Date: 2007-05-15 05:46
Subject: My four year anniversary
Security: Public
My four year anniversary is coming up on May 23rd... and I am stoked.
Health wise I have been doing very well... got a cardiologist who is able to keep me up right and standing.... read: not fainting 20 a month anymore. My guts are healed up enough that a slip up in which butter gets used at the boyfriends doesn't land me in the bathroom for two days... and I finally feel like going back to the gym.
So I am celebrating... yes, celebrating my disease. I will be having a BBQ to celebrate at my house sometime in June and will be serving some good GF grub. Please RSVP is you plan to attend. The invite is out there for all my celiac friends, dinner club-mates and other Celiac supporters and family.
just leave me a comment here or email me. celiac_dreams@hotmail.com
also I plan on putting all the past notes and events in here soon... forgive me... a student's life...
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
SPLITT's demise
Date: 2007-01-14 22:49
Subject: SPLITT Closure
Security: Public
Mood: determined
Hi All,
So SPLITT, our friendly local completely GF restaurant has had to shut it's doors due to a flub in the Calgary Herald... here's a letter from Dave, one of the owners...
Hello Celiac friends. Dave from Splitt here. Yes it is true Splitt is done and it is very unfortunate. We definitely want Splitt to come back but I need all of your help. We are currently in a legal battle for defamation and I need to build as strong of case as possible. In order for this to happen I need to show that Splitt was a destination for allot of people not just a neighborhood pub/restaurant. So if at all possible can each person on this list please send me there postal code with there name so I can show that people travel to come here and either NW / NE / SW / SE. Believe me this information will go no further than myself and my lawyer and possible the court if it goes that far I need to put a geographical representation of our patrons.
I would appreciate all of your help....Please....
Thanks,
dave
If you want to support SPLITT, please email your name, postal code, city to splittclosure@hotmail.com.
C'mon guys, let's get SPLITT back up and running, maybe opening one in Edmonton too!!
Subject: SPLITT Closure
Security: Public
Mood: determined
Hi All,
So SPLITT, our friendly local completely GF restaurant has had to shut it's doors due to a flub in the Calgary Herald... here's a letter from Dave, one of the owners...
Hello Celiac friends. Dave from Splitt here. Yes it is true Splitt is done and it is very unfortunate. We definitely want Splitt to come back but I need all of your help. We are currently in a legal battle for defamation and I need to build as strong of case as possible. In order for this to happen I need to show that Splitt was a destination for allot of people not just a neighborhood pub/restaurant. So if at all possible can each person on this list please send me there postal code with there name so I can show that people travel to come here and either NW / NE / SW / SE. Believe me this information will go no further than myself and my lawyer and possible the court if it goes that far I need to put a geographical representation of our patrons.
I would appreciate all of your help....Please....
Thanks,
dave
If you want to support SPLITT, please email your name, postal code, city to splittclosure@hotmail.com.
C'mon guys, let's get SPLITT back up and running, maybe opening one in Edmonton too!!
Post diagnosis struggles
Date: 2006-10-27 21:17
Subject: The bruise that comes with being punished twice
Security: Public
Mood: determined
It's bad enough that we are punished untill we are diagnosed, that we suffer the ridicule of being called anorexic or hypochondriacs, that we are belittled and told it is all in our heads, that the pain sometimes engulfs us until there is nothing else left, but the worst is that our undiagnosed time and sometimes our misdiagnoses can come back to kick our asses all over again.
I was sick for a long time, over 5 years, for three of those I was extremely sick, and pretty much ruined my undergraduate grade point average by staying in school. I stayed for one simple reason... I thought it would be the last thing I did. I was rapidly losing weight and my deteriorating health had no forseeable answer or end. I was fairly certain that I would die and I wanted that degree. I wanted to walk that stage. SO I stayed in school. I got up every morning that I could and I went to all the classes that I wasn't too busy throwing up to get to. I needed something to keep going for, to keep fighting for. Some reason to keep living, at least for one more day.
Now I am better, three years into recovery with very clean blood tests and only three different dr's that I have to still see. But... my gpa still sucks ass and I am being held to it. Even though I have spent the last three years working within medicine and gaining valuable research and medical experience. I have worked hard and proven to all those who know me that I belong here, that I am that smart, that I have what it takes and most of all that I WANT IT.
I want it so bad. I am fighting now, fighting for it all. I am fighting the institution to stop them from punishing me twice. To force them to confront the circumstance of my undergard years and my condition. I am fighting to be let in, to be given a chance and to be accepted.
I cannot quit now. That means I think it's ok to be punished again for something that was not my fault. I did the best I could and that is not a reason to limit me now. I was limited, and it was your medical system that limited me. A system I want to change and to make better. YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO PUNISH ME FOR SOMETHING YOU DID.
I will be turning in a statement of my experience and several supporting documents. I will be forcing them to be read. I am not going away. I am not giving up.
I am not tired enough yet. Close, but not yet. Sorry guys, you are not getting rid of me quite so easily.
Next meeting... Tuesday.
Subject: The bruise that comes with being punished twice
Security: Public
Mood: determined
It's bad enough that we are punished untill we are diagnosed, that we suffer the ridicule of being called anorexic or hypochondriacs, that we are belittled and told it is all in our heads, that the pain sometimes engulfs us until there is nothing else left, but the worst is that our undiagnosed time and sometimes our misdiagnoses can come back to kick our asses all over again.
I was sick for a long time, over 5 years, for three of those I was extremely sick, and pretty much ruined my undergraduate grade point average by staying in school. I stayed for one simple reason... I thought it would be the last thing I did. I was rapidly losing weight and my deteriorating health had no forseeable answer or end. I was fairly certain that I would die and I wanted that degree. I wanted to walk that stage. SO I stayed in school. I got up every morning that I could and I went to all the classes that I wasn't too busy throwing up to get to. I needed something to keep going for, to keep fighting for. Some reason to keep living, at least for one more day.
Now I am better, three years into recovery with very clean blood tests and only three different dr's that I have to still see. But... my gpa still sucks ass and I am being held to it. Even though I have spent the last three years working within medicine and gaining valuable research and medical experience. I have worked hard and proven to all those who know me that I belong here, that I am that smart, that I have what it takes and most of all that I WANT IT.
I want it so bad. I am fighting now, fighting for it all. I am fighting the institution to stop them from punishing me twice. To force them to confront the circumstance of my undergard years and my condition. I am fighting to be let in, to be given a chance and to be accepted.
I cannot quit now. That means I think it's ok to be punished again for something that was not my fault. I did the best I could and that is not a reason to limit me now. I was limited, and it was your medical system that limited me. A system I want to change and to make better. YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO PUNISH ME FOR SOMETHING YOU DID.
I will be turning in a statement of my experience and several supporting documents. I will be forcing them to be read. I am not going away. I am not giving up.
I am not tired enough yet. Close, but not yet. Sorry guys, you are not getting rid of me quite so easily.
Next meeting... Tuesday.
Travelling tips 2
Date: 2006-09-11 15:58
Subject: Travelling sites
Security: Public
Carolyn was able to pinpoint and share with us, Dave and I that is, this great site that has menu cards for nearly all languages... check it out.
http://www.celiactravel.com/restaurant-cards.html
Subject: Travelling sites
Security: Public
Carolyn was able to pinpoint and share with us, Dave and I that is, this great site that has menu cards for nearly all languages... check it out.
http://www.celiactravel.com/restaurant-cards.html
Travelling tips
Date: 2006-09-06 00:17
Subject: Travelling
Security: Public
Ahhh, the joys... nay... tribulations of travel as a Celiac.
The last time I travelled I went to an amazing place, Belize, South America. I promised myself to stay safe above and beyond all else. That means folks, that I was willing to settle for salad sans dressing and fresh fruit in order to avoid contamination and or gluttenings.
Fortunately, I did not have to sffer the wrath of a weeks worth of bland rabbit foods as apparently wheat is a hard to come by commodity in the far south. Corn is their starch of choice. Also I lucked out and the native language was English.... gotta love the colonization of our queen and her men.
But what if you are not so lucky... well then... her are some helpfull hints.
- Pack some goodies you absolutely love. Yes, maybe this means you can't bring 8 bikinis to make room for that pack of glutino chocolate wafer bars... but trust me.. you'll want them!!
- Pack some pasta... hard to find elsewhere but you can usually find a restaurant that'll cook it for ya and throw a safe sauce on top of it for ya
- Check with your local celiac chapter to see if they have a restaurant card or brochure in the language(s) of the country you are travelling to. There are also on-line translation services that you can use... link to follow.
- Ask around if anyone you know has previously been there, used that airline, stayed somewhere close and ask about the local scene.
- Check out local markets... often the cooking is done right in front of you or there are fresh ingredients so you can see exactly what is going into what you are eating.
- Remeber that higher class places or really popular places are used to heavier tourist traffic. There may be someone there who speaks your language and can answer questions for you or translate to facilitate those questions being answered.
- Don't take your lack of choice too seriously. Don't make travel about your food, some ppl travel the world for it's cusine... you my celiac friend cannot. Make your journey about something more. Make it about the adventure, the sites and sights, the places and the ppl. Don't focus on the fact that all you can have is salad... focus on the fact that you don't have to find a bathroom every ten feet and that you are healthy enough to enjoy all the sights and sounds. Just leave your tastebuds outta this one.
- Having said that which is above... do try and find new foods to love and try to use any travel agents and other resources you can to make some of your trip about the food and the comunication of your needs. But don't stress about it. Be safe.
- Consult your local travel agent. They can get in touch with ppl that you can't.... pretend you are going to book through them if you have to. If nothing else, email me ( celiac_dreams@hotmail.com ) and I'll give you the name of my travel agent. Ask them to check local restaurants, hotels and resorts.
- Go to the library and take out some books on the culture and foods of the country you are going to. Learning on your part the names and definitions of local fare will serve you well and may facilitate communication when you are there.
- Along with a restuarant card from your local chapter, or in the absence of one, you can prepare a little booklet with pictures of NO-NO items. Put the words "wheat" or "bread" under them with slashes through the names and or pictures to indicate that they are BAD. This may seem crude but it works... a picture is worth a thousand words in any language. You can even try and find the translations for those specific words and the word NO to go along with the pics.
Anyways, hope these help.... I'll add more if I think of any... it's late and I need my celiac-humor sleep.
Safe and gluten free travels .... .Jenny
Subject: Travelling
Security: Public
Ahhh, the joys... nay... tribulations of travel as a Celiac.
The last time I travelled I went to an amazing place, Belize, South America. I promised myself to stay safe above and beyond all else. That means folks, that I was willing to settle for salad sans dressing and fresh fruit in order to avoid contamination and or gluttenings.
Fortunately, I did not have to sffer the wrath of a weeks worth of bland rabbit foods as apparently wheat is a hard to come by commodity in the far south. Corn is their starch of choice. Also I lucked out and the native language was English.... gotta love the colonization of our queen and her men.
But what if you are not so lucky... well then... her are some helpfull hints.
- Pack some goodies you absolutely love. Yes, maybe this means you can't bring 8 bikinis to make room for that pack of glutino chocolate wafer bars... but trust me.. you'll want them!!
- Pack some pasta... hard to find elsewhere but you can usually find a restaurant that'll cook it for ya and throw a safe sauce on top of it for ya
- Check with your local celiac chapter to see if they have a restaurant card or brochure in the language(s) of the country you are travelling to. There are also on-line translation services that you can use... link to follow.
- Ask around if anyone you know has previously been there, used that airline, stayed somewhere close and ask about the local scene.
- Check out local markets... often the cooking is done right in front of you or there are fresh ingredients so you can see exactly what is going into what you are eating.
- Remeber that higher class places or really popular places are used to heavier tourist traffic. There may be someone there who speaks your language and can answer questions for you or translate to facilitate those questions being answered.
- Don't take your lack of choice too seriously. Don't make travel about your food, some ppl travel the world for it's cusine... you my celiac friend cannot. Make your journey about something more. Make it about the adventure, the sites and sights, the places and the ppl. Don't focus on the fact that all you can have is salad... focus on the fact that you don't have to find a bathroom every ten feet and that you are healthy enough to enjoy all the sights and sounds. Just leave your tastebuds outta this one.
- Having said that which is above... do try and find new foods to love and try to use any travel agents and other resources you can to make some of your trip about the food and the comunication of your needs. But don't stress about it. Be safe.
- Consult your local travel agent. They can get in touch with ppl that you can't.... pretend you are going to book through them if you have to. If nothing else, email me ( celiac_dreams@hotmail.com ) and I'll give you the name of my travel agent. Ask them to check local restaurants, hotels and resorts.
- Go to the library and take out some books on the culture and foods of the country you are going to. Learning on your part the names and definitions of local fare will serve you well and may facilitate communication when you are there.
- Along with a restuarant card from your local chapter, or in the absence of one, you can prepare a little booklet with pictures of NO-NO items. Put the words "wheat" or "bread" under them with slashes through the names and or pictures to indicate that they are BAD. This may seem crude but it works... a picture is worth a thousand words in any language. You can even try and find the translations for those specific words and the word NO to go along with the pics.
Anyways, hope these help.... I'll add more if I think of any... it's late and I need my celiac-humor sleep.
Safe and gluten free travels .... .Jenny
Peking Garden
ate: 2006-07-17 23:03
Subject: Chinese Food
Security: Public
Oh wow, Oh wow, Oh wow....
So we went for chinese food tonight with the dinner club and boy oh boy was it super fabulous.
They, PEKING GARDEN in Calgary, are so amazing when it comes to making us feel cared for, safe and wanted. They prepared everything from the most dee-lish ginger beef to sweet and sour everything to salt and pepper squid to fried sinapore noodle dishes... OH THE FABULOUSNESS OF IT ALL!!!!!!
They have to go to alot of effort for us to eat there as well. They clean the kitchen, change out all the oil and use special sauces and such. We have to put our order in a couple days in advance so that they can make out food seperate and first in the clean oil. They always double check all the ingredients on all the dishes. It is so great. We ate so much and were so full.
Aileen and Patrick brought their new little baby boy and he was happy, no doubt from the happy talk at the table and the wonderous smell of GF chinese food.
Leanne returned to the group after a long absence.
Carolyn made it down from Edmonton and brought her boyfriend along. They were full of useful edmonton info and came bearing foccacia bread, chocolate cake and carrot cake. It was a great touch and made the dinner that much better.
It was super fun night full of great food.
AHHHHH!!! YUMMMY!!!!!! Yeah to Peking Garden!!!!
Subject: Chinese Food
Security: Public
Oh wow, Oh wow, Oh wow....
So we went for chinese food tonight with the dinner club and boy oh boy was it super fabulous.
They, PEKING GARDEN in Calgary, are so amazing when it comes to making us feel cared for, safe and wanted. They prepared everything from the most dee-lish ginger beef to sweet and sour everything to salt and pepper squid to fried sinapore noodle dishes... OH THE FABULOUSNESS OF IT ALL!!!!!!
They have to go to alot of effort for us to eat there as well. They clean the kitchen, change out all the oil and use special sauces and such. We have to put our order in a couple days in advance so that they can make out food seperate and first in the clean oil. They always double check all the ingredients on all the dishes. It is so great. We ate so much and were so full.
Aileen and Patrick brought their new little baby boy and he was happy, no doubt from the happy talk at the table and the wonderous smell of GF chinese food.
Leanne returned to the group after a long absence.
Carolyn made it down from Edmonton and brought her boyfriend along. They were full of useful edmonton info and came bearing foccacia bread, chocolate cake and carrot cake. It was a great touch and made the dinner that much better.
It was super fun night full of great food.
AHHHHH!!! YUMMMY!!!!!! Yeah to Peking Garden!!!!
Frustration
Date: 2006-07-02 16:51
Subject: Speaking of consistancy...
Security: Public
There is nothing worse than having one person ruin it for everyone. But in the world of Celiacs this is happen more than you would ever care to know. Daily there are Celiacs who are cheating on their diets and opting to eat gluten rich foods in place of GF goods. They are doing this in restaurants and at stores. They are undermining those of us who need the diet. They are reinforcing to the restaurants and the stores that we are all just being hypocondriacs. They are ruining any repuation we had going for us for consistancy and seriousness.
If you cheat, please don't ask for a gluten free meal and then eat the bread at the table. Please don't send the food back in place of a more tasty meal including all the gluten. You are just ruining any crediblity the rest of us are working so hard to maintain. Don't tell people about your gluten free diet and all it's restrictions and hard ships while sipping on a beer. Honestly, it just pisses the rest of us off.
I have to be on the gluten free diet. I nearly died... and that is not in the least bit sarcasm or exaggeration, and then the GF diet saved my life. I need people to take me seriously, I need to have them realize that what they are feeding me could hurt me. I need all the information they recieve to be correct. But when other celiacs don't care that bread came on the side and touched all their food, or still order the sauce because it only has a little bit of flour in it to thicken it up.... it ends up hurting me.
I even once had a waitress tell me that no one was actually allergic to wheat, that so many of her clients ate menu items with wheat and no one ever complained as long as it was only a little bit or they ate it only once in a while.
Thanks guys! Thanks for blowing our credibility and allowing people to think it's ok as long as it's a little bit.
We have to stick together on this one. We all have to realize that the diet is the ONLY treatment for Celiac disease. Even if you don't feel any pain or don't have any gastro symptoms doesn't mean that you are not hurting your body. 1/50 of a piece of bread is enought to kill 1 cm worth of villi. WHAT ARE YOU DOING EATING ANY GLUTEN AT ALL?????
Take charge of your diet. Get over any stigma you are placing on yourself and ask for what you need. If you don't ask for it, no one will and then nothing will get better. Our bread will stay hugely over priced and our food choices will stay limited. Take charge and demand better. It can only benifit you and your heatlth and maybe thousand of other celiacs along the way.
C'mon guys. Help me out here.
Subject: Speaking of consistancy...
Security: Public
There is nothing worse than having one person ruin it for everyone. But in the world of Celiacs this is happen more than you would ever care to know. Daily there are Celiacs who are cheating on their diets and opting to eat gluten rich foods in place of GF goods. They are doing this in restaurants and at stores. They are undermining those of us who need the diet. They are reinforcing to the restaurants and the stores that we are all just being hypocondriacs. They are ruining any repuation we had going for us for consistancy and seriousness.
If you cheat, please don't ask for a gluten free meal and then eat the bread at the table. Please don't send the food back in place of a more tasty meal including all the gluten. You are just ruining any crediblity the rest of us are working so hard to maintain. Don't tell people about your gluten free diet and all it's restrictions and hard ships while sipping on a beer. Honestly, it just pisses the rest of us off.
I have to be on the gluten free diet. I nearly died... and that is not in the least bit sarcasm or exaggeration, and then the GF diet saved my life. I need people to take me seriously, I need to have them realize that what they are feeding me could hurt me. I need all the information they recieve to be correct. But when other celiacs don't care that bread came on the side and touched all their food, or still order the sauce because it only has a little bit of flour in it to thicken it up.... it ends up hurting me.
I even once had a waitress tell me that no one was actually allergic to wheat, that so many of her clients ate menu items with wheat and no one ever complained as long as it was only a little bit or they ate it only once in a while.
Thanks guys! Thanks for blowing our credibility and allowing people to think it's ok as long as it's a little bit.
We have to stick together on this one. We all have to realize that the diet is the ONLY treatment for Celiac disease. Even if you don't feel any pain or don't have any gastro symptoms doesn't mean that you are not hurting your body. 1/50 of a piece of bread is enought to kill 1 cm worth of villi. WHAT ARE YOU DOING EATING ANY GLUTEN AT ALL?????
Take charge of your diet. Get over any stigma you are placing on yourself and ask for what you need. If you don't ask for it, no one will and then nothing will get better. Our bread will stay hugely over priced and our food choices will stay limited. Take charge and demand better. It can only benifit you and your heatlth and maybe thousand of other celiacs along the way.
C'mon guys. Help me out here.
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