Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Shazzaaammm ! ! ! !


From the Associated Press today:

Actor Jim Nabors, partner marry in Seattle

 

HONOLULU -- The actor best known for playing the TV character Gomer Pyle in the 1960s has married his male partner of 38 years. Hawaii News Now reported that Jim Nabors and his partner, Stan Cadwallader, traveled from their Honolulu home to Seattle to be married Jan. 15.



Congrats to the happy couple . . . .

Friday, January 04, 2013

Canadian Health Care - (Re)Revisited . . . .

'Twas time for my annual physical exam with our family doctor.

Left home at 8:45, caught the bus to the subway and then walked the three blocks to the doctor's office.

The receptionist checked me in and directed me Exam Room #2 immediately.  Our doc arrived about a minute later and went over my recent blood test results, general medical questions, reviewed my activities, gave recommendations, etc.  I had a list of "queeries" with me which we went over and he answered all of them.  After a check of all the basic bodily functions, the mandatory prostate exam, my next lab test requisition  and prescription refill in hand, I was out the door.

'Nuther walk, subway ride and bus ride home and it was 10:02.  Yup, a total of 77 minutes!  I still had 23 minutes left on my transit ticket, fer krissakes!

Total out of pocket cost to me:  The $2.10* transit fare, as I had purchased a book of Fare Saver tickets previously.

So, the next time someone negatively compares our health care system to that of our neighbours down south, think about it.  When a politician down there postulates:  "You don't want the system they have in Canada for your health care!"  I would vigorously argue:  "Yes, you do!"





*To be fair, "drf" and I as a family of two pay $120.50/month for our total family BC Care Card health care premium.  Readers in the US, you read that right:  That's $60.25 each, per month.  No deductibles, no co-pays.

Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Polar Plunge 2013 . . . .

It's been awhile since I've been or posted photos of Vancouver's English Bay Polar Bear Plunge.

Here's this year's crop of photos:





 Brrrrrr . . . .