Home for the Holidays

Hot pot! So much food, and it makes a soup at the same time!

So it has been months since I was back in Toronto and I came home for multiple reasons: family, friends, and to prepare my wife for her big move. Yes, after months of waiting she will be joining me and we've found her a job here so everything is looking set.

Bubble Tea!!!

Back in Toronto, I ate all the things I've been missing in Seattle. I'm not saying Seattle hasn't been a haven of good food per se. Rather, I just haven't had the opportunity to truly explore and some places you just need to eat at with friends. For example, Hot Pot, All You Can Eat Sushi, Bubble Tea, and Dim-Sum!

At one point we were driving down town and I looked out the car window and thought to myself "Boy, have I missed Toronto! All the skyscrapers, people walking streets and food!"

Of course it wasn't all fun and games for me in Toronto either. There were trips to the vet, preparations and errands to be completed. There were also goodbye parties to be planned for Jing and the inevitable packing.

Seor Ak San. How I've missed Pork Bone Soup

Despite missing all my favourite hangouts in TO, I found that I did not miss the snow. After skipping breakfast one morning to see our accountant, we came back to Jing's parents house to get some things done before lunch. I shoveled snow while Jing filled out endless paperwork for her job. Maybe I was just hungry and tired from all the work, but at one point I stopped and thought to myself, "Man, I miss Seattle! If I were there right now I could be wearing my fall jacket and there'd be none of this snow in my way!"

One of the most memorable moments back home, however, was with our cat. After speaking with the vet, they suggested that we give him 12.5mg of Gravol for when we were to fly him back to Seattle. This wouldn't be happening until February but we took our second last day to try it out on him, you know, to see how he'd react.

We wanted to make it quick and painless so we purchased quick dissolving Gravol but that only comes in a low does, cherry-flavoured children's version. Sound great right? So we cut one in half, popped it into his mouth and made him swallow.

Seconds later, the drool begins; little strands dripping down the side of his mouth turn to bigger ones. Then the drool begins to take on a foamy aspect and all of a sudden it looks like the cat has gone rabid. Of course, it's probably a reaction to the horrible taste of cherries! After a minute, it was clear that he wanted to throw up that gravol, and he did along with a large bolus of food and hair. Then come the dour looks of disappointment from him, as he continues to foam with saliva. Poor guy. My sister was over at that time and we were in unending fits of laughter and "awww, poor thing"s. It was quite the show.

Santa-themed dessert by our talented friend Wendy!

Things to remember:
1) Cats hate pills - especially cherry-flavoured ones.
2) Winter in Toronto is great if you don't need to shovel snow.

Until Next time TO and Seattle...