Von's Room　ヴォンの部屋

I visited a few restaurants on the company tab (except that I forgot to ask for a receipt at the last one, but it was only an $8 sushi meal, and good sushi at that). 

Of course, I blogged about my first stop, Ruth's Chris.  Surprisingly, not many people heard of it. But it is still the most outstanding steak I have ever had, and even better than the filet mignon BBQd at my ex-supervisor's 60th birthday party (yes, the same one where I was called a harlet, and considering I was wearing red at the time, I could have been a scarlet harlet O.o). But I won't go on about that, the dining was fine, and the steak tender and flavourful (EVEN after a day in the fridge!) 

The next eating excursion was to Bonterra Trattoria, where Brangelina once dined.  I made the booking in a fit of loneliness, after napping through two episodes of CSI.  I had the Ahi Tuna, with a sort of Eggplant salsa, and a Digby Scallop (wrapped in bacon of course).  The tuna was lightly seasoned and then lightly seared to perfection, and it was very fresh!  It was tuna, as it should be, raw...The digby scallop was delicious, although I always find that the bacon sometimes overpowers everything, but the scallop itself was yummy. The eggplant salsa was served on a bed of spinach and the whole thing topped off with pine nuts.   That was after the artichoke and asparagus soup starter.  It was amazing soup, and the artichoke was soft, and the soup creamy (without being too heavy) and light, and not starchy at all.  Finally  The service was pretty amazing... with very polite and knowledgeable hosts and hostesses and waitstaff.  In fact, their wine selection was enormous and under lock and key!  I would suspect that any wine lover would enjoy their selection! Surprisingly, they even had Vino Dolce (sweet wines) to accompany dessert.  I had the Tiramisu, although I wanted to get the Panna Cotta.  I was just worried that the cream would be too much for my lactarded stomach.  The tiramisu was light and fluffy, and extra delish, with grated chocolate, a light chocolate sauce and topped with a few espresso beans. 

The next day, I visited Yamato, for ramen and a spicy tuna sushi roll.  The tuna was pretty good. It seems to be how I measure sushi restaurants, by how fresh the tuna is.  It was okay, but I think I will get the green tea cheesecake that was recommended next time I go. Then for dinner, I still craved more tuna, and a coworker had suggested that I go to the Sushi Cafe, which was close to the work place, but farther than Yamato,   It was here, I talked to the owner Theo, who was raised in Grande Cache, and then opened up a sushi restaurant in Edmonton, before selling it and opening up the sushi cafe in Calgary.  We traded stories of our experiences with racism, and even though he suffered more than me (having lived in backwater Alberta before multiculturalism existed), I think we bonded on some level.  So much that he invited me to karaoke with him and his wife the next time I came down to Calgary.  I'm totally taking him up on it. 

The spicy tuna roll he made for me was yummy too (and the tuna was VERY fresh and VERY soft), and he gave me a sample of his california roll, which with fresh avocado and pollock did not taste like the normal California rolls that I dislike - my take is that mayo and sushi rice do NOT go together. 

Now, I'm riding back home to Edmonton, on the Red Arrow (which is deluxe bussing).  .  A very nice man named Mark introduced himself to me, and we discussed everything from my research to the selling of his environmental engineering firm during the recession. It is very interesting, in that his best friend is the founder of LuluLemon, (they were each others best men at their respective weddings), and he had just ridden a leer jet to his meeting this morning (because of his friend). Interestly enough, if I had a sugar daddy type, he would be it.  But I won't get on that topic now. I just referred him into to get a consult at the clinic.  Maybe I'll attempt seduction when he comes in for his pre-operative consult. 

Anyways, hope that helped for your Calgary eating needs! 

Blogging from a complimentary upgraded suite's bathtub.   And what's more satisfying than blogging from a hotel bathtub?

Blogging from a 2-bedroom suite hotel bathtub after an expensive steak which will later be reimbursed by the company.  Ahhhh, the simplest things in life. By simple things, I mean taking advantage of the system.   Yes, I am gloating...

Currently, I am in Calgary, and I will be training for a laser tech position (one I had been vying for since I started work at the clinic 7 months ago), and am currently reimbursed for my meals, at a very fair (if not wonderful), rate. The company payed for the hotel and bus before hand (I know, sounds like corporate-gobbledegook). 

Oh! And the bus!! The 3.25 hour bus ride was very different from what I've normally ridden. Complimentary snacks and beverages, wireless internet and leather recliners! Sadly, I got rather motion sick from surfing the internets, but I caught up on a bit of my email, and cleaned up my mailbox.  

I don't know why I feel so smart about this. It's rather simple, just keep the total meal allowance under the per diem rate and follow the simple rules of tipping the maximum amount you can, and then claim it.  Although I must admit, the steakhouse was a rather last minute add to my itinerary, and I made the reservation while I was on the bus. I was giddy the rest of the bus ride, looking forward to the steak... and when it came sizzling in butter, topped with a blue cheese crust (garlic, bleu cheese and bread crumbs)... I was smiling like an idiot.  At a table across from me, there were a couple of business meetings going on (at 10:00 PM, hardcore!).  At the booth on the other side of mine was a couple, who were either on their first date, or were a sugar-daddy/sugar-baby couple...or a john with a high class escort.  She was young, nubile, blonde and beautiful, and very very giddy, and he was rather ...dull, and plain, in his dark suit and chubby cheeks. 

Okay, now it's time to dry off the hair, and go to bed.  I have to train at 8 AM tomorrow. Best thing is, when I arrived, I was surprised by my complimentary upgrade to a 2 bedroom suite that's larger than my current apartment!  I kind of wish that I had someone here to share it with.  But sadly, I have more room than I need here... but the great thing is... I can totally walk around naked.  And yes, I took pictures (and video) of the bus, the steak, and the apartment.  I'll be posting them up on facebook sometime soon.  

Yup bedtime.  King size bed, all to myself.  Gloat...pout...

I feel strange sitting with my sunglasses on, typing and eating....I feel like an X-man. 

 

It's strange how a person can do this on impulse.  I certainly did, (since I got it for free).  Give me a few weeks to see if I will recommend it. 

Complaining is the first step to social reform/revolution, etc...and even more restrictive governments recognize the power of even the most harmless complaints and take action to immediately squash them. 

Luckily, personal complaining by emo kids (like me) in blogs are even more harmless, and less regulated, especially in Canada.  And there's no social reform in this either.  

But does complaining do ME any good?  Yes, if I can do something about it.  

In the search to constantly better myself, I have found that my personal complaints lead to me getting on the ball (for myself) and actually DOING stuff.  Contentedness never led me to better myself.  The solace I find in singlehood (oh yeah, I'm off again with Hair - probably permanently, and it has been making me sad), is that I always find other things to improve myself. 

E.G.  

Complaint 1:  I'm single (and not necessarily happy about it).  Solution: I changed my facebook status to "single" to start to move on, and promptly received facebook ads to dating sites.  I may be angry at hetero males at the moment, but I find that hanging out with the gay furries is the most comfortable.  I worry sometimes that I may never find love again or that I will be single forever.   I'm still trying to decide if I want a big poly household, or just a comfortable life with one other person, who will be the closest to me over everyone else (I.E. the American Dream, married with kids in a house with a white picket fence).  

Complaint 2: I also want to start dressing up nice and going to clubs... but I think I'm too fat and old.  Solution: Pole-dancing classes start October 5th.  I plan on getting good enough to teach.  

Complaint 3: I need more freedom from my father, without abandoning him.  Solution: I'm moving out October 1st. 

Complaint 4: Finances are tight. Solution:  I am now working at both Lasik and the Singhal EEG/fMRI lab.  I need to find time to work 20 hours a week at the lab.  I think with both jobs, it'll be more than enough to cover expenses, especially when my car payments finish, and I can give up long distance phone call and parking expenses (at over $100/month each) when I move out to the place by the train station. 

Complaint 5: I need be active.  Solution: See answer to Complaint 2.  As well, I will be allotting weekday evenings for climbing, and I might even offer private lessons in outdoor climbing to my friends (and charge them for it, because they will flake on me less that way).  And... the snowboard trip with the asian invasion is coming up this year again, in early January.  I plan on going.  

See you in London (if you're there) and see you back in Edmonton on the 8th!