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Mental Health Days

by Steven D
Sun Sep 21st, 2008 at 10:14:05 AM EST

I didn't post yesterday, but not by choice. I've been tending my 13 year old daughter who has a cold which has kicked up her asthma (btw, did you know asthma has been on the rise for decades -- wonder what could possibly be behind that?).

Obviously, it wasn't a fun experience to tend to a sick child, but in another sense it was a relief from my intense focus on politics and the news cycle. Presidential election years are inevitably the worst: lots of crap news about crappy, nonsensical stuff which should have no effect on voters' choice for who should have their finger on the red button for the next 4 years, but which for some reason our media finds incredibly significant. Yet this year, with all the wars, hurricanes, the loss of our civil liberties, the pending economic collapse, the return of voter suppression efforts and the general sleaziness and bitterness of the partisan election campaign (with the interplay of race and gender like never before being pushed front and center on our national stage 24/7), it has been an even more frustrating/infuriating/depressing/stressful experience for those of us who observe the political scene up close and personal.

All the more important for those of us so fully committed to changing the path of our country and returning some semblance of sanity and integrity to our politics, that we take time for ourselves, to rejuvenate our spirits before plunging back into the nightmarish reality that is 2008 America. I hope all of you have a chance to do that today, or soon. Because we are going to need all our reserves of passion, energy and fortitude for the coming days leading up to the election. What we've seen so far is only been the prelude for what I expect to be the nastiest, most degrading election campaign in our history (if it hasn't already earned that "honor"). As always, in an election year, the worst is yet to come.

Mental Health Days | 12 comments (12 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Mental Health Days (none / 0)

I hope your daughter is feeling better.

I also hope you are ready for a Fantasy Football smackdown. I gotta tell you, it's a pain having both Peytie-Pie and the Baby on my team. I never know which Manning to start. Today, I am leaning towards Eli.

by BooMan on Sun Sep 21st, 2008 at 10:46:11 AM EST

Re: Mental Health Days (none / 0)

We'll see.

John McCain hates my wife because she's a "gook."

by Steven D on Sun Sep 21st, 2008 at 11:11:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mental Health Days (none / 0)

I have a big lead so far. Romo and Owens are gonna need a big night.

by BooMan on Sun Sep 21st, 2008 at 06:36:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mental Health Days (none / 0)

I hope she's feeling better soon. If it would make her feel better and I could heal Tom Brady and trade him to your daughter for many many excellent WRs and RBs, I would... : )

by conglomerNation on Sun Sep 21st, 2008 at 10:52:43 AM EST

Re: Mental Health Days (none / 0)

She's sick, not stupid, lol.

John McCain hates my wife because she's a "gook."

by Steven D on Sun Sep 21st, 2008 at 11:12:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mental Health Days (none / 0)

Well, how about Devin Hester, then? ;-)

by conglomerNation on Sun Sep 21st, 2008 at 01:53:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mental Health Days (none / 1)

Maybe large amounts of Vitamin C for your daughter's cold. For me, I'm off to the Omega New Age Conference Center (near Rhinebeck, NY) for a six day workshop on the shadow or dark side of the human personality. Just trying to get a handle on those nefarious Republicans.

All members of the frog pond are special.

by Daredevil Don on Sun Sep 21st, 2008 at 10:55:01 AM EST

I am so with you (none / 0)

on this Steven. I have a friend at work that I discuss the election with alot. We send each other articles, pix, etc and we both just said this last week. I am so infuriated at how stupid 1/2 of the American public is. Sleepwalkers with no clue. Just filled with 30 second sound byte talking points with no view of their own. They scare me. It is like seeing zombies coming at you. Take a break and rejuvenate. We need all the energy we can muster for this election. If we don't win this one, we will never be the same.

by NancyImpeachBush on Sun Sep 21st, 2008 at 12:20:13 PM EST

Hope your daughter feels better (none / 0)

A 57 yo older brother has had asthma his entire life. He recognizes that certain agents provoke his asthma but, for him, stress has been perhaps the primary agent. He is fully active; I think he curtails his scuba diving sometimes, though.

Speaking of rising asthma rates, there is concern about rising rates of diabetes and autism too.

Thimerosal Down but Autism Rising
...and...
Type 2 Diabetes in Children

According to the CDC, one in three American children born in 2000 will develop type 2 diabetes...

Until I became a parent eight years ago, I had no awareness of these trends.

Eight years ago...hmmmm...Where is a good Surgeon General to highlight these health concerns when the country needs one?

Because the office is not a particularly powerful one, and has little direct impact on policy-making, Surgeons General are often vocal advocates of unconventional, unusual, or even unpopular (albeit rational) health policies. Vice Admiral C. Everett Koop and Vice Admiral Joycelyn Elders were two former Surgeons General who were well known for their controversial ideas, especially on sex education.
The controversy which frequently surrounds Surgeons General for their politically explosive comments may explain why the position has fallen into disfavor in the George W. Bush administration, and remains untenanted since August 2006.

Surprise, surprise... Bush has imposed the science equivalent of the Dark Ages.

by Sawgrass on Sun Sep 21st, 2008 at 12:45:49 PM EST

Re: Hope your daughter feels better (none / 0)

A potential Bush/McCain Candidate for Surgeon General. Why, according to some, McCain IS Theodoric of York.

Sorry, I went off on the Dark Ages theme there for a sec.

"Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live." Dorothy Thompson, Journalist

by Indianadem on Sun Sep 21st, 2008 at 09:34:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mental Health Days (none / 0)

When docs gave me an overdose of steroids a couple of weeks ago I could breathe! Immediately went hiking, to take advantage before normalcy returned. There is something inherently cruel about anything that robs a child or an adult that matter of the breath of life. Hope she returns to what I assume is her feisty self soon.

by mainsailset on Sun Sep 21st, 2008 at 01:08:22 PM EST

Re: Mental Health Days (none / 0)

Possible reading material for daughter, maybe one or two are unread by her so far:

I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith
The Eoin Colfer series, Artemis Fowl
Anne of Green Gables, Montgomery
Sense and Sensibility, Austen (if she's advanced)
Narnia series, C.S. Lewis
Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books

Also, check out Project Gutenberg for free download of print classics, and increasingly for spoken word digital downloads. Librivox.org is adding titles also, and is a site well worth exploring for all readers.

by Terra Incognita on Mon Sep 22nd, 2008 at 02:17:24 AM EST

Mental Health Days | 12 comments (12 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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