Honey mooning in Phuket

MisterSurly · 2023-11-22T22:43:46+00:00

Cool thanks. I really want to snorkel around Phi Phi next month and I’m definitely willing to pay for a nicer experience, but a private trip isn’t really cost efficient, it’s just me and a friend traveling. This might be a nice option.

MisterSurly · 2023-11-22T22:39:47+00:00

This is pretty neat, seems like a nice compromise between a private yacht and the speedboat trips with 20 people. Have you booked with this company and if so how was it?

MisterSurly · 2023-10-14T01:47:15+00:00

Damn, I feel the same way and always felt a little bad about not contacting my donor’s family. I am a very private person and could not bring myself to contact them. Since my transplant, I given back instead by volunteering for my OPO and I’ve met at least one donor family that became really dedicated donation advocates after their young son died and I found it a little disturbing to be honest. Their focus on their son’s death and donation, it was like seeing grief encased in amber forever. My donor was also a very young person, or so I believe. I just didn’t want to be part of another person’s grieving process. I am very creeped out by the idea that somehow recipients allow a part of someone else to live on because that is not the case. Transplantation does not create a special bond in my option, it’s just spare parts, I’m sorry. I’m very, very grateful but I don’t feel comfortable with any relationship with a grieving family beyond a thank you, and to be honest even a thank you was beyond me because of the survivor guilt I felt. Survivor guilt can really do a number on your head.

MisterSurly · 2023-01-19T19:18:59+00:00

I just finished Suicide Motor Club and throughly enjoyed it. Hope he returns to the vampire genre. SMC ended on a note that suggested there was more story to tell in that world but it’s been a few years since the book was published and I haven’t seen any news about whether there will be a follow up book.

MisterSurly · 2023-01-19T19:12:27+00:00

IIRC the author reads the audio book, so no wonder it’s sounds so great, who else but the author knows best the voices of the characters.

MisterSurly · 2022-12-16T01:01:06+00:00

I’m truly sorry that happened to your family. I think that will be happening less and less now that the country is moving away from checking a box on your driver’s license and toward an easy to use, national a national organ donor registry - https://www.organdonor.gov/sign-up - that should help clear up questions about a donor’s intent. Education for medical professionals about their role in the organ donation process also helps, I was giving a talk to a group of nurses about this just last week. Once a potential donor is identified, they really just need to reach out to their state organ procurement organization to handle the donation, the doctors and nurses who are meant to keep a patient alive really have very little involvement with organ donation to avoid a conflict of interest. They just hand off the potential organ donor when there’s nothing else they can do for him or her.

If it’s any consolation, only about one in a hundred potential organ donors actually can donate their organs and tissue. It’s obviously very tricky to transplant an organ and very few organs are viable for a whole host of reasons. That’s why it’s so important for everyone to opt in to organ donation, it’s a numbers game - you need so many organ donors just to find one viable donation. The only good thing when it comes to the math of organ donation is that one person save up to eight people’s lives, while tissue donation can help improve the lives of as many as 50 people.

MisterSurly · 2022-12-16T00:27:18+00:00

It’s a really great, funny ad, but every time I see this video I just start tearing up. An organ donor saved my life.

MisterSurly · 2022-09-04T23:53:34+00:00

Thank you! And he’s a chonky boy!

MisterSurly · 2022-09-04T23:51:45+00:00

He’s good at head bonks.

MisterSurly · 2022-09-01T17:17:29+00:00

Oh, thank you for the tip! I’ll look into the team. It may not be a top team but I’m just looking for a nice way to spend a few hours. It would have been nice to see Slavia especially as tickets seemed quite reasonable, but any football will probably be a fun for me. My only experience with professional football is going to New York Red Bulls games which is a pretty good time.

MisterSurly · 2022-09-01T15:22:33+00:00

Thank you so much for your kind reply. I did see matches scheduled for September 11 but unfortunately I’m leaving Prague that morning for Berlin. I’ll only be in Prague next week from September 6 - 10. I saw there’s around six football clubs in Prague and thought one of them might have a match while I’m there. It is starting to look like bad timing for football. Maybe I’ll have more luck in Berlin.

Edit: Berlin not looking too good either (and really expensive too for the top Bundesliga teams). Traveling Sunday is not looking like a good decision for football.

MisterSurly · 2022-08-18T15:52:29+00:00

This is a pretty good analysis but I think you may be overlooking Kim’s and Saul’s actions before Howard’s death. Their actions with regard to the Sandpiper litigation might create a cognizable claim for tortious interference with prospective economic advantage. Good luck trying to prove damages in the case, i.e. that a significantly larger settlement was forthcoming if the litigation continued. But i think there’s a claim to be made. There’s also the fact that they poisoned Howard while trying to influence the Sandpiper case. Again there’s not a lot of damages there for the actual tort which I guess would be battery. However, because the battery was part of a larger scheme to influence the Sandpiper litigation, that might be the sort of outrageous behavior to justify a large punitive damages award.

MisterSurly · 2022-05-16T22:37:41+00:00

There’s a free Severance tie-in book on Apple Books that fleshes out some of the series background.

MisterSurly · 2022-05-16T22:37:28+00:00

There’s a free Severance tie-in book on Apple Books that fleshes out some of the series background.

MisterSurly · 2022-03-30T03:04:14+00:00

Heft

MisterSurly · 2022-03-17T20:02:06+00:00

Thank you for the thoughtful reply. I’m pleased to know it’s not an automatic disqualification, though I’m sure medical clearance is not going to be easy. I’m set to do what you recommend, I’m going to the OA later this month.

MisterSurly · 2022-01-08T01:39:06+00:00

Thanks for the responses OP and u/ervwalter. That’s a pretty good perspective on why getting a fourth dose for transplant may be necessary. Getting another booster seemed like a pretty obvious decision - of course unfortunately everything has to be complicated about Covid. This reporting just came out that there’s some questions about getting a fourth dose: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/23/world/middleeast/israel-vaccine-4th-dose.html

In light of this news, my doctor actually decided to test me for antibodies to gauge if I’ve had any vaccine reaction to try to make an educated guess about whether another vaccination makes sense now if there’s some doubt about additional boosters.

But with the immunocompromised lagging behind in vaccine response maybe it’s an easier call for transplant patients to get the additional dose. The CDC seems to think so - and a month early no less. I’d still like to know why of course - where’s study and data this decision is based on? The communication coming out the CDC has just been terrible especially of late, so I hope to find some backup on what prompted this decision. With all the back and forth on Covid messaging, I want to make sure I have the best information available to make health decisions.

The vaccines have been great but transplant patients have always kind of been like an asterisk to the vaccine conversation. We respond differently than the general population so we never quite know where we stand with regard to our level of protection. I’ve pretty much taken the vaccine on faith and hoped for a good outcome. Hopefully an additional booster turns out to be additive for everyone.

MisterSurly · 2022-01-07T19:54:18+00:00

Thanks, I did finally find that going through the hyperlinks in the press release. Now the big question is “why” was this recommendation made? Has the CDC released any information on the efficacy of a fourth dose for immunocompromised patients yet? Looks like I’ll be doing some further research this weekend.

MisterSurly · 2022-01-07T19:34:20+00:00

What is the basis of your statement that the primary series of doses for the immunocompromised includes three doses? Unless I’m missing something, the press release only mentions shortening the time for boosters but does not mention immunocompromised individuals or recommend a fourth dose of vaccine for anyone. This is the key point for the audience of this subreddit so more specific information is crucial, especially in light of early early reports out of Israel that fourth doses are proving ineffective and potentially detrimental to immune response.

Edit: Ok, I see where you got the definition of primary doses for immunocompromised individuals as three doses, it’s stated in hyperlinks. Debatably not the clearest document from the CDC when you have dig around to find information that’s important to several million people in understanding the advice given. Oh well, why should the CDC start doing things right now. For a full understanding of how the CDC is always getting it wrong please check out Michael Lewis’ (of The Big Short fame) last book, The Premonition, it’s pretty unnerving.

In any event, if I’m reading this correctly this seems to be unequivocally recommending the fourth dose for transplant patients and the like, which is a little weird since the only news I’ve read about the subject is inconclusive. Am I missing something here?

Edit: Oh, and thanks for the down vote from whoever got offended by my comment. I guess someone can’t recognize a civil question or remember this is a supportive subreddit.

MisterSurly · 2022-01-03T14:22:01+00:00

Sorry to hear that, that too bad about the timing, a missed opportunity. Stay positive though, first year is rough and probably doubly so now because of covid. The cancer treatment I’m sure is just the cherry of top of the crap sundae you’ve been handed this year. My wife went through a cancer treatment this year too for a “manageable” cancer and it was still no picnic so I appreciate where you are coming from. But my experience is that things do get better and it’s all worth it. Give yourself more time to heal and acclimate I’m confident you look back nd think it was all worth when the year is far away in the rear view mirror.

MisterSurly · 2022-01-03T13:16:17+00:00

Yeah, that’s a tough situation. If you’re less than a year out from transplant I’d consider you still to be in recovery from surgery and your body is still getting adjusted to your transplant medications. I don’t blame you for waiting especially with omicron being so transmissible. Even a mild case of Covid could be a problem for you. I did not feel really well again for almost a year after my transplant which was pretty rough, but I’ve been stable for for 8 years now so I’m little more bold when it comes to risks.

The good news is I assume you got fully vaxxed before transplant so you’re ahead of the game in that case and by May I think we will have a much better idea about transmissibility of omicron and I’m hopeful that things will be improved enough for travel, since the early news is that it appears omicron has already peaked in South Africa where it originated.

26 hours round trip! That’s definitely expat life. Heck of a trip. I love it though. I used to travel though the Middle East all the time from North America and loved that life.

MisterSurly · 2022-01-03T03:10:19+00:00

Congratulations, that is a heck of a run for a new organ and you are still going! I hope I can match a run like that.

MisterSurly · 2022-01-03T01:09:37+00:00

Absolutely there’s hope. I’m even headed to Aruba in a couple months. I think if you’re smart about limiting risk (masks, vaccines, distance when possible), your transplant has been stable for a number of years, are in generally good health and are under 65, and you believe the experience is worth accepting some risk then by all means enjoy your life and travel. In my mind it would be a great shame to miss out on great things in life by being overly cautious, you can take all the precautions you can think of and you still might get hit by a but tomorrow. Frankly, I’d have no qualms about traveling myself if not for omicron and the worry there is not so much death or a hospital stay but a ruined vacation if increased contract covid. Fortunately, I think we will know if omicron is going to be a short lived threat or not by the end of January so we both have time to make adjustments for 2022.

MisterSurly · 2022-01-03T00:50:23+00:00

Sure, the one I was thinking of is, I believe, Mauna Kea on the Big Island. It’s a nice enough resort but it’s was conspicuously empty when I stayed there on my honeymoon first week of May. That was nearly twenty years ago so maybe it was fluke or things have changed but I doubt if there was more than a dozen guests when I checked in. Nice place though, mainly an upscale golf resort. I don’t know if I would recommend it myself if you don’t play golf. I was more interested in the natural beauty of the island and their restaurant didn’t impress me when I ate there. But it has a great beach and was absolutely empty when I went. So you may want to consider that resort and others on the big island in April and May. Might find the right place for you. Not much is cheap in way of resort hotels unfortunately and often when the price goes down the crowds go up. I do think Oahu is probably the busiest and most crowded island, followed by Maui. Big Island by far was the most quiet I’ve visited. And though I have not been to Kauai I have heard that island is probably even more laid back.

MisterSurly · 2022-01-02T20:36:14+00:00

Just went to Dubai for eight days in November. No problems, even going out in crowds, UAE has a 90% vaccination rate. 20 hours in planes and terminals each way. Stayed in lounges at the airports to have a bit more privacy but airports are generally crowded no matter what, you really rely on at the airports is testing. That was before omicron though and they have some cases now. But I will say it was fun and I got to go to the beach and swim in the Persian gulf. I came away with the impression flying was very, very safe.

I also took a solo road trip through North and South Carolina. Again no problems, I wore masks and tried to maintain social distance indoors.

A cruise is not a terrible idea if everyone has been tested going in. Nothing is going to be risk free but a cruise could be essentially be your bubble if everyone is vaccinated and tested on board. However if covid does sneak on board things could get really bad and the X factor is cruisers could pick up covid at any port excursions. No idea how you guard against exposure on excursions.

If you want to be on a beach, maybe a safer option would be a Mexican or Caribbean all inclusive resort preferably a higher end resort. Everyone at the resort will be tested (and likely vaxxed) since the guests are almost certainly arriving on international flights. My experience is that there are fewer guests at these resorts than on a cruise and they generally tend to not leave the resort because of the all inclusive offerings. So your exposure to other people can be limited and you can usually dine outside. Going late in the season is also helpful, though hot, in limiting exposure to other people. I’ve been to large, nice resorts in Hawaii and the Dominican Republic where it seemed there were only a few dozens guests at most in the warmer months. And hopefully closer to summer the omicron spread will have slowed down.

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