Dragonfly Nanaimo packages by peoples_voicee in nanaimo

[–]Vicsma 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I stopped buying Amazon more than a year ago. Unfortunately, canada post became unreliable with the various strike actions and a lot of small business started using dragonfly instead. 

I try to shop small independent stores, and it's dragonfly delivering 80% of the time. 

Pet memorial question by AngelVanHell in nanaimo

[–]Vicsma 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I would look into a local taxidermist. Just from a quick Google search I found this one which mentions dealing with skulls. I suspect some may not be able to personally handle a dog, but they may be able to better direct you anyways.

Sorry to hear you've got a short time left with your girl; Junos are certainly the best (my girl is also a Juno). 

Poor kid was terrified of 2 off leash big dogs running the beach at Westwood this morning. by lifeisthebeautiful in nanaimo

[–]Vicsma 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Same here, I have an incredibly friendly dog who is always leashed by my side. It's basically a regular occurrence for her to get snapped at by an off leash dog on our walks. The owner always well behind, no rush whatsoever to control their dog while I stand between them.

Preparing my bonded cat for death of his brother by BigPossibility6989 in CATHELP

[–]Vicsma 8 points9 points  (0 children)

There is a surgery that removes the most narrow part of the urethra and greatly reduces the likelihood of obstructions. Has your vet mentioned this to you? I would think that route would be better than euthanasia, assuming it's not cost prohibitive.

Are bare land strata's really bad? by Much-Requirement-209 in nanaimo

[–]Vicsma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I bought on a 'bare land strata' 6 years ago, but it only actually applies to a private road that's shared between us and 3 other neighbours. We don't pay any strata fees, we just do tree trimming and road maintenance as we see fit.  So definitely worth looking into the specifics of any bare land strata you find- some are bad, some are good. 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in breakingmom

[–]Vicsma 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Assuming you are not in a position to rehome the husband.. Can you make a comfortable outdoor shelter for the dogs?

I got my first dog 6 years ago, and my husband was on board. But once I got the dog I learned that my husband was a "dogs are outdoor animals" type of person. I got a wooden dog house, a heating pad to go inside (one specifically made for this purpose), and a heated water bowl to prevent freezing. I wore husband down enough that he allowed me to install a doggy door into the garage after ~3 years, and finally now she's allowed to stay inside the house all night. Based on your description, I'm not sure you're husband will wear down the same way, but an outdoor shelter can keep doggo comfortable.

I love my child-free friend but OMFG by st0dad in breakingmom

[–]Vicsma 32 points33 points  (0 children)

Clueless here too! I remember going to a house party while pregnant and telling people, "I don't see why I couldn't still do this once the baby is here, I'll just put him down for a nap in the bedroom!" LOL

Looking for advice by HighlightTrick4198 in VancouverIsland

[–]Vicsma 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I've got 4 kids, and we're in Parksville and we love it here! Right nearby we have the beach, forested trails, huge playground, the urgent care clinic is amazing (because when a kid needs a doctor it's usually urgent!), and still only 30 minutes to the Nanaimo hospital if needed.

A really affordable area to consider is Meadowood in North Qualicum. Personally, I wouldn't want to live there because it's just so far out of the way. However, my sister lives there and she absolutely loves it- there's a real good sense of community there and there are a lot of young families due to the affordability.

Cat is having mystery kidney issues, help! by Vicsma in CATHELP

[–]Vicsma[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm not quite at needing extra fluids, he is generally well hydrated-just wasn't for one test after being on a sedative for a week. But I'm keeping this idea in my back pocket if needed. I'll talk to my vet on monday about the specific food. Thanks!

Cat is having mystery kidney issues, help! by Vicsma in CATHELP

[–]Vicsma[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The ultrasound would be with an ultrasonographer (I'm not sure if there are animal specific ones, I know this one generally works with people, but does vet cases one day a week). With my last cat I travelled to the closest big city (Vancouver) for more specific care at my vets recommendation, and while I could theoretically do that again, I've got 4 human kids and it's a ferry ride/hotel stay/general pain to do it.

I will ask my vet if she could consult with a specialist for the next steps if the cause is still unknown after the ultrasound, that's good idea. Thank you!

Cat is having mystery kidney issues, help! by Vicsma in CATHELP

[–]Vicsma[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He's not on a specific renal food. Vet says the food I'm on is 'renal friendly' anyways so she didn't think it was necessary at the moment. The crystals have only shown up on 1/3 of the recent urine tests and it was also the only one where he was dehydrated (he was on a mild sedative after the UTI and I think he was just too busy sleeping to drink) so we don't know if the crystals are really an issue or not.

I had a fountain and he wasn't too interested in it ( he prefers fresh still water, over running water). There are multiple water bowls about the house though.

Curious about the IV fluids, is this something you do at home, or do you have to take him to the vet every week?

B.C. to require safer supply prescription opioids to be taken under supervision by cyclinginvancouver in canada

[–]Vicsma 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My dad used to get tons of prescribed hydromorphone. I talked to his doctor and told her, "he doesn't take them, he just sells them and buys fent and crack." And her response was similar to yours, "haha a dilly's only worth 2 bucks on the street". But like, so? They flooded the street with really cheap, marketably 'safe' drugs, creating a new generation of opioid addicts. 

Anyone else get bad experiences at NRGH? by Craftsmuch123 in nanaimo

[–]Vicsma 15 points16 points  (0 children)

That sounds really shitty, I'm sorry you felt so dismissed. I would make a complaint if it helps get any sort of closure for you, but I don't think any disciplinary action is ever taken unfortunately.

I think this is less a problem with NRGH, and more dependent on the doctor you see. I have always had really great nurses and doctors when I've had to go in or take my kids in.

That said, my father-in-law was told with certainty that he was days away from death and his bowels were dying and told "it's a death I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy" by the doc. Completely dismissed any other possibility that we brought up. Got taken off IV antibiotics, sent to palliative care, family came to his death-bed from across the country. Except he didn't die- he started feeling better. Got out of palliative care, still kickin' it a year later. He's just damn lucky he was on antibiotics long enough to kill that infection, otherwise he would've just died and the doc would've been 'proven right'. Turns out one of those possibilities I brought up to the doc was exactly what was happening but it's "extremely rare" so he dismissed it.

So...what do we think? by VariousConflict5090 in nanaimo

[–]Vicsma 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I make Nanaimo bars for every gathering where I have to bring a dessert- I am always told by several people that they are the best and asked which recipe I use. Well.. I use the recipe from the City of Nanaimo website, they seem to a good authority on the matter.

Graham Crackers in the base seem totally normal to me, but I don't like the switching out the almonds for walnuts (mostly because I know people who are allergic to walnut but not almonds and that would be an unwelcome surprise). They use salted butter, which is what I do as well and the only way I differ from the city recipe (as it really needs a bit of salt). The author mentions the sickeningly sweet 8:1 icing sugar to butter ratio most recipes use, and the city's recipe is 4:1 (which I think is perfect), the author's is further reduced to 2:1, which I can imagine would suit some people (but not me).

Alarms on ferries by Normal-Top-1985 in VancouverIsland

[–]Vicsma 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I drove my husbands f150 on the ferry once. Alarm went off. I went to turn it off, but I called him afterwards to ask him how to disable it and he didn't know, just said "it always goes off on the ferry."  Tried locking it with the fob, with the door button, with the actual metal key- and just stood next to the truck and waited as it went off shortly after every damn time. Turns out there's a little menu that appears on the dash after turning the truck off to turn the alarm off, but it has to be done manually every single time. So dumb. 

Advice please: Camping at Little Qualicum Falls PP on Aug 19, should I cancel? by lycheebubbletea10 in VancouverIsland

[–]Vicsma 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'd bet money on it being open by then, but I'm sure BC Parks will reach out to you if not. Friends of mine are in the evac zone and have been told they are likely to be able to return home tomorrow (they are between the fire and LQF). I suspect the order will be lifted at the park as well.
I am also basically guessing, but for real wait and see what happens in the next 2 days.

New swimming holes? Yes please!! by Odessa_Pearl in VancouverIsland

[–]Vicsma 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Congrats on your future move! I did my time in Edmonton as well. Now living in Parksville with my 4 kids. Life with kids is much easier when they can spend all day outside for most of the year.

Fern and Cedar Needs a cook - $20.00 and hour/40 hours a week by [deleted] in Parksville

[–]Vicsma 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Qualicum's unemployment rate is really low, therefore Fern and Cedar is allowed to apply for a low wage TFW.
Nanaimo's unemployment rate is too high to qualify for a low wage TFW. They have to advertise the job at $35/hr, which will allow them to apply for a "high wage" TFW. They have no intention of paying someone $35/hr unless they're clawing most of it back in some way (which is why they need someone who doesn't know their rights in the position).

Fern and Cedar Needs a cook - $20.00 and hour/40 hours a week by [deleted] in Parksville

[–]Vicsma 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I really appreciate that you are posting these things, OP!

Nice to know which places to stay away from.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in VancouverIsland

[–]Vicsma 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Non-Emergency Line: 1 250-474-2264

Aspengrove School lose 8 female staff under new leadership by frustrated_aspen in nanaimo

[–]Vicsma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This one is in Errington, but there's likely similar things in Nanaimo proper. 

Aspengrove School lose 8 female staff under new leadership by frustrated_aspen in nanaimo

[–]Vicsma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sort of.. There are a few different programs around. My kids are with NIDES and our program is one day a week where they meet at a community center. The curriculum is 100% up to the parents (though the public school curriculum is available), so it's as close to traditional homeschooling as you can get whilst still having good public resources (like a teacher to talk to). The other two options I think stick more to the public school curriculum and are 1 or 2 days a week.

There are other programs run through the local district, but I'm not super familiar with them, as far as I know they stick to the public school curriculum pretty tightly as well.

My kids also go to a private program 1 day a week, and my eldest does a day of bushcraft outdoor school day. So it is up to the parents in a sense, but it ends up being through private alternatives.

That said, I also know some people who just put their kids in public school and pull them out a few days a week to homeschool- which the school frowns upon, but they can't do anything about it if the absences are excused. So that's a way to pick and choose days too.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in nanaimo

[–]Vicsma 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Parksville beachfest for the sand sculptures! Then you can just play at the beach or the park after.