Malarone

The VA is sending a new prescription of Malarone to my home, not my P.O. Box. Turns out they don't trust the USPS. A note on dosage: I will start taking the pills daily 2 days before I leave for Rio de Janeiro and will continue to take them until I am out of the risk zones, then I take it for 7 more days. It was recommended that I continue to take it after leaving Africa in that I will be in Rio again in a weeks time.

Computer Woes

A few months after booking this cruise I purchased a small "notebook" computer, a 6lb., thin, sexy job with a high-tech-looking "carbon-fiber-esque" cover. It was preloaded with Windows Vista and all the other "necessities." About two months ago it started to crash on a regular basis sporting an ominous blue screen with a cryptic "STOP" message with lots of letters and aughts. I was able to restore after the crashes but it did not stop them. After a bit of investigation I discovered that this was not an uncommon experience with this new Windows Vista. To be safe [I must blog!] I purchased a brand new Dell 5-pounder [not at all as sexy] at BestBuy and set about initializing it and preparing it for my trip. After the initial set-up and installation of the anti virus software and product registration the device informed me it would need to reboot to activate everything properly. Low and behold the evil blue screen made another appearance. This time I could not get it to restore. I phoned Dell and they told me it was most likely a software problem. I called Microsoft. "We can't even talk to you about it unless you pay." Of course this was accompanied by "We apologize for any inconvenience this may be causing you" and "We apologize for the difficulty you are having" "let me check with my supervisor" and so on. I appreciate courtesy in any situation but when these phrases are repeated between every sentence patience grows thin. Well, after supplying MS with my credit card I was told it wasn't their problem as the software came preloaded from Dell. It is Dell's problem. I finally convinced the technician to at least try to walk me through a reboot but he could not get past the blue screen either. I told him how upset this had made me and hung up. The next day I bought a MacBook. I immediately went to WiFi equipped cafe and set up my new notebook. I checked my e-mail and noticed 4 items from MS. I responded to each "apology" with my dismay about their seeming lack of concern for their customers and the the idea of beta-testing on an unsuspecting public and closed with "I am responding on my brand new MacBook which has yet to crash." Be forewarned. Vista is not yet ready for general consumption. There are many problems. They probably won't get solved until someone in the private sector discovers the solution. MS certainly can't handle it on their own. I was told that a new "service pack"was in the works that would address many of the "glitches" but it wasn't expected to be released for another couple of months. Don't buy a new computer pre-loaded with Vista. Stick it out with XP until you are sure that these problems are solved. There is a world of information about the problems with Vista on the web; just Google "Microsoft vista problems."
Now about the Mac. I have resisted buying a Mac for many years because I was generally satisfied with "other world" of PCs [are not Macs also PCs?]. I was also put off by the apparent cult-like advocacy of Mac users. I was aware that it was the tech-de-jour for artistic types and that it was so easy to learn [unless, of course, you grew up in the IBM environment]. I just didn't want to "drink the KoolAde." Well, Mac is now pretty much capable of handling more that the art world and I am going to give it a go. The fact that people don't hate Apple as much as they hate Microsoft eases the fear of viruses and hacking. I haven't found it that easy to use yet but I will get the hang of it and I can still use my home desktop [still equipped with XP] to handle QuickBooks and such. Remember, don't buy a Vista based computer, yet. Wait. Or try a Mac.

Malaria Meds and the USPS

It was decided a while ago that it would be prudent to take malaria medication for this trip. Malarone was recommended at the Public Health office in San Francisco. It was suggested that it is the most expensive but with the least side effects. I asked for it at the VA and was told I might have to pay extra but that it would be sent. Several alternatives are available one of which is now involved in litigation, one which requires a longer period/daily-dosing and one which has more pronounced side effects.
I waited for a couple of weeks after being told it was sent and finally called the pharmacy again and was told it was tracked to the post office in Healdsburg. When I inquired after it there and gave them my box number I got two, not one, "uh-ohs." My box is in a free-standing unit of some 50 boxes that is hinged to the wall and padlocked into place. two weeks before, someone came in, smashed the padlock and made off with the contents of the 50 boxes. Somewhere out there is a disappointed person trying to get high on malaria meds. The post office personnel decided to post a note on the out side of the box but it kept getting torn down [????]. I doubt that any one of the box-holders ever found out that they had been rifled. Of course it does not surprise me that they would be so cavalier about other peoples' property. I have requested a replacement prescription and hope it arrives and on time!