今年有希望破紀錄

看來今年有可能會破我去年52的PO，剩下兩個月在好好的加油就有希望了。

星期五早上起來去辦公室的心情是： 喔喔喔 好累好累好想睡覺咖啡咖啡週末絕對不踏出家門半步。

星期六下午起來看日劇，電影，村上春樹，晚上就開始沒事做。

星期天，今天，中午起來決定不當宅女，去了加拿大國家藝術館玩

在那裡和一位黑人保全人員說話。 結果居然會說滿口大陸腔的中文。

這位先生從非洲（某個我忘了怎麼拼的國家）到瀋陽讀醫科大學，回去當了兩年醫生之後來渥太華定居。 我說他中文比我好太多了並且說一定要去溫哥華玩。

結果反而一半的時間在聊天和在咖啡廳裡面看村上春樹。 被要打烊的博物館趕出來了之後就開始尋找同事說一定要去看的天使雕像，聽說就在附近。我走遍半個downtown只看到蜘蛛雕像，漁夫雕像，將軍雕像，樹枝雕像，偏偏沒有天使雕像，我放棄，回家了。

半格相機

第一次聽到 “半格相機” 以為是什麼超級複雜的怪底片相機。

之後做了功課才發現他是個偉大的發明。

半格相機簡單來說就是一張基本款35mm底片可以照兩次圖片。

所以買一捲24可以照48張圖片。 花一次洗照片的錢也有多一倍的成像。

很適合愛玩底片機的窮學生！ （半格像片eg：http://www.wretch.cc/blog/nigelliu/6783498）

不過在數位相機時代要找這種半格底片相機有點難。

雖然有那種在urban outfitter賣的那種新款lomo相機，可是一台要60幾太誇張了，還敢號稱窮人相機。

於是這次再上e-bay找二手貨。逛了好久決定買上面最常出現的 “AGAT 18K”

AGAT 18K是蘇聯品牌Belomo在80年代大量生產的半格相機 ，類似玩具相機（好友說這過然是蘇聯共產國會生產的相機XD)。網路評價很大部分都很正面 － 雖然是廉價相機，洗出來的成果確很驚人 （雖然第一次罐底片很難）。

這個星期終於收到這個從烏克蘭寄來的AGAT。為了迎接這台便宜塑膠，我早就從Shopper買了便宜的底片準備來練習，還有下載under-the-table 英文翻譯說明書 （超難讀）。

可是過然被網友給說重了。這台的底片真難裝。 以為是什麼超複雜的機器，我還把螺絲拆下來重組，和不會說英文的賣家用google translate雞同鴨講了4，5回。第二天還帶去給相機館研究 （三個‘專家’弄了一個小時確也搞不懂）。 一邊修一邊說這是他生平看過最怪的相機，果然很像共產蘇聯的作風。 不過最後三位都放棄，勸我最好退回去，因為這台相機一定是蘇聯的瑕疵貨。

弄了三天，我原本也打算放棄退貨的時候，賣家終於搞懂我的問題了。

原來只是差一個我和相機館都沒注意的小機關就可以用了 ＝ ＝ 原來這麼簡單。。感覺受騙，被蘇聯擺了一道

現在底片也進去了，設定都OKAY。只要快門按個48次就可以拿去沖洗囉。

問題都解決後，最後烏克蘭賣家給了我這個忠告:

Please, use AGAT-type cameras VERY VERY carefully. You have all instructions for use. READ and READ, see photos- after this use.
Best regards,

V

zzZZzzz

我最近被這個完全沒有效率的城市折磨。

到底是我運氣太差還是這裡做什麼都可以這麼慢而且毫無彈性。

早上打三通電話給郵政局（前兩通因為等太久沒辦法, 掛電話去做事），查我的包裹怎麼了，說地址有問題，扣在海關。 我說我是收件者，要什麼證明都有。 郵局說沒辦法啊小姐 地址有問題的話只能送回去了，想說期待已久的相機明明已經在關口了，現在確要送回烏克蘭就心痛。上網查說送到郵局，沒說哪個郵局，要查離家裡最近的郵局電話居然給我原先打郵政局的電話。 折騰好久終於發現郵件被送到某個離家裡車程15分鐘的郵局。 雖然開車10分鐘，公車＋走路好歹要40分鐘。 可是通知單確始終不來，似乎被搞丟了，只能本人去拿。本人拿說得提出地址證明，我才剛搬來怎麼可能有地址證明，說沒辦法，去找租屋公司開證明。租屋公司說租的人是懶散的哥哥，所以只能他出面才能開證明，把他說服到租屋辦公室，30分鐘後才開證明。

等計程車也是。以為自己很聰明，看穿這個城市的散漫，出發前5分鐘打電話叫計程車，結果等了20分鐘後才到，我低估了。

拿村上春樹的書也是，明明已經上架了卻說沒打電話通知我就不能去拿。你放在書架上那50本不能拿一本下來嗎？！我後悔用預定的。

買郵票也是，櫃台的老兄用龜速和臭臉來迎接排隊的8位客人。 第一次看人貼一張貼紙還要用10秒慢慢，細心地確定剛好對到90度的信封角才肯黏上去，我快哭了 這什麼世界啊？？

麥當勞也是，為什麼買兩個蘋果派要等20分鐘，因為還在烤。

電腦也是。為什麼來這裡沒多久就開始當機。在溫哥華的時候很快的啊。

welcome to the sleeping city

Let's brainstorm the things you can't control in life

There are certain things in life that you just can't control. To name a few:

1. when the bus comes

2. when true love arrives

3. when diarrhea hits (believe me this happened to me twice)

4. when kou shibasaki decides to have a concert

5. when you blush

The fifth one has been troubling me recently. Blushing is no sin really. People get shy, people get embarrassed, and their blood goes woot woot inside their face. But for me, it's really easy to tell if I'm blushing because my skin, at least my face, is lighter in colour (which sometimes I take pride in). And as a sensitive person, which I really am, I get shy and embarrassed easily. And when I try to tell people, "nah, I'm wearing too much", and they go, "Nooooo YOU'RE BLUSHING!"

And during my work term here, we get meetings quite often, where all the members gather around the table in the big board room plus several people on the speaker phone. And it just feels awkward for me to sit in there with people who are more mature and much older. And I just feel dumb whenever it's my turn to speak and people are looking at me, and dumber when I speak, and dumbest when I finish talking. And I can just feel my face heating up, but I can't control it! The reason why it's heating up it's because I'm feeling dumb, but how can I convince myself not to feel dumb when I think I'm quite dumb indeed?! Then I can kind of tell that some people are looking at me, I wonder if it's most likely because MY FACE IS BURNING RED. I can't see my face, but I can imagine, from the heat that I feel, that "no Sherry it's not just your imagination, your face is really really red!

And then it gets the reddest and hottest when you realized that it's freaking embarrassing to blush at staff meetings.

my mobile is now turned off.

In two days, I called Fido six times.

The first time, I called to ask about how I can replace my broken mobile.

The second time, I called to ask about getting a smartphone to replace my broken mobile.

The third time, I called to ask about getting a new contract so I can get that smartphone.

The fourth time, I called to ask about my account number so I can reserve an iphone.

The fifth time, I called to ask about why the heck my phone bill from last month was $500.

(Don't ask, don't ask....... a lot of reasons... a lot.. but remember, not totally my fault..)

When I hung up, I started to think of ways to hide that bill from dad. Dad isn't in Vancouver, so he can't see the statements that were mailed back home. But dad can see the online credit card bill. And my phone bill is swiped off of his card, that means he can see the bill. When I thought about this, I called Fido for the sixth time....and I remember every procedure..

Hello, thanks for choosing Fido, may I please have -

- SIX ZERO FOUR SEVEN SEVEN EIGHT FIVE SEVEN NINE EIGHT

Alright, thanks Miss, may I have your -

- SHERRY, LAST NAME, Y - A - N - G

Thank you Miss, now what is your date -

- SEPTEMBER 21, 1990

Great! Now just to verify, can you give me your -

- V6B 1T7

..............uhhh... Thank you Miss, let me pull out your file now. So how may I help you today?

- Okay..... here's the thing, I NEED YOU HELP ME REVERSE THAT $500 BILL THAT WAS SWIPED OFF OF THE CREDIT CARD

For what reason Miss?

(I guess I needed to explain it to him after all... )

- Um, it's a bit complicated.... my phone bills are usually paid through my dad's credit card... but this time due to specific circumstances, my bill is $500 as you can see......... now I can't let my dad see that. So I need you, to cancel that payment, and instead, charge it on my debit PLEASE

But you know Miss, your dad can still see the bill through the FIDO statements

- HE WON'T. He is not in Canada, he won't see the bill. But he can still see the online transaction records for his card, that's what I need to get rid of.

I see, Miss. Let me check about this right away.

(So he took about five minutes trying to search up the policies probably...)

Now Miss, I'm sorry to inform you that the transaction has been finalized, and I will not be able to reverse it for you.

- YOU CAN'T EVEN REVERSE IT?! HOW?

(I went silent for five seconds.. )

- WHAT AM I GOING TO SAY TO MY DAD?!

I'm sorry about that Miss, and I understand your feelings. You see...

(Then he started giving me counselling on parental relationships)

I suggest you go talk to your dad, tell him that you're sorry, and that you'll be careful next time. You know.. maybe tell him that you'll pay him back.

- yeah.. I know.. but it's not the money that's the problem.. it's the fact that I spent so much in one month.................... is there really nothing you can do about this?

I'm sorry Miss... I hope I can do something for you, but I don't have that power. I know Miss, I come from a family of a similar culture and tradition... it's not really about the money..... and like I said, if you just tell your dad the truth.. it shouldn't be too bad, I mean, he's still your dad right?!

- yeah............... (I was laughing and weeping)

Tell him that you're sorry, and that you won't do it again, be sincere.. and yeah, he's still your dad right?

- .................. yeah..... thanks..... (?)

I hung up and then called dad in Taiwan. I took the Fido guy's advice and told him the truth.

I think dad was too shocked to even be angry..... probably thinking oh why oh why do I deserve a daughter like this........

stubborn cork ruins the night

Today, I tried to make a nice dinner for myself. So I cooked some mixed vegetables and a slice of steak, and also tomato soup. I had the Wallander series loaded, to be enjoyed while I have my dinner. I also thought this would be the perfect occasion to open my shiraz. But I realized I had no bottle opener.

I went onto youtube and learned some tricks on opening a bottle without a bottle opener. One of it was to wrap your bottle in clothes or shoe, then knock the base against a hard surface repeatedly, the cork should come out then. So I tried that, banning it on the wall for 20 minutes. But other than causing significant noise pollution, I don't think I noticed any movement of the cork.

So I walked to the convenience store and get a bottle opener. And they only had the crappy ones. And I wasn't strong enough to pull my cork out. Then I used a knife, and I accidentally chipped the edge of the bottle. And then it was just disastrous. I destroyed the cork surface, I made a lot of holes through it, but the cork wouldn't budge and the wine wouldn't leak out.

So I ate my dinner without my wine.. And I spent two hours trying to open that bottle of wine.

I've decided, wherever I go tomorrow, I must come back with either a decent bottle opener or a bottle of wine that simply uses a tin cap that I can just tear open. If I end up not going anywhere.... well I'll continue screwing that cork, literally. I'll try to make a hole that's big enough to let the wine leak out.

Montréal --> finally I get to use my French keyboard input

After this long weekend I have almost forgotten about my blog and how I'm to work hard in populating this website before the end of the year to break my record. So let me start talking:

I spent the long weekend in Montréal! And my jeans got tighter because I ate so much.

It was really nice to have a little gathering with Ryan (i mean rybo), who also visited me in Ottawa and toured the Capital in one day. Yep, he saw it all!

and Carolyn, who's going to be an awesome mum and wife for making the best grilled cheese sandwich and french toast.

I thought it was a lovely city, one of those that I especially like because it's big, dense, and old.

What's great was that I got to do some shopping. Having only some formal outfits, I desperately need some youthful wears. St. Catherine's had some really nice stores, but as a poor college student, I went to the more affordable ones (I got a shirt for 2 dollars at Urban Outfitters btw, best deal I've ever encountered).

I went clubbing for the first time (and it was in Montréal!) and learned the valuable lesson of knowing not to mix your drinks next time and afterwards eating tons of chicken nuggets. Bad choice sherry Bad choice. Drunk Carolyn and dancing Ryan were the highlight of the night. Hm this rhymes.

But of course, the best part of the trip was travelling with my good buddies. I remember once when we were in highschool, Rybo (Ryan then), Carolyn, and I went to Metro. And I had a lot of fun. So I told Carolyn, "we're the best threesome", and thus made her choke. UGH I had no idea what I was talking about. I really think I should go out with my high school folks, cos they're the ones who remind you that you were once creative, ambitious, and full of energy.

And then the parting. Ryan didn't look too pleased when he left that morning. Usually I get really upset when I say goodbye to mum and dad, but this rarely happens with friends. I often say goodbye to friends at school, at the restaurant after a night of partying, knowing that they will return soon. I think this is the first time that I'm saying goodbye to a friend who's leaving the apartment with his baggage. And I'm sad to see my friend leave alone with his baggage. Probably because this is the first time I understand that we've grown up and our lives will begin to take different directions. Most likely we'll be further away from each other. I don't like the sound of this but I think this is life.

On a happy note, I think Carolyn was VERY DELIGHTED that we've finally left her alone lol. Or else we'd be taking her to to the ER very soon if we stick around any longer lol.

So I returned Monday evening, and had McDonald's for Thanksgiving dinner. I almost forgot that it was Thanksgiving. But that evening, I used my remaining energy while on bed, to thank God of this unforgettable experience I had in Montréal, and prayed that I'll remember it forever.

bodum french press

原本計畫要去Currency Museum的，不過想到得先吃早餐，回來還得洗衣服就覺得很懶散，於是作罷。

想到家裡附近有些店家，就決定去買咖啡機和杯子（這兩個星期都在喝辦公室樓下又貴又酸的Americano）。 到了Zellers後，考慮到因為溫哥華家裡已經有兩套咖啡機，買一台之後要帶回去也不方便，況且還得要買濾紙，想起來就覺得很麻煩。去了旁邊的店發現有在賣法式濾壓壺，加上是出自丹麥品牌，設計簡單，輕巧，顏色可愛 （而且我去的時候只剩四個）加稅後才＄21，我開心地買了它。還好，之前拜託老姊幫我帶瑞典咖啡，明天有丹麥french press泡出來的新鮮瑞典咖啡喝，過個北歐式的早晨，喔！有沒有文青的氣質呢？！

oh em gee..

我每次去賣場都會肚子痛，這次不例外。

挑了好久的咖啡傢伙後已經痛到不行了。 好不容易忍到家門口，進去電梯後發現剛走出來的死小孩按到B1，我只好跟著下去地下室。上來的時候居然還在一樓開了門，不曉得又是哪個死小孩按的，根本沒有人進來。 電梯慢到我鞋子已經脫了一半。到了六樓直接衝到家裡的馬桶。馬桶，真是個偉大的發明。

Agriculture Museum

OH MY GOODNESS WHY IS IT SO COLD TODAY

WHYYYY WHYYYY WHYYYYYYYYYYY

I'm so glad I bought my boots, they kept me warm today at the Agricultural Museum (I'm impressed by how they have all kinds of museums here, maybe I can have my own museum set up some day, my straw hat will be in there)

I saw cows, baby cows.. what do you call them? calves? And then I saw pigs, piglets, sheep, and all kinds of livestock. And I pet a chicken and a baby cattle. Tomorrow I'm going to the currency museum.

Okay time to talk about serious business.

So this is my week two in Ottawa. And I'm pretty much settled for now. My place is very simple. A one room apartment, a bathroom, the previous owner's couch on which we don't dare to sit, three very simple white tables that we use as our desks and dinner table, and a small kitchen. The apartment is about 30 years old, and the interior is quite like the '70's, something that I really enjoy.

We don't have much else here, I didn't even bring a lot of clothes with me because I had to carry two portable mattresses which pretty much filled up all my luggage space. And I've stacked them together to make myself a bed on the ground. I do have several books here that I sometimes read, and my film camera. I had to drink milk, juice, water from the same bottle as that's the only liquid container that I bought with me, and I haven't had the chance to get myself some cups until Jack mailed me a mug. Apart from rent, Ottawa does have a high cost of living, so we're trying to keep our budget low during these four months. Now I'm trying to get a french press so I won't have to line up to get coffee everyday.

And LOL,

I just realized that when my mac is turned off or on screen saver (which is just black), I can see the outline of the apple mark on the other side through my screen. Scared the crap out of me at first, I thought my screen was broken.