Hump day a day early...Feb 23/16

I went out on a Hump Day excursion a day early.

The sun was brightly shining, and I have 3 Faresavers left. 

The Translink authorities have changed our method of payment to Compass Cards. These are plastic electronic cards, and I've loaded mine but haven't used it yet. I also haven't registered it. If you register the card, you can upload from your home computer, and check the balance at home. But if you register, anyone can track your where-a-bouts. It makes me so nervous! 

I went to New Westminster on my 2 zone Faresaver ticket. I don't have to tap in or out, which is what you must remember to do with the Compass Card or you will be charged for THREE zones. Can you imagine? And you have to remember the time yourself; nothing notifies you of when your time will expire. ACK!

I got off at New West Station. There are shops on 3 levels at this station, with high rise towers above. There's a Safeway, a Shopper's Drug Mart, an A & W, a Tim Horton's, and among other things, a neat Dollar Tree store, which used to be open only in the USA.

They have nice stuff for $1.25 each or less. I bought some cards, some 18" size doll hats, a green tub for a dog bath, some neat waving flowers for the mini dolls, and a nice Irish rock for my desk. I also stopped in the Salvation Army Thrift store and found the cute handmade carousel horse for only $3.99 and the tiny brand new Anne of Green Gables doll for $2.99. It was a fun outing, and I returned on the same ticket! ($3.75)

Beautiful crocus near Granville Island.

By Loretta Houben

Hump Day, Feb 17, 2016

The first Hump Day in February, due to bronchitis.

I was sick for nearly 3 weeks. The Dr. said it was bronchitis but I have my doubts as I've never had anything that took this long to get over! He prescribed Erythromisin, an antibiotic, and it seemed to help the first few days, but the chest congestion just wouldn't go away, until I hastened to a pharmacist and asked for a cough decongestant which I found out was only made in the USA. (cannot remember the name of it) But she recommended Robitusin Cough and Phlegm Extra Strength and that worked like a charm in 2 days flat. It was absolutely amazing. Then my poor plugged sinuses began to pour forth and after 11 days of having plugged ears I could hear again.

I never get that sick, so hopefully I'll stay well until I'm 65!

I've slowly been able to go out on the Skytrain again, so today it wasn't raining and I headed out to get some groceries, and visited a local $ store. I keep my eyes open for dolly stuff, even though I do not NEED any more! But it's such fun to find things for such low prices! I just can't resist. This year I'm playing more with my mini AG dolls, and I found these 2 pieces of furniture for only $1.25 each. I already had the aquarium. 

I got the cute puzzle mat too, for $1.25 which can be used for a floor in a school room.

The cutest thing of all were these darling spring flowers, which wave in bright light! I just love them. Best of all, they snap together to make a very cute fence! I think Lea and Grace would like a few more.

There are the cutest things out there, if you keep your eyes open.

By Loretta Houben

Hump Day

It's amazing and fun what you can find at the $ store!

I had to go out today in the rain to pay a visit to Stadium Station's transit office to ask about the Compass Card. The lovely faresavers are being phased out. If you buy booklets of 10, you get a nice discount; $31.50 instead of $40 for two zone, and $21 instead of $27.50 for one zone. So I purchased my Compass Card for $6.00 and added $52.50 to it. The big hitch with this method is: I must remember to TAP IN and also to TAP OUT or I will be charged for 3 zones! Ack!!!! Plus there is nothing to tell me what TIME I have remaining, unlike the paper faresaver. 

I don't know if I will travel less or more in 2016.

Time will tell.

While at the station, I decided to pay a visit down the street to a nice $ store.

It has interesting things, a lot from Japan. It reminds me of the Daiso store in Richmond but it isn't a Daiso store. I bought a pretty Japanese blossom table scarf, Japanese blossoms, a small Japanese doll, Chinese confetti, Chinese notebooks for our Bible study group, and plastic picks. It was a fun outing even if I did get a bit wet!
I still have 2 booklets of faresavers left, so I haven't used my Compass card yet.

By Loretta Houben

Hump Day, January 6, 2016

Today being Wednesday, hump day, I decided to go downtown to the American Girl doll store on Broadway and Granville. I never go on Jan 1 for the GOTY of the year reveal as I don't like crowds. The new doll for 2016 is Lea Clark, and at the astounding price of $164 Cdn not including tax, I won't be buying her anytime soon unless I sell a few dolls or get a job! That is an exorbitant price!!!

But I did buy the mini Lea for $40 which is also extremely high. She is very cute though.

I plan to have a few adventures with her in 2016, and I might make her a hut. Don't hold your breath though!

The cute little fruits and veggies and tropical animals were bought at Michael's craft store. They were only $5 a pkg.

While at Michael's I noticed a salesperson marking down the Springfield 18" dolls from $32 to only $10!

So Emma came home with me, as I can't resist a sale like that, not that I need another 18" doll.

I bought her cute bunny slippers for only $2.99.

Did I ever say how much I love a sale?

I plan to make each Wednesday in 2016 "Hump Day" and follow my nose and do something fun, unless of course I have a migraine. I did get the 2nd migraine of 2016 this afternoon after I was back home. It seems that too much fun isn't good for me. The first migraine was on Mon Jan 4.

Anyhow, it was a fun day.

By Loretta Houben