Happy day ... except for turkeys

It's cold and rainy today in Big Apple but I don't care. Perfect weather to catch a cold, or worst trigger an asthma crisis. But I don't fear. In fact I am only worried by something: will I be asked to carve the turkey tonight at a Thanksgiving diner with friends. So I was grateful to Yahoo to provide a video about that matter. The link is here.

I am not always found on tradition but I like Thanksgiving, maybe because it is centered on a jumbo diner. So I will forgot my lungs for today and will concentrate on my stomach.

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Dirty old towns ...

No, I am not about to talk about this song (I guess it is an Irish folk song) but when you are an asthmatic living in cities like NY there is something you feel concerned about: pollution.
I just read a post on Andy Wu blog and I can just advise you to go and read it. The link is here.

Walk the line? Yes but which one...

Few days ago I get a mail from a blogger named Snake Hunter. What was inside? Well considerations about Dems, Reps and war on Iraq. As Snake Hunter was a bit petulant (what a nice euphemism) I found necessary to explain to him my thoughts. I tried to revert his mail but it was impossible. I then post a comment on his blog but it was not accepted. So I have decided to publish that on my blog.

Dear Sir,

You sent me a mail after reading a post on my blog but my fanciful mail provider has listed your mail as spam. I should have said on my blog that I am not really interested in politics. I share the view of Harry Truman you quoted on your mail, for me politics is all but the realm of honesty and frankness.

I have great respect for what you have done in the past but being far away from the military community (which apart from my beliefs, my severe asthma has prevented me to join). But I am a bit fed up by an administration only focused on Iraq. Will I say I am not concerned by the war on terrorism? Of course not, I live in NY and was here during 9/11 attacks. Do I regret the old times when Saddam ruled Iraq? Not really I am not found with despots. But my concerns are: where are the WMD ? Where are the evidences of Saddam's links to 9/11 attacks? Is the real purpose freedom or oil supplies? Facing the cost of this war (I am not only talking of dollars) is it right to put it on top of the list while people are suffering in our country?

Yes it is true I am talking of something I am concerned with. You may find me a bit focused on Medicare. But I grew up with severe asthma. I have nether asked for that but I have to face it every day. It's painful, it's expensive. Sometimes while being short of breath I really think to myself: will I come through this crisis or will it be the last one. I know there are people with more threatening diseases but I feel being part of a community of people with severe or chronic diseases. I really think that being wealthy make a real difference in the way you live with it. And I think, being the son of the Nation n°1 in the world I should expect some care, as in a family when you take care of the weakest cause they are your blood.

I just wanted to explain to you my feelings, my thoughts, my intention as you may be my grandpa. One of mine was suffering also from severe asthma; I haven't spent much time with him as he died when I was young, after another crisis. I have always felt that I will have been really closed to him if I have had more time.

Take care,

A Malthusian administration?

I read a post on the blog of Gary Schwitzer. He comments a declaration by a member of the administration claiming that there is no need to reform Medicare as the market will be more efficient. I have posted a comment on it.
But this non-sense irritates me so much that I want to go deeper with this post.
It is easy to believe blindly in the market when you are a healthy wealthy white privileged person. But when you have to make choices in your expenses whether you will buy your pills or some food it is trickier. I agree that it is better to live in a modern villa near Arlington rather than in a watery apartment in an old building in Brooklyn.



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A bit of fresh air … but not for Georges W Bush

After 6 years of full authority towards USA, the GOP is about to loose its assurance. They have lost yesterday the House of Reps. The majority of Governors is now Democrat (always good to be in such a position when you face the presidential campaign) and the Democrats are 2-seats away from the majority in the Senate (but we can’t expect the results before days or even weeks).
What will happen now? For sure Bush will have to watch carefully his decisions. But I doubt we will see big changes for now. Scott McLean made comments on its blog 2 days before the elections. I think he is right. Having his hands tied will maybe restrain Bush in its willingness to put every American under control. Maybe yesterday have brought a bit of fresh air for civil liberties in the USA.



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Don’t forget it ?

Asthma is the prevalent chronic disease in the US but with forms ranking from mild to severe. Many people think that exercises, yoga or some natural treatments may cure asthma. It may fit for people with mild asthma but don’t forget that 14 wheezy people die every day in our country. Read the news about Martin Baker who died last week at 21.
And thanks to our beloved federal government with its health projects, the situation will keeps deteriorating for poor people. I may think I am lucky to be working even if I am not seating on the front seat of the wealthy people but after 5 days of a bad cough I have to get back to work to pay for the medicine. And believe me, when you are suffering from severe asthma it means that I may expect some crisis in a few days.


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Life is a struggle

I am not in a big shape today. Cold and rains: the perfect mix when your respiratory tract is weak. Stick in bed with a big cough and some fever I use this opportunity to read. I come through a sentence from Thomas Stern Eliot. “It's strange that words are so inadequate. Yet, like the asthmatic struggling for breath, so the lover must struggle for words”. I like the comparison even if it’s poetry, hence Eliot emphasises the feeling for the lover. Even if nothing else matters when you open your heart to someone who monopolizes every seconds of your life, every thoughts of your mind, every pulse in your neck there is always a medley of fears to be rejected and hopes to reach the heart of the beloved. For an asthmatic a crisis brings only one question: will I come through it?
But at least one of the greatest poets has tried to understand what an asthmatic may endure. And it is true that for a romantic as T S Eliot love is always close to pain. Like life for me today …


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