"Home Of The World's Largest Buffet"

Cocaine Princess here.

Sorry for the slow blogging and for just the one post this week. It's been a chaotic 4 days and he's a rundown of all the things I did so fasten your seat belt.

*MONDAY*

One of our shrubs in our front yard needed replacing. I sat on the porch watching the gardener plant it. I had a difficult time keeping my excitement under control.


It's been 4 days since it was planted and yes I know it's sad and thin looking. Each time I look at it I can't help but think of "A Charlie Brown Christmas." All that is missing is Linus's blue scarf. With a little sunshine and a whole lotta Miracle Grow it'll be big and strong in no time.

*TUESDAY*

Me and "A" made a shopping trip into the city. It was mid afternoon-ish and we were in the GUESS store. I was looking at a pretty dress when all of a sudden I was attacked by a hunger craving. My food cravings come at the most peculiar times. Most of the time if not always I am good at fighting them off but on that day I couldn't. Out of nowhere I desperately yearned for orange chicken. We decided to break for lunch and head on over to China Town. Long time followers of my blog should know by now when I say “we” I really mean “me.” My sister wanted something else. "Tough break," I said. "My cravings have taken total control of me."

The particular restaurant we were in had a huge plaque in the lobby and inscribed was:

"Home Of The World's Largest Buffet"

This is the 4th Chinese restaurant in the city that has claimed to have the world’s largest buffet that I have dined in. Situated nearby was a scenic indoor waterfall and a shark tank with a baby shark swimming around. It was interesting watching how many adults ignored the "DO NOT TAP ON GLASS" sign.

Inside was an enormous cafeteria style room where all the food was. It may have very well been the world's largest buffet but it wasn't in terms of food choices. I noticed the choices kept repeating over and over after a certain point. Another thing I noticed that I’ve never seen at a Chinese buffet was pizza by the slice. Had there been one with pineapples I would have scooped up a slice. I selected my orange chicken, fried rice, 2 chicken balls and an egg roll. For dessert, a small scoop of chocolate ice cream and a tiny sliver of black forest cake. Okay, okay it was a huge heap of a slice. Just call me Princess Piggy. And I’m not ashamed to admit I used a fork. I have yet to learn how to use chopsticks. Hmm, maybe that will be on my list for my 2010 New Year’s Resolutions- Master the art of using chopsticks.

No Chinese meal is complete without a fortune cookie. Here is what my fortune revealed:

“Dreams become delusions if abandoned by hard work.”

As we were leaving the restaurant I saw a cutesy item in one of the store windows that I just had to buy and added it to the rest of my little collection.



China Town is the only place I can find PEANUTS merchandise sold year round. Hallmark sells them on a seasonal basis, Christmas and St. Valentine's Day. Attached is a card that says "Happiness Is Goin' Places" and written inside:


There is a string in the back and when you place Snoopy on a flat surface and pull on it he goes zooming across the floor.

Going into the store I figured it was a little gift shop because also in the window were little knick knacks of sorts. Boy was I ever off! I enter inside and they were also selling pig snouts and feet, lotto tickets and ice cream.

I’ve shopped in loads of different stores around the world but the store I had made the purchase in was without a doubt one kind of store I have never shopped in.

*WEDNESDAY*

Last week our garage door opener was acting up. It would open halfway, make a funny whirring sound and then close. My sister called up Sears Home Care since they are the ones who installed it. The earliest they could send a repairman was Wednesday. The morning before I received a call from someone at Sears Home Central informing me the repairman would be there somewhere between the hours of 8:30am-3:30pm. (Don't you love it when they are so specific?) By some strange coincidence “A” was not going to be home during the given time frame. The reason? Teachers conference. The following conversation occurred the night before on the patio while she stood over the BBQ grilling burgers. I was comfortably stretched out on the lawn chair.

Me: A teacher’s conference in July? I thought teachers have the summers off.

A: We do but there’s plenty we still need to do to prepare for the new school year. It’s not too far off you know.

Me: Wonderful. My whole entire day is shot until he arrives.

A: It’s not the whole entire day it’s only until 3:30. And you never know he may show right at 8:30.

I scoffed at the thought of that because I knew there was no way he’d show up that early. They never do. There are certain things that we have certain people take care of for us and then there are the minor things that my sister tends to and I was hoping she would be the one to deal with this matter. The reason? I wasn’t in the mood and couldn’t be bothered.

Me: What am I suppose to do when he shows up?

A: How about you invite him in and show him your new fall shoe collection.....What do you think darling? she asked laughing.

Me: That’s not what I meant and stop teasing me. How many times do I have to tell you I don’t like it when you do that to me.

A: Only kidding darling. Just tell him what’s wrong and he’ll have a solution. It’s not that big of a deal so what’s the problem?

Me: I don’t feel like doing it or waiting around all day.

A: At least you’re honest. I was expecting to hear an excuse like you have an appointment at the nail salon that’s a matter of life or death.

Me: I already paid a visit last week.

I thought to myself, 'damn why didn’t I wait until this week to get a manicure?'

A: Don’t go anywhere tomorrow at least not until after he leaves.

Me: Now you're putting me under house arrest?

Ignoring my question she opened up the bag of hamburger buns and asked,

A: Would you like your bun toasted or not toasted?

Me: Toasted please.

*WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON*

I was in the middle of watching The Jerry Springer Show. Topic: Hillbilly Wedding Bonanza Special when garage door repair man showed up. Time 1:30pm. I had a hunch it would be in the afternoon. And no I didn’t invite him in to show him my fall shoe collection although they are really cute. I told him the problem.

After testing it and doing a full inspection he said, “the thingamajiggy that’s connected to the dohickey that controls the whatchamacallit is worn out. I can replace it but it’s going to last you 3-4 months tops and then you’ll be having the same problem again. My suggestion, you’re better off in the long run getting a new one.”

He had already dismantled the main unit and when he opened it up and showed me the inside of it he went on a technical rampage of words. My sister called and I told her what he had said minus the technical words-“he said we need a new unit.” “Let me talk to him,” she requested. I passed the phone over to him and he gave her the same speech he gave to me and after he was finished talking there was a brief pause and the phone was returned to me. My sister gave him the go ahead to install a new one.

*THURSDAY*

I decided to go for an outdoor run. Lacing up my runners my sister asked if I could swing by the area’s Tim Horton’s and bring her back an Iced Cappuccino (sold only this time of year) and a dozen TimBits.You can always tell where there is a Tim’s by the number of drive through cars spilling onto the street causing traffic problems. Inside was just as worse as outside, there was a human traffic jam.
Most almost everybody was ordering some type of coffee. I wrote once before, I guess I need to enjoy the taste of coffee in order for me to comprehend why people are willing to wait for an eternity in line for a cup of the hot stuff. I find the smell of coffee pleasing but the taste, bleech!

30 minutes later my turn finally comes. I ordered the Ice Cap and a baker's dozen of TimBits. As I’m paying it began to rain and since I jogged over and didn’t have my umbrella with me I waited until the rain died down. While waiting I ate one chocolate TimBit. Mmm, they are so perfect and round in shape and taste rich and moist. 12 different flavors remained. Oh Lord I wanted to gobble them all up but I kept my cool and instead took a teeny tiny bite sampling a taste out of each of them.

When I finally got home I gave “A” her drink. She saw my lipstick mark on the straw. (I had a little sip)

“How was it?” she asked.

“Bleech,” I replied.

After opening the TimBit box she sighed, shook her head and said,

“Good God child.”

“Stop calling me child.”

“If you wouldn’t do things like this I wouldn’t have too,” she stated taking a bite out of the apple spice flavored one which by the way was just as delectable as the chocolate one.

*****

My loyal and dear readers it’s finally F-R-I-D-A-Y!

Whatever your plans are have a melodic weekend.-x

XOXOXOXO,
Cocaine Princess