I Must Be Out Of My Mind

[Rusla]

This may be long, sorry but I am so excited.

As many of you may know I recently went to Victoria BC for a Conference to do with my other job, Epicure Selections. For any of you who do not know what they are they are a wonderful selections of all natural spice mixes, chef quality kitchen utensils and now soaps and cleaning products. Why I I got involved with them was because all except for two of the spice dip/mixtures were gluten/wheat free, excellent quality, cost, all natural, and not harmful to animals, people and the environment. Unfortunately they are not in the US yet but hopefully soon.

Anyway, I have no idea why I am living in Calgary now. I went to Victoria where the grass is green, flowers growing and blooming and cherry trees in bloom everywhere. The people are friendly and will help you find anything you want or need to. 2boys4me sent me an excellent list of restaurants that were gluten free friendly.

I happened to find some places on my own that were and believe me for a City of 300,000 a mere fraction of Calgary's population I had no problems. Most of my breakfasts and lunches were at the Convention centre who bent over backwards for me, the only Celiac there of 400 people. They prepared special meals and a special chocolate cheesecake on a thin slab of killer good chocolate for me that, melted in your mouth and was to die for. One morning on our wandering around Victoria we came upon a restaurant on the list called Cup of Joe and it was a small,friendly unique restaurant where graffiti on the walls was encouraged. The menu was named mostly for movies, movie stars, and musicians.

I had the "In the Garden of Good and Evil" omelette which had feta cheese, spinach, roasted garlic and mushrooms. Usually it came with fried potatoes and toast but we excluded them because the fries are done on the grill and toast is a given exclusion. That omelette was huge and delicious, if I would have had the fries I couldn't have ate them all, it cost me around $10.00 with a pop and tax. My friend had the "Chuck Berry Pancakes ladden with black berries and whipped cream, the small order, and she could not finish them. She said they were the best pancakes she had ever eaten. Her meal with a umpteen cups of coffee was about $7.

There was a small restaurant pub that was next door to my hotel and there were things on their menu that I could eat and they made sure to keep them away from bread and flour. Along with our hotel was also gluten-free friendly but it was far too expensive for my tastes.

The air in Victoria is so much better for me and I don't care about the rain because in a place where I can see green grass; flowers bloom, fresh fruit growing practically all year yes, also palm trees, and the ocean it wouldn't matter. The good thing is that I would no longer have asthma attacks, snow to shovel and my arthritis hurt a lot less, plus the availability of so many gluten-free foods. I am looking into what it would take for me to move there and get a job.

Victoria is one of the oldest cities in North America and people are willing to help you out and they even stop at the crosswalks to let you cross the street.No horn beeping or finger salutes along with obscene remarks. Their rush hour daytime traffic is like driving around on Xmas day in Calgary. I think we saw one jerk driver speeding, I figured he must have come from Calgary. Why I have lived here I do not know but I am looking to move to Victoria and if not least BC. Victoria is full of old architecture and being a person in love with old buildings and nature I was in my glory.

I almost missed the highlight of my trip. We went to "Fisherman's Wharf" there were many floating houses, some up for sale and very beautfiful but there at the pier lives some wild seals. There is a fish and chip place there and a fresh fish market there. At the market you can buy fish that is not good for human consumption that you can feed to the seals. Not only does that cute and adorable seal know the bowl but it watches who is buying fish to feed her. She will jump up and take it gently out of your hand. She is so sweet and most of the pictures I took were of her. They also said there is no flea problems on the island for other animals.

Vancouver Island which Victoria is on and is the capitol of BC is like dying and going to Valhalla. It so magical and creatively stimulating. I always have loved BC and have loved Vancouver and the Okanagan but I love Victoria even more. Also, as an island their gas has to be shipped in and they are only paying 10 cents more than we do in Calgary. Their rents are pretty on par with Calgary as are the housing prices and they have an ocena nearby, we don't.

If totally recommend visiting Victoria, I wished I could have stayed longer. I actually only wanted to come back for my cats.

If anyone wants to know more about Epicure Selections you can PM me or email me at the thespicygourment@telus.net

[Lisa]

Hey Babe - You only go around once. Pack up the felines and go. It's a world away from me but I understand it is incredibly beautiful.

[Rusla]

Hey Babe - You only go around once. Pack up the felines and go. It's a world away from me but I understand it is incredibly beautiful.

It reminds me or a cooler in temperature of Jamaica also. I am so sad today I was actually crying as I looked out my window at the snow, brown grass underneath, bleak sky and leafless trees. If I can land an apartment and job there I am so much history here. It will take some months though. I bought newspapers to look through which I am digging out of my suitcase.

[mouse]

Hey Rusla. You need to go for it. Like Lisa said "you only go around once". I also love Victoria, but alas the Northwest dampness really bothers me. And I am from Seattle. Find any job to get you there and then worry about the perfect job. It is doable. Good luck.

[Jestgar]

Yep, come on over to the gloomy side!

This corner of the Americas has lots of overcast days, not nearly so much rain as they show on Grey's Anatomy, tons of green, and a lot of health conscious people which makes eating around here more of a pleasure and less of an ordeal.

[2Boys4Me]

I lived on Vancouver Island for 11 years when I was growing up. We moved there from Ontario (after a 9 month stay in Alberta) and after the first Christmas, I loved it. There isn't a child on the planet who appreciates pouring rain on Christmas day, it seemed like such a rip off! I lived in Victoria for 3 years during college, and didn't get to do as much exploring as I would have liked. I attended college on student loans, so I worked a lot and had to limit expensive fun.

The reason we moved to Vancouver Island in the first place - and Rusla, you'll appreciate this - is that my Dad had left his coal mining job in Grande Cache to try to find better opportunities. He phoned my Mom in February and said, "I don't have a job, but it's February and the flowers are blooming, so this is where we're moving." He found a job right away and they've been there ever since.

I can't tell you what a culture shock it is to move from a place with the ocean, trees, mountains, fresh air to a place like Regina. (I need that little green vomity icon here.) Ugh. The only good thing was they had sunshine in the winter, but those were the coldest days of all. I'd move to the island in a heartbeat, but for me, Calgary is a good second choice. Jobs in my field are pretty few and far between, so we are happy with our vacation to the Island every August. Also, take note that Vancouver Island and particularly Victoria has less rain in the winter than Vancouver does. The farther north on the Island you go, the rainier it gets.

[num1habsfan]

I can't tell you what a culture shock it is to move from a place with the ocean, trees, mountains, fresh air to a place like Regina. (I need that little green vomity icon here.) Ugh. The only good thing was they had sunshine in the winter, but those were the coldest days of all. I'd move to the island in a heartbeat, but for me, Calgary is a good second choice.

For me it'd be the opposite..I couldnt make the switch from these prairies into a place like Alberta/BC because of the air. These last 2 times I was in Calgary i was sick from my asthma going nuts. And I'd die without all the open space/no people

But yes, I wouldnt mind at least one of these years going out for a holiday to BC.

Whats kinda ironic is a lot of people lately are moving from BC and Alberta to Saskatchewan lol. Its like a big circle, everyone playing musical chairs are something

~ lisa ~

[2Boys4Me]

For me it'd be the opposite..I couldnt make the switch from these prairies into a place like Alberta/BC because of the air. These last 2 times I was in Calgary i was sick from my asthma going nuts. ~ lisa ~

Weird...most of the time doctors recommend Calgary and Kamloops for people with asthma. It's like the desert. But with mountains.

[Felidae]

I'm glad you had a good time time Rusla. I loved Victoria when I was there years ago taking a course. I too find the weather much more agreeable to my lungs and the rest of my body. However, I love snow more than rain.

It's good to know that we can go there and have some great food with our stupid digestive systems.

[Viola 1]

Hi Rusla; It sounds like you had a blast in Victoria I like to visit the island occasionally, but don't want to live there. Those ferries would drive me insane, and is one of the reasons we don't visit all that often, as hubby's cousin would say.

One error that someone told you about fleas. We took our mini dachshund to Victoria for a week and had to treat him for fleas before the week was over. My daughter constantly had to treat her cat and dogs when they lived there. To be fair, I don't know of a warm, wet area that doesn't have a flea problem.

Sure glad you had fun and got to see all the wonderful stuff. It really is a gorgeous city, and I love spending hours in their garden nurseries. If you move there, have the place you rent or buy checked out well for mold problems, another 'coastal' problem. That includes all the cities in the great rain forests of B.C.

I know you are high on the coast, but you have to look at the practicle stuff too. I'm with you, better the coast than Calgary ... even though Calgary has no bugs, and the Coast has tons of them It's kinda like 'gluten free" do your research before you quit the job In the meantime, visit often.

[Michi8]

Weird...most of the time doctors recommend Calgary and Kamloops for people with asthma. It's like the desert. But with mountains.

I think it would depend on your asthma triggers. My asthma started when I lived in Calgary where the air is really dry and dusty. It disappeared when I was living in humid Vancouver. My allergies have become worse since moving back to Alberta...and my asthma acts up every so often.

Michelle

[Michi8]

Hi Rusla; It sounds like you had a blast in Victoria I like to visit the island occasionally, but don't want to live there. Those ferries would drive me insane, and is one of the reasons we don't visit all that often, as hubby's cousin would say.

One error that someone told you about fleas. We took our mini dachshund to Victoria for a week and had to treat him for fleas before the week was over. My daughter constantly had to treat her cat and dogs when they lived there. To be fair, I don't know of a warm, wet area that doesn't have a flea problem.

Sure glad you had fun and got to see all the wonderful stuff. It really is a gorgeous city, and I love spending hours in their garden nurseries. If you move there, have the place you rent or buy checked out well for mold problems, another 'coastal' problem. That includes all the cities in the great rain forests of B.C.

I know you are high on the coast, but you have to look at the practicle stuff too. I'm with you, better the coast than Calgary ... even though Calgary has no bugs, and the Coast has tons of them It's kinda like 'gluten free" do your research before you quit the job In the meantime, visit often.

The only time Calgary has no bugs is when it's windy...which happens a lot. I found that living on the coast (Vancouver) was way better bug wise, because there are no mosquitoes!

I cannot stand the mosquitoes in Calgary and Edmonton...it can make summer evenings unbearable. Only thing worse is living in Winnipeg (where I lived for the first 12 years of my life), because they have even more mosquitoes. All other bugs I can live with...except for cockroaches...they're worse than mosquitoes.

Michelle

[Viola 1]

The only time Calgary has no bugs is when it's windy...which happens a lot. I found that living on the coast (Vancouver) was way better bug wise, because there are no mosquitoes!

I cannot stand the mosquitoes in Calgary and Edmonton...it can make summer evenings unbearable. Only thing worse is living in Winnipeg (where I lived for the first 12 years of my life), because they have even more mosquitoes. All other bugs I can live with...except for cockroaches...they're worse than mosquitoes.

Michelle

We have mosquitoes, no cockroaches ... Yuck! But have 'stink bugs' that fly ... also known as squash bugs and fir beetles. They are really gross

[Michi8]

We have mosquitoes, no cockroaches ... Yuck! But have 'stink bugs' that fly ... also known as squash bugs and fir beetles. They are really gross

Yes, unfortunately, mosquitoes are found in the BC interior...don't think I'd like the stink bugs either...that's why I'll pick the coast to retire. I'm thinking somewhere around Sechelt.

Michelle

[Cruiser Bob]

Yes, unfortunately, mosquitoes are found in the BC interior

I've come to believe that they spawn from the interior of BC to everywhere else in the Americas. As fro Victoria - Rusia, move there and then marry and import me . I want to live in Duncan.

Bob

[Viola 1]

I've come to believe that they spawn from the interior of BC to everywhere else in the Americas. As fro Victoria - Rusia, move there and then marry and import me . I want to live in Duncan.

Bob

Bob, Duncan is a beautiful spot!