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Hi Trynto! Nice to see you here.
Just another 'small town' observation (I'm loving this stuff when it happens). Late yesterday I decided to pop into Winners on my way home in what has become my quest for dessert/ice cream dishes which I haven't been able to find anywhere in any form and there I threw out all mine when I moved (slaps forehead as the lady at Sears tells me she doesn't think they've carried any for over 2 years and I am wondering what is going on). Anyway, there were 2 there so I figured maybe just maybe HomeSense might have more.
When I spoke with a Winners' staffer she informed me it was way across town and would be closing in 25 minutes so I bolted to see if I could manage it since I only needed to see what they had in one area of the store, how long could that take? So it's kind of late on a Sunday so not much traffic and I had green lights all the way and it took me a whole 4 minutes from the time I started my car until I parked and turned it off... across town. I love this. Anyway, they had 4 more of the same dishes so I bought them all and even had time to go wander the store and also pick up a nice hall runner for $60 with 5 minutes to burn before they closed. I can't think of when in Calgary I would be able to get from a Winners to a HomeSense with that kind of speed. Maybe 10 minutes on a good day, but not in under 5. I really might just get to like shopping again being in a place like this.
Okay...I have been avoiding this forum for months because I simply could not figure out how to manuover around this new layout but was glad to find the very question I was curious about the past few months away....how the heck is DBD and did she move......from reading below cause it looks like posting is newest from the top...DBD is now settled and renting in BC with her beloved Ebony......congratulations......
Yet again, you managed to cover my experience so far. It happened again yesterday, same mall as I had to return to turn in my plates so I took a few minutes to wander the other side of the mall this time. A quick look see and no more, but for some reason there was a staffer just by the door of a purse store who happened to ask if I had any questions so I figured I'd try one. You see I found a purse on line around Christmas that I really really want because my big ol' expensive leather beauty is just too heavy and driving me a little nuts lately and this one is nylon, under 10 ounces, gets great reveiws, and keeps everything in it's place while still big enough to carry things like laptops and isn't too bad for price. I've looked for similar or something else that would work so I could avoid the border costs but no luck so far.
Anyway, I haven't been able to find any Cdn sites that show them being available anywhere but Vancouver so I asked if she had ever heard of the brand. Well she waves me in, and there they are! In person where I can feel and touch and try! They even offered to see if they could get the colour I really wanted so done and done when I had pretty much given up hope. I'll be getting my dream bag of the moment and can support a Cdn business while I am at it. If this keeps up I may just start liking malls again because that one has been a really good experience so far and even had parking close to the door both times.
Who knows...when I pick up the bag there is still one wing of the mall I have to visit so there may be another happy discovery awaiting me there.
It's just becoming more and more apparent how much hassle was involved living in a bigger center I guess. I am liking this more and more and more as the advantages are presenting themselves.
Yes, trying for some thrift type blankets would be an good idea (although I wouldn't get that discount for a while yet but with their usual prices who can complain?). I suppose I could also see if the box I moved with some fabric is around as I think there is a big piece of fleece in it that might work for at least covering one seat and maybe I'll donate a towel or find a cheap one to throw on my seat so Eb can walk across it but can be moved when I get in (for some reason she likes that seat when getting in the car).
Isn't that typical that you find something when & where you least expect. Eb will be glad her coat and feet are protected and comfy now.
Thinking about your need for old blankets, check out Value Village on a Tuesday. Anyone over 60 gets a 30% discount, at least here they do. Also check the Sally Ann or other charity discount stores. You should be able to find something for a very reasonable price to protect your car seats. Ebony isn't likely to be too fussy about what it looks like, as long it's washable for you.
Today was a good day (and a pretty sunny one too) as I stopped in a mall to do the car thing (and it wasn't even close to double the price so that was a nice surprise) and found a pet store kiosk with a bit of wandering (I don't usually do malls but thought I would have a fast look to see what was in there). Low and behold, rain boots, in Eb's size and everything is 50% off too. So bonus round, I asked if they had rain coats (given it's supposed to be rainy for as long as the weather network does forecasts and my dog hates wet so isn't going to be happy at all) and they had one left, match for the boots, and Eb's size. So she's all ready for the water that is coming and will be all matchy matchy too (pink camoflauge no less). Here's hoping she will wear the stuff and not feel too hard done by.
Meanwhile both dogs and owners seem to be covered in mud at the park. It really is a mess and would make for a good laundry or doggie wash commercial most days. Luckily there is another near me that actually drains a bit so I think we'll be heading there instead of the one we normally go to. I also have to figure out whether it's worth getting the inside of the car cleaned now or waiting until it's all over. I fear they may never be able to get my seats and floor clean if I leave it but I don't want to have it all clean when there is just more to come either. Too bad I threw out all my old blankets and towels because I really don't have anything to protect the car interior from this stuff now.
Yes, it must be a real pain to move from smaller to bigger if you aren't used to lines and waiting. You think being bigger and having more of everything would be a bonus but when you have 5 times the services for 10 times the people involved it just isn't quite the same. When it comes to things like the walk-in clinic experience I decided to check stats. Here there is 1 walk in clinic for every 679 people while in Calgary there is 1 for every 2100 and it's an even worse ratio when it comes to doctors so no wonder things go faster here. Calgary has 1M people and 1 fenced dog park, Kelowna has 100,000 people and about 3 or 4 fenced dog parks. I don't know what other areas in BC are like, but so far Kelowna is okay by me and the things I want.
I don't know about buying yet. Have to get the business/income thing working before I get serious about that yet. Here's hoping this house holds together. My worry is it wasn't the sewer line freezing at all (too warm for that) but just really due to the way the put the pipes in. Same with the wiring, it's just not done properly (all the cable comes out a wall in the livingroom to feed the rest of the house and there is only 1 phone jack which isn't too convenient considering I need to fax sometimes). I sure wouldn't buy this house and you know I like old houses and have put up with some real nutty things but this house, even if it is basically very nice looking and it a great location would not be worth saving.
Until you've lived in a smaller place, you aren't too aware of the lines and stop lights and all those big city things. Your perspective on what is a 'quick drive' to pick up something changes radically. My last location was essentially a one horse town type of place. I knew people that wouldn't go to a store if they couldn't park within two or three spaces of it.
I'm sure you've found just about everything you need there. I don't have it quite as good as you but it isn't too far away. I would like to be able to pop into Costco or Homesense more often.
My friends from Alberta are having a similar problem with walking their dog this year. It has turned their dog walk into a mud walk. The poor dog is too elderly to handle being hosed down each day. Have you looked online for boots for Eb?
The frozen sewer line would be beyond frustrating. When summer comes, that'll help compensate for the house woes this winter. At least you're taking the time to learn the city and decide where you might want to buy. That's a smart move.
Settled... it's slowly but surely as I am learning where to find things both in the house and in town. I plan on finally getting my plates and insurance today (preparing for sticker shock as I hear it's about double here) so I guess then it will be official. Reality is that one step has been my biggest hassle and it's taken me over 2 mos. just to get everything lined up to get it done. Also BCAA is nothing like AMA an I'm not impressed at all with them. Totally different type of service here.
I have to say I am loving winter here. Any time I've had a pang of home sickness (mostly missing my house as this rental isn't nearly as nice when it comes to running smoothly...see plumber called last week because the main sewer drain wasn't draining which means no toilets to use and a few other things going wonky since I moved in), I hit the weather cams and that about cures it. Everytime I've looked, the Calgary cams show white ground and tall stacks of heating system stuff coming out of buildings. I haven't had to shovel once because it melts so fast here and the rain really is more of an oddity to me (rain in winter...not the freezing stuff either...love it). You are right, I picked the right year as Calgary has had a abnormally bad winter and here I can still look out and see grass. I haven't even had to dig out my parka once as my wind breaker with a fleece shirt is enough even for hanging around outside at the dog park for an hour or more. i have a thermometer outside and thought it must be broken because it is never below 0, but it's just how warm it is here and I guess being so close to the lake it's even warmer in my yard than other areas further out.
The only downside is having a little dog who doens't like wet feet and me not being able to find waterproof boots for her. Her snow boots aren't much help with puddles and she doens't like them anyway because they really aren't made for dogs with big furry paws. The search continues on that front because it's a bit of life in hell for her and her feet.
There have also been some nice surprises. Like I needed a prescription renewed and was told it was just as bad here as Calgary for finding doctors and such. Well, I cleared a day and hit a walk in clinic and they apologized because it was a 20 minute wait. I thought I must have hit the lottery or a really bad clinic since in Calgary I had a 5.5 hr wait last time I went through this. When I chatted up another person waiting they said it was a typical clinic and nearly fell off their chair when I told them what I was used to. Twenty minutes...I call that pretty decent and think I've rarely been in that fast even with an appointment in Calgary.
It's kind of amazing what you get used to. I really notice what is considered busy or a line up here is what I would have considered a breeze in Calgary because I am just so used to all the waiting whether it was at a clinic or store or where ever. So just a nice bonus I really didn't expect.