Travel Blog

Ottawa Ontario winter wonderland

Most Canadians enjoy the winter. They take advantage of various sports activities that are made available as a result of the snow and cold weather. For example, skating, skiing, snow shoeing, etc are just some of the sports activities that Canadians will engage in. Increasingly there are many people who head south for the winter to get away from the snow and the cold. These snow birds head down before Christmas and do not come back until the end of April to get away from the snow. They really do not want to see this stuff ever. Of late, our winters have not been that bad compared to 30 years ago. Yet more and more Canadians are headed south.

One person wrote this small poem and we decided to include it here for the enjoyment of readers who cannot get away or wonder why so many do go south for the winter.

It’s a Canadian winter

And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At thirty-five below.

Oh, how I love Canada and the cold weather!

When the snow’s up to your butt
You take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful

So I guess I’ll hang around
I could never leave Canada
I’m frozen to the friggin’ ground!

Why We leave Canada in the Winter

That’s why so many leave before it freezes. They just cannot handle the snow and ice. Having done this my self for the past 10 years I am in total agreement with all of the snow birds. I want to enjoy some of the snow and do go cross country skiing, but that is enough. We head out after New Years to Arizona and California to spend our time enjoying the sun!

The best part of winter is actually March and April. It is beginning to warm up and the snow is melting. Dec, Jan and Feb can be very cold and it is really the time to avoid being in the country.

For more posts about Canadian politics and other stores about Canada, click here.

When this post was written the US was about to go over a fiscal cliff, and many people are thinking what a bunch of incompetents. They all should be fired! Can you imagine if any private company manager ran their company in this manner. They would be bankrupt in a hurry.  I guess that is why the US is headed in that direction.

What about Your Personal Fiscal cliff

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The effects of not getting enough sleep are clearly depicted in this cartoon picture. How many of us can relate to this picture were we have fallen asleep at the most improbable times causing us to be embarrasses or worse. There are dangers with falling asleep at the wrong time and it is important to address this issue before a serious accident occurs.

Falling asleep at your desk is not a huge problem as far as risk goes, but what about falling asleep while driving your car or operating some kind of power tool or machinery.  This can be catastrophic, even dangerous to life. your own and others are put at risk when you fall asleep while driving or operating machinery.

There are health risks as well. Mild sleep deprivation will cause everything to slow down, thought processes and metabolism. We eat more to give us energy and this result sin weight gain and all of the associated issues that this can generate. From high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, joint problems and much more.  These in turn can cause strokes and heart attacks and a spiral downwards if it really gets serious.

Many people have to deal with this problem every day. Some sleep deprivations is caused by eating habits, life style and then there are underlying health issues. If you feel that you have eliminated things like caffeine and other life style causes such as exercise late at night, then there might be an under lying health related condition that you may want to have your doctor look at.  Before you go to the doctor check out all of the things that people can do to help them sleep better. We have listed a few below which you can work on, but if these do not work, then it is time to get help. Don’t hesitate especially if you are chronically fatigued. Get help from your doctor.

What Can You Do to Deal with the Effects of Not Getting Enough Sleep

The primary thing to do is to focus on getting more sleep. You may be already doing some of these things, however try them all to see what works and what does not work. Also manage your expectations. It may take a week or two before you begin to see results. You basically need to retrain your body to sleep more. here is a list of steps people can consider to help them sleep better:

• Eliminate caffeine from your diet – coffee, tea, chocolate etc
• Eliminate alcohol at least 5 hours before going to bed
• Avoid eating before you go to bed
• Avoid watching the news, or stimulating movies before going to bed
• Select things that are calming to you before going to bed – a dull book is great
• Avoid exercise for 4 hours before going to bed
• Focus on relaxing prior to bed
• Do not turn on the TV or radio in the middle of the night if you wake up

There may be other steps people use to help them relax before going to bed. Send us a comment if you have other steps that work for you. But we hope you get the idea in regards to preparing for sleep at night. If after a month of this type of regime you find that you still are not sleeping, check in with the doctor. Take notes of what you have been doing and how much you have been sleeping along with any medications that you might be taking. All of this information will be helpful to the doctor when they make an assessment.

Under Lying Health Issues

There can be lots of reasons for not sleeping caused by health issues. The trick is to eliminate all of the possibilities to ensure that there is nothing related to health issues. For example the writer has sleep apnea. This kept myself as well as my partner awake for hours and when we did sleep we would wake up often because of the snoring and the gasping when I did not breathe.

Once I dealt with this issue, I no longer snore and both of us now get an excellent nights sleep! The answer in my case is a CPAP machine with a nasal pillow mask. This solved the problem and now I feel rested every day and get a fantastic nights sleep. This is only one example of how a health issue can cause someone to not get enough sleep. It has lowered my blood pressure, lowered by heart rate and caused me to eat less during the day as well because I now have the energy that I need.

Don’t hesitate, deal with your sleep loss now, since the effects of not getting enough sleep can effect your family and your work! For more information about the health effects of not getting enough sleep, click here.

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Can you believe it has happened again? More shootings at a school with guns that have no business being in a persons hands, let alone a young deranged man. Are Reality Shows and online gaming giving our kids the wrong message. Are viewers becoming so accustomed to gun play on the TV and at movies that it does not affect them any more? Many people are just becoming immune to the carnage and accepting it as part of life.

The cold hearted will blame it on the person and not the guns. We are not against guns for hunting, but why on earth do you need a gun that fires on auto in a machine gun manner? Do you really need to have this kind of fire power?

Some will say that they need the guns for self defense. If no one had guns you would not need self defense! If someone in your family is not stable, why have a gun around? For self defense, have one, not dozens! If you collect them, keep them under lock and key and store them away from the ammunition.

Shootings at a School – A Significant Problem

The US has to solve this problem. It is getting ridiculous and out if control! How many shootings have there been this year? We are a great country, can’t we find a solution for this huge problem. We seem to be able to address other significant challenging problems, why not this one.

For more posts on gun control , click here.

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Traveling without health insurance can literally bankrupt you. It can ruin your life if you cannot find the money to pay for hospital coverage and repatriation home, if you are too ill to travel. The prime travel season is coming up for snow birds heading south and many retired people planning trips. We felt that a post on travel insurance for Canadians coverage and why you need it would be worthwhile. Bottom line is that the cost of medical visits to the hospital is just too high. It can literally put you in the poor house if you are not properly covered.

Travel Insurance for Canadians

A recent survey found that many people, young and old are taking the chance of traveling abroad without health insurance coverage and unfortunately ending up with huge medical bills that most people just cannot afford. Canadians are not used to paying for their health issues. After all it is covered by government programs. Travel insurance for Canadians while traveling is extremely important.

Many People Travel Without Health Insurance

Many People Travel Without Health Insurance survey went on to say that as many as 65% of younger travelers will travel without health insurance, which by itself is an amazing statistic when a day in hospital can cost as much as $20,000 or even more. A major accident could cost several hundred thousand dollars and there are many of these every year were foreigners are hurt in major car crashes.

What Coverage do You Have When Traveling

Many people think that their own health insurance will cover them when they travel. They might and then again they may not. A broken leg could cost $16,000 for a two day stay in the hospital, while some local government health care agencies that Canadians have will only cover about $200 per day. That is a huge number to make up. Health insurance for that same person might have cost less than a hundred dollars.

The cost to be transported from one state to another, from one province to another or from one country to another country is usually not covered by government health agencies. You need to have travel health insurance to cover these sorts of things. Someone who suddenly takes ill while traveling, or has a car accident and needs to be transported home will spend thousands of dollars on travel costs or transport by air ambulance. Travel health insurance can cover all of this including transporting your immediate family and your car if you are driving.

For the small amount of money that health and travel insurance costs you, it is definitely worth having to ensure that you and your family is adequately protected while traveling.

Travel Insurance Tips

• Before you go review your coverage and what it does not cover
• Are you covered for the right number of days
• Are you covered for transport home
• Do you have to pay and claim or will they pay the hospital up front
• What will your current health insurance cover?
• Review the various plans available and select the one that meets your needs
• Are you covered within your home country, even if you are out of state or province
• Do you need trip cancellation insurance or
• Trip interruption insurance
• Lost baggage insurance and replacement cost for items that you need

Read the details of the coverage, especially the exclusions to ensure that you will be covered for everything that you are doing. If you have any questions ask the experts and do not make assumptions. Assumptions can cost a lot of money especially if they are the wrong assumptions.

Travel safe and plan well to ensure that you have a successful and enjoyable vacation.

There are many luxury hotels in Puerto Vallarta and also many hotels that are not anywhere near being luxurious. Vacationers should really get someone to visit for them before they book a place if they have never been there. Also, you can count on the brand name hotel chains for good service with high quality as well. These will be very expensive compared to the lower-class hotels. You pay for brand names anywhere and Mexico is no different. This is a picture of the pool area at the Portofino condo-hotel next door to the Marriott hotel in the marina area of Puerto Vallarta. It is right on the beach overlooking the ocean and the sand. A beautiful spot and easy to spend time at while you are in this part of Mexico.

Some Luxury Hotel Puerto Vallarta does not Measure up

One hotel in downtown Puerto Vallarta that we saw was more like a dungeon with few windows. You felt like you were in prison, although they did have all of the basics. The location was really great and it was located right downtown near the Malecon that runs along the ocean. This is a walkway you could visit every day and stroll along the ocean and visit the shops. The hotel room had a kitchen, a small living area, and a bedroom. There was a balcony that was large enough to seat two people comfortably. It overlooked a busy street and all of the wires for electricity, telephone, and whatever else there was. The location was great, but certainly not the living quarters. The pool was on the rooftop and very basic. Not a place to be recommended. this is why everyone should check out the place they will stay prior to actually booking it.

Marina Puerto Vallarta

There are also luxury hotels in the marina area of Puerto Vallarta. These are also in a prime location as well, near the ocean, the marina and close to lots of bars and restaurants. Location counts for a lot. It can make up for a hotel that is not so luxurious. Beach, sun, and sand count for a lot in Puerto Vallarta.

The only negative about the marina location is that it is about 20 minutes by bus from the downtown area of Puerto Vallarta. Too far to walk and a bit of hassle to take the bus every day. This is another issue to make sure that you take into account. Every location has advantages and disadvantages to take into account. Just make sure that the advantages of a hotel are the ones that you prefer and the disadvantages can be lived with.

For more information about this beautiful vacation destination, click here.

Planning a white water raft trip next year? We suggest that you book early to get the date and the location you are looking for. Raft trips fill up early due to demand and based on conditions. Spring raft trips  usually provide much more challenging and better white water due to the winter run off. The water is melting off the mountains and feeding the rivers causing them to be fast flowing and turbulent. You can find some really great white water rapids in the spring time at the regular locations were white water rafting companies operate.

As the year moves into late spring and summer, flows will decrease. Some rivers are not even navigable if it is a dry year or the spring runoff finishes early. Talk with your river raft trip organizers if you are looking for a specific experience for your raft trip. They can advise what the best time of year is to try out a raft trip based on your skill level and the thrills you are looking for.

Raft Trip – Experience

If a group is planning to go on a raft trip, the recommendation is that the least experienced person should determine if the trip is suitable and safe enough for that person. never force someone to go on a raft trip if they are uncomfortable or the skill level required is beyond them. There are just too many opportunities for something bad to happen and no one wants that. If in doubt speak to your raft guide to determine what the appropriate skill level requirement is for the raft trip you are planning.

Extreme rafting on the right rivers can be found almost anytime of the year. But you have to search for these raft trips and you may have to travel some distance to find the best raft trips to meet your needs. In some cases such as Grand Canyon raft trips, participants must book at least a year in advance to obtain the dates and times they prefer. There is that much demand for these spectacular trips.

Rafting guides have been known to even travel to other continents during slow periods at their home location. The seasons are reversed for example in South American vs. North America. There are summer rain seasons in other locations which can provide great rafting trips as well. There are many opportunities for raft trips. we are adding more and more to our site every month.

Pay attention to your guide on your raft trip. They are experienced, know the river and understand where the danger spots are. If you are on an overnight trip pay particular attention to everything they tell you. Follow their guidelines with respect to staying out of the water. People have drown quickly due to hypothermia in a matter of minutes in the cold spring run off.

From time to time CPAP users will need supplies for CPAP machines that they use. Purchased from a home care store will likely mean that they are very expensive.  The price quoted for a CPAP nasal pillow mask with straps and hoses to go with it was $225 Canadian. Which when compared to what we have seen on the online stores is more than double the price.

It pays to shop around for supplies for CPAP machines,. Although consumers need to be careful that they purchase the correct size and mask for their CPAP machine. They also must ensure that the size is correct for their head and the fit around their nose and mouth.

The picture above is one of a nasal pillow mask that works really well. Especially for people who can keep their mouth closed while sleeping. This mask just fits over the end of the nose. It is held in place by straps as shown in the picture. The straps can be detached as can the hose that fits into the flexible nasal pillow mask. Again size is important depending on the size of your face. Also the size of your nose. Make sure you purchase the correct unit, otherwise you may be disappointed.

What Supplies for CPAP Machines Do You Need

Basically the only daily supply users require is distilled water for the humidifier. This water has no impurities. It is used in the humidifier to add humidity to your nasal passages and lungs as you breath through the mask. Distilled water can be purchased at many drug stores and some grocery stores.

The machine itself comes with filters to keep large particles from entering the system. This needs to be cleaned once per week or perhaps every two weeks depending on the conditions. There is also a filter that can be inserted to filter out pollen and fine particles for those people with allergies. These are to be replaced once per month. they are inexpensive and can be purchased at a CPAP store or home care type of store.

The remaining supplies that you may need consist of the hoses and the mask with the straps. We are told that these parts will last up to a year depending on how well you take care of them. The plastic hoses and mask become brittle with age and will crack requiring their replacement. The mask should be washed every day to remove body oils etc, while the hoses and straps should be washed with soap every week. Once they crack, they need to be replaced, since your system will not work properly with air leaking out of the crack.

That is about it in terms of what supplies you may need.

Travel With a CPAP machine and Supplies

Finding supplies for your CPAP machine can be difficult depending on where you are going. Distilled water can be found in many places. In a pinch you could go without or use clean water, but why take the risk. After all any impurities int he water will go straight into your lungs. This is why it is so important to keep everything clean and dry when not in use.

When we travel we either take additional spare parts with us or we do a search before we leave to make sure that we can either order spare parts from home, online or there is a home care store near by were we can purchase what we need. You do not want to suddenly experience a problem while traveling and have to do without your CPAP machine now that you are used to it.

Personally I have purchased an additional mask and I think I will also purchase additional straps since these appear to be the most fragile of all of the supplies. In a pinch I could seal a hole in the hose with some tape if I was unable to find another hose while traveling. These parts are quite small and can fit into your travel bag with no problem what so ever.

That’s about it regarding supplies for CPAP machines. There are lots of places that sell them, since many more people are being diagnosed with sleep apnea and these machines really do work. They ensure that you get a good nights sleep and they stop you snoring completely. Why would you not take yours with you when you travel along with the supplies that you need? For more information about CPAP supplies, click here.

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A bunch of retired and semi-retired guys were having coffee the other day and there was a discussion about what drugs people pay for once they turn 65 in Ontario, Canada. One of our gang did some research and came up with the following answer which I posted on this blog. We would be interested in what other people pay in other provinces in Canada. As well as what people pay in the US and around the world when they turn 65.

Here is the answer I received from one of the group of guys who did a little research and sent it to the rest of us.

Guys, upon further review, I can now confirm that at 65, we will have most of our prescribed drugs paid for by the Ontario government.  However since we will all exceed the ‘poverty test’, we will have to pay the first $100 annual deductible.  So when you are paying for your prescription, you tell the pharmacist that you are now in the ODB program. He/she will access the govt. database to confirm your age and coverage and then set up your account accordingly. They will then bill them the cost for the prescription less the cost of the deductible.

Ontario Government Drug Benefit Program – Personal Health Insurance

If you have your own health insurance, the pharmacy will then bill any deductible and the small dispensing fee to the insurance company as they do today (or you pay and forward the receipt to the insurance company yourself).

Once you have used up the annual deductible, the insurance company is only billed the dispensing fee…  I checked and my personal  health plan insurance does cover the deductible amount. Each person should evaluate their own insurance coverage to confirm what they will pay vs their personal health insurance.

Personally  I think this is a really good deal for anyone living in Ontario, Canada, especially if you are retired. Not all drugs are covered. Most of the common drugs that are on the generic list are covered and the generics are certainly covered. If you are taking a specific drug now and close to turning 65, you may want to check with your pharmacist to see if these same drugs will be covered. Or whether you will have to switch to a generic.

Personal Drug Plans

Even your personal drug plan that  you use prior to 65 will want you to use the generic drugs. They are much cheaper than the non generic drugs. Sometimes they can be half the price or more which saves everyone a great deal of money. At 65, even if you have to pay for your own drugs always go for the generic drugs to save you hundreds of dollars a year.

Generic drugs are just as effective as the regular drugs and have been tested for all of the side effects that regular drugs go through. This is a pretty standard approach and can save consumers hundreds of dollars sometimes on a single prescription.

Drugs purchased in the states by Canadians while they are traveling are usually covered by their own health insurance plans. The receipts need to be submitted to the insurance company when you return to Canada. In addition if you need to see a doctor to obtain a prescription while traveling outside the country, most insurance companies want a call to them first before you go to the doctor. Failure to do so may cause the claim to be denied.

We also heard from several Americans that many businesses are limiting them to 29 hours a week so that they do not qualify for benefits. Previously before Obamacare the cut off was 39 hours. Now these people receive less hours and they still do not receive benefits. They now make less money and do not receive benefits. At least in Canada, once you are over 65, Ontario picks up the drugs with a $100 deductible. For more information about health related issues, click here.

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Well we are planning our next trip down south. We will be joining the thousands of snow birds that head south every year to get away from the cold and the snow. We will be gone for four months. Who wouldn’t look forward to palm trees, sun and swimming. We are planning to drive since we want to have our own car while we are away on a winter vacation rather than fly and then rent a car. There are lots of things to think about when you are leaving for this length of time. Logistics of your trip is one area to consider but so are the responsibilities of your home which also must be considered. We put together this post to help other people like us prepare for their trips.

Planning our next Trip

We love to hike and travel to interesting sites, so this is also part of our trip. We are considering Dallas and traveling to the site of the show called Dallas, South Fork ranch. Apparently there are lots of tours through the ranch every day. We thought this might be an interesting thing to do.

We will go through Tucson where the PIMA museum is and the bone yard for planes that are no longer required or able to be in the air. Some planes are just stored, while others are being kept for parts. It covers several square miles and there are thousands of planes at this site. This is a must see place if you are interested in this sort of thing.

Titan Missile Museum

Another location we might go to is the Titan Missile Museum just south of Tucson. This is from the cold war when there were missiles all over the US pointed at Russia. They were intended as a deterrent to any attack that they might fire at us. Apparently this is the last one that is left in the US. There are regular visitors to this location which is just outside of Tucson.

On our travels we may also go to Biloxi, MS to visit the coast and stay at a hotel called the Beau Rivage. If you have not been to the Beau Rivage, it is a very nice place right on the gulf and part of the MGM chain of hotels.

That is it for now. We will update our posts once we have our plans finalized. These are just a couple of areas that we are thinking about and provide some idea of what is involved. We have other posts with detailed checklists of items to consider.

For more trip planning ideas, click here.

The Cowboys of Belfast is a nine-piece band that plays the music of Van Morrison. Born on St Patrick’s Day.  We are not followers of Van Morrison or the Belfast Cowboys, however they are apparently pretty good. they play at various venues around the nation entertaining crowds of people with the music of Van Morrison and other tunes. There are many followers of this band and also of the Van Morrison style of music around the world.

The band features several veterans of the Minneapolis music scene, including singer Terry Walsh and sax man Vic Volare. The Cowboys have become one of Minnesota’s most popular bands, playing monthly shows at Lee’s Liquor Lounge and Whiskey Junction, among others.

Cowboys of Belfast – Van Morrison

Van Morrison, was born George Ivan Morrison on 31 August 1945. He is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. Some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance and the live album It’s Too Late to Stop Now have been very popular on many of the record charts

Morrison as a teenager in the late 1950s, played a variety of instruments including guitar, harmonica, keyboards and saxophone for various Irish show bands. He rose to prominence in the mid-1960s as the lead singer of the Northern Irish R&B band Them, with whom he recorded the garage band classic “Gloria”.

Morrison continues to record and tour, producing albums and live performances that sell well and are generally warmly received, sometimes collaborating with other artists, such as Georgie Fame and The Chieftains. In 2008 he performed Astral Weeks live for the first time since 1968.

Morrison’s music includes “Brown Eyed Girl”, “Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile)”, “Domino” and “Wild Night”. He also sings Astral Weeks and lesser-known works such as Veedon Fleece and Common One.

Cowboys of Belfast – Grammy Awards

Morrison has received six Grammy Awards, the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, has been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and appearing on several “Greatest Artists” lists.

There are lots of web sites that provide much more detailed information about the cowboys of Belfast and the Van Morrison style of music. Many are fan favorites and many people enjoy this music all over the world. This style is not our favorite style of music, however he is much loved by many fans. Ireland is a beautiful country and many Irish return every year to their homeland to renew acquaintances, search for family history or just to experience some of the history that abounds in the country.  If you cannot make it to Ireland for what ever reason, why not listen to some of Ireland’s famous artists instead?

Please feel free to add your own comments about Van Morrison or the Cowboys of Belfast. I am sure our readers will welcome any and all comments. Please, no spam comments or links to unrelated sites. We always delete all spam comments if our spam filter let’s them through. We enjoy like minded sites as well and welcome comments about our pages that our readers will enjoy. Place links to this site and we will be pleased to link to your site, otherwise we will just erase the comment. We would rather have links back and forth to good quality sites to help our readers find more information about Van Morrison.

For more posts about the Irish and Ireland, click here.

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When we originally wrote this post the new hotel was almost ready, scheduled to be open in March 2013. It is now open and as it turns out a really nice place to stay. The Casino Hotel Akwesasane is one that everyone should try and get to at least once.

The new bar  in the casino is open along with the new high limit area. The new lounge is open. They are gradually readjusting and moving all of the slot machines. They are replacing the carpet with new burgundy style carpet, a major upgrade in our opinion.   The table area were you play roulette and blackjack among other games has also been moved into the new area as well. So far all of the upgrades they have made look great. This hotel and casino complex is shaping up to be a very nice place to spend a few hours in as well as overnight.  Patrons will have a choice of the Comfort Inn next door or the hotel that is attached to the casino.

Casino Hotel Akwesasane

They have not done away with smoking which is too bad. The heavy smoking just spoils the entire complex and over time  will ruin the place with the nicotine residue that eventually ends on everything. They will spend a lot of money on cleaning and the machines themselves will need more maintenance.

The buffet was upgraded a few months ago and is the best in the area. The only negative is they still allow smoking, even cigars in the casino. It is too bad that a brand new hotel and casino has to be spoiled by smoke. The extra cost must be high to keep everything still looking great.

We are staying at the comfort inn next door which is really nice. Clean, no smoking and good service including the breakfast area.

The tent area which still houses some slot machines and the poker area is being renovated as well. We anticipate that the next time we go there, it will be totally empty and being prepared for whatever is planned for this space. Every time we go there is something new to see and it is exciting for both the employees and the patrons as well.

The same great deals seem to be still in place with the daily special draws, the seniors days with half price on the buffet and the upscale restaurants. They did raise the draft beer to a $1.50 from a $1.00, still very inexpensive compared to other locations. this is a really great place to spend a few hours gambling and we will be going back often.

For more posts about casinos around the country, click here

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The risks of not getting enough sleep are many and as this poor guy shown in the picture knows, it is very difficult to stop yawning. People do not get enough sleep for many reasons and lack of sleep can effect your health, your diet and of course your weight. We decided to include this topic of getting enough sleep on this blog. It plays such a strong role in our ability to lose weight and maintain our health.

We will cover some of the standard reasons people have a hard time getting the sleep they need. Then focus in on one particular reason which is sleep apnea.  We will also make a few suggestions to help people with being able to sleep better. However, we would like to warn readers that the should seek a doctor’s care if they have health-related issues which need to be treated. this includes sleep apnea.

What are the Reasons People do Not Get Enough Sleep

• Using stimulants such as coffee and caffeinated drinks that keep us awake
• Watching TV shows that are too exciting before we go to bed
• Exercise before we go to bed
• Not relaxing and maintaining a routine before bedtime
• Health-related issues such as sleep apnea and others

As we mentioned if you have dealt with all of the other things within your control, then you may want to see a doctor examine other reasons you may not be able to sleep.

What are The Risks of Not Getting Enough Sleep

There are degrees of sleep loss and if you do not deal with them, you can experience significant problems in your life. The average person who does not get enough sleep is just tired all of the time. While significant sleep loss can lead to much more serious issues. Consumers who do not get enough sleep can or may experience some of these risks of not getting enough sleep or all of  the following problems:

• Yawning a lot
• Falling asleep at your desk, office or in a meeting
• Sleeping at the wheel while driving
• Falling asleep at work in situations that could be dangerous
• Eating a lot to give yourself energy leads to weight gain
• Weight gain leads to other health issues such as:
  • Diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Strokes
  • etc

The one example that really made an impact on the writer was when a friend of mind told me that he regularly falls asleep at the wheel of his car when he stops at a red light. He does not drive alone. He always drives with his wife in the car to make sure that he stays awake. Otherwise, he would be a menace on the road. Can you imagine being in his car when he cannot stay awake! Every year we hear of hundreds of accidents were people fall asleep and are killed in an auto accident. This is probably one of the most serious of risks of not sleeping properly.

Why Do People Not Get enough Sleep

We listed a number of possible causes above, however, we want to focus on one big reason for many people. It is sleep apnea. Basically someone with Sleep apnea never gets a good night’s rest and will stop breathing in some situations for short periods, only to wake up gasping, frightening him or herself and their partners.

When this occurs often enough, people suffering from sleep apnea never get enough sleep and are perpetually tired. This was what was wrong with my friend who falls asleep at the wheel at stoplights. The answer to this particular problem was to have a sleep test conducted and an analysis of why he was not sleeping.

Once sleep apnea was diagnosed, and he started with a CPAP machine he slept much better and drives much more safely.  We are not suggesting that everyone who is tired all of the time has sleep apnea. What we are suggesting is that sometimes you need to be assessed by a doctor to find out if there is any medical reason for being exhausted all of the time. It could be any number of reasons and it is important to rule them out and also obtain a solution.

Your quality of life will be much improved once you solve the issue of why you are not sleeping and getting a good nights rest. In fact you will wonder why you waited so long to do something about it. For more information about the risks of not getting enough sleep, click here.

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Visiting Puerto Vallarta grocery stores for the most part is just like visiting grocery stores in many other cities in Canada and the USA. The larger supermarkets have pretty much all of the same things that we have come to expect. There is lots of choice and quality foods available. They have good service and they still pack your bags which a lot of places in Canada do not do any longer.  Everything is in Spanish of course, but it is easy to tell what the price is and of course you can see what the item actually is with no problems.

Vallarta Grocery Stores quality

Just like Canada and the USA there are stores that do not measure up in terms of quality, quantity or even cleanliness. If you are living there in PV for any length of time, you will quickly get to know which stores which have the best foods and quality. We also found that depending on the day of the week some of the fruits and vegetables will be better than other days.

They even have a Costco in Puerto Vallarta with everything that you find in other parts of the world including the quality of the meet. The Costco store is a long way from downtown, although you can get there and back by bus. For Americans the prices are about the same, however they are probably very expensive for Mexican nationals. The store is clean and carries all of the brands, plus some Mexican brands that you may be familiar with .

Corner Store Grocery Stores

There are also small Vallarta grocery stores on street corners especially downtown. These are corner stores that stock the basics of what everyone will need for food for everyday living and you do not have to go far to find them. These stores carry more of the authentic Mexican products and are used by the locals as well as tourists alike. If you are staying in a condo or apartment nearby, these are the perfect places to pick up a few items for your meals and snacks.

One of our favorite meals are the roasted chickens they do on a spit, with small potatoes, onions and peppers. These chickens are delicious, always well done with the skin crispy and tasty. They can usually be purchased near a grocery store and always ask for a side dish of potatoes, onions and hot peppers.

They usually go on special once a week as well. There will be a line up of customers on these days. We always made sure that we picked up a couple and them made meals which we froze for another day to use when we did not feel like going out.

For more information about this beautiful vacation destination, click here.

Melissa Rycroft and professional partner Tony Dovolani, dancing with the stars winners, danced their way to victory during the latest Dancing with the stars competition which pitted former winners and runner ups against each other to really elevate the level of skill, entertainment and quality of the show. Rycroft, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader got a perfect score on Monday night to put her in the top position in terms of points from the judges. But it is always a cliff hanger when you build in the audience vote the following that many of the stars have.

Dancing With the Stars Winners – A Good Following Helps

Melissa Rycroft and partner Tony Dovolani really did not have a strong following in terms of supporting fans from previous shows and activities. Many of the others were TV stars, football players and race car drivers along with Olympic athletes. They all have a fan base which Melissa really did not have. However both Melissa and Tony had something else that really none of the other contestants had.

They had desire to win and the work ethic was so strong for these two. They worked to make everything absolutely perfect in their routines and were rewarded with perfect scores. There was another factor as well which really contributed to their wining the trophy.

No Drama During the Competition

Throughout the competition there was never any false sense of drama. None of this phone sexual thing that another contestant  tried to show and garner more votes. Throughout the competition they always had huge smiles, a great attitude. Also an endearing personality that we thing endeared them to the audience and built a fan base among the Dancing with Stars viewers.

This is really what gave them the edge over the other two runner up contestants. We do not want to take anything away from either of the other two. They were excellent and provided a fantastic show and skill level with all of their dances. They just did not endear themselves to the audience as much as Melissa Rycroft and professional partner Tony Dovolani did during their dances. Also any interviews and conversations they had in front of the media.

We really love to watch this show. It is such a positive motivation and uplifting show, we either watch it life or we record it and watch it as soon as possible after words.  Tom Bergeron does a fantastic job of keeping everything on schedule and filling in sound bytes to bridge the gaps in conversation. Don’t’ change the format guys, just give us more of the same and keep the level of competition very high.

For more posts about reality shows, click here.

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The writer of this post has just been diagnosed with sleep apnea and has submitted his claim for CPAP supplies to his  insurance company. We are waiting for a response to see how much they will pay. My plan is supposed to pay 80% of the cost after the government kicks in its share. It is important to have CPAP supplies insurance as part of your medical insurance since these units are quite expensive. In Canada, they can cost as much as $1200 to $1800 a unit by the time you purchase all of the accessories and the unit itself.

Here is how it works for us here in Ontario Canada. Depending on were you live, you may want to investigate what programs are available to help with the cost of these machines, since they are very expensive. For us here in Ontario a basic machine with all of the accessories is going to cost somewhere around $1200, depending on what CPAP supply store you go to. The Ontario Government, which is where we live will pick up 75% of the cost with the remainder  left to the individual to pay. In my case this amount came to $480. This is still a lot of money and hopefully my CPAP supplies insurance will cover the rest up to 80%.

What do you Do if You do Not Have CPAP Supplies Insurance

Unfortunately, $480 is still a lot of money. For people who are on welfare, who may be unemployed and do not have insurance, it may be out of reach. It is so important to deal with sleep apnea due to the consequences of not getting enough sleep. We happen to think that people who have been diagnosed with this disease need to be able to find a cheaper machine.

We are going to do some more research on this subject, however we want to make sure that people understand the consequences of not using a CPAP machine first. When you stop breathing due to sleep apnea,  your heart rate goes way up and your blood pressure goes way up. Both of these conditions put a lot of pressure on your bodies systems which can cause strokes and heart attacks on people who are far too young to have them. Both can be deadly and debilitating. Pay attention to this issue and try to do something about it.

CPAP Machines are Expensive

The machine itself is the most expensive. You may be able to purchase used machines on Ebay, or one of the other auction sites. I would look for used machines that are being sold by people who have no more use for them. The accessories should be purchased new. I am not sure about you, but I really do not want to use a mask worn by someone else, or use tubing for that matter that has been used.

There are sales from time to time and these may also be helpful. When you purchase a used machine, you will also need someone to adjust it and set it up properly to match your needs. The most significant thing is to set the pressure at the proper level.  There is no need to set it higher than necessary and make it uncomfortable.

CPAP Supplies Insurance Process

The process that we are forced to use here in Ontario is as follows:

• Participate in a sleep test
• Get results and prescription for a CPAP machine
• Visit a home care center and respiratory technician to be fitted
• Trial period to get used to the machine and make final adjustments
• Submit claim to Ontario Government(technician will do this)
• Pay for the balance
• Submit claim to your Health Insurance  company

This is pretty straight forward, however not everyone can afford to pay the final payment.  Negotiate a lower price if you can, ask for spare parts, confirm amounts for future CPAP supplies. Note that in Ontario, visits to the specialists and the sleep lab are covered by our provincial health insurance. You may have to wait a long time to get your appointment, but at least it is paid for.

Take Care of Your Machine

You can also make sure that your CPAP supplies will last longer by taking proper care of the mask, the straps and the hoses. Keep them clean and protected to avoid them cracking and wearing down over time. The plastic may become brittle and you will need to replace these supplies once they become brittle and begin to crack.

Hopefully this short article will help readers who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. As a user of one of these machines myself, I cannot say enough positive things about the machine. Also the amount of excellent quality sleep that I am now getting. I am not tired anymore during the day and I actually can sleep in the mornings. This is one of the best things that I have done for myself in many years. If you have sleep apnea, don’t wait until it is too late. Get tested and get a CPAP machine if you are diagnosed that you need one. For more information about CPAP topics, click here.

Consumers planning on going white water rafting should always check with the company they will be rafting with to book trips and to confirm that there is actually sufficient raft water available to raft on. The flows in the spring are usually pretty high and can be counted on to provide exhilarating trips. Winter snows are melting and causing streams and rivers to run high and fast providing excellent white water rafting. The water will be cold. Participants will need to wear wet suits to insulate them should they fall into the river during  the traverse over the rapids. The water is very cold and hypothermia can occur very quickly once you are in the water. Never take any chances when you are in this kind of situation.

Raft Water – Seasons

However as the season moves into late spring and into early summer raft water flows will decline. Some river flows will decline so much that a raft cannot be supported on the river at all. They may only support kayaks or canoes. Still there are many rivers that rafting can be considered. Which provide a combination of tranquil rafting as well as exciting rides through rapids that offer fast water around many rocks and boulders. These types of rapids will be more suitable to beginners and first timers. The water may be warmer and the need to wear a wet suit will be decreased. In fact you may even be able to go swimming in tranquil raft water areas between rapids.

Sufficient Water Flow

If you are really focused on white water rafting always confirm ahead of time that there is enough raft water to provide a great ride down the river. There is no sense in driving a long distance, only to be disappointed. On some rivers the flow of water is dependent on water releases from dams up stream. The guides are well versed regarding when the water will flow and schedule their river trips around these releases. You may not want to be caught in a scheduled release of water. So if the sign indicates safety concerns about water releases, pay attention and follow the directions they provide

Storms will also drive river flows up. If you are aware of rain storms in the mountains or it has been a wet season, river flows may also provide spring like conditions on the rivers. The water will be flowing fast and cold and the rafting will be spectacular. Only by checking with your river rafting tour company can you determine if there is fast water and if there openings available to go white water rafting down the river. They will also advise you regarding what clothing etc to bring with you for your excursion.

These pictures included with this post of Laughlin, Nevada were actually taken from across the Colorado River in Bullhead Arizona.  We were staying in a condominium and took the pictures from our balcony overlooking the river and the casinos on the Nevada side. There is also a one hour time difference between the two states with Pacific time on the Laughlin , Nevada side and Mountain Time on the Arizona side of the river.

We also like to visit the Aquarius casino in Laughlin, Nevada to play the slots and stay there as well.  This is one of the better casinos and hotel in the area with a non smoking section and also a large casino floor with a very good buffet overlooking the Colorado River.  If you would like more information about the Aquarius Hotel, click here.

We love playing the slots at any of the hotels and if you would like more information about slot cards, click here. We have also taken advantage of a free rooms offer from the hotel while we stay in Laughlin, Nevada. Their slot card is quite good with free rooms, free slot play and many comp’s towards meals as well. We have had breakfast as well on the comps which was also actually a brunch. We had one of the best omelets we have had on our trip. For more information about slot cards and why you should always carry and use them when you are.

Again the picture on the left is of the Laughlin , Nevada side at night and it does present quite a site with all of the lights.

Laughlin, Nevada

Laughlin is really set up in two sections. There is the area along the river were all of the casinos are along Casino Drive. There are no residential homes in this area, with everything geared to the casino business. Residential areas are at a slightly higher elevation to the west. There are shopping centers, schools etc for local residents to live in and also rent out to snow birds.

We have talked to many of the people working in the casinos and many of them seem to prefer living on the Arizona side of the Colorado River. Not sure exactly why, other than we think that taxes are lower in Arizona.

Gasoline prices are definitely lower on the Arizona side of the state line. In some cases the price per gallon can be as much as twenty or thirty cents cheaper per gallon than they are in Nevada. We have not check prices on housing or rent, but it is something you should look at if you are planning to spend any time in the Laughlin area.

We always go over to Bullhead to fill up on gas, get oil changes for the car, do laundry or to purchase groceries.  There are also more restaurants on the Bullhead side as well. There are many very good restaurants in the various casinos, however sometimes you just want a break from all of the casino noise and the glitz.

Close to Vegas

Laughlin Nevada is only 90 miles from Las Vegas and approximately 50 miles from Searchlight, Nevada. Searchlight is a small village with two small casinos and a couple of gas stations. Nothing much more than that. Vegas on the other hand is a great place to visit with many hotels and casinos that are literally over the top. Check out our web site on Vegas with reviews of many of the casinos and the hotels in the area. they are based on personal visits to many of these places.

If you are looking for a relative inexpensive vacation for a few days or longer, Laughlin, Nevada is a great place to visit in the winter or also in the summer when many people spend their time on the river boating, fishing, and roaring up and down on Seadoo’s.

For more posts about Laughlin Nevada, click here.

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Traveling with a CPAP machine is actually quite straight forward. Sure there is an extra bag to carry and you need to bring another bottle of distilled water along, however for the writer it is really worth it to get a good night’s sleep.  The bag that I have is a handy carrying case with a shoulder strap and it is smaller than a carry on suitcase. When we go into a hotel, it sits on top of my roller suitcase and really does not take any more effort.

Flying presents another problem these days. You cannot take a large bottle of liquid on the plane with you. If you check it in your suitcase there is always the danger of it leaking all over your clothes. Sure it is water, but who needs the mess and the cleanup after words. We always make sure that we know of a place where we are going that sells distilled water which we can pick up easily to use in the CPAP machine when we travel.

There are different bags for different machines. They all have room for the mask, the hoses and of course the CPAP machine when you travel. Some are like a small over night travel bag, while others are similar to a small computer lap top bag. Either way they are easy to carry and the entire unit weighs less than the standard laptop bag with all of your computer gear in it.

Why Travel With Your CPAP Travel Machine

Frankly I want to enjoy my vacation of be alert for my business trip. I would rather get a good night’s sleep than be without it so that I can enjoy my vacation etc. Who wants to be exhausted all of the time on vacation when you suffer from sleep apnea?  Even after one night sometimes of not using the machine can leave you tired and exhausted from not getting a good night’s rest. Personally when I was tested at a sleep clinic, I had a sleep interruption on average 39 times per hour. Who can sleep like that? This is why I travel with my CPAP and why you should as well if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea.

I know it sounds unbelievable and I was shocked when I was told this by the sleep technician, however after the doctor told me the results and showed me the report, I had to believe him. I did not come totally awake all of the time, however it was enough for them to detect that I was partially awake each time. Amazing, 39 time per hour and I still managed to function during the day. With the CPAP machine, I now feel much more rested and have a lot more energy.

Some Suggestions When You Travel with a CPAP Machine

Take an extra extension chord of about 10 feet long. Hotels are notorious for not having electrical plugs close to the bed were you can plug things in. I have had to use the extension chord several times. It is easily stored in the bottom of your bag and it saves a lot of frustration as well. I have had to use it about half the time. The plugs that are accessible are usually used by the light and radio / alarm clock which you obviously need. So take the extension chord with you. Use your CPAP machine without having to unplug things.

Another suggestion if you are only going for a couple of days is to take a small bottle of distilled water. It will be good for at least the first night or the second night. It must be small enough to satisfy the airlines in terms of security. This will get you through the first night. It will give you time the next day to go and purchase a bottle of distilled water. They are available at most drug stores.

International Travel

If you plan to travel to international destinations, it is a good idea to also pack an electrical adapter. It should match the outlets  that are used in the foreign country. There are many types. Some adapters have multiple plugs built in to adapt to almost any situation.

Finally if you are planning to go on a long trip such as a winter vacation and spend 2 to 3 months in warmer climates, you may want to take extra hoses and masks along with you depending on how old yours are. I am told they tend to last an average of six months. So you can determine what is best for you in this regard. You can also check to see if there is a place near were you will be to purchase supplies close to you.

Good luck with your CPAP travel planning. For more information about CPAP travel topics, click here.

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There are a variety of CPAP Mask types available on the market that will meet just about every ones needs as well as comfort.

Personally I chose the nasal pillow mask which is the mask portrayed in the picture on the bottom right. There were several reasons for this choice. First I really did not think that I would adapt well to sleeping with a full mask and the corresponding straps that go with a full mask. Secondly I cough a lot due to asthma and allergies and I wanted my mouth to be free so that I could cough without removing the mask or cough into the mask which did not sound very attractive to me.

CPAP Mask types

Lucky for me that I am not a mouth breather. These are people who for one reason or another cannot breathe through their noses and breathe through their mouth instead. They have to either wear a full mask that covers the nose and mouth as well or they can wear a special strap that keeps their mouth closed. Not too exciting, but then you do what you got to do. The alternative is to continue with sleep apnea with the corresponding lack of sleep and risk of a stroke or heart attack!

Discuss Your Needs with Your Respiratory Therapist

Your choice of mask will depend on personal likes and dislikes as we mentioned and also your sleep Apnea. Some masks will work better depending on the degree of sleep apnea that you have. Higher pressures require more complete masks and more straps to ensure that they stay in  place at night. If you move around a lot at night you may need more security in terms of keeping the mask in place.

Personally I sleep in my back and my sides and will move around a lot at night. I have found that the nasal pillow mask is fine for me with a strap around my head as well as one over the top of my head. It stays in place for the most part. Occasionally I need to adjust it slightly to make sure that it is in place.

Your therapist has a lot of experience with CPAP mask types and will recommend the correct one for you as well as adjust the tightness to make sure that it is secure on your head.

Getting Used to Your CPAP Mask

It will take a few days to get used to your mask. For me , even on the first night I had a better sleep than I have had in months.  Now I do not snore at all. The machine makes less noise than a small fan than what you might have in your bedroom at night.

Friends with CPAP machines have told me that it took them as long as a month to get used to their mask. I find that to be a very long time. He really resisted the machine or even talking to someone about it for a long time and I think that his mind set was not really prepared to be receptive to the CPAP mask.

If you are tired and exhausted all of the time, then this is really going to change your life with all of the sleep that you are going to get now. All I can say is learned to get comfortable with the mask and embrace it. It will make your transition from no sleep to a great sleep that much quicker. Your therapist may also allow you to try different types of masks if you are having a problem adjusting. There may be a small charge for this service, but then you will have a much more restful sleep in the end.

Sleep Apnea Problems

If you think you have sleep apnea, don’t wait to see your doctor. Sleep apnea is a major cause of strokes and heart attacks. Your heart beats really fast and your blood pressure goes way up during a sleep apnea episode. If you are prone to strokes etc, you are a leading candidate for a sleep apnea related problem.

Arrange for a sleep test to be scheduled and then it is straight forward from there. Either you have sleep apnea and can deal with it. Or there is some other problem that is giving you these symptoms. Your partner will be very happy in that you will totally stop snoring. Imagine!

Your insurance will pay for the cost in most cases, although some companies have restrictions. In some states and provinces the government will even step in and pay a large percentage of the cost. Your therapist can assist you there as well. Good luck with dealing with sleep apnea and obtaining the correct CPAP mask for you. It is definitely worth it. For more information about CPAP Mask types, click here.

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Whether it is the payroll take hikes, the fiscal cliff or the sex scandals with the American generals, president Obama sure does not have an easy time during his presidency. Even in the first term he had the mother of all economic problems to deal with. Fortunately for all of us it was not as bad as everybody thought it might be. I know that many folks have lost jobs, lost their homes and lost their savings. My heart really goes out to these people. I wish it had never happened. However as bad as it was and still is for many, it still was not as bad as the depression in the 30’s. At least that is what the historians have said.

Payroll Tax Hike – Pay our Bills

This is also why we are approaching the so called fiscal cliff when the Bush tax cuts will be stopped. Tax hikes will kick in for many people and for many businesses. Is it really a fiscal cliff or is it a dose of reality. At some point we need to pay our bills and that includes the US government.

The only ones that can pay for this debt is the consumer and the business people and of course the rich. Obama wants to tax the rich who make more than $250,000 a year. That is a lot of money and the majority of people in the US do not come anywhere close to that number! You would think that it would be a no brainer for to vote for this measure to tax the rich more than they already are.

Reasons Why the Tax Hike for the Rich will Not be Approved

There are at least two things wrong with this approach, although I want to say at the outset that I am agreement that the rich need to pay more in taxes and distribute the wealth more to help put the country. The first problem is that even if you only raise taxes on the rich, it will not be enough. There simply are not enough people to pay the debt or have any kind of impact on the debt.

They should pay more, but the average consumer needs to pay more as well, to pay for the debt and to pay for more debt for health care and the wars that this country always seems to get involved in. So unfortunately I think that we all are going to pay more taxes.

Another Major Problem

The other major problem is that all of these senators and house members make more than $250,000 a year or very close to it. Now why would they vote themselves more taxes to pay. Why would the alienate all of their donors that pay big money to their campaigns  by voting in a tax hike for the rich and not touch the average consumer? This is probably the biggest reason alone why this tax hike is not going to happen and the US will approach the fiscal cliff.

There are probably lots of other reasons as well that will come into play. Lots of noise will be made by everyone about raising taxes. But no one will talk about the fact that no senator or house member really wants to vote himself a tax increase.

There will be a lot more discussion over the next month and half about making a decision. There will be lots of talk after words as well regarding whether the right decision was made. In the end the consumers will have to live with this. They will have to bear the discontent as well as the budget cuts that will come with a no decision.

The Markets Will React

The markets meanwhile are going to be very volatile until something is decided. If you cannot stand the turmoil , it is probably already too late to get out of the market. Since there was a large downturn just after the election. This downturn apparently was driven by the fiscal cliff uncertainty and the payroll tax hikes that will be coming.

Hold on to your hats for the ride. It will be exciting. For more discussion regarding tax issues concerning the masses, click here.

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As we write this post, most white water river agencies who offer white water trips have closed for the season due to the cold weather that is upon us in the northern parts of North America and in Canada. Some locations in the southern US may still be operating if river flows are sufficient to sustain rafting river trips. Then of course you can head to South America. Ot anywhere that avoids winter or to the southern hemisphere to go white water rafting. Many people will book a vacation based on where they can go rafting all year round.

Rafting companies in the winter time  are busy repairing gear, taking stock of their supplies and equipment. They are also ordering new equipment to be ready for the river trips in the new year. Especially in the early spring when the spring runoff from the mountains begins. They may also be updating their training to make sure that everyone is in top shape from a training and first aid perspective. Some guides will have gone to other white water rivers in other countries that can offer river trips all year long. They will be back for the new season next year.

Plan for Your River Trip next Year

This is also the time when tourists are beginning to think about next year’s excursions and river trips. They know that many of these river trips are sold out a year in advance. They must book very early if they want the dates and specific river trips they are looking for. The river trip down the Grand Canyon is rumored to be sold out a year and half in advance. Camping at the grand canyon is controlled very closely and is also booked well in advance.

Book your river trips early to avoid disappointment. Booking early will also enable vacation scheduling to be done while you still have the time. You can book ahead of just about everybody else at the company to be sure you get the dates you want. These trips will run regardless of the weather. Unless conditions are so bad that they cannot be safely on the rivers.

Trips like these do take planning, so don’t forget to book flights, rental cars if needed and hotel rooms as well in the area. These facilities can be booked up early and you will want to make sure you do not need to drive too far to get to the river trip starting point.

Many river trip organizers will also have lodgings of some kind nearby that they can refer their customers to. These can include everything from camp sites, log cabins to motels and hotels in the area. Ask for special rates or deals when you are referred by one of these river trip companies.

Working in a country like Chile is an entirely enjoyable experience. When you work in a country, you have the evenings and weekends to visit many places. You would never see most of these places  if you were only there for a two week vacation. It is a great way to  also get to know the culture and really get to know the people. We spent 8 months working in Chile. We went on many trips around the country including one that took us over the mountains to Argentina via the Andes mountains. This post is about driving over the Andes Mountains to Mendoza Argentina. Our last post was about visiting the Hyatt hotel in Mendoza, Argentina. This post is about how we got there.

Andes Mountains to Mendoza Argentina

I should say at the outset that I like to take driving trips. This particular trip was one of the most interesting that I have taken in a long time. Imagine a two lane paved road with no guard rails along the road in a desert setting. You can see for miles and miles. You can look up the mountain and follow the road as it twists and turns up the side of the mountain. It rises  to its 11,000 foot pass that takes you from Chile to Argentina. Later we learn that there are 49 switchbacks and a tunnel to go through at the top of the mountain pass. But we are getting ahead of ourselves.

Fantastic Views

The scenery is breath taking with the mountains and the valleys and the fact that as you get higher, you can see the glaciers at the top of the mountains and the Pacific ocean in the distance. Chile is only 100 miles wide in some parts so when you get high enough on a clear day, there is no problem viewing these vistas.  Cars, vans and tractor trailers all use this 2 lane road.

It is a well maintained paved road. But it is only 2 lanes wide and that means a lot of risky passing on the uphill stretches.  Tractor trailers are literally crawling along as they climb the mountain and as a result faster vehicles are forced to pass on the straight stretches between the quarter mile switchbacks. It is a bit scary at times, but it is either that or you spend many hours just getting to the border at the top of the mountain.

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We have only stayed at the Route 66 casino hotel in New Mexico once and I wanted to take more pictures, however the security guards warned me not to take pictures of the actual casino. They were continuously watching me whenever I had my camera in my hand. All I could do is take a picture of the restaurant area. The highway decoration in the foreground of the picture is supposed to be route 66 with a restaurant in the background.

We stayed over night. However were only there for a few hours. We arrived very late at night. We had to leave early the next morning to make our previous reservations at another location.

Route 66 Casino

The restaurant was great and we enjoyed the meal very much. The quality for breakfast was great. The size of the meals allowed us to split the meal between my wife and I. We have found that it is better for us to split meals since we often cannot finish a meal on our own. It saves us money as well.  The meal portions are just so large. It does not make sense to waste all of the food. We do have to compromise sometimes on what we eat. But it is definitely worth it to split and not gain weight.

Just West of Albuquerque, New Mexico

The route 66 casino and hotel is about 15 miles west of Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is a good place to stop if your are looking for a place to stop for the night. There are several restaurants to choose from and there is discount gas as well for cars and trucks. It is easy to reach off of I40 and there is a large surface parking lot.

We have stayed in the city, however, you have to deal with rush hour and traffic the next morning, so we prefer to stop at the route 66 hotel to avoid traffic congestion in Albuquerque next morning if we are heading west.

There is not much else around this particular area, so it really is a stop over place and a place to try your hand at some of the slots or table games that are in the casino.

Route 66 Nostalgia

Basically I think this Route 66 thing is a bit over rated. yes this was the route of the wagon trains to the west and yes there is a great deal of history associated with Route 66. However we have driven various sections of route 66 in Arizona and New Mexico and found it long and not that interesting. There are a few interesting tourist stops along the way, which either serve meals or sell various route 66 trinkets, but that seems to be about it.

I would recommend that you drive part of it, stop in some desolate location and take a moment or two to think about how harsh the surroundings are and how difficult it must have been to travel that route by horse or wagon train many years ago. It was a pretty tough environment and you can only really appreciate how hard it was for them by getting out of your air conditioned car and think about what it was like

Oatmen Arizona

Another Route 66 location is Oatmen Arizona. This is a little town that used to be a mining town on the Route 66 road. It is still operating, now as a tourist location. The big attraction of Oatmen is the donkeys that roam wild throughout the streets looking for food from the tourists. These donkeys are descendents of the original donkeys that were abandoned when the minors left after the mines ran out. Somehow these donkeys survived in the desert and continue to exist in the desert around Oatmen.

The other main attraction about Oatmen on Route 66 is the local bar. When the minors got paid they would pin their money to the wall with the bar tender removing money as the minor ate or drank his way through his paycheck. Today there is roughly $80,000 in one dollar bills that are pinned to the walls. They cover every square inch of the walls and even on the ceiling. The ceilings by the way are 15 feet at least and this is a really large room, so it is quite a site to see all of this money pinned to the wall. All of it in $1 bills.

Well that is enough about the Route 66 Casino Hotel and Oatmen, two route 66 locations we have visited in two different states. Hope you enjoyed reading them.

For more posts about casinos around the country, click here.

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CPAP Accessories vary a great deal depending on the store were you made your original purchase. For most stores, accessories include the masks, the straps and the hoses. These accessories will wear out from time to time and require replacement. We are told that they will need replacement within three months to nine months. Depending how well you take care of these elements.

We have shown a variety of masks in the picture above. Each one will need straps to hold it in place. They all need hoses to connect them to the CPAP machine. These are the elements that will break down from time. Hoses will crack, masks will become brittle and not make a good seal against your face and straps may even break as they become brittle with age. Most stores will stock all of these types of accessories and you will have to first pay for them and then claim the expense with your insurance company if you have health insurance that covers this sort of thing.

Other CPAP Accessories

No one has tried to sell me any of these things yet and I have been warned to not make these purchases no matter how good it sounds. Gels to help the mask make a better seal and to keep the mask supple, special pillows that will elevate your head to the right level, heated hoses to keep the air warm during the winter as you breath in through the mask and on and on.

You can use your own pillows instead of these special pillows at a much reduced price. You might even purchase several pillows for the price of a special pillow purchased at a health store.

Regarding the creams or gels, I personally have not seen a need for this at all and one of my good friends who has had a CPAP machine for five years,  does not see the need for any gels at all.

As far as the heated hose is concerned, it would be nice to breathe warm air instead of cold air, however I do not know about you, but I have been breathing cool winter air for many years while I have been sleeping and not had any problems. we keep our home quite cool in the winter time so we will just keep doing the same thing.

CPAP Accessories While You Travel

If you are going away for a week or so, there is probably not much to be concerned about. If something breaks such as a strap you can probably make do until you return to your home.

On the other hand if you are a snow bird who goes south for the winter, you might need to make sure that you take an extra mask, straps and hoses just in case one of them breaks while you are away. On the other hand, locating a store near were you are staying might be also worth your time so that you can purchase replacements any time you need them.

The CPAP machine and all of its accessories has become a part of your life and if you are getting much better sleep, not snoring and overall better well being, then you will take the time and make the effort to take everything you need with you.

Distilled Water for Your CPAP Machine

It is strongly recommended that you use distilled water for your machines humidifier if you have one. Most people have a humidifier with their machine to keep their nasal passages from getting too dry during the night.  Bring a bottle of distilled water with you when you travel and if you are planning to stay for more than a week locate a store were you purchase additional distilled water.

Although some people will use tap water in their humidifier, there are lots of potential problems with this approach. For one there are contaminants in the water that really should not get into your lungs. Secondly there is often calcium as well which will build up on the heater for your CPAP Humidifier.  For me, I would not take the chance> I would always use distilled water wherever I go.

Hope this helps regarding practical advice regarding CPAP Accessories. Personally, other than the basics, they are highly over rated. For more information about CPAP accessories, click here.

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Did Bristol Palin lose weight or was the perceived weight loss from some work by a surgeon? We are not sure but something sure looks different this season. She looks great and she looks more mature than she did last season. However although her looks are better her dancing did not improve at the same rate. She was being kept on the show just because of her mothers voting friends. She does not have the work ethic to get ahead on this show. These other people on the show are very competitive and hard working. Bristol is out of her depth and it shows.

Bristol Palin Weight Loss – DWTS

You may be thinking that we are picking on Bristol, however we are categorically not picking on her. She has improved from last time, she looks better, but she just does not measure up to the rest of the competitors. She has now gone home and we will no longer poke fun at Bristol Palin for her dancing or whether she lost weight or not.

DWTS is an absolutely fantastic show. all of the stars improve and all of the stars lose weight throughout the show. they are really working hard and when you basically exercise for 8 hours a day or more, then you are bound to get in better shape and lose weight as well. Wish we could be in such shape!

Well this is the last post about Bristol and DWTS unless something monumental comes along. We really like the show and in fact think it is the best show on TV these days. It takes hard work, talent and skill to win the trophy, contrary to many of the other reality shows that are on TV these days. We strongly support what this show is doing and look forward to many more weeks of great entertainment.

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Everyone wants to get a good nights sleep/ Many millions of dollars are spent every year by people on various drugs and gimmicks that sometimes work. Everyone wants to know how to get more sleep? There are those that are just gimmicks and really do not help us at all. There are lots of things we can do to help us sleep. We will list these in no particular order. However if they do not work and you are still having problems, it might be a good idea to arrange for a sleep study to really find out what is happening when you are sleeping at night.

For something we spend half our life doing, a lot of us are pretty awful at sleeping. Even if we think we are sleeping, we may have interruptions that prevent us from getting a good nights sleep.  Here are  10 tips for falling asleep faster, staying asleep, getting quality rest, and waking up feeling rested in the morning.

How to Get More Sleep

Prepare a Comfortable Bed

The idea is to do everything you can to make sure that you have a fighting chance at having a good night and the first place to start is ensuring that  you are comfortable.

Here is a quick list to check on for how to get more sleep:

• Get the right pillow based on your body type,
• Buy a new mattress that is comfortable even if it costs a bit more
• Find one that is firm enough, yet soft enough to make you feel comfortable
• Make sure there is sufficient room for you and your spouse

 Eat Properly

This is great for your diet too, but really important for having a good night. Here is a list of things to consider re-eating properly:

• Eat breakfast first thing in the morning.
• Eat a large breakfast
• Consume foods that are good for you
• Eat relatively small meals at night and do not snack at night
• Avoid eating spicy or junk foods at night,
• Choose something that will help you drift off.
• No booze, booze relaxes you and causes you to snore all night and can make problems with sleep apnea even worse

Wake Up Pleasantly to Music, Not Roughly to an Alarm

A nice even wake up that gradually brings you into waking mode is much better than be jerked awake by an alarm sound. Avoid coffee if you can or at least large amounts of it, especially late in the day as well.

Exercise in the Morning

Exercising in the morning or afternoon is best, since your body has time to recover and learn to relax again. Exercise at  night will keep you awake for longer periods until you can relax enough to go to sleep.

Find Your Best Sleeping Position

We tend to sleep in various positions throughout the night, however some are better for us than others in terms of getting the best sleep. If a person snores a lot, they may find that they will get a better sleep when laying on their sides instead of on their backs, and they may snore less as well.

Find a way to Cool Yourself Off at Night

No one sleeps well at night when they are too hot. Even a room air conditioner will make a difference or a fan. If your partner is radiating heat, it may be time to get a larger bed or move to another room to ensure that you both get a good nights sleep.

Get the Right Amount of Sleep for Your Body

You can never catch up on all of your sleep. it is far better to get that 7.5 hours on average every night. Some people need much more even up to 9 hours of sleep at night. Experiment until you know how much you need and then try to get to bed in time so that you can sleep as much as you need before you need to get up for work.

Twenty Minute Power Naps can be Golden

Napping during the day is really great. I know, I have done it many times and it feels great. But if you sleep too long or too close to bedtime, then it can really ruin your sleep and keep you up at night. Try to control your naps and keep them short, maybe 15 to 20 minutes at the most early in the afternoon. Avoid sleeping after supper if you want to have a good nights sleep.

Your evening Routine is Important

Avoid a lot of excitement during the evening, exciting shows, late night sports etc. Reading a boring book and relaxing in a bath help a lot of people get there sleep.

Technology Can Help and So Can the Medical Community

There are apps that will track your sleep so you can monitor how much you actually are sleeping. Having a sleep assessment at your local hospital will either rule out things like sleep apnea or if you are diagnosed, it might save your life. Not only will you stop snoring, but you will reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes with proper diagnoses and treatment.

For more information on how to get more sleep, click here.

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The Akwesasane Casino is in the middle of a major construction boom. They have already updated the buffet restaurant, transforming it into a modern restaurant with great decor. Prices are very reasonable for buffets and the cost is excellent considering the choices that are available.

The sports bar has not changed, however it is already a nice spot to grab something to eat and relax while watching the sports on one of the 15 or so TV’s scattered around the room.

The picture above shows the hotel and the main entrance of what the new casino and hotel will look like once it is finished in March of 2013. This fall they plan to enlarge the main casino in the direction of the hotel and convert the tent area into a bingo hall. We think this is scheduled for the Oct or Nov time frame.

Akwesasane Casino

Once all of the construction is completed, this facility will be a first class hotel and casino attracting customers from hundreds of miles around. In fact even now people are coming from Montreal, Ottawa, Cornwall, Kingston, Syracuse, Rochester and many other points in the northern parts of new York state.  As writers and visitors to casinos across the US and Canada, this particular casino is already one of our favorite places to go. It might not measure up to the glamor and glitz of Las Vegas, but it provides a very nice amiable place to have dinner and gamble on many of the latest machines as well as play at many of the tables.

Staying Over Night at the Akwesasane Casino

At the present time the only hotel within walking distance is the Comfort Inn. Once the casino hotel is open there will be another 100+ rooms available and more competition for customers. We are hoping that prices will come down a bit. Current prices at the Comfort Inn have been ranging as much as $137 US during the week.

They can afford to charge this rate since they are filling up on a regular basis. In some cases they are turning away customers because they are full. We suggest that you make a reservation if you want to stay at the hotel. There are hotels several miles away which are much cheaper to stay at, however we are unsure about the prices and the quality of the rooms etc.

In March 2013, the casino hotel is scheduled to open which should provide some relief to customers and stabilize the rates.  In addition the casino will be able to comp rooms for players that warrant comps. Free rooms, free food and free play will be available to those customers that play sufficiently.

We are looking forward to this hotel opening and will write about it once we stay at the Akwesasane Casino hotel when it opens.

Crossing the Border for Canadians

Canadians have to cross the border in order to get to the Akwesasane Casino. There are number of locations. However for folks coming from the Ottawa area, crossing at Cornwall is the most direct route. Unfortunately it is also a busy crossing point. We would strongly suggest that you not plan to go over or return on a long weekend. The line ups will be very long, sometimes as long as an hour wait just to get through customs.

Early morning seems to be better and late at night. However if you try to cross anytime during the day on a busy weekend, you may have to wait quite some time.

For Americans of course there is no problem. You do not need to go through customs at all. For more posts about casinos around the country, click here

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Traveling with your CPAP machine is not all that bad and frankly I would rather travel with it than not use it at all while I am traveling.  There are many reasons for this which we will discuss shortly. However first we wanted to describe the CPAP machine and the carrying case. The particular model shown comes with an easy carrying case that has room for all of the elements of the CPAP machine.

This includes the machine, the power cable, the tubes and the particular style of mask that you have chosen. There is ample room for everything and I really only have one complaint. It would be ideal if there was an additional compartment to hold the distilled water that you are supposed to use. Other than that there is lots of room for everything.

Traveling With Your CPAP Machine

Having traveled a lot prior to being diagnosed with sleep apnea, I am pretty familiar with hotel rooms. Often there are not enough electrical plugs close to your bed that you can get access to. Some are being the bed or the dresser or are across the floor on a wall somewhere.

As a result I have decided that I will also pack a small extension chord in my travel bag for those situations were there is no electrical plug close by. This is just a practical thing, for those special situations were an extension chord will just make things a lot easier. The unit comes with a fairly long chord, but I know that there will be some situations that it is just not long enough.

Why Would You Travel With Your CPAP Machine

A friend of mine who has severe sleep apnea always travels with his CPAP machine. If he does not use it every night, not only does he not get a good nights sleep, after a few nights he is so tired during the day that he cannot stay awake driving the car. He is an actual menace on the road. He will fall asleep at a traffic light that he has stopped at.

When I am on vacation, I really want to enjoy myself and I do not want to be tired all of the time. Traveling with an extra bag can be more cumbersome, however in the writer’s opinion, it is a small price to pay for having a good nights sleep.

When you sleep using a CPAP machine, you do not snore. It is very amazing, however you do not snore at all and your partner also gets a good nights rest. They appreciate it very much and now you have two well rested people going on vacation and enjoying themselves. What more could you ask for?

Using a CPAP machine also reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. Using it on your vacation or during business travel just means you have a better chance of not having to deal with this sort of catastrophic health issue.

Traveling with a CPAP and Working

We have been discussing travel for vacation. Many people with sleep apnea are still working. They have a tremendously  difficult time doing their job because they are so tired all of the time. Drinking too much coffee to stay awake, sleeping on the job or fighting sleep attacks creates dangerous situations. It also decreases the productivity from what it would normally be.  It is a competitive world out there. We all need all of the sleep we can get to be well rested and ready to go on the job.

If you fly you will need to be sure that you can show how it works. Also probably will have to open the bag from time to time to show the customs people. One concern is of course the amount of distilled water that you bring on the plane with you. The airlines allow limited quantities to be carried on the plane. If you check the water in your bag’s you need to be sure that it is in a water tight bottle. That it is not going to leak during the flight. The alternative of course is to purchase distilled water at the location you are traveling to once you arrive.

For my partner and I, we will always travel with my CPAP machine. I really enjoy my sleep now that I have one. For more information about CPAP travel reviews, click here.

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