#oil change vancouver

[autonationservicecentre]

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[usedtirevancouver]

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[laurenairay]

Baking traditions - Q.Hughes

Summary: Noticing that you’re homesick, Quinn makes sure to include some of your autumn traditions.

The second of my Autumn & Halloween blurbs! How could I resist this slice of domestic life with Quinn?

Word Count: 778 words

Tagging: @fallinallincurls @starshine-hockey-girl @lam-ila @kurlyteuvo @tonyspep

@cixrosie

~

“Babe? What’s all this?”

When you’d gotten home from work that evening, you hadn’t expected your kitchen counters to be covered with ingredients.

Your boyfriend just smiled a little sheepishly, but shrugged innocently.

“I wanted to surprise you,” Quinn said simply.

“When congratulations, I’m surprised,” you mused.

Quinn just laughed, cheeks a little pink with blush as he leaned down to kiss you in greeting.

“Hey,” he murmured.

“Hey yourself,” you murmured back.

He smiled sweetly, pecking your lips in another kiss before standing upright again.

“I know you’ve been missing home…”

Well that was blunt. Quinn wasn’t wrong though. You’d moved to Vancouver to live with Quinn and take your relationship to the next level only six months ago – and while everything had been fairytale-levels of amazing, that didn’t mean there weren’t stumbling blocks. Like your homesickness, that you’d thought you’d done a good job of hiding.

“…and I just wanted to do something to cheer you up. I called your mom, and she said that you love baking in the Autumn, like all the spices and stuff are your favourite, so I thought maybe we could bake together?”

His voice trailed off in a hopeful embarrassment, but it was all you could do not to cry. This man. How were you gifted a man like this? Quinn noticed the tears in your eyes and immediately groaned.

“You hate it. This is making your homesickness even worse. I’m so dumb, I’m sorry, I-”

“Quinn, no, you’re not dumb at all. You’re the sweetest man ever. I love this idea,” you interrupted, laughing a little watery with a big smile.

The relief that spread across his face was immediate and dramatic.

“Really?” he asked.

“Really really,” you nodded, “What are we making?”

“I thought we’d try something easy? Chocolate chip pumpkin banana bread?” he said, “I found a recipe online that looked okay and I double checked with your mom too.”

So sweet.

“That sounds amazing, Quinn. Are we baking now?”

“It takes an hour to bake in the oven so I figured we could order take out now and eat dinner while we wait for the banana bread to cook?” he suggested.

Your man with a plan.

“That sounds great to me, baby, thank you. I’ll get changed out of my work clothes and we can start?”

“I’ll order dinner while you get changed,” he added, smiling.

In no time at all you were back in the kitchen in comfy sweats and an old t-shirt, take-out order being processed, while Quinn scrolled through his ipad for the recipe he saved.

“Okay, so first off, we’ve got to mash all these bananas. Shall I do that while you measure out the dry ingredients?”

You nodded, smiling up at him as you reached for a mixing bowl he’d already put on the kitchen counter. You whisked together the flour, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, dark chocolate chips, baking soda, baking powder & salt, and after mashing the bananas, in a separate mixing bowl Quinn whisked together the oil, sugars, eggs & vanilla extract until no lumps remained.

“That’s lump free, right?” he frowned, peering down into his bowl.

You glanced over and nodded. “Yeah that looks great baby.”

Quinn beamed back at you.

“Now we’ve just to combine the bananas into my bowl with a cup of pumpkin puree, before carefully stirring your dry ingredients mix into my bowl too,” he explained.

Somehow the two of you managed all of that without making too much mess.

“Last step is pouring it into the lined loaf cake tin and baking it for an hour. I already pre-heated the oven so we should be good to go?”

After you’d combined all the ingredients, Quinn’s face was as serious as you’d ever seen it as he carefully carried the loaf tin over to your oven, and you tried to hide your smile as you opened the oven for him.

He really cared, didn’t he? He cared so much.

“I’ll set a timer for an hour. I don’t want it to get burnt,” he frowned.

“It’s going to be amazing, I already know,” you said softly, resting a hand on his chest.

His frown softened to a sweet smile. “I just want this to be good for you.”

“The fact that we did this together is what made this good for me. The cake itself is an added bonus,” you said, smiling up at him.

A light blush spread across his cheeks and he nodded, sliding his arms around your waist to hold you closer to him.

“As long as you’re happy, I’m happy,” he said warmly.

“With you, how can I not be?”

[theehorsepusssy]

I need to get my oil and my tires changed today. Doctor appointment at 2 all the way out to downtown Vancouver. Maybe go to Walmart on the way back. Maybe have lunch at that new chicken mcnugget restaurant

[sinligh]

i want peace,

not the measured one that life offers me from time to time like a band-aid that will be ripped off before I heal

I want it like a graft,

patching up the exposed areas that i scraped off of my soul to feel lighter..

to move on.

I’m trying to write an independent story from all the tragedies of the women around me

digging my own plot with my nails on the exact same rocks that were used

to stone them..

carrying the guilt of that, the way they carried the shame of existence. The only difference is i refuse to ask for forgiveness.

sometimes it feels like all my feelings are over felt, if not by me then someone else.

I've seen it over and over again I, the eye of an outsider

or that of the storm

stood still when it all spiraled around me, I held on to the rubble,

and cemented myself back together

more often than not, I did it with rage so whenever i got spilled, like blood under an old rug,

with all my particles separated into different identities, unseen, uncared for while i floated in an astral projection status

Ironically, the core was always one

rage, rage again…

aging rage!

It's all that i know, it's all the shades.

I exist, Like an ugly bruise

Violet fading to blue, violent, contrasting the softness that i long for.

I can't seem to explain my existence to anyone, not even myself.

a bruise, self inflicted or not, I can’t stop examining it, obsessively

dissecting pieces of my soul, trying to find a marker for the malicious cells that overgrown my own.

In the daylight I get fascinated by the way it changes colors, and when sleep sits heavy on my eyelids i press on it harder,

curious to where will i draw my threshold line.. do i know how to exist without all this pain?

am i just a phantom of coping mechanisms, and survival instincts,

Shades of hysteria, along with estrogen ?

this world constantly seems bigger than me, that’s my only comfort.

•••

• Quotes: Taylor Swift/ Charles Bukowski/ Henry Miller/ anne sexton/ Louis Tomlinson/ Anaïs Nin/ Rainer Maria Rilke.

•original context: Sinligh

•Art reference:

1. painting by marta astrain. 2. Omen, 1886, by Emile Corsi 3. Oil paintings by Jen Mazza 4. Art by Liu Yuanshou 5. Art (detail) by Arthur Gain

•••

[odera]

Hi tumblr! I figured I would reintroduce myself here, since I have decided tumblr is simply my favorite place to share online *still* to this day.

My name is Odera and I am a painter and illustrator! The main places you can find me are here, my side blog @burritobowlofthepelvis, my website, and @ oderaigbokwe on IG. I'm physically located on the unceded ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations (aka known as Vancouver Canada).

Alot of my work centers the magic of the African diaspora and the Black Queer Imagination. The foundational years of my career were complimentary to Black speculative works, Afrofuturism, and Fantasy as a gateway to healing. This has since grown to explore the spirit based, ancestral work of the diaspora, and most recently I have been combining it all and trying to find that magic in the physical, daily, embodied things.

My side blog is @burritobowlofthepelvis which I am slowly but surely reorganizing. This blog is filled with reblogs for inspiration, potential reference images, more casual glimpses of my life, selfies, and outfits of the day. (Some of the reblogs are NSFW, so minors DNI there). Ultimately I am trying to use that blog as a combination journal/resource for my sketchbook.

Below are some of my favorite paintings and illustrations over the years that give an idea of the kinds of things I am exploring or have done throughout my career.

The Spirit Child. 2022. Oils on board. This painting is the centerpiece of my series of Tarot/Oracle/Afrodiasporic Divination paintings. The series is slowly but surely coming together, and once I get to the minor arcana I am excited to make some stylistic shifts that not only match the messaging but are also much faster to make.

Selections from my solo exhibition 'New Yam Festival'. These paintings are all big, juicy, vibrant, improvisational, and embody the playfulness, pleasure, and joy of the Black Queer imagination! Up until that point I was working mostly at a smaller scale (anywhere from 8x10 to 20x30 inches). So it was fun to size up to 6-8 feet for each of these!

Above are some of my favorite commercial illustrations for book covers and comics. Covers are their own particular fun design challenge, but of all the illustration assignments they can feel the most fulfilling to me.

And something classic from the archive: Odera Redesigns the cast of Sailor Moon.

I can't believe most of those were created almost 10 years ago. But that's where we are, and it feels good to still want to use this platform despite how much the world is changing.

Feel free to reblog, like, comment, or ask me any questions you have!

[chris-hartley]

Happy Pride Month!

Today I thought I'd cover one of my favorite tropes: Found Family! This fic is based on a non-canon event in the Total Drama OC universe, but one that I think would be fun had it happened haha. It stars my OC Maggie and her found family (Cole - @hannahwashington's character, and Lola - @horatios-mom's character) along with a few others! Enjoy! And if these characters seem cool to you, do check out the blog we have for our Total Drama OCs: @teadocs!!

(Feel free to blacklist #kenziewritespride to avoid these posts in the future!)

December 19th was a complicated day for Maggie. For most of her life it was just another day. No cake or candles, no balloons or presents. Just going through the motions, just another year older somehow.

When she moved to Vancouver, she wasn’t expecting the day to hold any more significance. Her first birthday living on her own was quickly approaching and all the people in her life seemed to have other things going on so she didn’t think much of it. Just like usual, just another day.

She was scheduled to work at the job that Cole’s dad had secured for her, doing the front desk of a hair salon. So she got ready in her usual work go-to outfit. Professional but casual enough she wasn’t uncomfortable after doing all the menial tasks required by her boss, Sandra.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She looked down at the screen and it was Sandra, asking her to get there a little early. She didn’t have anything else going on so she replied simply: Sure.

Maggie got into her car, turning over the engine. The check engine light came on and she sighed. She’d needed an oil change for a few weeks but was waiting to get her next paycheck before shelling out the money for it. 

I get paid next Friday. I’ll be alright until then… I hope, at least.

She drove the quick 15 minute journey to the salon, parking in the back of the building. The place had been open for a few hours but the customer lot seemed busier than usual as she walked around the corner.

The lights were… off? She looked at the hours pasted on the door and they should be open, there were people here, why were the lights off?

She opened the door, the usual bell ringing as it did with all customers coming in. Sometimes she swore she could hear the bell ringing when she wasn’t even at work.

“Hello?”

Silence.

She flicked on the lights.

“SURPRISE!!!” A load of voices called as people jumped up from their hiding spots, scaring the living shit out of Maggie. She jumped back a few inches in shock.

As she looked around, there were all the people who claimed they were busy for her birthday. Cole, Lola, and even her boyfriend Landon. 

“What is this?”

“A surprise birthday party, Mags,” Cole explained, “You think we’d let it pass by without celebrating?”

“I-” she stood there stunned for a moment, “I’ve never had a birthday party I didn’t figure I’d start now.”

“Well as your best friends,” Lola said, wrapping her arm around Maggie’s shoulder, “We could not let that last any longer.”

Maggie chuckled softly, still completely surprised as she looked around the room. Even if she wasn’t close to some of the other cast members that lived in the greater Vancouver area, all of them had come to this makeshift party. Dannie, Paige, Cassie, and Esther stood there, the former wearing a party hat with a noisemaker sticking out of her mouth.

“Happy birthday Maggie,” Paige smiled.

Landon came up to her with a grin, “Hope this was a good surprise.”

“Y-yeah. I just wasn’t expecting it.”

“We have cake!” Cassie pointed out, “Do you want some?”

Maggie nodded, walking further into the salon to spot a makeshift table set up with a cake that had 16 candles stuck into it.

“That seems like a fire hazard.”

“It’ll be fiiiiiine,” Landon chuckled, “I think.”

Sandra, who had emerged from the back with a lighter in hand, painstakingly lit all the candles before all the group of people began to sing to her.

“Happy biiiiirthday dear Maggieeeee! Happy birthday to you!”

She closed her eyes, making a wish. A wish that she would always remember this day, when she realized that while she’d had a shitty family back in Delaware, she had people who really loved her in Vancouver. Maggie blew out the candles and opened her eyes, a smile creeping onto her smile as everyone cheered.

---

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 1.1 (1900-1970)

1900 – Nigeria becomes a British protectorate with Frederick Lugard as high commissioner. 1901 – The Southern Nigeria Protectorate is established within the British Empire. 1901 – The British colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia federate as the Commonwealth of Australia; Edmund Barton is appointed the first Prime Minister. 1902 – The first American college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl between Michigan and Stanford, is held in Pasadena, California. 1910 – Captain David Beatty is promoted to rear admiral, and becomes the youngest admiral in the Royal Navy (except for royal family members) since Horatio Nelson. 1912 – The Republic of China is established. 1914 – The SPT Airboat Line becomes the world's first scheduled airline to use a winged aircraft. 1923 – Britain's Railways are grouped into the Big Four: LNER, GWR, SR, and LMS. 1927 – New Mexican oil legislation goes into effect, leading to the formal outbreak of the Cristero War. 1928 – Boris Bazhanov defects through Iran to seek asylum in France. He is the only member of Joseph Stalin's secretariat to have defected from the Soviet Union. 1929 – The former municipalities of Point Grey, British Columbia and South Vancouver, British Columbia are amalgamated into Vancouver. 1932 – The United States Post Office Department issues a set of 12 stamps commemorating the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth. 1934 – Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay becomes a United States federal prison. 1934 – A "Law for the Prevention of Genetically Diseased Offspring" comes into effect in Nazi Germany. 1942 – The Declaration by United Nations is signed by twenty-six nations. 1945 – World War II: The German Luftwaffe launches Operation Bodenplatte, a massive, but failed, attempt to knock out Allied air power in northern Europe in a single blow. 1947 – Cold War: The American and British occupation zones in Allied-occupied Germany, after World War II, merge to form the Bizone, which later (with the French zone) became part of West Germany. 1947 – The Canadian Citizenship Act 1946 comes into effect, converting British subjects into Canadian citizens. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King becomes the first Canadian citizen. 1948 – The British railway network is nationalized to form British Railways. 1949 – United Nations cease-fire takes effect in Kashmir from one minute before midnight. War between India and Pakistan stops accordingly. 1956 – Sudan achieves independence from Egypt and the United Kingdom. 1957 – George Town, Penang, is made a city by a royal charter of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. 1957 – Lèse majesté in Thailand is strengthened to include "insult" and changed to a crime against national security, after the Thai criminal code of 1956 went into effect. 1958 – The European Economic Community is established. 1959 – Cuban Revolution: Fulgencio Batista, dictator of Cuba, is overthrown by Fidel Castro's forces. 1960 – Cameroon achieves independence from France and the United Kingdom. 1962 – Western Samoa achieves independence from New Zealand; its name is changed to the Independent State of Western Samoa. 1964 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is divided into the independent republics of Zambia and Malawi, and the British-controlled Rhodesia. 1965 – The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan is founded in Kabul, Afghanistan.

[markwateneymemorialcrater]

So I’m bored at work and went down a bit of a rabbit hole on potential fixed link connections (bridges or tunnels) connecting Vancouver island to the mainland. As one does.

This would be an incredible engineering challenge as the Georgia straight is deep, seismically active, a busy shipping route, and where a connection makes economic sense, it would need to be quite a long link.

This has lead to some interesting proposals. But perhaps the one that I find most intriguing/ terrifying is this

A floating cable stay bridge. Using floating caissons like they do on deep see oil rigs.

For context. Floating oil rigs are not rigidly secured to the ocean bottom. They are allowed to roll and sway with big waves. video provided for terror.

Now imagine building multiple of those and sticking a cable stay bridge tower on top connecting them. Like sure. The Georgia straight isn’t quite “that” stormy. And there are different caisson designs that could reduce the rolling. But it still gets some big waves. And bridges don’t like quick sudden changes to their foundations.

[autonationservicecentre]

AutoNation Service Centre Vancouver offers expert auto repair and maintenance services. Our skilled technicians handle everything from routine oil changes to complex transmission replacements. We specialize in 4x4 repair, brake services, engine diagnostics, hybrid services, and more. Whether you need a quick tune-up, AC repair, or a full engine overhaul, we ensure top-quality service. We also provide fleet services, towing, and aftermarket accessories. Trust us for reliable and professional automotive care. Visit us today!

[vancouverpreowned]

Sell My Car Vancouver: How to Write a Winning Listing Description

Selling your car in Vancouver’s bustling market? A compelling listing description isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. With thousands of buyers scrolling through sell my car online listings daily, your words need to stand out, build trust, and spark action. Whether you’re a first-time seller or a seasoned pro, these tips will help you craft a description that turns browsers into buyers—and fast.

1. Start with a Headline That Pops

Your headline is the first thing buyers see. Make it clear, specific, and packed with keywords to grab attention in seconds.

Do:

Include critical details: Year, make, model, mileage, and location (e.g., “2020 Honda CR-V, 45,000 km, Vancouver-Owned”).

Highlight selling points: Use phrases like “Fuel-Efficient,” “One Owner,” or “Winter-Ready AWD.”

Add urgency: Try “Must-Sell ASAP” or “Priced to Sell.”

Don’t: Use vague terms like “Great Car” or “Runs Well.”

Pro Tip: Start with “Sell My Car Vancouver” keywords to boost search visibility. Example: “Sell My Car Vancouver | 2018 Subaru Forester, AWD, Clean History, $18,999”

2. Focus on Features Vancouver Buyers Care About

Vancouver drivers have unique needs. Tailor your description to local priorities:

Fuel efficiency: Gas prices are high—emphasize hybrid models or low fuel consumption.

All-wheel drive (AWD): Highlight safety for rainy coastal roads or ski trips to Whistler.

Parking-friendly size: For city dwellers, note compact dimensions or parking sensors.

Example: “Perfect for Vancouver commutes: This 2019 Toyota Prius Hybrid averages 4.2L/100km, with parking assist for tight downtown spots. Includes winter tires for mountain adventures!”

3. Be Honest (But Highlight the Positives)

Transparency builds trust, but that doesn’t mean downplaying your car’s strengths.

Do:

Mention upgrades: New tires, recent brakes, or tech additions (e.g., Apple CarPlay).

Disclose flaws politely: “Minor scratch on rear bumper (shown in photos)—priced accordingly.”

Share maintenance history: “Full service records available, last oil change December 2023.”

Avoid: Hiding issues or using jargon like “mechanic’s special”—it raises red flags.

4. Use Local Keywords Strategically

Incorporate location-specific terms to attract nearby buyers and improve search rankings:

Cities/neighborhoods: “Vancouver,” “Burnaby,” “North Shore.”

Landmarks: “Great for commuting to downtown/UBC/SFU.”

Lifestyle: “Ski-ready,” “eco-friendly,” “parking permit included.”

Pro Tip: Sprinkle phrases like “sell my car BC” or “sell my car Vancouver” naturally in your description.

5. Tell a Story to Create Connection

Buyers want to envision themselves in your car. Paint a vivid picture:

History: “Reliable family car, garage-kept, driven by a single owner.”

Use case: “Ideal for students, commuters, or small families.”

Emotion: “Sad to see it go, but upgrading for a growing family.”

Example: “This 2017 Mazda CX-5 has been my trusted partner for Vancouver road trips—from Stanley Park to the Okanagan. Always serviced at Langley Mazda, it’s ready for its next adventure.”

6. End with a Clear Call to Action

Tell buyers what to do next. Keep it friendly but direct:

“Contact me today to schedule a test drive!”

“Serious inquiries only—no dealers, please.”

“Available for viewing evenings/weekends in Kitsilano.”

7. Bonus: Avoid These Common Mistakes

Typos or slang: “Gr8 condishun” looks unprofessional.

Overpromising: Avoid “Never been in an accident” unless you’re certain.

Ignoring SEO: Use sell my car online platforms’ search filters to your advantage (e.g., hashtags on Facebook Marketplace).

Skip the Writing Hassle—Sell with Vancouver Preowned!

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Whether you want to sell my car Vancouver-based or across BC, we make it fast, easy, and profitable.

Ready to Sell Your Car with Zero Effort? Visit Vancouver Preowned today for a free, no-pressure valuation. With decades of local expertise, we’re here to turn your car into cash—no perfect description required.

[ladyofthebookcase]

o shit i never posted this! i wrote this post back whenever i was initially playing the seer.

(spoilers for the seer regions, best experienced blind so go play the campaign instead of reading this post!)

RATING SUNLIT TRAIL REGIONS AS I GO THROUGH:

necropolis: hey what the fuck. 11/10.

luminous coast: LOVEEEEE the aesthetic of this one and the mechanic of having to eat those blue flowers to see underwater. the first time i ate one i was genuinely sat there for a full minute going "NO WAYYYYY THATS SO COOL" and going into and out of the water over and over. the region is also just soooo prettys like i adore the color palette and overall vibe. the way it's staged on these abandoned oil tankers is REALLY fun and makes for fun platforming. i also like the pink squidcadas. 10/10.

chasing wind (updated ver): why are there plants growing inside you chasing wind... i dontthink thats very healthy. bro has a fungal infection. but overall the updates have made it feel much more complete and lifelike with more food sources, shelters, etc. i AM deducting points for having random lizards inside the zero-g sections though because that's just totally unfair, you CANNOT manouevre properly in there to avoid them so it's just instant death. 8/10.

gray urban: at first i thought it was a total nothingburger compared to the other new regions but it's grown on me? i like the chill peaceful vibes it has. it feels really empty which is very fitting for the lore but slightly less fun gameplay wise. the aesthetic is very pretty, i love the combination of the slick gray rainy-ness with the bright gold floodlights and sigils. feels kind of like vancouver. music very serene very demure. died to one white lizard like 14 times. 7/10.

moss fields (updated): a few new rooms were all i could find for changes and honestly that's fine, moss fields is already an amazing region. they also added a new food source which is perfect since food did feel a bit scarce there before. and that new track moss pots???? absolute banger. goes from 9 to 10/10 just for that song.

(i DO think moss fields should've had a spooky subregion like woven nest though. you could fit it in by where the creepy dark connection to CW used to be. idk it would just be really cool if this cutesy pink region was hiding something horrifying underneath but that may just be the deepnest enjoyer in me.)

far shore (updated): the updated rooms and the addition of the tide pools + void vents subregions really ties it fully together imo, like it's a great addition to an already fantastic region (though i'm biased since far shore was my first ever modded region afaik). LOVE the idea of tide pools and the concept was executed super well. i also think i heard some new music tracks, for example in that one inner-wall type area with all the centipedes and the broken karma gate-- the artist is cooking as always with those. i love you far shore. 10/10.

gilded sanctuary: when i first heard about this region i was like "that sounds stupid im not going there ever" but it actually fits into this campaign kinda well?? i honestly think seer should've ascended through there instead of far shore though, the imagery of the sanctuary on their campaign select screen + the general upside-down-and-altered-reality vibe really fits seer better. bit of a missed opportunity there imo. also im very confused by some of the stuff in this region like the preservatory sigil being present in at least one room?? (though that could have been fishnoid's room, since this was made as a region jam and fishnoid made preservatory?? idk.) it might just be bc i've never been to this region before but it seems to me that it doesn't make a lot of sense in general. why is the echo named suckpig. 6/10.

[robjamessmp]

Unlock the Secret to Healthy Hair: Vancouver Scalp Care Essentials

When it comes to hair health, most of us focus solely on shampoos, conditioners, and styling products. But the real secret to luscious locks starts at the root—quite literally. Vancouver Scalp health is the foundation of strong, beautiful hair, and for residents of Vancouver, where the climate can be both damp and drying, it’s even more important to give your scalp the attention it deserves.

Why Scalp Care Matters

Your scalp is an extension of your skin, yet it’s often overlooked in daily self-care routines. A healthy scalp promotes better hair growth, prevents dandruff, and reduces irritation or itching. Neglecting your scalp can lead to clogged follicles, dryness, and even hair thinning over time, thinning hairline men.

In Vancouver, where weather patterns fluctuate between rainy winters and sunny summers, the scalp faces unique challenges. The humidity can lead to excess oil production, while cooler, windy days might strip your scalp of natural moisture. This combination calls for a specialized scalp care routine tailored to Vancouver’s climate.

Scalp Care Tips for Vancouver Residents

1. Hydrate and Moisturize

Vancouver’s colder months can leave your scalp feeling dry and itchy. Incorporate a hydrating scalp serum or mask into your routine to lock in moisture. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and natural oils to nourish your scalp.

2. Exfoliate Regularly

Exfoliation isn’t just for your face. Removing dead skin cells and buildup from your scalp is crucial for maintaining healthy follicles. Use a gentle scalp scrub once a week to keep your scalp fresh and free of debris.

3. Choose the Right Shampoo

Select shampoos that cater to your specific scalp needs. If you’re dealing with dryness, opt for sulfate-free formulas enriched with natural oils. For oily scalps, a clarifying shampoo can help regulate excess sebum production.

4. Protect Against Weather Changes

Vancouver’s unpredictable weather means your scalp needs extra protection. Wear a hat during colder months to shield your scalp from harsh winds and UV rays, and don’t forget to use a UV-protectant spray during sunny summer days.

5. Seek Professional Scalp Treatments

For those dealing with persistent scalp issues, consider visiting a trichologist or scalp specialist. Vancouver is home to a growing number of hair clinics and salons that offer targeted scalp treatments to address conditions like dandruff, psoriasis, and thinning hair.

Popular Scalp Care Treatments in Vancouver

Vancouver’s beauty and wellness scene is teeming with options for scalp care. From high-end salons offering detoxifying scalp facials to holistic clinics providing infrared light therapy, there’s something for everyone. Many local salons also use eco-friendly, vegan products to ensure your scalp receives only the best care without harming the environment.

Embrace Healthy Hair from the Root

Taking care of your scalp isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s an essential step for overall hair and skin health. Whether you’re battling dryness from Vancouver’s cold winters or excess oil during humid summers, a well-rounded scalp care routine can make all the difference. By focusing on your scalp’s health, you’re investing in stronger, shinier, and more resilient hair.

Make 2025 the year you give your scalp the care it deserves. Explore the wealth of scalp-friendly products and treatments available right here in Vancouver and experience the transformation from the root up.

[thisisnotreallife]

The Cancer Journals, Part XI:

Finding My Cancer//Leaving Behind 2024

Today is the last day of 2024, which will now forever be the year I got diagnosed with breast cancer.

Many of us spend the last day of the old year reflecting on the months that have passed, which is something I am feeling particularly resistant to this New Year’s Eve.

It’s been a hard year.

I don’t want to remember mouth sores or bone aches from chemotherapy drugs. I don’t want to reflect on the moments that stretched into days between finding out I had cancer and finding out it wasn’t a cancer that I would be dying of imminently. I can’t remember much of the days I spent awake, but in an opioid-induced lack of lucidity, post-mastectomy; Patrick recalls conversations I was actively involved in that I have no memory of, and it is an eerie feeling.

What I do think is worth reflecting on, though (and more importantly sharing, too), is how my cancer was found this year—which is the only reason (thanks be!) that I am able to leave it behind in 2024.

In January of 2023, I saw a bump in the vicinity of my left armpit/side of my chest while in downward dog. I made an appointment with my primary care doctor for my annual wellness visit, which was overdue by a month; I had seen her two Decembers prior concerned about a lump in my right armpit that turned out to be a boil, likely caused by the oil-heavy natural deodorants I’ve used for the past fifteen years. (Cute.)

My doctor, though obviously skeptical at the back-to-back lumps-in-armpits appointments, felt around on my left side, found it, and sent me to get a mammogram and an ultrasound.

The radiologist determined it was a lipoma—just an accumulation of fatty tissue in my left armpit. Benign.

But in my “extremely dense breast tissue” (how does one cite MyChart when quoting directly? I reckon there’s an MLA rule for that…) on my right side, the doctor saw what are called “calcifications”—tiny clusters showing up as a whiteness on the mammogram scans that could lead to something. She recommended monitoring with mammograms every six months for the next two years even though I was only 36.

If I had known then what I know now—that dense breast tissue is considered a risk factor for developing cancer, both because the density of the tissue makes it difficult for radiologists to detect suspicious areas in mammography images and because (we think) women with dense breast tissue are more likely to develop breast cancer—I would have requested more imaging at the time. I would have demanded a 3D mammogram, which is a much more effective means of detecting cancers in dense breast tissue. I would have been more consistent each month at self-breast exams, which prior to my diagnosis, I would remember to do about half the time.

But they told me that calcifications are usually nothing to worry about, and so I didn’t. I came back, dutifully, in July of 2023 for a follow-up mammogram, at which time the radiologist didn’t notice any changes in the calcifications and told me to return in January.

We moved across the state in October, from Richland to Vancouver, and I neglected (like I always do) to establish new care with area doctors.I’ll do it when I need to, I always think. Who wants to wade through those insurance company websites, anyway?  

In early January, just after I discovered that I’d need to schedule a new patient appointment with a primary care doctor who would need to send a new order for a mammogram to a local imaging center before I could get my scan, I found out that I was pregnant—and they don’t do mammograms when you’re pregnant, at least not in the first trimester.

Neither my new primary care doctor nor my midwives seemed too concerned that we’d have to wait for the follow-up for a few months, and Patrick and I turned our attention to the ways our lives would be changing come September.

In early February, when I lost the pregnancy, getting a mammogram was the furthest thing from my mind, and I don’t think I thought about a self-breast exam for months.

If I had known then what I know now—that the growth of hormone-positive breast cancer can accelerate greatly after the surge of hormones that happens during pregnancy—I would have done things differently. I would have been vigilant about noticing changes in my breasts as soon as I saw those two faint lines on the stick that I’d unceremoniously peed one night in early January. If I had, I could have found it even earlier than I did.

After my miscarriage, I tried to focus on “getting better”—both physically and emotionally. As the weeks and months passed, I didn’t feel like I was getting better, but I didn’t feel like I had cancer, either. I had trouble focusing on conversations I was having. I had trouble focusing, literally, when shifting my gaze from somewhere close up to somewhere far away. I felt disconnected from myself in a way I couldn’t articulate. I just felt off.

I assumed it was, for lack of better phrasing, a miscarriage hangover—that I was in a funk I’d come out of, eventually.

In the spring, I decided to make an effort to “get back to normal” by contacting my doctor to get the ball rolling on my overdue mammogram. Insurance requirements meant that she’d need to see me for a breast exam before placing the imaging order, and so I made an appointment in late April for a few weeks later, in the last week of May.

On her exam table, she found a lump in my right breast, in the densest part of the tissue—but said it wasn’t anything she was particularly worried about, and I was going to be getting that mammogram anyway.

That night, I even forgot to tell Patrick what she’d found, she’d seemed so nonchalant about it.

When I went in for the mammogram in early June, they sent me home when I told them there was a chance that I could be pregnant, since I hadn’t returned to any birth control after miscarrying. We rescheduled for two weeks later, on the summer Solstice, with the understanding that I’d be unable to get the scan then unless I knew definitively I was not pregnant.

I wasn’t, and so we did the mammogram. And then the ultrasound.

And then the radiologist came to see me in the tiny dressing room and told me she was recommending a biopsy on the mass my doctor had found four weeks earlier and I could feel the blood draining out of my face and had to force myself to pay attention to the words she was saying instead of the feeling of hot and then cold sweeping down from the crown of my head toward my heart, toward the lump in my breast.

When she left, I got dressed and walked outside to the car to tell Patrick.

I texted my sister, the doctor, along the way. I wanted to know how often biopsies came back negative, but the radiologist wouldn’t give me numbers, and my sister told me not to worry, too.

I did 108 sun salutations and tried not to worry.

I went back to the same ultrasound room for the biopsy on June 28th, a Friday, and they needed extra anesthesia to numb me fully before I couldn’t feel anything as the biopsy needle jammed into my breast one, two, three, eight times to take core samples of the lump at its center.

I went home sore and made cornmeal strawberry shortcake for the two of us. While it baked, I tried to lie in our hammock and release worries about the biopsy, with our cat Troll Boy meowing loudly under me for reasons I couldn’t figure out until the rope tying the hammock to the tree snapped, and I fell with the hammock to the ground.

I shoulda known I had cancer then.

I had my suspicions, though.

In June, I’d started to notice scratches and cuts taking longer to heal than normal and any bruises I’d get in the normal course of my life (I bruise easily and often joke that I can’t distinguish well between where my body ends and the world begins) had begun taking on a deep, frightening purplish hue and sticking around for a lot longer than usual.

We didn’t have to wait long for my suspicions to bear out, and I got a phone call from my doctor at 5:03pm on Monday, July 1st, as we were driving home from a day trip to Seattle to distract ourselves from the pending results. We still had an hour and a half drive ahead of us after the call.

And that, my friends, is how we found my cancer.

In retrospect, I have to wonder if my body was trying to tell me something, causing benign lumps to form in places I’ve always been told to pay attention to.

If I hadn’t gone to see my doctor about that lipoma, the radiologist never would have found the calcifications, which would have meant that I wouldn’t have been on a biannual mammogram schedule. Annual mammograms are supposed to begin at 40 in the U.S.—I turned 38 in September of this year—and so without these reasons to be squeezing and scanning and checking almost four years early, it’s possible I wouldn’t have found the cancer until it was too late.

If everything had been the same except that I hadn’t insisted on seeing somebody about a lump that turned out to be nothing two years ago, the cancer could have kept growing after my miscarriage and spread past the first lymph node Dr. Storm found, into my lungs. My liver. My brain.

I’ve shared before that I have no family history of breast cancer, and that when my oncology team ordered a genetics test to look for any mutations that may have led to the development of my cancer, the tests came back negative.

That leaves environmental factors (impossible to determine a causal relationship, and irrespective of my attempts to avoid carcinogenic environmental risks…) and sheer, dumb luck. The same sheer, dumb luck that caused me to be born in the United States instead of somewhere in the developing world.

When we met with Dr. Storm over the summer and reviewed my scans with her, she pointed to a vague spot on the July 2023 mammogram, near the calcifications, and said, “It’s not fair, because I have the scans that show me where the tumor is now—but I can kinda sorta see something forming here.”

I’ll never know what caused my cancer, or how long it had been growing inside of me before Dr. Storm excised it from my body in November.

But at our first appointment, when I gave her my family medical history and told her about my mother’s suicide in 2021 and my brother’s incarceration for murder, she nodded and said something about the mind-body connection. All that trauma has to go somewhere—and I hadn’t even told her about the early stuff.  

The reality is, it doesn’t matter what caused my cancer, or when it started. Who gets cancer and who doesn’t is completely random—and with over 40% of the U.S. population expected to get a cancer diagnosis in our lifetimes and one in eight women receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, fairly common.

What matters—to me, anyway, on the cusp of a new year that I will be starting cancer-free—is that it’s out.

Happy New Year, folks. 🍾 🥂

Oh, and: if you haven’t checked your chest this month, get your self-exam in today. There’s still a couple of hours left in 2024. 🎆

(And psst…be sure to advocate for yourself if you feel anything is off!)

[ladypace]

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