Travelling to Minnesota and COVID-19 tests

My trip back to Minnesota was great. I worked remotely and started each workday at 7 am. It was great ending my workday at 3:30 pm. It allowed me to be a tourist.

I may need to write a how-to for Canadians travelling to the States. I needed to get an antigen COVID-19 test to fly into the States. It had to be administered within 72 hours of my departing the country. I got a check-in counter guy at the airport who said that it was 24 hours. He was wrong after consulting with a colleague.

With the recent changes by the US administration, this check-in counter guy is now correct. It's now 24 hours. It means that for my next trip, I'm taking my antigen test hours before I board my flight. It all works out fine. I have booked my appointment.

To get into Canada, I need to do a PCR or molecular COVID-19 test 72 hours before boarding my flight in the US heading back home. I actually did a NAAT test at a local CVS pharmacy. I got to self-administer the test at the drive-thru and drop my swab in a tube in a special box. I got my results in just over a day. It was also free. Had I done a PCR test at the airport, it would have cost me $200 USD.

I am glad that everything worked out. I fly again in over a week, so I'm more comfortable now with the experience that I have gained.

Daylight saving time - falling back

I like when we fall back an hour. I get to sleep in.

On Saturday, I finally saw Chang-Shi at my local movie theatre. I loved it. It's even more special when I used a voucher and didn't have to pay a thing.

Rare Monday night outing

On Monday night, I went out to get a free meal at a cool Mexican-Latin-America eatery. The food was amazing. I'll definitely need to return for more.

The place is owned by a husband-and-wife team. They were so warm and welcoming.

It was raining all night. It felt soothing driving through the rain heading over there and then home.

I did stop to get some bubble tea after eating dinner. It was the perfect way to end my outing.

Ordered takeout from the wrong location

I did something odd last night. I ordered takeout with my app, which isn't all that weird. I didn't realize that it defaulted to a place roughly an hour away from where I was. I drove to the closest restaurant where I thought that I had placed my order.

I had already paid for my meal and it was ready. It was too far away for me to pick it up. So, I had to cancel and forfeit my purchase. I was oddly okay with it and hope that someone else orders the same meal.

It was so weird. I normally am pretty careful about location. I'll need to pay more attention next time.

Weekend and Immersive Van Gogh

The weekend is here. 

Later on today, I'm revisiting the Immersive Van Gogh experience. In early July, I did the drive-in version. I ended up getting free tickets to do the in-person experience once the place reopened. It has!

The downside was that the place never disclosed how to get these free tickets until I sent an e-mail. I had to wait a few days for a response. I finally got a code to use on their site to get my tickets. However, the code was invalid.

So, I had to send another e-mail with a screenshot showing that something was wrong with the code. Sure enough, it was some weird issue on their end. I used this code again after their fix and it worked. yay!

I'm looking forward to this outing in downtown Toronto.

Avengers STATION

I went out on Wednesday night. I visited the Avengers STATION experience and had a fabulous time.

I'm soaking the experience all in. It was wonderful and free!

My spider plant and an online concert

On Sunday, I went out. It was a rare outing, but I hit a farmers' market to pick up a free plant.

I enjoyed hitting the market. I ended up buying some cool items, such as lemon shortbread and blackcurrant kombucha.

My new plant is a spider plant. I feel like naming it Spike. I have never owned a spider plant in my life until now.

I'm watching a concert online. It's still going and it's nearly 1 am. Thank goodness I'm a night owl.

Lip serum

I am doing fairly well in the giveaway department this month. Last week, I managed to answer a bunch of questions and got a prize. It was sent to me yesterday.

The company makes and sells beauty products. I ended up with an anti-wrinkle lift and plump lip serum. I had no idea that such a product exists until now! Its value is $60. Not too shabby!

I tried it on my lips immediately. It has a subtle cantelope scent that I love. I have full lips already, so we'll see what happens to them over time.

Ontario enters step 2 and I'll contemplating a haircut

Today, the lockdown lifts a bit in Ontario. We are entering step 2. Personal care services are allowed to reopen, for instance. There are a bunch of other changes.

I would love to get my hair cut. However, I feel like many folks will be doing that today. The worst case is getting my hair cut during the weekday next week. I'll still be on vacation.

I'm enjoying my time off so far. I got more free cookies today. I went to a bookstore and got some great deals. I'm happy.

Pre-birthday outings and cookies

My friend took me out for a pre-birthday meal on Sunday. It was terrific. I rarely go out on Sundays. It was nice seeing civilization on a patio and catch up with my friend.

I have consumed more booze this month than all of last year. It's amazing what great weather and patios being available will do.

I am enjoying my vacation so far. I went out to get free cookies and a watermelon Italian soda that I got as a perk. Tomorrow, I have more free cookies that are a birthday perk. Yay!

At the car wash

On Monday, I got a free car wash and wax at a local car detailing shop. The place did a wonderful job. I haven't seen my car look that shiny and new since I first bought it.

I was highly impressed. I definitely will return. I like that the place is a ten-minute drive from where I live.

Heatwave, dole whip, and a perk

The heatwave and extreme humidity disappeared yesterday. It was nice to turn off the air conditioning and have my windows open. I prefer cool breezes while still seeing sunshine.

Two days ago, I went out for a perk. I got a free cupcake and cookie. They were good.

I also indulged in some dole whip. I got raspberry and mango flavours. It was refreshing on a scorching day.

It's Friday. The weekend is within reach.

Weekend reflections

Blink and just like that, the weekend is over.

I got two free bubble tea drinks on Saturday. I cooked and baked on Sunday. I also trimmed my bangs and can see again. It was been nice, relaxing weekend.

The spot on my arm where I got my vaccine injection is a tad sore. It's not horrible. I can sleep on it just fine. I only notice it now and again.

My friend and colleague checked up on me after I got my shot. She's sweet that way.

Have a great week, everyone!

Weekend, wings, and cupcakes

The weekend is finally here. Yay!

After work on Friday, I went out briefly to fetch some takeout for dinner. I got 50% off chicken wings and a four-cheese spinach dip with baked pita triangles. Delicious!

Later on today, I'm fetching a couple of complimentary cupcakes. I have been pretty good reducing my sugar intake for over a week. I will ruin it a bit with the cupcakes before I hop back on sugar-reduced train.

Have a great weekend! 

Free frapp

Yesterday, I ran my errands a day earlier than I typically do. It was such a sunny day that I needed to get some vitamin D. Later on today, we are expecting a mix of snow and rain. I want to simply stay at home and avoid driving in it.

I dropped by my local Starbucks. I am a regular customer. I approached the drive-thru and the barista knew who I was just looking at my car.

When I got to the window to pick up my beverage, she said that she had made an extra drink by accident and wanted to give it to me. She knew that I'd likely want it. She was right. It was a double chocolatey chip creme frappuccino. I thanked her for the free drink.

I have never had one before. I must admit that it was pretty good. It was nice that she thought of me.

Cookbook and charging adapter from Amazon Prime Days

I participated in my first Amazon Prime Days event. I typically don't have a thing to buy. However, there were a few things that I wanted this year.

One was a vegan recipe book. I'm not vegan. The fact that the recipes are dairy-free suit me, as I'm borderline lactose-intolerant.

I got a charging adapter that has more electrical outlets, including three USB ports. I installed it in the basement. 

This charging adapter is perfect. It has a screw that stays put when plugged into the wall outlet. I needed it and solves my issue with any plug that wouldn't stay plugged in. Yay!

Scooter with a kickstand is mine for free!

At work, we have a fitness program. When you hit a certain number of points based on your exercise and wellness progress, you get $75 each quarter to spend on whatever. I tend to get a gift card from Amazon.

We also have a recognition program. The more points you receive from others who recognize you and your accomplishments at work, you can also redeem points towards goods.

I have saved enough through these programs to get a kickstand scooter. I have wanted one for years. When the Razor scooter was popular, I tried it out stateside at Sam's Club. I rode it up and down an aisle and loved it.

Perhaps down the road, I will consider an electric version. For now, I'm pleased with the manual version. I figure that I can get more exercise out of it and it weighs less.

I get to pick it up later today. I am so excited!

Deleting large files is painful on an old Mac mini

I have an old Mac mini. It took nearly a day to move my 2.12 GB photo library to trash. I am now emptying this file from the trash. It is taking a long time. I suspect that it'll take another day.

On a good note, I got rid of roughly 3 GB of old files. I expect my Mac mini's performance to be a bit better.

It's nice that I can find activities to do while I am staying at home. One of these days, I hope to get a new Mac mini, but we'll see if I can make my current one stretch a bit.

Trying out my Google Nest Mini

I have been chipping away at little projects around the house that I have put aside. It was a combination of not spending a lot of time at home and not being motivated.

Two months ago, I got a Google Nest Mini for free. I received in the mail and kept it in its box all this time.

Last night, I decided to give it a whirl. It plays my music fine. I can ask it to play my music and tell me what the weather forecast is. It works like my Alexa speaker.

It would be interesting to pit them together and see if they can converse with each other.

Staying at and working from home makes me focus on organization

I have lost count of how long I have been working from home this month. It's easier to say that I have worked in the office once this month.

I find that after I'm done work that I take a nap, fix myself dinner, and then organize various parts of my home. Last night, I spent a good couple of hours filing my tax receipts away, re-organizing how my bedroom looks, doing laundry, and throwing out correspondence that I don't need anymore.

It all feels good and freeing. It's cool.

At this rate, my home will look pretty tidy and nice.