Going to Italy!

Aloha Everyone,

J.J. and I will be going to Italy for 5 weeks. We depart for Rome on September 20th and return on October 27th. The two of us will visit our friends in Artena, a town located southeast of the capitol. We intend to revisit some of our favorite places -- Rome, Venice, Florence, but also spend time exploring smaller towns including Lucca, Padua, Cinque Terre, etc. Once we settle in a place, our form of transportation will mainly be walking, taking public bus, and local trains.

This morning we met Chris who is a good family friend. Chris and his wife recently returned from their honeymoon to Switzerland and Italy. This was a perfect opportunity to ask questions about their travel experiences including challenges Chris and his wife faced, if any. It was nice to know that they also used Rick Steves book on Italy and found its content helpful. Chris is 6' 4" and he has a well-built athletic body. When Chris confided that at no time did he feel physically threatened by gypsies, often associated with touristic places in Italy, I had to remind him that with my petite size, I have to be much more mindful.

Aloha -- Cathi

I-15 Corridor Between Las Vegas and Los Angeles

Aloha Everyone,

There is inherent and increased danger when driving on I-15. This is one of the major interstate highways in the western United States. The route begins near the Mexico-USA border in San Diego county and stretches all the way north to Alberta, Canada. 

J.J. and I have taken this route so many times with Honu due to its convenience. Unfortunately, we have observed an increase in catastrophic accidents.

As we passed the scene of a charred long-haul truck, the two of us wondered what was the cause. We believe the reasons could be:

1). This section of I-15 is over crowded. In 1957 when the California section of I-15 was constructed, there were fewer vehicles. Since then California, Nevada, and Utah have consistently ranked among the fastest-growing states. 

2). It is a known fact that some visitors to Las Vegas do not stay in a hotel. They go dining, watch shows and are up all night drinking and gambling. Too much adrenaline rush and lack of sleep can affect one's judgement.

3). Rest stops closures, whether for repairs or administrative decisions is a bad idea.

4). Posted speed limit is 70mph for passenger vehicles and 55 mph for long-haul trucks and all vehicles that are towing. Only but a handful including JJ strictly adhere to the speed limit.

After 5 1/2 hours of tense driving, the two of us are very happy to be back in La Jolla with our son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter 

Aloha -- Cathi

Adieu St George, UT and Hello Las Vegas, NV

Aloha Everyone,

J.J. and I are often asked why did we decide to have our PCP (Primary Care Physician) in St George, Utah. Our response: a) because we were able to find Dr. Codiga who agreed to be our PCP.  b) based on our preliminary research, St George has one of the top ranked hospitals in the nation c) patient satisfaction is high in St George  d) weather is generally mild and it is a great place to visit e) finally, it is not too far from the Southern California area where J.J. and I visit several times a year.

Driving out of St George, we were impressed by the number of large scale new commercial and residential developments.

According to a recently released report, St. George ranks fifth on the list of fastest growing areas in the United States.  From 2013 to 2014, there was a 2.9 percent population increase. 

The mayor of St George credits the climate, recreation and business opportunities as major draws. He is also mindful that they maintain a manageable growth rate as not to affect the quality of life people enjoy in St George.

Las Vegas, Nevada. 102 degrees HOT. To escape the desert heat for 2 1/2 hours, we chose to see the movie, Ben-Hur. While the production and acting were excellent, J.J. and I agreed that the film paled in comparison to the original Ben-Hur starring Charlton Heston.

Aloha -- Cathi

Dolores Cheng - Centre For Possibilities Foundation

Aloha Everyone,

J.J. and I've known Dolores since she was a precocious teenager. Highly intelligent and compassionate, we are grateful to have her in our lives. Dolores has lived an extremely challenging and eventful life so far. Among so many of her accomplishments are establishing a non-profit organization called, "Centre For Possibilities Foundation" that embraces individuals with special needs.

Yesterday was the premier of her film. Here is a link to her recent interview on CNN. If you are interested in communicating with Dolores directly, I would be more than happy to arrange the introduction.

https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines/videos/1768974206675804/

Aloha -- Cathi

Very Good Six Months Check-up

Aloha Everyone,

Great news! We had a very good six-months check-up with Dr. Codiga in St George, Utah. No additional lab work was required. J.J. and I celebrated with Thai food. 

With the happy news, the 14 miles drive back from St George to Hurricane appeared even more beautiful and special.

Aloha -- Cathi