settling in

So the past few days I don't really feel like doing a whole hell of a lot. I know that I should be all GO GO GO the entire time that I'm here, but I just don't have the stamina for that anymore. I would rather spend a few days a week on my laptop in a coffee shop, or sitting on the couch reading a book.

Since it was pretty gross out, and I had a bit of cabin fever, and I really wanted to be neither inside nor outside, I decided to go shopping. There was this store that Mikey took me to on the 1st day here that was exceedingly cheap, and I remembered seeing a dress that I had really liked, so I thought that I would check it out. The store is called Uniquo (sp? i don't have the internet while I'm typing this; don't judge me) - it's supposed to be the H&M of Japan. They have super cheap t-shirts (v-necks for 5 dollars) and jeans (20 bucks) as well as dresses and trenches etc etc. Unfortunately, the dress that I really wanted was sold out other than the large, which looked like a tent on me, so I ended up getting it in black (I know, right?? but I TRIED to get it in a real colour!!)
Other than this one dress... nothing really fit me. A girl such as I with lots of "junk in the trunk" CANNOT comfortably shop at a store where the clothes are made for Japanese girls. It is just not possible. By the end of it, I kind of felt like a heffer. WOMPS. That being said!!! If you are NOT hippy, or if you are a little on the teensy side, are a boy, or you just want to pick up some tees, GO TO THIS STORE!!! It's really good for basics, as long as they fit you!! They also do have some really pretty girl clothes; none of the sizes are standard here, so if you try on a L in one dress and you can't even get it on, you might still fit a S in a different cut. SO WEIRD AND FRUSTRATING.
As I continued my walk down broadway and noticed a display of TOMS in the window of a store. YES!! AND they just so happened to have my size in grey. SCORE!! They are a great pair of comfy and stylish sneakers AND for every pair sold, they donate a pair to a child in a third world country. How great is that!? Plus, they are still under 50 bucks. You can also get limited edition and vegan versions AND you can order them on the internet. TOMS FOR EVERYONE!
One more thing happened while I was downtown...I got stuck in the most fucking insane torrential downpour that I have ever seen in my life. It was CRAZY.
It happened while I was in Uniquo. As I approached the front doors to leave there are a ton of people huddled around them staring at the rain and waiting for it to ease up to go outside. My thoughts went something like this, "what a bunch of pussies. I am smart and I brought an umbrella. Rain does not scare me, I am from Vancouver". I pushed out the door, opened my umbrella and WHAT THE FUCK!? The umbrella, it does NOTHING! It felt like the rain was pouring down in sheets from every conceivable angle. SHEETS!! BUCKETS! WALLS of RAIN. I made it about three storefronts down before I had to take shelter inside.
Holy Moly.

On my way back to the subway (which I keep wanting to call the Metro), some spoiled trust fund teen asked me where the Coach store was, which, despite the fact that she was a spoiled teenager, made me feel good about myself, because it meant that I a) did not look like a frumpy heffer (usually how i feel after shopping) b) did not look like a tourist. Every time someone asks me for directions when I am on a trip, it always gives me a little confidence boost, because it means that I have done an adequate job of fitting into the city that I am visiting. YES!

I had been planning to go to a free Chromeo show on the waterfront, but the rain deterred me. I texted Chris to see what he was up to, and it turned out that the rain had not deterred him from said show, but he would give me a shout later.

After almost giving up on any plans for the evening, the OTHER Chris (Zoe's roommate visiting from London) sent me a last minute text to come and meet him and Olivia and some friends for dinner at Westside, on 11th street and Ave A. Hurray!! I quickly got ready, and hopped on the subway, but SADLY got off way too early!! In a panic, rather than getting back on the subway, I just grabbed a cab which was EXCEEDINGLY SLOW. I was an hour late!!! Thankfully, they had ordered appies and hadn't even ordered dinner yet!! Let me tell you, if you are ever in New York, and especially if you are a vegetarian, you should go to this place. There are a three locations in total.
NOM NOM NOM.
I looked at the menu and was immediately overwhelmed with their "market sides" section - it was basically every type of vegetable that you could hope for, prepared in different ways, to perfection.
But what do these sides come with?!?! I ask myself. WELL it turns out that you can choose to make a meal out of 4 of them for 12 dollars. YUM!! I am the type of person who is perpetually confounded by what to pick on a menu, so this was PERFECT!
I chose, sesame crusted tofu with broccoli, parmesan grilled asparagus, green beans with toasted almonds and lemon and yam fries. SO GOOD.
They also had a lovely organic ale on the menu for 4 dollars a bottle.
I'm really glad that Zoe decided to introduce me to Chris via the internet, because he and Olivia are such lovely lovely people; dinner with their friends was so wonderful and it made me feel a little less lonesome for home.
After dinner, we all had desert (apple pie baked that day with a side of vanilla ice cream).
We then waited out a horrendous downpoor before heading out into the night.
We walked up to the nearest subway, but the wait was 15 minutes so I decided to take a walk up to 6 ave where I could catch the F train without a transfer.
On the way to the train, I duck into a whole foods in search of anything that I can't get in Canada, and I find it, Coconut Milk yoghurt!! This is the stuff that I have only seen on Vegan food blogs. Hurray! Once again, I am astounded by how cheap the groceries are here, even for a whole foods... or rather, how EXPENSIVE everything is in Vancouver. Vancouver MIGHT ACTUALLY be one of the most expensive cities in the world. No joke. Have I mentioned that they include the tax in the tag price of clothes here?? Best thing ever.

As I get in the door, I get a text from Chris asking me to meet him at some party. If it wasn't raining, and I could bike there, I would go. But I feel like I have spent too many dollars and taken too many cabs and subways today and I just need to stay in. Maybe I'm getting old.
We keep trying to make plans, and i really hope that one of the plans will work out before I am too close to leaving. CUTE BOYS!

Today I move into Matt's room on John Street, and I'm meeting up with Chris and Olivia later to go to a show. I've gotten a lot of interest in a karaoke night, and Thursday I'm going bowling. I have one week left and then I'm back in the arms of Vancouver. It's going to be a good week.