Rabbits bigger than dogs.

So we've had quite a few Calgarian experiences since we've made it here. We've also learned quite a few things about this city:

1. The rabbits (or should I say hares?) out here are enormous.
We have frequent visits from them in our front yard due to the previous tenant leaving a large flower pot of what appears to be seed/rabbit feed. We are also gracious enough to let them roll around in our "front yard" (read: dirt) whenever they want. Despite our hospitality however, they seem to be unappreciative and are so inclined to knock over the damn pot almost every day. I have considered letting Rudy chase them, but was afraid he might get his butt kicked. Their back feet are the size of tennis rackets, after all. Or at least it seems that way.

Note: this is before it even got bad.

2. The weather around here is psychotic.
Picture it: one moment, you're sitting outside in your new backyard, enjoying a cold beverage when all of a sudden your warm and sunny day turns gloomy, and thunder begins to ominously roll in, the sky as black as night. All within the span of 2 minutes. Not 10 minutes later, HAIL bigger than golf balls (maybe nearing the size of an orange?) are pelting everything on the ground, including the car. About 15 dents in the hood later, rain pours down for about 10 minutes. Wait 10 more minutes, and voila, your back outside in the sun, with tiny frozen hail all around you.




3. The traffic, like the weather, is psychotic.
We no longer travel at any time, on nearly any road, between 3-5pm. I pity Ryan when he gets a job and needs to commute in the morning. Yikes. Bumper to bumper with stop lights every 20 feet. It's ridiculous. So much for a city planner, Calgary, great job.

Us at Stampede.

4. Stampede = Lots of cowboy boots and hats
And I mean LOTS. Alright, we got into the spirit too and bought some hats. We even made it down to Stampede three times. Although we were perpetually late to every event we wanted to see (or so it seemed), we still managed to have a good time and get into the good ol' Stampede spirit. We saw Theory of a Deadman play live the first night, amidst a bunch of stupid, drunk moshing people who were routinely pulled by their necks out of the crowd by the riot police. Just a good old night at the Stampede, I guess.

5. Crave Bakery, with two locations, Kensington and 17th Ave (yes, I've found and been to both), quite possibly may have the best cupcakes in the world. They're totally worth the $2.95 a piece. Oh, how I can hardly go one or two days without a Crave-o-licious.
You can even get them in 6 and 12 packs.
Do you think they'd cater the wedding? Hehe.
For all of you who have now decided you're definitely coming to Calgary to visit us, please let us know ahead of time and we can pick some up :)



6. If you're not supposed to do something, don't do it, because you will get caught.
Calgary seems to be a very secure city. Yellow light? You better stop, because if you accelerate to beat the red, you'll have a nice ticket mailed to you, courtesy of the Photo Radar.
Same with speeding. Think no cops are around? See that school bus/shiny black car/any kind of vehicle sitting on the side of the road? Yes it could be hiding a radar gun and camera recording your every move and sending your ass, yet again, a nice crisp ticket.
Jay-walking? BAM, there's a cop almost on every corner and you will be fined.
And finally, don't even think about driving through a cross-walk when someone's on it. Even if they're already through your lane, because all though you may not get a ticket, they will probably yell profanities or an angry, "thanks a lot!" (Ask Ryan, hehe).
Same with walking on bike paths. Bad idea, because it seems the cyclists all of a sudden just forget how to steer and act like they can't turn to avoid you. And again, most likely profanities will be yelled at you.
Jeez. But otherwise, it's a pretty friendly place. Honest.

7. Calgary is a pretty dog-friendly place.
Despite a whole lot of parks with NO DOGS signs, there are almost equal number of "off-leash areas" around the city. Including one right near our house which we walk Rudy to quite a bit. The park is all treed and hilly, with foresty parts (yes, foresty is a word) and fields. We also visited one a little more North called Nosehill Park, which is actually an environmental park.
Aside from dog parks, there are dog hiking groups and even an emergency Animal Hospital complete with an ambulance. Which I think is pretty awesome. They also have a holistic veterinarian and dog massage and therapy studio. Pretty much the best dog city, ever.

8. No one in Calgary is actually from Calgary.
In fact, most people we have met are from Ontario. Almost everyone actually.
Walk in to a place, start up a conversation, and find out that person is from Barrie, Toronto, London, or even, LaSalle. It's almost creepy- you can't escape the Ontarians. One guy even went to high school with Ryan and Cortney at Sandwich, and we just started chatting while I was waiting in line.

9. Tim Hortons are not nearly as common as they are back home.
There is only one every 5-7 km I'd say. Makes it difficult to just "swing by Tim's" on your way back from anywhere.

And finally,
10. Nothing here is quick.
You can't just run to the store if you forgot an onion while making guacamole. Nope, you have to run to the Safeway down in Brentwood, off 16th and past Crowchild. Jeez. Makes me tired just thinking about it, and makes me wonder if you can have guacamole sans onion. It might be worth saving the time.

That's all I've got for now.