It really is interesting to examine how one’s mind works, when trying to end something you have been doing for decades, like smoking.

Yesterday’s box score ended up with Habit winning over Stubborn.

BOX SCORE January 4 2010

Stubborn 5   Habit 7

Today got off to a not bad start, least its encouraging.  However I do notice that I think about it more, than I did when I was smoking. I guess that is part of the withdrawal from the nicotine or something.

I know some suggest patches, and other stuff, but isn’t that sort of like trading one addiction for another? A friend used cinnimon sticks, to have in his mouth, rather than a cigarette. Worked too, as he’s quit, but he’s up to 100 grams of sticks each day, and well, chewed stick pieces are everywhere.

Box Score:   Stubborn 2  Habit 0

Not really the 2 Billionth attempt, but it sure feels like it.   To Quit smoking that is.

Another go at it, and who knows, this time one Hopes it will succeed.

I think the hardest part is the realization, that one isn’t as strong as they think, or that they are in as control as they would like to be. I know, that stress is one issue, that can play easily into the hands of an addiction.   And truth is, smoking is that.

Nearly 55 years old, and have been smoking since I was 14.  Yeah I know, pathetic isn’t it?

So, once more we shall attempt to break the cycle, and hey, everyday without is a plus.

It is sickening, to think that in today’s world, that our elder citizens, are being forced to resort to legal seperation, or divorce, in order to afford living in a nursing home. I find this whole concept to be ass backwards. I really don’t get why, we, as a civilized nations, are so determined to make life a living hell for the elderly.

I know the so called Conservative Approach is that people need to take care of themselves, to look for their own remedies for the future, and not rely on the Government to help them out. A truly interesting theory, but which also assumes that business, would price their goods, services, at a reasonable level, to make a fair return, as well as to maintain a certain quality or standard.  THAT CERTAINLY IS NOT THE CASE TODAY.

As more people enter nursing homes, Veronica Ratchford, a representative from the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights, said an increasing number of couples are legally splitting up so they can get government help with the cost of that care. ( source – CBC News )

What is so odd, is that we expect people to be able to take care of themselves, plan for their old age, then do everything we can, to deny them that ability. We import foreign workers, to make it hard to get a decent high paying job, we gut education, so we have less qualified skill people, and we raise the cost of living, to make it nearly impossible for anyone to save for that future old age.    AND THEN WE REFUSE TO HELP THEM COVER THE COSTS, IF THEY ARE MARRIED.

Seems to me, something is out of whack here. I know it takes my income, and David’s income, to allow us to live together, as a family, which include my 92 year old mother. Neither I nor David make huge amounts of cash, even though David earns a decent salary. And yet it is a struggle, to pay the cost of medications, the ancillary costs like depends, rubber gloves.

Perhaps we need to start looking at WHY the costs for Nursing Home Care is so high, and yet the complaints about the standards seem never ending. Perhaps we should be examing the real cost of Health Care, instead of off loading it onto the Provinces, or cutting it back.  Maybe it is time to take a real look at how we are spending our money, and to whom.

Am I dreaming?

Is the Province of British Columbia really selling off surgery spots to other provinces, while cancelling hundreds of surgeries here?  Or is this just another Carol James Moment? Is it hype, or is it real?

Health Minister Kevin Falcon confirmed B.C. is negotiating to bring 400 patients to the province for surgery over the next two years. But Falcon scoffed at the accusation the Saskatchewan patients will displace British Columbians. ( CBC News )

See I don’t get this anymore. IF we are cutting surgeries, but can have the means to perform surgeries for those who will pay more, how is that NOT impacting us? Isn’t it saying that this IS NOT public health, but AMERICAN HEALTH CARE?

To some, it has been a delayed ride, that is now open, to others, like me, it seems that once again we are being given a load of rubbish to sift through, to find the truth. Is the H1N1 Vaccine for me, or not, is my question, and to answer that, I need to know what the risks are, for not taking it, AND for taking it.

Eligible groups include individuals under the age of 65 who have chronic medical conditions, as well as pregnant women, children under the age of five and people living in First Nations or remote and isolated communities. ( CBC News )

So define for me, what chronic medical conditions means. Should a person who has asthma get the shot, how about if they have diabetes, or have high blood pressure? All are chronic, as is Arthritis, so define the meaning.

Then how about telling me just what it means to say that the median age group who contracts the illness, requires hospitalization, is around 21, but the median age of those who die from it are 51.  Kind of contradictory that, don’t you think?

And what constitutes a pandemic? The number of infected, or the number who succomb to the disease (die)?

Frankly I am on the fence here.

I SIMPLY DON’T HAVE ENOUGH REAL INFORMATION TO MAKE A GOOD JUDGEMENT CALL.  THIS GOVERNMENT, AND OTHERS, HAVE LIED TOO MANY TIMES, FOR ME TO TRUST THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.