Valerie's Podcast Archives - Page 28 of 43

March 19, 2019January 20, 2021

Vets To Go Review – e43s1

episode 43 season 1

Welcome back to another episode (vvp43) of Valerie’s Variety Podcast and this week we are discussing a recent experience we had with Vets To Go.

Lately we’ve been struggling with our furry friend in the house. Our 17 year old cat Tig is going through some life changes. I had googled aging signs in cats as I’ve definitely seen her showing some signs of aging like: moving more slowly, eating less hard food, I’ve inteofuced some wet food, sleeping a bit more than usual. Also not hearing and seeing as well. She’s always been very affectionate purring likes to sit on my lap – she’s my cat for sure. Google noted a few things like eating less, showing signs of weight loss and honestly she has started to feel a little bit bonier lately.

My husband had suggested that maybe it’s time for a vet visit. It’s been a few years since I took her to the vet well maybe like 5 years. So yes it is indeed Time.

Some of the signs that we were up against are:

– howling in the night take a listen to this

– missing her litter box

– peeing on the carpet

– vomiting a bit more than usual

Hae you struggled with your cat and some of these issues. What have you done that has worked?

On our daily commute we drive by a Vets to Go business so I thought I’d give them a try. We were driving out to the mountains while having this discussion about going to a vet and I thought about this option. I went into their website and filled in the forms- scheduled a visit right from my car! How easy was this? I also read a few reviews on this company and you know mostly it’s about home euthanasia putting your pet to sleep in the comfort of their home- BUT they do all sorts of vet service – mobile. Great concept hey?

This most welcoming Vet showed up At my home on time and with such a great attitude. Really put me at ease and no ‘white coat syndrome’ off the start anyway. She proceeded to talk me through the process and how this works at home. She asked me for some background details. Take a listen.

We set up right in my kitchen on the island. The Vet Ask me to lay a towel out. And find the cat.

Then I couldn’t find Tig! I went looking for her all over 11:09 upstairs downstairs I checked under the beds oh man! Shaking her treat dish calling her name where the heck was she?? I finally find her

The Vet proceeded to check her out and snuggle her up. I think Tig lost like 14 handfuls of fur while she was there.

“Did you know you’re so pretty she says to Tig”

She puts Tig into this grocery style of bin. You know like from Safeway hard sided bin that collapses with handles. It’s attached to a scale. Tig gets in here and we weigh her as a team!

She jumps out. Like any female didn’t want to see the weigh in results!!

Good explanation for the yowling hey? She wants to look at our litter boxes.Ugh I wasn’t expecting this but here goes nothing! For her age she’s looking pretty good! That made me feel like I’m doing the right things

As a follow up to this CBD option, we’ve started using this since we had the Vet visit and we haven’t noticed any change in howling…but maybe it’s making Tig more comfortable and not so arthritic.

Can you hear my voice start to quiver…yep I’m that pet owner, nervous for the bad the news…

Character of the Vet

She good at changing the topic and making me feel at ease hey? What a nice person, so we proceed to setup and take blood from Tig who by the way became very feisty. But in the end is all worked out. And true to what the Vet said, Tig did stay around afteward and hang out with us – strange , she didn’t bolt up the stairs to hide. She stayed and was part of the remainder time. That’s all for my recording with the vet, I did bleep out her name to save her privacy as I didn’t ask her permission for this recording. However, I think if this is any indication of the kind of person she is – it bodes well to the type of people Vets to go hires.

I had a wonderful experience with this service and do recommend it to anyone that requires vet service. The cost was $450 for the visit, the exam and the blood collection and diagnosis. That’s what I would have likely spent in an actual Veterinary office but without dragging Tig through the stress.

Thanks for listening to this show today. and being part of my vet visit, it was a stressful time for both pet owner and pet. However doing it in my home with this most amazing vet made this a great experience, under the circumstances. Unfortunately, the yowling hasn’t stopped even with the introduction of the CBD oil. I have started to feed her later in the evening before I head to bed. The litter situation is interesting tho. Since we met with the Vet she suggested to open up the dome litter box so she can posture better in there based on her age this might be a little more difficult. We did this and then Tig never used her litter upstairs again, not once. Then she started peeing more downstairs UGH!. It’s been truly a trying time going through different options to figuring this out. So we picked up a new litter bin, and litter at the pet store – with their help on suggestions. And moved the litter into a new place in the house and she’s using it!!! Finally, not going downstairs at all, just using this one litter box and no accidents for the last several weeks. Her yowling in the middle of the night starting around 4am hasn’t stopped yet.

The background voice notes were recorded by me, Valerie Moss, the GarageBand loops I chose today are:

Cats Meow 01/02/03/04/05
Electro Beep Accent 01

The show is written and produced by me. See you next Tuesday.

March 12, 2019January 20, 2021

Promotion-pode – e42s1

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episode 42 season 1

Hi Everyone, welcome back to Valerie’s Variety Podcast this week is Housekeeping episode (vvp42). First I want to say thank you for taking the time to choose this podcast and hanging out with me on Tuesdays. This drives me to continue to produce podcasts every week. I’ve surpassed 40 episodes (some still scheduled to be released) and already building the content for my birthday episode.

So can I ask a favour of you?

Could you take one minute and pause this podcast and select a review on your podcast app or iTunes…I’ll wait, go ahead lol. I know all of the podcasters ask this us of listeners, me included. It’s means more now than ever to write a review. For me, if I don’t get feedback I never know if I’m doing a good job or not – I see my download numbers but who are these people anyway? I recently took my own advice and posted a very positive review on google and shared it with the person that did this great job! Guess what? I made her day as she knows she did a good job that made my day. Win Win, right? See how valuable this kind of easy thing is?

Also, would you mind to share this episode with one of your friends? When you look at the podcast through your smartphone’s app select the 3 little dots/icon, this will bring up some options and one of them is share…please share THIS episode with just one of your friends – just one. Your sister, your Auntie, your cousin…you get the idea.

I’m including a promo clip from our first 1-12 episodes. For those of you who are new check this out, for those of you who’ve been with me from the beginning – thank you and check out this recap. If you’ve been with me from the beginning what’s your favourite epidsode?

If you want to text me your comments I’ll read them on a future episode, or give me some feedback I’d love to hear from you – did you know you can text me to my email, valerie@valeriemoss.ca. This show in still an organic podcast a variety show that is based on whatever – whenever. Where I share reviews, news, history, personal stories. Are you’re enjoying this flow and randomness at the same time.

My favourite parts listening to this clip are…plactic cheese – hiding something on their person. Love hearing these different voices I go back to this place where I was at the time of these

Thanks for listening, the intro and outro for this podcast is recorded by London Moss, the intro for the promo clip is recorded by Janice Wilby. Theme music is produced and written by Jason Schnell titled Tascam 40.

March 5, 2019January 20, 2021

Banff Mountain GetaWay – e41s1

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episode 41 season 1

Welcome back to Valerie’s Variety Podcast About recent getaway to the mountains. One of my most favourite things is being outside when the weather is cold and brisk but the sun is lighting up the day. With barely a cloud in the sky and it’s so cold and crisp under your feet.

Lake Louise

First stop – Lake Louise, 2 hours north west of Calgary nice drive into the park. Once you pass Canmore of brown lands we were becoming suspicious to the rumours about the snow, but as soon as we passed the park gates Snow Snow Snow

Check out my site for some videos of our drive the day was amazing to travel the abundance of snow hanging on the fence stumps looking like mushroom tops was incredible – this is snow. Also the Chinook arch was beaming with delight. A site to see if you’re not from around here our Chinook arches are a staple here in the mountains swinging our temperatures from minus 10 to plus 10 over night. Feels like spring when we’re in our coldest season.

Listening to the people enjoying the snow, skating on the majestic Emerald Lake, hiking, The mountains are encapsulating us from every direction. the sound, is solid. The 80 cms of snow or 31 inches absorbs the sounds. It’s really quite amazing, if you stop to listen when it snows it’s almost silent.

Me with my family, we enjoyed the scenery capturing a few memories, smiling at all the tourists, people skiing, kids digging into the snow, jumping. Dogs loving it up. Being with like minded people who appreciate a good picture in the freshest air.

Aren’t cameras fun…seeing all the people capturing this moment with loved ones, clicking their cameras big and small to get this moment, to savour this moment just like us.

You know what’s amazing to me is people from all over the world are enjoying the same place as me – in my country, my backyard…I don’t know what they are saying but you can just imagine…this are is beautiful, take a picture of me over here…

From Ice Castles that you can stand in and have a drink in complete with bartender, take pictures peeking out through the windows – yes inside the ice castle. Surrounded by the most in credible 6 mountains. When you stand outside the hotel and looking from left to right the mountains are:

Fairview Mountain

Aberdeen (which kind of hides behind Fairview)

Lefroy

Victoria (the big one in the centre)

Whyte (with Mount Niblock connected to its right)

St. Piran

We walked all around this amazing place. Nestled within these mountains, this chateau and can’t you hear is so quiet with people just taking it all in around us. Taking family pictures. Savouring this experience.

What time is it? I don’t know I say…when I’m on vacation or holidays or away from my busy life I like to loose track of time…this helps me unwind and be in the moment, whenever and whatever I’m doing.

Dig out your boots, your snow pants, favourite warm mitts and toque head to the mountains, get that fresh air on you and in you. This my friends, heal souls and refreshes minds to undertake your next challenge. This is my happy place. What’s your happy place? Why how does it make you feel is it a thing, a song, a person share this with me.

Banff Park Lodge

Next Stop ….checking into the Hotel, we’ve always wanted to Stay at the Banff Park Lodge located on Lynx Street between Wolf Street and Caribou Street – see the theme here? It’s boasting many flags on the outside of the building. True to Banff’s style it’s rock and wood and feels good inside – at the time we were there it was still decorated like Christmas – the trees were as tall as the ceilings over 20′ – stunningly decorated . Although we booked our room online. Here’s our checking in experience.

Like all checkins you need to park your car and mosey up to the reception desk to check in…our gal was lovely….hair dryer to room..so funny.

Parking is underground, in a warm basement, daily parking is advisable, this was your car is safe.. why can’t we remember our licence plate lol…she would run out in the cold to get this detail – thank you lady!

insert here…isn’t that nice how she’s engaging to London, asking her questions, check out her accent, there’s a lot of Auzzie’s in Banff – why – likely because it feels like home 🙂

Thank you…this was we can sleep in then head to brunch yummy!

So Jeff comes back in from getting his licence plate and wants to ask about late check out – this is when you’ve been together as long as we have – on the same page…

hair dryer is cancelled

We were checking in earlier then typical time, but there wasn’t any other rooms available at this time for ready rooms…while Jeff and London were upstairs checking into the brunch and walking around… checking in is always a process…but it was a pleasant experience and they were very kind and accommodating for our requests and questions.

insert voice note – marking reservations…3 people at 12:30 – we are booked for brunch!

After we finished getting checked in, we got nestled into our hotel room, it was a standard room with two queen beds, nice balcony view, clean, small bar to put all of our medleys in to keep chilled on the one side with fridge, a good bathroom that’s been upgraded with finer fixtures. It’s roomy and clean. We freshen up and head out to explore the hotel. Find the pool and the dining area along with the bar that’s has a few patrons mingling and having food and drinks. It’s cozy and welcoming…a waiter greets us.

La Terrazza Dining Room

LaTerrazza dining room, is located within an atrium, still decorated cozily and quaintly for Christmas with small lights and evergreen bows. Located behind the bar off to the side, it’s quiet and intimate. We picked our table. Made our reservation enjoyed an appetizer and a glass of wine. We had the nachos.

The room was very inviting and after enjoying the nachos we wanted to stay and laiase the day away. The nachos were okay and definitely hit the spot but they weren’t the best nachos I have ever had…

We proceeded to go for a walk around Banff, it’s was snowing like crazy which is exactly what we were wishing for. being in the snow…it was also a bit cold but hey it’s the mountains in wintertime, this is what we expected and why people come here.

After the pool we got ready to go to dinner, as you heard we made reservations at La Terraza dining room, the menu sounded great and the ambiance was very fitting. Jeff enjoyed the lobster fettuccini and I tried their special ‘big fish’ served on rice with veggies. It was amazing – London just ate off our plates. I just love that she’s adventurous with food – are you kids, would they eat Lobster and a large flat fish with head and eyes still intact?

Crave Mountain Grill

The next morning we enjoyed brunch in their Crave restaurant Located upstairs with large windows to overlook the Banff mountains and areas.This brunch has been nominated for the ‘best brunch in Banff’ award a few times and this occasion didn’t disappoint. Our waitress was an auzzie and you could tell she loved her job.

Checking in for brunch beginning of voice note.

While we were waiting for our waitress a man came moseying into the restaurant, all the waiters and waitresses said hi to him, he was known to them and familiar. He seems pleasant enough making his way through the restaurant with his walker to assist him. A tall man with grey showing on his face and top of his head – once he removed his toque. Scooching through the tables gingerly placing his walker to not bump into anything. Once he got situated they bought him coffee etc.

Later I met him up at the buffet together, he asked me if I was enjoying Banff and I said yes I returned the question and he said yes for 60 years and the mountains were bigger back then…a local I suspected. Born and raised in Banff – how lucky!

As we enjoyed our brunch with all the fun trimmings of fish, meat, pastry bar, chocolate with fruit fountain and all kinds of salads and warm food time planned the rest of our day we were visiting with our waitress and she was so outgoing and a perfect match to our fine brunch establishment. Cheery and pleasant, good service too. New zealand north island…such a doll how friendly is she? She’s been here for 9 years. Don’t you just love listening to another accent makes it even more gregarious and connects you further to the people around you – you always learn something. Looking out the window was so beautiful, so much snow and the sun making it shimmer it was stunning.

Thanks for listening into our weekend getAway in the mountains, I wanted to share this experience with you as I mentioned earlier the mountains and the cold heals me. This is my place where I get rejuvenated. The sound of the snow, the being beside like-minded people, enjoying the quiet company of my family and being lucky enough to have this experience in my back yard.

If you’re from Calgary you likely ski or snowboard or trek up the mountains hiking. For me the mountains are a peaceful place. Listening to London enjoy the snow and Jeff snapping pictures of us and the environment is where we find our bliss moment. As a side note, The brunch was excellent but a little pricey when you’re in Banff you’ll pay more for the experience and the atmosphere. We were surrounded in people on the ski hill and snowboarding throughout the days, people were giddy with the excitement of the snow, the most snow in over 10 years.

What’s your happy place or is it a person that you can snuggle up with? Find that place in your mind right now and just be there in that moment. I’ll wait….

Thanks for listening. If you have a favourite story to tell me about your happy place let me know…these feel good stories are the best ones to share with each other as it spreads happiness and a warm feeling inside.

The intro and outdo is by London Moss, the music I chose for todays episode is through GarageBand and my personal voice note recordings. I hope you like these voice notes and having a glimpse into our personal experience with the sounds and banter within my family and our GetAway. Some of the music and GarageBand loops I choose for todays episode are:

Future Fresh Topper
Wolf Howl 02
Counterpoint Synth
kids Cheering
Jumping in the Pool