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My adventures getting routine bloodwork and medication refills in Ottawa

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My crazy adventures just need to be documented with random pictures of Ottawa sometimes. I have hypothyroidism so I routinely get blood work done at least once a year sometimes every six months to ensure I have the right dose of medication. This has been the most interesting session I have ever had. I’m currently waiting for someone to fax my requisition because they lost it.  Let’s go back. It’s very difficult to get a family doctor in Ottawa. I am very lucky to have a retired doctor. He only works in the office for half a day once a week. This timing conflicts with my work meetings but I took a couple hours off to go to the appointment as I’m on my last refill. I also wanted to talk to my doctor. I arrived for my appointment and it’s often the case where I have to wait. I waited for quite a while in the waiting room which is normal there are other doctors at this clinic so can’t tell what the wait for my doctor is. I heard the doctor come out and staff telling him he was done for...
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My adventures getting routine bloodwork and medication refills in Ottawa

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My crazy adventures just need to be documented with random pictures of Ottawa sometimes. I have hypothyroidism so I routinely get blood work done at least once a year sometimes every six months to ensure I have the right dose of medication. This has been the most interesting session I have ever had. I’m currently waiting for someone to fax my requisition because they lost it.  Let’s go back. It’s very difficult to get a family doctor in Ottawa. I am very lucky to have a retired doctor. He only works in the office for half a day once a week. This timing conflicts with my work meetings but I took a couple hours off to go to the appointment as I’m on my last refill. I also wanted to talk to my doctor. I arrived for my appointment and it’s often the case where I have to wait. I waited for quite a while in the waiting room which is normal there are other doctors at this clinic so can’t tell what the wait for my doctor is. I heard the doctor come out and staff telling him he was done for...
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A vendor gave me the wrong item and I accidentally tasted beef after over thirty years

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A vendor I know at the market gave me a beef item instead of vegan one and I took a bite before I realized. This was the first time I have had beef in over thirty years. I do try and support non vegan businesses that have vegan products because it helps more people access vegan items. Unfortunately there is always a risk of getting something that isn’t vegan by accident; although, I have never had this happen at a market before. Vegan food is popular in Ottawa some businesses have really shown an interest changing their menu after I have spoken with them just so that they can be more inclusive. These businesses may not be ready to go fully vegan but they take a lot of care to curate the vegan menus.  Other businesses come to vegan events and don’t really offer much vegan outside of the events. I asked a vendor at Vegans who snack if they offer any vegan items on their regular menu and they looked at me like I was crazy for asking such a question. This particular business is in the ...
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Day 1 Vancouver to Alaska Cruise on the Norwegian Sun

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I am starting to write this post the evening of the first sea day on the Norwegian Sun on June 20 2025. We left Vancouver yesterday at 5pm and have been sailing all day today.  I only have 150 minutes of free wifi so I am being careful on how much I am using. I don’t want to upgrade the    cost is reasonable but I am enjoying being forced not to scroll on my phone. YouTube videos will be posted in the future when I have data. I am back now and have a YouTube Alaska Cruise  playlist here Alaska Cruise YouTube Playlist Sorry for the lack of editing on this post, I am posting from the ship after a full day and trying to conserve wifi and the sea has been rough today.  The days have already been full. I had a full day in Vancouver before the cruise. My friend from Edmonton flew on the next day. We both dont think it was enough time. If I do another cruise I would add 2 or 3 days in the port. We had the latest check in time we could get between 1:30 and 2:00 this wor...
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I’m going on an Alaska cruise from Vancouver

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  I am on my flight to Vancouver.     It’s such a beautiful day we are flying above the clouds. The flight has been slightly turbulent the whole way because of this but it’s not terrible When I left Ottawa it was 28 degrees but I am still wearing my jacket because I couldn’t fit it in my suitcase. I am going to Vancouver because I got a free cruise. Well a free inside room I paid a lot to upgrade to a balcony so it was more like 50% off but still a good deal. Hotel prices in Vancouver are astronomical now it is actually cheaper to go on a cruise. I had a choice of any Norwegian cruises but right now I am hesitant to fly through the US. The only round trip cruise that doesn’t require flying through the US was Vancouver to Alaska. I had heard Alaska cruises are really good and I am okay going on a boat. I am going on the Norwegian sun which is an older ship and has been sold so this is the last round trip Vancouver Alaska sailing I didn’t want to give that opportunity up....
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I made a vegan Dubai chocolate bar

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I wanted to try a proper vegan version of the viral  Dubai chocolate. I have tried the one from Palm bites  and  it’s good but it’s a healthier version made from dark chocolate and the pistachio is the crunch. I have also tried the cookie from Naturally Vero since they had an option to get it with my meal prep delivery. They do make a chocolate bar  but they don’t deliver it. I like the cookie filling but find it was too heavy in the cookie. Juice Dudez also has the filling in a mango pudding which is excellent but they don’t do a vegan chocolate yet. I am hoping I will convince them or any other Ottawa vendor to make one some day. In the meantime I had to make one myself.  I have asked my vendor friends to make me one even sent them the recipes but no one has yet. I really wanted to try a proper unhealthy version just once. I didn’t want to make it myself because I knew I would want to eat it all. I always gravitate to things that are pistachio flavoured. It’s ...
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Post Menopausal Bleeding MRI and results

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 If you haven’t read my previous posts read part 1   Post Menopausal bleeding and Ultrasounds . It was getting long so I decided to start a new post. I got the call for an MRI at the end of March. It was scheduled for a couple days later at 2 am at Montford hospital. I only know about this hospital because I work for National Defence and we have offices there. I knew it at as the military hospital but it’s actually a separate building. It was still cold and snowing in Ottawa so I wasn’t looking forward to having to be out at 2am. I was also really busy at work but the only options may have been worse weather.  I really didn’t want to take UBER that late when it’s also freezing outside but there are only a few people I could ask to drive me at 2am on a weeknight. I am really grateful that I have some really great friends in Ottawa and my friend drove me and came inside with me. It ended up being a really fun with having my friend there to distract me.  Someone called ...
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