“It’s My Treat’ Cafe, Los Algodones, Mexico

I feel so blessed to be sitting here in It’s My Treat cafe. The sun is shining. There’s a blue sky. I’ve just completed my dental work at St. Thomas Dental Clinic.  I feel like I have a new mouth. The only trouble is the old worn face doesn’t mast the youthful pearly whites. I am reminded of Leonard Cohen’s song, I want a new Face.  What a brilliant poet.  A true mensch.  

Trump is in power and the tariffs are being imposed today.  I actually hope this will help move along the Liberals in Canada whose waste, nepotism, cronyism and graft under Trudeau His reign of censorship and WEF sharia Maoist communism surpassed the Leninist communism of Pierre Trudeau who elevated French Canadians over all the English Canadians subjugating western Canada to the Montreal/Toronto political ghettos.  

In peace time beurocracies grow fat and crime grows but in war the external threat forces the country to survive to get rid of its party animals and elevate the adults.  I’m tired of Trudeau’s hatred of elders, euthanasia, and Christophobia.  I confess I think that term limits are best and politicians should be changed frequently like diapers for the same reason.  My brother said he would die if he had to face another 4 years of Liberals and shortly thereafter died.  It’s emotional reasoning but the fact is I blame Justin Trudeau, pampered trust fund molester of little girls for the death of my brother. He was as great a family man and father as my father and struggled so hard sacrificing so much to care for his child and family. His wife was his gorgeous best friend and the kids were great but he, like my parents, always budgeted and put his needs second having the greatest joy in seeing his wife and children well and happy.  He loved as only great men do and died. I believe that he’d have lived longer is he like all men like him didn’t have to struggle with a spendthrift fool at the helm who said the ‘budget would balance itself’. Well, it didn’t and now all my patients are struggling economically.  All those who worked hard their whole lived and retired and now facing pensions halved in value by Trudeau’s incomepentence and Liberal mismanagement of the economy.  I’m hopeful there fore that Trump’s challenge and the success of America economically will get an election in Canada and Pierre Poilevre and the Conservatives in power .  

The globalism of the WEF and UN is all about binary political thinking, mired in 19th century, Marxism , beurgeosie and proletariat, black and white. Good and Evil.  I believe the stronger the middle class the stronger the society. Communism and Medievalism and WEF are all rich and the rest.  Self serving gangsterism.  Have’s and have nots and hand outs. I believe in trades, education, meritocracy, and skills and that everyone can be useful and that we don’t improve matters with free money but with earned money.  

Oh well, here I am in heaven and distracted by the mess of politics. 

Thank you Jesus for this day. Thank God for the blessings of being able to go to Mexico where people speak English and the Canadian dollar still has value.  I don’t barter and trade much but appreciate the enterprise of the merchants here. Wheeling and dealing. I loved that Conrad Black wrote that Canadian parents wanted their children to be beurocrats whereas American parents wanted their children to be entrepreneurs. I come here each year and see the different offerings in the shop. It reminded me of when I was in San Diego and we were told to take playboys because the last last cruiser had taken ball caps and the ones before tshirts. The fishermen couldn’t ‘sell’ their catch but would ‘trade’ with the passing cruisers. I met a cruiser who sailed twice around the world becoming rich like the sailors of old simply by recording prices and desires of the ports he went into and bringing supplies the next year.  That’s going on all over here.  The Mexicans are masters of that.  

I’ve another week at the Sleepy Hollow RV Park.  I’ve church tomorrow and hopefully will get the time right. I’m going back to Winterhaven across the border and taking Madigan on the Vespa into Yuma to  the post office.  I worked this week and will work remotely next week then use the three day weekend to travel to my next location. I’ve been told of an RV park, Fountain of Youth and wanted to go to the camp at Salton Sea California.  I’d be beginning my migration back.

Laura says it’s snowing in Vancouver so I’m glad to be missing that. I’d planned to be back in March and last year came back at the end of February.  I like moseying home but last year once I got north of San Francisco the cold and rain made me actually wish for home.  I was mostly missing Laura and friends.  I like my life at home, the friends, the clinics, the colleagues and the men’s group.  I just hate the couts and government overreach and creeping totalitariansims.  Here I enjoy the Latin comraderie. Maybe I just like being an ex pat. I loved my time with Willie and Anita Gutowski in Saipan with Frank and the fillipinos nurses.  I’ve really been blessed to know the finest of people

I’m grieving the passing of Philip Ney. What a great man. He was a mentor among the best I’ve been blessed with. Angels and spiritually, intellectually and emotionally gifted.  What a great man.  

He and Dr. James Houston another mentor like my friend John Christiansen all knew each other.  I am getting older and it’s great to have this memories of these profoundly deep and truthful men to reflect on.

I’m blessed. Thank you Jesus. Thank you God for the air and the colours and the sun and sky and the desert and the trees and this earth and time.  Thank you.  

Winterhaven, California, and St. Thomas Dental Clinic, Algadones, Day 20

It’s 230 am,  I woke at 130 having gone to bed at 830 after watching the delightful Cameron Diaz spy movie Back again and sharing  Barbecued chicken and microwave reheated wedgies with Madigan.

It was an exhausting day.  I was up early to walk Madigan around the Sleepy Hollow RV Park greeting the mourning doves and enjoying the dry hair with just a slight chill.  The wind was down and sun out.  The sun has been out most days I’ve been here.  No rain but some bits of clouds.  There’s border patrol helicopter and marine jets in the air as well.

My appointment in Algadones Mexico at St. Thomas Clinic was at 930 am.  The  California Pacific Times was  was 930 in Winterhaven California’s Sleepy Hollow but in Algadones Arizona Mountain time it was 830.  Mara, the administration, a lovely young woman proficient in English and Spanish explained what would be done. Then the female dentist also bilingual did a thorough examination and discussed it with on the male dentists I recognized from before. I think he must be a co owner.  Another couple did the cleaning then she prepared the lower left jaw with anesthetic.  Painless. I needed two root canals and crowns as well as a cavity addressed. In addition I needed some front crowns.  The fellow came in and did the upper post I believe. I was there till noon with one bathroom break. I am to come back this morning again.

When I left I just wanted to get home to Madigan who was alone in the camper. The trouble was that on Friday afternoon the line up to leave was too the hill and took three quarters of an hour to get to the border where thankfully the US customs fellow essentially waved me through when I told him I had nothing to declare and had just been there for dental work.  I gather this is common. Aldagones has the greatest density of top Mexican dentists used by Canadian and American Snow birds.

I have a great dentist in Canada,  The cost is definitely 4 to 5 times higher than in Mexico.  This year because the Canadian money after years of Trudeau was so weak it probably was only a third of the cost of Canadian equivalent.  However for me the gain is that I routinely get sick after dental work in the north in winter. I think it’s because I’m run down or the flu or whatever but I simply don’t get the bacterium is and flu like follow up illness that goes with even the least dental cleaning in the north. In the dry and on vacation I get the work done and recovery without a respiratory infections that lasts a couple of days. I don’t think it has anything to do with the excellent antiseptic surgery in the north but rather my personal stress. I invariably lose a few days of work in addition to the actual dental visit.  I also feel horrible with the respiratory illness.

Since Covid I’ve been anxious about respiratory illnesses. Apparently I got TB as a fly in doctor in the north.  Certainly I was exposed to it most days of my work but it was only discovered when I worked in the US and had an X-ray followed by a year of TB antibiotics.  Annually I’ve had a flu or bronchitis and couple of bouts of mild pnueomonia requiring antibiotics from the decade of smoking.  When I was in Delhi the year of Covid the air was so bad , horrid smog, daily stay in doors warnings that when I caught a ‘cold’ I was really sick. I was in Bombay and literally couldn’t get my breath, It was like the time when I was under the reef scuba diving and my air ran out.  Quite terrifying.  Thankfully in Bombay I could get doxycycline and Zithromax and a whole lot of tea and orange juice. I was able to get over the worst in a couple of feeling like death days before flying home masked.  

It’s not really the dental surgery in Canada but the ‘cleaning’.  The dentist who repaired my tooth which chipped in the fall and my own dentist when he’s done a procedure haven’t left me sick. What occurs though is that several appointments are needed spaced over a few weeks whereas here the labs and aeveryone are dedicated for the tourists so that root canals and crowns are done in a couple of days. I even heard one man flying in who would have his root canal done in the morning and the crown in the afternoon so he didn’t have to stay in Yuma overnight.  That’s the streamlined efficient nature of the practice of the whole town dedicated to this service.

Unfortunately customs slows the works but I did get home to a happy dog at 130 and was able to attend my on line cyberdoc meeting.  Then after a short walk I loaded Madigan on the back of my Vespa in his box and headed out to find a microwave. I normally microwave vegetables when I barbecue steaks. I also like microwaved meat and chicken pies and use it for reheating.  I missed it and decided since I bring out my tv from storage to use I could have a microwave I could set up to use too.  There’s no room for it in the small space in the camper.  

I didn’t take the freeway but used the backwoods road not wanting to carry a microwave home on the Vespa at high speed. The backwoods road was interested.  Beatiful scenery along the river, ducks and geese, a road runner, and then the agricultural acres and workers outside the little Yuma suburb of Winterhaven proper.  The fellow at the first appliance store recommended Walmart as he only had large ones like at Home Depot.  The smallest i could find on line is a Whirlwind 5 cu size but it seems .7 cu is the lowest available. That’s what Walmart had. They started at $60 and this retro .7 Gallanz Robin egg blue was just too adorable to pass on. It was also quite light and at $80 I wouldn’t feel too bad if I didn’t keep it but rather gave it away after this year.  I’m that way with kitchen appliances. There’s use justifies them because it helps with home cooking and the cost of eating out is prohibitive. I’ve had a variety of tools like ice cream makers and bread makers and such that survived a limited time but the savings in eating in rather than eating out and the variety that is the spice of life warranted the cost.

I took Madigan into Walmart with me by taking him in the box he rides the motorcycles on and putting it all in the buggy. He was along for the ride.  I had my microwave and I restocked my refrigerator.  The Vespa does carry. Unfortunately the microwave wouldn’t fit between my legs and I had to bungee it to the front rack creating a significant wind issue.  Still I could drive home with my back case full of groceries, Madigan behind me in his doggie designed carrier box and the microwave sticking way ahead on the rack.  I had to keep at 45 miles an hour on the back road and even then the wind was brutal at times. Again the Friday line up at the border resulted in an extra 3/4 hour delay. I did succeed in by passing the traffic riding on the gravel ridge beside the road but it was dicey in the loose sand with the unbalanced bike.  I did spurts of progress and hurried my return.

The sun set over the mountain as I got home.  That lead to the comfort food and evening with Cameron Diaz, barbecue chicken and store wedgies I reheated in the charming little microwave.  Exhausted I fell asleep at 830 only to wake at 130.  I take comfort in learning that medieval folk often had a break in the night and monks wake at midnight to do prayers. I tried to return to sleep but after an hour have got up again. For sleep hygiene it’s best not to make the bed a battle ground.  If you are not back to sleep in 1/2 to 1 hour best to get up.  I’m also amused because the Facebook joke said being adult is being tired all the time and then not being able to sleep. Certainly that happened to me last night.  The excitement and stress of the dental procedure for sure. It was a full day and I’m contented.  I really am. It was a good day. An adventure.  Self care.  That’s important. I don’t do that sort of thing often.  I’m good with homes and equipments and caring for others but these dental events and trips to chiropractors and such are a reprieve that seem essential. Because I am tired. I’m wearing down at times but this escape to the south and sun and dry air revives me. I fear pneumonia , the old man’s friends and were I to retire I’d just do the same , live in Canada 10 months of the year and come south for 2 months . The outstanding issue this trip is whether I’ll go on to Mexico as planned.  Staying here on the border hasn’t been costly and it’s been so convenient with being able to walk across to Mexico.  

Thank you Jesus.  Thank you God. Thank you Holy Spirit. Three in one.  Jesus Christ. God within, God will come again. 

Los Algodones Coffee Shop in Mediplaza

« I’m shaking, » Laura said as we drove to Mexico. 

« I was awake half the night. I felt you pulling my hair. »

« I was brushing it out of my face. You were sleeping on top of me. I looked over half the bed on your side was empty. I thought it was intimate of you to cuddle so but your hair was in my mouth. » I said

« Does it hurt much to have a root canal. I’ve never had surgery. I’ve had wisdom teeth out but the thought of surgery has me shaking. »

I reassured her as best I could telling her I’d had 4 root canals, one done in Mexico and another in Costa Rica. 

« They save the facial bones.  With dentures the only alternative the calcium is reabsorbed. «  Laura had two broken teeth and growing wrong.  She’d been covering her mouth and worried about this since Covid.  Now I worried. Hoping and praying all would go well thinking I’d have one right to have her see Dr. Doug Lovely the New Westminster dentist who had done a root canal and other cosmetic work on my teeth. I’d lost a tooth and looked like a pirate when I met him 25 years ago.  I arranged for Laura to see a dentist downtown where she lived but she’d been unhappy with the care and somehow was lost to follow up.  I really liked recovering from my root canal in Mexico I had when I broke a tooth at a conference. I’ve always felt a little icky after dental work but not in Mexico.  The heat and sun are so healing.  Algodones is the snowbird dental paradise and thousands of Americans and Canadian’a have work done here in winter because of the convenience and costs are a half to a third.  I like that I don’t have to take off work when I’m on holiday and found the experience of the clinic an adventure.

Now I’m hoping Laura will have as fine an experience. She loved the staff and her experience the first day.  I know she’s really excited about the prospect of having her dental cares finally addressed.  She doesn’t complain and yet I’ve known how she has been anxious about her teeth letting me know the second one was broken only when I asked her directly.  

I bought friends a tent and wood stove and chimney for winter camping. I’ seen them roughing it out and wanted to give them a Christmas present they’ d enjoy.  I’d only sent it when I worried they’d set fire to the tent so then I sent fire retardant material to double protect the chimney tent.  I always have these second thoughts wanting to do no harm and yet be helpful.  It all turns out well but I have this anxiety streak that has me thinking of every potential catastrophe.  Giving a plastic bag to someone I’d worry they’d put it on their head and not be able to breathe.  Thank God for prayer.  I’m praying all the time to shut off the Stephen King and Poe stream of consciousness.  Now I’m praying Laura’s dental work today is going well.  

I’m here at the coffee shop outdoors where I brought Madigan . I sat at this table a year ago.  I think I was waiting for my glasses to be done then. I’ve a couple of pair of glasses being prepared now .  Sol Opticians.  I bought 2 here and had an exam last year.  A gentleman businessman and his beautiful optician wife. They had my prescription in the computer.  2 hours..   I’ll see Laura and then together we can get my glasses. I bought her some earrings from Sandra , the lovely lady I bought earring from last year.  She texted me she wanted the little identical pair for the second earring.  I’ll get that for her as reward for surviving her first dental surgery apt.  Sandra had lovely earring I bought for gifts for the neices and I’ve already bought the belts for the boys.  I have one sweater for the great nephews but was uncertain of the size for the other so will go back with Laura and hope she can guess the size.  It’s okay if they’re too big.  

I have to get more American money too.  I’ve Visa but they say the lines are down , more likely they don’t like paying the fee but it’s not a big deal for me to get to the bank in Yuma.

Madigan is in the camper doing his duty as a guard dog. I may bring him next time.  

I’d hoped to get hearing aids but there is only one fellow selling them and they’re about the same cost as Canada.  I saw a hearing aid shop in Yuma so may go there.

I was thankful to join the daily noon zoom meeting here and learn that theere’s a daily 3 30 pm dog friendly meeting just up the street from where I am on north Frontage road.  I’m looking forward to when I’ll be riding my Harley to meetings.  I’ve Madigan’s carrier box to so it will be an outing for the little guy too.  

They have morning Spanish lessons and after noon tai chi some days at Bonita Mesa RV Resort. I’m looking forward to that.  

It’s great to sit here in the warmth and sunlight people watching and writing. Lots of motorcycles today.  I don’t remember the big white bull being here. I think it’s an addition.  

I was here au femme last year but have no such desire or feeling now. I expect there’s a link to anxiety and depression.  Here I’m happy and feel that men are appreciated as opposed to the toxic masculinity delusional world of Trudeau world, I loved Jordan Peterson’s comment, if you think strong men do damage it’s much worse with weak men. Trudeau has been such a weak parasitic leader and the WEF and Agenda 21 and Soros Open Borders NWO have been frightening.  Here I feel I’m out of that Borg like reality.  In Yuma I like the older community I’m in without the easily offended and entitled.

I’m really blessed. I loved that the Methodist Church here sent me a card and I look forward to attending their service again . They were so welcoming of Madigan.  I’d like to go to the Christmas Eve mass with Laura and hope the Catholic Church here follows with that tradition. I’d like to arrange turkey dinner from a hotel or restaurant so we don’t have to cook.

Last night we had a feast of Kentucky Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy.  We watched another episode of Lincoln Lawyer and really enjoyed it.  I’ve had so many good evenings and meals with Laura. Last night reminded me of when I used to visit her old place and stay the night after a dinner and a movie.  I’ve really been blessed to have such a fin friend and lover.  Too often I think she deserves better but don’t want to ruin a good thing given the chaos of my past.  All the women I’ve known and been with have been beautiful.  I’ve known too little and now am becoming good enough person I’ve felt some contentment and serenity.

The anxiety of covid has been huge.  I had that year of treatment for TB in the US after the years of work as a flying in doctor in the far north.  The hearing loss came with the TB treatment but I joke it was guns, ex wives and rock and roll but no it was more mundane a si effect of a tb drug. Nothing to write home about. I joke to conceal my fear. Coming back from Delhi I had such severe bronchitis I couldn’t breathe. The air had been so bad when we were there at the excellent Internatial Addiction Medicine conference.  The air hunger though and symptoms were identical to Covid. I was so anxious feeling as I did when I ran out of air under the reef and had to surface to breathe.  Breathe is essential and it doesn’t take much to be humbled.  I really felt that this year I had to get out of the wet and cold to be safe from covid after years of working through the pandemic.  I was working virtually but Laura who was working front line in a clinic visited every weekend.  I was exposed to so many people too and even attended clinic once a week.  Psychologically I’ve felt my resolve waning and my anxiety increasing.  I really like my life and the work and the balance and the people but I felt that I needed a break from the fear.  My patients have been like nails scratching chalk boards and I don’t blame them with the media hysteria.  I felt a bit spiritually bankrupt too struggling to resist the onslaught of negativity.  Now I’m relaxed and truly gratefully.  

  Now my back has been a bother continuously since my last fall in Edinburgh.  It’s actually feeling better here in the dry and hot. A year ago I had such sciatica that I wasn’t able to walk a block the pain so bad but now I’n enjoying walking the dog. The only real pain is when I walk too much. Hunting season was tough. Also at night rolling over.  Dr. Gary Horvath gave me some excellent exercises which naturally I’m not doing enough. My own fault. I’m hoping here I’ll increase my exercise.  With Laura here it’s been a whirlwind and I’ve not even made it to the swimming pool yet.  So much to do.  I’m smiling to myself at times.  

I’ve not made enough time for meditation but I’m still praying and meditating and so pleased I made it to a meeting. I could do so much more but I’m muddling along.  I really feel hopeful whereas before I was feeling less so. Lydia, Gary, Belinda, Mary Lou, Karen and all the folk at the clinics, especially Minos who did the xray of my back and reassured me the fracture was old and stable, all make me feel like I’m not alone.  George and the great guys in my men’s meeting are such a comfort. I so enjoy Jack and Mario, « our table’ buddies.  I’ve told Mario I’ll get him a rosary from Mexico so must get Laura’s input into the decision.  I sometimes think of converting to Catholicism but grand dad was an Orange Man and Mom would only like Laura because she’s lovely but mistrust her because she’s papist. She ddin’t like the time I took her to Christ Church.  I was raised Baptist and taught Sunday school at the Fort Garry United so I’m caught likely the ritual and pageantry of the high church and the inclusiveness and earthiness of the methodists and united church.  

I need to pray and meditate more and study scripture more.  Willie is right about the need for bible study and I’ve been remiss in following the reading recommendations of Phillip and James.  I really ought to write a book on spirituality and psychiatry again to do my own growth in the process of sharing my thoughts.  I really want to finish another book and hoped I might do that in Jan and Feb.  The book on dogs is almost ready for publication but the book on spirituality would be better for my own personal growth and development.

Well it’s time. Laura ‘s probably ready.  I’ll run now. Thank you Jesus for this time in this outdoor cafe and all the blessings you bring.  Thank you Jesus. 

 

Los Algodones, Mexico

Yesterday we enjoyed the golden sunrise. We had Ethiopian Yergercheffe coffee. I have a small portable grinder from DMOFWH with rechargeable battery and usb cable. It’s perfect for the camper.  I’ve enjoying the little Courmia steam espresso maker.  I’m still using Canadian honey and have coffee cream.  Truly epicurean.  

We walked Madigan in the desert area next to us. He loves to run about off leash. There are a lot of dogs in the Bonita Mesa RV Resort and their masters let their dogs off leash there but every keeps them close.  Lots of little dogs and some big one, the cutest being the furry chihuahua. Madigan met him once already and we passed him again with his big dog partner. His mistress was pedalling him to the desert area in the bike carrier .

He was not happy when we left him in the camper. But it’s his job to work part time as a guard dog to earn his kibbles.  

We took the truck and headed east along HWY 8 past Yuma and Riverhaven to the sign a couple of miles east pointing south for Mexico. It was noon then and a line up which turned out to be cars heading into Mexico.  Very few were going to the parking lot and cars in the know were squeezing past us on the inside to get to the parking lot turn off. The natives that and charge $6 a day to park there.

It was Laura’s first time in Mexico and quite surprised by the casual soldier who checked her purse and my pack sack with less enthusiasm than the bouncers at the disco.  We were in Mexico again.  There was that profusion of colour and chaos with countless signs for dentists and pharmacies. English and Spanish signs.  Markets along the sidewalks and on the corners men standing to take us to our destinations to get the fee for bringing us to the business. 

I was standing in front of this shop and the fellow asked what I was looking for.  “Hearing aids and St. Thomas Dentistry.”  The shop across from us sold hearing aids but the fellow wanted $2200 a pair which is what those cost in Canada. Around the corner was St. Joseph Dental.

Sandra Ford our face book friend who worked in administration for an eastern university has been in touch with Laura and I for years. She’d recommended St. Thomas.  I’d only had the optometrist who provided me glasses last year had recommended a dentist but we followed Sandra’s advise and were glad we did.  She and her son had come to St. Thomas several times and had major work done well,

Mara the receptionist greeted us and immediately sang the praises of Sandra and her son.  ‘She’s such and fine lady. He’s such a fine boy.”  

Laura and I signed the disclaimers and the notice of any other illness. We’re healthy.   

Laura went in first.  I followed and they did X-rays.  “Your teeth are okay.” I wasn’t surprised as I’ve the best dentist in the west, Dr. Doug Lovely in New Westminster.  I think of him as a saint since I came to him when I’d lost a tooth and looked alike a pirate. Until Covid he was doing regular check ups and any work that needed doing. I’d stopped going to teeth cleaning except in the south because for whatever reason I’d be sick for a day or two after a street cleaning in the north.  I put it down to bacteremia and the malaise being worsened by the stress of work. After teeth cleaning in the south I laid on the beach.  It could have been the fluoride or something used in the north but all I had to do the next day was lie in the sun.  The technician did a terrific cleaning fast and efficient without pain and I was done. The first I’d had since Covid and I was pleased

Laura by contrast had her first cleaning in years ‘maybe a decade’. ‘They caused my gums to bleed and hurt so badly,’ she said.  “This didn’t and it feels so good.”

They had a chart of the work to be done and estimated 2 or 3 appointments. I was okay with the cost which was a percentage of what it would cost in Canada. Laura had a couple of teeth that had broken since Covid so had expressed anxiety.  Now she’d have a solution.  Covid interrupted a lot of medical care.  She was fortunate she didn’t have pain but was brushing and using listerine several times a day.  She was really happy with the cleaning.

I was happy we’d be able get the work done in the time she was here.  Root canals and crowns but all able to be done this coming week.  We set the first apt for Tuesday and likely the second would be Friday.  When Doug did a root canal and crown for me it took a week between the surgery and crowning because the lab had to prepare the crown.  Los Algodones is a dental town and likely could have a lab prepare anything that day for the price. It’s that kind of place ready to serve the needs of the travelling snowbirds. I expect marathons of dental work get done in days between flights here that would be done in weeks elsewhere.  I had thought it would take two weeks at least guessing Laura would need some major work for cracked teeth and an impacted wisdom tooth but no, one week,  So by Christmas she’ll be done and we’ll have her second week here without obligations or appointments.  Hooray.

Thank you Sandra

Thank you St. Thomas Dental Clinic