Puerto Vallarta’s Hospital Regional spokespersons are demanding an expansion in order to accommodate at least 40 additional beds. They claim that what this town needs desperately is a maternity hospital, because 80% of their beds are occupied by women who have given birth, while other patients are left waiting in the admissions or waiting rooms, or in the hallways.
I mention this because, though it is true, this is not the only place where such occurrences happen. Last week, Reuters published an article entitled “U.S. Hospitals Try to Pick Up the ER Pace” that read as follows: «It’s the sort of promotion you might expect from a pizza delivery chain, not a U.S. hospital system. Like the pizzeria that picks up the bill for taking too long … For those who do endure long waits, hospitals offer meal vouchers, baseball and movie passes and written apologies… In a 2006 report, the Institute said backlogs cause ambulances to be turned away from emergency departments once a minute on average and patients wait sometimes hours or even days for a bed. Last month a 43-year-old woman died in the waiting room of a Los Angeles-area hospital emergency department after a perforated bowel was not treated swiftly. “I’d say one quarter of the nation’s emergency rooms are doing this now,” said American Hospital Association spokesman Rick Wade. “Over the next five years you’ll see this pretty much everywhere except in the smallest hospitals.”
And this is no different from Canada, where health care is free, and the situation may be even worse. So I guess we who live here in “paradise” shouldn’t complain, when we consider the excellent care available at institutions such as AmeriMed, the Cornerstone, Medasist, the CMQ and San Javier. Now if the Red Cross could only get some $$$ to put all of their ambulances back on the road, we’d be truly blessed. Right now, they only have one or two in working order.
And talking about resources, I have to confess that I was never a «bingo person», but because of the people involved in the first even Celebrity Bingo night here, I figured I would attend.
Besides, raising funds for the R.I.S.E. children’s shelter is always a good thing. I had such a great time that I think I’m going to mark every Thursday throughout the summer as bingo night in my little agenda book. Except for Ida Slapter’s shows, I don’t remember having laughed so much at any event… Read JOY!’s review in this issue and think seriously about joining us on Thursday.
Among the attendee-players was Mr. Jim McCarthy. Now some of you who live here may remember that this gentleman is the founder of the Eagle's Wings Foundation here in PV. It all began 7 years ago, with his proposal to add a voluntary $6.50 US charge to the maintenance fee bills sent out to time share owners at Villa del Palmar and Villa del Mar. His idea was so well received that they raised somewhere around $100,000. US in voluntary contributions the very first year. Since then, other time share complexes have joined the Foundation and the moneys (around $1 Million US or more so far) are donated to a whole lot of non-profit organizations around town - including the Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza (R.I.S.E.) children's shelter.
Another local "celebrity", Tom Colvin, PV’s own music guru, was there too. Tom seldom writes about restaurants, but when he does, you can be sure that it’s a place that truly impressed him. A few months ago, he sent in a review on a new place called Encuentros – a pizza bar lounge. I heard a lot of good things about the place since then, but for one reason or another, I never got to sample it myself – until last week. What an absolutely delightful place! Soft lights, soft colors, loads of strategically-placed candles, soft, cool jazz-type music, and absolutely fabulous pizza! Now I understand why Tom didn’t want to tell us too much about the pizza… it’s truly unusual, and deeelicious. As it happened, after never having gone there, I ended up having dinner there twice in one week, just ‘cause that is where my son wanted to go for Father’s Day. I can’t blame him. Some thirty different types of original martinis, another thirty or so different, unusual cocktails, about ten different pizzas (one is plenty for one person), some truly tasty appetizers and two decadent desserts. As a matter of fact, on my second visit, I just ordered two appetizers for dinner. Drop in and see for yourself, owner Ari Tanur will take good care of you. Encuentros is at 312 Lazaro Cardenas, between Insurgentes and Constitucion, in the Romantic Zone on the south side of town. It opens at six and happy hour (2 for 1) is from 8 to 10!
I also had a delightful brunch with Jay Ailworth and his lovely wife, Laurie, at Eric Lenoir’s Paris Café on Pino Suarez corner of Aquiles Serdan (near the now-defunct Molino de Agua property). If the name sounds familiar, that’s because many of the photos gracing the Tribune’s covers lately were taken by Jay. We’d been meaning to get together for months but things being the way they are here, and the fact that the Ailworths live on the North Shore, it just hadn’t happened. Needless to say, I left with a bag full of Eric’s delightful croissants and pastries, after having enjoyed one of his always-perfect quiches.
Getting back to Father’s Day… If you found yourself in an especially good mood that weekend, it may have been due where you were in relation to the prevailing winds. The PGR (federal authorities) burned two tons of that special grass (you know the kind I mean, Mary Jane) that weekend, stuff they had confiscated from the various drug dealers in town.
While I’m on sweet-smelling substances, our friend Pat Henry (who’s tangoing to her heart’s content in San Francisco as you read this) tells us that «There is a lady selling Avon from her house on the north side of Francisco Madero (between Aguacate and Jacarandas, 1-½ blocks east of Insurgentes). She is usually sitting just inside her door during the day, waiting for customers. There is a small sign on the door, but you may not notice it if you are walking east. I don’t have the street number. That is where I buy my Skin So Soft (as mosquito repellent), and it works!»
An observation I’ve been meaning to share with you for the last couple of weeks: After not having received our Telecable guide at all last month, we did get the June edition soon after the beginning of the month. I wanted to check out the channels, just to see what other changes they may have made, other that eliminating «my» SciFi channel… Well, guess what? There is no such list. Nowhere in the 96-page, glossy paper magazine! So if you’re a newcomer to Vallarta’s Telecable service, and you want to know what channel a particular station might be on … forget it!
Canada Day will be celebrated on its eve this year, that’s Saturday night, June 30th, at the No Name Café, as it has been for the last few years. That way, those who like to hoist a few or more will be able to sleep in the next day… It’s always loads of fun, plenty of good food, good music, and great raffle prizes! So if you’re a Canuck like me, or just friends of ours, please do join us! Lyne Benoit, our tireless Honorary Consul, always makes sure we have a great time.
Until then, don't forget Bingo night atthe Lazy Lizard on Thursday ...and maybe brunch at the Botanical Gardens on Sunday, after the Canada Day bash... Sounds like a good idea.
Whatever you do, I wish you all a wonderful week, and a most Happy Birthday, Canada! Hasta luego. pvmom04@yahoo.com
No comments:
Post a Comment