Soreyuke! Yuzu-Mikan Go!

Can you believe it's April already?  What was I doing for the last few months, you ask?  I was actually employed part-time from the second last week of January to the end of March.  

I was a lobby screener at a local senior apartment and centre.  I sat at the entrance and took the temperature of each visitor or caregiver and had them fill out a questionnaire.  I had to watch them while they did this because some people strangely do not see the questionnaire part, or do not flip over to the other side for more questions although it says "see other side" or answer the first question incorrectly.  Yes, the first question was a trick question.  Everyone thinks all the answers are No, but the first question was actually "Are you vaccinated?"

I would then have to enter the names and answers in the database and sign them out when they leave...if they leave before 4 p.m. which was my end time.

It was a wonderful experience since you get to know a lot of the people who come to see their parents.  I know a lot of the seniors but never knew their children or grandchildren.

Sorry I have been silent for a few months.  I was not in a good mental state and have really been depressed.  To the extent that I haven't been able to read any novels or lengthy articles.  It's sad when you can't enjoy something you were passionate about and  kept you going.

Well last year my dad became unconscious behind the wheel and we had to call the ambulance.  Luckily the car stopped or it could have lead to disaster.  Well, he was in the hospital (partially for rehab, not drugs related) until last Friday.  Therefore our Christmas and New Year's dinner plans were called off.  I had a quiet holiday season with my mother.

I did manage to make kuromame, but with my brain that belongs in the junkyard, I forgot to take it to my mother's on New Year's day.  I am still eating the kuromame and hopefully when all the beans are gone I will dip mochi into the remaining syrup.

I have been turning into a full time caregiver, especially for my dad.  I have to accompany him to all sorts of appointments and even call back those who call my parents in English.  I hardly get a break and it's sometimes frustrating when you are doing the best and they don't seem to acknowledge all the time you have been putting in to support them.  I have to plan everything with my parents in mind first so I haven't been able to do much for myself.

Last week I noticed there was some scruffling sounds near the front door so I set up a mouse trap on Sunday night.  Not too long after going to bed I heard a "snap" and then some clinking sounds of plastic hitting the floor.  After that it was quiet so I went to bed knowing that the mouse had been caught.  When I woke up on Monday I noticed the trap was not where I put it and it was nowhere in sight.  I had to work at the Elections so I hurried out that morning before 7 a.m.  I got back at midnight and just plopped dead on my bed.  I was pretty dead yesterday so I didn't do anything that required energy.  Today I had an event to attend but after returning and eating lunch I decided I should search for the trap and (dead) critter before it starts decomposting.  There is a cabinet right by where the trap was set so I looked under it with a flashlight but nothing but dust could be seen.  I looked from both sides and nothing.  I then looked under the ottomon sitting in front of the cabinet (with a flashlight) and there it was, trap and all.  Dragging the ottomon also dragged the trap and critter because the space underneath it wasn't big enough so I had to move everything on top of it and pick it off the floor.  In anycase, I am glad I found it.  I carefully put it in a paper bag and then plastic bag, trap and all and threw it out in the garbage bin outside.  

In the spring we started planting in our vegetable garden.  It was later than usual but now the vegetables are coming up ripe.  The only problem is that the squirrels are after them too.  Every time I see a tomato ripening up the next day it has been bitten or half eaten.  I am getting pretty annoyed with them.  My sister told me that they are probably thirsty so leave them a bowl of water. I did try this but it doesn't seem to work.  Now she says I should scatter coffee grinds and hang dryer sheets.  I really hope this works.  My sister came by last weekend and pruned the tomato plants.  To me it was too much.  They look pretty bare and easy for the squirrels to target.  In any case, we are currently losing the battle.  I am not happy.  I hope to report back next time with better news.

I actually managed to get the vaccine on April 27 at Centenary Hospital's after hours clinic.  Otherwise I would have had to line up at 6:30 in the morning at a pop up in my area.  I managed to get an appointment at the clinic so I just went with that one.  It was the AstraZeneca one.  Some people have shared their concerns about me getting that one instead of Pfizer or Moderna, but I am fine with it.  I am in good health and have not experienced anything strange.  The only side effects I got was feeling like gravity pulling me down the day after the shot, and my arm hurting for a few days after that.  I am completely fine now and look forward to my second shot.

It was becoming warmer and warmer in the last month or so. I thought Spring was definitely here.  Well, it snowed today.  It didn't really accumulate, but you could see the snow on the grass and on the evergreen trees.  I was just about to start gardening and maintaining the lawn.  I guess that has to wait a bit. It's pretty cold today compared to last week.

I bought a weed picker and rake and stocked up on soil and manure, so I am ready for the new season.

I am very excited about Friday.  I have ordered banh mi's and coffee from Rustle and Still.  I really love their banh mi's and when they started delivery to Scarborough (east end of Toronto) we ordered.  That was back in December.  We have been looking for a time to order since they changed their delivery date from Tuesday to Friday.  I was actually going to order last week, but with my wonderful memory I forgot.  I placed my order today so we would be able to have our banh mi's on Friday.  Can't wait.

It's been over a year since Covid-19 started to devastate the world.  I have hardly gone out and my favourite restaurants have mostly all closed.  It is very sad.  But they have finally announced that those 40 and over can get the vaccine.  It is wonderful new, however the day we were allowed to make bookings with the pharmacies, Rogers/Fido was down.  That means I couldn't make or receive calls until around 10 at night.  I tried signing up the following morning but every place was full.  I put my name on a waiting list, but I don't think I will be called any time soon.

Did I mention I have bad luck?

I can't believe it's March already.  The weather is getting warmer so hopefully spring is around the corner.

I have been busy going to my parents' place last week and this week.  They were having problems with their TV and I finally called up Rogers to have them come in to fix it.  They had to replace the machine so they now can watch TV.  Can you believe the last one died in four months?  That's unacceptable.  What kind of cheap products do they use?  We never had that problem with Bell.  And the PVR system is too difficult for my non-English speaking parents to figure out.  So so far my parents' hate Rogers.  They never had a problem figuring out the PVR with Bell.

I thought everything was settled but it turns out that a new machine means I have to reprogram all the shows they were recording.  And they didn't get to watch all the recorded shows either.  Anyhow I think I have to go in again.

Also, Bell overcharged my dad $10 for internet usage my dad doesn't use.  He has a flip phone and can't even figure out how to listen to his voicemail, although I've taught him many times?  How do you think he could access internet on his phone?  He doesn't even know it exists.  Anyhow I am going to fight it out.

I hope it's a nice day again for the next few days so I can enjoy my walk.

And I officially don't think I have to pull out my winter clothes now that spring is near.

I got an air fryer on Black Friday last year, but it had been sitting in the hallway for the past couple of months.  I finally opened the box and decided to try using it. I first made tonkatsu (pork cutlets with panko) and it turned out great.  I like that it doesn't have a greasy taste like when you deep fry it.  It feels rather light so you don't feel bad after eating it either.

I bought salmon the other day and looked for a recipe online to cook it in the air fryer.  I looked at several and decided to try the one on delish.com. I am used to just salted salmon cooked in a frying pan, but this one I made was really good!  I highly recommend it.

Today my mother brought over some left over curry with just vegetables.  I had bought more pork cutlets so I air fried more tonkatsu and had katsu curry for dinner.  

I am so happy I bought the air fryer on sale!  I had been keeping an eye on it online for several months until a sale came up.  I think it's the best thing I've bought in a long time.  And it's pretty much stress free.  When I would deep fry food I would usually get burns and would also have to wipe the oven and surrounding area clean because of all the oil that has splattered out of the pot.  The air fryer is so easy to clean and it leaves no mess around it.  I highly recommend it to people who are curious about it.  I am looking forward to trying out more recipes I find online.

So the installation guys finally came today.  That's like one month later.  And they had no idea what they were doing.  They had to make phone calls back and forth and take photos to try to decide what to do.  Luckily I had done my research about the machine so I knew better than them what to do.  I hope everything works fine now.  The last thing I want is a leak.

Last week I went to a shopping area with Japanese stores called J-Town.  They were closed for a week due to some working holiday person at the grocery store there having Covid-19.  We stayed away for two weeks and finally went last Saturday.  My dad wanted me to buy him a lottery ticket but because he changed to the cheaper one lately, when he gives me a $10 bill there is change involved.  I told myself so strongly not to forget the change.  I got the change and walked out without the ticket.  I noticed that I never picked up the ticket when we were halfway home.  I phoned when we got back and luckily the ticket was still there.  They saved it for me and I got it today.  Next time I will remember the change and the ticket.

In my non-online life, I have been depressed and things happening have not helped.  I bought a smaller laundry machine (or rather my sister did) so I could replace our broken one.  When we ordered it the website said that they would call to confirm delivery and if we wanted other options.  I never received a call so I called them three days before the delivery date.  We were able to add on the service to take away our old machine.  I also asked if I needed to buy anything to have the machine installed.  I asked this a few times. The girl told me everything was included and I didn't need anything extra.  The night before delivery we got a call saying that they couldn't charge us for the take-away fee because it was paid for by Paypal.  I quickly called them back but no reply.  Or rather the number they tell you to call can't be directed to operator as he said I should do, since no one picks up.  My sister had to call Best Buy and leave a message for the person who called to call back.  No call that night although we waited till quite late.  This gave me a headache and a sleepless night.  Well, they did come the next day and took our machine, but wouldn't install the new one saying we didn't have new hoses.  This is why I asked to girl on the phone a few days earlier.  I told him what she told me and the men told me it wasn't their fault.  That's all they would say.  I was literally forced to sign the paper to say that delivery and the install was successful.  I was not happy.  My sister then called Best Buy who the customer service person first said they could do nothing about it.  After my sister told them she paid for the service to have it installed (included with delivery) they said they would open a case and have someone call back in a few days.  Well, it's been like three weeks and nothing has been resolved.  You suck Best Buy.  Should I call you Worst Buy?