Bonaire

We arrived on Bonaire on Wednesday evening and some friends from the church greeted us and another couple, also from the chuirch, picked us up at the airport. Very nice! We almost did not make the plane however. When we checked in at the reservations desk we were asked for Lucky's health certificate and his rabies certificate. We had the health certificate and the Vet had written on the bottom the date of rabies vaccination and the tag number. This was not good enough for this agent as it says that the passenger must have the rabies "certificate". I tried to point out that it was noted on the health certificate but to no avail. They were not going to let us on the plane. It is about 6:50 at this point and Mary Anne called the vet's office and the answering service said that although the vet would not be in until 8:00 a.m., someone would be in the office at 7:00. At seven, Mary Anne called back and got Penny, a woman we know, to fax the certificate to American Airlines. We made it!!! What a hassle that would have been to have to delay a day to get that certificate. We had never been asked for it in the past.

Last Friday, I went to see Dr. Gwo, a Chinese herbalist. Dr. Ayre, from whom I am getting the IPT treatments, referred me to him because of my often-present queasy stomach. I filled out the five page questionaire and went in to see the Doctor. He had me stick out my tongue, took my pulse for a minute on each wrist and looked at my nail beds.....that's it. I told him of my diagnosis and queasy stomach. He asked who prescribed all the supplements that I was taking. I told him Dr. Lodi in Phoenix. He asked me what Dr. Ayre had said about them. I told him that Dr. Ayre said they couldn't hurt, to which Dr. Gwo said, "Dr Ayre, too kind, I more direct, waste of money". I then proceeded to buy $400.00 dollars worth of herbs from him which he obviously did not think was a wate of money. I am, however, feeling better. My queasyness is almost gone. He gave me two herbs for my liver and two for my stomach.

Because of some work being done in our condo, we will not be able to move in there until Thursday. They are totally redoing the two full baths upstairs. There was a water leak and they had to tear the baths up to get at the pipes so they are redoing everything. Should be very nice.

It is good to be back here. We have many friends here in addition to the many who come down and stay at the resort.

Happy New Year!

Ed & Jayne our next door neighbors came over for New Years Eve. We had cheese and meat fondue and they sat down to watch a dvd (Amazing Grace). About 9:00 p.m. Mary Anne woke me up to tell me that Ed and Jayne were going home. They were tired and obviously so was I. However, after they left I did stay up til about 11:30....those little naps can do you a world of good.

I had my last IPT treatment today at least for a while as we had for Bonaire next Wednesday. I will fly back alone on Feb 19th and have three treatments on the 20th, 22nd and the 25th and then fly back to Bonaire on the 26th for another five weeks.

We are busy packing and weighing suitcases. More difficult for us when the weight limit dropped from seventy pounds to fifty pounds. We always look like the Clampets when we travel. Four large suit cases, two carry ons, a dog and a computer plus a back pack....WOW! We are hopeful that Lucky, our new addition will be as good a traveler as Jake was. He would not make a sound in the five hour flight from Chicago to San Juan. Amazing!

Have a healthy and happy New Year!

Joe