Calypso

I have been so on my studying shit this past week, all of you want to be me soo bad. (Unless you are also studying, then you probably don’t). (Or unless you don’t want to study, then also probably not).

I think it is partially because I barely have anything to do, but that’s besides the point. I’m on top of my shit in every class.

I’m even up to date on my readings of The Road, which is the most boring book I have read to date. (This is an exaggeration, I do not fuck with Shakespeare).

But really, all “the Man” and “the boy” spend the book doing is walking and sleeping. Over and over. Like, get a life, maybe?

Partially, I’m blaming my saltiness on that I can never connect the dots when reading between the lines, so going over the text in class always throws me for a loop.

Most of the time, it feels like I’m reading a different book. Like, hello?

But anyways, noise cancelling headphones are the best invention in the world. Something about them just puts me in a studying mood.

If I’m being honest, I’m in the mood to do more work, but I don’t even have anything else to do. If anyone reading this (in high school) knows someone who wants to pay me to do their delta math, I am so down. I miss her. Especially if it’s calc or algebra. (Geometry does not fuck).

I also think it’s my planner fueling me. Today, I read David Sedaris’ chapter in Calypso about how getting a Fitbit motivated him to start walking tens of thousands of steps a day.

Not only that, but when his Fitbit died, he felt like there was no point in walking anymore, because nothing was keeping track. That’s honestly how I feel about my planner.

My to-do lists in the morning fuel me. It feels wrong to go to bed with stuff unchecked, and I live for the moment when I can cross stuff off. It’s really the main thing motivating me to do them.

I’ve started viewing things in my life in the context of to do lists, what could be added, what could be crossed off, and how to go about it.

I wake up, and I’m hyped to start my list for the day. I go to bed knowing of the excitement waiting for me when I wake up. I brainstorm when walking to the bathroom, when brushing my teeth, when getting dressed, and I keep it up throughout my day.

As the weeks pass, my list grows longer, and it leaves me wondering just how long they’re gonna begin to get. Is there a limit? Only God knows.

BRB, off to cross writing a blog post off my list.

Violet

A&W & Grocery Misc.

Yesterday was another food win.

The two highlights:

My free milkshake from chef on call (Thank You McGill) was so fucking fire. Overwhelmed by the number of options, I ventured into uncharted territory and ordered the chocolate chip version.

While at first I was insecure of my choice, worried I fucked up and missed out on better, I was reassured when later I tried the chocolate and the vanilla versions. Right after I took my first sip, a smug smile came over my face as I realized they were mid at best.

The chocolate chip had a vanilla base, and the chocolate pieces were ground up pretty finely so they provided a nice bite of texture in every sip.

I finished the milkshake quickly, the cold dairy pushing me through my tiresome walk home.

Thinking I was done, remiss but satisfied, I prepared myself to throw out the empty glass. I looked down one last time, to make sure I wasn’t leaving any morsels behind, and to my surprise there was a huge chocolate chip sitting at the bottom of the cup.

The shock factor this gave me was the perfect way to tie up my free milkshake experience, and I honestly couldn’t have asked for better.

Sorry to say, I was so wrapped up in the experience I forgot to take a picture.

Later in the day: I tried A&W. When I first came to Montreal, I remember (last week) being surprised to see this brand name on stores, thinking it just sold root beer. However, since then, I’ve learned that it’s a classic.

The burger was delicious. I’m not sure if I was just biased and hungry, or if it was actually good, but for a fast food burger, it hit. Nothing else to say.

Also, I tried Lola’s onion rings, which she described as “over-salted,” and I was blown away. It was my first time trying onion rings, and if this was just a mediocre version, I could barely wrap my head around how the best ones taste.

So, it’s being added to the list.

I am officially on the hunt for some delicious onion rings.

LMK any Recs.

Unfortunately, unlike the milkshake, the burger was not enough sustenance to fuel the journey ahead, and breaks were needed.

On another note, figured out where I’m gonna do the rest of my shopping. My new grocery store is like half the price, such a blessing.

I got sandwich basics, apples (got clowned for peeling off the skin- a girl is gonna do what she’s gonna do. The skin was wack, I’m not ashamed), Oreos (they didn’t have maple cookies), milk (which I stay needing), and cherry tomatoes.

Consider this to do list completed 😉. (To do list of one item - grocery shopping). Bodied it.

TTYL,

Violet

Snackin’

Violet (me) and others (Lola) take on the Canadian terrain one cultural staple at a time. Made possible by the Canadians (Charlotte and Gwen).

Coffee crisp. Pretty fire. It tasted like a thicker Kit Kat but coffee edition. (Coffee Crisp, if you didn’t catch that). Or like a Crunchie but better and also coffee flavored. Wild stuff.

All of a sudden my room smells like burning popcorn… hmm.

These were delicious. No notes. I think they would also be delish if they were crunchier, but I have no issues. (Some may say this is a note; it’s not. It’s just a suggestion for another route they could go). These are a snack I would like to see more of down south (America). (Sorry - the United States of America).

Edit: they are crunchy, those were stale. No notes: Truly.

Bear Claw - Honestly was mid. It didn’t really even do anything wrong, I’m just not a soft cookie girl. I’m also not a molasses girl. So, in general it was kind of a miss. No hate though. Sorry Canadians. Just speaking my truth…

Next up: Ketchup chips. Absolutely no notes. Maybe the highlight of this blog review?? Could it be? They tasted like Salt and Vinegar chips on steroids. These will be eaten again.

Maybe the biggest miss, sorry not sorry, was Bits and Bites. It’s just Chex Mix, for my readers not familiar. Mid.

Looking back, I lied earlier when I said that the Ketchup Chips were the highlight. Iced Caps blew everything else out of the water. Lola analyzed it better than I could: it tasted like Hagendaaz coffee ice cream that had been left in the freezer for too long - but not in a way I was mad about.

So delicious. This is becoming a staple. Thank you Tim Hortons.

Last but not least, to bring it all home, Poutine. While this wasn’t my favorite, I felt the good bones hiding underneath. This was from Alto’s, so I could use my One Card.

This means that it was basically free, (that’s how it works), and everyone knows, again, free food always tastes better.

To be honest, I think it could’ve been less saucy, but so I’ve heard: there’s better out there waiting for me.

To the next Canadian snack adventure…

Coming up:

Beaver tails

Dill pickle chips

Nanaimo bars

Montreal Bagels: Redone

Poutine: expanded

Tiger Tails Ice Cream

Cherry Blossoms

Keep your eye peeled (in January) for Snackin’ part 2: The Canadians take on American Cultural Staples. (War Between The Worlds), with questions answered such as “Who comes out on top?”

TTYL

Violet