Reflections of loss and appreciation…

  By Pia | February 3, 2012 - 1:33 pm | Update
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Since redoing my website, I have been reflecting a lot on the last 5 or so years. So much has happened.. you can read back to see but it is so crazy to think how different my life was 5 years ago.  I keep thinking how much weight I have lost.  I got my wrist tattoo as a reminder to never forget where I came from/what I used to be like etc.. it was meant to keep me “in check” and now almost 5 years since my surgery, I feel like I have nearly forgotten. Then I wonder, is it ok to forget? Just let go of who I was and what I went through? Its tough. I think a line between remembering the past to not repeat it vs. moving forward. I lost a total of 233 lbs. initially (before the 5 lb. bounce- back) that is just over … Read More →

Important info about changes to my site…

  By Pia | February 2, 2012 - 3:36 pm | Update
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Hi! I have changed the site to make it a lot nicer (and easier for me to use). As part of the renovations, I discovered a cool tool which was able to import all of my posts from my old Blogger site!  As a result, the entire history is here now (and a lot easier to navigate). I have also discovered that the only way interested readers can receive my blog post updates via email is to subscribe to the RSS feed (see the link on the right-side menu).  If you are interested in subscribing (thank you!) please use the Entries RSS option. At the moment I don’t have a routine for blogging so this will ensure you are notified when I do post! Lastly, if you are interested in commenting, participating in posts/discussions or just making your presence known as a subscriber, please register on the site. You will be … Read More →

Language, letters and living my life…

  By Pia | February 2, 2012 - 12:47 am | Update
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I have lived in Sweden over 2 months and I have to admit, it feels like a lot longer. I am not sure if it is the pace here, or the lack of understanding of the language that makes time seem to go by at a different rate. Since we received our crate of belongings from Canada in January, I expected that our home would just become more homey.. what I didn’t realise, is that having half of a house still empty (our rental house is much much larger than the house we left in Canada and we didn’t bring all of our furniture!) still fosters an unsettled feeling. As we slowly fill the house and move into every room properly, I expect the house to warm up in both temperature and atmosphere. Only time can tell.. we’ll see. Also at the beginning of January I started my Swedish language lessons. … Read More →

Christmas, twice… my jackpot & emerging from the underground.

  By Pia | January 5, 2012 - 2:11 am | In a Nutshell..., Update
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I love Christmas. There is something about the season that is warming and comfortable. It makes me feel like the world is somehow more united, people flood out to the malls and (mostly) put up with each other while buying gifts for others. Ok so I know it is a little delusional to think that everything is so apple pie (or should I say mulled wine) during the season but for me, the season is perfectly cosy! So this year, things have obviously changed. We moved to Sweden not long before Christmas and into our home just a couple weeks before we were to leave for England to spend the holidays with Neil’s family. Our Christmas tree was about 2 feet tall and although I decorated with a few strings of lights (in the basement where we have been dwelling) there wasn’t a lot to signify Christmas at the Holden … Read More →

Swedish living… a change in perspective…

  By Pia | December 14, 2011 - 7:58 am | In a Nutshell..., Update
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I have been in Sweden for 2 weeks now and I am amazed at what a difference 2 weeks makes! Two weeks ago when we arrived in Sweden, I completely understood what it feels like to be without a home. It just felt so empty to know that you have no home address. I think being sick made it all worse since I think people tend to want to be all comfy cosy at home when sick…  Last week I really hit rock bottom. We moved into our new home with a few suitcases of clothes and little more. We managed to purchase what we needed until our container arrives and I think we’re both grateful to have this opportunity but I think there is more to it than the adventure of it all. I had a little pity party for one several times throughout the earlier part of the … Read More →

Whirlwind of Change. Marriage, Moving and Medicine?!

  By Pia | December 3, 2011 - 12:36 am | In a Nutshell..., Update
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Wow things have changed dramatically since I last posted. To recap, on September 10, 2011, my Soul-mate Neil and I were married at Heritage Pointe Golf Course. What an amazing day.  We are still in disbelief that it all actually happened and so perfectly. The few issues we encountered were so minor. In May of 2011,  Neil and I were both away at separate conferences in the US. Neil was in Denver and I was in Sacramento. Neil was asked to speak at his conference, doing a presentation on his research. That led to two opportunities and eventually, two job offers. In August, Neil and I were flown to Sweden for 4 days while Neil had a job interview. Then a couple of weeks later, Neil was in Seattle for another interview. Two nights before the wedding in September, we had to make the decision… were we going to move … Read More →

Blink restaurant review – She said, he said…

  By Pia | June 5, 2011 - 1:35 am | Food, Restaurant Review
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Going for a routine appointment with your family doctor doesn’t usually include pleasant conversation about food and a sub-sequential craving for fine dining… but that is what happened to me and Neil. It is really inspiring to talk to a fellow foodie and realize that what you thought was a little bit of gluttony mixed with being spoiled rotten by really good food, turns out to be a lifestyle choice! Food is fuel, agreed. And while I should be watching how much of that fuel I put into my body, I also like to dabble in the premium unleaded type. Neil and I share a common interest. Good food. Not like mainstream chain restaurant good (although we have some favourites there too) but higher end, really thoughtful, continually changing menu sort of restaurants. One thing we love and covet is foie gras! Ok, so it has a bazillion calories but … Read More →

All about blogging…

  By Pia | May 23, 2011 - 9:26 pm | In a Nutshell...
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Funny thing about blogging… you actually have to sit down at a computer, think about something interesting (or not) to say and then type… So I got an Iphone a couple of months ago… and guess what happened?  I stopped picking up my laptop and I started usign apps for everything.  For the record, typing on any handheld device sucks!! So I am going to try and get back to blogging!  I have a lot to type about!  I recently attended the STC 2011 conference, I am still getting married in 108 days and I have a poor sick kitty! So… I’ll TRY to get some words down.. share some interesting foodie reviews and let you in on my wedding planning secrets. No promises though

2 Years, Love, Food… Bliss

  By Pia | March 17, 2011 - 1:10 pm | Update
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Today is my 2 year anniversary with Neil. WOW!  2 Years!!  It is hard to believe that 2 years has already passed but then again, we have been through so much together, it is amazing we have fit it all into 24 months. When I met Neil, I somehow knew.. he was something special.  I was right.  He is amazing! Tonight, Neil and I had dinner together at Q Haute (formerly La Caille on the Bow).  We decided to order the Chef’s 7 course surprise. We had an amazing dinner.  Beautiful, delicious and although the company was better than the food, all together it was incredible! To start us off, we had an amuse bouche which was a quail and porcini mushroom terrine with cherry jam. We were then given bread and herb compound butter – delicious freshly baked bread. The First Course was a rutabega veloute with chive creme fraiche. … Read More →

The dying art of customer service & the artists that remain

  By Pia | February 20, 2011 - 1:51 am | Update
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I have spent the last 2 days travelling for work and I have decided I really – in general – don’t like it.  OK before I go on, I should clarify that I really do appreciate the opportunity to get outside of the city and I do think it was a necessary venture.  I just really tend to miss my own bed. In general, travelling without a companion is a lonely business and it can get really old faster than you can imagine. I am in Vancouver and to start off my business trip, I got into an argument with the lady at security about my hand lotion and how it is clearly NOT over 100ml. It was a really risky thing to argue but I have been travelling with this particular container for years now (even during the restriction of 80ml) and I have never ever had an issue. … Read More →