absurdity witnessed: Russian lover's quarrel in the park

yesterday we grabbed a late lunch from our favourite Japanese grocery store. there was a sun shower so our plan for a Pocky picnic outside was foiled. we parked the car beside a park and thought we'd have a car picnic instead. a calm green spot to enjoy from within. or so we thought. the minute we unwrapped and dived into our feast this character appeared. he was shouting in Russian into his cellphone, pacing and gesturing. a heated argument between Russian lovers? perhaps, we would need an interpreter. abruptly, the call ended and he returned to a group of friends further in the park. then she must have wanted the last word because the whole scene unfolded a second time. it was a bit surreal, like a bit of theatre. a play.

at-choo!

the crazy chinese lady next door has served up a fresh dose of bizarre. now that the weather is warmer, maybe i am just noticing it more...open windows and doors bring the indoors out. she SNEEZES frequently. LOUDLY. COMICALLY. i used to think it was just a morning thing but even around 8pm last night i heard her, and again countless times today. what gives? is she allergic to her own magic remedies, potions and schemes? it is one curious case, that is for sure.

absurdity witnessed+: 14 bottles of bleach on the lawn

14 bottles of bleach on the lawn, 14 bottles of bleach. you take one down, pass it around...yes, it's true. crazy chinese lady from next door had a display of 14 bottles of bleach (empty) on her tiny front lawn. she must own stock! this obsession really baffles us. cleanliness is next to godliness or so they say. she must be at the gates of heaven at this rate. happy easter!

Follow Up Post - Saturday, March 29:
the 14 bottoms are displayed in three star-like displays on her lawn. like flowers of bleach. astericks! not an accident i am sure. the oddity continues...

absurdity witnessed: bleach + salt

crazy chinese lady from next door was at it again. this time we spotted her dumping an entire bottle of bleach on a stray piece of wood on the street out front of her house. then a pyramid of salt appeared in the same spot the next day. the woman goes through bleach like it is water. anyone have any theories on the meaning behind the salt pyramids? she is a one-woman reality tv show. good friday! for more absurdity witnessed, read on.

more absurdity witnessed: scattered white substance

crazy chinese lady next door is back to her old tricks. this time, there is this rank unknown white crystalized substance scattered mid lawn to mid sidewalk. a long haired black chat was seen investigating and nibbling at the stuff. it seems like a cross between detergent and moth balls, some kind of radioactive salt. possibly poisonous? is she warding off bad omens or just sick of Tide? you be the judge.

absurdity witnessed: voice from within

went to the bank machine last night, couldn't figure out why there was someone at the outside one when the inside one was free. went in, pulled out my wallet, when a hand stretched down over the darkened screen from within. a voice said, Hey! i screamed and ran outside. i waited and used the outside machine but realized i needed a deposit envelope from inside. i finished up, went back inside and again - the hand and the voice. screamed again! and then i said, "just getting an evelope!" obviously it was a repair guy -- or maybe a robber! -- i didn't really stick around to find out, i will call the bank today just to be sure. the voice and the hand at that confidential moment really spooked me, i have to say. in hind sight, i should have asked more questions - after all he was pretty far away inside the machine and i am sure everything is on tape. maybe shouldn't have used the other machine. i wonder why they wouldn't lock the door when the machine was being serviced. an odd experience to be sure.

absurdity witnessed: salt

crazy chinese lady next door is up to new tricks. first a pile of salt appeared on the sidewalk out front her house, en route to our office/crash pad. today, another pyramid appeared on the road about 2 paces away from the first one. at first i though maybe someone was cleaning up from a party -- someone had tossed their cookies and this was the clean up solution. now that there are two, i am beginning to wonder if it is tied into the brooms and the water and the music. the piles seem to be somewhat aligned with her front walk, is this a feng shui magic?

theories anyone?

absurdity witnessed

the next door neighbour is a chinese woman who is prone to listening to the radio LOUD and running water from her second story window. she likes to sit right up into the screen of her front bay window. sally thinks she may play the loud music to drone out the voices in her head. i have yet to see them, but apparently she posts brooms in the window as well. is she fending off evil or inviting it in?