Travel Safe - Travel Smart - Enjoy Your Vacation

The most recent Canadian victim of violence in Mexico is now back in Canada, and hopefully on the road to a full recovery.  The news has portrayed incidents such as this as “attacks on Canadians”.  True enough, the lady was Canadian and she was attacked.  Was she a target because she was Canadian?  I sure don’t know and I don’t believe there has been any motive released for the attack.  I think the fact that she was alone, and the perpetrator was high on booze and cocaine, had more to do with it than the fact she was Canadian. 

 Another report that came to light as a result of this incident was of a Canadian man who was hit over the head outside a restaurant near the same RIU Hotel in Mazatlan.  He apparently walked outside to look at some venders..... alone.  A good sameritan - aka a taxi driver (who is paid a commission) took him to a private medical clinic. They did nothing for him except put a $4500.00 charge on his credit card.  He eventually did make it to a hospital and was treated for his injuries.  This scam, apparently is not uncommon.

These two incidents have one common denominator......the victims were both alone.  If there is one rule that has been pounded into my head by the organizers I have  travelled with is............never go anywhere alone...........regardless of how safe the area is proposed to be.  Whether you are at a 5 Star resort in Mexico, a small town in Nicaragua, or walking at night in downtown Toronto, there is safety in numbers.  Some may argue that it shouldn’t be that way, and I would agree.  However, reality proves otherwise.  There are elements in this world that can turn on any of us for no apparent reason at any time.  Statistics show that the chances of an incident of violence taking place is very small, but it does exist.   

Pochomil Beach, Nicaragua

Don’t let the beauty and tranquility of a vacation destination coupled with a few drinks give you a false sense of security.   Read up on and be aware of the potential dangers.  Develop safe habits, avoid wearing expensive jewelryand don't take anything for granted.  Travel safe, travel smart and enjoy your vacation.

Government of Canada - Travel Reports and Warnings

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/menu-eng.asp

"A Romantic Affair"

The West Grey - Durham Lions will be hosting a voyage on The Love Boat to celebrate their annual Valentines Dinner and Dance.  The voyage entitled "A Romantic Affair" will set sail on Saturday Februay 11, 2012.  If past performance is any indication, this will be a truly first class event.  Please copy this poster and send it to all your friend.

NOTE - Free Skate Time Change

There has been a time change for the Lions Free Skate to take place on Feb. 20, 2012.  It is now scheduled for 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Durham Arena.

Good Luck - Bad Luck -Coincidence?

We just got back from a Habitat for Humanity build in Masachapa Nicaragua.  While there we made some new friends, experienced a number of amazing people and extraordinary things.  None was more amazing than the recipient of the home.  This lady (named Mercedes) could carry a bag of cement, haul water, mix cement and shovel dirt - barefoot - as well as anyone.  To boot, she did all this while suffering from the pain of a tooth as rotten as a bad apple.  We all felt for her - what more can I say?

We worked with two young masons, Alex and Carlos, both kind hearted and grateful to have us there.  It took about a day for them to get comfortable with us, but from then on we molded into a well oiled block laying, cement mixing, water hauling machine.  Near the end of the build we took a group picture with the hope of getting a print made as a keep sake for our co-workers.  (GOOD LUCK)  Scarleth, a local Habitat worker, had a portable printer - just insert the SD Card and out comes the print.  She brought it to our hotel, and for the price of a Toña, (a local Cerveza) she would print us a few copies.  I got the Toña, she showed up with the printer, and our plan was about to fall into place........well that is until my SD Card wouldn't work in her printer. (BAD LUCK) No problem, team member Linda had a group photo on her camera. Her card didn't work either!!!!  What next?

We decided that we needed to find a Laptop computer, copy the photo to an SD Card that Scarleth knew worked in her printer.  So off I went.  There were a group of Americans staying in our hotel.  I approached a man carrying a notebook computer and told him of our situation.  Without hesitation he came to our assistance.  The transfer of the photo was successful and the prints rolled out of the mini inkjet.

During the procedure of transferring the data and printing the photos, we chatted with our new American friend.  Turned out their group included Medical Doctors, Pasters, Eye Doctors, and guess what he was...........a Dentist!!!!  Now back to Mercedes and her bad tooth. (COINCIDENCE?)

The next morning, at 9 a.m. sharp, team member Linda, and a couple Habitat Nicaragua workers, helped Mercedes into the truck and struck out to find the clinic.  Within two hours they returned.  Mercedes' dental problem had been removed.

One could try to annalise or explain the chain of events that lead to the meeting of the Dentist, but I think I'll just leave it at - Thankyou Dr. Hogan.

Left - Scarleth (Habitat Nicaragua)
Middle - Mercedes
Right - Elisa (Habitat Nicaragua)

Crapping Out on Your Resolution?

I am not one to make New Years Resolutions, but I know many people who do, and for the most part crap out within a very short time.  The top 3 New Years Resolutions as posted on About.com are:

1 - Spend more time with family and friends

2 - Fit in fitness

3 - Tame the bulge

With the facilities that we have in our area, these three life enhancing resolutions can all be rolled into one and successfully obtained.  The only catch is YOU.  One can want something or one can be determined to obtain something.  There is a big difference, that being, "wanna bee's" fail, and "determined to bee's" succeed.  

Enjoy the Outdoors

The Durham Conservation Park provides an abundance of opportunity to improve our fitness, tame the bulge and spend time with family and friends.  It is an excellant place to walk or swim in the summer, and cross country ski, snow shoe, or tobaggan in the winter.  Combining a weiner roast, night ski, or scavenger hunt with any of these activities equals more time spent with familty and/or friends.....and at very little to no cost.

There is free Adult skating as well as Mom's and Tots at area Arenas as well as Public Skating at minimal cost.  

If hitting the Gym is more appealing to you, Durham Fitness Center is the place to go.  The selection of equipment and classes provide something for everyone.  Grab a friend or family member, or go on your own.  The active environment and supportive staff will definitely be a great benefit in assisting you to fullfil your objectives.

If you made one, two or three of the these resolutions you can see there is no reason not to keep it.  Good luck and have fun! 

Interesting Info - Local Health Care Salaries

The Provincial Government has made public salaries of Hospital and Boards of Public Health officials.  I post this for information purposes and am in no way passing judgement.

Public Sector Disclosure 2011

Some of the titles and the associated salaries did leave me scratching my head.  For example there are six figure salaries attached to the likes of:

"Chief Information Officer" 

"Director - Organizational Accountability"

"Chief Quality Officer"  

Regardless, the posting of this information is long overdue.  No doubt some people will feel some heat but, by the same token, that heat may be a good thing for the system. 

2011 Was A Good Year.

Listening to the evening news can make a person think that everyday life for the average person is full of misery and despair.  

Interestingly enough, the results of an Ipsos Reid poll published in the Montreal Gazette today would indicate otherwise.  It states that 74% of those polled said 2011 was a good year overall.  Only 6% considered 2011 a “very bad” year and 21% considered it a “somewhat bad” year.

Financial matters scored lowest with 61% saying they were happy.  Health, personal happiness and social life all scored high marks with 76 to 84% of those polled indicating satisfaction.  

Reducing negativity and concentrating on the things that make us healthier and happier will make 2012 even better.