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It’s New Year’s Eve day, and the end of a busy week.

 

I’ve decided to cut down on how much I write these, or at least how long they are when I do write them. I am still slogging through my time in Montreal—although it’s fun to relive that, I would rather be writing about events still happening. There’s more of a crackle to that; and once it gets old, it becomes something else. Other than what this was supposed to be.

 

It’s been that odd week between Christmas and New Year’s. I only worked three days, all nice in-the-middle-of-the-day shifts that didn’t demand I woke up early and still left me with time after, and for one of them I was called in an hour early to be a PC since Sheldon called in sick. Almost pleasant, apart from the times when work remained work and was awful, which was at least once a day. But one needs that jolt, just to remain self aware and to remember wage work is always an interruption and never the point.

 

On Wednesday the 27th, the first day, met up with Mike after work and went to a Japanese place on Alexandra Rd that a co-worker recommended me as having good oysters. (I promised Matvey I’d find out where has good oysters in Vancouver, and also I want to know for myself). Ariel (Mike’s best gal) was there as well, and we drove the couple of blocks over to Eat Street. The tea and books that they were giving away and that I had claimed the day before were waiting for me in the backseat and I stowed them in my bag. Alexandra Road itself was more hopping that I remember it, but it had been years and I had never been there after dark, when the neon comes on. And there was plenty neon: a couple hot pot places were lit up with entire scenes that filled the fronts in lieu of windows. I was a little awed: have to explore around here more often in the future.

 

(Alexandra Road: I call it Eat Street, but I think the actual nickname (Wai Sek Gai) translates as “Hungry Street.” … I prefer Eat Street, it has a nice lilt to it. Anyway—it’s a whole street in Downtown Richmond, in the district known as the Golden Village, lined from one end of the other with Asian-style restaurants. Some of which are the cream of the cream of what you can get of that in the Western Hemisphere. I used to come down around here to have lunches and dinners about once a month in the long ago days before I left for school in Montreal, and then when I moved back I started working in Richmond and so I kind of stopped wanting to come out here on any of my days off. But it’s a beautiful, delicious place. Plenty of these places are our customers: I recognize so many names on so many marquees not from having ever seen them in person but from recognizing the names from orders.)

 

The restaurant, Seto, was the first sushi place I’d ever been in where I ever felt like I needed a reservation. Everyone else waiting had one. But they found us a table, and we had a good meal. A big sushi boat (with oysters on it) to share, and soba noodles on the side. Ice cream at the end. I passed them the books I got them at expozine, and we talked about live over the meal. It’s good to have good company. And the oysters were good: not as pure as they had been at Le Darling, this time loaded up with ponzu sauce, green onions and etc—I did prefer them with just lemon or a little horseradish, but the freshness still comes through.

 

I guess this is what the good life is. Less the oysters, more the whole thing. The food, sure. But the people; the neon street; the chatter of the other patrons.

 

At the end, got a ride home. Had enough time to relax and then watch an episode of Lupin before retiring downstairs to finish up my this and that for the day.

 

Tea, and no liquor at dinner. I’m trying to cut back: getting too casual, I noticed especially on Boxing Day. Just some mindfulness, and that’s all. Tea is just fine, anyway.

 

On the 28th, went to Ken’s Christmas/birthday/New Year’s/etc. party, at his apartment in Olympic Village. We were invited to bring snacks to share, so I picked up some chips at Price Mart (I’m at work, no time for anything fancy), and also a bottle of wine as a gift. Three cans of light beer for myself. That was the day I started early as a PC, so I finished early too and managed to get to the party on time instead of an hour late.

 

Nice high rise in the newly constructed neighbourhood along the southeast of False Creek, along 1st Ave. Concierge in the lobby and a balcony with the view across to the glittering Downtown.  A good night; good crowd, mostly new faces with a couple of old ones. Potluck dinner, secret Santa (I got two bags of Soylent) and Smash Bros. Was there until nearly one in the morning, when the last of the guests left, listening to weird music.

 

Ken lent me a book about Jungian archetypes, which were were talking about when we had brunch in November re: Lola. I started reading that the next day, and it’s giving me a lot to think about. … New Year’s Resolution: finish Lola’s Funerals in 2024. I want to take Michelle’s advice and, as she put it, “Chuck Tingle that shit.”

 

Called an Uber to get home, waited fifteen minutes for it on empty West 1st, looking out over False Creek at the pretty lights. If I had known I’d wait that long, I’d’ve just walked to Broadway and taken the bus. There was a Canuck’s game on, the driver told me. That explains the wait. Sped along an early morning 4th avenue.

 

Back to normal the next day. Last day at work that week, no other plans. Wished everyone a happy new year. Mostly just been working on that story since then (I think I’ll rename it “Beings are Beings”), and reading more. That Jung book, and I had the go ahead to resume Okri. Stayed up too late last night playing Tears of the Kingdom, which was fine because I had wanted to spend more time with that. Finally made it to Hateno, made a boat and rode it out to Eventide Island, and now I’m headed towards the Geurdo Desert. All very satisfying. (Yes: I do like video games. I don’t play them as much anymore, but I like them.)

 

Friends are coming over in a few hours. We’re meeting at Zapoteca for dinner first, then coming back to my house for movie night, then back to the Wolf and Hound for a pint and live music, then I’m walking back up to be home for champagne at midnight. I got cinnamon buns for everyone—just at Grounds for Coffee with those now, having come down to get them and also write all this. My coffee is nearly done, so I’ll be headed back soon.

 

P.S. Do want to add more poetry and fiction here. Too many of these and not enough anythng else. Once I finish the Montreal stuff. That's another resolution.