We’re back!!!…Wildlife and other animal myths…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 2 Comments

Many who’ve never been on safari assume tigers in the wild may be seen in Africa. That’s not the case. Most Bengal Tigers are found in the national parks in India. We visited three national parks until we spotted this female. We couldn’t have asked for a better vantage point when we spotted this beauty. See the post for more photos here.

Since commencing our world travels in 2012, we have experienced over 200 safaris, including trips to Africa, India, Alaska, and Antarctica. We have observed that some preconceived notions about wildlife are quickly dispelled upon seeing animals in the wild and conducting considerable research.

Another myth we often hear is that polar bears are found in Antarctica, but this is untrue. Polar bears are linked to the Arctic sea ice, where they hunt their seal prey. The bears are found in five range states: the U.S. (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Greenland, and Norway (Svalbard). Scientists have divided them into 20 populations, some shared by more than one country.

While on a guided safari in Africa, a few tourists assumed warthogs were miniature rhinoceros. We chuckled discreetly while the guide corrected them. When on safaris with other tourists, we keep our mouths shut and let the guide educate the other participants. When we are with visiting friends on safari on a self-game drive, we freely provide the narrative when requested.

However, we’re often taken aback by the misconceptions and myths about wildlife, some of which we share below.

Wildlife myths are often fascinating stories passed down through generations, blending cultural beliefs with nature’s mysteries. While many of these tales may seem outlandish, they reflect humanity’s long-standing curiosity about the animal kingdom. Here are a few interesting wildlife myths and the truths behind them:

1. Owls as Harbingers of Death

  • The Myth: In many cultures, owls are seen as omens of death. Their eerie calls in the night, often heard when the world is quiet, have made them creatures of superstition. For example, some Native American tribes believed that hearing an owl’s hoot could mean an impending death in the family.
  • The Truth: Owls are actually beneficial predators, controlling rodent populations. Their nocturnal nature and haunting sounds might have contributed to their mysterious reputation, but there’s no scientific basis for associating them with death.

2. Lemmings Commit Mass Suicide

  • The Myth: The idea that lemmings intentionally throw themselves off cliffs in mass suicides became widely popular after a 1958 Disney documentary, “White Wilderness.” The film staged a dramatic scene where lemmings were shown diving into the ocean en masse.
  • The Truth: Lemmings do migrate in large groups, but the “mass suicide” concept is entirely false. When populations become too large, they search for new territory, sometimes leading them into dangerous situations, but it’s purely accidental and not a deliberate act of self-destruction.

3. Sharks Don’t Get Cancer

  • The Myth: It’s a common belief that sharks are immune to cancer, which has fueled interest in shark cartilage as a potential cancer treatment.
  • The Truth: While it’s true that sharks rarely develop bone cancer (since they don’t have bones), they are not immune to cancer. They can still develop other forms of the disease, including tumors.

4. Touching a Toad Causes Warts

  • The Myth: Many people grow up believing that touching a toad will cause warts, probably due to the toad’s bumpy skin.
  • The Truth: Warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), not toads. While toads’ skin may look warty, their bumps are completely unrelated to the virus that causes warts in humans.

5. Bats Are Blind

  • The Myth: “Blind as a bat” is a common saying, suggesting that bats navigate purely by echolocation because they cannot see.
  • The Truth: Bats are far from blind. Many species have good eyesight. They rely on echolocation to navigate in the dark, but their vision plays an important role in hunting during dusk and dawn.

6. Goldfish Have a Three-Second Memory

  • The Myth: It’s long been said that goldfish have incredibly short attention spans, only capable of remembering things for a few seconds.
  • The Truth: Studies show that goldfish can remember things for months. They can learn and associate sounds or visual cues with feeding times, demonstrating a much longer memory than the myth suggests.

7. Mother Birds Will Abandon Their Babies if Humans Touch Them

  • The Myth: Many people believe that if you touch a baby bird, its mother will smell human scent on it and abandon it.
  • The Truth: Birds have a very poor sense of smell, and most will not abandon their chicks just because a human has touched them. If you see a baby bird on the ground, it’s often best to leave it alone, as its parents are likely nearby.

8. Wolves Howl at the Moon

  • The Myth: The iconic image of a wolf howling at the moon is deeply rooted in folklore and often depicted in art and media.
  • The Truth: Wolves howl for communication, not at the moon. They use howling to locate pack members, defend territory, or coordinate hunting, regardless of the moon’s phase.

9. Elephants Never Forget

  • The Myth: Elephants are often said to have perfect memories, never forgetting a face or experience.
  • The Truth: While it’s a bit of an exaggeration, elephants do have exceptional memories. This is especially useful in their social structures and navigating vast territories, where remembering water sources and migration paths is essential for survival.

10. Porcupines Can Shoot Their Quills

  • The Myth: There’s a popular misconception that porcupines can shoot quills like arrows when threatened.
  • The Truth: Porcupines cannot project their quills. Instead, the quills detach easily when they come into contact with predators. They serve as a defensive mechanism, but there’s no projectile involved.

While in Marloth Park, we’ve seen several bushbucks and other antelope encountering porcupines whose faces and bodies are filled with quills. Here’s a photo we took in October 2022 posted here.

This heartbreaking photo of a precious little duiker who encountered a porcupine,made us cringe in horror. How can she possibly survive these massive injuries? “Porcupines are solitary, slow-moving animals that largely keep to themselves unless threatened. The quills usually lie flat against the porcupine’s body until they encounter a threat, at which point they “puff up” and erect their quills, swinging their spiny tails until the threat either leaves them alone or gets a sharp whack and a face hand, or paw full of quills. Quills are stiff, hollow hairs with microscopic, backward-facing barbs at the tip (like tiny fish hooks), so when they come into contact with flesh.

Of course, there are dozens of myths we haven’t posted here. If you’ve encountered such myths, feel free to share your story.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 8, 2014:

We refer to these scenes with holes through the clouds with the sun filtering through as “the eyes of God.” For more photos, please click here.

Do we need travel insurance if we already have Medicare and a supplement?…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 2 Comments
The flowers in Hawaii are breathtaking such as this colorful lily.

When you have Medicare Parts A and B and a supplement and are planning to travel internationally, it’s essential to know how your coverage works and whether travel insurance is a good idea or is necessary. Most Medicare plans and supplements have some limitations for travel. Thus, checking with your provider before committing to an additional travel plan is imperative.

My Plan G supplement with Aflac covers 80% of emergency travel expenses. Of course, I pay a monthly premium for this comprehensive plan. But, it doesn’t cover trip cancellation, lost luggage, and other services often offered by travel insurance, although a few of our credit cards provide such benefits. Also, for affordable outside travel insurance, there is a 180-day pre-existing clause that means no treatment was necessary during that period.

We cannot possibly cover all the costs and limitations for your travel insurance needs here. It’s imperative that you speak to your current insurance providers and potential travel providers about the best options for you. This isn’t necessarily complicated. A few phone calls and supporting documentation may be all you’ll need to put your mind at ease before committing to travel policy.

In months to come, we’ll work on this to find what works best for us before booking our plans for South Africa. Since plans and pricing often change based on market conditions, we will wait until a few months before traveling to firm up any potential travel plan.

Medicare’s Limitations for Travelers

Medicare generally doesn’t cover healthcare services outside the U.S. (with a few exceptions). This means that if you have an unexpected illness or accident while traveling abroad, you could be responsible for the entire cost of your medical care. Some Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap) offer limited foreign travel emergency coverage, but this is often capped and may not cover non-emergencies.

Important Medicare Facts for Travelers:

  • Medicare Part A and B (Original Medicare): Coverage is mainly limited to the U.S. and its territories. Medicare might cover some emergency services in very limited cases, such as on a ship within six hours of a U.S. port or traveling between Alaska and the contiguous U.S. But routine or non-emergency care abroad isn’t covered.
  • Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C): Some Advantage plans may offer emergency care when traveling outside the U.S., but coverage and costs vary by plan. You’ll need to carefully check your plan’s details to know for sure.

Why Travel Insurance Can Be a Good Idea

Since Medicare doesn’t offer comprehensive international coverage, travel insurance can be a wise investment for peace of mind. Travel insurance can cover:

  • Emergency medical expenses: Coverage for accidents, illnesses, or other urgent health needs while abroad.
  • Medical evacuation: If you need to be transported back to the U.S. or a medical facility.
  • Trip cancellation/interruption: If you must cancel your trip due to health reasons or other emergencies.
  • Baggage loss or delay: Extra protection for lost or delayed luggage.

Many travel insurance plans offer tailored coverage for seniors or those on Medicare, so you can get the medical protection you need without worrying about hefty out-of-pocket expenses.

How to Choose the Right Travel Insurance with Medicare

  1. Check if Medigap or Medicare Advantage Plans offer travel coverage: If you already have some coverage, you might only need supplemental travel insurance to fill the gaps.
  2. Look for comprehensive medical coverage: Make sure your travel insurance offers high limits for emergency medical and evacuation expenses, as these can add up quickly.
  3. Compare plans: Travel insurance varies widely. Look at customer reviews, plan details, and coverage limits to ensure you’re getting the right fit for your needs.
  4. Consider pre-existing conditions: Some travel insurance policies include coverage for pre-existing conditions if you buy the plan soon after booking your trip.

With Medicare’s limitations, investing in a good travel insurance plan can give you the peace of mind that if something happens during your travels, you’ll be covered for medical costs and more.

As time passes and we begin checking our options in months to come, we’ll share what we’ve decided to do. But. each situation is different, and what we choose may not be suitable or necessary for you.

(And yes, the pies were delicious!)

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 4, 2014:

Gazebo at the park in Hilo, Big Island. For more photos, please click here.

Four pumpkin pies are in the oven…Happy to be baking…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Here were my eight less-than-perfect pumpkin pies, made on a 104F, 40C day, for a Thanksgiving dinner celebrated in the bush on November 17, 2018. It was impossible to roll the homemade dough in the heat and humidity. Thus, I called it a “Pie day from hell.” At the bottom right is a low-carb pumpkin pie made with an almond flour crust for Louise and Danie. Today’s four pies will look much better. See the post here.

This morning, I managed to walk down the corridor to the elevator bank and make my way to the front desk to pick up a package from Amazon. Then, after I returned to our room, I proceeded to make the four pumpkin pies for Tom, which are now being baked in the oven. This felt like quite an accomplishment.

I didn’t make the crust without a food processor. Instead, I bought the best-prepared crusts from Whole Foods. Hopefully, Tom will enjoy the pies. I’ll leave two pies out and freeze the other two for Tom to enjoy when he chooses. Cooked pumpkin pies freeze well but only for about one month.

We won’t be making a typical Thanksgiving dinner this year, which we haven’t done except when we’ve had guests over the years. Although having a vast array of delicious dishes would be enjoyable, we don’t have the appropriate serving dishes and kitchen utensils to prepare such a meal. Plus, it would be too much work for me now.

As soon as Tom’s pies are done, I’ll make my keto cheese pie, which I haven’t made since we were in South Africa in April 2023. Whenever I make this pie, I think of Louise and Danie, who love it. When it’s done, I take a photo and send it to them. Recently Louise wrote to me asking if I’d make the pie for them when we arrived. Of course, I’d be thrilled to do so!

Today’s four pumpkin pies we just took out of the oven. They look much better than the eight above pies, although they will taste the same.

Pumpkin pie has a long history, especially in the US.

Pumpkin pie, a classic dessert closely associated with autumn and Thanksgiving in the United States, has a rich history that spans centuries and continents. Its story begins long before the Pilgrims set foot on American soil, rooted in the traditions of Native Americans and European settlers.

Native American Origins

The indigenous peoples of North America were cultivating pumpkins and other squash for thousands of years before European settlers arrived. They used these hardy, versatile gourds for both food and practical purposes. Pumpkins were roasted, boiled, or mashed, but the idea of transforming pumpkin into a sweet dessert wouldn’t emerge until later.

Early European Influence

When European settlers arrived in North America in the 1600s, they brought with them a taste for meat pies and custards. However, they found pumpkins a valuable substitute for ingredients they were familiar with back in Europe. Instead of making the pies we think of today, early settlers would hollow out pumpkins, fill them with milk, honey, and spices, and bake them whole in the ashes of a fire. These early “pumpkin pies” were more like a pudding baked inside the shell of a pumpkin, and the use of sugar or spices varied depending on what was available.

The Birth of Modern Pumpkin Pie

The pumpkin pie we know today, with its flaky crust and spiced filling, began to take shape during the 17th and 18th centuries as colonial cooks combined Old World techniques with New World ingredients. The first recorded recipes resembling modern pumpkin pie appeared in English cookbooks. The 1670 cookbook The Gentlewoman’s Companion contains a recipe for “Pumpion Pye,” which involved layering pumpkin with apples, spices, and sugar in a pastry crust. By the late 18th century, recipes had spread throughout New England, where pumpkin pies became a regional specialty.

Pumpkin Pie and Thanksgiving

By the early 19th century, pumpkin pie had become strongly associated with the fall harvest and Thanksgiving. Sarah Josepha Hale, often credited with helping to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday, popularized pumpkin pie in her 1827 novel Northwood, in which she described a Thanksgiving meal that featured the now-iconic dessert.

When Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, pumpkin pie was firmly embedded in American culture. Its presence at Thanksgiving dinner cemented its status as an American tradition and has remained a beloved part of the holiday ever since.

Modern Day Popularity

Today, pumpkin pie is as popular as ever. Canned pumpkin, first introduced in the 1920s, made it easier and quicker to prepare, contributing to its widespread consumption. While many families still make their pies from scratch, the availability of ready-made pie crusts, pumpkin pie filling, and even pre-baked pies has kept the tradition alive in an era of convenience.

Though variations exist—some prefer to tweak the spices or add a touch of maple syrup—the core ingredients of pumpkin puree, sugar, and warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg remain constant. It symbolizes warmth, comfort, and togetherness, particularly during the colder months when families gather for the holidays.

From humble Native American beginnings to a dessert that graces millions of tables each year, pumpkin pie has become a cherished tradition that’s evolved with the times but remains a delicious celebration of fall’s bounty.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 3, 2014:

Was this a houseboat, island, or floating property we spotted in Kona, Hawaii, ten years ago? For more photos, please click here.

Craving a special treat…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Hawaii never ceased to amaze us with its gorgeous flowers.

This morning, I awoke thinking of pies. Usually, I don’t spend much time thinking about pies. Still, after dreaming about cooking for a large dinner party and making pies for dessert, I put together a comprehensive grocery list from Whole Foods on the Amazon website while still lying in bed, switching back and forth between my favorite two pie recipes, neither of which I’ve made in a long time.

For Tom, seasonally relevant, I’ll be making pumpkin pies. Since I don’t have a food processor to make my usual Martha Stewart pie crust dough or a rolling pin for a suitable alternative, I purchased four ready-made pie crusts and enough ingredients to make four pies. The organic pie crusts, a unique brand from Whole Foods, should be good.

I’ll most likely make four pies from the ingredients for Tom’s pie, keeping one out for him to savor and freezing the rest, already baked and carefully wrapped in foil.

Also, I’ll make my favorite dessert, a low-carb cream cheese pie with a homemade almond flour crust. I’ll only make one of these since they don’t freeze well. Lately, going through all of this medical stuff, I’ve wanted to treat myself with this pie, which I’ll savor in small pieces over the next several days.

With no opportunity to dine out without a car, no willingness to pay the premium prices in nearby restaurants, and the cost of an Uber each way, we’re trying to enjoy a few treats based on how I’m feeling and motivated to bake. When I awoke this morning, although still feeling an irregular heart rhythm, I decided I needed to become more active instead of sitting and waiting to feel better. 

I’ve pampered myself long enough, and it’s time to get in motion. Yesterday, for the first time in weeks, I could do one corridor walk, albeit slowly and tentatively. Today, I will try for two walks, and in the days to come, I will gradually increase the pace and distance. Since we’ve been here for over a month, the most corridor walks I have been able to do have been five walks in one day. We’ll see how it goes.

Carefully monitoring my heart rate is crucial while I hope to regain stamina and strength. Cooking is a suitable means of getting used to standing on my feet for a few hours here and there. Plus, it’s comforting to have special meals, and in this case, desserts, which add to our enjoyment during this confined situation.

In the past few minutes, I completed one walk, about 500 steps. It wasn’t easy since my legs didn’t want to cooperate. The problem is more with my legs, which feel like lead, than my heart beating too fast. Plus, I am unsteady and stay close to a wall in case I tetter along the way. I refuse to believe I will need to use a wheelchair for the remainder of my life.

Walking around in the hotel room is relatively easy. It’s a short distance from room to room. The living room, dining area, and kitchen are one spacious room, and the bedroom and bathroom are separate. Every hour, I make a point of getting up and moving around to avoid sitting too long. It’s easy for hours to pass without getting up, which is ultimately bad for everyone’s health.

Hopefully, I’ll feel well enough to make the pies by tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 2, 2014:

Here we are at Liliuokalani Gardens in Hilo. Sam, our friendly taxi driver, took the photo. For more photos, please click here.

A long haul ahead of us…Happy October…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Flowers in Hawaii are breathtaking. This is an Anthurium. Wow!

We no longer bother with the complimentary breakfast in the hotel, offered each morning from 6:30 to 9:30. The mass-produced, greasy foods, fake scrambled eggs, and eggs boiled in vinegar are not to our liking. Since we’re currently having two meals a day, breakfast and dinner, it made sense to start making our breakfast, which consists of eggs and bacon for Tom and eggs topped with guacamole and Picante sauce for me.

Lately, feeling under the weather, I don’t get up until around 8:00 or 8:30, and once showered and dressed for the day, I make breakfast. Tom would happily do it, but I feel it’s crucial for me to continue preparing meals to keep me more active.

I cannot start walking the corridors again, and I have no idea when this will be possible. When we leave the hotel room, we’re still using the wheelchair. It will be quite a thrill to walk again eventually. But, for now, I accept this as my reality and strive to stay upbeat.

A few of our readers have written asking if the housekeeping issues have been resolved after my lengthy conversation with the general manager. It’s 25% better. They show up every other day but always fail to bring enough supplies we want to be refreshed for the next few days: four bath towels, two hand towels, two washcloths, two dish towels, two toilet paper, and four dishwasher soaps. It’s not that hard.

But they breeze in and out each time they come, leaving us short on half of these supplies. We have to ask them to add the correct items, let alone the proper amounts. They are supposed to make the bed every other day, but they do not. When we ask, they pretend not to understand.

Right now, more than ever, these simple requests are more important to us than in the past. After all, we’re paying premium prices for this hotel close to Cleveland Clinic. The shuttle guy is fantastic, always getting us to our appointments in plenty of time. On October 11, I have an appointment outside the clinic at a location associated with the clinic that is further away, and he will gladly take us there and to my remaining ten appointments over the next 4½ months. Whew!

Many of our readers have written over the past several days, insisting we keep them updated on what’s happening. I suppose I hesitated, fearing I was boring our readers with my constant health updates. Thank you for all of your support. Many of our readers have written about their health issues, for which we offer our love, support, and prayers for well-being.

I make a point of responding to each of these messages, acknowledging that none of us is exempt from experiencing frightening and worrisome health issues as we age and at any time in life. We’ve received many messages from readers as young as their 20s and 30s who also deal with heart issues, generally seen more frequently in the senior population.

Please don’t hesitate to write to us, even via email, about your health concerns. This enables us to return the kindness and consideration of providing support and a safe arena to share your concerns and worries. Of course, we aren’t medical professionals and cannot offer medical advice. But being able to offer an unbiased ear is something we all may need from time to time.

Tonight, we’re having Italian meatballs topped with Rao’s marinara sauce (which I spruce up with additional seasonings), fresh sliced portabella mushrooms, and mozzarella and parmesan cheese. I am having chicken meatballs, and Tom will have beef and pork meatballs. We’ll have a side salad, and Tom will have rice, which he always includes as a side dish.

That’s it for today, folks. And when we say, “Be well” at the end of each post, it’s done so from the bottom of our hearts.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 1, 2014:

Tom is thrilled to be in Hawaii. Me, too! For more photos, please click here.

Part 2…Traveling by train…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Tom has a special Amtrak pass after working for BNSF Railroad for 42½ years, which we’ve yet to use. Maybe someday.

Today’s post continues yesterday’s post regarding vacation train travel with suggestions worldwide, including the US, as shown below. We’ve yet to travel by train other than the exquisite Maharajas Express in India in 2020, just before the pandemic hit, and we were in lockdown in Mumbai for ten months. See yesterday’s post here.

South America: Scenic and Off-the-Beaten-Path

South America isn’t as famous for train travel but has a few gems. The Train to the Clouds in Argentina is one of the most dramatic railway journeys, ascending the Andes Mountains and reaching over 13,800 feet. In Peru, the Belmond Andean Explorer takes passengers from Cusco to Lake Titicaca, blending luxury with breathtaking views of the Peruvian highlands.

In Ecuador, the Devil’s Nose Train descends a near-vertical drop in a series of switchbacks, offering thrills and stunning scenery. For a more relaxed journey, Brazil’s Vitoria-Minas Railway passes through forests and mountains, giving you a window into the lush beauty of the Brazilian landscape.

North America: Scenic Routes Across the Continent

North America’s rail travel may not be as well-known for its efficiency, but it makes up for it in scenic routes. In the U.S., the Amtrak system offers cross-country adventures, with trains like the California Zephyr taking passengers from Chicago to San Francisco through the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada. The Empire Builder is another classic, stretching from Chicago to Seattle or Portland, offering glimpses of the Northern Plains and Glacier National Park.

Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer is perhaps the most scenic of all. It winds through the snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies, with luxurious, glass-domed coaches providing unobstructed views of waterfalls, forests, and wildlife.

Australia & New Zealand: The Land of Long, Scenic Journeys

Australia’s vastness makes it ideal for epic train journeys, and the Ghan, which crosses from Adelaide to Darwin, is the ultimate outback adventure. You pass through desolate deserts, mountain ranges, and tropical regions, all while soaking in the unique beauty of the Australian wilderness. Another iconic route is the Indian Pacific, spanning the continent from Sydney to Perth, with long stretches of track running through the hauntingly empty Nullarbor Plain.

In New Zealand, trains like the TranzAlpine offer a shorter but stunning route through the Southern Alps, crossing deep gorges, rainforests, and plains—perfect for travelers looking to see the island’s raw beauty.

No matter where you go, trains worldwide offer a way to get from point A to point B and experience the journey itself. Whether it’s the modern efficiency of Japan’s bullet trains or the leisurely pace of a vintage rail experience in Africa, train travel allows you to slow down and absorb the world outside your window. Each region offers its unique flavor of train travel, reflecting the landscapes, cultures, and histories you’re passing through. If you’ve ever traveled by train somewhere unusual, we’d love to hear your story!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 30, 2014:

The city of Honolulu has grown into quite a metropolis. For more photos, please click here.

No definitive answers…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 6 Comments
Artwork is abundant on many cruise ships.

“Thank goodness,” you must think…today’s post will be the last time I discuss my health until I have more definitive answers. Yesterday’s appointment with the cardiac electrophysiologist only resulted in more tests and vague answers. In any case, we will be in Cleveland a lot longer. I have an ablation (a cardiac procedure) scheduled for February 10. I’m on a waiting list for an earlier date, but it’s unlikely it will happen sooner.

Yesterday, a Zio monitor was placed over my heart, which I will have to wear for two more weeks after wearing the 48-hour monitor that I wore a few weeks ago. Now, the doctor is looking for signs of Afib, which would only appear without me being on the medication. Yes, he took me off the drug Multaq, which he clearly stated after reviewing test results offered no improvement for my near-constant PVCs. He didn’t replace it with another drug.

PVCs generally aren’t necessarily life-threatening but, over time, can cause permanent damage to the heart. At this point, my heart itself is in good shape with no evidence of damage due to my rhythm irregularities. I knew this, but the question becomes, can I live my life with the near-constant feeling that birds are flying about in my chest?

Some patients don’t even feel PVCs. But many do, and it becomes a question of yearly checkups to determine the condition of the heart after another year of rhythm irregularities and how tolerable this situation is for the patient over time. When I was on the more dangerous drug, Flecainide, I didn’t feel them since the drug kept them under control but was damaging my body in other ways and increasing the risks of a heart attack or stroke.

As of today, I am off all antiarrhythmic drugs for the first time since last October. The Multaq stays in one’s system for three to four days, so technically, I’m not entirely free of its effects yet. Walking more easily and breathing better will take about a week. Dr. Keogh explained that no drugs currently on the market can help me. The only possible solution is the February procedure.

There are a few ablations, one for PVCs and another for Afib and PVCs. Unless Afib appears on the new two-week monitor, I will only be scheduled for the PVC ablation, which is for the lower part of the heart only. So now, we watch and see. It’s scary being off of any such drug after this challenging past year. Twice in the past two months, I’ve spent three days in hospital with accompanying dangerously high blood pressure.

Based on those bouts, the doctor set up an appointment for October 11 with a nephrologist, described as follows:

“Nephrologists, also known as kidney specialists, are medical doctors who diagnose, treat, and prevent hypertension and kidney diseases. They are experts in treating high blood pressure because the kidneys play a vital role in regulating blood pressure.”

This upcoming appointment may result in more tests, so our plans remain up in the air. As for the angiogram results, one of my cardiac bypass surgery graphs has failed, and the other graphs are 50-60% blocked again. Nothing can be done for these situations. My arteries are too small for stents, and repeat bypass surgeries aren’t recommended until the blockages are 70% to 80% or more. Again, this is a situation I will have to deal with.

So now, I wait and see what transpires without any drugs for the heart rhythm issues and if, off the Multaq, I can walk and breathe easier again in the next several days.

Solutions for medical issues aren’t always clearly defined, as in my case. If I can feel better and continue with our lives of travel, walking, breathing easily, and enjoying every moment, I will be content. Let’s see how all of this rolls out.

When we know more, I will write here. Thank you for all the love and support. My being mum about this until we know more doesn’t mean something Is wrong.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 28, 2014:

My dinner consisted of salmon and steamed vegetables, which was fine with adding a side dish of Hollandaise sauce. Due to their sugar content, I don’t eat many carrots, so I left those behind. For more photos, please click here.

We’re back…Why didn’t we post?…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Most cruise ship passengers easily fall into a lounging mode, but we are always busy and rarely take a nap or lounge.

It’s been a rare occasion that I didn’t prepare a post unless it was a travel or tour day. When we first started posting, we only posted about three times a week, especially before officially beginning our travels on  October 31, 2012. But after the first year passed in a blur of delightful activity, we decided to write daily to stay on top of things, with many events, photos, and stories to share.

This past nine months, after my heart problems escalated in Ecuador in October 2023, we’ve been in the US since December 2023, figuring out our next move and eventually awaiting appointments at Cleveland Clinic, assuming I’d need open heart surgery. Three different cardiologists in three different countries misdiagnosed me with severe valve regurgitation requiring imminent surgery.

Once we arrived at Cleveland Clinic, after many months of waiting for appointments with one of the top valve surgeons in the world, it took no time at all to determine, after a comprehensive echocardiogram and numerous tests, that the problem with my heart wasn’t my valves. My heart’s plumbing (arteries) and electrical system (signals in the heart) have been causing the almost constant irregular heart rhythm.

It’s not a simple fix. I’ve already tried five drugs to control the situation while awaiting a more long-term plan, all of which have caused me unbearable side effects, most of which center around difficulty breathing and inability to walk.

This more recent drug, Multag, which I’ve been on for three weeks and was started while I spent three days in the hospital earlier in the month, has me “down for the count,” so they say. I can barely breathe, off and on, but especially when I move around, I can no longer make the bed, walk the corridors, and have difficulty typing when my arms are weak, and it takes everything I have to type.

This is the worst response I have had from any of the five drugs, and it worsens daily instead of diminishing as many side effects may do over time. It’s even worse than the last drug, Flecainide, which I’d be taking for many months. This drug, Multaq, causes my hands to shake and my arms to be painful and weak, making it challenging to type, cut vegetables, get dressed, let alone walk across the room.

I left a message for the doctor about these symptoms, but he left a message in My Chart to stay on this drug until my appointment tomorrow morning when we come up with an alternate plan. Without any such drug, my blood pressure spikes to a dangerous level, requiring a hospital stay, two of which I’ve had in the past two months.

Excuse me for reiterating this scenario once again. Many of our readers have written to ask for more details on how I’m doing. We greatly appreciate your concerns. However, it made more sense to write the response here rather than reply to each of your many queries individually. Thank you so much for your concern.

How is this impacting our state of mind? Based on the fact these symptoms are drug-induced, we are both very hopeful that tomorrow’s appointment will provide a comprehensive plan to enable us to continue with our lives. Our hotel here is booked until December 2, so we have plenty of time to implement a manageable strategy.

After all, we’ve only been here one month as of today, and we’d anticipated I’d be recovering from surgery for three months. Thus, if we can leave a month or more earlier than initially planned, it will be a bonus.

To sum this up, I didn’t write yesterday due to the above reasons, but I plan to continue to post, especially when I’m on a more manageable drug with fewer side effects.

Please keep in mind that many people are taking this drug without such horrible side effects and experiencing relief from heart rhythm problems. Please see the following, although I couldn’t find any current stats for usage of this drug:

“According to an FDA review, between July 2009 and October 2011, approximately 278,000 patients in the United States received prescriptions for Multaq (dronedarone) from outpatient retail pharmacies.” 

That’s it for today, folks.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 26, 2014:

Tom was happy as a clam on the ship, even in rough seas. For more photos, please click here.

Source of frustration since we arrived at this hotel…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 2 Comments
A gorgeous sunset as we sailed from Vancouver to the Hawaiian Islands.

Since settling in at this Cleveland hotel, our frustration about housekeeping has been exacerbated daily. We’ve already reported the issues to a manager, but our concerns have fallen on deaf ears. We don’t want anyone fired from their job—that’s not the point.

Since the pandemic, there have been staff shortages in many businesses throughout the country, if not the world. We fully understand the need for every-other-day housekeeping in hotels with these shortages. That’s fine with us if we get enough towels, toilet paper, and miscellaneous supplies as needed, which isn’t often the case.

The housekeeper on this floor has told us to leave all our trash and dirty towels outside the door daily. We pay over $100 a night for three months and shouldn’t have to haul them outside the door daily. We’ve never heard such a thing.

This morning, I left a message for the general manager to return my call. I just heard back from him. He was shocked to hear that we were told to leave our trash and dirty towels outside the door and for the lack of service we’ve received in the almost month since we arrived at the end of August. He assured me that this is not their policy. I feel confident that he’ll follow through and things will improve.

Since COVID, many travelers have noticed a decline in the quality of hotel housekeeping services, and it’s hard to miss, especially for those who travel frequently, like us. The pandemic created a significant shift in how hotels operate. While some changes were implemented for health and safety reasons, others appear to be cost-saving measures disguised as necessities.

The immediate post-COVID landscape was about protecting guests and staff, with daily housekeeping services suspended in many hotels to minimize contact. At first, it seemed understandable. We were all adjusting to new norms, and fewer face-to-face interactions meant less risk. But as travel restrictions eased, many of us assumed that hotels would revert to their pre-pandemic standards. However, for many places, that hasn’t been the case.

Now, guests often have to request housekeeping services instead of receiving them automatically. Sometimes, this creates a lack of consistency, where rooms aren’t cleaned as thoroughly as they used to be. You might notice dust gathering in corners, bed linens not being refreshed, or bathrooms not being restocked meticulously. It’s not just about cleanliness and how this makes guests feel.

For many travelers, staying in a hotel is about comfort and care. You expect to walk into a clean, well-maintained space that feels like a retreat. When that sense of care is absent, it changes the whole experience. You feel less valued as a guest, almost like the hotel is cutting corners, affecting your emotional connection to the place. Hotels have long been a space of escape, and when that feeling is compromised, it leaves a lasting impression.

Perhaps it’s not only about cost-cutting but also a shift in what hotels prioritize post-pandemic. They may assume that guests have adjusted to these new standards, but for many of us, the inconsistency in housekeeping reflects a broader decline in service quality.

Have you noticed this, too, in your travels? Hopefully, after today’s conversation with the general manager, we’ll see an improvement in the quality of service we expect from a Marriott hotel.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 24, 2014:

Ten years ago, no images were posted on this date due to rough seas and poor WiFi.