So I am back in full health once again!
Happy once more to be blogging.
Hope y'all are doing well and are in good health. Being sick just reminds us of what a treasure it is to have good health. It really cannot be traded for money. When we are at our worst, we'd do anything, pay any amount to relieve our suffering.
Luckily, what struck me was far from deadly serious. An ear infection isn't like a damaged kidney so I am rejoicing that my health challenges have been very minor.
Today, I went to a children's party. I'm not really overfond of clowns but it seems this is sort of a tradition here, I am finding.
As a blogger and an opinionated person, I can cite the many things I found to be objectionable about the many children's parties I have already gone to here.
If ever I had a child, I won't:
1) hold a party with Lady Gaga blaring at full volume. This isn't a teenage rave. I find it quite bizarre that otherwise educated people (my dear friends are lawyers, engineers and doctors) would subject their kids to
this. The base is pretty much socking your gut with each beat of the drum. doom, dooom, doooom, dooom...
this is a kid's party! Does anyone know the Wiggles?
2) the clowns and their "kiddie contests" feels like they are training the kids to be future crass talent show contestants. Maybe the clowns grew up watching those things as kids and so it is absorbed like osmosis or something...
Having said that, everything else was really good.
Food was great. It's one of those spreads that make you throw out your diet for just one day.
Take a hiatus for a while.
Beef with thick creamy mushroom sauce, ox tongue (a different kind of beef), quails eggs with mixed vegetables, fried dory fish with sweet and sour sauce, spaghetti with meatballs and fried chicken.
On the side they hired an ice cream stand and a flavored french fries stand. sort of like what you see in the malls or state fairs except they just give you all the fries you want.
I am typing this with a full belly. don't do what I just did. It's rare that I overeat but you get carried away with just chatting, going back to the buffet and then chatting some more... Pretty soon, you're just stuffing more and more fries in your mouth absent mindedly (like when you are watching a movie) then you realize... hey, wait, I'm already full!
Well, a good time was had by all.
Good night, America!
Sleep well and may the night be cool and breezy.
(It's boiling humid here)
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
Been sick lately
Been down with an ear infection. iOtitis Externa and it does hurt on one whole side of my face and ear. No fun at all.
It's a time of recuperation and a lot of reflection.
First off, I got lucky again that this struck me as I am spending time here overseas where healthcare is cheaper.
I guess it's on a 50-50 chance since half the time I am always here, anyways.
The Philippines has sort of a public healthcare system but it is only for the very poor.
Here's the breakdown so far:
Ear Nose and Throat specialist: (ear canal draining) $70 (yes, I waited 2 and a half hours, so what? I wasn't dying.)
Antihistamines (14 tablets): $2.50
Nasal spray: $10
Ear medication drops: $5 (don't tell me countries like the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia --not even mentioning Canada---have the balls to collectively negotiate for lower prices while America, the base of most of Pharma doesn't?)
Before this, I was also able to have:
2 dental fillings: Php: 3,000 divide that by 40 (actual exchange rate is 42, but for simpler math) =$75
Mom's dental implants --3 teeth: Php: 30,000 which comes out to $750--$250 per tooth. (yes, I shouldered that since their benefits were reduced this year.)
I still feel lucky I haven't been struck with anything more serious. I have made paypal donations to another artist who is waiting for a kidney transplant. This is what we are reduced to: fund raisers for people we know who get sick. I did not contribute to another one that I was messaged for because he already has a lot of backers in his medical fundraiser so I can afford to rest my paypal (which is getting rather thin lately).
In the end, it really is only a matter of time before I am struck by something far more lethal and therefore more expensive... and when that happens, I guess I'll just go into the wilderness, go as far north as I can, wrestle a bear and die with dignity. Someone else will have to beg money for me.
It's a time of recuperation and a lot of reflection.
First off, I got lucky again that this struck me as I am spending time here overseas where healthcare is cheaper.
I guess it's on a 50-50 chance since half the time I am always here, anyways.
The Philippines has sort of a public healthcare system but it is only for the very poor.
Here's the breakdown so far:
Ear Nose and Throat specialist: (ear canal draining) $70 (yes, I waited 2 and a half hours, so what? I wasn't dying.)
Antihistamines (14 tablets): $2.50
Nasal spray: $10
Ear medication drops: $5 (don't tell me countries like the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia --not even mentioning Canada---have the balls to collectively negotiate for lower prices while America, the base of most of Pharma doesn't?)
Before this, I was also able to have:
2 dental fillings: Php: 3,000 divide that by 40 (actual exchange rate is 42, but for simpler math) =$75
Mom's dental implants --3 teeth: Php: 30,000 which comes out to $750--$250 per tooth. (yes, I shouldered that since their benefits were reduced this year.)
In the end, it really is only a matter of time before I am struck by something far more lethal and therefore more expensive... and when that happens, I guess I'll just go into the wilderness, go as far north as I can, wrestle a bear and die with dignity. Someone else will have to beg money for me.
Friday, April 27, 2012
The gift of pain
Anyone read the book "the gift of pain"? I don't agree with some of its principles, but one thing I agree with it is that we need pain in our body to tell us something is wrong.
That is the principle applied by the dentist I saw.
Apparently, having pain in your tooth during the drilling process is a sign that the dentist is hitting near your tooth's root. Now, nobody's ever explained this to me in all my years of going to Dentists. All I knew is that you drill my tooth and it will hurt.
Hence a lot of dentists use painkillers to dull the pain for patient's comfort.
It turns out, according to the Dentist I recently saw, that is a shortcut that can do a lot of damage to your teeth later on. If the Dentist doesn't know he's drilling down into the root of the tooth, it is possible he may damage the root and kill the tooth. I never knew that teeth were alive in that way.
But apparently, you can heal a tooth if you don't damage the root of it. And that's what my dentist did.
He explained that a lot of dentists just treat cavities like a road pothole; you just drill down and fill the hole. according to modern dental science, that's a pretty sloppy way of healing your tooth. When dentists drill willy nilly and patients feel nothing, they may already be damaging you more than you know... thus necessitating the need for a root canal later on or a complete extraction and implant.
So he really encouraged me not to rely on the pain meds. You know, it turns out, the pain wasn't that bad when the dentist knows what he's doing. When you feel the pain coming, just tell him and he backs off knowing that if he drills further, he could be damaging the root of the tooth.
It's all fascinating new knowledge for me and I love it when I learn something new each day.
That is the principle applied by the dentist I saw.
Apparently, having pain in your tooth during the drilling process is a sign that the dentist is hitting near your tooth's root. Now, nobody's ever explained this to me in all my years of going to Dentists. All I knew is that you drill my tooth and it will hurt.
Hence a lot of dentists use painkillers to dull the pain for patient's comfort.
It turns out, according to the Dentist I recently saw, that is a shortcut that can do a lot of damage to your teeth later on. If the Dentist doesn't know he's drilling down into the root of the tooth, it is possible he may damage the root and kill the tooth. I never knew that teeth were alive in that way.
But apparently, you can heal a tooth if you don't damage the root of it. And that's what my dentist did.
He explained that a lot of dentists just treat cavities like a road pothole; you just drill down and fill the hole. according to modern dental science, that's a pretty sloppy way of healing your tooth. When dentists drill willy nilly and patients feel nothing, they may already be damaging you more than you know... thus necessitating the need for a root canal later on or a complete extraction and implant.
So he really encouraged me not to rely on the pain meds. You know, it turns out, the pain wasn't that bad when the dentist knows what he's doing. When you feel the pain coming, just tell him and he backs off knowing that if he drills further, he could be damaging the root of the tooth.
It's all fascinating new knowledge for me and I love it when I learn something new each day.
The week
The best part of this week was the finishing of my dental work. Two teeth patched up nicely at the cheap cost of $30 per tooth. That's something you can pay for out of pocket. And the Dentist has standard imported equipment... the works. No Dentist from hell. It's an airconditoned room with 2 assistants helping him and two dental chairs. It's a pretty good bargain.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
A Sweet Life
It's times like this I really love my life. :)
Today is one of those perfect days.
One of the best things about being able to bring my livelihood wherever I am, I get to enjoy low prices wherever they can be found.
Being in the Philippines is fab, fab, fab... Especially when it comes to going to massage parlors, getting medical or dental work done.
Got a full body today and with accompanying body scrub for the great price of $10. You get a private room with a shower, professional masseur or masseuse... ahhh... this IS life!
My full body work over is coming along at a great pace. I got one tooth fixed and I have a filling to go by end of next month. Dentist is totally pro. He's got 2 assistants, tools get sterilized after every session, top of the line titanium alloy posts if you want a dental implant. (from Japan) Fillings are $70 per tooth. Another sweet bargain. Like!
This time around, I won't need wart removal although those services are also a bargain. And there is no electrolysis involved... just a cream that melts them away. I often wonder why this isn't more popular around the world. It's a best kept secret...
Tonight, I'll be frying up my signature extra crispy spicy chicken tenders to go with some homemade cole slaw.
A perfect end to a fab day!
Good night, America!
Today is one of those perfect days.
One of the best things about being able to bring my livelihood wherever I am, I get to enjoy low prices wherever they can be found.
Being in the Philippines is fab, fab, fab... Especially when it comes to going to massage parlors, getting medical or dental work done.
Got a full body today and with accompanying body scrub for the great price of $10. You get a private room with a shower, professional masseur or masseuse... ahhh... this IS life!
My full body work over is coming along at a great pace. I got one tooth fixed and I have a filling to go by end of next month. Dentist is totally pro. He's got 2 assistants, tools get sterilized after every session, top of the line titanium alloy posts if you want a dental implant. (from Japan) Fillings are $70 per tooth. Another sweet bargain. Like!
This time around, I won't need wart removal although those services are also a bargain. And there is no electrolysis involved... just a cream that melts them away. I often wonder why this isn't more popular around the world. It's a best kept secret...
Tonight, I'll be frying up my signature extra crispy spicy chicken tenders to go with some homemade cole slaw.
A perfect end to a fab day!
Good night, America!
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Under the weather...
I am right now very unproductive and just laid up in bed.
Nice thing about being sick and feverish is no matter how hot the weather is, you still feel slightly chilly.
Last time I fell ill was 10 months ago when I first purchased old Great White.
I was driving around in the Texas heat but I sweated not a drop since I was having a bit of a fever on.
Well, good things will come tomorrow.
My hands are numb right now from all the lying down.
Good night, America!
Nice thing about being sick and feverish is no matter how hot the weather is, you still feel slightly chilly.
Last time I fell ill was 10 months ago when I first purchased old Great White.
I was driving around in the Texas heat but I sweated not a drop since I was having a bit of a fever on.
Well, good things will come tomorrow.
My hands are numb right now from all the lying down.
Good night, America!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
My aunt's birthday
Well, it's all sunny news again where I am. Comfortably esconced in a country where the exchange rate for the diminishing US dollar is still somewhat decent...
Treated my aunt today to an awesome Chinese restaurant. It was her birthday and she is my fave auntie (almost a second Mum).
Began with an appetizer platter of marinated seaweed, Chinese leg ham, century egg, Chinese sausage and roast pork cutlets.
That was followed by bird's nest soup.
Main dishes were the vegetable chow mein, Red Rickshaw fried noodle (their signature dish) and fried tofu balls in soy sauce with ground shrimp.
To help it all digest well, we had floral green tea. Smooth as silk... It can really put one to sleep especially after such a heavy meal...
Ahh... heaven!
Dinner was simple but awesome. half a homemade white pizza with mushrooms and turkey bacon toppings.
Perfect way to end the day.
Treated my aunt today to an awesome Chinese restaurant. It was her birthday and she is my fave auntie (almost a second Mum).
Began with an appetizer platter of marinated seaweed, Chinese leg ham, century egg, Chinese sausage and roast pork cutlets.
That was followed by bird's nest soup.
Main dishes were the vegetable chow mein, Red Rickshaw fried noodle (their signature dish) and fried tofu balls in soy sauce with ground shrimp.
To help it all digest well, we had floral green tea. Smooth as silk... It can really put one to sleep especially after such a heavy meal...
Ahh... heaven!
Dinner was simple but awesome. half a homemade white pizza with mushrooms and turkey bacon toppings.
Perfect way to end the day.
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