esrosedotblog

RESTORATIVE

This cold has really kicked my ass on the energy front. None of the symptoms have been too bad once I got the meds in. The major feature has been the fatigue.

I wonder: is it the bug that has me lying down or is it my own willingness to surrender?

Now, in the past, I have been a trouper; go ahead with life and put up with the symptoms; don't give in.

This time, I took a few hints from my other half; considered that it was a bit of a holiday; took advantage of the fact that nothing else was really going on; and went to bed whenever I could get there. I have been on the rack as much as 12 hours a day!

I gave up the gym, did not go to the store, skipped a Meeting, asked John to walk the dog this afternoon, and will not do the Sunday bike tour tomorrow.

It seems to have worked. I am feeling a lot better (in less than seven days!) and I haven't had to fake it all the time when I'm with other people. Wasn't THAT an energy drain?

Randy was our guest for a few days and he and John have been very sweet.

The new UTNE Magazine has a cover on the POWER OF REST. Hmmmm. Live and learn. Eventually.

ICU

We have just completed a half an our on iChatAV video with the back east family; ten adults, six children there--two men and a dog here.

It is a great invention! Dave took his machine to the family party at Sara's and so we got a sitdown with every person. It is way more than phone; less than being there; of course.

This is the second time we have done the teevee with the whole bunch. Everyone is learning how to do it without mugging or shutting down. The trick is to be 'normal' and not overly long at it. Light. Very nice.

CRIMINALS

The new Medicare drug 'benefit' has rightly roused more people than it has satisfied. When the haves start to think about the have-nots; they do not realize that they have a warped perspective. Being patronized will almost always stir the populace.

We live in the midst of a huge retirement community and while we are part of the retired community; we do not have many of the same issues that most 65+ people have. We can afford a good Medicare supplemental policy and we do not use all that many drugs. We are lucky. Many people have been fighting this losing financial battle for adequate drug coverage for a long time.

Beyond the Medicare issue is the matter of 'illegal offshore' drugs. We live in an area where many many people travel to Mexico (illegally) to get drugs and medical care for far less than they can here. This has always been done with a wink and a nod at the border.

This has been going on for years. The infrastructure is well established. This is not a fly-by-night deal. Many of the Mexican companies are US run.

As the grip of the drug companies tightens, this everyday activity has suddenly become frought and more attention at the border has a lot of people scared. The business about Canadian drugs is really just a small part of it. The entire southern border is lined with alternative lower cost medicine for US Citizens who can drive across to get it.

I just got this email chainletter from a friend:

Subject: drugs
A car company can move its factories to Mexico and claim it's a free market.

A toy company can outsource to a Chinese subcontractor and claim it's a free market.

A major bank can incorporate in Bermuda to avoid taxes and claim it's a free market.

We can buy HP Printers made in Mexico. We can buy shirts made in Bangladesh.

We can purchase almost anything we want from many different countries BUT, heaven help the elderly who dare to buy their prescription drugs from a Canadian (Or Mexico) pharmacy. That's called un-American!

And you think the pharmaceutical companies don't have a powerful lobby? Think again!

(Please forward this to every person you know over age 50)

Notice that this is not about getting better aid from Uncle. It is about letting the market work; not paying sky-high prices to the money grabbers.

Yeh, I am leery about going over the border for any medical care but a lot of people are not and have nothing but good reports of it.

Look out. When the seniors start up a resurrection, the pols ought to be concerned. There are more of us and more coming.

I told him to take a look at Howard Dean. Both parties, the Congress, and the Executive have sold their soul to checkbook politics. Reform starts in the ballot box.