General health problems such as ear infections, pink eye and influenza affect nearly every person eventually. Dr. Rod Moser, PA, PhD, shares information and advice here on the most common general health disorders, their symptoms, treatments, and prevention.

We wanted to get an early start for our 13 hour drive to Ensenada. We planned on leaving about 6 AM so that we would not have to drive in the dark. Cows, goats, and coyotes like to hang out on the road at those times. Since the road does not have a shoulder, just an abrupt drop off that would easily roll over your car, you need to stay alert at all times. At 5 AM, the Mexican music started, at concert levels. It was coming from one of the only shade trees on the beach in front of the place we were renting. Apparently, the occupants of the car wanted the entire neighborhood to share in their choice of Sunday morning music. By the time we hit the shower; the police had paid them a visit and asked them to turn it down. They lowered the volume to where we were about to talk without shouting. It is really not helpful to be confrontational in these situations since they know where you live.

The area is called Miramar - a dry, dusty arroyo that just happens to be the home for hundreds of impoverished Mexicans; mostly children. This area is the town dump where vultures fight over discarded fish heads, a perpetual fire burns with noxious fumes, and the stench of rotting garbage assaults your nostrils with each breath. Off in the distance, there is a clear view of the azure blue Sea of Cortez; beaches lined with multimillion dollar haciendas owned by wealthy Americans and Canadians. A Holland America cruise ship can be seen in the distance, discharging elderly passengers for a day of shopping.

The Sea of Cortez is teaming with fish; perhaps not as abundant during Steinbeck's adventures, but they are still here. You can see them under the crystal blue water. They jump into the air to tease the fisherman. Each morning, a fleet of Mexican fishermen in their tiny pangas and American sports fishermen in their fast boats head out toward the rising sun. Later in the afternoon, they return with their catch in time for the dinner hour. Photo Credit: Rod Moser The day we arrived in Loreto, my friend Randy brought in two large yellowtails (see picture). He quickly filleted them and took them to a local restaurant for tonight's meal - Mita Gourmet, owned by Juan Carlos Cortes. For about five dollars per person, the chef prepared a gourmet feast for eight people out of those two fish.

There was a scratch at our door. It was Sergio, a short-legged, white (sort of) bilingual dog with a hernia that lives here. Unlike the mangy, skinny, street dogs that you see wandering the streets of Loreto, Sergio is quite ample. He is really not my friend's dog; he belongs to neighbor, but for the last few years, he has chosen to live here. My friend, Randy and his wife, pay his vet bills and make sure that he has Advantix flea treatments on a regular basis. People are nice to him; they don't throw rocks at him, and most importantly, he is being fed...often and very well. What more would a dog want?

I was pleased that the place we were staying had high-speed, wireless Internet so I could post on the ENT board . After a few hours (or more), I caught up on all of those messages. I stopped when my wife reminded me that I was on vacation. A few hours after we arrived in Baja, and after a nice shower and change of traveling clothes, we were heading off to dinner with our friends. In less than a block, we spotted what appeared to be a man lying in his driveway. "Old Man Down!" One my friend's elderly American neighbors - a man not known to be in the best of health - was lying motionless in his driveway in a pool of blood. He had also urinated himself - not a good sign. We thought he was dead. He failed to respond to our yelling.

If you plan to visit a remote area or a Third World country, you have to expect and tolerate some inconveniences along the way. If you cannot, you should really stay home. My wife and I made it to Loreto yesterday afternoon...2-1/2 days and 1500 or so miles of military check points, cursory inspections (none, actually), and some very interesting stories. We made it to Ensenada the first day. We were going to go three more hours south to El Rosario, but we were tired. We sort of zipped through the border crossing; didn't give the Federales any eye contact so we don't know if they want to inspect us or not...we just merged in with the busy Tijuana traffic and headed south.

It seems that every time that I decide to go on a trip, like a vacation, something happens. We are leaving for a long drive to Mexico tomorrow. Last week, my dreaded irrigation system went on the brink (again), so I am in the process of putting in a new one at considerable expense (Have you priced copper wire lately? I need about 3000 feet.), and with considerable headaches. Right now, I am watering all of my beloved plants, trees, flowers, and landscaping with precious well water. Because I have a deep and relatively-low flow well, the pressure is like watering with a squirt gun. The irrigation system went out two years ago, too, when we were at our youngest son’s wedding. We planned on staying a week in a rented beach house, but I had to come home and deal with the water problem; the rest of the family enjoyed the seashore.

This week, my wife and I are driving (yes, driving) to Loreto, Mexico from Northern California - about 1500 miles one way. While that distance may not be impressive for salespeople and long-distance truckers, when you are driving in Baja, it can be challenging. With the exception of dodging cows on the narrow highway or rock slides, it is really a very pleasant trip. The weather may be a bit hotter than last year.

Photo: Brooke Raymond There is nothing more precious than seeing the unbridled freedom of a child when they are naked. They will run and laugh without a care in the world. They don't really care if they have a big tummies or chubby butts; they are just happy to be free of those diapers - at least until they are captured and re-clothed. Nude children romp around in sprinklers and freely skinny-dip. They love to bathe together. In our clinic, we weigh infants and toddlers in the buff so that we can get an accurate weight, devoid of a heavy-laden diaper. Because of this policy, I see dozens of little butts streaking by my office nearly every hour.

My older brother and I grew up in land-locked, rural Appalachia. The only source of recreational water for our use was a shallow, contaminated creek and a stagnant pond called the Canoe Canal. Our town had just one canoe and it was rarely seen on this tiny inland sea. Maybe it was this obvious lack of water recreational resources that created an interest in water sports.