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Investing in some form of insurance against financial difficulties in the event of sickness is considered a prudent move, especially in these times of escalating medical and hospitalization costs. This investment could be in the form of group or individual health insurance plans.

The oldest and most common kind of individual health insurance is the type offered by insurance companies. For a certain premium, you are given a policy covering specific illnesses up to an agreed amount. With this kind of insurance, you are free to choose your doctor, the services you need provided they are included in your policy, and the hospital where you want to stay. Often, however, you will need to pay for these services first and later file a claim settlement with your insurance company for reimbursement.

An alternative to the above is the health care coverage provided by health management organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), and point of service plans (POS) providers. These services may be availed of either by paying a premium or through subscription plans. In one type of plan, members or subscribers are usually asked to select a primary care physician (PCP) who is affiliated with the organization. His main task is to decide, after examining the patients, whether the services of specialists are necessary. Other plans do not require a PCP but provides a list of physicians that their clients can consult as well as a list of hospitals where they can stay if they need to.

Rainy season is bed weather. It makes you stay in bed all day long. Cuddling up in bed with a warm, thick blanket beats being out in the pouring rain hands down. I love listening to rain drops on the roof and watching it slide down from the glass on my window.

When the rain comes, I make sure I stock my kitchen my lots of coffee, cocoa and tea to keep me warm. I also make sure that my best portable generator is in working condition in case there is a power interruption. On rainy nights, I immediately crawl into bed with a hot drink in hand, switch on the TV and watch sappy old movies. At times, I would just slump in the couch with my feet tucked under me and read a good book.

Rainy nights are romantic. It makes me think of wine, roses and cuddling in front of a warm fire. Rainy nights are fun too. When with girl friends, we would spend the night talking, eat junk food, dance crazily and just do whatever we want to do.

How about you? What do you do when it is bed weather? Do you prefer staying at home or going out and braving the rain and wind?

Andy is retiring next month. He is only 50 years old but he wants to stop working to fulfil his lifelong dream of seeing the world and doing extraordinary things. Andy feels that if he will wait until he gets older, he won’t be strong enough to do them.

Seeing the world is part of Andy’s future plans. He plans to go in a European or Asian cruise so he can see numerous countries in just one trip. Andy is also fascinated with India and someday he wishes he could go and immerse in their culture.

Doing extreme sports is one of Andy’s hobbies ever since he was a teenager. Though he has mellowed down a bit, he wants to try bungee jumping and whitewater rafting soon. Andy also wants to try flying a hot air balloon if he gets the opportunity.

Just like any other adult, Andy plans to get married and have kids. He has never been married though he has a son and a daughter with a former flame. Andy wants to know what it feels like to wake up in the morning with someone beside him. He wants to feel unconditionally loved and adored. He, in return, will do his best to whomever he will marry.

…to learn how to sky dive. I am really, really scared of heights and I wish to overcome it by learning how to sky dive. Hopefully, I won’t chicken out the last minute.
…to decorate a cake. Cake decorating seems a lot of fun. You need to get your creative juices flowing or else the cake will look blah, regardless of the taste.
…to see Japan. I had been on a flight which did a stopover in Japan once. I was awed by their culture, fashion and sake. I really want to go back and see the country.
…to know what it feels like to be a superstar. Being a celebrity is not a dream of mine. Though being rich and popular doesn’t hurt, being constantly followed by the paparazzi and included in every gossip magazine in the country, or the world, is really annoying.
…to eat blueberry cheesecake, apple pie, and chocolate cake in one sitting. Although I could, I refuse to intake that much calories in one meal.
…to touch a real, live polar bear. Polar bears are ferocious hunters but they are just so cute and fat. I’ve always been fascinated about them, how they can stay warm and why they swim really well.