New adventure! Ha ha the hypocritical people of Arizona! These are the one who are so against immigration, who ride out in their trucks to catch undocumented people sneaking into the US, I mean these people are nuts! But ha ha guess what!!?? They all go to Algodonis for medicine, and doctor appts. I just went to this place in Baja (still Mexico), this town called Algodonis. It is a border town, into Arizona- I think at Yuma. This is the funniest place- and I mean funny strange not funny ha ha (well maybe a little ha ha). This place has literally hundreds of dentist, eye doctor & regular doctor offices! I started taking pictures when we first got there, but in 5 minutes had over 20 dentist offices, and then laughing I gave up. We didn't get there until after 5pm, so it was dark an hour later, but it was amazing! Eye doctor eye doctor eye doctor...I mean the offices are next to each other, the same thing with the dentists and MD's. This morning there were guys in front of the dentist offices offering a free screening...come on in! This is hilarious! And in between all these medical offices are stalls selling souvenirs...everything you can think of, I guess like all tourist areas, silver, ceramics, clothes, toys, things made of wood, metal sculptures, everything.
There's about 5500 people there, and of course alot of that must be kids..anyway one fun fact about the place is below (I googled it)
Los Algodones is the northernmost town in Mexico, and at its northeastern tip is the northernmost point in Mexico. Another interesting geographical distinction is that if someone were to travel in any of the four cardinal directions from anywhere in Algodones (due north, due east, due south, or due west), they would cross a U.S. border.
Now here's the reason I say hypocrites: The popularity of both inexpensive prescriptions and medical care catering to Canadian and US senior citizens have prompted a virtual explosion of pharmacies and dental offices which have largely displaced a great deal of the open-air shops and restaurants immediately across the border and have effectively shifted the town's focus from tourism to medicine.
Well we were only there last nite and earlier today (it's about 3 1/2 hours from here), but what I saw was license plate after license plate from Arizona, but I did see 2 from Calif. and none from Canada. We didn't see too many people on the street last nite; after we found Everardo's friend, a hotel and a bite to eat it was about 7pm, and the streets were deserted. Actually I asked a couple I saw on the patio of our hotel about places to grab some snacky food about 8pm, and they said- everything is all closed up in town! ha ha ha that's so funny cause everywhere else in Mexico, 8pm is when things start moving and shaking...but this morning what I saw was seniors! Lots of seniors! Walking on all the streets where the medical offices and curios were. Well there's only a couple or three streets with all that stuff and the rest is residential. And Everardo said everybody makes money there! NOt the vendors who sell the best- meaning salesmanship, or the best stuff- everybody. He saw at least 8 people he knew from when he worked there about 8 years ago, around the time he also lived here in Puerto Penasco. We talked to a guy selling silver, a lady selling leather goods, another with picture frames (beautiful and I want to go back there), one with ceramics and one with the metal stuff, including the scorpians- he said that guy taught him how to make them.
Anyway there were so many seniors out walking thru the area and this was about 8am. We went into a pharmacy- and get this!! They had- and this was on the shelf! Arimidex! $40USD for 28 pills and with a little talking I'm sure a little cheaper! This is the medicine I take for post breast cancer! Right now I pay a little over $400US per MONTH and never go to the doctor, but I need that prescription so I keep the coverage. I see my oncologist once a year, second year in a row, and pay almost $5K per year, and I still have a copy for the pills....so $140 per year for that too- oh so that just putsme over $5K. YOu know when people complain about undocumented Mexicans straining the health care system...hmmm now I gotta think- cause they ain't coming for health care!!! It's next to nothing down here. I paid $1800 for my last root canal in Calif, here I was quoted $200US- and that was down in Guerrero, I didn't ask in Algodonis ha ha. Yeah I know- that's not the reason they come, but still they get the medical care...but you know what? What the FUCK?? What is going on with health care in the US. I know it's not a new conversation, not a new issue. BUt again? What the FUCK? Why can Mexico offer medicine so cheap? Doctor visits so cheap???? Maybe cause it IS CHEAP??? What is the matter with us in the US? As always I have to think it's about greed and power. Why can the insurance companies charge so much? The pharmaceutical companies? The freaking doctors?? Yes the change has to be monumental, but it has to change!! Teachers don't make shit (at least below college levels and I am only not commenting about that cause I don't know), but doctors? Ha ha and don't even get me started on Sports players- but that's for another time.
So what will I do? About my medical coverage and medicine? Hmmm I'm not sure. I know what's going on in the US is wrong, but I am afraid for my own health...you know- the big C. Cancer...I am clear, had a lumpectomy in 2009, chemo and radiation, but my doctor wants me to take Arimidex until Nov of 2014. Yep I can do that, and get the pills here and let go of my insurance. The problem I see is, if I let it go, I'll never get coverage if/when I go back. That's why I never changed companies since I had cancer. I have Kaiser, and I like my doctor, but shit- $400 a month for nothing? If it comes back and I'm here, ok I will deal with it here in Mexico- they have excellent health care. But if we move back, then what do I do? Oh wait I know- move to Yuma so I can cross to Algodonis and get affordable health care. So for now, I will just let it bounce around in my pea brain. I have a mammogram appt coming up for late April, my once a year visit, maybe I'll decide after that. Then I will be 3 years clear..or 4 if I was diagnosed in May 2009? My treatment wasn't over until Nov of 2009, so not sure how to count it.
Ok- so the day trip was fun and turned into an overnite. We were lazing about yesterday (Sunday) and late morning I said hey let's go for a ride. Poppi (which apparently should be spelled Pappi in Spanish so I'll try to change) so Pappi said wanna drive out to see Santa Clara? Sure. So we take Sam and the car since better gas mileage, and proceed to drive an hour in the wrong dorection!! Towards Caborca..ooops, so an hour back and then head the right way. Well on the way he asks if we should go all the way to San Luis and I say sure again, and we end up 45 min past San Luis Rio Colorado in Algodonis, where Pappi finds his old friend who helped him get into rehab 8 years ago when he had a raging drug problem (5 years before he met me). So we find him and get to go to a Spanish speaking AA meeting literally next door to our very cute hotel. We had amazing quesadillas at a roadstand (basically how we eat out these days) Now when you ask for a quesadilla with meat- is it just a big taco? Anyway they were to die for. Then this morning after walking around finding his old friends, we drove back thru San Luis Rio Colorado to Santa Clara. In both Algodonis & San Luis he showed places he lived, places he stayed before crossing the border. I asked about "the fence", which he said is not really a deterrent for anyone ha ha. We saw where the fence stops because it's an Indian Resrvation, we saw border guys down in these ravines that I assume used to be rivers- not sure why not anymore....Then in Santa Clara we ate the best head tacos. I know I know sounds yucky but they are the very best tacos. It's the same kind Everardo's cousins sell in Morelia. We got home in early afternoon, and just kicked back. Probly (I hope) gonna have eggs for dinner.
On Saturday nite Everardo got to chat with Eleana again and they must have talked for over 2 hours. He is very happy and I for him. He's letting her set the pace and I think that's smart. I looked into a Spanish class, and funny, there's a level 2 (not sure if that's me but I'm not a beginner), but thislevel 2 class has 2 other students- Karen and Mark- from the center ha ha!! So much for a little distance, but I really want to take the class- I need to do what I planned, get into a class here and get me closer to fluency. Everardo is all for it, even tho' it more money going out....when I talked to the guy he said either $5 or $6 an hour, but when he put me on the phone with the teacher, she said $8...and that this particular class, the students want 3 times a week- but I agree- 3 times a week is good..so $24 a week I guess I'll be spending...I hope Poppi- oops Pappi gets some work soon....he's talking to a couple of guys that have said he can work with them, but I think it's about a month away...Then also a friend Mike, seems to be some kind of big shot around here, and thinks he can help him get a construction job in a couple of months cause a huge project is about to start. But I want him to do what he really wants to do, and I think it might be selling trinkets to the tourists, and he thinks he can do pretty good. And he can always change his mind. This is supposed to be fun- and he was the lucky recipient in Playa Ventura of all the chores with the project house from hell, so what the HELL. I know I haven't made the best finiacial decisions...or I wouldn't be worrying about money, but now I want us both to be happy. So...we will just have to see how it goes. Maybe maybe maybe the Playa Ventura house will sell...
Hmmm time for a little reading and possibly a nap before dinner...
There's about 5500 people there, and of course alot of that must be kids..anyway one fun fact about the place is below (I googled it)
Los Algodones is the northernmost town in Mexico, and at its northeastern tip is the northernmost point in Mexico. Another interesting geographical distinction is that if someone were to travel in any of the four cardinal directions from anywhere in Algodones (due north, due east, due south, or due west), they would cross a U.S. border.
Now here's the reason I say hypocrites: The popularity of both inexpensive prescriptions and medical care catering to Canadian and US senior citizens have prompted a virtual explosion of pharmacies and dental offices which have largely displaced a great deal of the open-air shops and restaurants immediately across the border and have effectively shifted the town's focus from tourism to medicine.
Well we were only there last nite and earlier today (it's about 3 1/2 hours from here), but what I saw was license plate after license plate from Arizona, but I did see 2 from Calif. and none from Canada. We didn't see too many people on the street last nite; after we found Everardo's friend, a hotel and a bite to eat it was about 7pm, and the streets were deserted. Actually I asked a couple I saw on the patio of our hotel about places to grab some snacky food about 8pm, and they said- everything is all closed up in town! ha ha ha that's so funny cause everywhere else in Mexico, 8pm is when things start moving and shaking...but this morning what I saw was seniors! Lots of seniors! Walking on all the streets where the medical offices and curios were. Well there's only a couple or three streets with all that stuff and the rest is residential. And Everardo said everybody makes money there! NOt the vendors who sell the best- meaning salesmanship, or the best stuff- everybody. He saw at least 8 people he knew from when he worked there about 8 years ago, around the time he also lived here in Puerto Penasco. We talked to a guy selling silver, a lady selling leather goods, another with picture frames (beautiful and I want to go back there), one with ceramics and one with the metal stuff, including the scorpians- he said that guy taught him how to make them.
Anyway there were so many seniors out walking thru the area and this was about 8am. We went into a pharmacy- and get this!! They had- and this was on the shelf! Arimidex! $40USD for 28 pills and with a little talking I'm sure a little cheaper! This is the medicine I take for post breast cancer! Right now I pay a little over $400US per MONTH and never go to the doctor, but I need that prescription so I keep the coverage. I see my oncologist once a year, second year in a row, and pay almost $5K per year, and I still have a copy for the pills....so $140 per year for that too- oh so that just putsme over $5K. YOu know when people complain about undocumented Mexicans straining the health care system...hmmm now I gotta think- cause they ain't coming for health care!!! It's next to nothing down here. I paid $1800 for my last root canal in Calif, here I was quoted $200US- and that was down in Guerrero, I didn't ask in Algodonis ha ha. Yeah I know- that's not the reason they come, but still they get the medical care...but you know what? What the FUCK?? What is going on with health care in the US. I know it's not a new conversation, not a new issue. BUt again? What the FUCK? Why can Mexico offer medicine so cheap? Doctor visits so cheap???? Maybe cause it IS CHEAP??? What is the matter with us in the US? As always I have to think it's about greed and power. Why can the insurance companies charge so much? The pharmaceutical companies? The freaking doctors?? Yes the change has to be monumental, but it has to change!! Teachers don't make shit (at least below college levels and I am only not commenting about that cause I don't know), but doctors? Ha ha and don't even get me started on Sports players- but that's for another time.
So what will I do? About my medical coverage and medicine? Hmmm I'm not sure. I know what's going on in the US is wrong, but I am afraid for my own health...you know- the big C. Cancer...I am clear, had a lumpectomy in 2009, chemo and radiation, but my doctor wants me to take Arimidex until Nov of 2014. Yep I can do that, and get the pills here and let go of my insurance. The problem I see is, if I let it go, I'll never get coverage if/when I go back. That's why I never changed companies since I had cancer. I have Kaiser, and I like my doctor, but shit- $400 a month for nothing? If it comes back and I'm here, ok I will deal with it here in Mexico- they have excellent health care. But if we move back, then what do I do? Oh wait I know- move to Yuma so I can cross to Algodonis and get affordable health care. So for now, I will just let it bounce around in my pea brain. I have a mammogram appt coming up for late April, my once a year visit, maybe I'll decide after that. Then I will be 3 years clear..or 4 if I was diagnosed in May 2009? My treatment wasn't over until Nov of 2009, so not sure how to count it.
Ok- so the day trip was fun and turned into an overnite. We were lazing about yesterday (Sunday) and late morning I said hey let's go for a ride. Poppi (which apparently should be spelled Pappi in Spanish so I'll try to change) so Pappi said wanna drive out to see Santa Clara? Sure. So we take Sam and the car since better gas mileage, and proceed to drive an hour in the wrong dorection!! Towards Caborca..ooops, so an hour back and then head the right way. Well on the way he asks if we should go all the way to San Luis and I say sure again, and we end up 45 min past San Luis Rio Colorado in Algodonis, where Pappi finds his old friend who helped him get into rehab 8 years ago when he had a raging drug problem (5 years before he met me). So we find him and get to go to a Spanish speaking AA meeting literally next door to our very cute hotel. We had amazing quesadillas at a roadstand (basically how we eat out these days) Now when you ask for a quesadilla with meat- is it just a big taco? Anyway they were to die for. Then this morning after walking around finding his old friends, we drove back thru San Luis Rio Colorado to Santa Clara. In both Algodonis & San Luis he showed places he lived, places he stayed before crossing the border. I asked about "the fence", which he said is not really a deterrent for anyone ha ha. We saw where the fence stops because it's an Indian Resrvation, we saw border guys down in these ravines that I assume used to be rivers- not sure why not anymore....Then in Santa Clara we ate the best head tacos. I know I know sounds yucky but they are the very best tacos. It's the same kind Everardo's cousins sell in Morelia. We got home in early afternoon, and just kicked back. Probly (I hope) gonna have eggs for dinner.
On Saturday nite Everardo got to chat with Eleana again and they must have talked for over 2 hours. He is very happy and I for him. He's letting her set the pace and I think that's smart. I looked into a Spanish class, and funny, there's a level 2 (not sure if that's me but I'm not a beginner), but thislevel 2 class has 2 other students- Karen and Mark- from the center ha ha!! So much for a little distance, but I really want to take the class- I need to do what I planned, get into a class here and get me closer to fluency. Everardo is all for it, even tho' it more money going out....when I talked to the guy he said either $5 or $6 an hour, but when he put me on the phone with the teacher, she said $8...and that this particular class, the students want 3 times a week- but I agree- 3 times a week is good..so $24 a week I guess I'll be spending...I hope Poppi- oops Pappi gets some work soon....he's talking to a couple of guys that have said he can work with them, but I think it's about a month away...Then also a friend Mike, seems to be some kind of big shot around here, and thinks he can help him get a construction job in a couple of months cause a huge project is about to start. But I want him to do what he really wants to do, and I think it might be selling trinkets to the tourists, and he thinks he can do pretty good. And he can always change his mind. This is supposed to be fun- and he was the lucky recipient in Playa Ventura of all the chores with the project house from hell, so what the HELL. I know I haven't made the best finiacial decisions...or I wouldn't be worrying about money, but now I want us both to be happy. So...we will just have to see how it goes. Maybe maybe maybe the Playa Ventura house will sell...
Hmmm time for a little reading and possibly a nap before dinner...
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