Allergic reaction when drinking pop from plastic bottles

It has taken me a while to narrow down an allergic reaction. For the past couple of weeks or so, my lips would dry up and they'd be itchy around my lips.

At first, I thought it was my toothpaste and dental floss that I was using while stateside. Nope.

Recently, I noticed that my lips would get itchy when I drank either Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi. The formulation of these two products are different, so I didn't think it was the type of pop.

Both drinks were in plastic bottles. I drank from plastic Diet Pepsi bottles in the States. I realized that I'm allergic when I drink directly from plastic bottles.

I'm not sure whether it'll be better if I pour the pop out of the bottle and into a cup to consume, or stick a straw into the bottle. There wouldn't be any plastic contact with my lips. I also don't know whether the plastic would seep into the pop. I have more tests to do. 

The safe bet is to drink pop from cans or get fountain drinks. I haven't any issues with these formats.

I'm so glad that I have narrowed it down. It's such an odd allergy to have, but at least I know what to do when it happens. I have been using hydrocortisone cream around my lips to stop the itchiness and it works.

Busy event and perks week

This week is shaping up to be a busy, exciting one full of events and perks. Later on today, I'm going to Beyond Monet. It's an immersive experience held a day before its official opening day. I am heading downtown, so it'll be interesting. I haven't been in this particular part of the downtown core in a decade!

I am currently planning my weekend. I'm getting free ice cream and beer in two different cities. I hope to hit a rib festival midway between these two cities. I will be doing lots of driving!

Saturday outing with a friend

On Saturday, I met up with a good friend for ice cream, a stroll along the main street in a small town, and a late lunch. It was a great day!

I normally come to this town for ice cream. It was nice spending several hours here with great company. 

We ate indoors. It was a great call. Moments later, a thunderstorm rolled into the area. Rain was coming down sideways. Wow!

My intern's farewell lunch

My intern's original work term was for eight months. Luckily, it got extended and we had him for an additional four months.

My role changed just after his extension had been set. He ended up with another team lead. However, our work still crossed paths and we still managed to communicate with each other regularly.

Back in April, when we thought that it was the end of his work term, I said that we'd have a proper farewell lunch for him when it was safe to do it. We were 1.5 months into the pandemic.

Well, his final day was Friday. I wanted a farewell lunch for him. So did our manager. I talked with our boss. He was good having just the three of us have lunch together. It would be safer with a small number of people there.

I had suggested a restaurant and my intern was game. He was delighted to get a free lunch, paid by our manager, to honour his efforts and accomplishments during his stay with us.

On Friday, I picked up my intern at his home and drove us over to the restaurant. It felt like old times, except that he was in the backseat of my car as I drove. Our manager met us there, as he had to pick up the gift that the company had for my intern.

At his home, I gave my intern a box of gourmet cookies. We love them. The store happens to be in my neighbourhood. He was thrilled.

We sat out in the patio for nearly 2.5 hours. The food was yummy and amazing. We had a lot of laughs while we chatted about a ton of topics.

Afterwards, we walked over to Baskin Robbins to get some ice cream. I was too full from my lunch to have some, but the other two got some.

When we were all done, my intern and I decided to get bubble tea. I treated him to whatever drink he wanted. We sat for a bit to chat before I took him home.

It was a lovely day. I know that I'll see him again, as we have plenty of eateries to discover. I let him know that whenever he was free, to let me know. He confirmed that he would take me up on my offer. He has one last year of undergraduate studies, which start in just over a week.

Virtual meeting with real drinks

Last night, I attended a virtual meeting where we got to drink beverages and chat from the comfort of our own home. There was a nice woman who showed us how to make two cocktails. I loved it all.

On Wednesday, I went to the bar that this woman owns and got my cocktail mix that was pre-made. I haven't had pineapple juice and coconut cream in a drink in ages! It was recommended to add some rum, which I love. However, it tasted so go the way it was that I didn't even bother with the booze.

I have an ice cube tray where I made ice shaped as pineapples. It was incredibly fitting.

It was a fun hour chatting with new people. Now, I'm dreaming of this drink.

The weekend - the possibilities!

The weekend is here! I have a good problem. I don't have an agenda. I simply have a number of places that I'd like to visit.

I have my usual errands to run. I need Diet Coke. I'm out of cream cheese.

I also have some Groupons to use up. I like exploring new places.

It's nice to have a weekend where I have a ton of flexibility. It's also nice to unwind. Shorter work weeks tend to wear me out faster.

Last summer feel when it's practically autumn

Saturday felt like a warm summer day. I took advantage of the day by heading over to a park in Port Perry and getting ice cream.

Last weekend, I was doing work. This weekend, I am focusing on relaxing and unwinding. It's quite the contrast.

It's nice that I am cooking more these days. On Saturday, I made myself breakfast, consisting of an omelette, bacon, and perogies. On Friday, I got a new container for my Vitamix where I can whip up mousse and more. I need to find a recipe and give it a try.

Day off from work on Thursday and finding cheap eats

I had Thursday off from work. We had a summer work event. It was nice to kick back and have fun.

After this event, I found a small restaurant that has prices from the 60's. As an example, I had an orange ice cream float for $2. Insane!

I should go to bed. I was so tired after being out for the day that I took a fifteen-minute nap.

Dreamsicle dipped cone

I am a latecomer visiting Dairy Queen. I have visited this place twice in two days, which happens to be more times than the decade before this year.

I recently found out that DQ has a dreamsicle dipped cone. It is essentially vanilla soft serve that is dipped in orange goodness and handed to you on a cone. I love orange creamsicles, so this treat is the next best thing.

My local DQ is open till 23:00 every night. The hours of operation are deadly! I got home from a late dinner, felt like getting a small cone, and dropped by twenty minutes before closing. I am such a nutcase, but I loved my dreamsicle dipped cone.

My guy's birthday and bingsu

It's my guy's birthday! He tends to work so hard on his special day that I need to remind him that it's actually his birthday.

He makes me happy. I love him to bits. Here's hoping that he has a great day.

Things are busy with me, but I'm good. I just came back from having bingsu (shaved ice with fruit and ice cream) for the first time. It was yummy and surprisingly not overly sweet.

Dollar Tree and rope

My guy loves Dollar Tree. I do, too. You can get practically everything there.

I found one fairly close by our hotel. We went over there after dinner. It even has a frozen foods section, including ice cream and breakfast items.

We walked by the hardware section. There was rope.

"You could use it to tie me up," I said to him quietly.
"Good idea," he said, grabbing a neat bundle.

Later on in the store, he discretely groped my buttock.

"Now, I'm all horny," he said.
"I know," I said to him.

Yes, thinking about the possibilities of using rope on me are nice.

Travel and memories while cuddling

I enjoy when my guy and I cuddle. We have the best conversations, whether we are alert or dopey.

"I am probably going on another business trip soon. It's not confirmed just yet," he said to me.
"Cool. Where are you off to?" I asked him.
"Istanbul. If all goes well, I'd be leaving in the middle of June for a couple of weeks," he said.
"Would you be staying at the same hotel that we were at?" I asked.
"Probably," he said.
"I liked that hotel. I remember the last day when you were shaving your head. You had shaving cream on your head, and you were wearing white slippers and a white bathrobe," I reminisced.
"I looked like a snowman?" he asked.
"Nope. You looked like an angel, except we know that you're not," I said, smirking.
"You're my sweet angel," he said.

He held me tight and kissed me. It was heavenly.

Aspiring to be Clint Eastwood

When we were in our early stages of dating, my guy revealed that he always wanted to be a manly, macho man growing up, like Clint Eastwood. Although he is manly, he has a gentle, boyish side. I first noted it when he was driving to Montreal and stopped to get ice cream.

"I know you don't like your boyish side, but I do. It compliments your manly side," I said to him while we were eating lunch.
"I loved Clint Eastwood as a boy. I wanted to be like him," he admitted.
"I know. But, you are you. You should embrace who you are. I do," I said.
"You're sweet. I wanted to say, 'Go ahead. Make my day,' like he did," he said.
"If you said, 'Make my day,' I would tell you to make your own day. Why do I have to do all the hard work?" I said rhetorically.

He laughed. I love him just the way he is, without the Clint Eastwood split personality.

Hand and body creams require an applicator

The last time my guy and I were together, we were in the training room at work. It was a holiday.

There are a number of details that I didn't mention. My post was rather long, but the main points were all there.

After my guy had spanked, fingered, and got me off, he kissed the small of my back several times. I loved it. He has kissed me there one other time. It's sweet.

My guy has told me that I have nice skin. Ever since my guy had given me two tubes of ultra-moisturizing lotion, I have been applying them religiously on my hands and legs just before I go to bed.

I wrote my guy an e-mail last night. Here's the part about the hand and body cream:

By the way, I love the hand creams that you got me. They smell nice and they hydrate my skin nicely. I look forward to the day when you can apply for the job as my official applicator. =)

My guy did well in the which-creams-should-I-buy department. Yes, my pun was intentional in my e-mail. He wrote back to me a few hours later:

Glad you like the hand creams and look forward to assume my new position as official cream applicator (hands and otherwise :))

Sure, being apart for weeks is tough. He's sweet to leave me gifts at work. Writing and chatting are important. The time apart doesn't seem so bad.

My guy is currently up in the air, flying over to Sweden. My guess is that he's stopping over in Frankfurt, but I could be wrong. Last time, he stopped in Copenhagen, got me a chocolate croissant, and flew home. He's incredibly thoughtful and spoils me. I have truly lucked out.

My guy shopping in Victoria's Secret, but not for lingerie... just yet

My guy and I have been chatting on Skype for the last three evenings. It has been great.

Before leaving for Brazil, my guy left me a gift in my desk drawer at work. He told me that he had visited Victoria's Secret last week and got me a couple of items. He also got some double hot chocolate that I had wanted to try when we were in the United Airlines lounge in Newark International Airport.

My guy doesn't know what size I wear when it comes to lingerie. He has the same view as I do about clothing. It's just better to shop with the person.

In the past, I had mentioned what my bra size was to him once. He had asked me about cup size, so I gave him my bra size as an example. I told him that it hasn't changed in years and he attentively made sure that he remembered my bra size. He seems genuinely interested in getting me a bra-and-panty set. I also told him what my panty size is, too.

I commended him on how great it was that he ventured into the store. In general, I would think that it would be a bit uncomfortable for a guy. He was fine. He bought me two tubes of hand and body cream from the place, which I love. He did well.

"You have nice skin," he said to me. "I hope that I can apply the lotion on you."
"I'd like that," I replied.

My guy mentioned again that he wanted to get me lingerie the next time he was in Victoria's Secret.

"You have seen my bras, so you have an idea of what I like," I said.
"Yes, I do!"
"I like lace. It's so pretty and feminine," I elaborated a bit.
"You look great in those lacy panties."

I recently found a pair of panties that I adore from that store. The panty's front is cotton. Its back is lace. It's the perfect balance. More importantly, they are comfy to wear.

My toys came in the mail today. I will likely talk about them later. I like my purchases.

The best part about our chat was that he indicated that he was going to India and the States again on business. He wants me to join him. I am game. I have three weeks of vacation left. I have already used a week of vacation that I had carried over from last year. It was fun spending time with him. We both agreed that it would be perfect to do it again.