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Tag: Calgary

Cityscapes - Calgary

28 FEB

Calgary Cityscape: Photo Essay

City Series: Calgary Cityscape – Five snapshots from a day spent wandering Stephen Avenue in downtown Calgary in August 2010.

Posted in: Canada, FEATURESTagged: Calgary, Cultural Observations, Skyscrapers4 CommentsCarrie Kellenberger February 28, 2011

ABOUT ME AND MSW

A GLOBAL MIND IN ASIA

I have been writing about my chronic illnesses since 2009 and my advocacy work is featured on many health sites, including Healthline, WEGO Health, the Spondylitis Association, Creaky Joints, and more.

ABOUT ME

I’m a Canadian expat living in Taiwan with Ankylosing Spondylitis, Fibromyalgia, and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, among other health issues.

When I first started MSW in 2007, I wrote a lot about living abroad and my travels in Asia. This site has never veered from its main mission statement, which is to travel and learn about Asia with me.

In response to my readers, I have also started to include more information about my life and how it has been impacted by being chronically ill abroad.

Healthline Best Fibromyalgia Blog for 2019

Healthline carefully selects each blog based on the quality of content, the frequency of posts, and a connection to their community. We feel My Several Worlds specifically earned this accolade by using your unique experience to help others thrive and continue traveling even with chronic illness.

TAGS

Adventure Travel Ankylosing Spondylitis arthritis Asian art Backpacking backpacking in Asia backpacking in Southeast Asia Beaches beach vacations chronic illness Cultural Observations expat life expats in Taipei expat stories fibromyalgia Global Artists Hiking in Taiwan historical travel Islands Japanese culture learn Chinese living abroad living in Asia living in Taipei living in Taiwan Mountains MSW Interviews National Parks Reach To Teach Road Trips Short Stories southeast Asia Taipei Restaurants Taiwanese culture Taiwanese food teach abroad Temples The Kellenbergers tips for ESL teachers travel bloggers Travel Photography Travel Tips village life Wanderfood Where We've Been

Taipei Recommended! (I’ve Done Both!)

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM

carriekellenberger

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Half a month's worth of reading with a twist. 💎
Love my #geodes 📚🐛
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#readingisfundamental #educateyourself #2019books
#morebooksplease #fiction #bookstagram #bookshelves #bookclub #bibliophile #readersofinstagram #fortheloveofreading

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#Caturday in bed with books and kittays. They get really snippy if I move. WE. ARE. NOT. AMUSED.

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December is cancelled. I'm off Enbrel until further notice. 🦋
A year into this journey and I've had a serious med side effect crop up. No idea why, but this has been a miserable week. It started with numbness, tingling and burning skin pain - different to my disease symptoms. By Sat night, my face was on fire and my lips were bright red. Swollen glands in my neck. I woke up on Sun with a butterfly rash on my face. It hit my torso and arms as well. My lips erupted and blistered and it's still going. (Won't go into other details.) It's gross.
🦋
I cannot inject with open sores or infections. Enbrel works by lowering my overactive immune system. Sulfasalazine, the other med I'm on, also weakens my immune system which is why I have to be so careful around sick folks. This leaves me susceptible to things like pneumonia, cellulitis, bronchitis, gastroenteritis, sepsis, osteomyelitis and other types of infections. That's why I have the mask on at my appts and in public places.
🦋
I have to wait until this clears before I can resume taking my meds. Now you see why I've said December is cancelled.
🦋
I was at the hospital last Thurs and got my blood results from Oct, which showed elevated CRP and ESR levels of blood #inflammation. Enbrel is supposed to keep this in check. We decided it was due to additional stress and weather changes in Oct. I re-test in Dec. I'm not sure what happens if those blood markers aren't down later this month. Living with constant inflammation is awful. CHRONIC INFLAMMATION IS A SILENT KILLER. It is something we worry about constantly because inflammation causes many problems. I have an article coming up that explains more.
🦋
My goal now is to rest and wait for this to clear. Hope I can get back on Enbrel in time for my lab work on Dec 26th. We are hoping for normalish levels of inflammation but that seems impossible now. I'm stressed and feeling overwhelmed just like the holidays call for with folks like me.

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Reading Stats:
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15 books this month
8 non fiction
2019 – 137 books total
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Know My Name by Chanel Miller - #nonfiction #sexualassault #autobiography
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez - non fiction #women
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides - mystery, thriller
⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Night Watch by Sarah Waters - #war #LGBT #historicalfiction
⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Less You Know, The Sounder You Sleep by Juliet Butler - -historical fiction #biography
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Talking To Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
- nonfiction #psychology
⭐⭐⭐.5 Heart Berries: A Memoir by Terese Marie Mailhot - #indigenous #PTSD non fiction, feminism ⭐⭐⭐The Book of Etta by Meg Ellison - dystopian #sciencefiction
⭐⭐⭐ Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport - non-fiction #science #technology psychology
⭐⭐⭐ The 100 by Kass Morgan - YA, science fiction, dystopian
⭐⭐⭐ Men Explain Things To Me by Rebecca Solnit -nonfiction, women, feminism, #politics
⭐⭐⭐ Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging by Sebastian Junger - nonfiction, psychology, history, men, war, sociology, philosophy
⭐⭐ The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
- feminism, dystopian, science fiction
⭐⭐ The Book of Flora by Meg Ellison - dystopian, science fiction
⭐ The Steve Jobs Way: iLeadership for a New Generation by Jay Elliot, William L. Simon -non fiction, leadership, business, science and technology, biography

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😂😂😂 A Spoonie's Life.

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Current read...
📚🐛
I have a feeling this is going to rip my heart out, but Chanel Miller has already inspired me by putting her story in words and re-claiming her name. 📚🐛
Taking your power back is never easy, but she is owning it and setting an example for women and girls around the world. #empoweringwomen #motivational
#wewillnotbesilenced #autobiography

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Hi friends. I've been pretty sick since the wedding on Nov 16 and have had nothing but time to stay in bed and read. A LOT.
🐦
Netflix has also helped. The things we do to occupy our time when we are recovering! For me, it's books, Netflix, writing, flower arranging, music, and web work if I can sit up.
🐦
Anyways, I was able to get some site work done on #MySeveralWorlds - which I created in Jan 2007. I also had some time to make some images to go with my posts about #chronicillness and #chronicpain. I'm hoping I can keep these #mondaymotivation posts going. 🐦
This is part of a post that I wrote about slowing down and learning the value of saying no. When I first got sick, I did not slow down. I kept pushing through thinking I would beat the stats. The stats are there for a reason. You're supposed to take care of yourself.
🐦
In today's world, everyone is busy and people don't take time to practice #selfcare. We all make excuses for why we can't slow down or say no until our health decides it for us. Believe me when I say that once your health is gone and your body refuses to go anymore, you will regret the times you pushed through thinking you could do it all. No one can do it all.
🐦
Even the healthiest people need downtime, and that is what this reminder is for - to remind everyone that you can slow down, you can say no, and you can put yourself first.
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#slowdown #sayno #nevergiveup #Spoonie #Spondylitis #mondaymood #restisbest #AnkylosingSpondylitis #Fibromyalgia #MECFS #autoimmune #invisibleillness #butyoudontlooksick
#mentalhealth #depression #staystrong #fibrowarrior #arthritis #chronicAS #mychroniclife #disability #selfcare #chronicallyfabulous #spoonielife #patientleader #blogger

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🎶Don't stop believin'
Hold on to the feelin'🎶
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We did find streetlights and people that night, but I'm pretty sure they didn't have Journey on that system. Do you remember, Mrs. Hoff? 💎
Those folks were not prepared for us Canadian gals to storm that stage, eh? Today marks our last night out together in Taiwan in 2012! Wow. Crazy that it was so long ago. This was one of my favorite trips despite all the trouble we got into. 😂
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Miss you guys! .
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#friendsmakeeverythingbetter #canadiansintaiwan #canadiangirl

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Lovely bridesmaids and their bouquets. The second image in this series was what we thought would be the bride's bouquet. I love it, but after seeing the bride's dresses and the bridesmaid dresses during her consultation, I knew there would be a switch. It worked perfectly. I took the large bouquet and divided it into three, then wrapped the flowers in bird's nest fern leaves and white ribbon. Perfection! 🌸
Components: White roses, purple and white lisianthus, and purple crysanthmums wrapped in green leaves. 🌸
I got pretty sick after the wedding and I'm still going through an activity-related flare - it's like clockwork. The flare hits 48 to 72 hours after I've done something. In a lot of pain right now, so we're focusing on rest. That is why I haven't been online much this week. 🙂
🌸
Yes, I take commissions and can do everything from traditional flower arrangements to various styles of ikebana, plus flowers for special occasions including bridal bouquets and boutonierres. I have over 20 years of experience in the bridal industry. Please support local artists like me. 🙏
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#wayoftheflower #livingart #bridesmaids #bridesmaidbouquet #weddingbouquet #flowerstudio #flowerpower #naturelover #flowerarrangement #floralartist #mysecretgarden #purplebouquet #flowersmakepeoplehappy #bridalbouquet #bouquet #lisianthus
#eustoma #whiteroses #pinkflowers #pinkandwhitebouquet #supergirly #weddingflowers #weddingday #flowerqueen #livinggreen #plantlove #greenthumb #localartist #taipeiartists #crysanthemums

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What a fun commission. Coralie's bridal bouquet turned out perfectly even though I didn't know what I was working with until 24 hours before the ceremony. The bride wanted peonies which are hard to find at markets here. She also initially wanted a purple bouquet, but I knew she would change her mind when she saw this one. Scroll through to see the process from start to finish.
🌸
Since I could not walk the market and do the ceremony the following day, the bride went to my vendor and called me on WA. I told her what to buy and how much I needed. Some of the things I asked for seemed weird, but everything she got was used. (More photos coming of the other arrangements.)
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The first photo is the inital photo, followed by the ribbon and pinning. On the wedding day, I threaded blades of grass through the bouquet to represent everlasting love and small sprigs of greenery to make the pinks pop. The final touch was a pale pink knotted cord. 🌸
Components: Pink lisianthus. It can look a bit like peonies when arranged properly and adds timeless elegance to any arrangement. They are a flower of appreciation and represent admiration for a friend. They also represent young love. 🌸
White roses represent purity and innocence. Early tradition used white roses as a symbol for true love, an association which would later become the hallmark of the red rose. White roses are also known as the bridal rose - a traditional wedding flower.
🌸
Made with love for a very good friend.
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Yes, I take commissions and can do everything from traditional flower arrangements to various styles of ikebana, plus flowers for special occasions including bridal bouquets and boutonierres. .
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#wayoftheflower #livingart #weddingbouquet #flowerstudio #flowerpower #naturelover #natureindoors #flowerarrangement #floralartist #mysecretgarden #flowersmakepeoplehappy #bridalbouquet #bouquet #lisianthus
#eustoma #whiteroses #pinkflowers #pinkandwhitebouquet #supergirly #myindoorjungle #weddingday #flowersmakepeoplehappy #flowerqueen #livinggreen #plantlove #greenthumb #floralartist

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The Chapter where Justin and Coralie FINALLY tie the knot. 💙💎💙
We were there at their first official date. Congratulations to you both and enjoy a lifetime of adventures together!

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OK, BODY. Please give me 4 HOURS today. That's all I'm asking for. 🙏
No hugs today except for bride, groom, and husband. ❤
💎
Believe me when I say I am ready for staff who can't accommodate me today. I brought my own pillow! I also have 6'9 backup realness.😂😈😂
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#celebratinglove #weddingday #doinitallforlove #loveisintheair #letsdothis #chronicillness #chronicpain #pain #keepongoing #nevergiveup #Spoonie #Spondylitis #AnkylosingSpondylitis #MECFS #Fibromyalgia #autoimmune #invisibleillness #butyoudontlooksick
#stopthestigma #staystrong #fibrowarrior #arthritis #chronicAS #sickselfie #mychroniclife #disability #chronicallyfabulous #spoonielife #patientleader

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I haven't left my home since Nov 3rd. I've been resting hard for a wedding on Saturday and hoping I've got enough gas in my tank to get 4 hours out of the day.
The left side of my back and shoulder is acting up again. (It never stops but it is particularly bad this week. I can barely form a fist or lift my arm.) Migraines, vertigo, nausea from constant pain and barely any sleep these past two nights. This is radicular pain that has come and gone since 2003 and it is related to a bone spur at my C5-C6. Alternating heat and cold therapy has not helped this week, nor stretching or resting. Might be time for another MRI to see how much worse it has gotten since 2015.
💙
No triggering event either. I haven't lifted anything or strained anything while stretching, so it's a true flare-up from out of nowhere. Really really really hoping this lets up a bit for the wedding. I've limited myself severely this year to let the meds work, so this is a shock to have it be so bad when I've been so good. 💙
Ankylosing Spondylitis sucks. I think all Spoonies can relate to this chart.
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#chronicillness #chronicpain #PAIN #arthritis #keepongoing #nevergiveup #Spoonie #Spondylitis #AnkylosingSpondylitis #Fibromyalgia #MECFS #autoimmune #invisibleillness #depression #sickAF #staystrong #fibrowarrior #arthritis #chronicAS #mychroniclife #disability #spoonielife #patientleader #flare #flareups #cervicalradiculopathy #radicularpain #intractablepain

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Wishing my British bestie Claire Breen a very Happy Birthday. She gifted me with a trip to see me in Taiwan this year. We took her to Taroko Gorge and along Taiwan's east coast highway. Claire was a bridesmaid at my wedding and we've traveled the world together - China, Thailand, Mexico, Canada, England, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, and now Taiwan. 10 countries together. Wow!
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I hope we can add more to our list. Love you, Vivita. Here's to many more adventures together. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

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Lest we forget. .
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#veteransday #remembranceday2019 #armisticeday #lestweforget #thankyouforyourservice

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When the @bookdepository
wants you to hug a book and take a selfie for three free #books. Yes, you do it - awkwardly. 📚🐛
My November 2019 book companion is The Night Watch by the fabulous Sarah Waters along with my favorite bookmark that aptly describes my life with books. "Like this bookmark, I'm usually tucked into a book."
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This is as tucked in with a book as I can get! I better get some free books because my TBR stack is low and I need new reads for 2020.
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If not, I'm still taking advantage of the Book Depository 10% discount voucher on all books until 17th November which is listed on the bookdepository.com homepage.
📚🐛
I'm tagging three friends who might appreciate this offer and my one-handed book selfie. These friends know that books I buy or win will go to them anyways. Always keep the book love going. My Friday nights are REAL, people. 🙂 📚🐛
#ad #bdloves #readingisfundamental #reading #readabook #readingtime #bookworm #reader #novemberreads #educateyourself #morebooksplease #bookstagram #bookshelves #2019books #badassbookworm #bookclub #bookdepository #bookriot #amreading #booknerd #bookstagramfeature #readmore #bibliophile #girlswhoread #readingchallenge #readersofinstagram #fortheloveofreading

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[Repost] From @realdepressionproject: What works for me might not work for you. Listen with kindness, compassion, and an open mind. Try to understand when others open up. .
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#chronicillness #chronicpain #pain #keepongoing #nevergiveup #Spoonie #Spondylitis #Fibromyalgia #anxiety #listen #breakthestigma #invisibleillness #butyoudontlooksick #anxietysupport #anxietyawareness
#mentalhealth #depression #ptsd #cptsd #ptsdawareness #bipolar #staystrong #compassion #kindness #mychroniclife #disability #selfcare #mentalhealthawareness #itsokaynottobeokay #copingskills

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Dragonfruit may not keep the doctors away, but they never let me down. I eat seven per week. White or red. This is one of a dozen foods that has never made me sick or ramped up my IBS issues. I am lucky they are everywhere here in Taiwan. These are lifesavers.
When I find a perfect specimen, I like to share. 🙂
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#dragonfruit #mothernature #foodforarthritis #fruit #cleaneating
#eattherainbow #healthyfood #IBS #ibsfood #inmahbelly #rawfood #eatlocal

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Life with Hubs every single Sunday:
He plays football all day, comes home, and eats EVERYTHING in sight.
6:45pm - Enters food coma
7:10pm - Snoring loudly next to me

Yes, I am taking the remote back and going back to Jessica Jones.
WE. ARE. AMUSED. .
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#lifegoals #marriedlife #catsarenotimpressed #snoringhusband #sundayfunday

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Me and Merebear. I didn't get to see many friends this summer while I was home in Canada, but fortune was with me when Meredith and Chris came for a visit in CP three days after I got home in July. 20+ years of friendship.
🦄
Her artwork is on exhibit in my hometown. Check that painting out behind us! She also painted Sleeping Woman for me two decades ago. Now it's in Taipei and hanging in its place of honor. A reminder of a lifetime friendship. 🦄
I was super jet-lagged, managed two hours out, and can't remember the name of the place we went to but it was beautiful and right by the water. I can't even remember what I ate. Pretty sure Chris polished most of my meal off. (As usual!)
😂
Mere has been commissioned to do artwork for many places of business in the Ottawa Valley. Super proud of her! .
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#ottawaartists #girlfriends #friendreunion #leanin #friends #friendsmakeeverythingbetter #womensupportingwomen #carebears

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Healthline Best Fibromyalgia Blog for 2018

Healthline carefully selects each blog based on the quality of content, the frequency of posts, and a connection to their community. We feel My Several Worlds specifically earned this accolade by using your unique experience to help others thrive and continue traveling even with chronic illness.

WEGO HEALTH NOMINEE 2018 – Patient Leader Hero

Spondylitis Plus – SAA Fall Issue 2018

My AS story is featured in the Spondylitis Association of America's 2018 Fall Issue of Spondylitis Plus Your Stories Each individual affected by spondylitis has their own unique story. We at SAA believe that each and every story can be a source of inspiration and empowerment. We’d love your story as well! ~Spondylitis Assocation of America

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