We've Been Shot!

This past week, August 25 - 30 has been hectic!

First huge item for Monday was going to the Capital Care Travellers Clinic to find out what shots we needed and what meds. We had already gotten the first 2 shots for Hep A&B, but needed to have the 3rd still, 6 months after the second. That would make the date not quite before we leave, but we were going to fake it!!

Well, once we got to the travellers clinic, any anxiety I had about health problems were NOT dimished by the LOUD TV they had in the waiting room which recyled a tape over and over and over describing every terrible way you can get sick, AND, my favorite, every colorful description possible on "Delhi Belly", "Turkey Trots" and "Montezuma's Revenge" - take your pick!!! Well, its' a topic I know a lot about anyway, so the added facts and color commentary were NOT soothing!!! Imodium, don't fail me now!!

Next we saw a nurse. She proceeded to show us a map of South Africa and started in on what we needed. Compliments on having the first 2 shots for Hep A&B, but said we MUST be AT LEAST 6 months between second and third, and if there is any doubt about that ( there is!), we should leave the third until we return. She said we are covered with the first 2, and taking the 3rd too soon negates having a lifetime immunity!

She told us we also needed a shot for tetanus/diptheria (combined in one shot, and a shot for typhoid - she shot us! Then we would need to take Cipro with us, a prescription antibiotic drug for diarrhea caused by bacteria, and a presription drug for treatment of general bacterial illness like bronchitis/pneumonia. Also some Tylenol 1, because it has some codeine in it - good to stop diarrhea, mosquito repellant with a high percentage of Deet (purchased from them!) - passed on the bed netting they sell - I presume that's what you get in the private game reserve that costs a million $$$$$$ a night, for craps sake!

I had also been having some tooth pain the week before, so our dentist gave me a prescription for some pennicillan just in case, and a miracle cream that zapped the stress canker I had!! On Monday AM, before going to the traveller's clinic in the PM, I had been to my dermatologist for a prescription for cream to put on bites (I react to bites) and, my favorite, a new Epipen (mine was past date)because I will go into anaphylactic shock from wasp bites. This is a gizmo I have to carry at all times and if bitten, either myself, or some kind soul with me, must take the lid off the pen and jab the needle into my thigh for an injection of epinephrine to keep your heart going (and give me a panic attack in the process!). That will be Nurse Denis's job - pray I don't need it!

Then there was the big one - MALARIA! All of the options were outlined, but if you don't want hallucinations and bad side effects, you opt for Malarone - the expensive one. We had heard a rumor that it was $45 a pill, but I think it was actually about $5 a pill. We start on it one day before we go to Zululand, which is just on the border of the malaria area, then we go from there to Kruger National Park, so we keep taking one a day right through the time at Kruger and then for a nother week after leaving - the week we are in Scotland! We were told only 1-3% experience side effects, so I am going with a positive attitude, but often with meds I AM the 1-3% - hope not this time!!

Then the clinic suggests you take any over the counter meds you use here, with you ie: tylenol,zantac,imodium,gravol, gastrolite powder packets for electrolite rehydration in case of diarrhea,etc. YIIIIIIIKES - I have been to the pharmacy at least 5 times!

The problem is that you have to make sure you carry all of this stuff in your carry-on in case your luggage gets lost permanently! I am a very organized person for my travel stuff - I have wonderful clear zip cases from Mtn. Equip. Comp. that I put the meds in - one for prescription, one for over-the-counter and another one for my own stuff I take. Tom has another of his meds.

I must say this has been the most stressful part of getting ready for this trip. The clothes etc. have been easy, but I have found getting and packing all these meds was stressful for me - we will probably never need them, except for the malaria, but smart travellers should always have them.

The nurse at the clinic was very knowledgable and told us everyone who travels anywhere today should have these shots. Hep A&B in particular, every traveller should have tetanus and the others are good. These bugs are everywhere she said, not just in unusual countries. Certainly Mexico travellers and Caribbean travellers should have them, and even the US and central Europe have these things. Tom and I got very sick in Portugal while being incredibly careful how we ate and drank - we came back, and after taking samples to the lab for a month, they found we had picked up - through food - an intestinal parasite that is endemic there - NICE!!

I have been sick all 3 times I have been in the Caribbean (it is waaaay too dirty there for me to go back)including when we stayed in the world famous Atlantis Resort in Nassau - we drank the bottled water they gave us in the hotel, got really sick and when I came back and still had a bottle of their water, the Dr. pointed out that it may be the La De Da Atlantis, but one check of the bottle and there is nothing about it being purified or being spring water - often they are filled out of a tap or hose somewhere - NO MORE CARIBBEAN for me!!!

Same thing for the Virgin Islands - came back sick!

Do you see why I am such a huge Maui fan - just relax, eat the food and drink the water. Never had so much as a stomach ache there - love it!!!!! Tom has qualified for the Manulife Top Performers conference in Puerto Rico in May, so guess we will be medically good to go!!!!!!!

Well, we've covered the illness bases. Tom thinks we may get stopped at the border for running an import drug business (tee hee). I just hate the damn room they take up in my bag!!

Next, on to putting the clothes in the suitcase - they're on the bed, now how much room will they take - OF COURSE I'M NOT TAKING TOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tom is Totally Ready From Tilley's!

Men are stubborn - damn stubborn! I have experience around this statement - 19 years with Tom and 19 years with JB. I have done 38 years of hard time, and MEN ARE STUBBORN!!

What do you need when you are planning a trip to Africa, which will include a safari - the right travel clothes. Who specializes in that type of clothing - Tilley Endurables!

I'm sure most of you have heard of the famous Canadian invented "Tilley Hat". For my friends in the US that I met at Duke, here's the story. Alex Tilley from Toronto looked for years for the perfect sailboat - he found it - then he realized he needed the perfect sailing hat - one that could stand up to the elements (good and bad), could take salt air and waves and still survive. In 1980 he began to invent his hat.

The rest is history. Tilley hats are known far and wide and worn by many travellers around the world. Alex Tilley himself presented many to sail race contestants in Austrailia! The hats have a lifetime guarantee - replaced at a moments notice, and have a secret pocket inside for valuables!! Much of their clothing has these pockets. Alex gets many testamonial letters from travellers about how great they found his clothing and hat, and many tell how the secret pockets saved them from being robbed of money and stuff!

His company, Tilley Endurables, has gone on to manufacture everything light and quick drying, while being fashionable, for travellers. The stuff is great - if curious, just google Tilley Endurables and take a look.

But I digress - back to stubborn men! Victoria has 2 Tilley stores, and Tilley hats are as common as rain showers at the wet coast. When we were at the condo in May, I suggested to Tom that we should go get a hat and he should also get one of their fabo safari vests with the zillion pockets (some of them secret!)to carry all his photographic gizmos in. NOOOO INTEREST! NOPE - he did NOT WANT a Tilley hat. I have had one since the first week they came out in 1983, also bought my dad one, and we always looked very jaunty and travelled when we were together wearing them!

I dropped the subject since I HAVE a Tilley hat - old and worn, but rather cache still! And I'm not a nag - I'm a motivational speaker!

We are out in Victoria in July and I rethink the issue again, and mainly want Tom to get the vest, sooooo I may have mentioned it again, the motivational speaker thing - OK I lie - now I hounded him about it!!! Sometimes you get lucky - he decided we would go look - probably because our Maui friend B.J. was visiting and she expressed interest too - thanks B,J,!!!!

Long story short (but not that short now!!), Tom walks in (2 visits to both stores), starts trying on everything the salesgirls (who were now fawning over him - you know - the blue eyes and that innocent charm thing he pulls!)were pitching into his change room.

Only $1,000.00 later he could be in their catalogue - shirts, shorts, pants, "overnight dry" undershorts, a jacket, the SAFARI VEST, and, of course, the TILLEY HAT!! And he looked dashing in the hat - I have never seen a hat that looks good on Tom. And he is smiling widely when B.J. and I ooh and aw about every outfit.

They sell women's clothes too - in the store, mainly sizes 8 & 10 - while I AM a 10 (???) they weren't my style. Come on, B.J., who is Mrs. Thin, couldn't even get something to fit! Soooo, I got a new (microfiber now, and nicer style)Tilley hat and a 3 ounce umbrella, THAT'S IT - PERIOD! So, Mr. Stubborn walked out with 4 bags of clothes, which he can now just dump into his suitcase and he's packed!!!!!!! And now, he talks like it was all his idea!!!

I hope to attach a picture of Mr. Stubborn looking soooo cool (and rather smoochie I think) trying out his new hat while kayaking in July. So, I will end as I started.

Men are stubborn - damn stubborn!

P.S. Please lay on your side to see middle picture - I am still learning - should have rotated picture first, ya think??? Ron, you'll wet your pants from laughing that hard!!!!!

Seemed Like a Good Idea Last August!

Well, here we are - less than two weeks from leaving for South Africa!

Am I excited - yes, am I anxious - yes, am I worried at all - yes!

This all started last August when we got talking with our good friends Gary and Denise, who are originally from South Africa. They moved here 8+ years ago. Gary is an engineer and Denise is a nurse (thank gawd - she WILL be able to save me from anything untoward on this trip!!!!). When they were in South Africa, Gary was offered an engineering position here in Edmonton, and because of the changes that had taken place in South Africa, and the limitations in lifestyle that had resulted from that (more crime etc.)they jumped at the opportunity.

We have listened in wonderment to all the great stories of their beautiful country and the animals and safaris - thinking it would be the dream of a lifetime to see their country!

Once we had declared that, one thing led to another, they were going to go "home" this fall to visit friends and "rellies" and I'm not sure if we invited ourselves to go along, or they actually asked us - I'm sure it was the latter LOL!

We grabbed all of our aeroplan points and made the plane reservations last August!!! Sounded like heaven with lots of "shits and giggles"!!!

Over the year, as we have gotten together with Gary and Denise, we have made all of the rest of the plans for the trip - routes, where we'll go, accommodations. So, at that time, when we decided we were going I was ecstatic - but my "worry gene" hadn't kicked in yet - that took a year to happen!

YIKES - now it's almost time to go and I am getting MUCH more worried! Remember, I heard all of the stories of crime etc. that influenced them to move here. Also we have many other wonderful friends from South Africa, all introduced to us by Patrick, a radiologist, and Renee, a teacher, who moved here before Gary and Denise. They are from Johannesburg, and I have heard so many stories from them of the crime and dangers that exist particularly in "Jo'burg". Renee comes back from there today, where she was visiting her elderly sick father, but she had cancelled going a few weeks ago because of the danger, but then knew she had to go and see him. She is back here today, so I will definitely be calling her!

I AM feeling somewhat anxious - I don't want to be knifed, and my kidneys sold on ebay! I have been told:
-NOT to wear jewellery
-be aware of your surroundings at all times,
-don't look rich or dress so that you stand out
-don't flash your cameras around
-don't go out after dark
-don't flirt with the Zulu nude male dancers - OK I lied about that - I plan to!

See what I mean - I love adventure, but fear is not an emotion I like!

Also, I don't want to get sick there. Remeber, I have the terrible gut (aka. awful IBS) and I really don't want to have bad attacks there - the kind where you have about 20 seconds to find a bathroom! I mean, where do you "go" when one strikes you in the safari jeep, just as you come upon the lion kill? Certainly not behind a bush! As most of you know, my middle name is "Imodium", so I hope it gets me through!

My game plan is to really avoid my IBS triggers - two of which are fatigue and stress - and eat very conservatively - no warthog, giraffe, water buffalo or crocodile for me. This trip may be the best diet I've ever been on - toast, toast, fish, fish and back to toast!

Well, my fridge magnet says "Worry is the interest we pay on trouble before it comes", and gawd knows I've done that plenty of times, so I'm trying to relax, find good drugs and think that everything will be great and safe!!! I've got Dr. Tommy, Nurse Denise and Tour Guide Extrordinaire Gary with me, so what could go wrong, huh?

I am accepting all words of comfort by telephone, so if you have words of relaxation, please call! Remember farther up in the post I said I thought it would be "shits and giggles"? Now I'm praying for JUST the giggles!!!!

Started Early, Now I'm Behind!!!

Yup, thought I would post regularly after the first set up post, but life and summer, and the new deck at home "trauma", and holidays in Victoria got in the way!!!

Now I am into panic mode about being behind and getting ready! Bet you're surprised to find ME in panic mode - it's only my middle name, as you all know!!

Just found out that we should have had an appointment at the Capital Health Travellers Clinic 6 - 8 weeks ago. We got the first 2 of our Hep A&B shots - one more just before we leave, but that's not all we need.

Went to family doctor for the malaria nasty meds and he told me to go to the travellers clinic - they are totally up to date on the beasties and bugs in the various regions of the worlds, and I should talk to them about the correct malaria meds. So, I went off to Vic and thought you could just drop into that clinic anytime - NO, NO, NO - it's booked almost as long as the passport line!

So, Tommy and I will go on Monday Aug. 25 to see what else we need - definitely tetanus (good for any travel!) maybe polio booster, maybe typhoid/diptheria booster - I have no idea, but I sure as hell wish I had done this earlier - me, who reacts to every med on earth, and I'm doing this at the last minute - GREAT!!!!

Oh my!!! Have to dash, but please come back for the exiting "Seemed Like a Good Idea Last August" post, as well as "Tommy is Totally Ready From Tilley" - both filled with my total emotional rants and stuff!!

See you later!