only one. There were also plenty of technical difficulties experienced with the first meeting of the year.

​However, I am glad to report that, despite the undesirable conclusion of the winter holiday, seeing familiar faces made for a pleasant time. Cookies were presented and rapidly depleted by fellow floor members, while excited exchanges took place about the past two weeks. I even received a new year gift of Läderach and magnet stickers from a lovely coworker!

The lunchtime mall walk led to several new discoveries:

• The Bakers, a Middle Eastern bakery, had replaced Bingz in the food court

Presumably a recent addition given its cleaner quarters, I excited flipped through the frame options. The New Year frames piqued my interest immediately, and I swiftly convinced my coworker to join me. In the absence of hooks, our winter jackets were hung on the ends of the curtain rod for the duration of the session.

The day passed quickly, and I eventually found myself acting upon my craving for a 3 Guys from CoCo. Naturally, I took advantage of their January promotion of 2 for $10. ​A hot variation was bestowed upon my browsing partner.

In the latter half of the week, I was feeling undeniably hoarse. I continued to screech through calls beyond the morning hours, then experienced ominous throat pain. There was also nausea, a mild cough, and loss of appetite - all of which pointed to a potential contraction of flu.

Weekend plans with my browsing partner became subject to review. The original itinerary was evaluated against my physical ability to execute the stops. Foregoing the last weekend of holiday festivities wasn't in the plans, so I was determined to power through a downtown day regardless.

​​​Departure was delayed as I scrambled to ready myself in nice attire for the rare outing. Contrasting against my preppy ensemble, my browsing partner arrived donning the usual casual pieces, which later proved to be insufficient in terms of providing warmth.

Signifying our arrival in the downtown core was none other than the sights of residents of the street. Little had changed since my transition away from Toronto, for the regulars remained perched in their usual spots, either sheltered under overpasses or huddled over air vents. Amusingly, one even had a tree, inclusive of ornaments and a single gift of Ensure.

​I was familiar with the Green P lot directly underneath City Hall from the perspective of a commuter, but never as a driver. Rates were reasonable, but only if not intending to stay past the 6 PM mark. Impark's Bell Trinity Square lot was the better option was all-day stays.

​Returning to Nathan Phillips Square instilled a sense of nostalgia. Suddenly, the lofty tree outside City Hall transformed into a photo-worthy attraction. The weekend had also summoned a different crowd (those without laptops) onto the premises.

We headed towards Eaton Centre via the Bay Street mid-block crossing. Candy Cane Lane assumed a popular photo stop for many visitors; while I'd normally stride past on my former lunch walks, I paused this time around to partake in photos and help others looking to capture the scene.

Our Eaton Centre objective was none other than the Holiday Light Show. Meandering towards the centre court, I caught sight of a cluster of police personnel huddled about a man outside Indigo. Passerbys were unable to view the man's face due from beyond the huddle, merely catching glimpses of disheveled hair and grunts. What a warm welcome to downtown!

Returning annually, the mall's Holiday Light & Snow Show had been elevated from previous years with the addition of Canadiana-themed projections and comparatively elaborate light configurations. Instead of operating at designated times on weekdays and weekends, the show had been rescheduled to illuminate hourly between mid-November and January 2nd, facilitating attendance accordingly.

​​With about four minutes to go, we hurriedly took our positions. Hovering by the third floor railings would provide unobstructed views and maintain ergonomic position of the neck, though I was keen on being enveloped in the artificial snow that would conclude the arrangement.

The sequence was undeniably better than past years, and rightfully crowned an attraction worth travelling for. Beyond its signature all-red appearance, the tree also transitioned between blue and purple! We were caught off guard by the abundance of fake snow, which clung to our hair and spectacles with no intention of detaching even with aggressive wiping.

When I first joined this workplace, I was convinced that not a single employee knew the meaning of work-life balance. To be frank, I still don't think the delineation is as distinct as those living the downtown - or downtown commuter - life. Yet, the reactions I witnessed in real time lead me to believe that the workplace wasn't as dire as once thought.

​Needless to say, I was less than enthusiastic about returning to the office. I enjoyed my days at home, munching on Taiwan souvenirs while shielded from the blistering winds of a true Canadian winter. Social interactions were the sole element to be missed from office attendance. And of course, the gorgeous sunset gradients!

​When I unveiled the doors to the familiar space, I was welcomed by an abundance of festive decorations. A Turkey Dinner Lunch poster informed me of an impending potluck with a turkey centrepiece - not that anyone had told me, of course.

​Near the window, two slow cookers simmered away at the sizable birds, their cooking aromas detectable by all those perched in the proximity.

​Incredible was this holiday feast! In addition to two extremely tender turkeys (deboned by upper management themselves!) were mashed sweet potatoes, salad, momos (the dumpling kind), roasted beets, fried rice, and more. The dessert table was equally brimming with goodies.

​Lunch in tow, I resorted to assembling a container to take home; placed within were: macaroni salad, potatoes, heirloom tomato salad, roasted beets, as well as turkey fitted with a ladle of cranberry sauce. Consumed later that evening as dinner, I must admit that the spread was scrumptious!

While the West Coast was disgustingly devoid of holiday decor, the same sentiment did not apply back home. Along with the lofty specimen that had been illuminated during Light Up The Square, the Civic Centre lobby featured two additional trees. One had been constructed entirely of potted poinsettias, which, I can confirm, were maintained regularly by staff in the early hours of the work day.

​An overcast, snowy day led me to the warmth of the mall. Again, a plethora of holiday installations were witnessed. The season of shopping had also given rise to limited-time retail events.

Browsing briefly, I noted the arrival of Zootopia - not Zootopia 2!!! - merchandise at Miniso and the availability of matcha at yogen fruz. Bingz had also disappeared from the food court, its storefront now replaced with an olive green banner indicating the imminent arrival of a Middle Eastern confectionery shop.

​Further festivities awaited me at the midway point of the week. An offsite team potluck welcomed us at the Burnhamthorpe Community Centre.

Based off the dismal pizza and pop lunch and astoundingly varied breakfast potuck, I wasn't quite sure what to expect of this event. Ping Pong was unexpected, as was Greek catering. Sponsored by the "leadership team", the quantity of chicken souvlaki and salad was rather meager. A veggie tray served to supplement the trays' contents.

​Different eating times can lead to disagreement, possibly even stronger conflict than with those without a strict eating schedule (or the need to eat at all!). When opinions conflict, the easiest resolution is to go your separate ways - an option that my browsing partner refuses to execute, thus causing all parties to grudgingly be dragged along for the sake of togetherness. (But that's a separate complaint.)

Priority for reviewing Taiwan photos led to a late lunch secured via UberEats. Consistent with previous remarks, ordering food delivery in Vancouver remains superior to the GTA. Beyond the plethora of options and $0 Delivery Fee, delivery is always swift (usually 15-30 minutes) and portions are exceptionally generous at their given price points. Any outing for sustenance usually spans a minimum of 90 minutes, as travelling between eateries is painfully slow even with a vehicle within reach. Locals can also confirm that travelling short stretches (4 km or less) along No. 3 Road can require twenty minutes or more, though they are unlikely to gripe about the distance travelled per hour unlike frequent highway users. As a small eater, one of the best things about order UberEats is the "benefit" of takeout containers and plastic/paper bags being provided without the excruciating eco fees tacked onto the bill. For at least half a decade, the cost of containers have been passed onto the consumer, now at a whopping fifty cents per unit!

​And so, ordering the item of my cravings via the platform was the informed decision. In spite of the excessive $5.70 "Service & BC Courier Fee", the bill remained well under $50 even after tip!

From JOHN 3:16 Malaysian Delights, I requested Hainanese Chicken Rice, Satay Chicken, and a Hot Teh Tarik, otherwise known as Malaysian milk tea.

Four lengthy skewers of Satay Chicken set me back $12.05, plus another $0.60 with the addition of peanut sauce. Admittedly, not having to fret over potential peanut intake was liberating! Unveiling the box, I was incredibly surprised to find two containers of the condiment. Had the request been tacked onto an Uber order back home, the portion would be puny and unjustified.
The sauce paired delightfully with the tasty and tender chicken. The skewers were flavourful: seasoned comprehensively and glazed/charred to perfection. To combat greasiness from gradual loss of temperature, I dunked the fresh cucumber chunks into the peanut sauce. Raw red onion pieces were, of course, discarded. 

​After hunger-related qualms were solved independently, a snack time outing could be facilitated with ease. We headed to Lansdowne Mall in search Bubble Waffle Café. While there are numerous outposts of the egg waffle hotspot, each location is priced differently. Based on the demographic, I reckoned that the Lansdowne location would not only be most economic, but involve the shortest wait time.

Strolling towards the food court, I passed by a baby boutique stocked with Jellycats as well as Van Cheong's familiar storefront. 

Fresh Elements has been a longstanding occupant of Richmond food courts. Since their 2014 days in Yaohan Centre, the BOGO deal price has been steadily climbing from $3.99. At present, eleven years since the summer that changed everything, a basic milk tea with pearls rings in at $7.49 before tax.

Bubble Waffle Café was situated in one of the corners of the food court. We took to an Original, now costing $4.95. Payment was settled in cash, at which point we were instructed to return in fifteen minutes to retrieve our order.

It isn't uncommon for West Coast winter mornings to be dreary and overcast. That said, when paired alongside dusty construction sites and constant drizzles, the sight quickly grew depressing - sickening, even.

I was hesitant to set foot into the outside world, until the skies began to clear around lunchtime. We deemed it fitting to venture out for a mid-day meal, gleefully soaking in the rare sunny blue skies.

​McArthur Glen Outlet featured some of the best - and perhaps only! - Christmas décor in the vicinity. The installations ranged from nutcracker figures to poinsettia orbs to garlands edged with shiny, scarlet spheres identical to those adorning the strangely symmetrical tree.

Parking was also less troublesome than I had envisioned; the expansive asphalt lot offered plenty of options in the proximity of the main entrance as well as the Templeton SkyTrain station.

I rarely have issues adjusting my sleep schedule, for physical exhaustion holds the reins to periods of rest. Usually, I succeed in aligning my routine with the local time zone within one day. Slumber may not always be restful, however, which makes early mornings quite common.

​The fateful day finally arrived.
​I set an alarm for 7:30 AM to ensure punctuality, though awoke ten minutes earlier. Breakfast was quickly assembled: coffee and a Pineapple Bun from Kam Do, which was bready with a crumbly, saturated (and probably yolk-based) cooking topping.

By some miracle, I shed only a few tissues' worth of tears. I almost expected bursting into uncontrollable wails, but was also thankful to not have.

​The party, all clad in black attire, then returned to Richmond for lunch.​

Although I enjoyed the jellyfish starter, Continental Seafood Restaurant (幸運海鮮酒樓) was generally rowdy with strictly average fare and a frigid bathroom reeking of coolant. The Coconut Sago dessert was similarly passable, but the Ma Lai Goh (馬拉糕) utterly depressing and devoid of distinct layers.

In the late afternoon hours, I ventured out for a quick stroll about Aberdeen Centre. The weekend parking situation is typically tragic, but locating a space within Aberdeen Square two hours before closing remained a simple task.

​The mall corridors had been decorated with garlands, gold orbs, and an incredible amount of flickering string lights, much to my surprise.

Near the fountain was an even grander display comprising of two giant reindeer, an illuminated tree, and a medley of colourful, floating orbs.