While in Panama
I felt a lump on the left side of my throat three months ago and went to the Ear/Nose/Throat (ENT) doctor. After having a long tube put through my nose down to my throat and a CT scan AND two biopsies of the lump and my tongue it was determined that I have cancer. I was then sent to another hospital and another doctor. He and an associate confirmed the diagnoses and then sent their findings to a committee to decide how they were going to best treat cancer.
Now I have to see seven other doctors for various tests before they will start the radiotherapy! Part of the reason for this is because I have a bad heart. Nothing happens quickly here in Costa Rica. If the radiotherapy does not render the results needed then I will be changed to chemo. Either way, they will put a tube thru my belly into my stomach and that is how I will receive my nourishment for the duration of the treatments.
I have a friend in North Carolina whose son had the same type of cancer. He recently completed his treatment and it was successful. But as most already know treatment has side effects.
Currently other than the tumor, my problem is eating. My tongue hurts from the piece clipped out for the biopsy. In addition, the side of my mouth is sore along with my throat. Soft food, soup, and pudding are the delicacies I get to enjoy. Oh yeah, I get to drink various fruit juices to chase down the 7 pills I take each day.
My mother had three different types of cancer and beat two of them. The last one got into her thyroid glands and spread throughout her body and took her life.
Some are devastated when they are diagnosed. Some simply give up. Others begin feeling sorry for themselves and place a burden on their family and friends. Woe is me. I am not any of these. I understand that this is simply a part of my life and I need to view it as I have viewed all of my life. Stand strong and push ahead!
I plan to give updates as my condition allows.
What would your children, the ones that were allowed to protest last Friday by the schools, if you took these things away and explained that it is time to put your sacrifice where your feet and mouth is? Most electricity is generated by a source using fossil fuels. All cars are fueled by gas, again derived from fossil fuel. Factories that make new clothes and shoes and backpacks and makeup etc., use the end results of fossil fuels.
Ask them if they have learned this from school. Have the teachers explained that their lifestyle is dependant on the very things that they are protesting about? Now, when they look at you with a blank stare tell them that they can google your statement. No wait, they can't use the computer. Can't call your friends to pick their brains because they have no cell phone.
Offer the only alternative. They and their peers can hold a meeting lighted by candles and do some soul searching while eating a bowl of gruel that's cooked in a pot that is warmed over the fire that is built with logs.
Be prepared to receive the CPS people that will be charging you with child abuse.
GET USED TO YOUR NEW LIFE
Greta Thunberg
Should a child that has as many obvious problems be spending time skipping school where she could be learning things that will help her develop into a young adult and then go onto college and get the education that could help her get the knowledge needed to actually help in correcting this climate change dilemma.
Is this a real problem? I'm not a scientist so I'm not in a position to render a properly informed opinion. But I do know that programming a child to memic the views of the parent and roust support from their peer group(s) is not a good thing.
Watch this video: Sky News host Chris Kenny has described it as “disturbing” that the UN allowed “hysterical teenager” Greta Thunberg to speak at its Climate Change Summit in New York. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDXKTXuM2TY
Finally, I find it interesting, amusing? that the adults that are crying about climate change fly around in private jets and do other things that they espouse is the very things that are contributing to the problem. At least Greta had the courage to sail for days from her home country to the US to avoid contributing to carbon. Now here is a lesson that the adults SHOULD memic. But I'm not holding my breath and if you want to see the next hour you should not either.
When the dust bowl from 1930 to 1936 occurred I don't think there were people running around yelling, the sky is falling, the sky is falling!
But today it's ok to use kids?
https://news.co.cr/drug-cartels-spike-murder-rate-in-costa-rica/80364/
I have posted on this blog many times about the beauty and positive differences that are part of Costa Rica. The waterfalls and rain forests and beaches and culture. Now let me tell you about a dark side that is here and growing just like in the United States and many other countries. ILLEGAL DRUGS and the DEATHFUL PATH that they leave.
The killings and maiming and torture is out of control. The cartels and small time dealers are more than ready to take a life or lives to protect their precious cargo. Men women and children are considered collateral damage. Not long ago there was a raid on a house here where millions of dollars worth of cocaine were seized. And offshore various drugs seized by the US and Costa Rica Coast Guard. The smugglers were in a homemade submarine!! No deaths occurred, thank God, but several were arrested. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Watching the news on a local station here each night we are seeing more and more.
So even when you live in a place that some would call paradise you have to be leary and alert at all times. There are places and areas to avoid. so if you find yourself visiting just remember. Don't be lulled by the beauty and differences, Costa Rica has warts too.
Bah Humbug
What! National Pepperoni Pizza Day!! As a **reluctant member of the PC police, I vehemently object to this.
[** They kidnapped my family and will make them walk the plank if I don't cooperate].
How can you declare a day that makes the other pizzas feel substandard? The shame of doing such an inhuman act! By golly, all pizzas are equal and should be treated the same. This day should be changed to National Dough Day or National Great Toppings Day. This would be the Politically Correct thing to do. If this is not done by the end of the day we call on all of our fellow protest groups to join us in creating mass protests. Including but not limited to window smashing, car overturning, and any other heinous acts that they think of. Remember we protesters need to stay together and oppose everyone that does not toe the line and agree with us without question!!
Don't get me started about Trump Derangement Syndrome. I could write a book about why the people that have this should be exaulted and revired.
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh
Talk about lousy reporting lets talk about the New York Times. One might say they just made a mistake. However, they seem to be doing it more lately and the obvious thing is it leans left the majority of the time. But given their history, this is as surprising as finding hamburgers at McDonald's.
There are certain members of congress that want the honorable SC Judge Kavanaugh impeached. Their stated reason is that his nomination was pushed through and he was not properly vetted and that he misbehaved in college by sexually abusing women. After the FBI investigated the accusations and found them baseless he was confirmed 50-48. But because of suffering **Trump derangement syndrome, it has spilled over to Justice Kavanaugh.
All four women that the Grey Lady reported on about his exposing himself during a party have since said that they don't remember this and that no party ever existed. So with egg on their face, again, the NYT had to apologize for false reporting:
What a shambles congress, certain members, and some of the press is in. Too bad they can't get through their Trump Derangement Syndrome and do the job(s) they are supposed to do. but then you have to scratch your head and wonder if they even know what that is or how to
effectively do them.
President Trump has said that Justice Kavanaugh should consider suing for slander.
I agree, do you?
This is a very nice hotel that we will visit again very soon. It has a great location near downtown Puntarenas. Across the street is a beach on the Gulf of Nicoya. The beach is well maintained and groomed daily. They put up chairs and umbrellas that you can rent for a small amount of colons. The water is warm and inviting.
A short walk from the motel is Parque Marino del Pacífico.
We did not visit it the last time we were there but it is on our agenda this time.
The hotel has a nice pool that is located inside. Since I now have to walk with a cane our room will be on the ground floor so access will be easy. They offer a free breakfast, and lunch and dinner for a fee. The dining area is attractive and kept clean and orderly. The staff is very friendly and attentive. Unfortunately they don't speak much English but since my wife is from Costa Rica she is my translator. The rooms are fairly modern and spacious compared to many we have stayed in before.
The one real drawback is the weather. It is ALWAYS hot and humid. Tank tops and shorts at all times!! We are in the rainy season so you can safely bank on getting a shower in the early afternoon and around dusk. That is the right times to belly up to the bar and enjoy a cervasa (beer) or the hi ball of your choice.
Puntarenas is a nice town on the pacific ocean. The boardwalk is loaded with restaurants and various vendors of local crafts. Small cruise ships dock there with tourists from around the world. Overall it is a great get-away from the challenges of everyday life.
In closing I say the expression used here a lot. Pura Vida (loosely it means good life)
