Oregon Fall Colors
Monday, November 20th, 2017My renter, Sharon, took photos of our yard in Salem. A nice respite from recent days in Oaxaca.
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A Medical Practice In The U.S.
Saturday, July 29th, 2017My husband, who was in a pediatric practice…which is basically a GP for little people… went to work at 8 and came home about 6…the last hour finishing up chart notes and patient call-backs…with an hour off for lunch. Four days a week. At least half the day “off” was spent making hospital “rounds.”
If there was a really sick baby, eg. a premature birth in the hospital, that doctor was on “call” 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Then each doctor in the group practice took turns taking after hours “call.” There were 5 doctors in his group. Patients could call in at all hours and on weekends free of charge. So that meant his sleep was disturbed many times during the night. It also meant he couldn’t plan much for the weekends on “call” as he had to stay near the phone.
Finally the last couple of years he “bought” out of call by taking less prorated monthly pay. Of course all the doctors shared the cost of a huge bookkeeping and managing staff and the nurses and translators. Pediatricians are among doctors who get the least pay…the joke being that you can’t charge as much for people under 3 feet tall. 😉
If a practice accepted medicare patients (and many medical groups are refusing to do this) a doctor is paid pennies on the dollar…about 70% less.
And a medical education in the U.S. costs upward of $300 to $500 thousand dollars. My husband finally paid off all his loans the last year of practice.
The happiest day of his life was the day he retired.
My son, who is an anesthesiologist, learned from his father, to be in a solo practice…works from 7am until usually 7 at night 5 and sometimes 6 days a week. He can’t refuse medicare patients because he is working for the surgeon. I worry about him.
Finally there is the issue of doctor depression and suicides, often during residencies with 24 hours “on” every other day and a punishing hazing culture in medical schools and teaching hospitals.
https://www.fastcompany.com/3056015/the-hidden-epidemic-of-doctor-suicides
The health system in the U.S is criminal.
Why I Prefer Oaxaca
Wednesday, June 28th, 2017 We expats are finding what we did not find "at home." I retired in 2002, traveled for 5 years, went back "home" for 2 months and was bored to tears. Most of my friends had moved ... [Continue reading this entry]
Emergency Trip To Salem
Friday, March 31st, 2017
Lost my iPhone! And locked out of iCloud and email! But most of all family and businesses lost access to my phone number! But I lucked out this time. Weather is mighty fine! Sleeping in Doug's trailer at the farm ... [Continue reading this entry]
The U.S. Is A Mess!
Wednesday, February 8th, 2017
Got back to Oregon in the middle of an ice and snow storm on Jan 5. The Lexus was sliding all over so had to rent an SUV. Had no idea it was so expensive to rent a car in ... [Continue reading this entry]
March 2015 Sun at the Oregon Farm
Friday, March 13th, 2015
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Spirit Prayer
Tuesday, March 10th, 2015
It was an amazing experience.
I was in my familiar Governor's Cup coffee shop in Salem Oregon talking with my friend when I told her I didn’t know what to do with all the Indian rocks my father inadvertently dug ... [Continue reading this entry]
Nearing The End of Insanity
Wednesday, March 4th, 2015
I have been renting the house out in Salem Oregon ever since I retired in 2002. After traveling for 5 years I settled as an expat in Oaxaca in 2006. I return to Salem about once a year for regular ... [Continue reading this entry]
Parting With Stuff In Oregon
Wednesday, March 4th, 2015
Darn, saw where the teachers, on strike, closed the airport in Oaxaca. But I suppose nothing lasts very long. I fly in next wednesday. Things should quiet down a bit after the elections Sunday. Now, of course, with ... [Continue reading this entry]
Oregon Thailand Hong Kong 2013-14
Saturday, November 23rd, 2013
Need new crowns on implants I got last spring while in Bangkok. Need to see my son Josh and his lovely Significant Other, Polly, in Hong Kong. And spend some time down south in Krabi Thailand with my son Doug ... [Continue reading this entry]
Weather
Thursday, May 16th, 2013Oregon Coast
Saturday, March 30th, 2013
Before flying out to Las Vegas from Salem/Portland to see my eldest son, I drove a couple hours to the coast to visit my cousin, Cindy and her husband Jim who live near Waldport. They were kind enough to ... [Continue reading this entry]
Salem, Oregon 2013
Saturday, March 23rd, 2013
Won't bore anyone with the sordid details of bureaucratic busy work while holed up at Howard Johnson's Motel since March 19, 2013.
However I did meet up with the few remaining old friends I have here...very fun!
Tomorrow I'll drive over to ... [Continue reading this entry]
Another winter in the States I won’t do again!
Friday, December 30th, 2011
Why have I spent the last three visits in the States during the winter, I ask myself. Well, spending time with at least two of my off-spring during Christmas has a lot to do with it. But perhaps ... [Continue reading this entry]
Freedom Country
Monday, October 25th, 2010
From Klamath Falls I cross the California border...past the WWII Japanese Internment camp at Newell near Tule Lake...euphemistically called the Tule Lake War Relocation Center...and head south toward Reno Nevada.
I have a blown-up photo of my father herding sheep ... [Continue reading this entry]
McDonald’s Waitress Makes My Day
Thursday, October 21st, 2010
No wonder there are so many "old people" at McDonalds! A $1.00 coffee is only 69 cents for seniors! The waitress looks up and says, you aren't a senior are you? I say yes, 66. She ... [Continue reading this entry]
A Conversation While Using McDonald’s WiFi In Klamath Falls
Wednesday, October 20th, 2010
I'm back at McDonalds...pretty good latte here...cheaper than Starbucks. I'm sitting in my car using their free WiFi when a bent-over older (old sounds unkind) fellow appears at my open car window which is apparently an invitation for conversation.
Watcha ... [Continue reading this entry]
Gone Huntin’ In Klamath Falls
Wednesday, October 20th, 2010
After 7 weeks in Salem Oregon taking care of a lot of unfinished business and spending time with my son Doug, who will be returning soon to Thailand to join his Thai wife, I am finally on my way back ... [Continue reading this entry]
I Hope I Never Have To Buy A Car Again
Wednesday, October 20th, 2010
Colorful indigenous mountain villages are wonderful to visit in Oaxaca. Having had an older SUV there for a year in 2007, I drove it back to the states where my son killed it...an oil leak in the motor.
But, missing ... [Continue reading this entry]
What A Good Friend Will Do
Sunday, May 30th, 2010
My extraordinary friend Lyn Horine put flowers on my parents' graves for Memorial Day because I wasn't there! And she didn't even know them!
Back Home in Oaxaca
Saturday, May 29th, 2010
Whew! What a ride! A week in Vegas, a month in Salem Oregon, a week in Hong Kong, 5 months in Thailand (4 in Bangkok and a month on Koh Samui) a week in Hong Kong again, 2 weeks in ... [Continue reading this entry]
Me In Las Vegas
Thursday, May 20th, 2010
After a week in Hong Kong, just in time to avoid the worst of the burning of Bangkok just up the road from Sukhumvit 20 where I was staying, I flew to Portland Oregon with a transfer in San Francisco ... [Continue reading this entry]
A Month in the States on the Way to Asia
Sunday, October 18th, 2009
This mainly for fam and friends...
Flew into Las Vegas from Oaxaca the end of September to spend a few days with my oldest son, Greg. Always a big treat. My old U.S. Samsung flip phone was on it's last legs ... [Continue reading this entry]
Waiting for Alaska Flight 624
Wednesday, December 24th, 2008
Had a heck of a time getting out on the plane in the worst storm in the NW in 40 years! After a two hour trip from Salem to the Portland airport over icy washboard Highway 99 because the ... [Continue reading this entry]
I Picked The Worst Day Ever To Travel
Friday, December 19th, 2008
It was supposed to be a simple trip from Oaxaca to Portland Oregon on December 17th to get stuff for my apartment in Oaxaca. In the first place the plane was an hour late out of Oaxaca. So I missed ... [Continue reading this entry]
Oregon In Summer
Thursday, July 31st, 2008
Oregon is most delightful in summer! Everything is so green. And my mouth has been watering for local strawberries, raspberries, peaches and cherries. And Walla Walla Sweet Onions! Cars obey the rules, garbage is picked up and motorcycles ... [Continue reading this entry]
Return To Oregon
Wednesday, June 18th, 2008
After 19 hours traveling from Bangkok to Tokyo to Portland, I am finally home...of course still waking up at night and napping during the day...a vicious cycle.
This is what I have come home to:
Retired Major General Antonio Taguba, who investigated ... [Continue reading this entry]
A Coincidence
Sunday, March 30th, 2008
Last night I opted for a foot massage at a place where the strong Isan masseuses from NE Thailand are trained at Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha). Dating from the 16th century, this monastery in Bangkok began ... [Continue reading this entry]
My Day
Thursday, November 29th, 2007
Well, I had quite a day yesterday. My son Doug, visiting me for the last three weeks from Thailand where he lives, woke me at 1 am. We finished getting his banking set up on the internet. Wrote ... [Continue reading this entry]
Meet UP With Suzanne & Herb Siegel
Saturday, September 1st, 2007
Met in Forest Grove for lunch
Return To Oregon
Saturday, August 25th, 2007
After a year in Oaxaca Mexico I drove through Mexico City (without getting killed) to Queretaro where my old Mexican-American friend, Patsy and her husband Jose, were waiting for me. Patsy and Jose are in Mexico trying to get legal ... [Continue reading this entry]
Contemplating Leaving
Sunday, July 8th, 2007
My one year visa in Mexico expires August 8. After visiting my son Greg in Las Vegas I should be back in Oregon by the middle of August...driving from Oaxaca to Queretaro to pick up my friend Patty who ... [Continue reading this entry]
“Oaxacans Like To Work Bent Over”
Tuesday, May 15th, 2007
This is the title of a paper issued this month by Seth Holmes with an M.D. from the University of California at San Francisco, and a Ph.D. in cultural and medical anthropology from UCSF and U.C. Berkeley. His paper, "'Oaxacans ... [Continue reading this entry]
This Side Of The Border Problem
Friday, April 27th, 2007
Oaxaca is Mexico's second poorest state with many mountain villages nearly empty of working age men. But over half of the poco English speaking men I have talked to have said they learned the language by working on the East ... [Continue reading this entry]
Driving From Oregon To Oaxaca
Tuesday, September 26th, 2006
After finally getting the title and registration to the Toyota, I drove down to Klamath Falls Oregon from Salem to see my second family Bea and Sal Florez who are being well-taken care of by a couple in their home. ... [Continue reading this entry]
Endless Errands In Oregon
Friday, September 8th, 2006
Nothing is ever easy. Came up to pick up my car and found that my name wasn't on the title and the registration had lapsed. Had to get a new title expedited from a friend in the Governor's ... [Continue reading this entry]
One Oaxacan Migrant Family
Monday, June 26th, 2006
Yesterday I went to Tule...a small town of about 15,000 near Oaxaca City. What a charming place. Most of the men are gone up north, my driver said (as a huge brand new black diesel pickup backed up ... [Continue reading this entry]
Oaxaca City
Friday, June 2nd, 2006
After three weeks in Salem sorting through 40 years of junk...one pile for St. Vincent de Paul, one pile for the dump, ... [Continue reading this entry] Culture Shock
Monday, April 3rd, 2006
as my mother would have said.): Am taking the liberty of posting Bob's April 3 email describing homecoming culture shock after arriving home in Oregon from Asia...very succinct.
good morning; On Comcast internet--- and it's fast. What a pleasure. The air is fresh. It's brisk. Everything green. No ... [Continue reading this entry]
Back To The West
Monday, October 17th, 2005
In mid-July, a year after leaving the States to travel through Eastern Europe, taking the Trans Siberian Train through Russia, Mongolia and China and then to Thailand Vietnam and Laos, I arrived back in LA on China Air...then Portland on ... [Continue reading this entry]
Thainess And The West
Sunday, July 17th, 2005
The July 2005 edition of the slick upscale magazine for English-speaking foreigners called The Big Chilli ran an article with interviews of prominent Bangkok residents to get their views of what constitutes Thai culture. Two were Thai and two ... [Continue reading this entry]
Zoe