Dreading a New Computer

 

My old laptop has seen better days. It still works, but has problems recognizing the battery. We bought a new battery hoping that would fix the problem, but it's not the battery. It's the computer. David searched on-line and tried all sorts of suggested remedies. Nothing worked. If we were always in the land of plentiful power, it would not be a problem … I'd just leave it plugged in. But on the boat it's another story, so regretfully we set about finding a new laptop to take back to the boat with me. We find that laptops have an expected life of 2-3 years on the boat. Considering how hostile the environment is, I guess that's not bad.

I specified what I wanted and David, God bless him, did the research. We were working within a modest budget, but my requirements aren't that stringent. Long battery life, enough USB ports, SDHC slot for picture upload, enough memory to hold current data and fast enough to edit videos, photos and books without causing me to blow a gasket waiting impatiently. We've always had good luck with Toshibas. The one I'm replacing is an HP and I hated it from the start. Yet, getting rid of a computer is always a bittersweet thing. All that data to be transferred.

So I bought the new laptop a month ago and it's been sitting on Mary's kitchen counter since then waiting for me to do something with it. I dreaded the data transfer … it always take forever. I dreaded doing the virus scan … it takes forever. I dreaded using the new computer … Windows 8. Really, Bill Gates, do I have to put in my password every time I sign on even though the computer never leaves the boat? How do I get to the “classic” look versus the new Apple look? I mean, if I wanted an Apple (and I did, but it was too $$), I would have purchased one.

Well, nothing like waiting till the last minute. We're a couple of days from departure and I'm only now starting to begin the data transfer and I don't mind telling you, I'm particularly grumpy. David backed up everything to an external hard drive and scanned it all. He actually did all the hard work and still, I'm complaining about the data transfer to the new computer. It's a Toshiba Satellite … some version or other. It's faster than my old computer by a long shot. It's also bigger which required a new case. A charged battery has a 4-hour run life which is double the old one, when the battery was working, that is. Some of the keys are in different places. It's going to take some getting used to. Did I mention it's a Windows 8 operating system?

I'm slowly transferring the data and re-loading all my programs. It's a tedious task. The countdown clock is tick, tick, ticking. Mary's inheriting my old computer … keeping it plugged in isn't a problem for her. I'll erase all my old data and Mary will begin transferring hers to her new computer. I hope my new one lasts a long, long time.

Monsoon Season ... in the Mojave Desert?

 

For some reason, when I think “monsoon”, I think wet. I think of West Africa, Indonesia, Southeast Asia and India. Las Vegas never comes to mind. Yet this time of year is termed the monsoon season here and I was interested in finding out why.

A monsoon is traditionally defined as “a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation.” There's some debate as to whether the North American incomplete wind reversal is technically a monsoon, but that's what the U.S. National Weather Service chooses to call it.

It's more a seasonal change here that brings moist winds from the Gulf of Mexico and raises humidity levels, sometimes developing into dramatic desert thunderstorms that can cause flash flooding. Even when there is no rain, the season brings a rise in dry lightning storms increasing the risk of lightning striking dry trees and causing fires. We've witnessed flash flooding here. It's not pretty.

According to the National Weather Service, the wettest monsoon season since they have been keeping records was 1984 when 3.94" of rain fell. The driest was in 1944 when only a trace of rain was recorded at the official weather monitoring station at McCarran International Airport.

It's early yet. So far, monsoon season has been an increase in humidity and therefore discomfort, and enough raindrops to prompt the weeds in Mary's backyard to start poking up. The pigeons have had an opportunity for a little splash in the puddles. We'll see how the season progresses, but we're hoping we'll be back to sea soon … no fear of flooding there, but monsoons … that's a different story.

Third World Dental Care in a First World Country

 

It seems my life lately has been relegated to the waiting line. I waited in the infernal DMV line to get my license and thought I'd gone to hell, but wow, the local dentist put the DMV to shame here. I'm at that age (young at heart, but full-bodied) when my old dental work is starting to deteriorate. I cracked another crown recently and had to have it repaired. We participate in a Cigna Plus dental program that offers reduced pricing on dental work, and so far this has worked quite well for us.

I was in a hurry … there's so much going on right now. David found a list of participating dentists and I chose the closest one. I called, confirmed they accepted Cigna Plus and made an appointment. I did not say it was an emergency, but I did ask for an appointment as soon as possible. I did not check references on-line. Big mistake.

I might add we've had first world medical care in third world countries … Chile, for instance, provided great medical care for David in a dire emergency situation. We've had third world medical care in a third world country. In Venezuela, the physician used crystals and aroma therapy to treat my sciatica (didn't work). We've also had third world dental care in a third world country … the dentist in Ecuador who “cleaned” our teeth with a q-tip soaked in peroxide … while she watched a soap opera. Anyhow, I was disappointed, to say the least, in the dental care recently provided and I'm on my soapbox whinging about it.

I arrived 10 minutes early for my Noon appointment as requested to fill our new patient paperwork, a ream of paper and lots of healthcare questions (laborious, but valid). A whole page required me to initial that I understood things like the fact it is possible to aspirate a crown and they'd do their best to recover it. This did not instill confidence. I refused to initial the statement that said they could charge me up to $200 if I didn't cancel an appointment within 48 hours. At 12:30, the receptionist called me up to the front desk. My dentist was leaving at 1pm and couldn't see me, but another dentist was coming in at 1pm … only another half hour. Patience is not my virtue. I was grumpy.

A little after 1pm, a dental tech called me for x-rays.

“I only need one … the one for the broken crown”, I said.

“No, you need a panoramic view, too,”, she responded firmly.

“No, I only need the one for the broken crown”, I replied.

“Step right up and put your forehead against here and …”

Whir, whir, whir … it wasn't working correctly.

Another whir, whir, whir … still not working correctly.

One more set of whir, whir, whirs and she had her panoramic view and I heard cha-ching.

She attempted to take my blood pressure three times, but the machine wasn't working.

“What's your usual BP?” I told her and she wrote it down.

She settled me into a dental chair, took the needed x-ray and put the TV on. “I don't need the TV, thanks.” She left. I got up, turned off the TV and waited. Around 1:30 pm, the dentist walked in.

“What's the matter, dear?”

“Broken crown.”

“OK”, he confirmed after a quick check. “I'll have someone talk to you about the cost of replacing it.” He was gone in a flash.

Lest it takes you as long to read this as it took me to get treatment, I'll hasten the pace.

1:35 – Review pricing and approve … $200 more than anticipated, but ...

1:40 – Unknown person walks in and turns on TV … I shut it off

1:45 – More forms to sign

1:50 – Tech takes impression by loading my mouth with goop which makes me gag and drool profusely

1:53 – Tech sticks long swab with local anesthetic on my gum and leaves

1:55 - Unknown person walks in and turns on TV … I shut it off

2:15 – Dentist administers novocaine

2:30 – Dentist checks to see if I'm numb … “Yes, in fact, it's starting to wear off already.”

2:40 – Dentist completes removing old crown and attempts to do a tooth impression for the new crown, but it doesn't come out well and he blames the tech. It needs to be done again. In the process, much goop is dripped on my face and dental bib. Goop needs to harden before they can do it again. “I'll be back shortly, dear.”

2:55 – Second attempt to get impression is “textbook perfect” says the dentist. He informs me that the tech will make me a temporary crown and then proceeds to instruct me about temporary crowns. My mouth is full of crowns … I get temporary.

3:15 – Tech returns and makes a temporary crown, glues it in place and schedules my follow-up appointment. She dawdles. I'm reclined in the dental chair. I remove my bib, sit up and get out of the chair. Let's get a move-on.

3:30 – I am reunited with David who has waited for 3-1/2 hours. We pay the bill and David notes I have goop all over the side of face.

3:45 – I return home, attempt to wipe off the goop with a wet facecloth and I find I have a bright red rash about the size of a half-dollar on the side of my face that is hot and stinging.

4:00 – A call to the dentist confirms that there is absolutely nothing he could have done to cause this. Keep a cold compress on it and if it persists, call him back (although he doesn't think there's anything they can do since it had nothing to do with them).

Well, I still have the rash on my right cheek, though it's fading. The budget will survive though I hate spending money for replacement stuff (boat or teeth). I haven't quite gotten over the 3-1/2 hour wait, but writing this blog helps relieve some of the pressure. Complaining needs an outlet. I'll put my soapbox away now. I'll wait to get my permanent crown before giving them a rave review.