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General Chit Chat

planner
#1
This is a new thread for us to capture the "chit chat".  This is just to ramble, to engage in how are you's,  to chat so that we don't get our other threads too far off topic!!!!!

And would work for a base of referrals,  recommendations or silly questions as well................ :D
See also
planner
#2
Here is where we just chat. So lets get started. today I need some help.  I am trying to figure out why my refridgerator gets so hot. Is this normal???? I know that in tropical climates the fridge needs to work harder but should it get so hot???? 

Bob???  Any ideas anyone.....
PARADISECAT
#3
Hope this helps planner.

Here are some general issues for overheating:

In most refrigerators there is a fan located near the compressor for cooling purposes. The compressor in a refrigerator will generate a lot of heat. The other issue is the condenser coils may be obstructed with dust, pet hair, etc, etc. This is the coil located either on the back of the refrigerator or underneath the unit near the compressor. The fan referred to is called a condenser fan and serves a dual purpose on most units. It maintains a constant airflow across the compressor and condenser coils for cooling purposes.

There may be an issue of clearances. In many homes, the builder will build a place for the refrigerator to fit into. There must be enough clearance on the sides, back and top of the unit to allow air to flow and keep the refrigerator components cool. Most refrigerator manufactures have a recommended operating temperature that must be observed. A good rule of thumb is 40 to 80 degrees for optimal operation.
planner
#4
Thanks honey. I will double check and clean the back tomorrow. Today the side of my fridge registered 91f.
Bob K
#5
As massagewiz said clearance is very important.  That is why  refrigerators like sub zero and other top of the line ones have the compressor on the top and in front of the units.

Also do you have a delay on the refrig that when the power goes out it does not let the compressor turn on for 3=5 min. This allows the unit to cool rather starting and stopping all the time when the power goes off and on.

Just a couple of thoughts.

Bob K
planner
#6
Thanks Bob my fridge is off the inverter lines so when the power goes, no fridge.
PARADISECAT
#7
No problem planner, hope you find out what is going on with your fridge.  Did any of you read about the 150,000 Dominicans who got scammed with Telexfree? If folks would use their smartphones for things other than FB, Twitter, etc..... A little research on this company would have told them this was a scam! What amazes me is that in this day and age of the internet, people are still falling for these pyramid scams :-/ Greed always seems to cloud sound thinking.  There is no such thing as easy money! Even dealers have to bust their butts to build and protect their business.  A fool and his money will always part!  Hard lesson to learn, for folks who have very little to begin with.
Bob K
#8
People's stupidity will never cease to amaze me.  There are some that spend their entire life looking for the "free lunch".

At least Amway has a product base.

Bob K
planner
#9
As a Professional Financial Planner in my previous life, here is the advice I always gave:

IF IS SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT IS!!!
Bob K
#10
Words to live by


BObK
planner
#11
The real issue here is the lack of education on anything even related to this. The poor and emerging middle class are very vulnerable to those who should know better.
Casey Roberts
#12
Since this is the place for idle questions - if there is a new cruise port in Maimon, do we expect Monkey Jungle (Sosua) to become a shore tour option?  We are getting ready to move to Casa Linda near Sosua which is off the road to Monkey Jungle, and wonder if we will have to start keeping track of cruise ship dates?
Bob K
#13
Casey, first off welcome to the forum. Lots of nice folks here with good info for you.
To answer your questions yes the port is going in and will be open late 2014 or early 2015.  It is not know yet what excursions will be offered to the cruise but MJ is a probability. But is  should not have much of an effect on the traffic as at most it will be one excursion truck (transport) on days the cruise is in.   MJ limits the numbers of groups per day as they can only handle a certain amount of guests safely. So being in CL you should not notice any difference than what is going on now (usually two transports a day).

Welcome to CL and the north coast.  We are neighbors sort of as we live a bit further up the road from you.

Let us know if you have other questions

Bob K
planner
#14
Welcome Casey. Highly likely this will not effect you. Ministry of tourism declared Sosua, Cabarete and Luperon too far from the new cruise ship terminal for the purpose of excursions.

Feel free to ask your questions and add to the forums Casey!
Bob K
#15
Actually Monkey Jungle is probably going to allowed in.

Bob K
planner
#16
Why Bob?  The issue, as I understand it, is literally the distance from the port. It makes an excursion very difficult.  How long is the average drive from Maimon to Monkey Jungle????
Bob K
#17
Drive is about 40-45 min. and MJ may be able to supply it's own transport.
A work in progress

Bob K
planner
#18
Hmmm not sure how that makes a difference, but please keep us updated....
Bob K
#19
Will do.  MJ just purchase what looks like a 15 passenger van so this is what they may be planning on using. Right now they are using it to transport visiting dental teams from their hotels to the jungle.

Bob K
planner
#20
Awesome!!!! So tell us more about the ongoing work at Monkey Jungle!!!!
Bob K
#21
Well I "retired" as medical director there last summer but they maintain a free medical and dental clinic (Saturdays only) for the local poor Dominicans and Haitians living in the area.  All the profits from the jungle excursions go to support this clinic.
The Jungle itself has a monkey habitat which in a multi acre area where you can mingle, pet, feed the numerous monkeys.  A great thrill for the kids.  It also has the only certified zip line on the north coast with almost a mile of different zip lines as well as a free fall into a cave if you so desire.  Recently they opened a public gun range as well.  So something for everyone and again all profits go to the clinic.  Great cause.

Bob K
planner
#22
Nice! Thanks for the update!
Bob K
#23
You are welcome and I will keep "all you all" (Tennessee talk) updated as I have more info

Bob K
Bob K
#24
Finally some rain here on the north coast.  We have had three nights in a row now with some heavy showers.  Last night's was a doozy with huge thunder and a unreal lightening show.  Everything is greener today.

Best part is we continue to have sunny HOT days and the rain at night...just perfect and it can continue this way for a few more days.

Bob K
Bob K
#25
Ok did anyone notice that it was HOT the last few days.  Almost unbearable here on the north coast.  NO rain just blazing sun. Today at noon it was 90F or so in the shade on the terrace and 112F  (44C) in the sun.  Even the pool was warm (88F).  Summer is here.  Where is the rain???????????????

Bob K













f
F










f (44C) in the sun
planner
#26
It was  34C in my kitchen window at  8 am this morning BOB,  we have had  5 minutes of rain in the last 11 days!!! Summer is here and i have a feeling it will be brutal! yikes.
planner
#27
On a more fun note, I ate  7 of my new cherry tomatoes today! nothing tastes better then something you grew yourself!  Wooo hoooooooo
planner
#28
On a NOT fun note,  Friday I discovered I am allergic to something. Yes, something. I started breaking out in spots about 8pm, didn't think too much of it, they didn't bother me.

By 11pm  fever of 101,  nausea, sweating and covered  in spots, the only place with none was my face!  By morning I was really ill. went to the clinic where they thought I was so weird, the spots didn't itch or bother me but were clearly an allergic reaction!   So shot me with antihistimines and sent me home.  Another 24 hours of nausea and low fever and it broke Sunday,  spots are all gone too!  Bloody hell!!!! 

This morning I figured it out. I had changed the  laundry detergent and tried another liquid.  NOt going to use that again. All my clothes had to be rewashed that I had previously washed - thank goodness i only used it once!
Bob K
#29
Yep soap will do it every time.

Bob K
Bob K
#30
Ok the heat was too much. Actually had  fruit smoothie for  dinner as the thought of a heavy meal in the heat did not work for me.  Tomorrow maybe a chance of a shower, or at least one can hope)

Actually today we start a mini escape and head off to Lifestyles resort for 4 days.  Great price and best part it has rooms with AIR CONDITIONING!!!  It will be fun to get away for a couple of days.  The resort is close to the house (25min) so not much driving time.

Bob K
planner
#31
Enjoy Bob!!!!
Bob K
#32
Thanks.  The AC will be with the price of admission

Bob K
planner
#33
hahahaha you need it now.  Its been very very hot and very dry here in the capital. Today we are overcast and I am hoping for some rain!!! But not likely.....
N
#34
So sorry to hear of your allergic reaction Planner. Thank God you got better, that's first. Juss wondering though, how was that experience?  Walking into a local (or private) clinic there?  Is  it the same like anywhere else - where you go in, pull out your insurance card, get registerd, seen, given treatment , prescription n on ur way? Or is it way different.

I remember a friend saying that her dad developed some spots in his skin, he's a local from PP. she explain to me how they had to search for a private clinic because the public clinic doctor didn't deal with that - then she had to pay out of pocket because there is no insurance there..
planner
#35
It was very straight forward. In, give insurance card, see doctor, get treated, wait.... then go to billing and wait and wait.... they are so inefficient.... cost me nothing.

It was a private clinic and via emergency.

Just spots would not be an emergency and she would find a dermatologist - many don't take insurance.

But remember sometimes this is a ploy to ask you for money. Visit to specialist is about 1,000rd or US22.
N
#36
Waow!! That any doctors visit costs ONLY 1000 peso!  Not here tho..  in NY the copayment cost around 50 bucks!!
Would that be a roundabout price for like a regular visit 2 the doctor for any issue? Like if i went into the clinic because I felt sick - like had a fever? how about going for like a sprained ankle, or a broken leg or something.
I heard there was no real medical insurance everything was just about cash is that true? and by clinic I'm assuming you mean like a hospital
I realize these may be just like what you labeld the topic; any siilly questions lol! just taking you up on the offer lol
N
#37
general chit chat is a really good topic by the way. it allows one to pick you guys brain a little on various little senseless thing.
planner
#38
There is very good insurance at what is for us a good price! Living here without insurance is not a good idea.

The gov't via the labor law, provides all workers basic insurance and to the workers families as well.

Doctor visit - 500 to 1,000 rd. Public hospital is free but not the preferred option. 

Many skip doctors and just go to the pharmacy! Ask at the counter based on symptoms and buy meds.

Costs at clinics are going to vary a lot. I can't begin to guess at costs. 5 years ago a broken ankle visit to a clinic - xray and cast cost 4,000rd.  Now I have no idea.
N
#39
Oh now I get it,  what you say now ties into what my friend said. Which is that she took her father to a public hospital but for whatever reason she then went to a private one, guess she didn't like the public either. (Shes Americana) at the private clinic is where she had to pay out of pocket. Your responses are always so clear and direct to the question, that's really cool.
the prices that you mention r not that bad either. The wheels in the mind r still turning Planner lol
N
#40
an interesting point that one can go to the pharmacy, discuss the symptoms n buy  meds for it - ni prescription.  learned something new in that one. All of this is my pre-research.

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