In March I participated in the MOCA WNY medical mission to the Dominican Republic. I will JUST write about the medical mission now and do the beach/resort/tourism posts later. This ended up longer than I planned but it covers the whole week rather than the daily posts I did about previous missions. It is 6000Continue reading “DR Medical Mission 2026🇩🇴🩺”
Author Archives: sailwestmac
Last day in DR :(
My 11 days in the DR have come to an end. I had a great time both with the medical mission and my recreation days. I have 30 minutes to write before my plane to JFK leaves. The very small airport here (POP) has a wonderful view of a mountain. It is also very closeContinue reading “Last day in DR :(“
DR mission preview
It is Wednesday 3/4 and I am taking a few minutes to write while we wait for the latecomers (it is 8:15 and we were supposed to get in the minibus at 8). I am going to dump a few photos here and then write on the way in Notes app as cellular service inContinue reading “DR mission preview”
Shark Valley 2026
Whenever we are in FL (usually visiting my mom and uncles in Boca Raton) Alex and I try to spend one day at the Everglades National Park. Mostly we visit the Anhinga and Gumbo Limbo trails at Royal Palms near the Homestead entrance (where the main visitor center is located). There are usually a lotContinue reading “Shark Valley 2026”
Short and sweet Meat!
I am going to try to QUICKLY write a post about the MOCA Meat Raffle I volunteered at on Friday night. It is Sunday morning at 5:30 am, and I am in my seat, with only a few minutes to write before the plane begins to move. The flu epidemic seems to have peaked inContinue reading “Short and sweet Meat!”
Big Big Xmas Eve!
After finishing my post about the Buffalo Special Olympics Polar Plunge a few weeks ago, I wanted to quickly write about Big Big Table (to encourage year-end donations). But of course, LIFE! Despite the absolute shitshow our country has become over the last 11 months, I read several optimistic, heartfelt commentaries this week by writersContinue reading “Big Big Xmas Eve!”
Polar Plunge 2025
On Saturday, December 6th, I participated in the Buffalo Polar Plunge fundraiser for our local Special Olympics organization. I plunged into Lake Ontario in February 2023 with the 716Ruck group, but I missed it the last two years because of travel and other conflicts. That was actually not too awful; the water was only 35,Continue reading “Polar Plunge 2025”
Music, Politics and Peat!
Just found this unfinished post from a month ago today, 11/26/25 ! Argh! It has been a full month since I last wrote. I wanted to do a blog about the summer and fall concerts I enjoyed. Then I meant to do a blog about the No Kings rally in Buffalo, but I have beenContinue reading “Music, Politics and Peat!”
July 4th, 2025
Just found this on phone today !! 11/26/25 I received this emailed article today from Anesthesiology News, I copied and pasted so I can share without the paywall blocking you. U.S. Healthcare in 2025 ​ By Henry Buchwald, MD, PhD ‘Dependence begets subservienceand paves the way to tyranny.’ —Thomas Jefferson This is the black box warningContinue reading “July 4th, 2025”
72 hours in Boston
It has only been five days since I returned from Boston, so this is one of my most promptly written travel blogs. Buffalo’s endless summer continues. It is expected to reach 80 degrees today and remain sunny throughout the week. In a few hours, I am heading down to Hamburg to do some Stand-up PaddlingContinue reading “72 hours in Boston”