Canajan, eh?

[Xelebes]

Originally Posted by Cassidy

Hi and welcome. I'm on the island off the other coast ;-)

Baffin Island?

[L M Ashton]

Originally Posted by Raventongue

Aw, how could I hate you? The insects are probably terrible...

In Sri Lanka? Absolutely. Plus the mosquitoes carry not just malaria, but also dengue fever and chikungunya, which has nothing at all to do with chickens and is an incredibly painful disease. We've had it. We're still affected by it six years later.

In Singapore, not so much, although the mosquitoes do carry the nasty diseases, they're nowhere near as prolific as in Sri Lanka. Or Canada's north.

[Hip-Hop-a-potamus]

Originally Posted by L M Ashton

In Sri Lanka? Absolutely. Plus the mosquitoes carry not just malaria, but also dengue fever and chikungunya, which has nothing at all to do with chickens and is an incredibly painful disease. We've had it. We're still affected by it six years later.

In Singapore, not so much, although the mosquitoes do carry the nasty diseases, they're nowhere near as prolific as in Sri Lanka. Or Canada's north.

Gah! I thought the fleas were bad in Texas. There is ONE nice thing about Canadian winters! Well, that and the quiet.

I discovered yesterday, while I was out painting my outdoor furniture (first nice day we've had in weeks!) that the fans at the stadium just across 111th Ave from us have discovered vuvuzelas this year. Oh JOY. :|

[MelissaMD]

Originally Posted by Raventongue

Bet it's warmer there than here!

Snow yesterday, nbd

[Raventongue]

Originally Posted by L M Ashton

In Sri Lanka? Absolutely. Plus the mosquitoes carry not just malaria, but also dengue fever and chikungunya, which has nothing at all to do with chickens and is an incredibly painful disease. We've had it. We're still affected by it six years later.

In Singapore, not so much, although the mosquitoes do carry the nasty diseases, they're nowhere near as prolific as in Sri Lanka. Or Canada's north.

Youch!

Mono was bad enough. Although hey, at least mosquitoes weren't to blame for that.

... Or were they?

[frimble3]

Originally Posted by Raventongue

Usually I'd say "I know the feeling!" but this year? It's that accursed rain again. Warm torrential rain all summer, light rain all autumn, nasty cold rain all winter...

You've moved to Vancouver?
The reason my sister moved to Northern Alberta (Grande Prairie, for those of you who didn't think it got worse than Edmonton) and refuses to come back, is that the grey skies up against the mountains make her feel trapped. She says it may be really cold in the winter, but at least it's a bright, blue sky that goes on for miles.

[frimble3]

Originally Posted by Hip-Hop-a-potamus

The fans at the stadium just across 111th Ave from us have discovered vuvuzelas this year. Oh JOY. :|

Don't worry, after their fellow-fans have had a few beers, the 'musicians' will doubtless be beaten with their vuvuzuelas. sigh. Another 'blessing' that soccer has given us.

[Hip-Hop-a-potamus]

Originally Posted by frimble3

Don't worry, after their fellow-fans have had a few beers, the 'musicians' will doubtless be beaten with their vuvuzuelas. sigh. Another 'blessing' that soccer has given us.

Aah yes. Hooligans!

[Raventongue]

Originally Posted by frimble3

You've moved to Vancouver?
The reason my sister moved to Northern Alberta (Grande Prairie, for those of you who didn't think it got worse than Edmonton) and refuses to come back, is that the grey skies up against the mountains make her feel trapped. She says it may be really cold in the winter, but at least it's a bright, blue sky that goes on for miles.

I almost forget what a blue sky looks like.

[Hip-Hop-a-potamus]

Originally Posted by frimble3

You've moved to Vancouver?
The reason my sister moved to Northern Alberta (Grande Prairie, for those of you who didn't think it got worse than Edmonton) and refuses to come back, is that the grey skies up against the mountains make her feel trapped. She says it may be really cold in the winter, but at least it's a bright, blue sky that goes on for miles.

Yep, and this is part of the reason I stay. I had an online acquaintance from Vancouver that I finally de-friended. I got so tired of the constant Alberta bashing. I mean...so you hate the place. Big deal. Get OVER it! It was pathological with this guy. Just CONSTANT. This is the guy who is constantly bemoaning the cost of living in Vancouver. Can you see me rolling my eyes from here?

So I defriended him, and then he got annoyed and wanted to know why. I said, "The constant Alberta bashing really got to me." He said I should have told him. I said I did. And why did he have to bash anywhere? Just don't live there if you don't want to.

He told me Alberta is a culturally barren shithole. Then blocked me. Whatever, asshole.

I like it here, and I like sunshine. So it works for me. Less snobby douchebags here like him.

[frimble3]

Originally Posted by Raventongue

I almost forget what a blue sky looks like.

As I recall, they are real, real pretty.
What's that Bradbury story? "All Summer in a Day"?
We'll get one soon. eventually.

[frimble3]

Originally Posted by Hip-Hop-a-potamus

Yep, and this is part of the reason I stay. I had an online acquaintance from Vancouver that I finally de-friended. I got so tired of the constant Alberta bashing. I mean...so you hate the place. Big deal. Get OVER it! It was pathological with this guy. Just CONSTANT. This is the guy who is constantly bemoaning the cost of living in Vancouver. Can you see me rolling my eyes from here?

So I defriended him, and then he got annoyed and wanted to know why. I said, "The constant Alberta bashing really got to me." He said I should have told him. I said I did. And why did he have to bash anywhere? Just don't live there if you don't want to.

He told me Alberta is a culturally barren shithole. Then blocked me. Whatever, asshole.

I like it here, and I like sunshine. So it works for me. Less snobby douchebags here like him.

I'm a BC girl, born and bred, and I'm offended by this jerk, on behalf of my Albertan relatives, and my fellow British Columbians.
We may smart-mouth some, but we don't all constantly bash. The 'call the Albertans during the winter flower-count' thing is just local pride, honest.

And you're certainly not culturally barren! You've got the Symphony, and the Ballet (which my ballet-lovin' friend says is better than Ballet B.C.) and museums and festivals, etc, just like any other major city. (Or so I hear from the kinfolk)
He sounds like the kind of person who calls Vancouver 'No-Fun City', and when being asked for details, says there's not enough opportunities to get drunk.

And after being called on his bashing, his retort is to call Alberta "a culturally barren shithole"?
An idiot. I apologise.

[Hip-Hop-a-potamus]

Originally Posted by frimble3

I'm a BC girl, born and bred, and I'm offended by this jerk, on behalf of my Albertan relatives, and my fellow British Columbians.
We may smart-mouth some, but we don't all constantly bash. The 'call the Albertans during the winter flower-count' thing is just local pride, honest.

And you're certainly not culturally barren! You've got the Symphony, and the Ballet (which my ballet-lovin' friend says is better than Ballet B.C.) and museums and festivals, etc, just like any other major city. (Or so I hear from the kinfolk)
He sounds like the kind of person who calls Vancouver 'No-Fun City', and when being asked for details, says there's not enough opportunities to get drunk.

And after being called on his bashing, his retort is to call Alberta "a culturally barren shithole"?
An idiot. I apologise.

Thanks, frimble. I'm a bit biased, and people think I'm nuts, since Alberta was the first part of Canada I saw, and Mr. Hip and I fell in love in Calgary (and Dallas) during our respective visits back and forth before we were together. Also, I have family connections here as well. (Weird, huh?). My great grandfather's one brother homesteaded with him in North Dakota, and when great granddad went back to Wisconsin, Charley moved up here, and I have an entire DYNASTY of relatives up here who began their Canadian lives in Burdett, Alberta, and later moved to Calgary and parts beyond. So I have plenty of 3rd and 4th cousins in Alberta and BC too (in addition to Mr. Hip's family here).

We have some amazing restaurants here, and Mr. Hip and I got to see the touring company of "The Rocky Horror Show" at the Citadel Theatre a couple months ago. It was FABULOUS! I liked the Frank N Furter at least as much or MORE than Tim Curry!

We ARE going to do the Fringe Festival this year. We were going to go last year and didn't make it (still getting used to new surroundings-- so much to do, etc). And we're making our first trip to BC this summer (Vancouver and Victoria) to visit the aforesaid relatives, so I can decide for myself!

[Raventongue]

'No Fun City'? Over here, we call NB "No Funswick". But as you said, 'tis just regional pride. Former FB friend sounds like a dope.

Originally Posted by frimble3

As I recall, they are real, real pretty.
What's that Bradbury story? "All Summer in a Day"?
We'll get one soon. eventually.

Hehe.

[Hip-Hop-a-potamus]

OK Canadians.

Who wants to go to Surrey this year? I just discovered I have enough air miles to cover my fare, so I would just need to cover the conference fees, the hotel, and incidentals. It appears that I may have a job locked in until September, so I'm raring to go. Just gotta make it official.

I want to meet some AW'ers!

[Raventongue]

Erm... the suggestion appears to have scared everyone away. :P

I can't make it, for sure. I'd have loved to though.

[Hip-Hop-a-potamus]

Originally Posted by Raventongue

Erm... the suggestion appears to have scared everyone away. :P

I can't make it, for sure. I'd have loved to though.

No worries. Things are looking iffy here too. The job will probably end in July, so after that, we'll need to watch our pennies. So now I don't know if I'm going either. :|

[victoriakmartin]

Hey everyone, just joined the forums and thought I would pop over here to wish everyone a Happy Victoria Day. Long weekend weather in Ottawa has been absolutely beautiful, I hope other places are just as nice.

[Raventongue]

Originally Posted by i_paint_the_sky

Hey everyone, just joined the forums and thought I would pop over here to wish everyone a Happy Victoria Day. Long weekend weather in Ottawa has been absolutely beautiful, I hope other places are just as nice.

Been lovely here!

[frimble3]

The weather was nice on Saturday, but has turned to rain, which is predicted to last for the first half of the week. Happy Victoria Day, regardless!

[Alexys]

It's been sunny but too hot for my taste here—our A/C was struggling to keep up yesterday afternoon. Of course, that's probably making the people who actually participate in the local Victoria Day sport of getting drunk and falling out of boats quite happy. Sigh.

The problem with much of Northern Ontario is that it's so far inland that we do the climate equivalent of driving a vehicle without springs: very hot in summer, very cold in winter. Why do I live here, again?

[victoriakmartin]

LOL, this is a good question. In the middle of winter I often wonder why anyone began to inhabit Canada in the first place.

I actually just moved back to Ottawa after being in Toronto for 4 years. While I am mostly happy to be back, I do miss Toronto winter.

And the subway

[LJD]

Originally Posted by i_paint_the_sky

Hey everyone, just joined the forums and thought I would pop over here to wish everyone a Happy Victoria Day. Long weekend weather in Ottawa has been absolutely beautiful, I hope other places are just as nice.

I'm in Toronto, and it's lovely here, too.

[AlishaS]

Well, SiWC registration starts on June 6th! Is anyone planning on going?
I'm from Red Deer, AB but have enough miles for my fare, my husband has graciously decided the conference will count as my b-day present lol and now I just need to figure out the rooming situation but damn am I excited, this will be my first conference ever!

[Zeddo]

Another Canuck here, from Vancouver.

Alisha S, you'll love the SiWC. One of the best speakers I remember was Diana Gabaldon. I see she's back this year too.