Weeknotes: March 23rd - March 29th 2026

Disclaimer: It should be mentioned that Weeknotes are always a snapshot of the week itself and lack the fullness of life - as is the case with any personal blogging.

✨ Happenings

• With spring break in swing for the public school board, I had the week off and I very much enjoyed the leisure time. It really is a blessing. But the unquestionable highlight of the week was getting a new bike: State Bicycle's 6061 Black Label v3. This is a single-speed/fixed gear aluminum track bike and I have been longing for one quite some time (as many folks can attest). I received it in the mail on Monday and got it assembled at Bathtub Bikes on Tuesday (thanks to Alexis for driving). I even got to take it for a spin a couple times despite the snowfall this week!
• On Monday, I started the morning by reading on the couch (this will be a recurring theme) while I waited for my new bike to be delivered. After it arrived, Alexis and I went to Bridgeland for coffee and a short walk. In the evening, Taylor and I went to TRE Vietnamese Kitchen for dinner.
• On Tuesday, Alexis and I dropped my new bike off at Bathtub Bikes to be professionally assembled. While we waited, we went to And Some Flowers Cafe and went shopping in Inglewood before picking it up. In the afternoon, Taylor and I went to my doctor's appointment (Alexis, truly being the world's kindest MVP, also helped us get there <3), then went for a bike ride along the Bow River and relaxed at home.
• On Wednesday, part of the city had awoken to a sudden spring snowstorm and caused (as it does) chaos on the roads. As a storm chaser of sorts, I went for a bike ride to start the day and feel the dreadfully ludicrous conditions of the bike lanes. For brunch, Taylor, Alexis, and I went to Bonjour Saigon, and Ihad the hangover fried rice and a Vietnamese iced coffee. After a mid-afternoon therapy appointment, I read on the couch and played chess with Taylor.
• Throughout much of Thursday I stayed at home to finish reading Betsy Rubiner's Our Diaries, Ourselves: How Diarists Chronicle Their Lives and Document Our World. For the evening, I joined Alexis, Abby, Katie, and Raneem for Iranian food at Termeh Cafe Restaurant, with a stop to Village Ice Cream for dessert.
• I started Friday by biking to Eight Ounce Cafe to purchase espresso beans. In the afternoon, I read on the couch. Taylor and I read on the balcony, played chess, and got our Roku streaming device working so we could watch Dropout, CBC Gem, and Nebula.
• Saturday morning, I went to Inglewood Bird Sanctuary to join in the first Calgary Queer Bird Watching Club event and I met some wonderful folks (hi!). For lunch, I went to Canela's Vegan Bakery and biked home to read Kim Ghattas' Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Forty-Year Rivalry That Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East for the rest of the afternoon.
• Taylor and I started Sunday by going bouldering with Katelyn and Avery (who is visiting for a few days). For the afternoon, I went for another bike ride on my new track bike. For supper, we went to Kensington Pub and Milk Ice Cream to enjoy quality time with Avery, Alexis, Ang, Katelyn, and Krystal.
• For books, Betsy Rubiner's Our Diaries, Ourselves: How Diarists Chronicle Their Lives and Document Our World and started reading Kim Ghattas' Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Forty-Year Rivalry That Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East. As for video games, I continued playing Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl.
• Also, congratulations to Avi Lewis for winning the federal New Democratic Party's leadership contest! We finally have a socialist leading the NDP! Now to win the next federal election and work towards economic democracy. 🧡

📷 Photos

👣 Taylor's Footnotes

• I spent the first part of the week recovering from work on the weekend, but quickly found myself overwhelmed regardless. With a partnership renewal with lovely folks at work taking all day on Saturday (with lots of long hours and prep leading up to it), I was truly exhausted by the time I could catch up with friends on the weekend. I am lucky and grateful to have lovely folks around me, who help recharge my batteries and who always make me feel at ease.
• My parents just came back from Jamaica - I can't wait to catch up with them when I can to learn more about their trip.
• Also! My lovely uncle Dan let me know that a game I played with my Dad and him as a kid, City of Heroes, has come back online for free. I am looking forward to trying it - the character customization options alone is a reason to give it a go. If anyone has nostalgia for the game, do let me know! I am hoping to finally get playing next week when I am taking time off. (Phew!)