Out & About #604 | The Three Pillars

Commonly heard throughout my undergrad were the following three pillars: Sleep, Studies, and Social Life, and how maintaining equilibrium between them was an unattainable task.

Post-graduation, the S-trio has undergone metamorphosis, yielding Health, Interpersonal Relations, and Financial Stability as its final form.
- Health encompasses both physical and mental well-being, be it concerns over insomnia or the simple act of 
engaging in everyday joys (such as fangirling).
- Interpersonal Relations takes into account family matters, friends, and the general presence of a social circle. These intangible ties are often neglected when the latter grows dire.
- The most self-explanatory of them all, Financial Stability is a gauge of survival capability - the distinction between struggling for fundamental means and cruising comfortably through 401 congestion.

Without elaborating into an otherwise arguably philosophical approach to human existence, I shall plainly state that these pedestals of continuance are impossible to acquire in harmony. The inevitable has finally befallen, and it seems that circumstances are likely to persist for a while longer.

Weekend work and errands were succeeded by a Big Mac and a terribly tedious wait at Pearson.
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Reluctantly inching into Monday, I saw blue skies, a Matcha Latte, and the slow-but-steady advancement of CIBC Square.

Oh, and The Krys. The Golden Thai Milk Tea - at Light sugar and no ice - may be the sole item of delectability at the waterfront bubble tea shop. Whitewater Brewing's Peanut Butter Shake was nothing short of tremendous either. Good on you, Ottawa Valley!

Behold: Triple Threat Sulley.

Fancy socks are commonly incorporated into my closet to offset my otherwise monochromatic (and allegedly monotonous) ensembles.

The discovery of Cocoon Coffee was a throwback to my time near North York - or Downsview, as I've recently been corrected. The days of waking at the early hour of 5am then immediately hopping on the inexplicable pandemonium that is the 401 are now behind me, but geographical memories of the neighbourhood persist. Few drastic developments have taken place, save the saturated storefront of The Enchanted Poutinerie.
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The coffeeshop in question was not so eye-catching, thus we zipped by the first time even with the assistance of Google Maps.

Underground visitor parking was apparently available, but halting along this stretch of Wilson is tricky. We looped about the adjacent residential unit, neighbouring plazas, and side streets before finding a space nearby. An entrance to said subsurface lot was not to be uncovered.

Within the former UPS store was a microscopic coffee shop featuring a subdued industrial vibe and high ceilings. Walls were partially left bare, exposing the patchy concrete finish of its predecessor. Wooden tabletops, artificial shrubbery, and a series of paintings appended a sense of sophistication seldom associated with its coordinates. It was unthinkable how such a downtown-representative establishment had already withstood its ground for the past 365(ish) days.

Dine-in accommodations were limited: a lone booth, a single communal table, and a handful of bar seats by the window was the extent of seating choices. That said, traffic volumes were quite low during our weekday afternoon visit, ensuring that Wi-Fi connection would remain speedy and uninterrupted.

Gracing the affixed chalkboard menu was an extensive list including specialty beverages such as Turmeric Latte, Matcha, seasonal Apple Cider, and the rare Beet Tahini Latte. Cocoon also took to offering alternative, non-dairy milks at an additional cost.

The Flat White with vanilla syrup was informed to contain very smooth espresso (Barocco?), hence earning the remark of "really good". My pick was, frankly, not so stellar and rather chunky and disappointing. The original Beet Tahini formula was not caffeinated, however the owner/barista was quick to recommend adding a shot for an additional seventy cents.

Unlike Pilot's rendition, the presence of beet was inconspicuous. In its lumpy footsteps followed minimal aroma and overall lack of potency.
All in all, it was a considerably pricey beverage given the geographic coordinates and surrounding income demographic.

Several intriguing baked goods were observed to grace the countertop: Almond Flour Brownies, scones, and Christmas Tree Pocky sticks. Hippie items like reusable metal straws were also available for sale. A water refill station was spotted by the bathroom, which was left unvisited on this journey.

Be it TTC's infrequent bus service or by means of vehicle-wielding, Cocoon poses quite the transportation hassle. While a respectable option in the area (with a password-secured Internet connection!), it is unlikely that I'll be venturing out of my way at the next opportunity.

Because the holiday season is synonymous with gatherings and joyous foodthings, a floor potluck eased its way into the calendar of events.

Dishes ranged from pasta salad to roast beef, from pre-packaged sushi rolls to jerk chicken (with three varying levels of spice!), and even piping hot slices (and squares) of pizza. Popular picks were well-seasoned portions of Portuguese chicken and the all-too-heavily-dressed salad mixes.

Dessert obviously could not exempted from the spread either. Standing at a separate table were sweet treats in the form of glazed coffee cake, miscellaneous pastries from Coppa's, and, last but not least, the hexa-layered brainchild of my labourious efforts.

I may have made a larger scene than intended when I staged myself by the weighty specimen, camera in one hand and knife in the other. Back towards the main table, I had unknowingly become the chuckle-inducing spectacle of the group, complete with a vivid red Santa graphic tee, plush Santa hat, and goofy smile.

The first slice revealed a certain hollowness to the creation, presumably the outcome of insufficient cream filling. Flavour-wise, I was pleasantly surprised at the moistness exuded by the strawberry cream and strawberry jam. It provided a noticeable contrast from the denser cake slabs and gelatin-thickened Chai frosting. The dryness didn't seem to matter greatly to most munchers, especially considering that many members later approached me in awe and appreciation. Some further posed inquiries about the cake's composition and construction time.

The feasting persisted until the next day. Passerbys would sneak a Dorito from time to time. A mammoth box of Timbits was also supplied in celebration of the Christimas holidays.

A brief trip to Nathan Philips was made for the purpose of checking out the Holiday Fair in the Square. More or less similar to the past year's edition, there wasn't much to see or do over lunchtime. That said, dusk would welcome the lighting of the bonfire and unveiling of more vendors, thus rendering it an event suitable for all ages (and all levels of skating proficiency).

Chocolate milk and a 2-pack of Oreos resulted from the trek.

Somewhat recent acquisitions from the previous month include a fresh pair of New Balances - black this time in hopes that they'll stay fresher longer - as well as magnets from the overseas excursions of others: Halloween exclusives from Korea's LINE store and vibrant specimens from the Dutch Carribean island of Curaçao.

Concluding the final Kindred Culture visit of 2019 was a moody routine that caught me off-guard completely. Melodical tunes tend to confuse me, as the movements are intended to originate from within, without thought or intention.

The class felt a tad rushed, considering the series of unfamiliar steps (like the groovy Shamrock) embedded in the latter half. To many, the incompetence of seamless execution could be perceived as a stepping stone in the journey of urban dance, however, being the logical human that I am, imperfection is always difficult to embrace.

Nonetheless, it was an experience that spurred growth  ̶i̶n̶ ̶m̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶y̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶n̶ ̶I̶'̶d̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶a̶d̶m̶i̶t̶.